The protective effect of MCP-1 -2518 A>G promoter polymorphism in Turkish chronic renal failure patients requiring long-term hemodialysis.

Objective: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) plays a major role in the pathogenesis and progression of different types of human renal disease. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of MCP-1 gene -2518 A>G promoter polymorphism in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients requiring long-term hemodialysis.

Methods: The study population consisted of 201 adult CRF patients requiring long-term hemodialysis and 194 healthy controls.

The CYP4502D6 *4 and *6 alleles are the molecular genetic markers for drug response: implications in colchicine non-responder FMF patients.

The cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a cytochrome P450 enzyme involved in the oxidative biotransformation of the xenobiotics, carcinogens and various clinically important drugs. Patients are evaluated in three sub-groups of extensive (EM), intermediate (IM) and poor metabolizer (PM) phenotypes due to their drug-metabolising ability for the target CYP2D6 gene. Colchicine non-responsive FMF patients were prospectively genotyped for the major CYP2D6 alleles in the current study.

Serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Objective: Oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although there are some studies on oxidative stress and PTSD, there is no report available on the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with PTSD. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the serum total oxidant and antioxidant status in earthquake survivors with chronic PTSD.

N-acetylcysteine in patients with COPD exacerbations associated with increased sputum.

Background: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown not to alter the clinical outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. However, NAC may improve symptoms through its mucolytic effect in the subgroup of patients with increased sputum production. The aims of this study were to determine whether NAC improves symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with COPD exacerbation and increased sputum production.

Comprasion of ovarian stromal blood flow measured by color Doppler ultrasonography in polycystic ovary syndrome patients and healthy women with ultrasonographic evidence of polycystic.

Objective: To compare ovarian stromal artery blood flows measured by Doppler ultrasonography of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients and healthy women with polycystic ovarian image in ultrasonography.

Methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the criteria of 2003 Rotterdam Concencus Conferance on PCOS and 38 healthy volunteers with polycystic ovarian image in ultrasonography were included in the study. Ovarian volumes and ovarian stromal artery blood flows were measured by 3-dimensional (3-D) ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography in all patients.

Liver enzymes, mean platelet volume, and red cell distribution width in gestational diabetes.

Aim: To investigate the value of measuring liver enzymes, red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in predicting the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Materials And Methods: The medical records of all pregnant women followed by the obstetrics clinic between January 2010 and November 2012 were systematically evaluated, and patients with a diagnosis of GDM were identified. A total of 68 patients with GDM and 61 healthy controls were included in the study.

Macular findings obtained by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose. To examine the macular findings obtained with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) in infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Materials and Methods.

Investigation of the possible association of NEDD4-2 (NEDD4L) gene with idiopathic photosensitive epilepsy.

NEDD4-2 alias NEDD4L (neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated) gene was reported as a candidate gene for epileptic photo-sensitivity. We aimed to investigate this possible association of NEDD4-2 variants with idiopathic photosensitive epilepsy. Consecutive patients who had been followed up at our epilepsy center and diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy according to ILAE criteria and clear-cut photoparoxysmal responses in their electroencephalograms and 100 ethnically matched healthy subjects were included in the study.

Increase of serum fractalkine and fractalkine gene expression levels in sickle cell disease patients.

In the present study, we examined the role of fractalkine (Fkn), a member of the chemokine family, in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Eighty-seven children with sickle cell disease and 55 healthy children were enrolled in the study. Complete blood counts, serum levels of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ and fractalkine, and gene expression levels of Fkn were investigated.

Recurrent massive haemoperitoneum associated with ruptured corpus luteum in women with congenital afibrinogenemia; case report.

Massive hemoperitoneum secondary to ruptured corpus luteum is a rare but serious and life-threatening complication for women with congenital bleeding disorders and may lead to surgical interventions and even oophorectomy. Congenital afibrinogenemia is a rare inherited coagulation disorder. As it can be asymptomatic, its clinical manifestations vary from minimal tendency of bleeding to life-threatening bleedings.

Analysis of the horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial length in premature infants.

Purpose: To determine the horizontal corneal diameter, central corneal thickness, and axial length in premature infants.

Methods: Infants with a birth weight of less than 2,500 g or with a gestation period of less than 36 weeks were included in the study. Infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were allocated to Group 1 (n=138), while those without ROP were allocated to Group 2 (n=236).

Comparison of the effects of subconjunctival and topical anti-VEGF therapy (bevacizumab) on experimental corneal neovascularization.

Purpose: To compare the effects of bevacizumab applied either subconjunctivally or topically, in a rat model of corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn.

Methods: The right corneas of 24 Wistar-Albino rats were cauterized with silver nitrate sticks. The rats were divided randomly and equally into three groups: no treatment control (n=8), subconjunctival bevacizumab treatment (n=8), and topical bevacizumab treatment (n=8).

Bcıı--RFLP profiles for serum amiloid A1 and mutated MEFV gene prevalence in chronic renal failure patients requiring long-term hemodialysis.

Background And Aim: There is an increased mortality risk in long-term hemodialysis patients of renal failure due to the chronic inflammation. The relationship between the chronic renal failure (CRF) and the role of familial genetic markers remains incompletely understood. In the current study, it was aimed to find out the prevalence of common MEFV gene mutations and BcII polymorphism in serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) gene in chronic renal patients (CRF) who require long-term hemodialysis.

A homozygous splice-site mutation in CARS2 is associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy.

Objective: We report a consanguineous family with 2 affected individuals whose clinical symptoms closely resembled MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy with ragged red fibers) syndrome including severe myoclonic epilepsy, progressive spastic tetraparesis, progressive impairment of vision and hearing, as well as progressive cognitive decline.

Methods: After excluding the presence of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA mutations, whole-exome sequencing of blood DNA from the index patient was performed. Detected homozygous mutations and their cosegregation were confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Effect of reproductive characteristics, body mass index, and anterior/posterior vaginal compartment defects on the short-term success of abdominal sacrocolpopexy.

Objective: Vaginal vault prolapse is caused by the loss of apical support in the cardinal-uterosacral ligament complex. Abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASCP) is one means of repairing vaginal vault prolapse. In the present study, we investigated the effects of reproductive factors, body mass index (BMI), and anterior or posterior vaginal compartment defects on short-term outcomes of ASCP.

The most critical question when reading a meta-analysis report: Is it comparing apples with apples or apples with oranges?

Objective: While the number of meta-analyses published has increased recently, most of them have problems in the design, analysis, and/or presentation. An example of meta-analyses with a study selection bias is a meta-analysis of over 160,000 patients in 20 clinical trials, published in Eur Heart J in 2012 by van Vark, which concluded that the significant effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition on all-cause mortality was limited to the class of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), whereas no mortality reduction could be demonstrated with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Here, we aimed to discuss how to select studies for a meta-analysis and to present our results of a re-analysis of the van Vark data.

The effects of a history of seizures during pregnancy on umbilical arterial blood gas values in pregnant women with epilepsy.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate if the number of seizures that occur during pregnancy has any effect on umbilical arterial blood gas values at delivery.

Material And Methods: In total, 55 women who were 37 to 41 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy and 50 pregnant women with similar characteristics but not diagnosed as epileptic were included in this study. The patients diagnosed with epilepsy were divided into two groups: 27 patients with a history of at least 5 epileptic seizures during pregnancy and 28 who had no seizures during pregnancy.

[The investigation of malaria cases in Manisa between 2008-2012].

Objective: We aimed to determine the malaria prevalence in a 5-year period by using the data obtained from Malaria Control Center associated with the Manisa Province Public Health Office Infectious Diseases Department in Manisa between 2008 and 2012.

Methods: The data were evaluated according to age, gender, type of parasite, and the places of travel.

Results: In this study, six imported malaria cases were detected in blood samples from 86,955 patients by the Malaria Control Center, associated with the Manisa Province Public Health Office Infectious Diseases Department, with active and passive surveillance between 2008 and 2012.

Family patterns of psychopathology in psychiatric disorders.

Objective: Familial loading and crucial outcomes of family history of psychopathology in psychiatric disorders have long been recognized. There has been ample literature providing convincing evidence for the importance of family psychopathology in development of emotional disturbances in children as well as worse outcomes in the course of psychiatric disorders. More often, maternal psychopathology seems to have been an issue of interest rather than paternal psychopathology while effects of second-degree familiality have received almost no attention.