Biomedical subjects

Gamze Kirkil

Publications and source records attributed to Gamze Kirkil.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Seroprevalence of Toxocara antibodies in patients with adult asthma.

Toxocariasis is a common worldwide infection. Asthma, considered to be one of the most common chronic diseases, is a serious global health problem. Toxocara may be a possible etiologic agent of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between adult asthma and Toxocara seroprevalence. Fifty three adult patients with asthma participated in the study. All patients had an age of disease onset of 20 years or older. Blood samples were tested for the presence of Toxocara antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found a 13.2% Toxocara seropositivity for asthma. There was a significant difference in the Toxocara seropositivity between adult asthma patients and our healthy cohort populations. There was no significant difference between Toxocara seropositive asthma and Toxocara seronegative asthma in terms of the risk factors for Toxocara infection. We believe that further research with a large number of asthma patients is warranted and preventive strategies in this patient population are needed.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Investigating the anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone in an asthma mouse model].

We performed an asthma mice model in this study and aimed to investigate the levels of mediators in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissue, and the pathological changes response to the steroid treatment. BALB/c mice divided into three groups. PBS was applied to group 1 (control group). Asthma model was performed by exposing to ovalbumin in group 2 and 3. DEX was injected to group 3. After the last DEX dose all of the mice were killed by cervical dislocation. The samples of BALF and lung tissue were obtained. IL-4 and IL-5 levels of all samples were measured and inflammatory cells were counted in BALF. Evident eosinophilia was determined in BALF of group 2. Eosinophil numbers were lower in group 3 when compared with group 2 and this was statistically significant (p< 0.001). Inflammatory cell infiltration, eodema and hyperemia observed around the walls of bronchus and bronchiols in group 2. The lungs of group 3 had normal histological appearance. Both two cytokin levels of lung tissue were higher in group 2 than group 1, and this was statistically significant (for IL-4 p< 0.003, and for IL-5 p< 0.002). In group 3, both two cytokin levels were statistically lower than group 2 (for IL-4 p< 0.001, and for IL-5 p< 0.026). In BALF samples both two cytokin levels were higher in group 2 than group 1, and this was statistically significant (for IL-4 p< 0.004, and for IL-5 p< 0.001). In group 3, both two cytokin levels were lower than group 2, but it was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). In conclusion, it is thought that antiinflammatory effect of glucocorticoids occur by inhibiting the formation of IL-4, IL-5 and eosinophils.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

[Nutritional status, pulmonary functions, and exercise performance in COPD cases].

The aim of this study was evaluation of nutritional status in attack and stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases, and investigating the relation between nutrition parameters and pulmonary functions, exercise performance and general healthy status. Anthropometric measures of 10 cases with attack (group 1), 14 stabilized COPD cases (group 2) and 10 control cases (group 3) were evaluated by measuring serum albumin, transferrin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels, and fat-free mass (FFM) levels. Six minutes walking test (mwt) and SGRQ questionnaire were performed. Body mass index (BMI) of group 1 and 2 were significantly lower than group 3 (p= 0.023, p= 0.008, respectively). Albumin levels were significantly lower in group 1 than group 2 (p< 0.001) and 3 (p= 0.001). Levels of transferrin were significantly lower in group 1 compared with group 3 (p= 0.015). TNF-alpha levels were significantly high in group 1 compared with group 2 (p= 0.002), and high in group 2 compared with group 3 (p= 0.001). FFM was significantly low in group 1 compared with group 2 (p= 0.003), and low in group 2 compared with group 3 (p< 0.001). Mean distance of 6 mwt was 225.80 +/- 40.35 m in group 1, it was 405.16 +/- 95.51 m in group 2 (p< 0.001). A positive relation was seen between FFM and BMI, 6 mwt (p= 0.006, r= 0.481 ve p< 0.001, r= 0.830, respectively), between albumin levels and 6 mwt (p< 0.001, r= 0.850). A negative correlation was observed between TNF-alpha and 6 mwt (p< 0.001, r= -0.745). There was no statistical difference in antropometric measures between groups. Total score and daily life were statistically high in group 1 than group 2 (p= 0.009, p= 0.013). Although no changes was seen in antropometric measures of COPD cases, a nutritional defect was seen and a significant relation was observed between nutrition parameters and effort capacity.

Anthropometry↗

PubMed2005

[The prevalence of occupational asthma in auto and furniture dye workers in downtown Elazig].

Occupational asthma (OA) is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and/or bronchial hyperresponsiveness occurred after exposition to dust, vapor, gas or smoke which are present in the workplace. We aimed to determine the frequency of OA in auto and furniture dye workers in our city center. One-hundred-forty-two workers in Elazig Central Industrial Centre (86 auto, 56 furniture dyes) were included in the study. The workers were questioned with "Turkish Thorax Association Occupational and Environmental Pulmonary Diseases Evaluation Form", and physical examination and pulmonary function tests (PFT) were performed. Follow of peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and reversibility tests were performed to patients who had complaints or abnormality in PFT. The workers who had reversibility and positive daily PEFR variability were taken away from work and PEFR variables were followed. The workers had no symptoms when they were taken away from work and daily PEFR were below than 20%, accepted as OA. Twenty-one workers of 22 workers who have abnormal questionnaire, symptoms and abnormality in PFT, accepted daily PEFR measurements. Daily PEFR variability and reversibility test were positive in 5 (3.52%) workers who were accepted as OA. We detected the prevalence of OA, an important worker health problem, was 3.52% in auto and furniture dyes in industrial centre of our city. We think that the prevalence of OA can be determined with detailed history, serial PEFR follow and using PFT, in the absence of specific bronchial provocative tests. Thus, it is important to be become conscious about OA the groups who are under risk.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Glutathione and nitrite in induced sputum from patients with stable and acute asthma compared with controls.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Determining the reduced glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) contents of the airway is useful when investigating oxidative stress in the lung. OBJECTIVE: To explore antioxidant defenses by measuring sputum GSH levels and to evaluate oxidant stress by measuring sputum nitrite (NO2-) levels in asthma patients. METHODS: Sputum GSH, NO2-, cell counts, and plasma NO2- contents were evaluated in 11 patients with stable asthma, 10 patients with acute asthma attacks, and 11 controls. RESULTS: The highest GSH content in sputum samples was in stable asthma patients compared with the other groups (P < .001), and patients with exacerbations of asthma had a greater GSH content than controls (P < .001). Mean sputum NO2- content was significantly lower in controls than in acute (P = .001) and stable (P < .001) asthma patients. There was no significant difference in sputum NO2- contents between acute and stable asthma patients, although there was a trend toward higher levels in acute asthma patients (P = .38). CONCLUSIONS: Sputum induction can be used to obtain bronchial secretions for the evaluation of GSH and NO2- contents. Oxidative stress is chronic and probably less severe in patients with stable asthma. Glutathione and NO2- may serve as markers for determining the extent of the oxidative processes in asthma, which is characterized by chronic airway inflammation.

Acute Disease↗