The effects of taxifolin on neuropathy related with hyperglycemia and neuropathic pain in rats: A biochemical and histopathological evaluation

Background. Hyperglycemia can be considered a determining factor in the development of diabetic neuropathy as well as neuropathic pain. There is a relationship between the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathic pain. Taxifolin, on the other hand, is a flavonoid that has been documented to inhibit ROS production. Objectives. To investigate the effects of taxifolin, which has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, on alloxan-induced hyperglycemia-induced neuropathy and neuropathic pain, biochemically and histopathologically. Materials and methods. The albino Wistar male rats were divided into 3 groups: Healthy group (HG), only alloxan group (AXG) and alloxan+taxifolin group (ATG). Hyperglycemia in animals was caused through intraperitoneal injection of alloxan at a dose of 120 mg/kg. Paw pain thresholds of animals were measured using Basile algesimeter. Sciatic nerve tissues were examined biochemically and histopathologically in order to evaluate neuropathy. Results. Our experimental results revealed that taxifolin significantly prevented the increase of plasma glucose concentration level with alloxan administration, the decrease of the paw pain threshold related to hyperglycemia, the change of oxidant-antioxidant balance in the sciatic nerve tissue in favor of oxidants, and the deterioration of tissue morphology in animals. Conclusions. Our experimental results indicate that taxifolin alleviates alloxan-induced hyperglycemia-related neuropathy and neuropathic pain

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Ankara Sanat Galeri'nden Bir Seçki (1970-1990)

In this study, a selection was made from art galleries that continued their activities in Ankara between 1970 -1990 and the selected galleries were examined within the scope of the political, social, and cultural conditions of the period. After being declared the capital city in 1923, Ankara was planned and built to be a culture and art city of the Republic of Turkey in the middle of Anatolia, instead of Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The exhibition activities, which were carried out under the auspices of the government until the 1950s, Turkish Hearths, community centers, the teachers and artists of the Istanbul State Academy of Arts, and with the start of education of the Gazi Education Institute’s Art Department in 1932, the teachers and students of this school were also influential in Ankara’s art life. During the Democratic Party, which came to power in 1950, economic policies were prioritized over the culture and art policies of the Early Republican Period, and the first private gallery and foreign cultural center exhibitions started as of this date. The discourses of equality and freedom reflected on the art scene in the 1960s and 1970s, which passed with revolutions and political conflicts. Art galleries of Ankara in 1970s, whose number has increased gradually, have been places to internalize art and acquire the culture of owning artworks. The military coup of September 12, 1980 interrupted the democratic process. In this period, people equipped with popular culture started to see art as a class image object and showed great interest in art spaces. Hereby, the high demand for art in the 1980s caused an increase in the number of galleries in Ankara. This situation lasted for a short time due to the economic crises experienced towards the end of the 1980s.Bu çalışmada, 1970-1990 yılları arasında Ankara’da faaliyetlerini sürdürmüş sanat galerilerinden bir seçki yapılmış ve seçilen galeriler dönemin siyasi, sosyal ve kültürel koşulları kapsamında incelenmiştir. 1923 yılında başkent ilan edildikten sonra Ankara’nın da Osmanlı devletinin payitahtı İstanbul karşısında Anadolu’nun ortasındaki Türkiye Cumhuriyeti’nin bir kültür ve sanat şehri olması planlanmış ve inşa edilmiştir. 1950’li yıllara kadar devletin himayesinde sürdürülen sergi etkinlikleri, Türk Ocakları, Halkevleri, İstanbul Devlet Güzel Sanatlar Akademisi hocaları, sanatçıları ve 1932’de Gazi Eğitim Enstitüsü Resim-İş Bölümü’nün eğitime başlamasıyla bu okulun da hocaları ve öğrencileri Ankara’nın sanat yaşamında etkili olmuştur. !950’de iktidara geçen Demokrat Parti döneminde Erken Cumhuriyet Dönemi’nin kültür ve sanat politikaları yerine ekonomi politikaları öncelikli olmuş, ilk özel galeri, yabancı kütür merkezleri sergileri de bu tarihten itibaren başlamıştır. İhtilallerle, siyasi çatışmalarla geçen 1960-70’li yıllarda eşitlik, özgürlük söylemleri sanat ortamına da yansımıştır. 1970’li yıllarda sayıları giderek artan Ankara sanat galerileri, sanatı içselleştirme ve sanat yapıtlarına sahip olma kültürünü edinme mekanları olmuştur. 12 Eylül 1980 askeri darbesi ülkedeki demokratik süreci sekteye uğratmıştır. Bu dönemin popüler kültürle donatılmış insanları sanatı bir sınıfsal imaj objesi olarak görmüş, sanat mekanlarına yoğun ilgi göstermişlerdir. Böylelikle 1980’li yılların yüksek sanat talebi Ankaralı galeri sayısında da artışa neden olmuştur. Bu yükseliş yaşanan ekonomik krizler nedeniyle kısa sürmüştür

Out-of-Reference Range Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels in Levothyroxine-Treated Primary Hypothyroid Patients: A Multicenter Observational Study

Objective: Although levothyroxine (LT4) replacement therapy for hypothyroidism has been established as safe, inexpensive and effective, many studies from different countries reported out-of-reference range thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) values for the hypothyroid patients under LT4 treatment. The aim of this study was to determine TSH levels of primary hypothyroid patients under LT4 treatment and to assess self-reported compliance with daily LT4 intake in tertiary care centers in Turkey. Design: In this cross-sectional, observational study, adult patients with primary hypothyroidism, receiving LT4 treatment for at least 6 months, were included. The patients were from 12 tertiary care centers in 9 cities of Turkey. TSH and free T4 levels were recorded from patient files and self-reported compliance with daily LT4 intake was assessed by interviewing the subjects at the last visit. Results: A total of 1,755 subjects (46 +/- 13 years; F/M: 89.9/10.1%) with primary hypothyroidism were enrolled. Of the hypothyroid subjects, 44.8% had out-of-reference range serum TSH levels. TSH values were over the reference range (TSH > 4 mIU/L) in 26.2% and were under the reference range (TSH < 0.5 mIU/L) in 18.6% of the patients. Total duration of LT4 treatment was 5.9 +/- 4.7 years and mean dose was 1.2 +/- 0.6 mu g/kg/day. Non-compliant patients (31.1%) had higher TSH levels (6.9 +/- 16 vs 3.8 +/- 0.9 mIU/L, P = 0.01) compared to compliant patients. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that nearly half of the hypothyroid patients had out-of-reference range serum TSH values, despite under LT4 treatment. Compliance with LT4 treatment seems to be one of the major determinants to reach the target TSH levels in hypothyroid patients

Second Trimester Genetic Amniocentesis: Five- Year Experience of a Maternal- Fetal Medicine Unit

OBJECTİVE: The objective of this study is to identify the annual variations amniocentesis indications such as change in maternal age, cytogenetic results, and other indications. Another outcome is the investigation of the relationship between indications for amniocentesis and the distribution of chromosomal abnormalities. STUDY DESIGN: This study was designed as a retrospective analysis of amniocentesis results of the 1667 pregnant patients between January 2007 and December 2012 in the Süleymaniye Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital. The karyotype results, indications for intervention and complications during procedure were reported. RESULTS: Total chromosome abnormalities were detected in 101 cases out of 1667 patients which correspond to a 6.1% of the total results. Distribution of the chromosomal abnormality detection rate with respect to the amniocentesis indication was 4.2%; in the abnormal first trimester screening tests group; 5.3% in the abnormal second trimester maternal serum screening group, 18.7% in the fetal malformations in previous pregnancy group, and 7.1%. in the abnormal ultrasound findings group. CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis is the most common invasive procedure for prenatal diagnosis. Although the advanced maternal age is still an important indication, there has been significant development of both new markers and technology making this indication for amniocentesis questionable. Prenatal ultrasonography for the soft markers of chromosomal aneuploidy in association with the maternal serum biochemical screening tests should be evaluated during the decision process for amniocentesis

Impact of endothelial NOS VNTR variant on susceptibility to diabetic neuropathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus

*Rüstemoğlu, Aydın ( Aksaray, Yazar )Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the VNTR intron 4b/4a variant in the eNOS gene is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and DPN. Methods: A total of 598 subjects were enrolled in the study. eNOS VNTR 4b/4a variant was geno-typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: eNOS VNTR intron 4b/4b genotype and b allele increased in patients with both DPN and T2DM compared healthy controls (p=0.0005, OR:1.94, p= 0.000002, OR:4.10, respectively). 4a/4b genotype was more prevalent in controls than in DPN and T2DM patients (p=0.00008, OR:0.46; p=0.000004, OR:0.24, respectively). eNOS VNTR b allele was more common in DPN patients and T2DM patients compared with controls (p=0.007, p=0.00002, respectively). Conclusion: The eNOS VNTR “4b/4b” homozygous genotype and hence “4b”allele as a genetic risk factor for T2DM and DPN, which may serve as a useful marker of increased susceptibility to the risk of these disorders