Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutation and left ventricular hypertrophy in Turkish patients with type II diabetes mellitus

This study was designed to investigate, in the Turkish population, the association of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Our study included 249 patients with type II diabetes mellitus (102 men, 147 women) and 214 healthy volunteers as controls (91 men, 123 women). MTHFR C677T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. No differences were observed in the distribution of MTHFR genotypes or allele frequencies in the cases versus the controls. The frequency of the MTHFR-mutated allele (T) was 31.7% in the type II diabetes mellitus versus 31.1% of the controls. The homozygous mutation (T/T) in the MTHFR gene was identified in 12% of the type II diabetes mellitus versus 9.3% of the controls. Patients with the TT genotype showed a higher prevalence of LVH when compared to patients with the CC and CT genotypes (p = 0.01). The MTHFR gene C677T mutation may be a possible risk factor for the development of LVH in the type II diabetic patients.     

Viability of diced, crushed cartilage grafts and the effects of Surgicel (oxidized regenerated cellulose) on cartilage grafts

The viability of cartilage grafts has been well documented; however, controversy still exists about the viability of crushed cartilage. Recently, there has been a tendency to use diced cartilage grafts wrapped with oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel) sheets for improving dorsal contour in rhinoplasty. The viability of diced cartilage grafts and the effect of Surgicel on cartilage grafts are not well known. In this study, we used ear cartilage from 18 New Zealand rabbits. Cartilage grafts were transplanted to surgically created subcutaneous pockets on the back of the rabbits on both the left and right sides. There were three groups: (1) intact cartilage grafts, (2) crushed cartilage grafts, and (3) diced cartilage grafts. The grafts that were transplanted to the right side were wrapped with Surgicel. Cartilage grafts in all groups were viable. In grafts that were wrapped with Surgicel, a marked increase in the collagen content was investigated. Grafts that were wrapped with Surgicel demonstrated no evidence of proliferation, whereas the bare cartilage grafts demonstrated significant amounts of proliferation.     

The effect of carnitine on random-pattern flap survival in rats

Carnitine is an endogenous cofactor involved in the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria where they undergo beta-oxidation. Through another reaction, carnitine produces free coenzyme A and reduces the ratio of acetyl-coenzyme A to coenzyme A, thereby enhancing oxidative use of glucose, augmenting adenosine triphosphate synthesis, and reducing lactate production and acidosis. Because of its regulatory action on the energy flow from the different oxidative sources, especially under ischemic conditions, carnitine has been used in cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and chronic renal diseases with satisfactory results. A flap is also a relatively ischemic tissue and may obtain benefit from carnitine. To investigate this, 30 rats were divided into three groups of 10 animals: a control group and two carnitine-treated groups. Random dorsal skin flaps were elevated on the rats. In the control group, no pharmacologic agents were used. Of the two treated groups, group 1 was treated with 50 mg/kg/day carnitine for 1 week and group 2 was treated with 100 mg/kg/day carnitine for 1 week. The areas of flap necrosis were measured in each group. The median areas of flap necrosis of the groups were 12.55, 9.23, and 4.9 cm2, respectively. There was a statistically significant improvement of flap necrosis in carnitine-treated groups compared with the control group (group 2, p = 0.001; group 3, p = 0.000). Furthermore, there was less necrosis in the high-dose carnitine-treated group than the low-dose carnitine-treated group. As a conclusion, carnitine may have a dose-dependent effect to increase flap survival in random skin flaps.     

Cultural Formulation: Depression and Back Pain in a Young Male Turkish Immigrant in Basel,Switzerland

Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry -     

Age-related changes in GM1, GD1a, GT1b components of gangliosides in Wistar albino rats

In this study, age-related changes of GM1, GD1a, GT1b fractions of gangliosides were investigated in whole brain of male Wistar albino rats. Insignificant increases were detected in GM1 values from the third to the 24th month, whereas GD1a and GT1b concentrations of ganglioside in 24-month-old rats decreased significantly as compared to 6-month-old rats. Although there were no significant differences in the GD1a/GT1b ratio of any groups, GM1/GD1a and GM1/GT1b ratios were significantly increased as compared to 6-month-old rats. The increase in the ratios of gangliosides are not due to an increase of GM1 fractions; they result from a decrease of GD1a and GT1b fractions of gangliosides. In conclusion, the concentration of ganglioside decreased with ageing.     

Cytochrome P4502C9 genotype in Southeast Anatolia and possible relation with some serum tumour markers and cytokines

Substrates for CYP2C9 include fluoxetine, phenytoin, warfarin, losartam and numerous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Polymorphisms in the coding region of the CYP2C9 gene produce variants at amino-acid residues 144 Arg/Cys and 359 Ile/Leu of the CYP2C9 protein. Individuals homozygous for Leu359 have markedly diminished metabolic capacities for most CYP2C9 substrates, the frequency of this allele is, however, rather low. Consistently with the modulation of enzyme activity by genetic and other factors, wide interindividual variability occurs in the elimination and/or dosage requirements of prototypic CYP2C9 substrates. The polymorphic enzyme CYP2C9 takes part in the metabolism of alkylating agents and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogen present in tobacco smoke. Although the impact of impaired enzyme activity in metabolism of carcinogens and procarcinogens has not been fully defined, an association of CYP2C9 variant alleles to DNA adduct levels in lung tissues as well as to lung cancer risk have been reported. In this study 64 healthy subjects (44M/22F) were analysed for CYP2C9 genotype with PCR-RFLP and for serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA 19-9, CA 15-3, ferritin, IL-6, IL-8 concentrations by chemiluminescence or electrochemiluminescence methods. CYP2C9*1 was found to be the most prevalent allele and CYP2C9*1/CYP2C9*1 was the most frequent genotype represented in 64% of the population in southeastern Anatolia (Gaziantep). Although slight differences in serum tumour marker and cytokine concentrations were observed for CYP2C9 genotypes the differences were statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). This could be due to the complexity of the role of CYP2C9 in benzo(a)pyrene metabolism as well as from other contributing factors like interindividual variability of diverse enzymes participating in the same metabolic pathway, unequal expression of the variant alleles and differences in exposure to carcinogens. However, determination of CYP2C9 phenotypes in a larger group of subjects might clarify these slight differences.     

Condensed chromatin surface and NORs surface enhancement in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of Down syndrome patients

Mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of 20 Down syndrome (DS) patients with regular trisomy 21 contain more condensed chromatin surface (11.28 +/- 2.64 % of the total nuclear surface: mean +/- SD) and more nucleolus organiser regions surface (13.21 +/- 3.45 %) than that of 12 healthy controls: (8.84 +/- 2.23 and 9.12 +/- 2.33 %, reciprocally). The source of this peculiarity has been investigated. A computer program was designed for the planimetric measurement of the condensed chromatin surface (CCs)/ total nuclear surface(TNs) and the nucleolus organiser regions surface (NORss) /TNs proportions in interphase nuclei. CCs/TNs and NORss/TNs of 100 maximally activated nuclei (MANs) were measured for each patient and control case. The difference was found highly significant (P<0.01). Nuclei with a diameter of >/= 17 micrometer measured on the slide (in flattened state) were considered as maximally activated nuclei (MANs). NORss/TNs enhancement and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) studies in MANs of DS patients indicate that this phenomenon is due to the over-expression (or lack of downregulative mechanism) of NORs (rDNA) to some extent, including the NOR of the supernumerary chromosome 21. No statistical difference was observed between 12 healthy controls and 5 Robertsonian translocation type of DS Patients (where the two involved NORs are missing) when the two parameters were considered.