Pediatric reference intervals for plasma and urine essential amino acids in a Turkish population.

Aim: To establish age- and sex-specific reference intervals for essential amino acids in a healthy Turkish pediatric population.

Materials And Methods: A total of 945 clinically healthy children (531 boys and 414 girls, ranging in age from birth to 14 years) were enrolled. Plasma and urine amino acids' concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Determination of oxidative stress and cellular inflammation in patients with diabetic nephropathy and non-diabetic nephropathy being administered hemodialysis treatment due to chronic renal failure.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate oxidative stress [8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA)] endothelial damage [asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)] and markers of cellular inflammation [interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), neopterin (NP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic nephropathy who were being administered hemodialysis treatment because of chronic renal failure.

Methods: In determining 8-OHdG, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay method was used. Serum MDA, ADMA and NP levels were determined by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Identification of disease specific pathways using in vivo SILAC proteomics in dystrophin deficient mdx mouse.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular disorder caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene. DMD is characterized by progressive weakness of skeletal, cardiac, and respiratory muscles. The molecular mechanisms underlying dystrophy-associated muscle weakness and damage are not well understood.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio independently predicts cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Increased inflammation is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events (CVE). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was used to predict survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to evaluate predictive ability of NLR in CKD patients.

Serum uric acid independently predicts cardiovascular events in advanced nephropathy.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease and is also associated with elevated uric acid, which is emerging as a nontraditional CV risk factor. We therefore evaluated uric acid as a risk factor for CV disease in subjects presenting to nephrologists with CKD who were not on medications known to alter endothelial function.

Methods: 303 subjects with stage 3-5 CKD were followed for a mean of 39 months (range 6-46) and assessed for fatal and nonfatal CV events.

The effect of valsartan and nebivolol treatment on ADMA and pentraxin-3 levels in hypertensive patients.

Long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a recently discovered multimeric inflammatory mediator that is structurally linked to short pentraxins, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P component. PTX3 is produced by a variety of tissues and cells, including vascular endothelial cells and macrophages. Because of its extrahepatic synthesis (in contrast to CRP), the PTX3 level is believed to be a true independent indicator of disease activity because PTX3 is produced at sites of inflammation and is intimately linked to endothelial dysfunction.

The effects of medical ozone therapy on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Introduction: This study was designed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of medical ozone therapy (OT), known as an immunomodulator and antioxidant, on the renal function, morphology, and biochemical parameters of oxidative stress in kidneys subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI).

Materials And Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were classified into three groups: control, renal IRI, and renal IRI + OT. The IRI group was induced by bilateral renal ischemia for 60 min, followed by reperfusion for 6 h.

Simultaneous determination of cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus in whole-blood samples by LC-MS/MS.

Objectives: Cyclosporine A (CyA), tacrolimus (TRL), sirolimus (SIR), and everolimus (RAD) are immunosuppressive drugs frequently used in organ transplantation. Our aim was to confirm a robust sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for determination of CyA, TRL, SIR, and RAD in whole-blood samples.

Materials And Methods: We used an integrated online solid-phase extraction-LC-MS/MS system and atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (API-MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) detection mode.

Paraoxonase lactonase activity (PON-HTLase), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity in non-obese women with PCOS.

Objective: Paraoxonase1 (PON1), exhibits both esterase activity (PON1-AREase) and homocysteine thiolactonase activity (PON1-HTLase) which respectively prevent LDL oxidation and detoxify homocysteine thiolactone (HTL). Platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is an antioxidant enzyme preventing LDL oxidation by hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids. Both of these enzymes exhibit a proatherogenic role.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels significantly correlate with radiological extent of disease and spirometric values in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting.

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate serum lactate dehydrogenase (LD) levels in patients with silicosis due to denim sandblasting (SDDS) and also to investigate possible correlations between serum LD levels and the degree of radiological extent of disease (RED) and pulmonary function tests.

Methods: Forty-four males with SDDS and 32 healthy male subjects were included in the study. Patients and healthy controls were compared for serum LD levels.

Asymmetrical dimethylarginine levels on the implantation success of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels before gonadotrophine treatment and on the day of oocytes retrieval in order to determine whether ADMA can be used as a predictive marker for implantation success in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Forty-four unexplained infertile patients were included in the study. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was performed using the recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with the standard long protocol for all patients.

Elevated pentraxin-3 levels are related to blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients: an observational study.

Objective: In this study, relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pentraxin-3 (PTX3) levels in hypertensive patients was investigated.

Methods: Overall, 80 patients with stage 1 hypertension between 40-61 years of age without any disease and 80 healthy volunteers were included to the study. Blood samples obtained to measure PTX3 levels and biochemical analysis.

The protective effects of ozone therapy in a rat model of acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Objectives: Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose may cause acute liver injury. Ozone therapy (OT) is shown to reduce inflammation and necrosis in several entities. Thus, we have designed this study to evaluate the efficacy of OT in a rat model of APAP-induced liver injury.

Plasma melatonin and urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the second most frequent cause of death in the world, after AIDS. Delay in diagnosing TB is an important worldwide problem. It seriously threatens public health.

Protective effects of melatonin and S-methylisothiourea on mechlorethamine induced nephrotoxicity.

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of melatonin (MEL) and S-methylisothiourea (SMT) on mechlorethamine (MEC) induced nephrotoxicity.

Materials And Methods: A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control, MEC, MEC+MEL, and MEC+SMT. Three groups received single dose of MEC (3.

The role of asymmetric dimethyl arginine and oxidant/antioxidant system in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. The aim of this study is to find the relationship between preeclampsia, asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), and the oxidant/antioxidant system. Twenty-one preeclamptic and 28 normal pregnant women were included in this study.

Pentraxin 3 as a potential biomarker of acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Objective: Overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) can lead to severe liver injury in humans and experimental animals. Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is produced and released by several cell types. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether PTX-3 is a potential biomarker in the identification of APAP-induced liver injury.

Elevated serum neopterin levels in acetaminophen-induced liver injury.

Neopterin is synthesized in macrophage/Kupffer cells by interferon-gamma and other cytokines. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of using neopterin as a biomarker of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. Wistar rats, randomly divided into two groups (APAP and normal), received APAP (1.

Serum prolidase activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Aim: To investigate serum prolidase activity (SPA) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Material And Methods: Twenty-nine PTB patients and 32 controls were included in the study. PTB patients (cavitary and non-cavitary) and controls were compared in terms of mean SPA.

Beneficial effects of N-acetylcysteine and ebselen on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Introduction: It has been demonstrated that peroxynitrite accompanies acute renal ischemia and contributes to the pathophysiology of renal damage. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the roles of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known powerful antioxidant, and ebselen (E), a scavenger of peroxynitrite, on renal injury induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) of rat kidney.

Materials And Methods: Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham, renal IRI, renal IRI+NAC, renal IRI+E, and renal IRI+NAC+E.

The levels of nitric oxide and asymmetric dimethylarginine in the rat endometriosis model.

Aim: To investigate the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in all the rat endometriosis models.

Material & Methods: Forty-one rats with endometriotic implants were divided into four groups (1 to 4) and administered infliximab, etanercept, letrozole and control, respectively. There were 11 rats in group 5 (normal).

Serum uric acid level and endothelial dysfunction in patients with nondiabetic chronic kidney disease.

Background: An elevated serum uric acid level is strongly associated with endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, both of which are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized that endothelial dysfunction in subjects with CKD would correlate with uric acid levels.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated the association between serum uric acid level and ultrasonographic flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in 263 of 486 patients with recently diagnosed CKD (stage 3-5) (48% male, age 52 ± 12 years).

Comparison of hyperbaric oxygen and medical ozone therapies in a rat model of experimental distal colitis.

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is effective in reducing the severity of acute distal colitis (ADC). Ozone therapy (OT) reduces inflammation in several pathological conditions. We aimed to compare the effects of HBO therapy and OT in an experimental ADC rat model.