Genetic factors associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) might involve variant tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha genes. Therefore, polymorphisms at positions -308, -238, -376, -163 and +70 relative to the transcription initiation site were studied with respect to the susceptibility to, or severity of, RA. TNF-alpha genotypes of 283 RA patients and 116 healthy individuals were determined. Clinical data were obtained from patient files and questionnaires. The distribution of TNF-alpha alleles was similar in RA patients and healthy controls. With respect to disease severity, the TNF-alpha -238GA genotype was found to be associated with the absence of erosions [odds ratio (OR) 4.1, confidence interval 1.0-17]. In addition, this genotype was associated with a lower number of hand joints affected by erosions within the first 3 yr of disease onset compared to -238GG. The association between the -238 polymorphism and radiographic progression was independent of the presence of HLA-DR4. In line with this observation, the OR for the presence of erosions in patients with both risk factors (DR4 and -238GG) compared to patients who lack these factors was 11.1 (1.8-6.8). No associations between the TNF-alpha -308, +70 and -376 alleles and susceptibility to, or severity of, RA could be demonstrated. Our data indicate that the TNF-alpha -238GA genotype is associated with decreased radiologically detectable progression of RA.

Objectives. Our aim was to determine the effect of chronic regular exercise on ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Design and methods. Sixty patients with type 2 DM were randomly divided into two groups as exercise (17 M, 13 F) and non-exercise (12 M, 18 F) groups, each consisting of 30 patients. The exercise group underwent a 3-month aerobic regular exercise consisting of moderate-intensity power walking. The non-exercise subjects remained sedentary throughout the study period. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), and IMA levels of the groups were determined at baseline and 3 months later. Results. There was no significant change in TOS and IMA levels of exercise group but TAS levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Also, postexercise systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p < 0.05) blood pressures of the exercise group were significantly lower than the baseline values. In addition, there was no significant change in TAS and TOS levels of the non-exercise group; however, IMA levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01). Conclusion. We have shown, for the first time, that exercise prevents increase in IMA levels in type 2 DM which might have resulted from increased levels of TAS and reduces the risk of ischemia in these patients. These findings show that chronic exercise is beneficial in the prevention of oxidative stress in patients with type 2 DM as documented by decreased IMA levels.

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INTRODUCTION:Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for the treatment of gallstone disease; however, adverse hemodynamic changes induced by increased intraabdominal pressure due to pneumoperitoneum are known to occur. Herein, we investigated the effects of pneumoperitoneum on oxidative stress markers, including paraoxonase, arylesterase, total oxidant status, and total antioxidant status, during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.PATIENTS AND METHODS:Patients that underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy were classified as Group I, whereas patients that underwent surgical procedures for an abdominal wall hernia under general anesthesia were classified as Group II. Blood samples were obtained during the preoperative period, the perioperative period, and 24 hours after surgery (postoperative day 1). Leukocyte counts, neutrophil rates, paraoxonase activities, arylesterase activities, and total oxidant and antioxidant status levels were measured.RESULTS:The differences in leukocyte counts and neutrophil rates were not significant between the two groups. In Group I, no significant differences in the total oxidant and antioxidant status levels were identified; however, paraoxonase and arylesterase levels were lower on postoperative day 1. No significant changes were observed in the total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, and paraoxonase or arylesterase activities in Group II. The perioperative total antioxidant status and arylesterase level were higher in Group I in comparison to Group II.CONCLUSION:Paraoxonase and arylesterase levels are useful markers in the evaluation of oxidative stress caused by intraabdominal pressure due to pneumoperitoneum.

Objectives Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant activity. There is wide agreement that patients undergoing regular dialysis treatment experience increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels in hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, compared with controls. Methods This study was performed on 41 (21 men, 20 women) CAPD patients, 38 (20 men,18 women) HD patients, and 43 (23 men, 20 women) healthy control subjects. CoQ10 levels were standardized using blood lipids. Results Serum TAS levels and CoQ10/total cholesterol values of the HD and CAPD patients were significantly lower, whereas serum IMA and TOS levels were significantly higher, than those of controls. Furthermore, CoQ10/LDL, CoQ10/triglycerides, and CoQ10/total cholesterol + triglycerides values of the CAPD patients were significantly lower than those of controls. No differences were found between serum IMA, TAS, TOS, CoQ10 levels, and adjusted CoQ10 values of the CAPD and HD patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that oxidative stress is increased in HD and CAPD patients compared with controls, as proven by decreased TAS and adjusted CoQ10 levels and increased TOS and IMA levels. Therefore, an antioxidant supplementation to these patients may be suggested.

AMAÇAkut mezenter iskemi (AMİ) modeli kullanılarak yapılan bu çalışmada, serum prokalsitonin ve fosfor düzeylerinin AMİ erken tanısında kullanılabilirliği araştırıldı. GEREÇ VE YÖNTEMÇalışmada 21 adet Yeni Zelanda tavşanı kullanıldı. Denekler Kontrol, Sham ve İskemi grubu olarak adlandırıl-dı. Kontrol grubundaki deneklere herhangi bir girişim yapılmadı. Sham ve İskemi grubundaki deneklere orta hat insizyonu ile laparotomi yapıldı. İskemi grubundaki deneklere ise laparatomi yapıldıktan sonra süperior mezenterik arter bulunarak bağlandı. Her üç gruptaki hayvanlardan 0., 1., 3. ve 6. saatlerde kan alındı, bu numunelerden prokalsitonin ve fosfor çalışıldı. BULGULARİskemi grubunda, serum fosfor ve prokalsitonin düzeyle-rindeki yükselme kontrol ve sham gruplarına göre istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulundu (p<0,05). Fosfor ve prokalsitonin düzeylerinin, iskemi oluşturulduktan sonra 1. saatten itibaren arttığı ve bu yüksekliğin 6 saat boyunca devam ettiği saptandı (p<0,05). SONUÇFosfor ve prokalsitonin'in AMİ'nin erken tanısında ve prognozunda kullanılabilecek önemli parametreler olabileceğini düşünüyoruz.Anahtar Sözcükler: Akut mezenter iskemi; fosfor; prokalsitonin.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of aerobic exercise on the quality of life and leptin and adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Material and Method: Patients were randomized into two groups: aerobic exercise-training and control group. Parameters were assessed at baseline and end of the twelve-week follow-up for 60 type 2 diabetic patients who completed the program. The 36-item Short Form Health Survey was administered to the patients. Results: The exercise-training group results showed a decrease in adiponectin and leptin levels, a reduction of waist circumference and percentage of body fat (p=0.007, 0.023, 0.012 and 0.048, respectively). The leptin levels in the aerobic exercise group were positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.303, p=0.021) and percentage of body fat (r=0.371, p=0.005); they were negatively correlated with physical problems (r=-0.482; p=0.009) and pain (r=-0.540; p=0.003). Exercise led to statistically significant improvements in the SF-36 physical functioning and mental health subscales (p=0.020 and 0.023, respectively). Discussion: The association of better HbA1c, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat with improved mental and physical scores may be related to a decrease in leptin levels, despite a significant reduction in serum adiponectin levels.

Objective. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with low-grade inflammation. The benefits of regular exercise for the DM are well established, whereas less is known about the impact of aerobic exercise on malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the DM. Methods. We randomised 64 participants, who do not exercise regularly, without any diabetic chronic complications in parallel to 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (three times per week, n = 31) and no exercise (control; n = 33). Plasma levels of soluble TNF-α and MDA levels were measured before-after physical training programme and control group. Results. Sixty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were analysed. When comparing the two groups of patients with age, gender, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, lipid profile, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and class of treatment for diabetes were not different between groups. While soluble TNF-α remained essentially unaffected by physical training, plasma concentrations of MDA markedly decreased (P < 0.05); physical training also decreased body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Exercise training favorably affected body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. A three-weekly, 12-week, aerobic-training programme, without a concomitant weight loss diet, was associated with significant decrease in MDA levels in type 2 diabetic individuals.