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Gülen Attila

Publications and source records attributed to Gülen Attila.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

ACE gene polymorphism in Turkish children with nephrotic syndrome.

Since 1990, the role of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism in various renal and cardiac diseases is still debated. This study comprised 71 pediatric patients with nephrotic syndrome, 47 males (66%) and 24 females (34%) with a mean age of 57.4 +/- 37.6 months, and a control group of 83 healthy males (59%) and 57 healthy females (41%) with a mean age of 505 +/- 160.5 months. The distribution of the ACE genotype in the control group was II, 11%; ID, 53%; and DD, 36%, and the nephrotic syndrome was II, 4%; ID, 78%; and DD, 18%. Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes were significantly different between patients and control groups (p<0.05). The study groups consisted of 52 (73%) with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SNSS) and 19 (27%) with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). The distribution of the ACE genotype was II, 6%; ID, 75%; and DD, 19% in the SSNS population and ID, 84% and DD, 16% in the SRNS population. No statistically significant difference was found between steroid sensitivity and ACE genotypes (p=0.5). The results show that ACE I/D polymorphism does not contribute to the steroid resistance, even though this study indicates that the presence of the I/D genotype has a much higher risk--approximately 2.8 times--of having nephrotic syndrome. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed.

Child, Preschool↗

eNOS gene intron 4 a/b VNTR polymorphism is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in Southern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a major role in the regulation of vascular tone Associations between NO genotypes, coronary artery disease (CAD) and other risk factors have been described by many authors. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene intron 4 a/b variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism and other risk factors in the development of CAD in subjects living in Southern Turkey. METHODS: Two-hundred and sixty-six patients (154 males and 112 females, aged between 30 and 80 years, mean 52.4+/-10.3) whose coronary arteries were evaluated by means of coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. Of the total, 133 had CAD (Group I) and the remaining had normal coronary arteries (Group II). The eNOS gene intron 4 a/b VNTR polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The plasma lipid levels and other risk factors were also determined in all subjects. RESULTS: The a allele frequencies and genotypes carrying a allele were significantly higher in Group I. Plasma lipids, except HDL-C, were also increased in this group. We found that hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), male gender, age and smoking were the independent predictors of CAD. CONCLUSION: a allele of eNOS intron 4 a/b VNTR polymorphism is not an independent predictor of CAD. eNOS intron 4 a/b polymorphism (presence of a allele) is a risk factor in addition to HT, DM, male gender, age and smoking for the development of CAD in Southern Turkey.

Adult↗

Biochemical indicators and cardiac function tests in chronic alcohol abusers.

AIM: To determine the effect of chronic alcohol abuse on cardiac function, antioxidant system, trace elements, and liver function tests. METHODS: Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as zinc, magnesium, and copper were assayed in 25 chronic alcoholic patients and their 25 healthy relatives matched in age and gender. Echocardiographic parameters were evaluated for subjects. RESULTS: Mean corpuscular volume (96.7 fL vs 92.4 fL) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels (31.4 pg vs 30.5 pg) were found to be significantly increased in the patient group (P=0.002 and P=0.048, respectively). The results of the SOD and MDA assays showed no significant differences between the two groups. AST (38.7 U/L vs 22.1 U/L) and GGT (104.2 U/L vs 34.2 U/L) levels were found to be significantly increased in the patient group compared with controls (P=0.005 and P<0.001, respectively). Magnesium (1.6 mmol/L vs 1.8 mmol/L) and zinc levels (14.9 micromol/L vs 19.2 micromol/L) were significantly decreased, whereas copper levels (19.3 micromol/L vs 17.9 micromol/L) were increased in alcoholics (P=0.042, P<0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). Echocardiographic examination showed a significant decrease in mitral and tricuspid ratio of peak early and atrial flow velocity (E/A ratio) in alcoholics. CONCLUSION: Decrease in mitral and tricuspid E/A ratios accompanied with low levels of magnesium and zinc, and increased levels of copper indicate that alcoholics already have heart muscle disease even chronic alcohol exposure.

Adult↗

Relation between age and gender differences in plasma triglyceride concentrations and coronary artery disease in Southern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both genders in Turkey as well as other countries. The role of plasma triglycerides (TG) as a CAD risk factor has been controversial. We investigated the relation between age and gender differences in plasma TG and CAD in patients with angiographically proven CAD. METHODS: The study population consisted of 937 patients (605 males and 332 females, aged between 32 and 82 years). The patients were divided into three age groups as < 45, 45-59 and > or = 60 years. Risk factors were considered as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking and family history. Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as TG concentration > 150 mg/dl (> 1.69 mmol/l). RESULTS: Of the total, 608 had CAD. TG was an independent risk factor for CAD only in women (p < 0.05). There was also a positive correlation between TG concentrations and number of the diseased vessels only in women (p = 0.001, r = 0.2). CONCLUSION: High TG concentrations increase CAD risk more in women than in men in Southern Turkey. Triglycerides should be taken into consideration as an important risk factor especially in women > 45 years of age.

Adult↗