Low-Dose Fluvastatin Prevents the Functional Alterations of Endothelium Induced by Short-Term Cholesterol Feeding in Rabbit Carotid Artery

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly known as statins, are the medical treatment of choice for hypercholesterolemia. In addition to lowering serum-cholesterol levels, statins appear to promote pleiotropic effects that are independent of changes in serum cholesterol. In this study, we investigated the effects of low-dose fluvastatin on antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase), total nitrite/nitrate levels, and vascular reactivity in 2% cholesterol-fed rabbits. This diet did not generate any fatty streak lesions on carotid artery wall. However, SOD activity significantly increased with cholesterol feeding whereas the catalase activities decreased. The levels of nitrite/nitrate, stable products of NO degradation, diminished. Moreover, dietary cholesterol reduced vascular responses to acetylcholine, but contractions to serotonin were augmented. Fluvastatin treatment abrogated the cholesterol-induced increase in SOD, increased the levels of nitric oxide metabolites in tissue, and restored both the impaired vascular responses to acetylcholine and the augmented contractile responses to serotonin without affecting plasma-cholesterol levels. Phenylephrine contractions and nitroglycerine vasodilatations did not change in all groups. This study indicated that fluvastatin treatment performed early enough to improve impaired vascular responses may delay cardiovascular complications associated with several cardiovascular diseases

Effect of octreotide on oxidative stress in the erythrocyte and kidney tissue in adriamycin-induced experimental nephrotic syndrome model

Abstract Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is one of the reasons of end-stage kidney disease, and elucidating the pathogenesis and offer new treatment options is important. Oxidative stress might trigger pathogenesis systemically or isolated in the kidneys. Octreotide (OCT) has beneficial antioxidant effects. We aimed to investigate the source of oxidative stress and the effect of OCT on experimental NS model. Methods: Twenty-four non-uremic Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups. Control group, 2 mL saline intramuscular (im); NS group, adriamycin 5 mg/kg intravenous (iv); NS treatment group, adriamycin 5 mg/kg (iv) and OCT 200 mcg/kg (im) were administered at baseline (Day 0). At the end of 21 days, creatinine and protein levels were measured in 24-hour urine samples. Erythrocyte and renal catalase (CAT) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured. Renal histology was also evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference among the 3 groups in terms of CAT and TBARS in erythrocytes. Renal CAT level was lowest in NS group, and significantly lower than the control group. In treatment group, CAT level significantly increased compared with NS group. In terms of renal histology, tubular and interstitial evaluations were similar in all groups. Glomerular score was significantly higher in NS group compared with control group and it was significantly decreased in treatment group compared to NS group. Conclusions: Oxidative stress in NS might be due to the decrease in antioxidant protection mechanism in kidney. Octreotide improves antioxidant levels and histology in renal tissue and might be a treatment option

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1, RANTES and macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels in gingival crevicular fluid of metabolic syndrome patients with gingivitis

WOS: 000381592400011PubMed ID: 27270225Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted protein (RANTES) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in metabolic syndrome patients with gingivitis. Design: Twenty metabolic syndrome patients with gingivitis (MSG), 20 MetS patients with clinically healthy periodontium (MSH), 20 systemically healthy subjects with gingivitis and 20 subjects who were both systemically and periodontally healthy were included. Periodontal and systemical parameters were recorded. GCF MCP-1, RANTES and MIF levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results: MSG and MSH groups had elevated blood pressure, triglyceride, waist circumference and fasting glucose values in comparison to gingivitis and healthy groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: Elevated levels of GCF RANTES in MetS patients with gingivitis might associate with the presence of increased gingival inflammation by MetS. Low-grade systemic inflammation associated with MetS and adipose tissue-derived RANTES might lead to altered GCF RANTES levels in the presence of gingival inflammation. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.Ege University Research ProjectEge University [06-DIS-013]This work was supported by grants from the Ege University Research Projects number: 06-DIS-013

PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF BLUEBERRY ON CCL4 INDUCED ACUTE HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS

WOS: 00028997420164

Physical characteristics and antioxidant activities of organic grapes

WOS: 000243404600007Studies on antioxidative activities of fruits have focused mainly on grapes, which have been reported to inhibit oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) at a level comparable to wine. With regard to consumer attitude on the health benefits of the product, organic grapes were selected for study. Organic grapes of Vitis vinifera origin var. Semillon, Columbard, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache and Carignan produced under the control of International Nutrition and Agriculture Certification Company in Kemalpasa/Ulucak were studied. The order of grape varieties concerning grape cluster, stem and number (100) values from the highest to the lowest was determined as: Semillon > Merlot > Cabernet sauvignon > Carignan > Columbard > Grenache. Positive correlation was determined between antioxidant activities (AOA) and total phenols (r = 0.845; P = 0.034). The highest AOA were determined in Merlot (86.55%) and Cabernet sauvignon (83.60%) varieties. Considering LDL, low-density lipoprotein-diene values for Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot varieties were 82.73 and 65.48%, respectively. The values of low-density lipoprotein-malondialdehyde were different, with the highest percentage found for Semillon (80%). The highest value of total phenols was found in Merlot (4,200 mg/L gallic acid equivalents) variety. Evaluating all analyzed parameters, principal component analysis results demonstrated the similarities between Carignan and Grenache, between Merlot and Cabernet sauvignon and between Columbard and Semillon grape varieties

Chitotriosidase as a possible marker of clinically evidenced atherosclerosis in dyslipidemic children

WOS: 000338839500019PubMed ID: 24572981A correlation has been clearly shown between inflammation markers and subclinical atherosclerosis markers in the early stages of atherogenesis in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The aim of this study was to investigate potential inflammation markers in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis in children with FH. A total of 48 dyslipidemic children and 24 healthy age-matched control subjects were taken into study. Inflammation and macrophage activation markers (hsCRP, myeloperoxidase, chitotriosidase, YKL-40, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-18, MMP-1 and MMP-9) and lipid parameters of all patients were measured. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) levels were determined. Our data suggested that clinically evidenced (by cIMT and FMD levels) atherosclerosis starts in the early ages in hypercholesterolemic children. Higher cholesterol levels strongly correlated with macrophage activation markers (ChT, YKL-40 and myeloperoxidase). ChT and YKL-40 seem to be the more predictable markers of atherosclerosis even in early ages (<6 years old) than other classical inflammation markers such as hs-CRP, IL-6 and TNF-alpha.Ege University Research FoundationEge University [BAP- TIP-014-2010]The authors would like to gratefully thank Sundus Ekinci and Aylin Akin for their help in the laboratory work. This study was funded by Ege University Research Foundation (BAP- TIP-014-2010)

Can cathepsin-D and galectin-3 be new inflammation biomarkers in detection of lysosomal diseases?

11th Annual WORLD Symposium of the Lysosomal-Disease-Network -- FEB 09-13, 2015 -- Orlando, FLWOS: 000348973100076Lysosomal Dis Networ