Effects of melatonin on skeletal muscle of rats with experimental hyperthyroidism

The aim of this study was to investigate structural changes that occurred in the skeletal muscle of rats with experimental hyperthyroidism and the effect of melatonin on these changes. Groups of animals were designated as controls, 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3) injected and T3 + melatonin injected group. At the end of the study the tissue specimens were harvested and their structure examined. In the skeletal muscle of T3 injected rats a decrease was observed in muscle fiber diameter, splitting of fiber, collections of adipose tissue in perimysium, and gathering of nuclei in central compared to the control. Electron microscopic examination showed that mitochondria were dilated and the I band was less clear. In the T3 + melatonin injected group, the structure of fibers was similar to control. In conclusion, this study showed that T3 injection caused structural changes in the skeletal muscle and that melatonin had a positive effect on these changes.     

Molecular evaluation of mutations in acute myeloid leukemia patients from Turkey: A single-center study

Certain genetic mutations could have a role in the etiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Hereby, in this study, we primarily aimed to investigate the distribution of genetic mutations in AML patients. We also attempted to analyze the incidence of genetic mutations in AML patients from Turkey.This retrospective study included a total of 126 patients diagnosed with AML, who had molecular mutation test results or records in their patient files. The patients who were not citizens of the Republic of Turkey were not included in the study.It was observed that analyses for at least 1 c-kit exon mutation had been carried out on 76 patients, which detected no c-kit mutation among the types of genetic mutations investigated in all of those 76 patients. We found the frequency of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication mutation as 25%. The prevalence of translocation(15;17) was approximately 11% and the prevalence of translocation(8;21) was % 6.25. In addition, we also showed that the frequency of inversion16 was nearly 3.7%.Lastly, the possibility of c-kit mutation in AML patients from Turkey might actually be low.     

The role of trace minerals in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and a new effect of calcitonin

The physiologic role of calcitonin in mineral and bone homeostasis is not very well understood. Very few longitudinal studies have reported the effects of calcitonin therapy on trace minerals in postmenopausal osteoporosis despite the documented involvement of trace minerals in normal skeletal metabolism. Several trace minerals, particularly magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn), essential for organic bone matrix synthesis have been known for at least three decades. The present study was designed to determine whether the mineral profile was different between 70 osteoporotic and 30 nonosteoporotic postmenopausal women and to evaluate the efficacy of calcitonin therapy for 6 months on these trace minerals in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. In our study, the serum values of Mg, copper (Cu), and Zn (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the patient group than those in the control group. After 3 months of treatment, serum Cu, Zn, and Mg levels did not differ between the patients and controls, and this situation has continued after the end of 6 months of therapy. Serum Cu, Zn, and Mg levels increased consistently during the 6-month treatment period. The higher levels of serum Mg in the 3rd and 6th months of therapy were found to be statistically significant compared to those before treatment (P < 0.05). Serum Cu and Zn levels were found to be significantly higher at all measurements during the treatment period as well as at the end of therapy (P < 0.05). These results suggest that (1) calcitonin therapy regulates Mg, Cu, and Zn levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis; (2) when serum calcium and phosphorus were normal in postmenopausal osteoporosis, serum Mg, Cu, and Zn were more useful for evaluation; and (3) further studies are essential to evaluate the role of dietary composition on the manifestations of osteoporosis. Received: March 28, 2001 / Accepted: July 2, 2001     

Characteristics of traumatic spinal cord injuries in south-eastern Anatolia, Turkey: a comparative approach to 10 years' experience

The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of traumatic spinal cord-injured patients. The hospital records of 539 patients (416 men, 123 women) with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) admitted to four hospitals that were major referral centers for trauma in the south-eastern region of Turkey from 1990 to 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients with SCI were investigated for two periods; the first period covered patients admitted between 1990 and 1994 during which time an influx of people from rural to urban areas occurred and firearm injuries were common. In the second period (1995-1999) the influx of people declined and firearm injuries were reduced. The most common causes of injuries were road traffic accidents (200, 37.12%), followed by falls (172, 31.90%) and bullet wounds (115, 21.34%). In the first period, incomplete paraplegia was encountered more often than in the second period (P<0.001). In conclusion, in our series, while the leading cause of SCI for the two time periods was road traffic accidents, firearm injuries for the first period and falls for the second period were second-most frequent causes of SCI. In addition, the present study suggests that demographic and epidemiological factors may affect the characteristics of SCI in a region-based population even in a 10-year period of time.     

Bone mineral density and cytokine levels during interferon therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B: does interferon therapy prevent from osteoporosis?

Background  

Our aim was to determinate bone mineral density (BMD), levels of biochemical markers and cytokines in children with chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha and to investigate effect of IFN-alpha therapy on these variables. To the best of our knowledge, this is first study carried out about BMD and cytokine levels in pediatric patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with IFN-alpha.     

Increased LDL+VLDL oxidizability and plasma homocysteine levels in chronic alcoholic patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heavy alcohol consumption on peroxidation status in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (LDL+VLDL) and plasma as well as plasma homocysteine (HC) levels in patients with chronic alcoholism who drank raki, a national Turkish beverage. For this reason, endogenous diene conjugate (DC) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels and lag phase, maximum DC formation and propagation rate following copper induction were measured in apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins (LDL+VLDL) isolated by precipitation with dextrane sulfate and MgCl2 from plasma. In addition, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), DC, HC, folate and vitamin B12 levels as well as paraoxonase activity were determined. Serum MDA and DC levels were higher in heavy raki drinkers compared to control subjects. Significant increases in endogenous DC and LOOH levels in LDL+VLDL together with shortened lag phase were also observed in patients. In addition, HDL-cholesterol, HC and vitamin B12 levels and HDL-associated paraoxonase activity were found to be higher, but folate levels to be lower in serum of heavy raki consumers. In conclusion, our results indicate that increases in LDL+VLDL oxidizability and plasma HC levels may enhance the susceptibility to vascular diseases in heavy raki drinkers.     

Efficacy of low power laser therapy and exercise on pain and functions in chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether low power laser therapy (Gallium-Arsenide) is useful or not for the therapy of chronic low back pain (LBP). STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 75 patients (laser + exercise-25, laser alone-25, and exercise alone-25) with LBP. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Schober test, flexion and lateral flexion measures, Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ) were used in the clinical and functional evaluations pre and post therapeutically. A physician, who was not aware of the therapy undertaken, evaluated the patients. RESULTS: Significant improvements were noted in all groups with respect to all outcome parameters, except lateral flexion (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Low power laser therapy seemed to be an effective method in reducing pain and functional disability in the therapy of chronic LBP.     

Efficacy of different therapy regimes of low-power laser in painful osteoarthritis of the knee: a double-blind and randomized-controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, and controlled trial was conducted in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to evaluate the efficacy of infrared low-power Gallium-Arsenide (Ga-As) laser therapy (LPLT) and compared two different laser therapy regimes. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety patients were randomly assigned to three treatment groups by one of the nontreating authors by drawing 1 of 90 envelopes labeled 'A' (Group I: actual LPLT consisted of 5 minutes, 3 J total dose + exercise; 30 patients), 'B' (Group II: actual LPLT consisted of 3 minutes, 2 J total dose + exercise; 30 patients), and 'C' (Group III: placebo laser group + exercise; 30 patients). All patients received a total of 10 treatments, and exercise therapy program was continued during study (14 weeks). Subjects, physician, and data analysts were unaware of the code for active or placebo laser until the data analysis was complete. All patients were evaluated with respect to pain, degree of active knee flexion, duration of morning stiffness, painless walking distance and duration, and the Western Ontario and Mc Master Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) at week 0, 6, 10, and 14. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were indicated in respect to all parameters such as pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) measures in the post-therapy period compared to pre-therapy in both active laser groups (P < 0.01). Improvements in all parameters of the Group I and in parameters, such as pain and WOMAC of the Group II, were more statistically significant when compared with placebo laser group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that applications of LPLT in different dose and duration have not affected results and both therapy regimes were a safe and effective method in treatment of knee OA.     

Taurine treatment reduces hepatic lipids and oxidative stress in chronically ethanol-treated rats

In this study, we evaluated whether taurine treatment has a protective effect on the prooxidant-antioxidant state following chronic ethanol treatment in rats. Rats were given water containing 20% ethanol (v/v) as drinking water for 3 months. Chronic ethanol treatment in drinking water resulted in increased oxidative stress in the liver of rats. Taurine treatment was performed by adding 1% taurine (w/v) to the drinking water plus injection (400 mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally 3 times/week for 28 d after ethanol cessation in chronically ethanol-treatad rats. This treatment starting after ethanol cessation caused a significant decreases in serum transaminase activities and hepatic total lipid, triglyceride, malondialdehyde, and diene conjugate levels and significant increases in hepatic glutathione, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels, but did not alter the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione transferase in the liver as compared with chronically ethanol-treated rats. Accordingly, we propose that taurine has a restorative effect on ethanol-induced hepatic damage by decreasing oxidative stress.