Testis glutathione peroxidase and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase activities in aminoguanidine-treated diabetic rats

Severe steroidogenic and spermatogenic alterations are reported in association with diabetic manifestations in humans and experimental animals. This study was planned to determine whether oxidative stress is involved in diabetes-induced alterations in the testes. Diabetes was induced in male rats by injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Ten weeks after injection of STZ, levels of selenium and activities of selenium dependent-glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) were measured in rat testis. Lipid and protein oxidations were evaluated as measurements of testis malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl levels, respectively. Testis sulfydryl (SH) levels were also determined. The control levels of GPx and PHGPx activities were found to be 46.5 +/- 6.2 and 108.8 +/- 19.8 nmol GSH/mg protein/min, respectively. Diabetes caused an increase in testis GPx (65.0 +/- 21.1) and PHGPx (155.9 +/- 43.1) activities but did not affect the levels of selenium or SH, However, the testis MDA and protein carbonyl levels as markers of lipid and protein oxidation, respectively, did not increase in the diabetic group. Aminoguanidine (AG) treatment of diabetic rats returned the testis PHGPx activity (136.5 +/- 24.9) to the control level but did not change the value of GPx activity (69.2 +/- 17.4) compared with diabetic group. MDA and protein carbonyl levels in testis were not affected by AG treatment of diabetic rats, but interestingly AG caused SH levels to increase. The results indicate that reactive oxygen radicals were not involved in possible testicular complications of diabetes because diabetes-induced activations of GPx and PHGPx provided protection against oxidative stress, which was reported to be related to some diabetic complications. (C) 2000 Academic Press

Urinary nerve growth factor in children with overactive bladder: A promising, noninvasive and objective biomarker

WOS: 000324027200016PubMed ID: 22789557Objective: This prospective study was designed to determine urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in children with overactive bladder (OAB), and to evaluate whether this factor can be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring treatment outcome. Patients and methods: Urinary NGF levels were determined in 40 children with OAB and in a control group of 20 children with no urinary symptoms. Urine samples were collected from the patients prior to and at 3 and 6 months after the beginning of treatment. The total NGF levels (pg/mL) were further normalized to the concentration of urinary creatinine (NGF/Cr level). Results: Overall, both NGF and NGF/Cr levels were significantly higher at the beginning of the study. Mean NGF levels were 30.75 +/- 8.35 and 9.75 +/- 2.11 pg/ml (p=0.023) and mean NGF/Cr levels were 0.53 +/- 0.14 and 0.16 +/- 0.04 (p = 0.022) in patients and controls, respectively. After 6 months of therapy, the NGF/Cr level was significantly reduced to almost control levels (0.16 +/- 0.02, p = 0.047). Conclusion: NGF and NGF/Cr levels were significantly higher in children with OAB than controls at initial evaluation. Furthermore, the NGF/Cr level was significantly reduced following 6 months of therapy. NGF and NGF/Cr levels show promise as reliable biomarkers for OAB diagnosis and to monitor therapy in the pediatric age group. (C) 2012 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The effect of aminoguanidine on diabetes-induced inactivation of kidney Na+,K+-ATPase in rats

We studied the effect of aminoguanidine (AG), an inhibitor of advanced glycation product formation, on diabetes-induced oxidative damage. Renal cortex Na+,K+ -ATPase was chosen for study as a potential cellular target of oxygen radicals. In this study, the enzyme activity was reduced while malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl levels were enhanced but sulphydryl (SH) level remained unchanged in the renal cortex in diabetic animals. Treatment of diabetic rats with AG had no significant effect on diabetes-induced impairments of enzyme activity and MDA but the carbonyl level readjusted to control level in the kidney. These results show that AG treatment at that dose did not exhibit profound antioxidant properties even if carbonyl stress was ameliorated by this treatment. (C) 2001 Academic Press

The effect of dietary curcumin on hepatic chymase activity and serum fetuin-A levels in rats fed on a high-fat diet

WOS: 000403269800007The effects of curcumin on mast cell chymase activity in fatty liver and serum fetuin-A levels in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received HFD (60% of total calories from fat) and 1 g curcumin/kg HFD for 16 weeks. Hepatic chymase activity was determined using spectrophotometric analysis while liver lipid levels were measured using colorimetric methods and serum fetuin-A, insulin, leptin, and adiponectin levels were detected using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Hepatic fat accumulation and fibrotic changes were ameliorated with curcumin treatment. Curcumin significantly reduced hepatic lipids, chymase activity, and serum fetuin-A levels. Decreased serum leptin and augmented adiponectin levels were also observed. These findings suggest that curcumin attenuated hepatic fat accumulation and regulated adipokine levels. The reduction of liver chymase activity and serum fetuin-A levels may also contribute to the beneficial effects of curcumin in fatty liver disease induced inflammatory status. Practical applicationsCurcumin (diferuloylmethane), which is extracted from the dried root of the rhizome Curcuma longa, is a popular dietary spice (turmeric) in Asia and used in curry. Turmeric is widely used as food component, flavoring agent, and colorant. This research revealed that dietary curcumin treatment reduces hepatic fat accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and inflammation related to fat storage. Therefore, curcumin may be a potential protective agent in the prevention of fatty liver disease and the anti-inflammatory capacity of curcumin may reveal a beneficial application in medicine and also food technology.Istanbul University [33981]Istanbul University, Grant/Award/Project Number: 3398

Comparison of Non - Parametric PSD Detection Methods in the Anaylsis of EEG Signals in Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is characterized by complete cessation of airflowin the mouth and nose for at least 10 seconds and it is a disease that causes significant disruption of sleep patterns. In the absence of treatment, it can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke. Polysomnography is the gold standard examination methods used in the diagnosis of the disease. In this study, EEG signals obtained from the polysomnography recording are divided into sub-bands and their epochs in pre apnea, intra apnea and post apnea were analyzed. Non-parametric power spectral density (PSD) detection methods (Periodogram, Welch and Multi Taper) applied to the EEG signals were compared.Uyku apnesendromu, uyku sırasında ağız ve burundaki hava akımının 10 saniye veya daha fazla süreyle durmasından kaynaklanan ve uyku düzeninin bozulmasına sebep olan önemli bir rahatsızlıktır. Tedavi edilmediği durumlarda, kalp krizi, felç gibi ciddi sağlık sorunlarına neden olabilmektedir. Hastalığın tanısında kullanılan altın standart inceleme yöntemi polisomnografidir (PSG). Bu çalışmada, polisomnografi kayıtlarından elde edilen EEG sinyalleri alt bantlarına (delta,teta,alfa,beta) ayrılarak, sinyallerin apne öncesi(pre), apne anı(intra) ve apne sonrası(post) epokları incelenmiştir. EEG sinyallerine uygulanan parametrik olmayan güç spektral yoğunluğu (GSY) tespit yöntemleri (Periodogram, Welch ve Çoklu Konik (Multi Taper)) karşılaştırılmıştır

Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Nitric Oxide Levels in Obese Postmenopausal Women

WOS: 000291110400005PubMed ID: 21567464Background: It has been reported that estrogen deficiency after menopause might cause a decrement in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability by increasing the level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), a major endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, thus leading to abnormalities in endothelial function. Because NO plays an important role on feeding behavior, ADMA may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity, too. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the relations of ADMA and NO with the obesity-linked peptides, such as ghrelin, leptin, and adiponectin in postmenopausal women free of hormone replacement therapy. Methods: Adiponectin, ghrelin, leptin, ADMA, and NO(x) (total nitrite/nitrate) were measured in 22 obese (BMI: 30-47 kg/m(2)) and 19 normal weight (BMI: 21.5-26 kg/m(2)) postmenopausal women. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, waist, and hip circumferences) were recorded. Statistics were made by the Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: Ghrelin and adiponectin levels were significantly lower (P<0.001), whereas ADMA and leptin levels were higher in obese women than in normal weight controls (P<0.01 and 0.001, respectively). BMI was correlated negatively with adiponectin and ghrelin and positively with ADMA and leptin levels. No correlation existed between ADMA and NO. Conclusion: Estrogen deficiency alone may not cause an increase in ADMA levels unless the women are prone to disturbances in energy homeostasis. In spite of the high ADMA levels, the unaltered NO levels in plasma may be owing to ongoing inflammatory conditions. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 25:174-178, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Istanbul University [UDP-1771/23112007, BYP-881/06012006]Grant sponsor: Istanbul University; Grant numbers: UDP-1771/23112007; BYP-881/06012006

Ligand binding and activation of the CGRP receptor

İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi.Objective: Malnutrition and loss of appetite remain a frequent problem in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). These patients have inflammation accompanied by high levels of plasma leptin, an appetite-modulating hormone. A newly described hormone ghrelin is also involved in regulation food intake and energy balance. In patients with end-stage renal disease and hemodialysis, high plasma ghrelin concentration has been reported, but the metabolic impact of ghrelin in CKD is unknown. The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in circulating levels of ghrelin, obestatin, leptin, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) at different stages of CKD

Application of Circular Patch Plasty (Dor Procedure) or Linear Repair Techniques in the Treatment of Left Ventricular Aneurysms

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate early clinical outcomes and echocardiographic measurements of the left ventricle in patients who underwent left ventricular aneurysm repair using two different techniques associated to myocardial revascularization. Methods: Eighty-nine patients (74 males, 15 females; mean age 58±8.4 years; range: 41 to 80 years) underwent post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm repair and myocardial revascularization performed between 1996 and 2016. Ventricular reconstruction was performed using endoventricular circular patch plasty (Dor procedure) (n=48; group A) or linear repair technique (n=41; group B). Results: Multi-vessel disease in 55 (61.7%) and isolated left anterior descending (LAD) disease in 34 (38.2%) patients were identified. Five (5.6%) patients underwent aneurysmectomy alone, while the remaining 84 (94.3%) patients had aneurysmectomy with bypass. The mean number of grafts per patient was 2.1±1.2 with the Dor procedure and 2.9±1.3 with the linear repair technique. In-hospital mortality occurred in 4.1% and 7.3% in group A and group B, respectively (P>0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrate that post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm repair can be performed with both techniques with acceptable surgical risk and with satisfactory hemodynamic improvement