MTX-induced structural and functional damage to hepatic tissues in rats may involve oxidative stress, and cytoprotective agents (NAC > AMF > ASC) may alleviate MTX hepatotoxicity.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been found as correlated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. There are few studies regarding ADMA and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with migraine and alterations of ADMA and NO levels during migraine attack are not well-known. Therefore, in present study, we aimed to measure NO and ADMA levels in patients with migraine and compare them with the control group to investigate the correlation between migraine, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. The migraine group consisted of 59 patients, including 22 suffering from migraine with aura and 37 suffering from migraine without aura. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers without headache. The patients in migraine group were divided into subgroups based on whether attack period was present or not and whether it was migraine with or without aura. Plasma ADMA levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Migraine patients had higher concentrations of NO (35.6 ± 7.7, 31.0 ± 6.2 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.005) and ADMA (0.409 ± 0.028, 0.381 ± 0.044 μmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001) levels when compared with the healthy controls. During migraine attack, NO and ADMA levels were found to be significantly higher in migraine group as compared to control group (respectively, p = 0.015, p = 0.014). Similarly, NO and ADMA levels in the patients with migraine in the interictal period were found to be significantly higher as compared to control group (p = 0.011, p = 0.003). In conclusion, higher ADMA and NO levels of patients with migraine supported that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction may have a role in migraine pathogenesis.

Serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity and the oxidation of lipoproteins were investigated in 35 women with pre-eclampsia and in 35 healthy control women with normal pregnancies. Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp[a]), and PON1 activity were assessed. There were no significant between-group differences in subject age, gestational age at diagnosis of pre-eclampsia, BMI, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and ApoB levels. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures and serum Lp(a) were significantly higher in subjects with pre-eclampsia than in controls. Mean serum HDL, ApoA1 and PON1 activity were significantly lower in subjects with pre-eclampsia compared with controls. In conclusion, lipids and oxidized lipoproteins may play important roles in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been found as correlated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. There are few studies regarding ADMA and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with migraine and alterations of ADMA and NO levels during migraine attack are not well-known. Therefore, in present study, we aimed to measure NO and ADMA levels in patients with migraine and compare them with the control group to investigate the correlation between migraine, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. The migraine group consisted of 59 patients, including 22 suffering from migraine with aura and 37 suffering from migraine without aura. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers without headache. The patients in migraine group were divided into subgroups based on whether attack period was present or not and whether it was migraine with or without aura. Plasma ADMA levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Migraine patients had higher concentrations of NO (35.6 ± 7.7, 31.0 ± 6.2 lmol/L, respectively, p = 0.005) and ADMA (0.409 ± 0.028, 0.381 ± 0.044 lmol/L, respectively, p = 0.001) levels when compared with the healthy controls. During migraine attack, NO and ADMA levels were found to be significantly higher in migraine group as compared to control group (respectively, p = 0.015, p = 0.014). Similarly, NO and ADMA levels in the patients with migraine in the interictal period were found to be significantly higher as compared to control group (p = 0.011, p = 0.003). In conclusion, higher ADMA and NO levels of patients with migraine supported that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction may have a role in migraine pathogenesis.

The rate of hemolysis in PTS transported samples, dependent on PTS length and rate, may seriously affect routine tests of non-centrifuged samples.

The complement system is part of the host defence response. However, considerable evidence suggests that complement plays an important role in the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate complement activation in patients with all forms of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and to examine the relationship between the degree of complement activation and myocardial injury. The study population included 152 subjects (26 females): 82 with ACS (35 acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 22 non-Q wave MI (NQMI), 25 unstable angina (UAP)) (Group A), 35 stable angina (SA) (Group B), and 35 healty control subjects (Group C). Complement 3 (C3), Complement 4 (C4), C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin I (TnI) as well as creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) were evaluated. Patients' blood samples were taken on admission (day 1) and after 2, 3 and 7 days in group A. However, only one measurement was performed in the groups B and C. Plasma C3 and C4 peak levels were significantly higher in patients with AMI (141+/-29 and 35+/-11 mg/dl) and NQMI (136+/-13 and 35+/-7 mg/dl) than in patients with SA (128+/-14 and 27+/-10 mg/dl) and the control subjects (114+/-22 and 22+/-7 mg/dl) (p<0.03). Also, C3 and C4 serum levels in patients with SA and UAP (126+/-16 and 31+/-7 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in control subjects (p<0.01, p<0.03, respectively). At 1-week follow-up, there were no significant differences between the plasma levels of C3 and C4 in patients with UAP (p>0.05). However, plasma levels of C3 and C4 were significantly different between days in patients with AMI and NQMI (p<0.0001). Plasma C3 and C4 levels in ACS showed a relationship with peak CK-MB and Tn I levels (p<0.01). Plasma CRP level in ACS showed positive correlation with C3 (p<0.01) and C4 (p<0.001). In this study, we determined that plasma C3 and C4 levels were elevated in ACS and SA. Although C3 and C4 were higher in ACS and SA, the systemic levels of inflammatory markers in patients with SA and UAP were lower than those found in the AMI and NQMI groups. The relationship between C3, C4 levels and ACS further suggests that the complement activation is related to necrosis within the myocardium.

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IntroductionC-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is one of its most important simulators, were determined in great amounts in the sera of patients with chronic urticaria (CU).AimTo determine the levels of IL-6 in patients with urticaria, and evaluate its relationship with urticaria activity scores and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).Material and methodsFifty-three patients with CU were included in the study successively by determining their urticaria activity scores (0-3) and DLQI (0-5). The CRP and IL-6 were measured by immune assay methods. Thirty-two healthy subjects were included as a control group.ResultsSerum levels of IL-6 and CRP were significantly higher in patients with CU compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.026 respectively). There was a statistically significant correlation among urticaria activity scores and IL-6 and CRP concentration (p = 0.004, p = 0.042). This correlation was more significant in patients who had moderate and severe disease activity scores than in those who had mild disease activity score (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between DLQI and IL-6 (p = 0.025). This correlation was very significant in patients who had severe and very severe disease activity scores (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). DLQI scores and serum levels of IL-6 were significantly different in the very severe group compared to healthy controls (p = 0.024).ConclusionsThe levels of CRP and IL-6 are increased in patients with CU. A relationship of DLQI and urticaria activity scores with CRP and IL-6 was found. These findings support the relationship between the inflammatory process in CU and the clinical findings.