Association between matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and total antioxidant status of patients with asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection

The aim of this study is to predict potential hepatocellular damage by determining total antioxidant status (TAS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 levels of different groups of dental surgery patients who are asymptomatic (normal alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase records). Patients were divided into five groups according to the anamnesis [to be diagnosed formerly as hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection or not], microbiological (positive-anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA-positive or negative) and biochemical test results. Except for the control group, serum anti-HCV antibody levels and line immunoassay tests were found positive in all groups. HCV RNAs were found positive only in group 3 whom were formerly diagnosed with HCV infection, not under medical treatment and in group 5 under medical treatment (<2 9 105 IU ml 1). Statistical analyses were performed using one-way multifactorial ANOVA (MANOVA) at the statistical significance level of 5% and were confirmed that the changes in biochemical markers had significant effects on subjects who had been in different groups. Following multiple comparisons, significant groups’ differences were obtained in all biochemical markers. In conclusion, to determine not only TAS levels but also the MMPs and evaluate those together may be noninvasive biomarkers for predicting the inflammation in liver and approaching the prognosis of HCV infection

The role of visfatin levels in gingival crevicular fluid as a potential biomarker in the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease

Objectives: Visfatin is an adipokine that plays an important role in immune functions as a growth factor, enzyme, and pro-inflammatory mediator. We aimed to determine the levels of visfatin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in both obese/non-obese patients, with/without generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP). Methodology: Patients were categorized as obese (O) (n=31) or non-obese (nO) (n=19). Groups were divided into four subgroups according to periodontal conditions: (1) periodontally healthy without obesity (nO-Ctrl); (2) GCP without obesity (nO-CP); (3) periodontally healthy with obesity (O-Ctrl); and (4) GCP with obesity (O-CP). Demographic variables, anthropometric and laboratory data were recorded. Periodontal parameters were measured at baseline and 3rd months after either non-surgical periodontal treatment or calorie -restricted diet therapy. At the same time, GCF samples were taken from patients to analyze TNF-alpha, IL-6,and visfatin levels. Results: Periodontal parameters were significantly higher in the O group than in the nO group (P&lt;0.05). IL-6 levels were higher in the O group than in the nO group (P&lt;0.001). The visfatin levels of the obese patients were reduceddecreased following the treatments (P&lt;0.05). Cholesterol levels were higher in the O group than in the nO groups (P&lt;0.05). IL-6 levels were higher in O-CP and O-Ctrl groups than in the nO-Ctrl group (P&lt;0.05). Compared to the other groups, visfatin levels were significantly higher in the O-CP group but decreased following treatment (P&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that visfatin and IL-6 levels in GCF are associated with the pathogenesis of obesity and periodontitis. Within the limits of this study, we considered that there might be an association between the lipid profile and periodontitis on systemically healthy individuals

Are BPA-free plastics safe for aquatic life? - Fluorene-9-bisphenol induced thyroid-disrupting effects and histopathological alterations in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Fluorene-9-bisphenol (BPFL) is used as an alternative compound for bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor compound which is present in various materials including plastic bottles and packaging. Although it is used extensively in products that are labelled BPA-free, its effect on wildlife and humans have not been fully studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of BPFL in adult zebrafish. In the preliminary experiments of the study, the median lethal concentration value (LC50) of BPFL was 0.25 mg/L (95 % confidence interval 0.15–0.41) for 96 h. Following exposure to three different sublethal concentrations of BPFL after 96 h and 15 days, T4 hormone levels, expression levels of genes involved in thyroid metabolism and histopathological alterations were assessed. T4 hormone levels were found to be significantly higher in females at the lowest BPFL concentration following 96 h exposure (P < 0.05). Expression levels of trh, tshba and trhrb genes were upregulated following 96 h exposure at 0.025 mg/L concentration and crh was upregulated following 15 days exposure at 0.025 mg/L concentration in female zebrafish (P < 0.05). The most prominent histopathological findings in zebrafish exposed to 0.025 and 0.125 mg/L of BPFL were observed in the gill, liver, kidney and testis tissues. The gill tissues showed some hyperemia, lamellar fusion, hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, and telangiectasis, while passive hyperemia, hydropic degeneration, and necrosis were observed in the liver tissues. The BPFL is highly toxic to zebrafish even in sublethal concentrations according to the molecular and histopathological responses. © 2022 Elsevier Inc

The role of visfatin levels in gingival crevicular fluid as a potential biomarker in the relationship between obesity and periodontal disease.

Visfatin is an adipokine that plays an important role in immune functions as a growth factor, enzyme, and pro-inflammatory mediator. We aimed to determine the levels of visfatin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in both obese/non-obese patients, with/without generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP)

Influence of gastrointestinal system conditions on adhesion of exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains to Caco-2 cells

WOS: 000297761500009This study aimed to assess the transit tolerance of potential probiotic dairy Lactobacillus strains in human uppergastrointestinal tract in vitro, and to evaluate the effect of EPS production on the viability and adhesion of these strains. Survival and adhesion of two exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains (B3 and B2) and E. coli ATCC11229 were assessed after the exposure of different pH (gastric juice) and gastric plus pancreatic juice challenges. In the artificial gastric juice (pH 2), both the viability of the strain B3 and B2 was decreased. Artificial juice treatments significantly reduced the adhesion to caco-2 cells (P < 0.05). High EPS-producing B3 survived better in the adverse gastrointestinal conditions and showed better ability of adhesion to Caco-2 cells when assessed for competition with E. coli ATCC 11229 compared to low EPS-producing B2. This investigation showed that EPS production could be affected or be involved in the viability, adherence and competition of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus strains and support the potential of B3 strain for development of new probiotic products.TUBITAK [TBAG-2090 (101T129)]This work was supported by TUBITAK through project no: TBAG-2090 (101T129)

Microplastics in a dam lake in Turkey: type, mesh size effect, and bacterial biofilm communities

Çırak, Tamer ( Aksaray, Yazar )The evaluation of microplastic (MP) pollution has been drawing attention for the last decades. MP pollution has been studied widely in marine environments, but limited data exists for freshwater ecosystems on potential source and transport of MPs. The type, shape, plastic components, and the color of the MPs were investigated using various-mesh-sizes (300 and 100 μm) nets in four sampling stations of Süreyyabey Dam Lake in Turkey. The growth of bacterial isolates on the MPs surface and surrounding water was also investigated. The type of the MPs and the interaction between the mesh size and the type of the MPs showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Fibers were found to be the most abundant particle type constituting 45% and 80% of the total MPs found in 330-μm and 100-μm mesh sizes, respectively. In total the observed MP abundance in the dam lake was 5.25 particles m−3, and 4.09 particles m−3 was observed for 100-μm and 330-μm mesh sizes, respectively. The color of the identified microplastics showed variations among microplastic types; however, the dominant color was transparent in each net. The main plastic components of the MPs are polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The microbial community mainly consists of potentially pathogenic strains such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Acinetobacter baumanii complex. The current study could contribute valuable background information both for MP pollution and for biofilm composition in a dam. However, the surface of the MPs and biofilm formation should be investigated urgently to understand the vector potential of MPs