Serum levels of TNF-alpha, sIL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8 are increased and associated with elevated lipid peroxidation in patients with Behçet's disease.

AIM: Behçet's disease (BD) is asystemic immunoinflammatory disorder and the aetiopathogenesis is to be specified. Cytokines play a role in immune response and in many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this case-control study is to investigate serum pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-6, and chemokine IL-8 levels in patients with BD. We also determined the end product of lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde (MDA)) in BD patients as an index for oxidative stress. METHODS: A total of 37 patients (19 men, 18 women) with BD (active, n = 17; inactive, n = 20) and 20 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects (11 men, nine women) included in this cross-sectional, blinded study. Serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were determined by a spectrophotometer technique using the immulite chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by Wasowicz et aL The levels of cytokines and lipid peroxidation in the active period were compared with the inactive period of the disease. Results are expressed as mean +/- standard error. RESULTS: IL-1beta levels were below the detection limits of the assay (< 5 pg/ml) in all samples. Mean levels of MDA (8.1+/-0.7 micromol/l), sIL-2R (800+/-38 U/ml), IL-6 (12.6+/-1.1 pg/ml), IL-8 (7.2+/-0.4 pg/ml), and TNF-alpha (7.9+/-0.5 pg/ml) in active BD patients were significantly higher than those in inactive patients (4.3+/-0.5 micromol/l, p < 0.01; 447+/-16 U/ml, p < 0.001; 8.3+/-0.6 pg/ml, p = 0.006; 5.3+/-0.1 pg/ml, p < 0.001; and 5.1 0.2 pg/ml, p < 0.001; respectively) or control subjects (2.1+/-0.2 micromol/l, p < 0.001; 446+/-20 U/ml, p < 0.001; 6.4+/-0.2 pg/ml, p < 0.001; 5.4+/-0.1 pg/ml, p < 0.001; and 4.7+/-0.1 pg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively). On the contrary, only the mean IL-6 level was significantly different between inactive BD and control subjects (p = 0.02). All acute phase reactants were significantly higher in active BD than in inactive period (for each, p < 0.01). Conclusions: High levels of sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha indicate the activation of immune system in BD. Serum sIL-2R, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha seem to be related to disease activity. Increased lipid peroxidation suggests oxidative stress in BD and therefore tissue damage in such patients. Amelioration of clinical manifestations would be envisaged by targeting these cytokines, chemokines and lipid peroxidation with pharmacological agents

A novel research on the subject of the load-independent microhardness performances of Sr/Ti partial displacement in Bi-2212 ceramics

This work is interested in the critical changes in the load-independent microhardness performance parameters with the partial substitution of Sr2+ inclusions for the Ti4+ impurities in the Bi-2212 inorganic solids with the help of the theoretical approximations as regards Meyer's law (ML), proportional sample resistance (PSR), modified proportional sample resistance (MPSR), elastic/plastic deformation (EPD), Hays-Kendall (HK) and indentation-induced cracking (IIC) models found on the experimental microhardness tests applied to a variety of test loads between 0.245 and 2.940 N for the first time. Moreover, Ti-substituted Bi-2212 bulk ceramics (Bi2.1Sr2.0-xTixCa1.1Cu2.0Oy) are prepared within mole-to-mole ratios of x = 0.000, 0.010, 0.030, 0.050, 0.070, 0.100 by the standard solid-state reaction method in the atmospheric pressure conditions. It is provided that Ti partial substitution in the superconducting system descends unsmilingly the mechanical durability, stability, strength, toughness, critical stress, stiffness and flexural strengths of Bi-2212 superconducting solids studied owing to the increment of crystal structural problems. Moreover, it is obtained that the degradation in the crystal structural leads to diminish the typical ISE characteristic of Bi-2212 superconducting ceramic compounds. At the same time, the results show that all the models (especially IIC approach) can serve as the suitable descriptors for the determination of the variation in the load-independent mechanical performances of the Bi-2212 superconducting materials

Sarkoplazmik Protein Elektroforezi ile Orthrias Insignis Euphraticus (Banarescu and Nalbant, 1964) ve Cyprinion Macrostomus (Heckel, 1843) Taksonomisinin İncelenmesi

In this study, SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) was applied to the sarcoplasmic proteins of Orthrias insignis euphyraticus (BALITORIDAE) and Cyprinion macrostomus (CYPRINIDAE) fish taken from Karakaya Dam Lake. The electrophoregram showed that there were differences between the two species in both the number of bands and the molecular weight (MW) of the sarcoplasmic proteins. While Cyprinion macrostomus had 18 protein bands, there were 20 protein bands in Orthrias insignis euphyraticus. On the other hand, the bands obtained from Orthrias insignis euphyraticus and numbered as 9th protein band with molecular weight of 29.5 kD and 12th band with MW of 27.2 kD were not found in Cyprinion macrostomus. 9th protein band with MW of 27.5 kD was only found in Cyprinion macrostomus. We concluded that comparisons of sarcoplasmic proteins might have practical importance in taxonomic classification.Bu çalışmada, SDS-PAGE (sodyum dodesil sülfat-poliakrilamid jel elektroforezi)’ne, Karakaya Baraj Gölü’nden yakalanan Orthrias insignis euphyraticus (BALITORIDAE) ve Cyprinion macrostomus (CYPRINIDAE) balıklarının sarkoplazmik proteinleri uygulandı. Elektroforegramda, sarkoplazmik proteinlerin band sayısı ve molekül ağırlıklarının iki tür arasında farklı olduğu görüldü. Cyprinion macrostomus 18 protein bandına sahipken Orthrias insignis euphyraticus’da 20 protein bandı vardı. Diğer taraftan, Orthrias insignis euphyraticus’dan elde edilen 29.5 kD moleküler ağırlığına sahip 9. protein bandı ve 27.2 kD moleküler ağırlığına sahip 12. protein bandı Cyprinion macrostomus’ta bulunmadı. 27.5 kD moleküler ağırlığına sahip 9. protein bandı yalnızca Cyprinion macrostomus’ta bulundu. Sarkoplazmik proteinlerin karşılaştırılmasının taksonomik sınıflandırmada pratik önemi olabileceğine karar verildi

EVALUATION OF BLOOD ZONULIN LEVELS, INFLAMMATORY PROCESSES AND NEURONAL CHANGES IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as limited, and repetitive behavior patterns and disordered social interaction and communication. The etiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not clearly known, it has been emphasized that the immune-inflammatory system may also play a role in this disease. This study aimed to evaluate in intestinal permeability, food antigen-antibody levels, inflammatory processes, and neuron damage in patients with ASD. Subjects and methods: Thirty-five chıldren between the ages of 3-12 with ASD and 35 controls were included in the study. Both participants\u27 height and weight were measured, and the parents filled the Socio-demographic Data and the Gastrointestinal Systems (GIS) Symptoms Form. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum zonulin, anti-gliadin Ig A and Ig G, IL6, TNF-alpha, TGFß, S100B, and NSE levels were measured by ELISA. Results: Serum zonulin levels in the ASD group were found to be significantly lower. IL-6 and TGF-ß were found to be significantly higher in the ASD group. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of serum anti-gliadin Ig A and Ig G and TNF-alpha values. Also, GIS symptoms, NSE and S100B levels were found similar between two groups. Conclusions: Although findings showing low zonulin levels and increased inflammatory processes in ASD were found in this study, no difference was found in the parameters of brain damage. The findings show that intestinal permeability does not decrease in ASD and that inflammatory processes may play a role in ASD

A Taxonomical Study on Electrophoretic Pattern of Blood Serum Protein of Some Fish of Karakaya Dam Lake

In Ihis study, an electrophoretic comparison 01 serum blood proteins of two species 01 fish, Cspoeta trulla and Capoels capoeta umbls, were carried out. Study was carried between june and october in 1997. Using the Ran· dom Sampling Method, 92 C. capos's umbla and 86 C. trutta which the same age and sex were used. The iden· dification of species and subspecies were done though their metric and meristic characteristics. While 16 band pat· tern was observed in C. trutta, the number 01 protein bands for C. capoeta umbla was 11 . From the electrophorelic mobility 8 bands of species gave similar pattern, but the rest was seen to be different. As a result, we concluded that, there is a %50 similarity between C. trulta and C. capoeta umbla based on their serum blood proteins.Bu ara~IIfITla haziran ile ekim 1997 tarihleri arasmda gergekle~tirildi. Ar~t,"Tlada, y,*lan ve cinsiyetleri aynl alan 92 adet Capoeta caposts umbJa ve 86 adet Capoet8 tlUtta kullanllch. SOz konusu ballklann metrik ve meristik de· gerierine gOre klasik olarak tur ve all lOr tespili yaplldl. C. IlUtta ve C. capoela umbla'iann kan serum proteinlerinin SOS·Poliakriiamid Jel Elektroforez (SOS·PAGE) yOntemi ile incelenerek yapllan fUr ve alt tOr 9all~maslnda , C. tlUtt{ J'd8 16, C. capoeta umbla'da ise 11 protein bandl tespit edildi. C. trutta'nln eleklroforegrammda diger lOre gOre 8 farkl1 protein band! gOzlendi. Bunun yanl sira 8 aOOt protein bandl bu iki ballk arasmda benzerlik gOsterdi. SOS-PAGE lie elde edilen verilere gOre, C. tlUtta va C. capoeta umbla arasmda eleklroforegamda olu$an protein banllan baklmmdan %50'lik farkllllk tasp!1 edilmi~ ve bunun laksOrlOmik ayldan Onemfi ofdugu sonucuna vanlml~tlr

Influence of Resveratrol Against Ovariectomy Induced Bone Loss in Rats: Comparison With Conjugated Equine Estrogen Tibolone and Raloxifene

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effect of resveratrol, a phenolic compound found in the skins of most grapes, on bone loss in ovariectomized rats. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 42 young Wistar-albino rats, of which 35 animals were submitted to bilateral oophorectomy, and 7 rats were submitted to the same surgical incision but without oophorectomy were studied. The rats were assigned to six groups of 7 animals each. For 35 consecutive days the following treatments were given: Group 1, sham; group 2, ovariectomized (OVX); group 3, OVX plus resveratrol; group 4, OVX plus conjugated equine estrogen; group 5 OVX plus tibolone; group 6, OVX plus raloxifene. Immediately 40 days after the ovariectomy bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and femur by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD of lumbar region (R1), total femur region (R2) and three neighbor subregions of femur (R3, R4, R5) were drawn. RESULTS: There were no significant difference between OVX and resveratrol groups for R2, R3 and R4 values. Compared with the OVX group, CEE group had lower values for R3 but similar values for R2 and R4. Raloxifene group had significantly higher value than the OVX, resveratrol, CEE and tibolone groups for R2. For R3, raloxifene had significantly higher values than in the ones in resveratrol, CEE and tibolone. For R4 region, raloxifene had significantly higher values than CEE group. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol administered to ovariectomized rats for 35 days had not a beneficial effect on the development of osteopenic skeletal changes

Retensiyo sekundinarumlu ineklerde kan serumu kalsiyum (Ca) ve fosfor (P) düzeyleri üzerine çalışma

Bu çalışmada, retensiyo sekundinarum (RS) şekillenen 31 inekle doğum sonrası RS şekillenmeyen (kontrol) 8 ineğin kan serumu Ca ve P değerleri araştırıldı. Retensiyo sekundinarum 21 inekte normal doğum, 10 inekte ise abortu izleyerek şekillendi. Tüm RS’lu hayvanlarla kontrol grubu hayvanların kan serumu ortalama Ca ve P değerleri arasında fark görülmezken (P>0.05), RS’lu hayvanlar, normal doğum (RSD) ve abortu (RSA) izleyerek RS şekillenenler olmak üzere iki alt gruba ayrılarak değerlendirildiğinde; alt gruplar ve kontrol grubu hayvanlar arasında P değerleri yönüyle farklılığın olmadığı (P>0.05), fakat RSD grubu oluşturan hayvanların ortalama Ca düzeyinin, kontrol grubu ve RSA grubu hayvanlardan düşük olduğu tespit edildi (P<0.05). Retensiyo sekundinarum şekillenen hayvanlarda yavru cinsiyetiyle kan serumu Ca düzeyi arasında ilişkinin olduğu, dişi yavru doğuranların Ca düzeyinin erkek yavru doğuranlardan düşük olduğu görüldü (P<0.05). Retensiyo sekundinarumun mevsimlere göre dağılımında, Ca düzeyleri yönüyle mevsimler arasında fark görülmezken (P>0.05), ilkbahar mevsiminde RS şekillenen hayvanların (n=6) P düzeyinin yaz aylarında RS şekillenen hayvanlardan (n=15) düşük olduğu saptandı (P<0.01

Research on Possible Effects of Acrylamide and Vitamin E Administered to Pregnant Rats on Placenta Tissue

Investigate the changes that occur in the placenta tissues of pregnant rats that were administered acrylamide (AA) and vitamin E as a protective agent during pregnancy. Thirty rats that were proven positive for pregnancy with vaginal smear test were randomly distributed into control, corn oil, vitamin E, acrylamide and vitamin E + acrylamide groups. Pregnant rats were decapitated on the 20th day of the experiment. Malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAS), total oxidant capacity (TOS) and Xanthine oxidase (XO) levels were measured in placenta tissues. It was determined that acrylamide application during pregnancy statistically significantly increased MDA, TOS and XO levels and reduced GSH and TAS levels in the placenta tissue of pregnant rats when compared to all other groups, and GAS and TAS levels statistically significantly increased in vitamin E administered group when compared to all other groups and TOS and XO levels were decreased to control group levels. It was observed that orally administered AA changed the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium favoring the oxidants by increasing MDA, XO and TOS levels in pregnant rats and caused oxidative stress, while vitamin E administration returned the antioxidant / oxidant equilibrium back to normal levels, preventing oxidative stress induced toxicity

Tekstil Fabrikası Atığının Cyprinion macrostomus, Karaciğer, Böbrek ve Kan Dokusuna Olan Biyokimyasal, Histopatolojik ve Genotoksik Etkisi

Bu araştırmada; 3 yaşındaki Cyprinion macrostomus' lar 10 ve 35 gün boyunca o/o2,5' lik tekstil fabrikası atığı içinde yaşatıldılar. Sonuçta; 35 günlük grupta karaciğer ve böbrek glutatyon (GSH) konsantrasyonları kontrole göre anlamlı şekilde azalırken 35 günliik grubun karaciğer ve böbrek malondialdehit (MDA) konsantrasyonlan kontrole göre anlamlı şekilde artmıştı. 35 günlük grubun karaciğer dokusunda vakuolcr dejcnerasyon şeldinde nekrozların oluşması gibi histopatolojik değişimler gözlendi. Mikronukleus sayısında anlamlı bir artış aynı grupta da gözlendi....