Anti-carbonic anhydrase II antibodies in end-stage renal disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-carbonic anhydrase (CA II) autoantibodies in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and relationships between the autoantibody titers and ghrelin, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Serum CA II autoantibody titers, malondialdehyde (MDA), BUN, creatinine and ghrelin levels were measured in 45 ESRD patients and 45 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The CA II autoantibody titers in the ESRD group (0.170 ± 0.237) were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.079 ± 0.032; p = 0.035). MDA and ghrelin levels were also significantly higher in the ESRD group (p < 0.001). A weak positive correlation was determined between anti-CA II antibody titers and MDA, and a negative correlation was observed between ghrelin levels and anti-CA II antibody titers (r = 0.287, p = 0.028 and r = -0.278, p = 0.032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In ESRD patients, the results showed the development of an autoimmune response against CA II. This suggests that anti-CA II antibodies could be involved in the pathogenesis of ESRD.

A newly identified myokine: irisin, and its relationship with chronic spontaneous urticaria and inflammation.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an important dermatological disease involving severe itchy urticaria lesions and/or angioedema. Urticaria and angioedema occur in the community at a rate of 25-30%. Many factors, such as inflammation, have been implicated in the etiology of CSU. Irisin is a newly identified adipocytokine shown by research to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its many other effects. The aim of the study was to investigate, for the first time in the literature, the significance of serum irisin levels in patients with CSU. Seventy-eight individuals were evaluated. The study group included 44 patients diagnosed with CSU, and the control group consisted of 34 healthy individuals. Serum samples were collected, and serum irisin, Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-3 (IL-3), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Interferon-É£ (IF-É£) levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Irisin was studied for the first time in patients with CSU and exhibited a significantly higher level in the control group than in the patient group (p = 0.020). IL-2, IL-3, and IF-É£ levels were higher in the CSU group than in the control group, although the results were not statistically significant. Only TNF-α results increased significantly. Correlation analysis was applied to determine the relationships between irisin and IF-É£ and IL-3 levels. This revealed that the irisin parameter was significantly and positively correlated with IF-É£ and IL-3 in patients with CSU (r = 0.518, p = 0.016 and r = 0.536, p = 0.022, respectively). This is the first report to evaluate irisin as an inflammatory biomarker in CSU. Irisin levels in patients with CSU were low, suggesting that irisin may pay a role in the pathogenesis of CSU and may be a marker showing the severity of the disease.

Effects of transport and altitude on hormones and oxidative stress parameters in sheep.

In study, it was aimed to determine the stress effects that can be caused by transporting and altitude in sheep. Karayaka sheeps were used in the study. Karayaka sheeps are a valuable breed of meat quality and fleece, which is raised in the Black Sea region. The live weight of the sheep (n = 30) while hungry was determined before transport and sea level. Average live weight was determined as 55.64 ± 4.66 kg. Blood samples were collected just before (sea level) and just after transport (1500 meters above sea level). Transportation distance was approximately 182 km and duration was 5 hours. According to the findings, cortisol was not affected by transport stress and altitude (P>0.05) and Triiyodotironin (T3) (P<0.039) and Tyrosine (T4) (P<0.000) were affected significantly. Malondialchehyche (MDA), which is one of the oxidative stress parameters, was significantly affected (P<0.039) and Protein Carbonyl (PC) values were not affected by transport and altitude (P>0.184). As a result of this study, it was determined that transportation and altitude in sheep causes stress. Stress-reducing measures should be taken in the exposure of sheep to altitude differences and in transportation. Antioxidant nutritional supplements should be made in order not to negatively affect the meat quality in sheep.

Diagnostic value of signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 on serum and tissue samples in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate whether there is any relationship between the type, stage and the extensiveness of lung cancer and levels of signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domaincontaining protein 1 in serum and lung tissues of non-small cell lung cancer patients and also whether there is any difference in signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 levels of patients with malignant or benign diseases. METHODS: The study included 55 subjects (45 males, 10 females; mean age 57.8±15.9 years; range 18 to 82 years) who were separated into three groups as 25 resectable non-small cell lung cancer patients (21 males, 4 females; mean age 64.6±9.4 years; range, 41 to 79 years) who were operated with the purpose of diagnosis and treatment (group 1), 15 unresectable non-small cell lung cancer patients (10 males, 5 females; mean age 61.8±9.6 years; range, 48 to 82 years) (group 2), and 15 patients (14 males, 1 females; mean age 42.5±19.5 years; range, 18 to 76 years) who were operated with non-cancer related reasons (group 3; control group). RESULTS: Preoperative serum signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 levels in groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher compared to control group (p=0.045). Serum signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 levels in group 2 were significantly higher compared to the other two groups (p=0.008). Levels of signal peptide- Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domaincontaining protein 1 in tissue samples were significantly higher in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and yielded a prognostic importance such that a 1 ng/mL rise in tissue signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1- epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 concentration caused a 1.4 fold increase in death risk (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Concentration of signal peptide-Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1-epidermal growth factor domain-containing protein 1 in serum and tumor tissue may be an important biomarker in determining the diagnosis and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibodies in Behçet's disease.

BACKGROUND: Behçet's disease is a vasculitis, seen more frequently around the Mediterranean and the Far East, and evinces with oral and genital ulcerations, skin lesions and uveitis. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a metalloenzyme which is widely distributed in the living world, and it is essential for the regulation of acid-base balance. Anti-CA antibodies have been reported in many disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, idiopathic chronic pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes and Graves' disease. The goal of this study was to investigate CA I and II autoantibodies in Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: 35 patients with BD and 29 healthy controls were included in the study and CA I and II autoantibody levels were investigated by ELISA. RESULTS: The CA I and II autoantibody levels of BD group were significantly higher than the healthy group (p=0.013, p inf 0.0001, respectively). A cut-off value of 0.250 ABSU for anti-CA I was associated with 34 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity and a cut-off value of 0.171 ABSU for anti-CA II was associated with 54 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for predicting BD. CONCLUSION: The CA I and II autoantibody levels in patients with BD were found higher compared to control group and the results suggest that CA I and II autoantibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of BD.

Investigation of the expression of irisin and some cachectic factors in mice with experimentally induced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine whether irisin is secreted by gastric tumor cells experimentally induced in mice, and also if it has any effect on cancer cachexia. DESIGN AND METHODS: 12 out of 60 BALB/c mice were used as a control group, while N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) was administered orally to the remaining 48. After 150 days, the surviving mice were sacrificed by decapitation, blood and stomach, skeletal muscle, brown and white adipose tissue specimens were collected. Following histopathological evaluation of the stomach tissues, it was decided to create four groups, one control group and three consisting of mice administered MNU, no cancer, pre-cancer and cancer. Gene expression analyses of fibronectin type III domain containing protein 5 (FNDC5) and some cachexia-related proteins were performed in tissue samples, while levels of irisin, and various inflammatory and tumor markers together with cachectic factors were determined in serum samples. RESULTS: The levels of inflammatory, tumor markers and cachectic factors in serum samples were significantly higher in the cancer group compared with the control group. No expression of FNDC5 or zinc-α-2 glycoprotein, a cachectic factor, was observed in gastric tissues from the control and MNU groups, whereas significantly increased FNDC5 expression was determined in the both white and brown adipose tissues from the cancer group. CONCLUSION: Increased FNDC5 expression in white and brown adipose tissues may have a cachectic effect in mice with induced cancer. However, it is not possible to explain the mechanism of the relationship between irisin and gastric cancer development on the basis of the results of this study.

Anti-carbonic anhydrase antibodies in iron deficiency anemia.

OBJECTIVES: Studies on experimental animals have shown that elevated oxidative stress in erythrocytes leads to the formation of autoantibodies against carbonic anhydrase (CA) and anemia. This study investigated the presence of CA I and II autoantibodies in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: Forty patients with IDA and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum CA I and II autoantibody levels were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured in order to evaluate oxidative stress. RESULTS: CA I and II antibody titers in patients with IDA were higher than those in the controls (P = 0.005 and 0.010, respectively). A weak negative correlation was determined between anti-CA I antibody titers and ferritin, iron and mean cell volume (MCV) levels (P = 0.013, 0.042, and 0.021, respectively). Serum MDA levels were also significantly higher in the IDA group (P < 0.001). At an anti-CA I cut-off point of 0.155 absorbance unit (ABSU), sensitivity was 70% and specificity 65%. At an anti-CA II cut-off point of 0.088 ABSU, sensitivity was 60% and specificity 75%. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In conclusion, an immune response against CA I and II develops in IDA. CA I autoantibodies are correlated with hematological parameters used in the diagnosis of IDA and have the potential to be used in treatment.