Glucose Metabolism and Catecholamine Responses during Physical Exercise in Non-Insulin - Dependent Diabetes

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Urinary glycosaminoglycan concentrations in postmenopausal osteoporosis

the organic bone matrix contains glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Structural changes in bones with inflammatory and degenerative processes generally lead to the break-down of macromolecules from connective tissue and increase their urinary excretion. in the present study, the levels of urinary GAGs were investigated in 28 healthy controls consisting of 18 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women and 25 patients with postmenopausal and 10 postmenopausal women and in 25 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Urinary GAGs were measured in 24 hour collected urine samples by the carbazole method and corrected for the excretion level of creatinine. There was a significant increase in GAGs excretion in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis compared with healthy premenopausal (p<0.01) and healty postmenopausal subjects (p<0.01). (4.57+-0.69 in healty premenopausal and 5.34+-1.64 mm/mol creatinine in healty postmenopausal vs 12.31+-1.01 mmol/mol creatinine in postmnopausal osteoporotic women). Bone mineral density was measured by dual photon absortiometer. Bone mineral density was determined to be significantly lower in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in comparison to the control group (p<0.05). in urine samples collected in the 4. week of salmon calcitonin (SCT) treatment (100 IU/d Miacalsic), GAG excretion decreased significantly in the osteoporotic women, suggesting that this urinary parameter might be useful in monitoring alterations in bone metabolism

Excitatory amino acid levels in cerebrospinal fluids of epileptic patients

Epilepsy is among the most neurologic disorders. Due to its damaging effects on the brain and the psychological problems that it creates in the patients, it deserves extensive study of its pathogenesis and new therapeutical approaches. The most widely accepted hypothesis on the pathogenesis of epilepsy is a failure in the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms in the brain. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which was believed to reflect the levels of excitatory amino acids in the brain. CSF glutamate, aspartate and glycine levels were determined by gas -liquid chromatography in 12 epileptic patients (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) n=7, idiopathic primary generalized epilepsy with tonic clonic seizuren=5) and 12 controls. In the epileptic patients, glutamate and glycine levels were significantly higher than controls (p The findings of this study suggest that further studies with a larger patient population and comparison of levels in CSF and epileptogenic brain tissue would be useful for a better understanding of the role excitatory amino acids in the pathogenesis of epilepsyEpilepsy is among the most neurologic disorders. Due to its damaging effects on the brain and the psychological problems that it creates in the patients, it deserves extensive study of its pathogenesis and new therapeutical approaches. The most widely accepted hypothesis on the pathogenesis of epilepsy is a failure in the regulation of excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms in the brain. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which was believed to reflect the levels of excitatory amino acids in the brain. CSF glutamate, aspartate and glycine levels were determined by gas -liquid chromatography in 12 epileptic patients (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) n=7, idiopathic primary generalized epilepsy with tonic clonic seizuren=5) and 12 controls. In the epileptic patients, glutamate and glycine levels were significantly higher than controls (p The findings of this study suggest that further studies with a larger patient population and comparison of levels in CSF and epileptogenic brain tissue would be useful for a better understanding of the role excitatory amino acids in the pathogenesis of epileps

Eksüdatif tip yaşa bağlı makula dejeneresansında antioksidan indeks ve aterosklerotik risk faktör tayini

Aim: To evaluate the relation between blood antioxidant levels, atherosclerotic risk factors and exudative agerelated macular degeneration (ARMD). Methods: Twenty-five patients of exudative ARMD were included in the study. As a control group, 25 patients presented to the policlinics for the examination of refraction were also evaluated. Antecubital venous blood samples were taken in all patients to investigate blood total antio-xidant capacity and serum profile. Vitamin E, C and A, P-caroten, zinc, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase which are known as antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity which is a predictor of total antioxidant level were evaluated. the lipid profile including cholesterol, triglyseride, HDL and LDL-cholesterol levels were also investigated to evaluate atherosclerotic risk factors. All of the data in the ARMD and control groups were compared statistically using the student-t test and Odds ratio. Results: the ARMD group included 13 males and 12 females, and the control group 9 males and 16 females. the ARMD group ranged between 53 and 86 years (mean 72.2±6.9) and the control group between 61 and 81 years (mean 70.18±6.0). the level of glutathione peroxidase was lower in the ARMD group than in the control group (p=0.01). the level of vitamin C was higher in the ARMD group than in the control group (p=0.001). the difference between the levels of vitamin E and A, P-caroten, zinc, SOD, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, cholesterol, triglyserides, HDL and LDL-cholesterol was not statistically significant between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed between control and patient groups concer-ning smoking and hypertension. Conclusion: the glutathione peroxidase was the only antioxidant to have significantly lower blood activity in the exudative ARMD group in our study. Only the blood levels of the antioxidants can be evaluated because of the difficulty in working with the tissue antioxidants except in the experimental studies. Different results can be obtained due to the measurement and analysis methods, nutritional and racial diversity. However, we think that a close relation must be found between antioxidant levels and ARMD regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. in addition, although we could not find any relation, we think that the atherosclerotic risk factors must be eliminated in patients with ARMD considering the same histopathologic findings that they cause.Amaç: Eksüdatif tipte yaşa bağlı makula dejeneresansı (YBMD) ile serum antioksidan düzeyleri ve aterosklerotik risk faktörleri arasındaki ilişkiyi araştırmak. Metod: Çalışmaya, eksüdatif YBMD tanılı 25 hasta dahil edildi. Kontrol grubu, refraksiyon muayenesi için başvuran 25 poliklinik hastası ile oluşturuldu. Tüm hastalardan, kan antioksidan değerleri, lipid ve kolesterol düzeylerini tayin etmek için, antekübital venöz kan örneği alındı. Alınan örneklerde antioksidan vitamin ve elementler olan E, C ve A vitamini, (3-karoten, çinko, glutatyon peroksidaz, süperoksid dismutaz (SOD), katalaz ile antioksidanların total düzeyleri hakkında bilgi veren total antioksidan kapasite ölçüldü. Aterosklerotik risk faktörlerinden lipid profili için kolesterol, trgliserid, HDL ve LDL düzeyleri belirlendi, sigara ve hipertansiyon ile ilgili anamnez alındı. İstatistik yöntemi olarak student-t testi ve Odds oranı kullanıldı. Bulgular: Hasta grubu 13 erkek ve 12 kadından, kontrol grubu ise 9 erkek ve 16 kadından oluşmaktaydı. Hasta grubunun yaşları 53-86 (ört. 72.2±6.9) arasında değişirken, kontrol grubunun yaşları 61-81 (70.18±6.0) arsında idi. Biyokimyasal parametrelerden glutatyon peroksidaz düzeyleri hasta grubunda kontrol grubuna göre istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı olarak daha düşük düzeylerde bulundu (p=0.01). C vitamini düzeyleri ise hasta grubunda kontrol grubuna göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir şekilde yüksek bulundu (p=0.001). Bunların dışında, iki grubun E vitamini, A vitamini, (3-karoten, çinko, SOD, katalaz, total antioksidan kapasitesi, kolesterol, trigliserid, HDL ve LDL oranları arasındaki fark, istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı değildi. Sigara kullanımı ve hipertansiyon açısından kontrol grubu ile eksüdatif YBMD arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir fark yoktu. Sonuç: Çalışmamızda, eksüdatif YBMD'da, yalnızca antioksidan enzim olan glutatyon peroksidazın kan düzeyinde düşüklük saptanabilmiştir. Deneysel çalışmalar dışında, doku antiok-sidan düzeylerinin tayini kısıtlı olarak yapılabildiği için, antioksidanların kan değerleri göz önüne alınarak değerlendirme yapılabilmektedir. Bu durumda ölçüm ve analiz metodlarmın farklılıkları, hastaların beslenme ve ırksal özellikleri nedeniyle çok farklı sonuçlar elde edilebilmektedir. Buna rağmen, yaşa bağlı makula dejeneresansının patogenezi düşünüldüğünde, antioksidan düzeyleri ile arasında yakın bir ilişki olması gerektiğini düşünmekteyiz. Ayrıca aralarında ilişki saptanamamasına rağmen, sebep oldukları histopatolojik bulguların benzerliği göz önüne alınırsa, YBMD'lı hastalarda aterosklerotik risk faktörlerinin mümkün olduğu kadar elimine edilmesi gerektiği kanısındayız

Impact of renal function or folate status on altered plasma homocysteine levels in hypothyroidism

WOS: 000236535900016PubMed ID: 16543681Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for coronary, peripheral and cerebrovascular diseases. Moderately elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) levels have been reported in patients with overt hypothyroidism. Plasma tHcy concentration is affected by several physiological factors and is elevated tinder conditions of impaired folate and cobalamin status and in renal failure. The aim of this Study was to assess plasma tHcy concentrations and to evaluate the role of potential determinants of plasma tHcy levels in hypothyroid patients. Fasting plasma tHcy, serum homocysteine-related vitamins folate and vitamin B-12, serum cystatin C (CysC) and creatinine, were determined in 22 hypothyroid patients and compared with 25 healthy control subjects. Creatinine clearance (CCr) was calculated using the Cockroft-Gault formula. Plasma tHcy levels were determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection and serum CysC by automated particle enhanced immunoturbidimetry. Plasma tHcy, creatinine levels were significantly higher, and serum CysC levels, and creatinine clearance values were lower in hypothyroid patients than in control subjects. Folate levels were lower in hypothyroidic group compared to the control group. There were no differences in vitamin 13, levels between hypothyroid and control groups. Positive correlation was noted between tHcy and creatinine levels in hypothyroid patients (r = 0.596); however, an inverse correlation was found between tHcy and folate levels (r = -0.705) in hypothyroid patients. In conclusion, tHcy was increased in hypothyroidism, and this increase was more strongly associated with changes in serum folate than in serum creatinine and CysC, suggesting an altered folate status

Histological Investigation of Experimentally Induced Diabetes Effects on the Distribution of Transforming Growth Factor (TGF beta), Nuclear Factor Kappa B (Nf-kappa B), Heat Schock 90 beta (Hsp90 beta) and E-cadherin Proteins in Testicular Tissue

WOS:000609557500003Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar levels and it causes complications in many systems, including the reproductive system. As a result of diabetic conditions, one of the mechanisms that can cause repression of reproductive activity is testicular oxidant stress. The identification of diabetes on the cell signaling molecules axis is still under discussion. The aim of this study was to detennine the effect of Transfonning Growth Factor (TGF beta), Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), Heat-schock 90 beta (HSP90 beta) signal pathways and E-cadherin cell adhesion molecule on infertility in diabetic rat testicular tissue. in our study, includes histological, molecular and biochemical analysis of testicular tissue removed at the end of the 2 weeks experiment period. A total of 14 adult male rats were divided as control and diabetes. No intervention was given to 7 male rats in the control group. For the diabetic group, 7 male rats were injected by intraperitoneal with a single dose of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). TGF beta, NF-kappa B, HSP90 beta and E-cadherin proteins were immunohistochemically studied to investigate possible tissue damage, inflanunatoly process, cell stabilization and integrity due to diabetes. in order to determine oxidant stress, lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) analyzes were performed. Fibrosis, inflammatory changes and loss of spermatogenetic series are prominent findings in the diabetic group. on analysis of all the samples with immunostaining, in the diabetic group, TGF beta and NF-kappa B inununoexpression significantly increased, while Hsp90 beta and E-cadherin immunoexpression significantly decreased compared with control groups. Experimental diabetes was found to cause fibrosis, inflammation, disrupting cell adhesion and stabilization in testicular tissue. These results suggest that cellular therapy studies are needed for possible damage

Plasma catalase, glutathione peroxidase and selenium levels in adult diabetic patients

Diabetes mellitus is not simply a disorder of glucose homeostasis, but is also accompanied by various degenerative manifestations, such as cardiovascular disease and microvascular lesions leading to retinopathy and glomerulopathy. These events may be related to the hyperproduction of free radicals and to a deficiency in available antioxidant systems like low enzyme activity or deficient micronutrient status. To test the feasibility of this idea, we compared the activities of plasma catalase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the latterÕs cofactor, selenium in diabetics (n=14) and age-matched healthy controls (n=12). The antioxidant enzyme activity in the diabetics was generally lower than in the controls. The following results were obtained: (mean±SEM, controls and diabetics, respectively): plasma catalase 154.02±13.71 kU/L and 114.31±17.60 kU/L (p<0.05); glutathione peroxidase 457.96+-22.66 U/L and 374.61+-21.88 U/L (p<0.05); selenium, 22.1+-2.53 and 17.4+-1.21 ng/mL (p<0.05). Our results suggest that increased oxidative activity, which leads to a depletion in antioxidant enzyme status, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of complications associated with chronic diabetes.Diabetes mellitus is not simply a disorder of glucose homeostasis, but is also accompanied by various degenerative manifestations, such as cardiovascular disease and microvascular lesions leading to retinopathy and glomerulopathy. These events may be related to the hyperproduction of free radicals and to a deficiency in available antioxidant systems like low enzyme activity or deficient micronutrient status. To test the feasibility of this idea, we compared the activities of plasma catalase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as the latterÕs cofactor, selenium in diabetics (n=14) and age-matched healthy controls (n=12). The antioxidant enzyme activity in the diabetics was generally lower than in the controls. The following results were obtained: (mean±SEM, controls and diabetics, respectively): plasma catalase 154.02±13.71 kU/L and 114.31±17.60 kU/L (p<0.05); glutathione peroxidase 457.96+-22.66 U/L and 374.61+-21.88 U/L (p<0.05); selenium, 22.1+-2.53 and 17.4+-1.21 ng/mL (p<0.05). Our results suggest that increased oxidative activity, which leads to a depletion in antioxidant enzyme status, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of complications associated with chronic diabetes