The serum levels of resistin in ankylosing spondylitis patients: a pilot study.

Resistin is a recently described adipokine which is a member of cysteine-rich secretory protein family. Although it has been primarily defined in human adipocytes, it has been identified that its level was higher in mononuclear leukocytes, macrophages, spleen, and bone marrow cells. Because ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease, it is suspected that upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines is effective in its immunopathogenesis. The aim of our study is to determine the serum resistin levels in patients with AS and to research the relationship with disease activity markers. A total of 30 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls were included in this study. Serum resistin concentrations, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were evaluated. In results resistin levels in ankylosing spondylitis group were significantly higher than in control group. But, there was no correlation between resistin and ESR, CRP, BASDAI. In conclusion, higher serum resistin levels in patients with AS compared to healthy subjects give clues that resistin could have a role in the pathogenesis of AS.

Combination antioxidant effect of α-tocoferol and erdosteine in ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) which is an important cause of renal dysfunction is inevitable in renal transplantation, surgical revascularization of the renal artery, partial nephrectomy and treatment of suprarenal aortic aneurysms. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of α-tocopherol and erdosteine combination in the reduction in injury induced by ROS in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six- male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-250 g were utilized for this study. Rats were divided into six groups, and each group was consistent of six rats: (1) sham-operated (control), (2) ischemia group (3) I/R group, (4) I/R/α-tocoferol group (5) I/erdosteine group (6). I/R/α-tocoferol and erdosteine group. Biochemically tissue MDA, XO and SOD activities, light and electron microscopic findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The erdosteine and α-tocoferol significantly reversed the effect of protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation induced by I/R shown by the decreased levels of MDA and XO activities. Both MDA and XO levels were found to be lower in group 6 compared to single agent treatment groups, and this was significantly different. All treatment groups showed increased SOD activity, which accounts for their oxidative properties. The mean Paller score of the combination treatment group (group 6) was lower than all groups except the sham group (3.67 ± 1.2), and this finding was statistically significant (0.05). Our results showed that the antioxidant pretreatment with α-tocopherol and erdosteine combination reduced lipid peroxidation of renal cellular membranes in a model of normothermic renal ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Combination of erdosteine and α-tocopherol has a synergistic effect of protection against oxidative processes. Long-term use of α-tocopherol seems to have a greater effect on the prevention of IR injury. However, further investigations are needed for the clinical applications of our findings.

Ghrelin levels in children with adenoid or chronic tonsil hypertrophies before and after surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the ghrelin levels in the children with adenoid or tonsil hyperthrophies. METHODS: The study included 27 children (17 boys and 10 girls). Mean age was 6.9+/-3.5 years, ranging from 3 to 16. Ghrelin levels in the patients and their weight and height measurements were evaluated before surgery and after 3 months later of the operation. RESULTS: While 18 (67%) children were operated for adenoid hypertrophy, 9 (33%) children were operated for adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy. It was found that postoperative ghrelin levels were significantly decreased whereas weight and BMI scores were significantly increased (p<0.01). A weak correlation was observed between preoperative ghrelin and weight (r=-0.29). This negative correlation became more profound at the postoperative 3rd month examination (r=0.85) (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the surgical treatment provides positive contributions on the growing of children with adenoid and tonsil hypertrophies. The ghrelin levels were significantly decreased at the postoperative period in the children, and a negative relationship was observed between the ghrelin levels and the weight. These findings suggest that blood ghrelin levels may be useful as a parameter for following the development of the children.

The effect of aprotinin on brain ischemic-reperfusion injury after hemorrhagic shock in rats: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to demonstrate the positive effects of the serine protease inhibitor aprotinin on neural ischemia-reperfusion injury and apoptosis in a rat model. METHODS: There were 18 rats divided into 3 groups: group A (sham, n = 6), group B (ischemia-reperfusion, n = 6), and group C (ischemia-reperfusion + aprotinin, n = 6). The systolic blood pressure of the group B and C rats was decreased to 40% to 50% of the normal level by taking blood from the femoral vein to develop hemorrhagic shock. The blood was retained and given to the remaining group B and C rats for reperfusion 20 minutes after the procedure. In group B, isotonic solution and, in group C, aprotinin was administered to the rats 5 minutes before reperfusion. After the rats were killed, the brain tissue samples were fixed for histopathologic examination. Brain tissue superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and tissue myeloperoxidase level and apoptotic cell analyses were performed in all groups. RESULTS: Superoxide dismutase level decreased from group A to group B and increased from group B to group C (p < 0.05). Malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels and apoptotic cells increased from group A to group B and decreased from group B to group C (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the systemic use of aprotinin in ischemic neural tissue prevents reperfusion injury and also protects the morphologic, functional, and biochemical integrity of the neural tissue.