In this study, we aimed to examine dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and identify the factors associated with thiol oxidation. Thirty-eight subjects (18 male, 20 female) diagnosed with T1DM and 38 (17 male, 21 female) healthy volunteers without any known diseases were included in the study. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis concentrations were measured by a newly developed method (Erel & Neselioglu) in this study. After native thiol, total thiol and disulfide levels were determined; measures such as disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol were calculated. In T1DM patients, compared to the control group, disulfide (p = 0.024), disulfide/native thiol (p < 0.001), and disulfide/total thiol (p < 0.001) were determined higher, while native thiol (p = 0.004) and total thiol (p < 0.001) levels were much lower. In the patient group, a positive correlation was determined between c-reactive protein (r = 325, p = 0.007; r = 316, p = 0.010, respectively), fasting blood glucose (r = 279, p = 0.018; r = 251, p = 0.035, respectively), and glycosylated hemoglobin (r = 341, p = 0.004; r = 332, p = 0.005, respectively) and rates of disulfide/native thiol and disulfide/total thiol. We determined that thiol oxidation increase in T1DM patients compared to the control group. We thought that hyperglycemia and chronic inflammation might be the major cause of increase in oxide thiol form. In order to determine the relationship between the status of autoimmunity and dynamic thiol/disulfide in T1DM, dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis in newly diagnosed-antibody positive-T1DM patients is required to be investigated.

SummaryBackgroundWe investigated the sensitivity of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as a combination of NLR and PLR to predict endoscopic disease severity based on mucosal assessment in ulcerative colitis (UC).MethodsThe study group consisted 104 patients with active UC, 104 patients in remission, and 105 healthy individuals. Disease activity was described with Rachmilewitz endoscopic activity index (EAI). Curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values of NLR and PLR for obtaining remission. The patients with both PLR and NLR values higher than the cutoff values were coded as »high risk,« those with one parameter higher were coded as »moderate risk«, those with both parameters lower than the cutoff values were coded as »low-risk« patients.ResultsThe mean NLR and PLR values in the endoscopically active disease group were higher than the others, with higher values in the endoscopic remission group compared with the control group (p<0.001). Rachmilewitz EAI in high-risk patients was significantly higher than that in others (p<0.001). In Cox regression analyses, moderate and high risk, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high EAI were found as independent predictors of endoscopic active disease.ConclusionsThis is the first study that investigated the use of NLR and PLR combination to assess endoscopic disease severity in UC. Either high NLR or PLR levels can predict active endoscopic disease. However, the use of these parameters in combination is more accurate in evaluating mucosal disease and inflammation in UC.

Many theories have been put forward to explain the mechanism of stone formation and growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the urinary, serum and stone levels of zinc, iron, magnesium, and copper in patients with calcium oxalate stones and to investigate urinary and serum element levels in healthy controls and to find a possible connection between the elements and calcium oxalate stone formation. A total of 104 patients with calcium oxalate stones ranging in age from 3 to 79 years (mean 44.0 +/- 18.1) and 77 healthy controls ranging in age from 18 to 77 (mean 44.2 +/- 17.9) were included in this study. The mean urinary iron and copper levels in stone patients were significantly higher than healthy controls (P = 0.000). The mean urinary zinc and magnesium levels in healthy controls were significantly higher than stone patients (P = 0.000). There was no significant difference in the serum levels of magnesium and copper in stone patients and healthy controls. Serum zinc and iron level were significantly high in healthy controls as compared to stone patients. Each stone had all 4 elements. Zn and Mg have inhibitory effect on calcium oxalate stone formation. Fe and Cu could be promotor of the calcium oxalate stone formation.

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Copper-containing fertilizers, fungicides and bactericides are extensively used in greenhouses in Turkey. Informations on effects of these applications to plants are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of Cu application to a calcareous soil and to leaves on the yield and growth of tomato plants. Cu was first applied to soil as CuSO 4 .5H 2 O in three different levels (0, 1000, and 2000 mg Cu kg -1 ) and then to leaves in three different frequencies (no application, biweekly and weekly) using two cupric fungicides (Cu oxychloride, and Cu salts of fatty and rosin acids) in pot experiments carried out in a computer-controlled greenhouse. Total yield, fruit number, dry root weight and plant height decreased with increasing Cu application to soil. Increasing levels of Cu applied to soil and leaves resulted in decreasing final fruit number, dry root weight and plant height in 4 th , 5 th and 6 th weeks. Combined applications of Cu to soil and leaves could be more deleterious to plants than when Cu is applied only to soil or leaves. Key words: dry root weight, fruit number, fungicides, plant height, greenhouse ) e em cobertura (controle, semanal e duas vezes por semana), nas formas de oxicloreto de cobre ou calda bordalesa na produção total, número de frutas, peso seco da raiz e altura de tomateiros cultivados em casa de vegetação. Produtividade total, número de frutas por planta, peso seco da raiz e altura das plantas foram reduzidas pelo aumento da quantidade de Cu aplicado ao solo. O aumento da concentração de CU no solo e folhas diminuiu número final de frutos por planta, peso seco da raiz e altura da planta na quarta, quinta e sexta semanas. A aplicação combinada de Cu ao solo e em cobertura pode ser mais deletéria às plantas que a aplicação de Cu somente ao solo ou em cobertura. Palavras-chave: peso seco da raiz, número de futas, fungicidas, altura da planta, casas de vegetação ALTOS NÍVEIS DE COBRE NO SOLO E NAS FOLHAS REDUZ CRESCIMENTO E PRODUTIVIDADE DE TOMATEIROS

The contrast enhancement patterns on DCE-MRI are influenced by tumor angiogenesis, as reflected by elevated microvessel density expression. Therefore, they are valuable indicators for assessing tumor angiogenic activity and tumor neovascularization in bladder cancers.

SummaryBackgroundWe aimed to determine the levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and paraoxonase1/arylesterase levels in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and the relation be - tween these molecules and the activity index of the disease. MethodsEighty IBD patients (ulcerative colitis (UC)/Crohn disease (CD) 40/40) and 80 control group participants were included in the study. Oxidative stress parameters were measured using the colorimetric method. As disease activity indexes, the endoscopic activity index (EAI) was used for UC and the CD activity index (CDAI) was used for CD.ResultsIn IBD patients, mean TAS (1.3±0.2 vs 1.9±0.2, respectively; p<0.001) and arylesterase (963.9±232.2 vs 1252.9±275, respectively; p<0.001) levels were found to be lower and TOS level (5.6±1.6 vs 4.0±1.0, respectively; p<0.001) and OSI rate (4.5±1.6 vs 2.2±0.8, respectively; p<0.001) were found to be higher compared to the control group. A strong positive correlation was found between EAI and TOS levels (r=0.948, p<0.001) and OSI rate (r=0.894, p<0.001) for UC patients. A very strong positive correlation was found between EAI and TOS levels (r=0.964, p<0.001) and OSI rate (r=0.917, p<0.001) for CD patients. It was found in a stepwise regression model that C-reactive protein, OSI and arylesterase risk factors were predictors of IBD compared to the control group. Conclusion: Increased oxidative stress level in IBD patients and the detection of OSI rate as an independent predictor for disease activity indexes lead to the idea that oxidative stress might be related to the pathogenesis of IBD.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to prevent cadmium (Cd)-induced renal damage and whether NAC would reverse cadmium damage to the kidney. Fifty adult male rats were divided into five experimental groups: group 1 received tap water for 3 months and 7 days, group 2 received cadmium chloride (CdCl(2)) for 3 months, group 3 (NAC cotreatment group) received CdCl(2) and 0.5% NAC in tap water for 3 months, group 4 received CdCl(2) in tap water for 3 months and 3 months later received only tap water for 7 days, and group 5 (NAC posttreatment group) received CdCl(2) in tap water for 3 months and 3 months later received 2% NAC in tap water for 7 days. NAC significantly decreased the elevated kidney malondialdehyde levels, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, in both cotreatment and posttreatment modalities. Cotreatment and posttreatment with NAC significantly increased kidney superoxide dismutase enzyme activity and glutathione level but did not change kidney catalase enzyme activity. NAC decreased fractional excretion of sodium in posttreatment group. Neither Cd nor NAC affected the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Cotreatment and posttreatment with NAC reduced the effects of Cd on proximal tubules. It was found that NAC showed these effects without changing kidney accumulation of cadmium. Exogenously administrated NAC might reduce toxic effects of Cd on the kidney without any reduction in tissue Cd level.