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Biomedical subjects

D L Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to D L Thomas.

149 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The epidemiology of hepatitis C in Turkey.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) are the principal causes of non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide, and in Turkey one-third of the cases of acute hepatitis are non-A, non-B. To explore the epidemiology of HCV in Turkey (including the association of HCV with HEV), a seroprevalence study of HCV was conducted. Sera from residents from five distinct regions of the country were tested for antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and HEV (anti-HEV). Anti-HCV was detected in 21 (1.5%) of 1,374 persons and was more common in residents over 54 years of age (p = 0.02), with less than primary education (p = 0.013), more than two children (p = 0.003), and who lived in the regions of Ayvalik (p = 0.046) or Trabzon (p = 0.038) compared to Istanbul. Anti-HCV was marginally associated with anti-HEV, which was found in 5.9% of residents. However, this association was lost after controlling for age and education (p = 0.225). HCV infection occurs in all regions of Turkey and is more common in persons who are older and of low socioeconomic status. As resources permit, efforts to reduce the transmission of HCV in Turkey (such as screening blood donations for anti-HCV) are indicated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of eicosanoids in the process of adaptation following massive bowel resection in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) such as arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) stimulate intestinal adaptation. Prostaglandins also enhance intestinal adaptation. The purpose of this study was to determine by which eicosanoid pathway dietary arachidonic acid enhances intestinal adaptation. Cyclo-oxygenase or lipoxygenase were selectively inhibited to determine whether either of them enhanced or inhibited adaptation. METHODS: Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, one receiving an 80% small bowel resection and the other receiving a sham operation. Rats were further divided into groups receiving either a placebo, a general lipoxygenase inhibitor (nordihydroguaiaretic acid [NDGA] at 40 mg/kg per day), or a cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor (Etodolac at 3 mg/kg per day). Rats were pair-fed a diet containing 30% kcal from fat, primarily consisting of AA. RESULTS: After 14 days, mucosal mass, protein, DNA, and disaccharidase activity were measured in the remaining small intestine. There was a significant decrease in ileal mucosal mass in rats receiving Etodolac and a significant increase in mucosal mass in the duodenum in rats receiving NDGA (both p < .001). Mucosal DNA, protein, and disaccharidase data showed similar trends. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that after small bowel resection, dietary arachidonic acid may facilitate the adaptation process by acting as a substrate for the synthesis of prostaglandins, and not through the derivatives of lipoxygenase such as leukotrienes or thromboxanes.

Adaptation, Physiological↗