Serum levels of nitrate, nitrite and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

WOS: 000361654800001PubMed: 26151688Background and study aims : Oxidative stress is increased and anti-oxidant defense mechanisms are impaired in patients with hepatosteatosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of several oxidant and anti-oxidant markers in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients and Methods : Thirty-four patients with NAFLD, and 19 healthy controls were included. In this study, we measured serum nitrate and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) as the oxidizing products and nitrite as the anti-oxidizing marker. Nitrate and nitrite levels were measured using a calorimetric method, and levels of serum AOPP were measured by a spectrophotometric method using a commercial ELISA kit. Results : Serum nitrate and AOPP levels were significantly higher in the NAFLD group compared to the control group. Serum nitrite and N-N levels were similar between the two groups. Serum nitrate and N-N levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with elevated ALT levels compared to patients with normal ALT levels. Serum nitrite and AOPP levels were comparable between these groups. Mean platelet volume (MPV) was significantly lower in the NAFLD group compared to the control group. Conclusions : Serum levels of oxidizing agents including nitrate and AOPP increase in patients with NAFLD. In contrast, serum nitrite, an antioxidant agent, does not adequately increase to compensate for the oxidizing effects in these patients

Isolation and in vitro cultivation of human urine-derived cells: an alternative stem cell source

WOS: 000410005000021PubMed ID: 28861309Objective: For in vitro tissue engineering in urology, stem cells are commonly isolated from tissue specimens obtained during open or endoscopic surgery. Within the context of the present study our aim was to isolate cells from human urine by an alternative and safe technique rather than using the indicated method. Material and methods: After human urine samples had been collected from young and healthy donors via urethral catheterization, cells were precipitated by centrifugation and cultured. Following this isolation procedure, cells were characterized by immunocytochemical method using specific antibodies. Results: When these cells were characterized by immunocytochemical methods using specific antibodies some of them were positive for mesenchymal stem cell marker CD90 while the others were labelled with urothelial marker cytokeratin 7. When all these results were taken into consideration, urothelial cells together with stem cells were observed in the urine-derived cell population. Conclusion: According to the results obtained from this study human urine may be preferred as an alternative stem cell and urothelial cell source in that this method is and easily reproducible non-invasive method.TUBITAK-BIDEB National Scholarship Programme [2211]Secil Erden Tayhan, one of the researchers of this study, was finantially supported by TUBITAK-BIDEB 2211 National Scholarship Programme for PhD Students

Association of Serum Fetuin-A with Valvular Calcium Concentration in Rheumatic Mitral Valve Disease

Background and aim of the study: Fetuin-A is an acute-phase glycoprotein that inhibits ectopic calcification. The study aim was to assess serum fetuin-A levels in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD), and to evaluate the association of fetuin-A with the extent of mitral valve calcification, determined either echocardiographically or by the measurement of calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the resected valve tissues

Adamts12 Depletion By Insulin In Oums-27 Human Chondrosarcoma Cells

Objectives: In this study, we aim to investigate the association between articular damage in diabetes and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 12 (ADAMTS12) at gene expression and protein levels. Materials and methods: OUMS-27 human chondrosarcoma cells were used to investigate how ADAMTS12 levels changed in vitro condition in presence and absence of insulin. The study included three groups of cells treated with 10 mu g/mL of insulin, and a control group. Cells were incubated with insulin in medium for one day, three days, and seven days. The effects of insulin on ADAMTS12 were investigated at both gene expression and protein levels. The relationships between the variables were tested by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: ADAMTS12 expression was significantly lower in the groups treated with insulin medium for one day and seven day periods (p=0.008 and p=0.008, respectively) compared to the control group. No significant difference was detected in the expression level between the groups kept in insulin medium for three days and the control group (p=0.55). In addition, protein amounts of the groups exposed to insulin medium for one, three, and seven day periods were lower. Conclusion: Insulin reduces the amount of ADAMTS12 which causes delayed recovery of cartilage tissue in the OUMS-27 cell lines utilized in our study for their chondrocytic properties. This reduction due to insulin treatment may contribute to recovery of cartilage tissue.WoSScopu

Plasma homocysteine concentrations and serum lipid profile as atherosclerotic risk factors in subclinical hypothyroidism

<b>Background and Objectives: </b> Because subclinical thyroid dysfunction may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, we evaluated the atherosclerosis tendency in subclinical hypothyroid (SCH) patients. <b> Patients and Methods: </b> Fifty-three subclinical hypothyroid patients (serum thyrotropin [TSH] concentrations &gt;4.12 mU/L) were compared with a control group of 50 euthyroid subjects whose age, sex and body mass indices were similar to the patient group. We tested whether serum TSH concentrations were correlated with plasma total homocysteine concentration (tHcy), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). <b> Results: </b> There was a significant statistical difference between the patient and control groups for normal free T4 (1.02&#x00B1;0.17 vs. 0.86&#x00B1;0.13, P&#60; .001), TSH (1.64&#x00B1;1.02 vs. 6.62&#x00B1;2.61, P&#60; .001), TC (185&#x00B1;39 vs. 206&#x00B1;42, P=.01),TG (103&#x00B1;54 vs. 132&#x00B1;85, P=.04), LDL-C (114&#x00B1;33 vs. 127&#x00B1;36, P=.04), and TC/HDL-C (3.81&#x00B1;106 vs. 4.19&#x00B1;1.02,P=.04), respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for HDL-C, VLDL- C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and tHcy. Serum TSH was significantly correlated with plasma tHcy (r=0.55; P=.001), TC (r=0.52; P=.001), LDL-C (r=0.49; P=.001), TC/HDL-C (r=0.38; P=.002) and LDL-C/HDL-C (r=0.36; P=.004) across all participants. <b> Conclusion: </b> Our study suggests that the atherogenicity of SCH is not mediated by hyperhomocysteinemia. Associated hyperlipidemia may explain the observed increased risk of coronary artery disease in patients with SCH

A disintegrin-like metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 8 expression analysis in OUMS-27 chondrosarcoma cells before and after insulin administration

12-16A disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif 8 (ADAMTS8) is a secreted protease with anti-angiogenic properties. It inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced angiogenesis and suppresses fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) induced vascularization. Angiogenesis and extracellular matrix degradation are the key events in tumor progression, and ADAMTS8 is also known to be a member of the aggrecanases family. In the present study, we  investigated the expression levels of ADAMTS8 in chondrosarcoma cells to elucidate the effect of insulin on the tumor cells in terms of ADAMTS production. The OUMS-27 cells were cultured and separately exposed to 10 μmol/mL insulin up to 11 days in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium. After specific time limits (days 1, 3, 7, and 11), the culture was terminated and RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent and converted to cDNA. The expression levels of ADAMTS8 were evaluated by qRT-PCR. The ADAMTS8 expression in OUMS-27 cells exhibited about 4-fold decrease following insulin treatment on day 11. Statistically significant differences were noted between the control and day 1 (P = 0.008), day 7 (P = 0.047) and day 11 (P = 0.008) groups. The effect of insulin on chondrosarcoma cells in terms of ADAMTS8 expression has not been reported earlier. The decrease in ADAMTS8 expression could be considered as a novel finding that has the potential to explain some pathophysiological mechanisms of tumor cells. Furthermore, the finding could also shed some light on the relationships between matrix degradation and insulin treatment in vitro

Concentrations of prealbumin and some appetite-controlling hormones in pregnancies associated with hyperemesis gravidarium

Background Hyperemesis gravidarum, which affects 0.3-2.3\% of pregnancies, is defined as excessive vomiting during pregnancy and usually starts in week 4 or 5 of gestation. Symptoms include weight loss, dehydration, ketonaemia, ketonuria, fasting acidosis, alkalosis due to hydrochloric acid loss and hypokalaemia and its exact cause is unknown. The present study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between prealbumin, ghrelin, nesfatin-1 and obestatin concentrations in pregnancies associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods A total of 40 pregnant females with hyperemesis gravidarum and 38 pregnant females without hyperemesis gravidarum as controls were included in this study. Serum concentrations of prealbumin, ghrelin, obestatin and nesfatin-1 were measured. Results There were no significant differences in age, gestational week, gravidity and parity between the two groups. Body mass index was significantly lower in cases than in controls. Serum ghrelin and prealbumin concentrations were significantly lower in cases than in controls (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in serum concentrations of obestatin and nesfatin-1 between the two groups. There was no significant association between body mass index and serum ghrelin, nesfatin-1, obestatin or prealbumin concentrations in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. Conclusions Decreased serum concentrations of ghrelin and prealbumin in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum are independent of body mass index. Based on our results, we believe that ghrelin may be considered to play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of hyperemesis gravidarum and that hyperemesis gravidarum may result in disruption of the relationship between nesfatin-1 and ghrelin. In addition, we believe that the measurement of serum prealbumin may be used for assessing nutritional status in pregnancy

The association of autoimmune thyroiditis and non-functional adrenal incidentalomas with insulin resistance

Objective Patients with incidental nonfunctioning adrenal adenoma are associated with increased risk of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia. We aimed to investigate the relationship between thyroid function, serum lipids and insulin resistance in patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentaloma. Subjects and methods Forty patients who had diagnosed as adrenal incidentaloma (AI) in our department were included in the study. Serum free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (anti-TPO Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (anti-Tg Ab), lipid profile, hs-CRP, fasting insulin levels were measured and insulin resistance calculated by HOMA-IR. Thyroid volume (TV) was assessed. Results None of the patients showed specific signs and symptoms of hormone excess. TV, TSH and fT3 levels in the patient and control groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The serum fT4, anti-TG Ab, anti-TPO Ab levels in the patient group were significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.013, p < 0.0001, p = 0.016 respectively). The HOMA-IR, hs-CRP and HDL cholesterol levels in the AI patients were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.034, p = 0.041, p = 0.002, respectively). Statistically significant relationship was found between HOMA-IR and thyroid volume (r = 0.373, p = 0.018), fT4 (r = 0.382, p = 0.015), hs-CRP (r = 0.512, p = 0.001), HDL cholesterol (r = 0,351 p = 0.026) in AI patients. There were significant correlation between anti-TG Ab, anti-TPO Ab and TSH levels in AI patients (r = 0.431 p = 0.006, r = 0.402 p = 0.012). Conclusions Patients with nonfunctioning adrenal incidentaloma have several metabolic disturbances. At the same time autoimmune thyroid disorders are more frequent in nonfunctioning adrenal incidentaloma patient so that thyroid functions must be evaluated in those patients. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(1):42-