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H Aksoy

Publications and source records attributed to H Aksoy.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasma and urine carnitine levels and carnitine supplementation in children with malnutrition.

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine serum and urinary carnitine levels in children suffering from protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) before and after dietary treatment and carnitine supplementation, and to compare them with those in healthy children. Plasma and urine carnitine levels were lower in patients with marasmus and kwashiorkor than in controls. There was no statistical difference between groups with and without carnitine supplementation on the first day. On the fifth day, in groups receiving carnitine supplementation, plasma and urine carnitine levels were significantly higher than in groups without supplementation (p < 0.01). On the 15th day there was no statistical significance between groups with PEM and controls.

Carnitine↗

Multiple sclerosis in the Turkish- and Greek-speaking communities of Cyprus. A United Nations (UNHCR) Bicommunal Project.

A United Nations (UNHCR)-sponsored study has been undertaken, involving neurologists from the Turkish-speaking northern and Greek-speaking southern communities of Cyprus, to ascertain the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to bring the medical personnel of the two communities to work together. The Turkish community includes both Turkish Cypriots and, since 1974, a big influx of immigrants from Turkey. The prevalence of MS among Turkish Cypriot men was significantly higher than in Turkish Cypriot women and was as high as has been found in men in recent studies in Northern Europe. It was also significantly higher than among Greek Cypriot men. The prevalence in Turkish Cypriot women was not significantly different to that found in Greek Cypriot women. Among the immigrants from mainland Turkey MS prevalence was significantly less for both men and women than among the Turkish Cypriots. In the Greek-speaking metropolitan area of Nicosia the prevalence of MS was 51 per 100,000, (males 43, females 59). The overall MS prevalence in four areas studied in Greek-speaking Cyprus, including three previously studied, was 42 per 100,000, (males 39, females 46 per 100,000).

Adolescent↗

Clinical characteristics and genetic screening of an extended family with MEN2A.

MEN-2A is characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with pheochromocytoma and sometimes parathyroid adenoma. In affected members of the family, the risk of MTC is about 100%. Biochemical screening allows tumors to be detected early but even at this stage treatment is not always curative. Missense mutations in exon 10 and 11 of the RET proto-oncogene are associated with MEN-2A. Early detection of this mutation by DNA analysis allows the identification of the carriers of the gene. We performed genetic screening in 88 members of an extended family with MEN-2A and found 18 members positive for RET mutation (Cys634Gly). Only three of these 18 RET positive cases had a previous diagnosis of medullary cancer and/or pheochromocytoma. Up to now, 12 of the RET positive cases have undergone thyroidectomy. There was extended disease with cervical lymph node metastasis in 6 of them, bilateral medullary microcancer in 3 and c-cell hyperplasia in the remaining 3. Three of the 18 RET positive patients had also pheochromocytoma. Primary hyperparathyroidism was present in only one patient. The mean age of diagnosis of medullary cancer was between 25-50 yr and mean age of death was between 35-95 yr in affected members of the family. The family had many other affected members in other cities in Turkey and in other countries throughout the world from Australia to the Netherlands. So this family is perhaps one of the most extended families with MEN-2A.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms↗

Seminal plasma nitric oxide concentration in oligo- and/or asthenozoospermic subjects with/without varicocele.

There is an inverse correlation between seminal plasma nitric oxide (NO) concentration and sperm parameters (motility and concentration) in patients with varicocele. This study investigated whether this occurs in patients with oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia due to causes other than varicocele. A total of 69 (19 with varicocele and oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia [group 1], 30 from oligo- and/or asthenozoospermic ones without varicocele [group 2], and 20 from healthy subjects [control group]) semen samples were analyzed. While group 1 had a significantly higher NO concentration in the seminal plasma compared to both the control group and group 2, there was no significant difference between group 2 and the control group (p >.05). In group 1, but not in the other groups, there was an inverse correlation between the seminal plasma NO concentration and sperm motility and concentration. NO production could be specifically related to the varicocele, since NO production in oligo- and/or asthenozoospermia cases without varicocele is not increased.

Adult↗

Effects of endurance training on antioxidant defense mechanisms and lipid peroxidation in testis of rats.

Male rats were equally divided into trained rest (TR), trained exhaustive exercise (TE), untrained rest (UR), and untrained exhaustive exercise (UE). Endurance training consisted of treadmill running for 1.5 h/d, 5 days a week for 8 weeks reaching the speed of 2.1 km/h at the fortieth week. For acute exhaustive exercise, graded treadmill running was conducted reaching the speed of 2.1 km/h at 95th min, 10% uphill, continued until exhaustion. Testicular tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant potential (AOP) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined. There was a slight decrease, but not significant, in the SOD activity in UE group compared to TE and TR groups. Activity of GSH-Px decreased in the UE group compared to UR, TR and TE groups. Acute exhaustive exercise did not affect testicular tissue GSH-Px activity in trained rats. Testicular tissue GST activity of the UE group was similar to TE group, but lower than UR and TR groups. In UE group, testicular tissue AOP values were lower than UR, TR and TE groups. The oxidative effects of acute exhaustive exercise on the rat testis decreased with endurance training. Endurance training prevents oxidative injuries by eliminating oxygen radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation via preventing decreases in antioxidant enzyme activities.

Animals↗

Measurement of plasma glutathione S-transferase in hepatocellular damage in pre-eclampsia.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a cytosolic enzyme found in high concentrations in the liver. We investigated the value of plasma GST measurements in pre-eclamptic patients. A total of 80 patients (40 in the pre-eclampsia group and 40 in the control group) were recruited. All patients were evaluated for GST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Pre-eclampsia was defined as the occurrence, after 20 weeks' gestation, of a diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mmHg on two or more occasions at least 4 h apart, and concomitant proteinuria greater than 0.3 g/l over a 24-h urine collection period. There was no statistical difference between the pre-eclampsia and control groups in terms of ALT, gestational age, maternal age or number of previous pregnancies; a significant difference was found between the pre-eclampsia and control groups in terms of GST. Preeclampsia represents a significant cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Accurate assessment of hepatocellular damage is essential in the clinical management of these patients. GST levels in pre-eclamptic patients were found to be much higher (131.98 IU/l) than in control patients (68.67 IU/l), and this high level suggests hepatocellular damage. We concluded that measurement of plasma GST might provide an earlier and much more sensitive indicator of hepatocellular damage than other liver-function tests.

Adult↗

Dehydroepiandrosterone prevents oxidative injury in obstructive jaundice in rats.

We investigated the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on oxidative injury in obstructive jaundice using three groups of rats: sham-operated group; common bile duct (CBD) group--the CBD was ligated; and DHEA group--DHEA administration followed CBD ligation. Liver function tests were performed using blood samples, and malondialdehyde concentration (MDA), superoxide dismutase activities (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total glutathione (tGSH) concentrations were measured in liver tissue. Serum alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and alanine aminotransferase activity were significantly elevated in the CBD group compared with the other groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin were highest in the CBD group; the MDA concentration was higher in the CBD group than the sham group. There were no significant differences in GPx activity among the groups. SOD activity and tGSH concentration were significantly lower in the CBD group than the other groups. DHEA may protect hepatic tissue against oxidative injury in obstructive jaundice by decreasing MDA concentration and increasing SOD activity and tGSH concentration.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗