Hip fracture risk and different gene polymorphisms in the turkish population

BACKGROUND: We aimed to discuss the risk assessments for both patients with hip fractures due to fall-related, low energy traumas and non-fractured control patients by examining bone mineral density and genetic data, two features associated with femoral strength and hip fracture risk. METHODS: Twenty-one osteoporotic patients with proximal femur fractures and non-fractured, osteoporotic, age- and gender-matched controls were included in the study. Bone mineral density measurements were performed with a Lunar DXA. The COL1A1, ESR, VDR, IL-6, and OPG genes were amplified, and labeling of specific gene sequences was performed in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction using the osteo/check PCR kit from the whole blood of all subjects. RESULTS: The bone mineral density (trochanteric and total bone mineral density values) of the fracture group was significantly decreased relative to the control group. We were not able to conduct statistical tests for the polymorphisms of the COL1A1, ESR, and VDR genes because our results were expressed in terms of frequency. Although they were not significant, we did examine differences in the IL-6 and OPG genes polymorphisms between the two groups. We concluded that increasing the number of cases will allow us to evaluate racial differences in femoral hip fracture risk by genotypes

Hip Fracture Risk and Different Gene Polymorphisms in the Turkish Population

BACKGROUND: We aimed to discuss the risk assessments for both patients with hip fractures due to fall-related, low energy traumas and non-fractured control patients by examining bone mineral density and genetic data, two features associated with femoral strength and hip fracture risk. METHODS: Twenty-one osteoporotic patients with proximal femur fractures and non-fractured, osteoporotic, age- and gender-matched controls were included in the study. Bone mineral density measurements were performed with a Lunar DXA. The COL1A1, ESR, VDR, IL-6, and OPG genes were amplified, and labeling of specific gene sequences was performed in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction using the osteo/check PCR kit from the whole blood of all subjects. RESULTS: The bone mineral density (trochanteric and total bone mineral density values) of the fracture group was significantly decreased relative to the control group. We were not able to conduct statistical tests for the polymorphisms of the COL1A1, ESR, and VDR genes because our results were expressed in terms of frequency. Although they were not significant, we did examine differences in the IL-6 and OPG genes polymorphisms between the two groups. We concluded that increasing the number of cases will allow us to evaluate racial differences in femoral hip fracture risk by genotypes

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

Prospective evaluation of free radicals and antioxidant activity following 6-month risedronate treatment in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis

In addition to the well-described implications of estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO), free radicals are also effective on bone metabolism. The antioxidant vitamins C and E play an important role in the production of collagen, mesenchymal cell differentiation into osteoblasts, and bone mineralization. Therefore, the incidence of osteoporosis and the risk of fractures were decreased with vitamin C and E. It was proposed that free oxygen radicals are responsible for biological aging, atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, and osteoclastic activity via their negative effects on the cell and DNA. In this study, we aimed to investigate and compare the levels of free radicals and serum antioxidant activity in patients with PMO and healthy subjects before and after six-month treatment with risedronate, which is an inhibitor of bone resorption. Twenty-three postmenopausal patients aged between 52–83 (mean [± standard deviation] 67.6 ± 8.17) with T scores below -2.5 in femur neck or L1-L4, and 23 postmenopausal healthy subjects were enrolled into the study. Patients who had received any medications within the last 6 months that could alter bone metabolism were excluded. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were analyzed in both groups. The patients with PMO were commenced on 5 mg of risedronate, 1,200 mg of calcium, and 800 IU of vitamin D daily. The patients were reevaluated at the end of the sixth month. MDA and SOD levels were similar in patients with PMO when compared to the healthy group before the treatment, while the GPx levels were lower in patients with PMO (P = 0.014). GPx (P = 0.028) and MDA (P = 0.04) levels were increased in patients with PMO after the treatment. In contrast, SOD levels were decreased when compared to the initial levels (P = 0.006). There may be an insufficiency in different steps of the enzymatic antioxidant systems in patients with PMO without treatment. We observed an increment in lipid peroxidation levels and GPx levels with risedronate. We think that the decrement in SOD levels may be related with the utilized antioxidants due to the increased free radicals and the compensatory increment in the other steps of the antioxidant system

Subletalni učinci 2,4-diklorofenoksi octene kiseline (2,4-D) na slatkovodnog uskoškarog raka (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823)

2,4-D is a widely used phenoxy herbicide, potentially toxic to humans and biota. The objective of the present study was to reveal short term sublethal effects of 2,4-D on narrow-clawed freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823), based on histology, total haemocyte counts, selected haemolymph parameters, and oxidative stress parameters. In the laboratory conditions crayfish specimens were exposed to 9 mg L-1 of 2,4-D for one week. Experiments were conducted under semi-static conditions in 20 L-capacity aquaria where 10 freshwater crayfish were stocked per aquarium. Exposure (experimental) and control groups were used and the experiments were repeated two times. No mortality and behavioural changes were recorded during the experiments. Total haemocyte counts decreased significantly, while haemolymph glucose levels increased (P<0.05), when compared to the control group. Haemolymph levels of calcium, chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, total protein, and lactate did not change. Exposure resulted with increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) only in hepatopancreas. However, results of gill FOX assay showed a significant decrease in oxidative stress parameters (P<0.05). MDA levels of gill and abdominal muscle tissues and FOX levels of hepatopancreas and abdominal muscle tissues did not change when compared to the control group. Significant histopathological alterations were observed both in hepatopancreas (multifocal deformations in tubule lumen) and gill tissue (melanisation of gill lamella). Exposure of crayfish even to a sublethal concentration of 2,4-D alters histopathology and lipid peroxidation due to stress. Biomarkers studied here seem to be useful for the assessment of adverse/toxic effects of pesticides on non-target, indicator aquatic organisms.2,4-D je fenoksi herbicid koji se upotrebljava diljem svijeta, a potencijalno je toksičan za ljude i biotu. Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je ispitati kratkoročne subletalne učinke herbicida 2,4-D na slatkovodnog uskoškarog raka (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823) proučavanjem histoloških promjena, ukupnog broja hemocita, odabranih hemolitičkih parametara i parametara oksidacijskoga stresa. Jedinke slatkovodnog raka izložene su u laboratorijskim uvjetima koncentraciji od 9 mg L-1 herbicida 2,4-D tijekom sedam dana. Eksperimenti su izvedeni u polustatičkim uvjetima u 20-litarskim akvarijima. U svakom akvariju držano je 10 jedinki rakova, podijeljenih u skupinu koja je bila izložena herbicidu i u kontrolnu skupinu, a eksperiment je ponovljen tri puta. Tijekom eksperimenata nisu zabilježene nikakve promjene u stopi smrtnosti ili u ponašanju životinja. Ukupan se broj hemocita značajno smanjio, a razine glukoze u hemolimfi povećale (P<0,05) u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom. Razine kalcija, klorida, kalija, magnezija, ukupnog proteina i laktata u hemolimfi nisu se promijenile. Izlaganje herbicidu povisilo je razine malondialdehida (MDA) u hepatopankreasu. Međutim, rezultati FOX-testa na škrgama pokazali su značajno smanjenje parametara oksidacijskoga stresa (P<0,05), za razliku od razina MDA izmjerenih FOX-testom u škrgama i abdominalnom mišićnom tkivu te u hepatopankreasu, koje se nisu promijenile. Uočene su značajne histopatološke promjene u tkivu hepatopankreasa (multifokalne deformacije tubularnog lumena) i škrga (melanizacija škržnih listića). Izlaganje rakova subletalnoj koncentraciji herbicida 2,4-D izazvalo je histopatološke promjene te potaknulo lipidnu peroksidaciju zbog stresa. Čini se da su biomarkeri koji su promatrani u ovom ispitivanju korisni za procjenu neželjenih učinaka pesticida na neciljne vodene indikatorske organizme

Changes in Serum and Urine N-Telopeptide Levels of Postmenopausal Osteoporotic Patients Within 6-months of Risedronate Treatment - Original Investigation

Aim: N-Telopeptides (NTX), which are known as bone turnover markers are being increasingly used in early diagnosis of osteoporosis, determining the fracture risk and following up of the treatment outcome. Material and Method: In this study serum and urine NTX levels of postmenapousal patients [ages 60-83 (mean 69.45), n: 11] with no previous treatment of osteoporosis are compared with the levels after 6-months of risedronate treatment and serum and urine NTX levels of the control group [ages 57-73 (mean 64.64), n: 11]. Results: Consequently serum NTX (sNTX) levels of postmenapousal patients before risedronate therapy were significantly higher then the sNTX levels of the control group. After risedronate therapy sNTX levels were significantly higher and urine (uNTX) levels were lower when compared with the NTX levels before treatment. Also either sNTX or uNTX levels before and after the treatment were positively and strongly correlated. Discussion and Conclusion: Eventually bone turnover markers carry much importance in diagnosis and follow-up the treatment. Also the strong correlation between levels of NTX before and after the treatment shows that the sensitivity and specifity of these methods are high. Therefore they can be used as an alternative and adjunct method to bone densitometry to assess the response to treatment, especially to demonstrate the early changes. (Osteoporoz Dünyasından 2006;12:55-9

Quantum chemical investigation of nitrotyrosine (3-nitro-L-tyrosine) and 8-nitroguanine

The structural, vibrational and electronic properties of nitrotyrosine and 8-nitroguanine have been investigated theoretically by performing the molecular mechanics (MM+ force field), the semi-empirical self-consistent-field molecular-orbital (PM3), and density functional theory calculations. The geometry of the nitrotyrosine and 8-nitroguanine molecules have been optimized, the vibrational dynamics and the electronic properties calculated in their ground states in the gas phase

Does persistent organic pollutant PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) negative impacts on the aquatic invertebrate organism, Astacus leptodactylus [Eschscholtz, 1823]

Highly persistent perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an industrial fluorinated organic chemical with significant bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the toxic effects of sublethal PFOS on the aquatic invertebrate organism, narrow-clawed crayfish [Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823]. The 96 h LC50 value was determined as 48.81 mg/L (34.19-63.68 mg/L) with probit analysis. The sublethal experimental design was formed into four groups solvent control (DMSO, dimethyl sulphoxide), non-treated control group, and 1/10 (5 mg/L) and 1/100 (0.5 mg/L) of 96 h LC50 of PFOS, and crayfish were exposed for 48 h, 7 d, and 21 d under laboratory conditions. Total haemocyte counts (THCs) decreased, while the haemolymph total antioxidant status (TAS) values increased (p 0.05). GPX and CAT activities decreased, but SOD activity increased in hepatopancreas tissue (p < 0.05). SOD activity at both concentrations and CAT activity at 5 mg/L PFOS exposure decreased in gill tissue, while GPX activity increased at both concentrations of 48 h and 7 d and returned to control values on day 21 of exposure. Histopathological alterations were detected in hepatopancreas and gill tissues. Lamellar deformations, epithelial hyperplasia, and haemocytic infiltrations were observed in the gill tissues, whereas tubular degeneration, tubule loss, necrosis, and lesions in the hepatopancreas tissues were the major recorded alterations. As a result, the sublethal concentrations of PFOS have toxic effects on crayfish and histologically cause tissue damage. Our findings also support a better understanding of the early toxicological effects of PFOS in freshwater ecosystems. Also, it could be concluded that A. leptodactylus is a reliable model for examining histopathological alterations and differences in enzyme activities together with the haemolymph findings in toxicology studies amid aquatic species

The saliva cortisol and amylase levels related with stress response compared by different analytical methods

Sampling of salivary cortisol and amylase is a non-invasive method and important for the evaluation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function and stress levels. This study aimed to compare the values of the salivary cortisol and amylase levels which were measured by three diferent analytical methods to discuss the alterations of stress levels of samples. The saliva samples of young adults (n=23) were collected between 08.00 and 09.00 a.m., noon at 12.00 (before exam) and between 14.00 and 15.00 p.m. (after unaware exam). The samples were measured within the frst 48 h, and no freezing/thawing was done. Salivary cortisol and amylase levels of subjects were measured by three diferent analytical methods as ELISA, chemiluminescence and biosensor methods. Comparison of ELISA and biosensor methods in order to determine the salivary cortisol levels showed a good correlation y=2.971+0.748x (R2=0.839). Salivary amylase concentrations were only detected by ELISA method. Biosensor can be ofered as an alternative analytic method to the conventional determination method ELISA. It can be preferred because of the detection/information efectiveness, low cost, fast results and specifcity characteristics