Mullerian inhibiting substance, sex hormone binding globulin and sex hormone levels in stimulant-naïve, first-diagnosed prepubertal boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: comparison with matched healthy controls as well as before and after oros-methylpenidate treatment.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with strong male predominance. Since Müllerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) produces sex-linked bias in animal studies, we aimed to investigate the role of MIS, Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) and sex hormone levels in boys with ADHD. We compared prepubertal, psychostimulant-naïve boys with ADHD with age-matched healthy control boys (HCs).

The Place of Calprotectin, Lactoferrin, and High-Mobility Group Box 1 Protein on Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis with Children.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of serum calprotectin (CP), lactoferrin (LF), and high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB-1) levels and fecal CP and LF levels in differential diagnosis of acute uncomplicated appendicitis from other causes of abdominal pain and further from complicated appendicitis. Totally, 120 children were included grouped into 4 as: healthy controls, patients with right lower quadrant pain with other than surgical causes, patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, and patients with complicated appendicitis. Serum CP, LF, HMGB-1, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and white blood cell (WBC) count were studied as well as the fecal CP and LF levels.

Relationship between soluble intercellular adhesion molecules and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood-oneset psychiatric disease, characterized by excessive overactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness. In recent studies, it is emphasized that inflammation may have a role in ADHD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether there are associations between ADHD and serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (s-ICAMs) which have important role in inflammatory diseases.

The role of hepcidin and its related genes (BMP6, GDF-15, and HJV) in rats exposed to ischemia and reperfusion.

Background/aim: To determine the roles of hepcidin and its related genes in a renal ischemia/reperfusion model.

Materials And Methods: A total of 20 Wistar albino rats were equally divided into 2 groups: Group I was the control group and Group II was the ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) group (60 min of ischemia + 48 h of reperfusion). I/R was performed on the left kidneys of these rats and then the I/R-treated kidneys were removed.

A multicenter nationwide reference intervals study for common biochemical analytes in Turkey using Abbott analyzers.

Background: A nationwide multicenter study was organized to establish reference intervals (RIs) in the Turkish population for 25 commonly tested biochemical analytes and to explore sources of variation in reference values, including regionality.

Methods: Blood samples were collected nationwide in 28 laboratories from the seven regions (≥400 samples/region, 3066 in all). The sera were collectively analyzed in Uludag University in Bursa using Abbott reagents and analyzer.

Alterations of Lipid-Lipoprotein and Leptin in Bipolar Disorder Associated with Clinic Process.

Introduction: Obesity is more common among patients with bipolar disorder as compared to normal population. There are studies showing increased leptin levels in obese patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the alterations in leptin levels, body mass index (BMI), and lipid-lipoprotein levels during manic period, as well as during euthymic period, after one month in patients with bipolar disorder.

Investigation of intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) gene expressions in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

The adhesion molecules play a major role in inflammation as well as in neoplastic diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expressions of the adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-2, and ICAM-3, in Barrett's esophagus, recognized as a premalign lesion for esophageal cancer and related to inflammation. Eighteen patients with Barrett's esophagus according to endoscopy and 25 volunteers without Barrett's esophagus disease were included in the study.

Analysis of myeloperoxidase promotor polymorphism and enzyme activity in Turkish patients with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary disorder characterized by white areas of the skin due to loss of epidermal melanocytes. Oxidative stress and free radicals are suggested as important phenomena in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Myeloperoxidase is a lysosomal enzyme of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and acts as a catalyst in the production of hypochlorous acid, a powerful oxidant.

Serum adenosine deaminase activity in monitoring disease activity and response to therapy in severe psoriasis.

Objectives: Activity of Serum Adenosine Deaminase (ADA), a main enzyme in purine degradation and considered as a marker for non-specific T cell activation, in psoriasis has been investigated in a few studies with conflicting results.

Design And Methods: To evaluate the significance of serum ADA activity in psoriasis, and analyze whether ADA activity may be related to disease activity, we performed a prospective study with 38 cases of psoriasis and 24 healthy volunteers. Patients were divided into two groups as cases with local and stable lesions (Group i, n: 20) and severe cases with extensive involvement (Group ii, n: 18).

Persistency of high proinflammatory cytokine levels from colostrum to mature milk in preeclampsia.

Objectives: Recent evidence suggests a role of an excessive maternal inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Whether this imbalance can be transferred from mother to breast milk remains to be established.

Design And Methods: 15 preeclamptic and 15 healthy pregnant women were recruited in this study.

Decreased adrenomedullin and total nitrite levels in breast milk of preeclamptic women.

Objective: To observe the adrenomedullin (AM) and total nitrite levels in the milk of preeclamptic and normal pregnant women.

Design And Methods: Fifteen women with preeclampsia and 15 normal pregnant women were included in the study. Total nitrite was quantitated by Griess reaction, while AM was measured by HPLC.

Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in pregnancy induced hypertension.

Objectives: Aim of this study was to evaluate implication of pregnancy induced hypertension on maternal plasma lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein concentrations and lipid peroxidation products by a comparison of normal pregnancy vs. preeclampsia.

Design And Methods: Thirty-four women with preeclampsia and 32 healthy pregnant women (controls) in the third trimester were recruited for this study.

Pediatric urolithiasis--evaluation of risk factors in 95 children.

Objective: Pediatric urolithiasis is a rarely encountered pathology, except in endemic areas such as Turkey. As a recurrent pathology which may reveal functional as well and morphologic changes in the urinary tract, metabolic and environmental factors, in addition to urogenital abnormalities, should be evaluated thoroughly in each patient. In this prospective study, the patient and family histories of 95 children with stone disease were evaluated, together with serum and urine risk factors.

Acute effect of hemodialysis on serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines.

Chronic inflammation is a common feature of end-stage renal disease, which carries a heightened risk of atherosclerosis and other co-morbid conditions. Dialysis treatment per se can bring additional risk factors for inflammation, such as increased risk of local graft and fistula infections, impure dialysate or bio-incompatible membranes. Our study was designed to determine whether a hemodialysis session leads to an acute substantial alteration in the plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, the T-lymphocyte activation factor soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and an inflammation mediator and chemotactic granulocyte factor, IL-8, in end-stage renal disease patients receiving chronic intermittent HD.

Triglycerides predict plasma fibronectin in children with type I diabetes mellitus rather than diabetes.

Fibronectins are adhesive proteins considered as markers of endothelial activation. Plasma fibronectin levels in diabetes mellitus (DM) have been found to be associated with atherosclerotic risk factors. This study was carried out to investigate plasma fibronectin and its relation with serum lipids, apolipoproteins AI, B100 and lp(a) in diabetic children.

Acute effect of haemodialysis on serum markers of myocardial damage.

Cardiac markers are more likely to be elevated in dialysis patients than in patients with renal failure not on dialysis. In this study, 31 patients (20 males, 11 females) undergoing chronic haemodialysis were enrolled. The effect of haemodialysis on cardiac troponin T (cTnT), I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CKMB) mass, CKMB activity and myoglobin assays was assessed by comparing pre- and post-haemodialysis determinations.

Serum prolidase activity as a marker of osteoporosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Prolidase is a specific imidodipeptidase involved in collagen degradation. The increase in the enzyme activity is believed to be correlated with the increased intensity of collagen degradation This study aimed to evaluate serum prolidase activity and urinary deoxypyridinoline cross links in type 2 diabetic subjects with and without osteoporosis assessed by bone mineral density.

Design And Methods: Seventy-five patients (54 F/21 M) with type 2 DM and 43 age and gender matched healthy subjects (30 F/13 M) were recruited for this study.

Diagnostic value of CRP and Lp(a) in coronary heart disease.

Objectives: Increased lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentration was reported to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Recent epidemiological studies affirmed the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as the strongest, univariate predictor of the cardiovascular events. We decided to establish cut-off levels providing maximum diagnostic efficiency for CHD.

Mediators of inflammation in children with type I diabetes mellitus: cytokines in type I diabetic children.

Objectives: Recent evidence favors primary role of cellular autoimmunity and its humoral mediators in pathogenesis and following Type I diabetes mellitus (DM). The present study was carried out to investigate serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in children with type I DM. Potential role of lipid metabolism, glycemic control, body mass index (BMI) and disease duration were evaluated.

Cytochrome P4502C9 genotype in Southeast Anatolia and possible relation with some serum tumour markers and cytokines.

Substrates for CYP2C9 include fluoxetine, phenytoin, warfarin, losartam and numerous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Polymorphisms in the coding region of the CYP2C9 gene produce variants at amino-acid residues 144 Arg/Cys and 359 Ile/Leu of the CYP2C9 protein. Individuals homozygous for Leu359 have markedly diminished metabolic capacities for most CYP2C9 substrates, the frequency of this allele is, however, rather low.

Serum IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in schizophrenic patients, relation with symptomatology and responsiveness to risperidone treatment.

Activation of the inflammatory response system and varied levels of cytokines in acute schizophrenia have been suggested by recent studies. Psychopharmacologic agents can differentially effect cytokine production, which suggests that therapeutic function of neuroleptics may involve immunomodulation. The present study was carried out to examine: (i) serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-6, IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in schizophrenic patients; (ii) their relation with psychopathological assessment; and (iii) the relation of the initial cytokine levels with responsiveness to risperidone therapy.

Menstrual cycle dependent variability for serum tumor markers CEA, AFP, CA 19-9, CA 125 and CA 15-3 in healthy women.

Information on menstrual cycle dependent variation of tumor markers in healthy women is a subject of diagnostic efficiency and has an impact in elucidating the normal function of these markers. In this study midfollicular and midluteal concentrations of serum CEA, AFP, CA 19-9, CA 125, CA 15-3 and their relations with LH, FSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone were evaluated during ovulatory cycles in a group of 23 healthy female individuals. Samples were collected on the 7th and 21st day of the same menstrual cycle.

Diagnostic value of biochemical markers of bone turnover and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

We studied 77 women divided into postmenopausal osteoporotic and premenopausal and postmenopausal non-osteoporotic groups in order to evaluate bone metabolism and diagnostic value of biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Postmenopausal osteoporotic (n: 40), postmenopausal non-osteoporotic (n: 24) and premenopausal non-osteoporotic (n: 13) groups were defined according to bone mineral density (BMD) scores obtained with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Urinary deoxy-pyridinoline (Dpd), pyridinoline (Pyd), serum total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (BGP), total calcium, phosphorus, and creatinine levels were determined.