The effect of high dose digoxin on cytokines in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1beta are pro-inflammatory cytokines, causing myocardial dysfunction and a negative inotropic effect. The drugs used to treat heart failure affect the production of cytokines. Digoxin, on which this study was focused, is one of the drugs for the treatment of heart failure. AIM: The present study was designed to examine the early effects of high doses of digoxin on the production of cytokines in healthy dogs. METHODS: Digoxin was given parenterally to dogs at 0.15 mg/kg. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production and levels of digoxin in the serum were measured 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h following administration of digoxin. RESULTS: As the levels of serum digoxin taken at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of administration were considered significantly high compared with preceding values (p < 0.001), no notable change in serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that high doses of digoxin do not cause a significant cytokine production in heart muscle in the early phase

Pro-inflammatory cytokines in Turkish children with protein-energy malnutrition.

BACKGROUND: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) results from food insufficiency as well as from poor social and economic conditions. Development of PEM is due to insufficient nutrition. Children with PEM lose their resistance to infections because of a disordered immune system. It has been reported that the changes occurring in mediators referred to as cytokines in the immune system may be indicators of the disorders associated with PEM. AIMS: To determine the concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in children with PEM, and to find out whether there was an association with the clinical presentation of PEM. METHODS: The levels of serum total protein, albumin, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 were measured in 25 patients with PEM and in 18 healthy children as a control group. PEM was divided into two groups as kwashiorkor and marasmus. The kwashiorkor group consisted of 15 children and the marasmus group consisted of 10 children. RESULTS: Levels of serum total protein and albumin of the kwashiorkor group were significantly lower than both the marasmus group and controls (p < 0.05). In view of tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, there was no difference between groups (p > 0.05). While levels of interleukin-6 in both the marasmus group and the kwashiorkor group were significantly higher compared with controls (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference between the groups of marasmus and kwashiorkor (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that the inflammatory response had increased in children with malnutrition

The time course of serum malondialdehyde levels in burned humans

None

Protective Effects Of Antioxidants On The Experimental Liver And Kidney Toxicity In Mice

Aim: Liver and kidney are exposed to a lot of oxidant substances that are both from exogen and endogen sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of C vitamine, Melatonine (MLT) and N-acetylcystein (NAC) in carbon tetrachlorur (CCl4) induced oxidative stress in mouse. Methods: The study involved 6 groups; control group (Group 1), CCl4 group (Group 2), CCl4 + C vitamine group (Group 3), CCl4 + MLT group (Group 4), CCl4 + NAC group (Group 5) and combined (CCl4 + C vitamine + MLT + NAC) group (Group 6) with each group containing 10 mice. Starting from the 4th day of the study 0,4 ml/kg CCl4 were given intraperitoneally (i.p.) to all groups except the control group. In Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6; 150 mg/kg/day C vitamine, 10 mg/kg/day MLT, 150 mg/kg/day NAC and C vitamine + MLT + NAC combination, respectively, were given for 7 days. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutatyon peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were measured in the tissues of liver and kidney of the mice. Results: The MDA and MPO levels in the tissues of liver and kidney of the toxicity group (Group 2) were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.01), but the GSH-Px and CAT activities were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.01). Compared with the toxicity group; in groups 3, 5 and 6 liver MDA and MPO levels showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) while GSH-Px and SOD activities in group 4 and GSH-Px activity in group 5 showed a significant increase (p<0.05). In kidney, MDA levels in groups 3 and 5 and MPO levels in groups 4 and 6 showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). SOD in group 3; GSH-Px and CAT in group 4; GSH-Px, SOD and CAT in group 5 and SOD activities in group 6 showed a significant increase. Conclusion: The results showed that C vitamine therapy and the combined therapy were effective in preventing oxidative stress in both liver and kidney while MLT increased antioxidant enzyme activities more effectively. Furthermore, NAC was more effective in preventing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities

Cytokine Levels Of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in Attack and Remission Periods

Amaç: Ailesel Akdeniz Ateşi (AAA) otozomal resesif bir hastalık olup, periyodik karın ağrısı, ateş ve eklem ağrısına yol açan seröz membranların tekrarlayan inflamatuar ataklarıyla karakterizedir. MEFV genindeki mutasyonların hastalıktan sorumlu olduğu gösterilmişse de hastalığın fizyopatolojisi bilinenden daha karmaşık görünmektedir. Hastalığın patogenezinde çeşitli sitokinlerin de rol oynadığı düşünülmektedir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada Van yöresinde AAA tanısı alan çocuklarda hastalığın aktif ve pasif dönemlerinde sitokin düzeylerinin kontrollerle karşılaştırılarak hastalığın gelişiminde sitokinlerin rolünün değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Bu amaçla 5-15 yaşlarında 157 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Hastalar klinik bulgularına göre aktif (n81) ve pasif (n76) grup olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Ayrıca kontrol grubu olarak 30 çocuk çalışmaya alındı. Hasta ve kontrol gruplarında IL-1?, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-? ve CRP düzeyleri ölçüldü. Bulgular: IL-1? seviyeleri aktif grupta kontrol grubundan yüksek bulunurken, IL-8, TNF-? ve CRP seviyeleri hem aktif hem de pasif grupta kontrollerden daha yüksekti (p0,05). IL-6 seviyeleri ise hem aktif hem de pasif grupta kontrol grubundan yüksekken aynı zamanda aktif grubun seviyesi pasif gruptan da anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (p0,001). Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonucunda, başta IL-6 olmak üzere IL-8, TNF-? ve CRP düzeylerinin akut atak tanısı ve tedaviye yanıtın izlenmesinde kullanılabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Yine pasif dönemde artmış sitokin düzeyleri bu hastalarda subklinik inflamasyonun devam ettiği görüşünü desteklemektedirObjective: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease, and it is characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks of the serous membranes which cause periodic abdominal pain, fever and joint pain. The physiopathology of the disease seems more complex than it has been known. It has been considered that various cytokines have also played role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cytokines in the development of the disease by comparing cytokine levels in controls and in active and passive periods of the disease in Van region. Materials and Methods: The study included 157 patients aged 5-15 years. The patients were divided into two groups as active (n 81) and passive (n 76) according to their clinical findings. In addition, 30 children were included in the study as a control group. Results: The level of IL-1? in the active group was found higher than that of the control group, the levels of IL-8, TNF-? and CRP were higher both in the active and in the passive group than the controls (p 0.05). While the levels of IL-6 both in the active and in the passive group were higher than those of the control group, the level of active group was also significantly higher than that of the passive group (p 0,001). Conclusion: The results of this study thought that, the levels of IL-8, TNF-?, CRP and especially IL-6 could be used in the diagnosis of acute attack and monitoring the response to the treatment. However, increased cytokine levels in the passive period have supported the view that the subclinical inflammation has continued in these patient

Incidance of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) Gene Mutations in Children in Van Region

Amaç: Ailesel Akdeniz Ateşi (AAA) otozomal resesif bir hastalık olup, periyodik karın ağrısı, ateş ve eklem ağrısına yol açan seröz membranların tekrarlayan inflamatuar ataklarıyla karakterizedir. MEFV genindeki mutasyonların hastalıktan sorumlu olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu çalışmada Van ve çevresinde AAA tanısı ile takip edilen çocukların, MEFV geninin 12 mutasyonu açısından taranarak tekli veya birleşik mutasyonların oranlarının saptanması ve mutant bireyler içindeki homozigot ve heterozigot oranının tespiti amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve yöntem: Bu amaçla 5-15 yaşlarında 157 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Hastalar klinik bulgularına göre aktif (n81) ve pasif (n76) grup olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Hastalarda revers hibridizasyon analizi ile MEFV gen mutasyonları incelendi. Bulgular: Hastaların %42,7'sinde heterozigot, %11,5'inde birleşik heterozigot ve %12,7'sinde homozigot olmak üzere toplam %66,87'sinde mutasyon saptandı. E148Q heterozigot (%22,92), M694V homozigot (%10,82) ve M694V heterozigot (%8,28) mutasyonları en sık izlenen mutasyonlardı. En sık tespit edilen alleller ise M694V (%40,0), E148Q (%32,41) ve V726A (%11,72) idi. Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçları AAA'lı hastalarda MEFV gen mutasyonundaki heterojeniteyi desteklemiş ve hastalarımızın geniş bir mutasyon yelpazesine sahip olduğunu göstermiştirBackground: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease and it is characterized by recurrent inflammatory attacks of the serous membranes which cause periodic abdominal pain, fever and joint pain. The mutations in the gene of MEFV have been determined to be responsible for the disease. The aim of this study was to screen MEFV gene for 12 mutations in children diagnosed with FMF and to detect alleles which were most frequently observed. Materials and methods: The study included 157 patients aged 5-15 years. The patients were divided into two groups as active (n 81) and passive (n 76) according to their clinical findings. Mutations of MEFV gene in patients were examined by analysis of reverse hybridization. Results: 66,87% of the total patients had mutation, of which 42,7% had heterozygous, 11,5% compound heterozygous and 12,7% homozygous mutations. The most frequently observed mutations were E148Q heterozygous (22,92%), M694V homozygous (10,82%) and M694V heterozygous (8,28%). The alleles which were detected most were M694V (40,0%), E148Q (32,41%) and V726A (11,72%). Conclusion: The results of this study have supported the heterogeneity of the mutation of MEFV gene in patients with FMF and have shown that our patients have a wide range of mutation

A study of retrospective molecular: MEFV gene mutations on pre-diagnosed familial mediterranean fever patients

Amaç: Ailesel Akdeniz Ateşi (AAA) tekrarlayan kısa süreli ateş ile birlikte karın, göğüs ve eklem ağrıları, eritem benzeri deri lezyonları ile karakterizedir. Hastalığın karakteristik özelliklerinden biri sinoviyal ve serözal membranların inflamasyonuna eşlik eden tekrarlayan febril ataklardır. AAA’ nden sorumlu olan Mediterranean Fever (MEFV) geni 16. kromozomun kısa kolunda lokalize olmuştur. Çalışmamızın amacı AAA ön tanısı ile laboratuvarımıza başvuran hastalarda mutasyon dağılımını araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya AAA ön tanısı alan 560 hasta alındı ve bu hastalarda MEFV gen mutasyon analizi yapıldı. Analiz için ters hibridizasyon yöntemini temel alan FMF StripAssay kiti kullanıldı. Bu yöntemle E148Q, P369S, F479L, M680I (G/C), M680I (G/A), M694V, M694I, I692DEL, A744S, R761H, V726A, K695R mutasyonları tarandı. Bulgular: Hastaların 240’ında MEFV gen mutasyonu (%42.85) tespit edildi. Taranan 12 mutasyon açısından 36 hasta homozigot, 45 hasta bileşik heterozigot, 156 hasta tek bir mutasyon ve 3 hasta da kompleks genotip mevcuttu. Mutasyonlar allel frekansı olarak değerlendirildiğinde, 240 mutasyon saptanan hastada 327 allel saptandı. En yüksek frekansa sahip olan mutasyon M694V (%36.69) idi. Bunu takip edenler sırasıyla E148Q (%32.71), V726A (%13.45), R761H (%5.81), P369S (%4.58), M680I (G/C) (%3.66), M694I (%1.83), F479L (%0,61), A744S, K695R (%0,30) allel frekansı olarak tespit edildi. I692DEL, M680I (G/A) mutasyonlarına ise rastlanmadı. Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın sonuçları, Van ve çevresinde yaşayan ve AAA ön tanısı ile değerlendirilen hastalarımızda MEFV gen mutasyon sonuçlarının allel frekansı açısından ülkemizde yapılan diğer çalışmalar ile uyumlu olduğunu, M680I (G/C) mutasyonunun ise ülkemizde yapılan diğer çalışmalara göre allellik frekansının oldukça düşük bir prevelansa sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca R761H mutasyonunun yöremizde daha yüksek bir prevelansa sahip olduğu gösterilmiştir.Objective: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is characterized with repeated short-term fever, abdomen, chest and joint pain, and like skin lesions of erythema. One of the characteristic features of the disease is febrile attacks followed and repeat to inflammation of synovial and serosal. Mediterranean Fever (MEFV) gene which responsible for FMF has been localized in short arm of 16th chromosome. The aim of our study is to research the distribution of mutation on patients referred with FMF pre-diagnosed. Methods: It was accepted FMF 560 pre-diagnosed patients and on these patients was performed MEFV gene mutations analysis. For analysis, it was used FMF StripAssay kit based on reverse hybridization method. With this method, it was screened E148Q, P369S, F479L, M680I (G/C), M680I (G/A), M694V, M694I, I692DEL, A744S, R761H, V726A, K695R mutations. Results: It was detected MEFV gen mutation (42.85%) on 240 patients. In terms of screened 12 mutations, 36 patients had homozygous, 45 patients had compound heterozygous, 156 patients had a single mutation and also 3 patients complex genoytpe. When the mutations was evaluated as allele frequency, 327 allele was detected on 240 patients who is determined mutation. Mutation which has highest frequency was the M694V (36.69%). Those which follow this, respectively; it was determined E148Q (32.71%), V726A (13.45%), R761H (5.81%), P369S (4.58%), M680I (G/C) (3.66%), M694I (1.83%), F479L (0,61%), A744S, K695R (0,30%) allele frequency. It wasn&amp;#8217;t observed I692DEL, M680I (G/A) mutations. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that on patients lived in Van and its around and on patients with pre-diagnosed FMF. The results of MEFV gene mutations are compatible with another studies in our country in terms of allele frequency, but M680I (G/C) mutation and its allele frequency has a very low prevalence according to the another studies in our country. Also, it revealed R761H mutation has a higher prevalence in our region

ORIGINAL ARTICLE - ANTITHYROID ANTIBODY LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent neoplasm. Conflicting results regarding the clinical correlation between breast cancer and thyroid diseases have been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the goiter prevalence, thyroid hormones and antithyroid antibody levels in patients with breast cancer. For this purpose, thyroid ultrasonography was performed and serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG ab) were determined in 50 operable breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis and 30 healthy individuals as control group. Goiter prevalence was found to be significantly higher in the study group (50% vs 10%). FT3, FT4, and TSH levels of patients were not different compared to controls, whereas anti-TPO ab and anti-TG ab levels were significantly higher in patients than in the control group. In conclusion, goiter prevalence and thyroid antibody levels were found to be increased in breast cancer patients and thyroid functions should be monitored