Heparin Binding Protein in Early Differential Diagnosis of Bacterial Meningitis.

Heparin-binding protein is a serine protease that is mobilized rapidly from emigrating polymorphonuclear leukocytes that acts as a chemoattractant activator of monocyte and macrophages. We investigated the potential role and efficacy of serum and cerebrospinal fluid heparin binding protein in differentiating bacterial meningitis from tuberculosis and viral meningitis. A case diagnosed with acute bacterial meningitis (n:37), viral meningitis (n:30) and tuberculous meningitis (n:30) was included in this study.

The acute effects of interval exercise on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in volleyball players.

Background: Volleyball is briefly described as an "interval" sport with both aerobic and anaerobic components. Exercise may influence antioxidant/prooxidant balance, which leads to differences in oxidative stress status between athletes in different sport disciplines, but the results of the previous studies are inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to determine the acute effects of exercise on oxidative stress parameters such as serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels in volleyball players.

Levels of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and nitrotyrosine in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.

Objectives: Oxidative stress is one of the potential biochemical mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis. The aim of the present study was to determine levels of oxidative stress in a large group of chronic viral hepatitis (CVH) patients who had not received antiviral treatment, and to assess the relationship between these parameters and viral load, fibrosis score and necro-inflammation of the liver.

Material And Methods: Two hundred CVH patients and 107 healthy subjects were included in this study.

Nitric oxide levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in Turkish women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.

Objective: To determine whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk for Idiopathic Recurrent Miscarriage (IRM) in the Turkish population and to evaluate the association between Nitric Oxide (NO) levels and eNOS gene polymorphisms in women with IRM.

Material And Methods: A total of 120 Turkish women were enrolled in this study in four groups. Of these, 30 women were first trimester pregnant who had IRM (Group I).

Antioxidant defense in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C type.

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine erythrocyte glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and serum total antioxidant response levels in a large chronic viral hepatitis group who had no antiviral treatment, and also the relationship of these parameters with viral load, fibrosis score, and necro-inflammation of the liver.

Methods: 200 patients who were diagnosed with chronic viral hepatitis and 107 healthy subjects were included in this study. Antioxidant parameters were measured spectrophotometrically.

Cardiac effects of magnesium sulfate pretreatment on acute dichlorvos-induced organophosphate poisoning: an experimental study in rats.

Although atropine and oximes are traditionally used in the management of organophosphate poisoning, investigations have been directed to finding additional therapeutic approaches. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac effects of magnesium sulfate pretreatment on dichlorvos intoxication in rats. Rats were randomly divided into three groups as control, dichlorvos, and magnesium sulfate groups.

Biochemical assessments of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, pyridoxal--5-phosphate oxidative stress index and total antioxidant status in adolescent professional basketball players and sedentary controls.

Physical training is known to increase the antioxidant defence system and reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress. However, intense physical aerobic and anaerobic training with competition, such as those imposed on young professional basketball players can induce an increase of oxidative stress, which can be implicated with overtraining. The aim of this study was to test the effect of training and competition load on oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and vitamin levels in basketball players.

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.