Homosalate (HMS) and 2-ethylhexyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate (OD-PABA) are ultraviolet filters. We aimed to investigate the effects of dermal exposure to HMS and OD-PABA during the prenatal, lactation, and early infancy periods on pubertal development and thyroid function in male and female rats. The thyroid glands, uteri, testes, prostate glands, and seminal vesicles were excised and weighed, the reproductive organs were analyzed histologically, and the serum hormone levels were measured. In the prenatal period, the thyroxine (T4) levels increased in the female rats in the exposed groups ( p < 0.05); the thyroid weights, reproductive organ weights, and gonadal hormone levels were not altered. In males, the testosterone levels decreased ( p < 0.05), but the thyroid weights, T4 levels, prostate, and testis weights were not changed. In the lactation period, the weights of the thyroid glands increased in the exposed female groups ( p < 0.05), but the T4, gonadal hormone levels, and reproductive organ weights were not changed. In the males, the thyroid gland weights, T4 levels, reproductive organ weights, and gonadal hormone levels were not changed. During infancy, the thyroid gland weights increased in the female rats in the exposed groups ( p < 0.05), but the T4 levels, gonadal hormone levels, and reproductive organ weights were not affected. In the male rats in the exposed groups, the T4 levels were increased ( p < 0.05), but the thyroid and reproductive organ weights, gonadal hormone levels were not affected. Organ histopathology was not affected in all groups. HMS and OD-PABA do not have endocrine disruptor effects on thyroid function and the pubertal development of female and male rats.

SCC equation was not seemed to be an appropriate marker for starting dialysis in patients with advanced CKD.

IntroductionObesity has recently become a major health problem, and researchers have been directed to work toward the development of surgical techniques, with new mediators playing an important role in nutrition. Gastric plication (GP) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) have become popular recently. These are widely used techniques in bariatric surgery.ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to compare the efficiency of SG and GP techniques on rats.MethodsWistar-Hannover rats (n=18) were divided into three equal groups, namely SG, GP, and control. Blood samples were taken before the operation and on the 30th day after the operation. The weights of all rats were recorded both on first day and the 30th day after the operation. Serum gastrin, ghrelin, and leptin levels were also measured on the same days. For histopathological examination, gastrectomy was performed after the animals were sacrificed.ResultsAverage weight loss was 10% for the SG group and 6.5% for the GP group. One month after the operations, the decrease in the ghrelin and leptin levels of GP and SG groups was significant compared with the levels of the control group. Gastrin levels of the SG group increased significantly compared with those of the control group. Histopathological examination revealed that there was significant decrease in the ghrelin and leptin levels of the GP and SG groups compared with those of the control group. Foveolar hyperplasia (FH), cystic glandular dilatation, and fibrosis were significantly higher in the GP and SG groups compared with the control group.ConclusionAlthough GP is not as effective as SG in terms of weight loss, it provides the same effectiveness in decreasing ghrelin and leptin levels. Histopathological findings revealed that FH, fibrosis, and the cystic glandular dilatation development rates were similar.

BackgroundMatrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme implicated in the pathogenesis of renal diseases. Renal involvement is the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum and urinary MMP-9 levels are associated with renal involvement in HSPPatients and MethodsWe evaluated 40 children with HSP (patient group) and 27 healthy volunteer children (control group). The patient group was divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of nephritis. Nephritis was defined as the existence of hematuria and/or proteinuria. All anthropometric data, physical examination findings, blood pressure, and laboratory parameters were recorded. The serum and urine samples were analyzed to determine the MMP-9 levels three days after the initial phase of the disease.ResultsThe mean age was 7.65 ± 3.41 (range 2 - 16) years in the patient group and 9.52 ± 3.91 (range 2 - 16) years in the control group. Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) was identified in eight patients. There was no significant difference in the serum MMP-9 levels between the HSPN subgroup and the controls (P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences in the urinary MMP-9 levels between the HSP subgroup and the control group (P < 0.05), with the urinary MMP-9 levels being significantly higher in patients in the HSP subgroup (P = 0.001). Further, the urinary MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in the patients with nephritis than in the patients without nephritis (P = 0.001) and the controls (P = 0.001). The optimal cut-off point (sensitivity; specificity) of the urinary MMP-9 level for the diagnosis of HSPN was 94.7 pg/mL.ConclusionsThe levels of MMP-9 in the urine were remarkably high in patients with HSPN. This non-invasive marker may therefore be an important indicator for the early diagnosis of nephritis in children with HSP.

The place of YKL-40 in non-small cell lung cancer Introduction: Despite varies treatment options, the survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is less than 1%. If biological behaviour of any cancer could be known, the information would potentially tailor the clinical work-up, assesment and treatment. The prognostic value of serum YKL-40 level has been investigated in different types of cancer and showed poor prognostic indication with more aggressive clinical course. We studied the role of serum YKL-40 levels in patients with NSCLC to determine the stage. Materials and Methods: Serum YKL-40 levels in venous blood samples of 55 patients was studied. 49 (89.1%) male and 6 (10.9%) female newly diagnosed NSCLC patients whom received neither cancer specific or symptom relieving treatment are enrolled. TNM staging was determined based on the findings of computerized tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bronchoscopy and mediastinoscopy. The patients with NSCLC were divided into two groups; Group A: stage Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, Group B: stage IIIa, IIIb and IV. Results: There was a statistical difference in YKL-40 serum levels between groups (Group A, Group B) when compared (p< 0.05). A medium and statistical correlation was found (r= 0.48; p< 0.01) between YKL-40 levels and age. Conclusion: YKL-40 levels in advanced stage NSCLC (stage III, IV) was found to be significantly high compared to early stage. It should be kept in mind that when YKL levels are high, higher stages of the disease should be suspected and future tests should be performed.