Plasma trace elements, vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine levels in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy controls.

Increased serum homocysteine (Hcy) can induce liver diseases and can play a remarkable role in hepatic disorders. The purpose of the present study therefore was to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B(12), folate, zinc and copper, cysteine, and Hcy level differences between cirrhotic patients and healthy subjects. We studied 32 cirrhotic patients (12 females and 20 males) aged 45 +/- 11 years and 32 control subjects (12 females and 20 males) aged 39 +/- 9 years.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester improves oxidative erythrocyte damage in a rat model of thermal injury.

Oxygen-derived free radicals impair cell membrane functions and induce circulatory disturbances, and free radicals, such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and peroxynitrite, have been suggested to play important roles in the pathogenesis of major burn injuries. The present study investigated the effects of thermal injury on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status and investigated the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a new antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, in rats subjected to thermal injury. Burn injury caused a remarkable increase in erythrocyte lipid peroxidation, levels of nitric oxide (NO), and activities of antioxidant enzymes and xanthine oxidase (XO).

Changes in serum markers of oxidative stress with varying periods of haemodialysis.

Background And Aims: Oxidative stress possibly helps promote the progression and complications of chronic renal failure (CRF). Haemodialysis (HD) may aggravate oxidative stress. This controlled, cross-sectional clinical study with blind outcome assessment evaluated the effect of prolonged HD treatment on oxidative stress.

Serum zinc and magnesium levels in patients with blastocystosis.

The aim of the study was to investigate the total content of the essential elements of zinc and magnesium levels in patients infected with Blastocystis hominis. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were measured in 52 patients who were positive for the intestinal parasite Blastocystis hominis. Scores were obtained for the positives and their age- and sex-matched 60 Blastocystis hominis-negative healthy controls.

Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita Labiatae and Mentha spicata Labiatae on liver tissue in rats.

The plant Mentha piperita, or peppermint, is commonly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea and vomiting, and indigestion as a herbal agent. In this study, we aimed to investigate biochemical and histological effects of M. piperita Labiatae, growing in the Yenisar Bademli town of Isparta city, and Mentha spicata Labiatae, growing in the Anamas high plateau of the Yenisar Bademli town, on the rat liver tissue.

The effects of diazinon on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes in vitro.

Diazinon is one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides (OPI) in agriculture and public health programs. The aim of this study was to investigate how an OPI, diazinon, affects lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the antioxidant defense system in vitro. For this purpose, two experiments were carried out.

The level of antioxidant enzymes, plasma vitamins C and E in cement plant workers.

Background: Chronic exposure to cement dust has been reported to lead to several health problems. This study was designed to investigate the plasma oxidant and antioxidant status in cement plant workers and control subjects.

Methods: Twenty-eight volunteer male cement plant workers and 30 volunteer office male workers (control) aged 29-54 years participated.

MEFV mutations in familial Mediterranean fever: association of M694V homozygosity with arthritis.

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive recurrent polyserositis with a higher prevalence in some ethnic groups, including Turks. Mutations in the FMF gene (MEFV) were found associated with FMF. The aim of this study was to analyze MEFV gene mutations in FMF patients to gain insight into the mutation phenotype correlation.

Responsiveness of total content changes of magnesium and zinc status in patients infected with Giardia intestinalis.

The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of total content of the essential elements of zinc and magnesium levels in patients infected with Giardia intestinalis. Zinc and magnesium concentrations were measured in 64 patients who were positive for the intestinal parasite G. intestinalis.

Association of immune function with bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in patients with anklylosing spondylitis.

The lymphocyte-osteoclast interaction has recently been described. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and bone metabolism. Bone metabolism was evaluated in the blood of 49 patients with AS by means of biochemical markers and bone mineral density (BMD) with a Lunar device.

The protective mechanisms of defibrotide on liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

During some surgical interventions, temporary occlusion of the hepatic blood supply may cause ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and hepatic dysfunction. In this study the protective effect of defibrotide (DEF) was evaluated in a rat model of liver I/R injury. Four groups of rats were subjected to the following protocols: saline infusion without ischaemia, DEF infusion without ischaemia, DEF infusion with hepatic I/R, and saline infusion with hepatic I/R.

The serum vitamin C levels in Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, and recognised as a multi-system vasculitis. It has been postulated that an imbalance of the oxidant and antioxidant systems related to the disease are important in its pathogenesis. Previous publications have reported increased levels of enzymatic antioxidant defence systems in patients with BD.

Serum malondialdehyde level in patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the changes of serum malondialdehyde level, i.e; the oxidative stress hypothesis in patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides.

Methods: Serum malondialdehyde activity was measured in 43 patients who were positive for intestinal parasite of Ascaris lumbricoides.

Ochratoxin A reduces NMDA receptor subunits 2A and 2B concentrations in rat hippocampus: partial protective effect of melatonin.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by several fungi. Many foods can be contaminated by OTA, which is consequently found in the blood of humans and animals. It is known that OTA accumulates in the brain.

Investigation of biochemical and histopathological effects of Mentha piperita L. and Mentha spicata L. on kidney tissue in rats.

Peppermint plants have been used as a herbal medicine for many conditions, including loss of appetite, common cold, bronchitis, sinusitis, fever, nausea, vomiting and indigestion. This study is aimed at investigating the biochemical and histological effects of Mentha piperita L., growing in the Yenisar Bademli town of Isparta City, and Mentha spicata L.

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.

Investigation of antioxidant vitamins (A, E and C) and selenium levels in chickens receiving estrogen or testosterone.

In the present study estrogen or testosterone was administered to broiler chickens (6 weeks old) for 5 weeks and levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, E and C) and selenium (Se) were determined. In animals who received estrogen, vitamins A, E, C and Se levels were 0.70 +/- 0.

Vascular endothelial growth factor and oxidative damage in cancer.

Objectives: VEGF may be an indicator for the angiogenic potential of a tumor and stimulates NO which plays complex roles in cancer. In our study, we investigated the levels of MDA, NO and VEGF in the plasma of various types cancer patients (untreated, yet).

Design And Methods: The level of VEGF was determined by using ELISA.

Menadione knocks out Vitreoscilla haemoglobin (VHb): the current evidence for the role of VHb in recombinant Escherichia coli.

Genetically engineering the heterologous bacterial host with the gene (vgb) encoding Vitreoscilla haemoglobin (VHb) has been found to provide typical advantages in growth and production, and it has generally been assumed that VHb is responsible for this effect. Here, using matched strains of Escherichia coli that bear a recombinant R-amylase gene (MK57) or the R-amylase gene and vgb (MK79), we examined this assumption. Menadione, which is known to oxidize haem proteins, was tested over a range of concentrations for its effects on growth, R-amylase production, respiration and VHb function in MK57 and MK79.

Role of reactive oxygen species in organophosphate insecticide phosalone toxicity in erythrocytes in vitro.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by organophosphates may be involved in the toxicity of various pesticides. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate how an organophosphate insecticide, phosalone, affects lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the antioxidant defence system in vitro. For this purpose, the effects of various doses of phosalone on LPO and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes were studied.

Influence of sex and age on the activity of antioxidant enzymes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in healthy subjects.

In this study, the main antioxidant enzymes (AOE) of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were identified, and the influence of sex and age in healthy human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was determined. The SOD, GPX, CAT and MPO activities were investigated in intestinal parasite negative human PMNL from 109 healthy subjects aged from 6 to 70 years (55 males and 54 females) using simple and sensitive enzyme assays. Blood cells, such as eosinophils, platelets, neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages also synthesize antioxidant enzymes (AOE).

Effect of cigarette smoke on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and NMDA receptor subunits 2A and 2B concentration in rat hippocampus.

The effect of cigarette smoke on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and on the concentration of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits 2A and 2B in the hippocampus of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to cigarette smoke for 2h/day for a period of 4 weeks was determined. It was observed that NMDAR 2A and 2B concentrations in the hippocampus were enhanced in the case of animals exposed to cigarette smoke, whereas lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities did not show any change as compared to control animals. The results of our study suggest that cigarette smoke induces NMDAR 2A and 2B expression in the hippocampus, and that this is not due to an increased lipid peroxidation, because cigarette smoke has no effect on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in the hippocampus.

Effects of erythropoietin and pentoxifylline on the oxidant and antioxidant systems in the experimental short bowel syndrome.

In this study, we investigated the effects of erythropoietin (Epo), and pentoxifylline (Ptx) on the oxidant and antioxidant systems in the experimental short bowel syndrome. Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and all animals underwent 75% small bowel resection. Group E was treated with 500 IU kg(- 1) Epo subcutaneously (s.

The effects of organophosphate insecticide methidathion on lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzymes in rat erythrocytes: role of vitamins E and C.

The effects of organophosphate insecticide methidathion (MD) on lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzymes and the ameliorating effects of a combination of vitamins E and C against MD toxicity were evaluated in rat erythrocytes. Experimental groups were: control group, MD-treated group (MD), and MD + vitamin E + vitamin C-treated group (MD + Vit). MD and MD + Vit groups were treated orally with a single dose of 8 mg/kg MD body weight at 0 hour.

Seprafilm reduces adhesions to polypropylene mesh and increases peritoneal hydroxyproline.

Polypropylene mesh is an effective and widely used material in repairing abdominal wall defects, but it causes dense adhesions when in contact with abdominal viscera directly. As a consequence of this process intestinal obstruction and enterocutaneous fistula may develop. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether Seprafilm, a bioresorbable translucent membrane, reduces abdominal visceral adhesions to polypropylene mesh and whether Seprafilm has any effects on peritoneal tissue hydroxyproline levels.