Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Carnitine Levels And Lipid Peroxidation In Glial Brain Tumors, Ni̇lüfer Bayraktar, Hati̇ce Paşaoğlu, Aydin Paşaoğlu, Memduh Kaymaz, Gürsel Bi̇beroğlu, Sevsen Kulaksizoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: It is assumed that reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation cause cell membrane damage and play a role in oncogenesis. Carnitine and acyl esters, which play a role in intracellular short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acid metabolism, are one of the defense mechanisms against free radical toxicity. It is thought that the protective effects of carnitine are related with its role in lipid metabolism. In our study, we analyzed the relation between malondialdehyde (MDA) and free carnitine, and C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C8, C10, C12, C14:1, C14, C16:1, C16, C18:1, C18, C20:4 carnitine levels in glial tumors [glioblastoma …

Effects Of Omega-3 On Lipid Peroxidation And Antioxidant Enzymes In Mk-801 Induced Schizophrenic Rat Testis, Bi̇rsen Özyurt, Fi̇kret Erdemi̇r, Beki̇r Suha Parlaktaş, Hüseyi̇n Özyurt, Hasan Erdoğan, Ayten Türkkani Tunç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Laparoscopic Cystogastrostomy For The Management Of Pancreatic Pseudocysts, Kaya Saribeyoğlu, Sali̇h Pekmezci̇, Ece Kol, Meti̇n Kapan, Hasan Taşçi

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aims: To assess the value of laparoscopic cystogastrostomy in the treatment of pancreatic pseudocysts. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for pancreatic pseudocysts were included in the study. All the cysts were non-resolving, symptomatic and large, as a result of acute pancreatitis. Laparoscopic cystogastrostomies were performed by either anterior transgastric or posterior techniques. Results: From February 2001 to November 2006, seven patients were included into the study. The etiology of pancreatitis was gallstone disease in six cases and hyperlipidemia in one. The mean age was 58.7 years (52-69) and the mean pseudocyst size was 15.1 cm (7-20). Transgastric …

Is The Gök Atlas Sufficiently Reliable For Forensic Age Determination Of Turkish Children?, Bora Büken, Erhan Büken, Alp Alper Şafak, Burhan Yazici, Zerri̇n Erkol, Ati̇lla Mayda

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: We investigated whether the contemporary use of the Gök Atlas method is sufficiently reliable for forensic age estimations of Turkish children. Materials and Methods: Plain radiographs of 248 females and 298 males between 11 and 22 years of age were taken. Paired sample t-tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and linear regression were used to determine the differences and model the relationships between mean skeletal (bone) age (BA) and mean chronological age (CA), using SPSS 11.5 statistical software. Results: In all cases, the CA and BA scores were significantly different and showed high correlation (P < 0.05). The regression model was significant (P < 0.01). According to age groups, the BA was greater than the CA for all age groups by 0.09-3.10 years for boys and 0.44-3.05 years for girls, and this difference was significant for all age groups >14 years for boys and for …

Effect Of Lactation On Bone Mineral Density Later In Life In Turkish Women, Orhan Aksakal, Hakan Aytan, Sabri̇ Cavkaytar, Ömer Lütfi̇ Tapisiz, Tayfun Güngör, Bülent Özdal, Leyla Mollamahmutoğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: To investigate the probable effect of lactation on bone mineral density (BMD) later in life. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven premenopausal and 18 postmenopausal Turkish women were classified into four groups according to age. Age, height, weight, menopausal status, age at menopause (in postmenopausal women), years since menopause (in postmenopausal woman), parity and total lactation period were recorded. Lumbar spine BMD (L2-L4) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). In each group, correlations of lactation with BMD were investigated using Pearson correlation test, and multiple regression analyses were used to determine the factors associated with BMD. Results: No significant correlation …

The Effect Of Pregnancy On The Physical And Sexual Abuse Of Women That Presented To A State Hospital In Trabzon, Turkey, Murat Topbaş, Mesut Ünsal, Gamze Çan, Aynur Bacak, Şükrü Özgün

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of the physical and sexual abuse of women before and during pregnancy, and to determine whether pregnancy affected the abuse of women. Materials and Methods: This study was performed at a state hospital in the Turkish city of Trabzon and included 762 women that gave birth between July and September 2004. A questionnaire was administered during a face-to-face interview to collect data on sociodemographic factors, exposure to abuse before and during pregnancy, and the women´s post-abuse attitudes. Data were analyzed using the McNemar and chi-square tests. Results: It was determined that 8.8% of the women …

Parental Knowledge And Practices Regarding Febrile Convulsions In Turkish Children, Ertan Kayseri̇li̇, Aycan Ünalp, Hurşi̇t Apa, Suna Asi̇lsoy, Murat Hizarcioğlu, Pami̇r Gülez, Hasan Agin

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aims: Families with children afflicted with febrile convulsions must be given adequate information regarding seizures and fever, and they need emotional support and first-aid demonstrations. In this study, we aimed to determine parental knowledge and practices regarding febrile convulsions in Turkish children. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were given to 122 parents whose children were admitted to the emergency service of Behçet Uz Children´s Hospital between July 2006 and April 2007 with febrile convulsion episodes. Sixty-three parents whose children had a febrile convulsion for the first time (Group 1) and 59 parents whose children had a recurrent febrile convulsion (Group 2) …

Co-Existence Of Intrahepatic Bile Duct Adenoma And Colonic Adenocarcinoma, Gülen Akyol, Nüket Üzüm, Nusret Akyürek, Bülent Menteş

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Intrahepatic bile duct adenoma (BDA) is a rare benign tumor of the liver that is usually diagnosed by microscopic examination. Most cases are incidentally discovered during surgery or autopsy. Here, we report the co-existence of colonic adenocarcinoma and intrahepatic BDA mimicking metastasis in a 62-year-old man. The patient underwent metastasectomy because of the presence of colonic adenocarcinoma diagnosed at almost the same time. The diagnosis was benign in frozen sections intraoperatively and total colectomy was performed during the same operation. BDA should be included in the diseases to be differentiated from hepatic primary or metastatic tumors.

Ductal Carcinoma Of The Parotid Gland Coexisting With Pleomorphic Adenoma, Bi̇rol Ci̇velek, Ercan Demi̇rbağ, Tayyar Selçuk, Uğur Çakmak, Seli̇m Çelebi̇oğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Benign tumors of the parotid gland such as pleomorphic adenoma present as a painless mass and pose no difficulty in diagnosis. It is very rare to find a benign mass coexisting with a malignant entity in the parotid gland. We present a case of pleomorphic adenoma coexisting with ductal carcinoma.

Acute Intoxication By Endosulfan: Any Role Of N-Acetylcysteine Therapy?, Ahmet Demi̇rcan, Eli̇f Çalidağ, Murat Özsaraç, Ayfer Keleş, Fi̇kret Bi̇ldi̇k

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Reactive oxygen species may play a role in the mediation of acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is the standard therapy for treatment of the APAP overdose patient. The suspected mechanism of hepatic injury appears to be similar to that of APAP and the empiric use of NAC may be justified, especially in significant endosulfan poisoning. An 18-year-old male presented to the emergency department because of unconsciousness and seizure that developed after acute intentional ingestion of endosulfan. Severe diaphoresis was noted and he had a Glasgow Coma Score of 7 (E1M4V2). Within 8 hours of his arrival in the emergency department, …

Purtscher´S Retinopathy: An Unusual Association With A Complicated Mandibular Fracture, Tongabay Cumurcu, Hüseyi̇n Yardim, Mehmet Güven, Raşi̇t Kiliç, Ni̇lüfer Özkan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

We present a case of unilateral traumatic retinal angiopathy following a mandibular fracture. An 11-year-old child involved in a bicycle accident developed Purtscher´s retinopathy in the left eye with retinal hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, and optic disc swelling on funduscopy. The visual acuity in this eye was counting fingers at one meter.

Generalized Choreoathetosis In An Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Patient With Cerebral Toxoplasmosis, İpek Mi̇di̇, Hari̇ka G. Çalişkan, Zafer Toktaş, Aydin Sav, Di̇lek İ. Günal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Many hypokinetic and hyperkinetic movement disorders (e.g. parkinsonism, chorea, myoclonus, dystonia) are associated with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and may sometimes represent the initial manifestation of the illness. We described a 37-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patient with generalized choreoathetoid movements associated with AIDS. Cranial MRI revealed multiple cerebral and cerebellar abscesses. The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis was established by brain biopsy. Hemichorea and hemiballismus in AIDS patients are pathognomonic findings of cerebral toxoplasmosis. Generalized choreiform movement is a rare condition and related to the bilateral cerebral involvement in toxoplasma disease affecting the subcortical structures.

Biliary Pseudolithiasis In A Neonate: A New Complication Of Total Parenteral Nutrition, Nurdan Uras, Zeynep İleri̇soy Yakut, Alparslan Tonbul, Ahmet Karadağ, Cüneyt Tayman, Semra Kara, Mustafa Mansur Tatli

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Eosinophilic Fasciitis: Demographics, Disease Pattern And Response To Treatment: Report Of 12 Cases And Review Of The Literature, Lindsay Bischoff, Chris T. Derk

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND:
Eosinophilic fasciitis is a rare scleroderma-like illness. The clinical spectrum of the disease has evolved since its initial description.

METHODS:
We identified all patients diagnosed with eosinophilic fasciitis over the past 10 years at our scleroderma clinic. Demographics, disease pattern, serologies, tissue pathology and reponse to treatment were all recorded.

RESULTS:
Twelve patients with eosinophilic fasciitis were identified in our clinic over the past 10 years. The mean age at diagnosis was 49.8 +/- 9.8 years, with nine female and three male patients. The first symptoms were noticed at an average of 8.8 +/- 6.1 months before diagnosis. The …

A Novel Method For The Production Of Potentially Therapeutic Human Monoclonal Antibodies In Vitro, Adria L. Bykowski

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

We have developed a novel approach for the production of potentially therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies in vitro. This method holds great promise for generating therapeutic antibodies against infectious disease, cancer, and inflammation. The complex nature of current methods for producing human monoclonal antibodies is a major impediment to large scale passive transfer immunotherapy. Our novel technique utilizes Epstein-Barr virus immortalized tonsil or peripheral blood B cells from healthy human volunteers. These B cells are forced to undergo non-specific differentiation to become mature IgG antibody producing plasma "like" cells that continuously proliferate in vitro. Using this method, millions of transformed B …

Highly Elevated Adenosine Deaminase Level In Brucellar Pleural Effusion, Mustafa Kasim Karahocagi̇l, Hayretti̇n Akdeni̇z, Azi̇z Dursun Kirikçi, Hasan Karsen, Bünyami̇n Sertoğullari

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Pleural involvement is a rare presentation of brucellosis. There are only a few case reports in the literature presenting with pleural involvement due to brucellosis. In this report, we present a case with exudative pleural fluid first considered as tuberculous pleurisy due to lymphocyte predominance and elevated level of pleural adenosine deaminase, but later diagnosed as brucella pleurisy with positive serologic and microbiologic test results. In conclusion, in the differential diagnosis of pleurisies, routine serologic and bacteriologic methods appear to be more important than pleural adenosine deaminase elevation, especially in regions endemic for both tuberculosis and brucellosis.

A Personal Ethics Responsibility Example: The Relationship Between Child Development And Drugs Taken By Pregnant Mother, Çağatay Üstün, Özge Özgürler

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Personal responsibility is an important ethical concept. The pregnant mother should regard this concept as of prime importance. The pregnant mother should take some precautions in order to protect her own health and that of her baby in order to provide for its normal development. In this communication, we address the general effects of medications or drugs ingested by a pregnant mother on the baby. Thus, we target refinement of the personal ethic responsibility of the mothers.

Seminal Plasma Transforming Growth Factor-\Beta (Tgf-\Beta) And Epidermal Growth Factor (Egf) Levels In Patients With Varicocele, Üçler Kisa, M. Murad Başar, Mehmet Ferhat, Osman Çağlayan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aims: The aim of this study was to analyze seminal plasma epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-\beta (TGF-\beta) levels in infertile patients with varicocele and normal fertile cases, and to evaluate the relationships between seminal plasma EGF and TGF-\beta, seminal parameters and serum hormone levels. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients with varicocele were enrolled into the study. Semen analyses were performed after 2 and 5 days of sexual abstinence. These patients were divided into two groups based on the results of semen analysis as oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (Group 1) and normal semen analysis (Group 2). Additionally, 100 …

The Effects Of Intravenous Glutamine On Bacterial Translocation And Intestinal Morphology In Experimental Pancreatitis, Hüseyi̇n Berkem, Bülent C. Yüksel, Ruki̇ye Berkem, S. Yi̇ği̇t Yildiz, Kubi̇lay Gündoğdu, İ. Hakan Özel, Serdar Topaloğlu, Süleyman Hengi̇rmen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenous glutamine administration on bacterial translocation and intestinal morphology in rats with induced acute pancreatitis. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight Wistar-Albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 12 for each group). Pancreatitis was induced with ligation of the main pancreatobiliary duct except in the sham group, in which only periportal dissection was performed. Rats in the sham and control groups were exposed to standard rat pellet. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was administered solely to the pancreatitis + TPN group and together with glutamine (Gln) to the pancreatitis …

Is Ghrelin A Natural Anti-Microbial Agent?, Süleyman Aydin, Hi̇kmet Geçki̇l, Nermi̇n Kiliç, Fazi̇let Erman, S. Sirri Kiliç, Özfer Yeşi̇lada

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Sr-Bi Protects Against Endotoxemia In Mice Through Its Roles In Glucocorticoid Production And Hepatic Clearance, Lei Cai, Ailing Ji, Frederick C. De Beer, Lisa R. Tannock, Deneys R. Van Der Westhuyzen

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Septic shock results from an uncontrolled inflammatory response, mediated primarily by LPS. Cholesterol transport plays an important role in the host response to LPS, as LPS is neutralized by lipoproteins and adrenal cholesterol uptake is required for antiinflammatory glucocorticoid synthesis. In this study, we show that scavenger receptor B-I (SR-BI), an HDL receptor that mediates HDL cholesterol ester uptake into cells, is required for the normal antiinflammatory response to LPS-induced endotoxic shock. Despite elevated plasma HDL levels, SR-BI–null mice displayed an uncontrollable inflammatory cytokine response and a markedly higher lethality rate than control mice in response to LPS. In addition, …

Role Of Reactive Oxygen Species Peroxynitrite In Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury, Yiqin Xiong

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Peroxynitrite (PN, ONOO-), formed by nitric oxide radical (^•NO) and superoxide radical (O2^•-), plays an important role in post-traumatic oxidative damage. In the early work, we determined the temporal characteristics of PN-derived oxidative damage in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Our results showed 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), a specific marker for PN, rapidly accumulated at early time points (1 hr, 3 hrs), after when it plateaued and the high level was sustained to 1 week post injury. The co-localization of 3-NT and lipid peroxidation derived-4-HNE observed in immunohistochemistry indicates PN is involved in lipid peroxidative as …

Analysis Of Hiv-1 Variable Loop 3-Specific Neutralizing Antibody Responses By Hiv-2/Hiv-1 Envelope Chimeras, Katie L. Davis

All ETDs from UAB

Defining the epitope specificities of the neutralizing antibody response to the HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) during natural human infection and in response to vaccination by HIV-1 immunogens could provide insight into the mechanisms of virus immune containment and facilitate vaccine design. Transplantation of discrete HIV-1 neutralizing epitopes into HIV-2 Env scaffolds may provide a sensitive, biologically functional context in which to quantify specific antibody reactivities in complex sera. Here we describe the development of a novel HIV-2 proviral scaffold (pHIV-2KR.X7) into which we have substituted the env V3 region of several laboratory and primary HIV-1 strains to yield a panel …

The Role Of Tgfß Signaling In Skeletal Development, Hwa-Seon Seo

All ETDs from UAB

skeletal element is essential for body movement along with the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. They also protect internal organs and serve as a reservoir for hematopoietic stem cells and minerals. To accomplish these multiple tasks, the size and shape of the skeletal elements need to be carefully designed during development of the embryo. Skeletal formation in vertebrae is a complex developmental processes controlled by dynamic and well-balanced interactions between a number of molecular signals. Intensive efforts in the past several decades have made substantial progress in understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of skeletal development. Despite the fact that TGFß …

The Developmental Functions Of Bdnf And Mecp2 On Dendritic And Synaptic Structure, Christopher A. Chapleau

All ETDs from UAB

Mutations in the transcriptional repressor MeCP2 cause Rett Syndrome (RTT), a mental retardation disease associated with reduced dendritic architecture of cortical pyramidal neurons, in addition to a decrease in the number of dendritic spines. I present the first quantification analysis of spine density in postmortem human brain tissue, demonstrating that hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons have reduced spine densities in RTT patients throughout their lives. One gene that MeCP2 regulates is BDNF, an important developmental factor that modulates synaptic transmission and plasticity, as well as spine formation and maturation. In immature cultured hippocampal neurons, cell-autonomous expression of BDNF accelerates the differentiation …

Calmodulin Binding To Cellular Flice Like Inhibitory Protein Modulates Fas-Induced Signaling And Tumorigenesis In Cholangiocarcinoma, Pritish Subhash Pawar

All ETDs from UAB

Cholangiocarcinoma, a fatal tumor arising from biliary epithelium, has very poor 5-year survival rate due to lack of early diagnosis and effective therapies. Induction of the Fas-mediated apoptosis is a promising therapeutic target in this tumor. Studies from our group and others have indicated that Fas-expression correlates inversely with disease progression and that CaM-antagonists induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells in a Fas related manner. Further, we reported a direct and dynamic interaction of CaM and Fas and that CaM is recruited into the Fas-stimulated death inducing signaling complex (DISC), suggesting a cross talk between Fas and CaM pathways. The studies …

Solution Chemical Synthesis Of Nanostructured Thermoelectric Materials, Xiaohua Ji, Terry M. Tritt, Xinbing Zhao, Joe W. Kolis

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Reciprocal Regulation Of Par-4 And Caspase-8 In The Trail Signaling Pathway, Padhma Ranganathan

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Par‐4 is a pro‐apoptotic tumor suppressor that is mutated, suppressed or inactivated in cancer. Par‐4 exploits components of the extrinsic pathway to cause apoptosis selectively of cancer cells. This study identified Par‐4 as an essential component of the apoptotic pathway induced by TRAIL, which selectively targets cancer cells. RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of Par‐4 rendered cancer cells unresponsive to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Cells with knocked‐down levels of Par‐4 were deficient in the activation of the apoptosis‐initiator caspase‐8 and the apoptosis‐effector caspase‐3 in response to TRAIL. Par‐4 was identified as a critical mediator of membrane translocation of caspase‐8 and the adapter protein FADD. …

Regulation Of L-Type Voltage-Dependnet Calcium Channels By The Rem Gtpase, Chunyan Pang

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The Rem, Rem2, Rad, and Gem/Kir GTPases, comprise a novel subfamily of the small Ras-related GTP-binding proteins known as the RGK GTPases, and have been shown to function as potent negative regulators of high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca²⁺ channels upon overexpression. HVA Ca²⁺ channels modulate Ca²⁺ influx in response to membrane depolarization to regulate a wide variety of cellular functions and they minimally consist of a pore-forming α1 subunit, an intracellular β subunit, and a transmembrane complex α₂/δ subunit. While the mechanisms underlying RGK-mediated Ca²⁺ channel regulation remain poorly defined, it appears that both membrane …

Role Of Variant Sialylation In Regulating Tumor Cell Behavior, Faheem M. Shaikh

All ETDs from UAB

Many different tumors have been documented to have elevated levels of the enzyme ST6Gal I, a Golgi glycosyltransferase that adds α2-6 sialic acids to glycoproteins. Concurrently, upregulated ST6Gal I is associated with metastasis and poor patient prognosis. We initially showed that HD3 colonocytes made to express oncogenic-ras, a common mutation in colon carcinoma, have increased expression of ST6Gal I and elevated α2-6 sialylated integrins. Having established that ras regulates ST6Gal I expression in colon epithelial cells, we found that colonocytes carrying hyper α2-6 sialylated β1 integrins exhibit increased adhesion to and migration toward collagen I. Further, we found that β1 …