Plasma copeptin levels in the patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In addition, it constitutes an important part of health expenditures. In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between plasma copeptin levels and the etiology, location and severity of gastrointestinal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed prospectively in 104 consecutive patients who were admitted to an emergency department with complaints of bloody vomiting or bloody or black stool. To evaluate the level of biochemical parameters such as Full Blood Count (FBC), serum biochemistry, bleeding parameters and copeptin, blood samples were obtained at admission. For the copeptin levels, 2 more blood samples were obtained at the 12th and 24th hours after admission. The values obtained were compared using statistical methods. RESULTS: In terms of the etiology of bleeding, the copeptin levels in the patients with peptic ulcer were higher than the levels in patients with other gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the difference was not statistically significant. There were no significant differences among all groups' 0th, 12th and 24th hour levels of copeptin. DISCUSSION: We conclude that copeptin cannot be effectively used as a biochemical parameter in an emergency department to determine the etiology and location of gastrointestinal bleeding. It can, however, be used to make decisions on endoscopy and the hospitalization of patients with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding.

Magnesium, zinc and copper status in osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal post-menopausal women.

Serum concentrations of magnesium, zinc and copper were measured in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (n = 40), osteopenia (n = 40) or normal bone mineral density (n = 40) as classified on the basis of the T-score of the femur neck and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry results. Mean concentrations of magnesium and zinc were significantly lower in osteoporotic women than in both osteopenic women and normal women. In addition, magnesium and zinc concentrations in osteopenic women were significantly lower than in normal women. There were no statistically significant differences observed between the osteopenic, osteoporotic and control groups with respect to copper levels. The clinical significance of these changes needs further elucidation, but trace element supplementation, especially with magnesium and zinc and perhaps copper, may have beneficial effects on bone density.

Effect of some antidepressants on glycaemia and insulin levels of normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced hyperglycaemic mice.

Depression is an important problem among diabetic patients. We have investigated the effect of some antidepressant drugs on plasma glucose and insulin levels in normoglycaemic and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. For this purpose the effects of nortryptiline (as an example of a tricyclic antidepressant) and fluoxetine and sertraline (as examples of selective 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors) were examined on plasma glucose and insulin levels. Nortryptiline significantly increased glucose levels and reduced insulin levels in all animals. Although neither fluoxetine nor sertraline induced changes in insulin levels, both significantly reduced the blood glucose levels of mice. These results suggest that antidepressive treatment has important risks particularly for diabetics. Tricyclic antidepressants might induce an important decrease in glucose tolerance and worsen the control of diabetic patients. Selective 5-HT re-uptake inhibitors, on the other hand, might reduce plasma glucose independently of insulin levels. This point is particularly important and should be remembered when insulin or oral antidiabetic agents are administered to diabetics, because of the possible risk of hypoglycaemia.

Oxidant and antioxidant status in larynx squamous cell carcinomas.

In this study we reviewed 20 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant status on tissue level. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase levels, two important antioxidant enzymes, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a valuable index of lipid peroxidation, were compared in cancerous and normal tissues of the patients. In cancerous tissue SOD activities were significantly lower than in the normal tissue, while there was no significant difference in MDA levels and Catalase activities. It was also observed that SOD activities significantly decreased as the histopathologic malignancy grades increased in cancerous tissue. These changes in oxidant and antioxidant status in carcinomatous tissue of the larynx are considered to be of great interest.

A comparative study of the effect of ultrasound and electrostimulation on wound healing in rats.

A comparative study has been carried out to investigate the effects of electrical stimulation and ultrasound on wound healing. Eighty-four female rats were divided into four groups depending on the treatment received. The first group was given electrical stimulation of 300 microA direct current, 30 minutes daily, starting with negative polarity and then changed after 3 days of treatment. Group 2 received sham electrostimulation treatment. The third group received 0.1 W/cm2 pulsed ultrasound using the moving applicator technique for 5 minutes a day. Group 4 received sham ultrasound treatment. A total of 7 days of treatment was given to all groups. Histopathologic and biochemical analyses on the fourth and seventh days and wound breaking strength on the twenty-fifth day were performed for all groups. By accelerating the inflammatory phase, electrical stimulation had progressed the proliferative phase of wound healing earlier than ultrasound had done. Both electrical stimulation and ultrasound have positive effects on proliferative phases, but electrical stimulation was superior to ultrasound at the maturation phase. There was no difference between the two experimental groups on the mast cell reduction effect. Although ultrasound treatment may seem to be efficient in terms of time, when the effects of electrical stimulation and ultrasound on wound healing with the methods employed in our study are considered, it is concluded that electrical stimulation is a means of treatment superior to ultrasound in wound healing.

Micronucleus frequencies in workers exposed to lead, zinc, and cadmium.

Micronuclei (MN) in blood lymphocytes were determined in 31 male workers occupationally exposed to lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) and 20 control workers matched for age and smoking habits. Exposed workers have higher MN mean values than control workers (p < 0.01). In exposed workers, blood Pb concentrations were also significantly higher than in control workers (p < 0.001), but the mean concentrations of Zn and Cd in the blood were not statistically significant compared to the controls (p > 0.05). These results suggest that lead may be genotoxic and the human lymphocyte micronucleus test can be used to assess genotoxic effects that result from occupational exposures.

Plasma selenium levels in rheumatoid arthritis.

The plasma selenium (Se) levels were determined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy controls. Plasma Se levels in 60 patients were found to be significantly lower than those in 60 normal, healthy controls (p < 0.001). Similar significant differences were determined in sex-matched comparisons between patients and controls (p < 0.001) but there was no significant difference in plasma Se levels in sex-matched comparisons in both groups (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that Se is an important factor in RA.

Protective effect of magnesium supplementation on experimental 3-methyl cholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma and changes in tissue magnesium distribution during carcinogenesis in rats.

In this study, we wanted to examine the effect of magnesium (Mg2+) supplementation on the experimental 3-methyl cholanthrene (3-MC)-induced fibrosarcoma and alterations in (Mg2+) distribution in several tissues of the rats, during carcinogenesis. It was determined that serum and tissue (Mg2+) levels of the rats in (Mg2+)-supplemented diet group were higher than those of the rats in the (Mg2+)-nonsupplemented and control groups. The mean time of fibrosarcoma development for (Mg2+)-supplemented group was longer than (Mg2+)-nonsupplemented group (p < 0.05). Symptoms of hypermagnesemia were not observed in any of the rats. These results suggests that dietary (Mg2+) supplementation may have a partial anti-carcinogenic effect on experimental 3-MC-induced fibrosarcoma by prolongation of the latent period of carcinogenesis.

The effect of melatonin on plasma oxidant-antioxidant skeletal muscle reperfusion injury in rats.

We investigated the effects of melatonin administration on skeletal muscle ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) by assessing plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 32) were randomized into four groups: group 1 served as time controls; group 2 were the test animals; group 3 received melatonin (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally prior to the induction of ischaemia; and group 4 received melatonin (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally prior to the reperfusion period. Administration of melatonin prior to reperfusion significantly decreased the elevated MDA concentration caused by IRI, and significantly elevated GSSH concentrations, which had been reduced by IRI. Ischaemia-reperfusion injury significantly increased activities of GPX, SOD and MPO, and melatonin administration reversed this effect. In conclusion, a pharmacological dose of melatonin showed significant protective effects against IRI by decreasing lipid peroxidation, MPO, SOD and GPX enzyme activities and regulating glutathione content.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on physiological inhibitors of coagulation in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on plasma and peritoneal effluent levels of antithrombin III (AT-III), protein C (PC) activity, and protein S (PS) activity were evaluated in 10 uremic children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The findings were compared with values obtained from ten healthy children. Levels of AT-III and of PC and PS activity in plasma and peritoneal effluent were measured before, and at 8 and 12 weeks after, rHuEPO treatment. Baseline levels of AT-III and PC activity in plasma were lower than the control values. Levels of PC activity increased during the trial, while levels of AT-III remained unchanged, and levels of PS activity decreased. Baseline levels of PC activity in peritoneal effluent were lower than those obtained during rHuEPO treatment, while no change in peritoneal levels of PS activity and AT-III was observed after rHuEPO treatment. A significant positive correlation was seen between plasma and peritoneal levels of PC activity at baseline. A significant positive correlation was also seen between plasma levels of PS activity and hemoglobin at week 12, and a significant negative correlation between plasma levels of AT-III and albumin at week 8. No correlation was found between the plasma natural coagulation inhibitors and CAPD duration. These results suggest that plasma PS activity can be decreased, and plasma PC activity increased, by rHuEPO treatment in children.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on fibrinolytic system in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

We studied tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels in plasma and peritoneal effluent in 10 children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) before, and 8 and 12 weeks after, treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO). Plasma t-PA and PAI-1 levels were lower in patients than in controls during the study. The plasma t-PA levels were increased by rHuEPO treatment. Although PAI-1 levels showed a tendency to increase in the early phase of rHuEPO treatment, they later returned to near baseline levels. Peritoneal effluent t-PA levels were decreased at week 8 of treatment, but returned to baseline levels at week 12. Peritoneal effluent PAI-1 levels were not changed by the rHuEPO treatment. No correlation was observed between levels of t-PA and PAI-1 in plasma and in peritoneal effluent. No correlation was seen between plasma PAI-1 levels and duration of CAPD. A significant negative correlation was found between the plasma PAI-1 levels and hemoglobin levels at week 8 and week 12. These results suggest that plasma t-PA levels can be increased by rHuEPO treatment, while plasma PAI-1 levels are associated with hemoglobin levels.

Serum malondialdehyde levels in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax.

Malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxide, may be used as an indicator of oxidative stress. This study investigated the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration activity was measured in 87 patients. Scores were obtained for the patients and 60 seronegative healthy controls matched for age and gender. The difference between MDA levels of patients infected with Plasmodium vivax and the control group was statistically significant both for females (p < 0.001) and males (p < 0.001). In the patient and control group, no correlation was found between age and malondialdehyde levels (p > 0.05) in both females and males. In addition, no significant correlation could be found between MDA levels of both females and males for patients and control group (p > 0.05). MDA levels were increased in the patients infected with Plasmodium vivax.

Immunoglobulin-G and creatinine levels in rabbits in altitude adaptation.

The changes of immunoglobulin-G and creatinine levels in mid-altitude were investigated in rabbits. The animals living at sea level were exposed to 2240 m altitude for 22 days period. When compared with sea level values; immunoglobulin-G levels were significantly low. Serum creatinine level decreased significantly in the 2nd day, then reached the sea level amount on the 12th day. On the 22nd day a significant increase was observed. It was concluded that the decrease in immunoglobulin-G values may be due to the depression of protein synthesis. The increase in plasma creatinine level would be explained by the decrease in urine.

Continuous versus cyclical transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women: effects on lipoprotein(a) and nitric oxide levels.

The purpose of our study was to compare the effects of cyclical versus continuous transdermal oestrogen replacement therapy on lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) and nitric oxide levels. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group received transdermal 17-beta oestradiol 50 microg/day for 21 days and the second group the same treatment on a continuous basis. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 mg/day orally) was added between the 14th and 25th days to each group. Lipoprotein (a) and nitric oxide levels were measured before the study and after six months. These values were compared using the Wilcoxon rank test within the groups and the unpaired t-test between the groups. Lipoprotein (a) levels decreased significantly in each group at the sixth month (p < 0.05). When compared between the groups, the decrease of lipoprotein (a) levels in the second group was more prominent at the sixth month (p < 0.05). Nitric oxide levels increased in each group after six months (p < 0.05). No difference in nitric oxide levels was observed between the groups before and after the therapy (p > 0.05). Continuous transdermal estradiol had a better effect on lipoprotein (a) levels than cyclical therapy The seven day pause in the 21-day administration did not affect nitric oxide levels negatively after six months.

Tear nitrite and nitrate levels as nitric oxide end products in patients with Behçet's disease and non-Behçet's uveitis.

To evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in ocular inflammation, tear nitrite and nitrates (NN) as NO end products were determined in 11 patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and in 11 with non-Behçet's uveitis (NBU) during the active and remission stages and in 12 healthy controls. Median (with the range) NN levels were 82.29 (59. 60-98.25) micromol/l in the active and 98.25 (52.88-246.92) micromol/l in the remission stage of BD; 88.17 (25.99-116.73) micromol/l in the active and 83.00 (31.04-250.28) micromol/l in the remission stage of NBU and 109.17 (88.17-158.74) micromol/l in the controls. The NN levels in the active stage of BD and NBU were significantly decreased when compared to the controls (p < 0.05; Kruskal-Wallis test). Decreased NN levels at the activation stage may be caused by the rapid transformation of the NO to peroxynitrites, which are highly oxidizing and cytotoxic substances.

Selenium concentrations in serum, lens and aqueous humour of patients with senile cataract.

Selenium (Sc) is a trace element which incorporates into the selenoenzyme glutathion peroxidase. Cataractogenesis may be caused either by the excess or deficiency of this trace element. More recently, its potential of becoming a possible environmental pollutant has been emphasized. In an attempt to reveal the relationship of this element with cataractogenesis, we detected its level in 48 serum, 36 lens and 9 aqueous humour samples of 48 patients with senile cataract, comparing the results with appropriate controls. Selenium levels (mean +/- SD) of cataractous patients were found to be 0.28 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml (CI: 0.27 to 0.29 microgram/ml) in sera (controls: 0.32 +/- 0.04 microgram/ml; CI: 0.30 to 0.34 microgram/ml, p < 0.0001), 5.43 +/- 3.07 microgram/g dry weight (CI: 4.43 to 6.43 microgram/g dry weight) in lens (controls: 4.43 +/-2.53 microgram/g dry weight; CI: 2.78 to 6.08 microgram/g dry weight; p=0.374) and 0.19 +/- 0.06 microgram/ml (CI:0.15 to 0.23 microgram/ml) in aqueous humour samples (controls: 0.31 +/-0.12 microgram/ml; CI: 0.24 to 0.38 microgram/ml, p = 0.02). When patient subgroups were analyzed, serum Se levels were found to be 0.28 +/- 0.05 microgram/ml (CI: 0.26 to 0.30 microgram/ml in the nuclear cataract and 0.28 +/- 0.02 microgram/ml (CI: 0.27 to 0.30 microgram/ml) in the cortical cataract. Lens Se levels, on the other hand, were detected as 5.91 +/- 3.56 microgram/g dry weight (CI:4.49 to 7.33 microgram/g dry weight) in the nuclear cataract and 4.47 +/- 1.40 microgram/g dry weight (CI: 3.68 to 5.26 microgram/g dry weight) in the cortical cataract. It is anticipated that decreased Se in aqueous humour and sera of patients with senile cataract may reflect defective antioxidative defense systems which may lead to the formation of cataract.

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid zinc levels in children with febrile convulsions.

The mechanisms underlying febrile convulsions (FC), which have multiple etiological factors, are not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there were any changes in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) zinc (Zn) levels in children with febrile convulsion during seizures. A total of 102 children were included in the study, with four groups formed as follows: group A, 40 children with FC (aged 9 months to 5 years); group B. 20 children having fever without convulsion (aged 6 months to 5 years); group C, 20 children with afebrile convulsion (aged 6 months to 6 years) and group D, 22 healthy children (aged 5 months to 6 years). Serum and CSF zinc levels for groups A, B and C and serum Zn levels only for group D were measured. The serum Zn levels of 17 children in group A were again measured during healthy periods. Serum Zn levels of groups A, B, C and D had a mean of 0.70 +/- 0.10 mg/dL, 1.07 +/- 0.08 mg/dL. 1.26 +/- 0.32 mg/dL and 1.17 +/- 0.21 mg/dL, respectively, and the values of group A were lower than those of the other three groups (P < 0.001). In group B, serum Zn levels were also lower than those of groups C and D (P < 0.05). The CSF Zn levels of groups A, B and C were found to have a mean of 0.07 +/- 0.02 mg/L, 0.12 +/- 0.02 mg/L and 0.14 +/- 0.04 mg/L, respectively. In group A, the CSF Zn levels were lower than those of groups B and C (P < 0.001), and in group B they were lower than those of group C (P < 0.05). For the 17 patients in group A, serum Zn levels during healthy periods (0.87 +/- 0.10 mg/dL) were found to be higher than the values shortly after seizures, but lower than those of groups B, C and D (P < 0.001). We could not observe any relationship between zinc levels of the serum and CSF and the degree and duration of the fever. These findings suggest that serum and CSF Zn levels decreased during infectious diseases, and that this decrease was more significant in patients with FC.

Serum malondialdehyde levels in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax

Malondialdehyde, a lipid peroxide, may be used as an indicator of oxidative stress. This study investigated the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients infected with Plasmodium vivax. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration activity was measured in 87 patients. Scores were obtained for the patients and 60 seronegative healthy controls matched for age and gender. The difference between MDA levels of patients infected with Plasmodium vivax and the control group was statistically significant both for females (p < 0.001) and males (p < 0.001). In the patient and control group, no correlation was found between age and malondialdehyde levels (p > 0.05) in both females and males. In addition, no significant correlation could be found between MDA levels of both females and males for patients and control group (p > 0.05). MDA levels were increased in the patients infected with Plasmodium vivax