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Biomedical subjects

Y Karakoç

Publications and source records attributed to Y Karakoç.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Clinical investigation of methotrexate in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy and possible side effects of Methotrexate (MTX) treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with a diagnosis of AS according to NewYork criteria were randomly distributed into 2 groups. In Group I (n = 25) only Naproxen (1000 mg/day) and in Group II (n = 26) oral MTX (7.5 mg/week) combined with Naproxen were given for 12 months. The patients were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after the start of the treatment according to a number of clinical parameters using objective and subjective variables. Data were analysed using ki-square and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of the values using the percent changes and difference scores with respect to pretreatment values showed significant improvement in the "global evaluation of the physician" in Group II compared to Group I while no other parameter was found to be significantly different between the two groups. Those results have led us to conclude that a combination of MTX with Naproxen did not prove to be superior to Naproxen-alone treatment in terms of statistical significance. Further trials with MTX employing larger doses and different patient populations, mainly comprised of peripheral arthritis are necessary for delineation of the role of MTX in AS treatment.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

A Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Sublingual Captopril with Sublingual Nifedipine in Hypertensive Crisis.

Sublingual nifedipine is commonly used in hypertensive crisis, however, it may result in several adverse effects such as reflex tachycardia, headache, and flushing. Research is continuing to find a new drug that has the same efficiency and fewer side effects. Sublingual captopril, a new preparation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, lowers blood pressure. It is not known whether it is effective in these emergent clinical settings. Therefore we designed a randomized, double-blind study to compare the efficacy and safety of those two drugs in hypertensive crisis. Eighty patients (32 male and 48 female) with hypertensive crisis were included in the study; their mean age was 43.4 +/- 7.9 years. Nifedipine 10 mg was given sublingually to 34 and captopril 25 mg to 46 patients randomly. There was no difference between the two drugs with respect to their antihypertensive effect. Heart rate significantly dropped (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) in the patients taking captopril, but no changes were observed in the patients taking nifedipine. Twenty-three of 34 patients taking nifedipine encountered adverse effects. Adverse effects were observed in only three patients taking captopril (p < 0.001). Sublingual captopril is as effective as and has less side effects than sublingual nifedipine. Because sublingual captopril has fewer side effects, it may be safer than nifedipine in the treatment of hypertensive crisis.http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00547/bibs/8n3p147.html

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Calcium, magnesium, and zinc status in experimental hypothyroidism.

In this study, experimental hypothyroidism was established and used to investigate possible alterations in the calcium, magnesium, and zinc homeostasis by assessing their concentration in plasma and erythrocytes. Hypothyroidism was induced by administration of methimazole an iodine blocker at a dose of 75 mg/100 g food for 3 wk. In the methimazole-induced hypothyroid state, the experimental animals showed a significant decrease in plasma zinc concentration, whereas a significant increase in plasma magnesium concentration occurred. No change was observed in plasma calcium concentration. The erythrocyte zinc and calcium concentrations were found to be increased, whereas magnesium concentration decreased. Erythrocyte magnesium concentration showed a significant positive correlation with T4 values. The study provides evidence for marked alterations in homeostatis of zinc, magnesium, and calcium.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

The effects of antiepileptic drugs on serum zinc and copper levels in children.

The results of previous studies that examined serum trace metal status of epileptic patients receiving antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy were variable. We measured serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels in 52 epileptic children who were treated with either carbamazepine (CBZ) or valproic acid (VPA) or with a combination of CBZ and VPA. Serum Zn levels were significantly lower in the epileptics than in the two control groups which consisted of 7 untreated epileptics and 12 normal children (p < 0.05). Combination therapy and monotherapy with CBZ increased serum Cu levels (p < 0.05). No significant alteration in serum Cu levels was observed with VPA monotherapy. Serum Zn and serum Cu concentrations of the untreated epileptics were not significantly different from those of normal controls. Our results indicate that serum trace metal homeostasis may be affected by AED therapy, but not by the convulsive disorder itself.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1995

Effects of coronary artery diseases on haemorheological parameters and trace elements.

The effects of coronary artery diseases on haemorheological parameters (blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and haemoglobin level) and serum trace element (Cu,Zn) levels were investigated. Subjects were 16 male patients having coronary artery disease. Three blood samples were drawn pre-operation and at the 10th and 30th day after operation. To determine the effects of by-pass surgery on haemorheological parameters and serum trace elements, we used a centrifugal method for erythrocyte deformability, Harkness relative viscometer for blood viscosity, spectrophotometry for haemoglobin level, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for trace elements. Parameters of coronary artery patients were compared with normal values.

Adult↗