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ABSTRACT: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slow, chronic disease characterized by the focal deterioration and abrasion of articular cartilage. Leptin may play an important role in the pathophysiology of OA. Exercise and glucosamine sulfate therapy is one of the most commonly used in patients with knee OA. The goals of the present study are performed to investigate whether 12-week strength training program and glucosamine sulfate have an effect on serum leptin levels in knee OA and the relationship between leptin, clinical parameters, and radiographic severity of knee OA. Thirty-seven women with the diagnosis of knee OA were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group I (n = 19) received an exercise program, while group II (n = 18) received glucosamine sulfate (1,500 mg/day) in addition to the exercise therapy. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. Leptin level was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. The concentration of leptin was measured by ELISA. The patients were evaluated regarding pain, disability, functional performance, and muscle strength. Both groups showed significant improvements in leptin levels, pain, disability, muscle strength, and functional performance with no statistically significant difference between the groups after the therapy. At basal time, plasma leptin levels were significantly correlated with body mass index and duration of disease, but no significant correlation was found with patient age, pain, disability, functional performance, muscle strength, and radiographic severity of knee OA. The results of this preliminary study revealed that exercise alone was adequate to prevent structural changes relieving the symptoms of OA. We also found that exercise alone could affect serum plasma levels of the leptin, important mediators of cartilage metabolism. Decreases in serum leptin may be one mechanism by which cartilage metabolism affects physical function and symptoms in OA patients.
Rheumatology International 04/2012; · 1.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of Turkish propolis extracts if they prevent or protect foreskin fibroblast cells against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative DNA damage. Hydrogen peroxide (40 μM) was used as an inducer of oxidative DNA damage. The damage of DNA was evaluated by using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Turkish propolis extracts at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/ml were prepared by ethanol. Anti-genotoxicity was assessed before, simultaneously, and after treatment of propolis extract (50 μg/ml) with H₂O₂. The results showed a significant decrease in H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in cultures treated with propolis extract. The antioxidant activity of phenolic components found in propolis may contribute to reduce the DNA damage induced by H₂O₂. Our findings confirmed the chemopreventive activity of propolis and showed that this effect may occur under different mechanisms.
Acta Biologica Hungarica 12/2011; 62(4):388-96. · 0.59 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Neopterin (NT) is a compound of low molecule-based pteridine. It is secreted by macrophages as a response to the stimulation of cytokines such as interferon-gamma, interferon-1beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha or bacteria compounds such as lipopolysaccharides. Procalcitonin (PCT) levels may increase in the course of bacterial, parasitic, and fungal infections. Therefore, it can be used for the differential diagnosis of the infection, especially in cases of serious inflammation. In this study, the role of NT, and PCT in sepsis as a prognostic factor, and the relationship between the two parameters are examined.
From November 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005, fifty patients with sepsis admitted to the Department of the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology and/or Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided in two subgroups according to their survival: group I (n=23) nonsurviving patients and group II (n=27) surviving patients.
Serum NT levels have been found to be increased in group I (median: 15 ng/mL, range: 2-69) when compared to group II (median: 5 ng/mL, range: 2-130). The difference was statistically significant (P=0.03). Other laboratory parameters and PCT levels (group I median: 0.13; group II median: 0.08; P<0.05) were not different between the two groups.
NT was found to be a prognostic factor in patients with sepsis.
Southern medical journal 03/2010; 103(3):216-9. · 0.92 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Pioglitazone (PIO), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agents, specifically targets insulin resistance. Drugs of this class act as ligands for the gamma subtype of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. Although troglitazone, another drug in this class, displayed unacceptable hepatotoxicity, PIO was approved for human use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To our knowledge, there are no published reports on the genotoxicity of PIO; however, the package insert indicates that it has minimal genotoxicity. In this study, we used the comet assay to investigate the DNA damage in the peripheral blood and liver cells of rats treated with PIO. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups, and dosed daily for 14 days by oral gavage with 0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day PIO. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage, as assessed by % tail DNA, was observed in both hepatocytes and blood lymphocytes of the PIO-treated groups, with significant increases detected between the rats treated with all the doses of PIO and the control, and between the rats treated with different PIO doses (P < 0.005 to P < 0.0001). Treating nuclei from the exposed animals with an enzyme cocktail containing Fpg and Endonuclease III prior to performing the comet assay increased the level of DNA damage, which reflects oxidized purine and pyrimidine. Taken together, our data indicate that PIO is able to dose-dependently induce DNA damage in both the liver and blood lymphocytes of rats, which is partially due to the generation of oxidative lesions.
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 05/2008; 49(3):185-91. · 3.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Both hypothalamo-pituitary-insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis and ghrelin levels may be altered in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) due to increased somatostatin tone. The aim of this study is to compare hypothalamo-pituitary-IGF-1 axis, ghrelin concentrations and their relations in premenopausal women with FMS and premenopausal healthy controls.
Seventy-five women (47 FMS and 28 healthy women) were enrolled in the study. Fasting plasma glucose, serum growth hormone (GH), insulin, C-peptide, IGF-1, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and ghrelin levels were measured. Depressive symptoms were assessed using beck depression inventory. Pain intensity and sleep disturbance were recorded on a visual analog scale. The activity of daily living was assessed by fibromyalgia impact questionnaire.
There were no significant differences in GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels between patients and controls (p>0.05), whereas ghrelin levels were significantly lower in patients than controls (p<0.05). Ghrelin levels were not correlated with GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels while they were positively correlated with tender point score and sleep disturbance score and negatively correlated with pain intensity score.
Our results suggest that low levels of ghrelin in FMS are not related to the changes in hypothalamo-pituitary-IGF-1 axis but may be related to some symptoms of FMS. Our results need to be clarified by further studies.
Joint, bone, spine: revue du rhumatisme 11/2007; 74(5):477-81. · 2.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to assess the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) and leptin in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). We investigated the serum leptin and total nitrite levels in 22 children with HSP in the acute phase and after remission and in 20 age- and sex-matched healthy control. Serum leptin levels (nanograms per milliliter; median, min-max) were statistically higher in the acute phase (12.9, 9.1-19.5) than those in the remission phase (6.1, 3.7-10.5, p<0.001) and in the control group (4.9, 3.8-7.5, p<0.001). Also, serum nitrite levels (micromole per liter; median, min-max) were higher in children in the acute phase (45.0, 32.0-60.0) compared to those in remission phase (30.5, 23.0-48.0) and in the control group (29.5, 18.0-38.0) (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between serum leptin and total nitrite levels (r=0.65, p<0.001). We have demonstrated that serum leptin and NO levels were increased during the acute phase in children with HSP, and returned to normal levels in remission. We suggest that leptin and NO may have a role in the immunoinflammatory process of HSP, especially in the acute phase. Further studies are needed to clearly establish the roles of leptin and NO in the pathogenesis of HSP.
Clinical Rheumatology 04/2007; 26(3):371-5. · 2.00 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Rosiglitazone (RSG), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic agents, improves glycemic control by increasing insulin sensitivity. The therapeutic mode of action of RSG involves its activity as a highly selective and potent agonist for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. Although other drugs in this class have displayed unacceptable hepatotoxicity, RSG was approved for human use. The package insert indicates that RSG has minimal genotoxicity, but information on the genotoxicity of RSG is not available in the published literature. In this study, we used the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/Comet assay to investigate the DNA damage in peripheral blood and liver cells of rats treated with RSG. Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into four groups, and dosed daily by oral gavage with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg/day RSG. The rats dosed with 2.0 mg/kg/day RSG received an approximately 10-times the area under the curve concentration of the maximum recommended human daily dose. After 14 days of treatment, the rats were euthanized, and peripheral blood and liver were collected and processed for the Comet assay. A dose-dependent increase in DNA damage (as assessed by % tail DNA and Olive Tail Moment) was observed in the hepatocytes of RSG-treated groups, with significant increases detected between rats treated with all the doses of RSG and the control, and between rats treated with different RSG doses (P < 0.05 - P < 0.0001). In contrast, DNA damage was detected in peripheral blood lymphocytes only in rats treated with the higher RSG doses (1.0 and 2 mg/kg/day). Taken together, the data indicate that RSG is able to induce primary DNA damage in rats, with greater damage being detected in liver cells than lymphocytes.
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 12/2006; 47(9):718-24. · 3.71 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bee-collected pollen and propolis are apicultural products which are composed of nutritionally valuable substances and contain considerable amounts of polyphenol substances which may act as potent antioxidants. We wanted to show if respiratory burst within a cancer cell lines could be influenced when incubated with pollen and propolis extracts or not. Pollen and propolis extracts at concentrations of 50, 25, 12.5 and 0 mg/ml were prepared by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). K-562 cell cultures and mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures prepared from a peripheral blood sample to serve as control cells were incubated with extracts for 24 h. Determination of respiratory burst was carried out by intracellular dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) test by using flow-cytometric fluorescence analysis. While about 90% and 66% fluorescence was detected at zero concentrations for both K-562 and MNC cultures, fluorescence positivity decreased (between 3.8% and 11.8%) as concentrations of both propolis and pollen extracts increased for K-562 cell culture, but unchanged (between 20% and 83%) for MNC culture. It was concluded that pollen and propolis extracts inhibit respiratory burst within cancer cell lines probably by their antioxidant potentials.
International Immunopharmacology 11/2005; 5(11):1652-7. · 2.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To evaluate whether repeated courses of high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) affect the lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in children with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
This study included 24 patients with chronic ITP and 149 healthy controls. The patients were allocated into three groups according to the number of HDMP courses (30 mg/kg per day as a single dose for 7 days); group 1 (10 patients), group 2 (9 patients), and group 3 (5 patients) had received less than 5, 6-10, and more than 10 courses, respectively. Lumbar spine BMD and body composition were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of lumbar spine (L2-L4), and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) values were calculated and compared with the controls. The z score of the vBMD was also calculated and compared in the patients of each other groups. Serum markers of the bone turnover were measured to exclude other factors that could effect BMD.
The vBMD values of the patients, corrected BMDs for age, were significantly lower than the values of controls (P = 0.018). It was significantly lower in group 3 than groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.005 and P = 0.006, respectively), but there was no statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.87). The vBMD z scores were significantly lower in group 3 than in groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.003 and P = 0.004, respectively), and also in group 2 than in group 1 (P = 0.034). There were a weak negative correlation between the cumulative dose of HDMP and vBMD (r = -0.39, P = 0.054), and strong negative correlation between the cumulative dose of HDMP and vBMD z score (r = -0.63, P = 0.001).
Children with chronic ITP are at risk for decreased BMD because of the repeated courses of HDMP; especially more than 2100 mg of cumulative dose. We therefore recommend that BMD should be monitored in patients with chronic ITP who received repeated courses of HDMP.
Bone 08/2004; 35(1):306-11. · 4.02 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Our aim was to explore whether vitamin A has protective effect on high-dose-methotrexate (HDMTX)-induced intestinal D-xylose malabsorption in children with leukemia and lymphoma.
We performed a prospective randomized un-blinded study of vitamin A in 35 children with leukemia and lymphoma who were planned to receive HDMTX 3 g/m(2) and 5 g/m(2), respectively. Twenty-two patients (group 1) received a single dose of 180,000 IU a day before HDMTX was given, and 13 (group 2) received only HDMTX. The vitamin A group received the vitamin only once. Oral D-xylose absorption tests before and 7 days after HDMTX were carried out to evaluate intestinal absorption. Retinol-binding protein (RBP) levels prior to therapy were also measured for vitamin A status.
Although we observed no difference of HDMTX-induced toxicity, including hematological, dermatological, systemic, and other toxicities, between groups, the D-xylose absorption test was significantly better in-group 1 ( p=0.030). Absorption was decreased in five of 22 patients (23%) who received vitamin A comparing to eight of 13 (62%) who received only HDMTX ( p=0.033). RBP levels were lower than normal in 13 of 22 patients in-group 1 and nine of 13 in group 2. In patients whose RBP levels were lower than normal, HDMTX-induced toxicity was lower in the group 1 than group 2 but not statistically significant. No sign of vitamin A toxicity was observed throughout the study.
The administration of vitamin A before HDMTX may protect against drug-induced D-xylose malabsorption in children with cancer. Further studies are apparently needed to clarify the full benefits of vitamin A in preventing HDMTX-induced mucosal damage.
Supportive Care Cancer 05/2004; 12(4):263-7. · 2.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is one of the most common types of vasculitis disorders seen in childhood and is characterized by a rash, arthritis, abdominal pain, and renal involvement. Although HSP is an immunoglobulin A (IgA) related immune complex disease, the pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis, but endothelins (ET) - vasoconstrictor hormones produced by endothelial cells - have not been studied in patients with HSP. In a controlled study, we measured ET-1 levels in children with HSP during the acute and remission phases. ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the HSP patients during the acute phase compared with the control group and the HSP patients in the remission phase. There was no correlation between ET-1 levels and disease severity, acute phase reactant response, or morbidity. The role of endothelins and other cytokines in the pathogenesis of HSP needs to be further explored.
Pediatric Nephrology 12/2002; 17(11):920-5. · 2.52 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report on a rare hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in five cases. Definitive features included an aggressive, invasive, and rapidly progressing neoplasm showing areas morphologically comparable to those of hepatocellular carcinomas. All patients had multiple metastases to lymph nodes and/or liver. The serum AFP level of the patients was between 83-87.900 ng/ml. Two subtotal and one palliative gastrectomy was performed. A short duration of chemotherapy was administered only in two patients. The length of survival averaged 4.7 months. Our experience together with what has been reported in literature suggest that the course of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach is more aggressive than an ordinary adenocarcinoma and that from a diagnostic point of view distinction from an adenocarcinoma may be accomplished histochemically and by measuring serum AFP levels.
Acta gastro-enterologica Belgica 69(3):330-7. · 0.64 Impact Factor
