Effects of Cyclamen trochopteranthum on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes

The modulatory effects of the Cyclamen trochopterantum tuber extract on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes, including aniline 4-hydroxylase (A4H; CYP2E1), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD; CYP1A), methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD; CYP1A), caffeine N-demethylase (C3ND; CYP1A2) aminopyrene N-demethylase (APND; CYP2C6), and erythromycin N-demethylase (ERND; CYP3A1), were examined in vivo in rats. The activities of all of these enzymes were induced by the cyclamen extract. In addition, Western-blot and RT-PCR results clearly showed that CYP2E1, CYP1A1/CYP1A2 and CYP2C6 protein and mRNA levels were substantially increased by four different doses of cyclamen. Although, the CYP3A1 protein level was increased significantly, the mRNA level was not changed. These results indicate that cyclamen tuber extract might have a potential not only to inhibit and/or induce the metabolism of certain co-administered drugs but also influence the development of toxicity and carcinogenesis due to the induction of the cytochrome P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzymes

Acute alcohol consumption is associated with increased interatrial electromechanical delay in healthy men

Background: Acute alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation in patients with, and without, heart disease. Increased atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) has been associated with atrial fibrillation. We evaluated the atrial conduction properties by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography in healthy men following acute alcohol intake. Methods: Thirty healthy male volunteers were included in this study. Baseline ECG, heart rate, blood pressure, and TDI echocardiographic findings were compared to readings taken one hour after drinking six 12-oz cans of beer (76.8 g of ethanol). Results: Although the blood pressure and heart rate remained similar before and one hour after alcohol intake, Pmax and Pd values were significantly prolonged (114.2 &#177; 10.4 vs 100.8 &#177; 10.6, p = 0.002; 50.6 &#177; 9.6 vs 34.5 &#177; 8.8, p < 0.0001). Interatrial EMD was significantly increased after drinking alcohol compared to the baseline (19.8 &#177; 9.2 vs 14.0 &#177; 5.5 ms, p < 0.0002). Conclusions: Acute moderate alcohol intake was associated with an increased interatrial EMD obtained by TDI echocardiography. This finding may help explain how these patients express increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 6: 682&#8211;686

A microscopic survey on the efficiency of wellknown routine chemical fixatives on cryosections

This study was designed to analyze and compare tissue preservation efficiency of acetone (AC), formaldehyde (FA) and paraformaldehyde (PFA) on cryosections. Brain, kidney, heart and liver tissue of adult Balb/c mice were fixed with either FA or PFA prior to cryosectioning, or fixed with AC alone immediately after cryosectioning. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that AC is a poor fixative in preserving the general tissue and cellular organization. PFA, and to a lesser extent FA, produced significantly better results. Another set of cryosections were further analyzed to test the properties of those fixatives to preserve proteins from specific cell structures. Cytokeratin filaments, F-actin filaments and nuclei were immunolabeled and examined using confocal microscopy. Results demonstrated that, overall, PFA is the best fixative tested. However, FA fixation gave poor results in preserving neuronal tissues. Immunofluorescence confirmed the inefficiency of AC fixation, after which no specific labelling of cytokeratin filaments was detectable. Nevertheless, actin filaments were detectable on AC-fixed samples, a finding that was supported by the quantification of fluorescein-phalloidin binding to F-actin. Overall, the data suggest that AC fixation is unacceptable for preservation of most samples, whereas FA and PFA fixation should be chosen according to the tissues and proteins to be studied. (C) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved

Bisphenol-A induces cell cycle delay and alters centrosome and spindle microtubular organization in oocytes during meiosis

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a widely used environmental estrogen-like chemical that has a weak estrogenic activity. This study aimed to test the potential inhibitory effects of BPA on meiotic cell cycle progression, centrosomes and spindle integrity in mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). They were exposed to BPA (10-30 mu M; 2.3-6.8 ppm) during meiosis-I and the formation of metaphase-II (M-II) spindle. Exposure to BPA during meiosis-I caused a dose-dependent retardation/inhibition of cell cycle progression; 74 and 61% of cells reached metaphase-I (M-I) in the presence of 10 and 30 mu M BPA, respectively, (81% in controls, P<0.001). A more striking delay was noted when oocytes were exposed to BPA during the formation of M-II spindle, i.e. 61 and 41% of cells (94% in controls, P<0.001) reached M-II while the remaining cells remained at M-I. Depending on dose, both (i) loosening and elongation of meiotic spindles and (ii) compaction and dispersion of pericentriolar material (PCM) were noted in all samples, all of which resulted in a series of spindle abnormalities. Interestingly, no chromosome was detected in the first polar body after the 10 and 30 KM BPA treatments. When the cells were freed from BPA exposure at 10 and 30 mu M, 70 and 61%, of the cells succeeded in reaching M-II (93% in controls, P<0.001), respectively. In conclusion, one mode of action of BPA is a moderately severe yet reversible delay in the meiotic cell cycle, possibly by a mechanism that degrades centrosomal proteins and thus perturbs the spindle microtubule organization and chromosome segregation

Some characteristics of the smoking profiles of pregnant women who applied to a health center in Sakarya

Gebelikte sigara kullanımı dünyanın çoğu bölgesinde olduğu gibi ülkemizde de ciddi bir sağlık sorunudur..Nikotin, kullanım sıklığının yüksekliği ve bilinen teratojen ajanlardan olması nedeniyle, ayrıca halk sağlığına etkileri önlenebilir nitelikte olduğu için mücadele edilmesi gereken önemli etkenlerdendir. Sağlıklı kuşakların yetişmesi ancak gebelik sürecinin sağlıklı geçirilmesi ve bilinen risklerden kaçınmakla olanaklıdır. Bu çalışmada gebelerin ve eşlerinin sigara içme sıkılığını, gebelerin sigaranın doğacak bebeklerine vereceği zararlar hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerini ayrıca; bu konuda verilecek sağlık hizmeti gereksinimlerini belirlemeyi amaçlanmıştır. Tanımlayıcı nitelikteki bu çalışmaya, Sakarya Kadın Doğum ve Çocuk Hastanesi 'ne başvuran ve çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden 205 gebe alınmıştır. Gebelerin %20'sinin gebelik öncesinde sigara içtiği, bunların %37,5'inin gebelikte sigarayı bıraktığı bulunmuştur. Sağlık personeline verilen hizmet içi eğitim programlarında, gebelikte sigara kullanmanın riskleri üzerinde önemle durulmalı ve gebelerin de konuyla ilgili doğum öncesi eğitimi sağlanmalıdır.Smoking in pregnancy is a serious health problem in our country, as it is in many parts of the world. Since it is widely used, known to be a teratogenic agent and its effects on public health are preventable, nicotine is a substance that must be struggled with. Growing healthy generations is only possible with a healthy pregnancy period and by avoiding known risk factors. This study aims to determine the smoking prevalence in pregnant women and their husbands, the awareness of pregnant women about the damage smoking can do to their babies yet to be born and the needs for health education about this issue. 205 pregnant women who applied to Sakarya Kadin Dogum ve Cocuk Hastanesi (Sakarya Hospital of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics) were included in this descriptive study. It was found that 20% of the pregnant women used to smoke prior to pregnancy and 37.5% of these had quit during pregnancy. In the in-service training programs given to health staff, risks of smoking during pregnancy should be strongly emphasized and pregnant women should also also be educated on this issue during pregnancy

Assessment of P-wave dispersion on 12-lead electrocardiography in students who exercise regularly

Background: P-wave dispersion, an electrocardiographic marker, is an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation. P-wave dispersion is associated with inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses. The aim of this study was to investigate P-wave dispersion in students who apply for registration to School of Physical Education and Sports

Evaluation of the association of anxiety level, body mass index, waist-hip circumference and blood pressure level with fasting blood glucose level

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic disease and its treatment is generally ineffective. The aim of this study is to detect the relationship of waist-hip circumference, body mass index, blood pressure level, stress and anxiety level with fasting blood glucose levels of patients. Study was designed as cross sectional and had been performed through June to September 2007. Total 431 participants which were at or over 18 year old included in the study. Patients with prior diagnosis of DM and pregnancy were excluded from the study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Datas were gathered from simple randomly selected participants with a questionary form which was composed of 18 questions for demographical datas, 12 questions for general health questionnaire (GHQ), and antropometric measurements. The average score for the general health of persons was 2.29 +/- 2.93 and 43.4% of persons were psychologically at risk. The average fasting blood sugar is 113.88 +/- 41.27 mg/dl. GHQ-3 was revealed to effect fasting blood glucose levels in this study (R = 0.559; R(2) = 0.313; F = 5.997; p < 0.001 significance level of GHQ-3 p = 0.027; t = 2.222). GHQ-3 was shown to be the independent factor effecting fasting glucose levels in this study and it emphasized that evaluation of mood of patients admitted to health care services is very important in the prevention of DM

Assessment of resting electrocardiogram, P wave dispersion and duration in different genders applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports - results of a single centre Turkish Trial with 2093 healthy subjects

Background: The 12-lead electrocardiogram shows a broad range of abnormal patterns in trained athletes. The primary end point of this study was to investigate P wave dispersion, and P wave durations and related factors in different genders applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports. Methods and Results: From 2006 to 2009, a total of 2093 students - 1674 boys with a mean age of 19.8 plus or minus 1.9 years and 419 girls with a mean age of 19.1 plus or minus 1.8 years - were included in the study. All 12 leads of the resting electrocardiogram were evaluated for P wave dispersion and electrocardiogram abnormalities. Baseline parameters such as age, body weight, body height, and body mass index, as well as electrocardiogram findings such as P wave maximal duration and P wave dispersion, were significantly higher in boys than in girls. Of all the parameters tested with correlation analysis, only gender (p = 0.03) (r = 0.04), body weight (p < 0.001) (r = 0.07), body height (p = 0.004) (r = 0.06), and body mass index (p = 0.01) (p = 0.05) were correlated with P wave dispersion. Conclusion: The frequencies of all electrocardiogram abnormalities, P wave dispersion, and P wave maximal duration were higher in boys as compared with girls in an unselected student population applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports; in addition, P wave dispersion was correlated with gender, body weight, body height, and body mass index

Multicenter Study

Objective: Epidemiologic and clinical features of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may show substantial differences among countries. The primary goal in the management of T1DM is to prevent micro- and macrovascular complications by achieving good glycemic control. The present study aimed to assess metabolic control, presence of concomitant autoimmune diseases, and of acute and long-term complications in patients diagnosed with T1DM during childhood and adolescence. The study also aimed to be a first step in the development of a national registry system for T1DM, in Turkey.Methods: Based on hospital records, this cross-sectional, multicenter study included 1 032 patients with T1DM from 12 different centers in Turkey, in whom the diagnosis was established during childhood. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Metabolic control, diabetes care, complications, and concomitant autoimmune diseases were evaluated.Results: Mean age, diabetes duration, and hemoglobin A1c level were 12.5 +/- 4.1 years, 4.7 +/- 3.2 years, and 8.5 +/- 1.6%, respectively. Acute complications noted in the past year included ketoacidosis in 5.2% of the patients and severe hypoglycemia in 4.9%. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis was noted in 12%, Graves' disease in 0.1%, and celiac disease in 4.3% of the patients. Chronic complications including neuropathy, retinopathy, and persistent microalbuminuria were present in 2.6%, 1.4%, and 5.4% of the patients, respectively. Diabetic nephropathy was not present in any of the patients. Mean diabetes duration and age of patients with neuropathy, retinopathy and microalbuminuria were significantly different from the patients without these long-term complications (p<0.01). A significant difference was found between pubertal and prepubertal children in terms of persistent microalbuminuria and neuropathy (p=0.02 and p<0.001, respectively). Of the patients, 4.4% (n:38) were obese and 5% had short stature; 17.4% of the patients had dyslipidemia, and 14% of the dyslipidemic patients were obese.Conclusions: Although the majority of the patients in the present study were using insulin analogues, poor glycemic control was common, and chronic complications were encountered