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Cem Aygun

Publications and source records attributed to Cem Aygun.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Serum levels of hepatoprotective peptide adiponectin in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-specific protein that has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antiobesity effects. It has been suggested that adiponectin has a hepatoprotective role. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming more prevalent with increasingly adverse clinical outcomes. In this study, serum adiponectin levels were investigated in patients with NAFLD to determine its possible role on hepatic inflammation and injury. METHODS: Twenty-nine biopsy-proven NAFLD patients (14 women, 15 men) with elevated liver enzymes, 20 clinically diagnosed NAFLD patients (13 women, seven men) with normal liver enzymes, and 20 healthy adults (10 women, 10 men) were enrolled. From fasting blood samples, serum adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The body mass index, serum glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels were 4.99+/-2.1, 9.49+/-3.91 and 7.74+/-4.41 micro/ml in the NAFLD with elevated liver enzymes, NAFLD with normal liver enzymes and healthy adult control groups, respectively. The mean serum adiponectin level in the NAFLD with elevated liver enzymes group was significantly lower than those of other groups tested (P<0.001). Insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels of NAFLD patients with elevated liver enzymes were significantly higher than control groups (P<0.05) but were not significantly different from the NAFLD group with normal liver enzymes (P>0.05). On histopathologic examination, the mean serum adiponectin levels of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients with grade 2 or more inflammatory activity was significantly lower than patients with grade 1 inflammatory activity (P=0.013). CONCLUSION: Serum adiponectin levels are significantly lower in NAFLD patients with elevated liver enzymes. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients show lower levels of adiponectin with higher grades of inflammation.

Adiponectin↗
PubMed2006

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Human intestinal microvessels from chronically inflamed ulcerative colitis (UC) show microvascular endothelial dysfunction. Whether generalized endothelial dysfunction could associate with UC has not been explored yet. Our aim was to assess the endothelial function in the patients with different UC activity and to hypothesize about the relationship of endothelial function to activity-related extraintestinal complications (AREC) of UC. METHODS: Twelve patients with mild UC, 14 patients with moderate UC, 16 patients with severe UC, and 24 healthy subjects were included in the study. The activity of UC is calculated according to the Seo Index. Endothelial functions of the brachial artery were evaluated by using high-resolution vascular ultrasound. Endothelial-dependent dilatation (EDD) was assessed by establishing reactive hyperemia and endothelial-independent dilatation (EID) was determined by using sublingual isosorbide dinitrate. RESULTS: EDD was significantly worse in patients with severe UC as compared with patients with mild UC (8.7 +/- 1.6% versus 17.3 +/- 5.6%, P < 0.05) and even in patients with moderate UC as compared with patients with mild UC (13.1 +/- 3.2% versus 17.3 +/- 5.6%, P < 0.05). EDD was not significantly worse in patients with mild UC as compared with healthy subjects (17.3 +/- 5.6% versus 18.1 +/- 8.1%, P > 0.05). EID was significantly worse in patients with severe UC compared with patients with moderate UC (10.5 +/- 2.9% versus 13.4 +/- 3.7%, P < 0.05) and even in patients with mild UC compared with healthy subjects (20 +/- 6.7% versus 31.1 +/- 12.6%, P < 0.05). EDD and EID were significantly worse in patients with AREC compared with patients with no AREC (9.5 +/- 2.5% versus 14.9 +/- 5.1%, P < 0.05; 11.6 +/- 4.3% versus 16 +/- 6.1%, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Increased activity of UC is associated with significant endothelial dysfunction, which may relate to the pathophysiology of AREC of UC.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Serum iron levels and hepatic iron overload in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis.

Our objective was to determine the effect of serum iron levels and hepatic iron overload on hepatocellular damage in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and to compare this with chronic viral hepatitis. Twenty-five patients who had elevated transaminase levels on at least two occasions, without any evidence of viral and autoimmune hepatitis and diabetes, without a history of significant alcohol use, and with a liver biopsy consistent with NASH were enrolled in the study. Twenty-five patients with chronic viral hepatitis (13 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 12 with chronic hepatitis B) who were not under any antiviral treatment were taken as controls. Metabolic factors were studied in the NASH and chronic hepatitis groups. Biopsy specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the grade of steatosis and the stage of fibrosis were evaluated as I, II, or III, I being mild and III being severe. Iron overload in the hepatic tissue was studied by Prussian blue staining. Serum ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, globulin, and ferritin levels were comparable in both steatohepatitis and chronic viral hepatitis groups. However, patients with chronic hepatitis had a lower albumin level and a higher serum iron level, with higher transferrin saturation. Among patients with NASH, mild, moderate, and severe steatosis was found in 7, 10, and 8 patients, respectively. Inflammatory infiltration was grade I in 24 patients and grade III in 1 patient. Fibrosis was mild in 12 patients and 13 patients had no fibrosis. Among patients with chronic viral hepatitis, inflammatory infiltration of grade I was seen in 11 patients, grade II in 11 patients, and grade III in 3 patients. Fibrosis was mild in 9 patients, moderate in 13 patients, and severe in 2 patients; 1 patient had no fibrosis. Compared to patients with NASH, those with chronic viral hepatitis cases had more severe inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis (P < 0.01). While five patients with chronic viral hepatitis had mild iron overload, patients with NASH had no hepatic paranchymal iron overload. Neither NASH nor chronic viral hepatitis revealed a relationship between hepatic iron overload and disease activity. This suggests that the iron overload actually may be a result of hemachromatosis gene mutation. The absence of hepatic parenchymal iron overload in the NASH group and only mild iron accumulation in the chronic hepatitis group may be explained by a lower frequency of the gene mutation in our country.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Celiac disease in an adult Turkish population with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Celiac disease is a frequent cause of morbidity among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. In this study our objective was to determine the prevalance of celiac diasease in a Turkish adult population with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Patients included 122 type 1 diabetes cases from adult diabetes clinic. Total IgA and IgA-antiendomysial antibody (AEA) assays were performed. Patients positive for IgA-AEA were asked to undergo small intestinal biopsy. Of the 122 patients, none was IgA deficient and 3 had positive IgA-AEA results (2.45%). All three of these patients had biopsies diagnostic of celiac disease. The body mass index (BMI) values of patients with positive AEA were significantly lower than normal (P = 0.024). Among the gastrointestinal complaints there was an association between early satiety and AEA positivity (P = 0.02). None of the other gastrointestinal complaints or age, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin values, or insulin doses used were found to be related to AEA positivity. Celiac disease has a high prevalence among Turkish paients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Screening for IgA-AEA during routine investigations of type 1 diabetic patients is important to prevent celiac-associated symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Experimental varicocele induces hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor expression and angiogenesis in the rat testis.

PURPOSE: In this study we investigated hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and angiogenesis in an experimental model of varicocele in the rat testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated in 3 groups, namely varicocele group 1 (13), sham operated group 2 (9) and control group 3 (8). At 30 days after surgery was completed in groups 1 and 2 orchiectomy was performed in all rats. Histological findings in the left testicles of rats from each group were compared. HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression was immunohistochemically studied and CD31 panendothelial antigen was used to identify the number of microvessels, that is microvessel density (MVD), in paraffin embedded sections of testis tissue. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test for post hoc comparison. RESULTS: HIF-1alpha expression was detected in 12 specimens (92.3%) in group 1, 4 (44.4%) in group 2 and 2 (25%) in group 3. The frequency of HIF-1alpha positivity in group 1 was significantly higher than the rates in groups 2 (p = 0.023) and 3 (p = 0.003). VEGF expression was detected in 8 specimens (61.5%) in group 1 but none of the group 2 or 3 specimens were VEGF positive. The frequency of VEGF positivity in group 1 was significantly higher than that in groups 2 (p = 0.006) and 3 (p = 0.007). Mean MVD +/- SD in group 1 was 7.53 +/- 1.50 (range 6 to 12), and findings in groups 2 and 3 were 5.88+/-1.45 (range 4 to 8) and 5.12 +/-1.12 (range 4 to 7), respectively. Mean MVD in group 2 was higher than in group 3 but this difference was not significant (p = 0.509). Mean MVD in group 1 was significantly higher than the mean values in groups 2 (p = 0.030) and 3 (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Previous study of experimental varicocele models in rats documented HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression combined with angiogenesis in the testis. The results of this study show that varicocele can lead to tissue hypoxia and related pathophysiological events, such as angiogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

p53 expression and apoptosis in varicocele in the rat testis.

PURPOSE: We investigated the presence of p53 expression and apoptosis in an experimental model of varicocele in the rat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in 3 groups, namely group 1-13 with varicocele, group 2-9 with sham operation and group 3-8 controls. All animals underwent orchiectomy after 30 days and sections of the left testis from each animal were studied. TUNEL was used to detect apoptotic germ cells and an apoptotic index (AI) was calculated for each testis specimen. p53 expression was determined immunohistochemically and graded according to the proportion of cells stained in each specimen. RESULTS: AI values in group 1 testes were 0% to 0.51% (mean 0.06% +/- 0.13%) and the corresponding range in group 2 was 0.04% to 0.69% (mean 0.25 +/- 0.21%). No group 3 control specimens showed TUNEL staining (AI 0% in all). Although the mean AI in group 1 was higher than that in controls, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.318). The mean AI value in group 2 was significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.021) but it was comparable to that in group 1 (p = 0.099). Seven (53.8%) and 2 (22.2%) specimens in groups 1 and 2, respectively, showed p53 staining in germ cell nuclei. None of the specimens in group 3 showed nuclear p53 expression. The grade of p53 expression in group 1 was significantly higher than that in groups 2 (p = 0.042) and 3 (p = 0.011). Expression grades in groups 2 and 3 were not significantly different (p = 0.426). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge p53 expression that may reflect abnormal spermatogenesis has been documented for the first time in an experimental model of varicocele in the rat testis. In contrast to other investigations, no link between apoptosis and varicocele was detected.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in a community-based survey of men in Turkey.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), assess the impact of LUTS on quality of life (QOL) and compare the results with recent reports from other population-based studies. METHODS: A total of 266 men participated in the study. The men were stratified into 10-year age groups between 40 and 79 years. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that included a Turkish translation of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with QOL questions, and void into a uroflowmeter to obtain voided urine volume, peak and mean flow rate. RESULTS: While 14.8% of men had no symptoms (IPSS = 0), 24.9% had moderate to severe symptoms (IPSS> 7). Severity of symptoms increased with age (P = 0.0018). There was a strong relationship between bother score and IPSS (rs = 0.79, P = 0.0001). Fifty-five percent of moderately symptomatic and 78% of severely symptomatic men reported poor QOL (QOL score >/= 3). The results of the survey provide a general picture of the symptomatology and urinary flow profiles of elderly men living in Turkey. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LUTS in the Turkish community is fairly high, it increases with age and has an impact on QOL that is not negligible.

Adult↗