Determinants of plasma homocysteine in coal miners

Aim: Several studies suggest that coal miners are under risk of severe health problems such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, hematological and musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are limited data on biochemical changes in underground workers. In our study we aimed to evaluate the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, cystatin C and folate levels in the blood of underground coal miners. Materials and Methods: Eighty one coal miners who work as underground or surface workers were recruited into our study. The study population was divided into two groups: the surface worker group (control group, n=33) and the underground worker group (n=48). The folate, vitamin B12, Hcy, cystatin C levels and body mass indexes (BMI) of both groups were measured and compared. Serum folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 levels were measured with a competitive chemiluminescence immunassay. Serum levels of cystatin C were determined by the latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric method using a cystatin C kit. Urea values were measured with a kinetic method on an automated analyzer. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the underground workers and surface workers in the urea, cystatin C and vitamin B12 levels. High serum Hcy levels and low folate levels were found in underground workers compared with those in surface workers. The correlation between Hcy and folate levels was also statistically significant. Similarly, there was also a significant correlation between Hcy and vitamin B12, and between Hcy and cystatin C levels. Conclusions: Elevated Hcy levels may be associated with underground working but further research is necessary to understand the relation between elevated Hcy and increased prevalence of health problems in coal miners

Evaluation of serum adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase activities and uric acid levels in coal miners

Bu çalışma kömür madeni işçileri serum adenozin deaminaz (ADA), ksantin oksidaz (XO) aktiviteleri ve ürik asit düzeylerini araştırmak üzere planlandı. T lenfositlerin fonksiyonu ve matürasyonuna katkıda bulunan ADA, hücresel immuni-tenin bir göstergesi olarak kabul edilmektedir. ADA aynı zamanda inflamatuar cevap ve sitokin üretimi ile ilişkili olan adenozinin plazma seviyesini düzenler. XO, ADA ile birlikte pürin metabolizması enzimidir ve ürik asit oluşumu reaksiyonunu katalizlemektedir. Mesleksel kömür madeni tozuna maruz kalma pnömokonyoz, bronşit, amfizem ve silikozis gibi bir çok akciğer hastalığına neden olmaktadır. Maden işçisi akciğer has-talıklarının patogenezi ile ilgili önemli faktörlerden birisi de kömür tozunun hücresel ve humoral immun sistemi etkilemesidir. Bu çalışmada kömür madeninde çalışan 51 erkek çalışma grubu ve kömür madeninde çalışmayan 51 erkek kontrol grubu olarak alındı. Her iki gruptan alınan kan örneklerinden ADA, XO aktiviteleri ve ürik asit düzeyleri çalışıldı. İşçi grubu serum ADA ve XO aktivitesi ve ürik asit düzeyi kontrol grubundan anlamlı derecede düşük bulundu (p<O.OOl, p<0.05, p<0.01). Sonuç olarak; maden kömürü işçileri ADA enzim aktivitesindeki azalma nedeni ile immun yetmezlik sendromu gelişimi riski altındadırlar. Bu nedenle kömür madeni işçilerinin plazma ADA aktivitelerinin belirli periyotlarla değerlendirilmesi hem immun sistem fonksiyonlarını hem de akciğer patolojileri gelişim riskini değerlendirme açısından faydalı olabilir.This study was planned in order to investigate serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) and xanthine oxidase activities and uric acid levels in coal miners. ADA contributes to maturation and functions of T-lymphocytes and is accepted as an indicator of cellular immunity. Besides, ADA regulates plasma level of adenosine, which is related with inflammatory response and cytokine produc-tion. XO, like ADA, is an enzyme of purine metabolism, and catalyzes reaction for uric acid formation. Occupational exposure to coal dust is the cause of pneumoconiosis, bronchitis, emphysema, silicosis and many other respiratory diseases. One of the most important factors related with pathogenesis of respiratory diseases in coal miners is that coal dust effects both cellular and humoral immune systems. In this study, 51 male coal miners were taken as study group and 51 males not working in coal mines were taken as control group. Serum ADA, XO activities and uric acid levels were studied in blood samples of both groups. Serum ADA and XO activities and uric acid levels were found to be significantly lower than the control group (p<O.OOl, p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). As a result, coal miners are under risk of immune deficiency due to decrease in ADA enzymatic activity. Evaluation of plasma ADA activities of coal miners periodically can be beneficial for evaluation of immune system functions and risk of development of respiratory diseases

Determinants of plasma homocysteine in coal miners

Aim: Several studies suggest that coal miners are under risk of severe health problems such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, hematological and musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are limited data on biochemical changes in underground workers. In our study we aimed to evaluate the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, cystatin C and folate levels in the blood of underground coal miners. Materials and Methods: Eighty one coal miners who work as underground or surface workers were recruited into our study. The study population was divided into two groups: the surface worker group (control group, n=33) and the underground worker group (n=48). The folate, vitamin B12, Hcy, cystatin C levels and body mass indexes (BMI) of both groups were measured and compared. Serum folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 levels were measured with a competitive chemiluminescence immunassay. Serum levels of cystatin C were determined by the latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric method using a cystatin C kit. Urea values were measured with a kinetic method on an automated analyzer. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the underground workers and surface workers in the urea, cystatin C and vitamin B12 levels. High serum Hcy levels and low folate levels were found in underground workers compared with those in surface workers. The correlation between Hcy and folate levels was also statistically significant. Similarly, there was also a significant correlation between Hcy and vitamin B12, and between Hcy and cystatin C levels. Conclusions: Elevated Hcy levels may be associated with underground working but further research is necessary to understand the relation between elevated Hcy and increased prevalence of health problems in coal miners

Astımlı çocuklarda montelukast tedavisinin serum paraoksonaz aktivitesi üzerine etkisi

Amaç: Montelukast, astım tedavisinde yaygın olarak kullanılan selektif ve etkili oral sistein lökotrien 1 reseptör antagonistidir. Bu çalışmamızda, malondialdehit düzeylerini ve paraoksonaz aktivitesini ölçerek, çocukluk çağı astım hastalarında oksidatif hasar ve antioksidan defans üzerine montelukast’ın etkilerini araştırdık. Hafif ve orta derecede atopik astımlı 25 çocuk hasta grubu olarak ve 25 non-atopik sağlıklı çocuk kontrol grubu olarak çalışmaya dahil edildi. Astımlı çocuklar bir ay boyunca 5 mg montelukast ile tedavi edildi. Serum paraoksonaz, malondialdehit ve HDL kolesterol seviyeleri tedavi öncesi ve sonrası ölçüldü. Montelukast tedavisi sonrası serum paraoksonaz ve paraoksonaz/HDL oranı anlamlı bir artış gösterdi. Kontrol grubu ile kıyaslandığında bu parametreler belirgin olarak yüksek bulundu. Montelukast tedavisi serum malondialdehit düzeylerinde bir artışa neden olmakla beraber, bu değişim istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildi. Bu çalışmada montelukast’ın bronşial astımlı çocuklarda serum paraoksonaz aktivitesini etkin biçimde arttırdığı görüldü. Bu konuda yapılacak in vivo ve in vitro çalışmaların bu mekanizmayı aydınlatma konusunda faydalı olabileceğini düşünüyoruz.Montelukast, widely used in the treatment of asthma, is a selective and potent oral cysteinyl leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist. In this study, we investigated the effects of montelukast on oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in childhood asthma by measuring malondialdehyde and the paraoxonase activity. Twenty-five children with mild to moderate atopic asthma and 25 nonatopic children as controls were enrolled in the study. Asthmatic children were treated with montelukast, 5 mg tablets, for one month. Serum paraoxonase, malondialdehyde and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels were measured before and after treatment. Serum paraoxonase and paraoxonase/HDL ratios were significantly increased after montelukast treatment. These parameters were significantly higher when compared with the normal subjects. Although montelukast treatment caused an enhancement in serum malondialdehyde, this increase did not reach statistical significance between the groups. The present study clearly demonstrates that montelukast increases paraoxonase activity in children with bronchial asthma. However, for better understanding of this enhancement, additional in vivo and in vitro studies are required

Homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 levels in patients with psoriasis vulgaris treated with low-dose methotrexate

Metotreksat (MTX) şiddetli psoriasis ve psoriatik artrit tedavisinde kullanılan bir folik asit (folat) analoğudur. Düşük doz MTX tedavisinin homosistein (Hey) ve folat düzeylerini etkilediği bildirilmiştir. Çalışmamızda psoriasis vulgaris hastalarında düşük doz MTX tedavisinin erken dönemde serum folat, vitamin B12 ve plazma Hey seviyeleri üzerine etkisini araştırdık. Çalışmaya orta ve şiddetli psoriasis vulgaris tanısı konulan 16 (10 erkek, 6 kadın) hasta ile yaş ve cinsleri uyumlu 20 (12 erkek, 8 kadın) sağlıklı kontrol dahil edildi. Kontrol grubundan ve hastalardan MTX tedavisi öncesi serum folat, vitamin B12 ve plazma Hey için venöz kan alındı. Hastalardan, 4 hafta süresince her hafta, 20 mg intramusküler MTX uygulandıktan 48 saat sonra folat, vitamin B12 ve plazma Hey düzeyleri için tekrar kan örnekleri alındı. Hastaların ve kontrol grubunun tedavi öncesi folat ve plazma Hey düzeyleri arasında anlamlı fark bulunmazken (p>0.05), vitamin B12 değerleri hastalarda kontrol grubundan anlamlı düzeyde düşük idi (p0.05). Metotreksat tedavisi sonrası folat ve Hey seviyeleri arasında ise korelasyon yoktu (p0.05). Düşük doz MTX tedavisinin serum folat seviyesinde kısa süreli azalmaya ve plazma Hey seviyesinde artmaya neden olduğu ve MTX tedavisi süresince Hey seviyesinin artmadığı kanaatine vardık.Background and Design: Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid (folate) analog, is used for treatment of severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. It has been reported that the&quot; homocysteine (Hey) and folate levels were affected by low dose MTX treatment. In this study we investigated the effect of low dose MTX treatment on folate, vitamin B12 and plasma Hey levels of patients with psoriasis vulgaris at early phase. Material and Method: Sixteen patients (10 males, 6 females) diagnosed as moderate and severe psoriasis vulgaris and age-sex matched twenty healthy subjects (12 males, 8 females) were included in the study. Blood samples were drawn from the both groups before initiation of MTX treatment for folate, vitamin B12 and plasma Hey measurements. Again, after 48 hours following 20 mg intramuscular MTX injection, blood samples of patients were drawn for folate, vitamin B12 and plasma Hey level measurements Results: While there were no significant differences in the folate and plasma Hey levels between patients and healthy subjects (p>0.05), vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in the patients than the controls (p0.05). There was no correlation been folate and Hey levels after MTX treatment (p>0.05). Negative correlation was found between vitamin B12 and Hey levels before and after treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: We concluded that low dose MTX treatment cause transient decrease of serum folate levels and transient increase of plasma Hey levels that did not increase throughout the MTX treatment

The effect of steroid treatment on serum Oxidant-antioxidant system and cytokine levels in childhood asthma

Bu çalışmanın amacı, çocuklardaki astım oluşumunda önemli bir role sahip olduğu düşünülen interlökin-6, tümör nekrozis faktör-?, immünglobulin E, eozinofilik katyonik protein, tiyobarbitürik asid ile reaksiyona giren maddeler ile total antioksidan serum düzeylerini ve steroid tedavisinin bu parametrelere etkisini değerlendirmekti. Çalışma grubuna yaş ortalaması 8.9 olan 27 hafif-orta süreğen astımlı ve kontrol grubuna da yaş ortalaması 9.2 olan 25 sağlıklı çocuk dahil edildi. Semptom puanlaması, solunum fonksiyon testi, serum immünglobulin E, eozinofilik katyonik protein, interlökin-6, tümör nekrozis faktör-?, tiyobarbitürik asid ile reaksiyona giren maddeler ve total antioksidan düzeyleri astımlı hasta grupta tedavi öncesi ve 4 haftalık budenozid tedavisin sonrası ölçüldü ve sağlıklı grubun sonuçlarıyla karşılaştırıldı. Tedavi öncesi tümör nekrozis faktör-?, tiyobarbitürik asid ile reaksiyona giren maddeler, immünglobulin E ve eozinofilik katyonik protein düzeylerinin kontrol grubundan istatistiksel olarak anlamlı yüksek olduğu saptandı. Solunum yoluyla kullanılan steroid tedavisi ile tiyobarbitürik asid ile reaksiyona giren maddeler, eozinofilik katyonik protein ve immünglobulin E derişimlerinde anlamlı bir azalma belirlenirken interlökin-6, tümör nekrozis faktör-? ve total antioksidan status düzeylerinde anlamlı bir değişiklik saptanmadı. Tedavi sonrası tümör nekrozis faktör-?, immünglobulin E ve eozinofilik katyonik protein düzeyleri kontrol grubundan anlamlı olarak yüksek bulundu. Sonuç olarak, hafif-orta süreğen kararlı astımlı çocuklarda budenozid tedavisinin oksidan stres, antioksidan savunma ve öncül yangısal sitokinlerden interlökin-6 ve tümör nekrozis faktör-? üzerine direkt etkisi olmadığı gözlendi. Bu hastalarda elde ettiğimiz sonuçlar, steroid tedavisinin esas olarak immünglobulin E ve eozinofilik katyonik protein düzeylerini azaltarak klinik düzelmeyi sağladığını düşündürtmektedir.The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945;, immunoglobulin E, eosinophil cationic protein, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and total antioxidant status which were suggested to have a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma in children and to evaluate the effect of steroid on these parameters. 27 children, mean aged 8.9 years with mild-moderate persistent asthma for the study group and 25 healthy children, mean aged 10.3 years for the control group are included in the study group. The symptom score, respiratory function test, plasma immunoglobulin E, eosinophil cationic protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945;, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and total antioxidant status levels were measured in the study group before and 4 weeks after budenoside treatment and compared with the control group. The tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945;, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, immunoglobulin E and eosinophil cationic protein levels measured before treatment were significantly higher than those of the control group. Although a significant decrease was observed in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, eosinophil cationic protein and immunoglobulin E levels after inhaled steroid treatment, the interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945; and total antioxidant status levels showed no difference. The tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945;, immunoglobulin E and eosinophil cationic protein levels after treatment were significantly higher than those of the control group. In conclusion, we observed that budenoside treatment in mild to moderate stable asthmatic children had no direct effect on oxidant stress, antioxidant defense, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-&amp;#945;. These results lead us to the decision that the steroidal treatment may achieve a clinical improvement mainly by decreasing the levels of immunoglobulin E and eosinophil cationic protein