Açikgöz S. | Can M. | Güven B. | Edebali N. | Barut F. | Büyükuysal Ç. | Tekin I.Ö.

Article | 2014 | Acta Biochimica Polonica61 ( 4 ) , pp.825 - 828

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the levels of cystatin C, which protects neurodegeneration in the central nervous system with the inhibition of cysteine protease and by inducing autophagy in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm and levels of vasoconstrictive neuropeptid Y (NPY) in the brain tissue homogenates of rat model of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Three experimental groups were used: Day 2 and Day 7 groups after SAH, and also a control group. There were seven Wistar albino rats in each group. SAH was accomplished by transclival basilar artery puncture. Rat cystatin C, rat NPY were determined with EL . . .ISA in brain tissue homogenates. Day 2 group showed significantly enhanced cystatin C values in comparision with the control group (P=0.048). NPY levels between the Day 2 and Day 7 groups and the control groups were not significantly different (P=0.315). In histopathological examination, there was less neuronal loss in the Day 2 group than in the Day 7 group. Regarding our results, it would be more valuable to measure NPY levels in specific brain areas. The increased cystatin C levels on the second day after SAH is probably a pathophysiologic mechanism to organize protease activity Daha fazlası Daha az

Görkem Mungan A. | Can M. | Kiran S. | Açikgöz S. | Güven B.

Article | 2013 | Acta Biochimica Polonica60 ( 3 ) , pp.443 - 449

Aim: Several studies suggest that coal miners are under risk of severe health problems such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, hematological and musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are limited data on biochemical changes in underground workers. In our study we aimed to evaluate the association between serum homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, cystatin C and folate levels in the blood of underground coal miners. Materials and Methods: Eighty one coal miners who work as underground or surface workers were recruited into our study. The study population was divided into two groups: the surface worker group (control gr . . .oup, n=33) and the underground worker group (n=48). The folate, vitamin B12, Hcy, cystatin C levels and body mass indexes (BMI) of both groups were measured and compared. Serum folate, Hcy and vitamin B12 levels were measured with a competitive chemiluminescence immunassay. Serum levels of cystatin C were determined by the latex particle-enhanced turbidimetric method using a cystatin C kit. Urea values were measured with a kinetic method on an automated analyzer. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the underground workers and surface workers in the urea, cystatin C and vitamin B12 levels. High serum Hcy levels and low folate levels were found in underground workers compared with those in surface workers. The correlation between Hcy and folate levels was also statistically significant. Similarly, there was also a significant correlation between Hcy and vitamin B12, and between Hcy and cystatin C levels. Conclusions: Elevated Hcy levels may be associated with underground working but further research is necessary to understand the relation between elevated Hcy and increased prevalence of health problems in coal miners Daha fazlası Daha az

Saritekin I. | Açikgöz S. | Bayraktaroğlu T. | Kuzu F. | Can M. | Güven B. | Mungan G.

Article | 2017 | Acta Biochimica Polonica64 ( 4 ) , pp.597 - 602

Sclerostin, which is a glycoprotein produced by osteocytes, reduces the formation of bones by inhibiting the Wnt signal pathway. Thyroid hormones are related with Wnt signal pathway and it has been reported that increased thyroid hormones in hyperthyroidism fasten epiphysis maturation in childhood, and increase the risk of bone fractures by stimulating the bone loss in adults. The aim of this study was to examine the sclerostin serum levels, the relation between sclerostin and thyroid hormones as well as the biochemical markers of the bone metabolism in patients with hyperthyroidism (including multinodular goiter and Graves' disease . . .), whose treatments have not started yet. No difference was found in the serum sclerostin levels between the hyperthyroidism group (n = 24) and the control group (n = 24) (p = 0.452). The serum osteocalcin levels and 24- hour urinary phosphorus excretion were found to be higher in the hyperthyroid group than in the control group (p < 0.001, p = 0.009). A positive correlation was determined between the sclerostin and bone alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.001); a negative correlation between the osteocalcin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (p < 0.05); a positive correlation between the osteocalcin and thyroid hormones (FT3,FT4) (p < 0.001); and a positive correlation between the deoxypyridinoline and hydroxyproline (p < 0.001). No correlation was determined between sclerostin and TSH,FT3,FT4 (p > 0.05). Therefore, we consider that a long-term study that covers the pre-post treatment stages of hyperthyroidism, including both the destruction and construction of the skeleton would be more enlightening. Moreover, the assessment of the synthesis of sclerostin in the bone tissue and in the serum level might show differences Daha fazlası Daha az

Can M. | Acikgoz S. | Guven B. | Bayar U.O.

Article | 2012 | Acta Biochimica Polonica59 ( 3 ) , pp.367 - 369

Preeclampsia is a multisystem disorder that can manifest clinically with hypertension and proteinuria. Previous studies reported the presence of placental PSA in normal pregnancy but no study has been done in preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate PSA content in preeclampsia. Preeclampsia was diagnosed according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria. Placentas were obtained from 33 preeclamptic and 34 normotensive women. Placenta samples were homogenized and the supernatants were immediately analyzed. The tissue PSA content was measured by Immulite 2000 PSA assay. The data were analyzed . . .with Student's t-test and Pearson correlation test. There was a significant difference in placental PSA content between preeclamptic and normotensive women. Placental content of PSA was higher in the preeclamptic group with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) than in the preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant without IUGR groups. No significant difference was found in this respect between preeclamptic and normotensive women without IUGR. In conclusion, we found that placental PSA content is elevated in preeclampsia and negatively correlated with infant birth weight. Further studies will be necessary to define the roles of PSA more precisely and to examine its effects on the pathophysiology of preeclampsia Daha fazlası Daha az

Dursun A. | Cicek S. | Keni F.M. | Karakas-Celik S. | Sezer T. | Altinyazar C.H.

Article | 2014 | Acta Biochimica Polonica61 ( 2 ) , pp.271 - 274

Purpose: Behçet's disease is a multisystem disease characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, relapsing uveitis, mucocutaneous, articular, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and vascular manifestations. Paraoxonase is believed to play an important role in protection of LDL and HDL particles from oxidation, in antioxidant effect against lipid peroxidation on cellular membranes, and in anti-inflammatory process. Lipid peroxidation and free oxygen radicals have been thought to play a role in pathogenesis of BD. The association of paraoxonase gene polymorphisms with Behçet's Disease in a group of Turkish patients with clinical manif . . .estations and healthy controls has been investigated. Patients and Methods: Paraoxonase (PON-1-L55M) gene polymorphism was investigated in 50 Behcet patients and 50 healthy individuals with a PCR/RFLP method. Results: There were significant differences between patients and the control group in allele frequencies of the PON1 L55M polymorphism (p=0.04). Also, when patients were compared with the control group according to clinical manifestations, this statistical significance was getting sharper. Compared with the PON55 L allele, the M allele was associated with greater than 3.5 fold (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-8.9) increased risk of ocular (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.3), 2.4 fold joint and 3.1 fold (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1-8.4) central nervous system manifestations of BD. Conclusion The PON L55M gene polymorphism seemed to play a role in the pathogenesis of BD Daha fazlası Daha az