Knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis and its related factors among rural Turkish women.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness, perception, sources of information, and knowledge of osteoporosis in a sample of rural Turkish women, to examine the factors related to their knowledge, and organize effective education programs. A total of 768 women mean age 53.6 +/- 8.

TSH influences serum leptin levels independent of thyroid hormones in hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients.

Leptin is considered to play a role in maintenance of energy balance and body weight by neuroendocrine mechanisms. The physiological mechanisms for thyroid hormone-induced alteration in serum leptin are not well known. In the present study, the relationship between thyroid hormones and leptin levels was investigated in patients with overt hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism before and after successful treatment.

Beta-cell secretory dysfunction in the pathogenesis of low birth weight-associated diabetes: a murine model.

Low birth weight (LBW) is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes. We have developed a mouse model of LBW resulting from undernutrition during pregnancy. Restriction of maternal food intake from day 12.

Effect of thyroid function on LDL oxidation in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are highly suspected of initiating the atherosclerosis process. Hypothyroidism is frequently associated with hypercholesterolemia and carries increased risk for atherosclerosis. In contrast to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism is not associated with increased LDL cholesterol, but is associated with increased oxidized LDL.

The effects of estrogen and raloxifene treatment on antioxidant enzymes in brain and liver of ovarectomized female rats.

Recent studies documented that estrogen have antioxidant properties in-vitro, there are conflicting results on the effect of estrogen in vivo. We aimed to investigate the effects of estradiol and Raloxifene on the antioxidant enzyme [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] activities and MDA levels in brain and liver homogenates of ovariectomized female rats. Twelve weeks after ovariectomy, female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 26) were divided into three groups: (1) Ovariectomized placebo group (n = 6) was given physiologic saline.

The effects of estrogen and raloxifene treatment on the antioxidant enzymes and nitrite-nitrate levels in brain cortex of ovariectomized rats.

Number of studies indicate that the female gonadal hormone estrogen protects women against several neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia via various mechanisms. The possible protective effects of estrogen are mediated mainly by three ways; the activation of steroid receptors and/or modulation of a neurotransmitter and/or direct antioxidative action. Therefore we aimed to investigate the effects of estradiol and raloxifene on levels of nitric oxide (NO) and antioxidant enzymes in brain cortex of ovariectomized female rats.

Effects of insulin and sulphonylureas on insulin-like growth factor-I levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Objective: Diabetes Mellitus is associated with decreased insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels and also, poor growth in diabetes is related with low circulating levels of IGF-I. Insulin acts via an increase of IGF-I synthesis on growth. We studied the effects of insulin and sulphonylureas on serum IGF-I levels and aimed to evaluate the restoration of IGF-I in different therapeutic strategies.