Serum IL-1beta, IL-2, and IL-6 in insulin-dependent diabetic children

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a chronic disease characterized by T-cell-dependent autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin. T cells are activated in response to islet-dominant autoantigens, the result being the development of IDDM. Insulin is one of the islet autoantigens responsible for the activation of T-lymphocyte functions, inflammatory cytokine production, and development of IDDM. The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in children IDDM. The study population consisted of 27 children with IDDM and 25 healthy controls. Children with IDDM were divided into three subgroups: (1) previously diagnosed patients (long standing IDDM) (n : 15), (2) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (before treatment) (n : 12), and (3) newly diagnosed patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (after treatment for two weeks) (n : 12). In all stages of diabetes higher levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and lower levels of IL-2 and IL-6 were detected. Our data about elevated serum IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and decreased IL-2, IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed IDDM patients in comparison with longer standing cases supports an activation of systemic inflammatory process during early phases of IDDM which may be indicative of an ongoing beta-cell destruction. Persistence of significant difference between the cases with IDDM monitored for a long time and controls in terms of IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha supports continuous activation during the late stages of diabetes.     

A unique Golgi apparatus distribution may be a marker for osteogenic differentiation of hDP-MSCs

Stem cell markers are utilized to isolate or identify stem cells. So far, many stem-cell-specific markers have been described, although some of them turned out to be not as specific as it was originally proposed. In this study, we sought to search for a specific stem cell marker that would be phenotypically helpful, characteristically specific, economically affordable and easy to use. Because organelles are one of the major characteristics of eukaryotic cells, we asked the question of whether organelle characteristics might be a useful tool for stem cell characterization. We studied distribution and characteristics of the endoplasmic reticulum, the mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus in human dental-pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells before and during osteogenic differentiation. Although it was not possible to find a useful macromolecular marker for stem cell characterization, we found that during osteogenic differentiation, the stem cells changed their Golgi characteristics and displayed a unique in vivo pattern. We analysed these unique Golgi structures and proposed a potential osteogenic differentiation marker for human dental-pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells. This pattern may be used in the evaluation of osteogenic differentiation.     

Assessment of antimicrobial activity of nanosized Ag doped TiO2 colloids

In the present research, the antimicrobial effects of nanosized silver (Ag) doped TiO(2) colloidal solutions prepared using a sol-gel technique were investigated. In order to determine the solution characteristics, the turbidity, viscosity and pH of the colloidal solutions were measured. Differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry equipment was used to determine the chemical structures and reaction types of the films formed from these solutions. The morphology of Ag doped TiO(2) nanoparticles was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. The disc diffusion method was employed to explore antimicrobial activity, and the Broth Microdilution method was used to obtain MIC values of nanosized Ag doped TiO(2) colloidal solutions against the test microorganisms Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis, and Salmonella typhimurium. It was found that the silver doped TiO(2) nanoparticles inhibited the growth and multiplication of the test microorganisms, including the fungus C. albicans. Antimicrobial activity was observed against all tested microorganisms at a very low concentration of 1.125-2.81 μg/ml of nano silver in 1-25 % Ag-TiO(2) solutions.     

Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines level in children with meningitis

AIMS: To determine the level of serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in children with bacterial or viral meningitis and to document the use of these parameters in differential diagnosis. RESULTS: Before the start of antibiotic treatment, serum procalcitonin and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were found to be higher in acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis and with the control group. Similarly, cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 levels were found to be significantly higher in children with acute bacterial meningitis compared with viral meningitis. However, no significant difference was determined between groups in respect to the cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-8 level. CONCLUSION: Serum procalcitonin and cerebrospinal fluid tumor necrosis factor alpha levels can be used in the early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Similarly, they may be useful adjuncts in differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis.     

A new approach for calibrating dental caries frequency of skeletal remains

It is a fact that researchers make use of various calibration methods for calculating and correcting dental caries frequency. The lack of standardization and accuracy of such methods has made it difficult for the researchers to draw reliable and differentiated conclusions from caries frequencies. Besides, the number of studies on how far the calculation methods reflect the "real" caries frequency is very limited. In this study, various methods for calculating caries frequency in skeletal samples are discussed and a new calculation method is proposed for estimating "real" caries frequency. The Hardwick's correction, which is one of the methods discussed in this study, is not successful in estimating "real" caries frequency as it proposes standard values for different life styles and dietary habits. The decayed and missing index is also considered inefficient as it assumes that all antemortem tooth loss is due to caries. The caries correction factor, proposed by Lukacs, achieves more successful results by considering factors other than caries in antemortem tooth loss, but because it does not differentiate between the anterior and posterior tooth groups during calculation, the results to be obtained therefrom may deviate from actual figures. In order to correct any such deviation, the caries correction factor must be applied separately for the anterior and posterior teeth groups since the resistance of each group to cariogenic factors is different. All the methods outlined above do not consider the effects of postmortem tooth loss on caries frequency. As a result, these methods are still far from reflecting a reliable caries frequency. The application of a proportional correction factor--as a technique newly introduced here--corrects the deviation caused by postmortem tooth loss and achieves more realistic results.