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Biomedical subjects

M Ozkan

Publications and source records attributed to M Ozkan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Quantification of neurometabolites in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis by 1H-MRS.

The authors studied 20 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) to investigate the correlations between MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and clinical status. MRI findings did not correlate with clinical status. By contrast, all patients had reductions in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and increase in myoinositol (mI) (p < 0.01), and NAA and mI concentrations correlated with clinical severity (p < 0.05). During follow-up, NAA continued to decline. (1)H-MRS may be a useful measure of disease severity and progression in SSPE.

Aspartic Acid↗
PubMed2006

Diagnostic value of leptin in tuberculous pleural effusions.

It is suggested that leptin may be involved in inflammation. Although relation between leptin levels and active pulmonary tuberculosis has been studied, there is no information about relation between leptin levels and tuberculous pleural effusions (TPE). We evaluated the diagnostic value of pleural fluid and serum leptin levels in TPE and compared them with adenosine deaminase (ADA). Forty-five patients, 17 tuberculous effusion and 28 nontuberculous effusion, with exudative pleural effusions were included. Leptin and ADA levels were measured from serum and pleural fluid in all patients. There were no statistically significant differences between tuberculous and nontuberculous groups with respect to the serum ADA activity and pleural fluid/serum leptin ratio. On the contrary, pleural fluid leptin level, pleural fluid ADA activity, serum leptin level and pleural fluid/serum ADA activity ratio were statistically different between tuberculous and nontuberculous groups. When leptin levels were corrected for body mass index, serum leptin levels did not reach statistical significance. Cut-off points to predict tuberculosis were calculated as 9.85 ng/ml and 35.55 U/l for pleural fluid leptin level and pleural fluid ADA activity, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve +/- standard error were 82.4%, 82.1%, 0.83 +/- 0.07 for pleural fluid leptin levels and 100%, 100%, 1.00 +/- 0.00 for pleural fluid ADA activity, respectively; the difference between these curves was significant (p = 0.01). Pleural fluid leptin levels were lower in tuberculous effusions than in other exudates. Pleural fluid leptin has a diagnostic value for TPE but not as good as that of ADA.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed2006

Emotional distress of infertile women in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, severity and predictability of psychiatric symptoms of infertile women and the effects of infertility on marital and sexual relationships. METHODS: A semi-structured interview form, symptom check list, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Maudsley Marrital Questionnaire were utilized for 50 infertile women and 40 healthy women as a control group. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety and strength of psychological symptoms were significantly higher in the infertile group. Depression was decreased as the rate of employment, economic status and education increased. Infertility, infertility treatment, and marriage duration were positively correlated with depression and the strength of psychological symptoms. Sexual relationships were negatively affected the longer the duration of infertility treatment lasted. CONCLUSION: Special attention must be given to identifying psychiatric problems in infertile women. Relationship and sexual difficulties also appear central to infertility-related stress; targeting problems in these domains will have maximal therapeutic benefit.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Familial nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: Successful treatment with CHOP plus rituximab.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare tumor type distinct from classical Hodgkin lymphoma and its familial form is unusual. The two cases (mother at age 48 and son at age 30 years) of NLPHL in advanced clinical stage are described. The patients were successfully treated with an immunochemotherapy schedule consisting CHOP plus rituximab (CHOP-R). This chemotherapy was well tolerated and the patients reached complete remission. These remissions were for 34 and 40 months for mother and son, respectively. In patients with NLPHL, CHOP-R regimen should be used as an alternative treatment regimen to obtain a good long-lasting response without any adverse events.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Inorganic phosphate has a crucial effect on Cry3Aa delta-endotoxin production.

AIMS: The study aimed at increasing Cry3Aa delta-endotoxin production by a local isolate of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. strain Mm2). To this end, different nutritional conditions were tested for their effects on Cry3Aa yields. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacillus thuringiensis Mm2 was grown by shaking at 30 degrees C in different media. Samples were taken from the cultures at intervals and used for protein extraction. SDS-PAGE was performed for toxin analysis. Inclusion of inorganic phosphate (Pi) into the Difco's sporulation medium at an increased level of 200 mmol l-1 caused a fivefold increase (from 3 to 15.6 microg ml-1) in toxin production. Omission of FeSO4 from the medium decreased this yield by half. Resuspension experiments suggested catabolite repression of toxin biosynthesis by glucose. The inclusion of high Pi invariably increased toxin synthesis, even in the absence of sugars. CONCLUSIONS: Inorganic phosphate had the most striking effect on toxin biosynthesis. Iron effect was found to be unique to our isolate whereas Pi effect seemed to be common to the biosynthesis of Cry3Aa-type toxins. Stimulation of toxin synthesis by Pi did not seem to represent a relief from glucose repression. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacillus thuringiensis is the most versatile biopesticide for use in pest management. Regarding cost-effectiveness of related fermentations, high Pi supplement drastically increases Coleoptera-specific toxin synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

A randomized clinical trial of combination chemotherapy with and without low-molecular-weight heparin in small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a chemotherapy-responsive tumor type but most patients ultimately experience disease progression. SCLC is associated with alterations in the coagulation system. The present randomized clinical trial (RCT) was designed to determine whether addition of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) to combination chemotherapy (CT) would improve SCLC outcome compared with CT alone. METHODS: Combination CT consisted of cyclophosphamide, epirubicine and vincristine (CEV) given at 3-weekly intervals for six cycles. Eighty-four patients were randomized to receive either CT alone (n = 42) or CT plus LMWH (n = 42). LMWH consisted of dalteparin given at a dose of 5000 U once daily during the 18 weeks of CT. Results Overall tumor response rates were 42.5% with CT alone and 69.2% with CT plus LMWH (P = 0.07). Median progression-free survival was 6.0 months with CT alone and 10.0 months with CT plus LMWH (P = 0.01). Median overall survival was 8.0 months with CT alone and 13.0 months with CT plus LMWH (P = 0.01). Similar improvement in survival with LMWH treatment occurred in patients with both limited and extensive disease stages. The risk of death in the CT + LMWH group relative to that in the CT group was 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.30, 0.86) (P = 0.012 by log rank test). Toxicity from the experimental treatment was minimal and there were no treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the concept that anticoagulants, and particularly LMWH, may improve clinical outcomes in SCLC. Further clinical trials of this relatively non-toxic treatment approach are indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Meropenem +/- granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the treatment of febrile neutropenic patients with cancer: prospective randomized study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the therapy for febrile neutropenia (FN). Our patient population differed significantly from those of previous studies as no patients received antimicrobial or CSF prophylaxis before randomization and all were solid tumor patients. When the diagnosis of FN was established, patients were started on intravenous meropenem 1 g every 8 hours and randomly assigned to receive G-CSF (5 microg/kg body weight per day subcutaneously) or not. Twenty-eight patients with 30 FN episodes received G-CSF and 25 patients with 30 FN episodes did not receive G-CSF according to randomization. The time to resolution of fever, recovery of neutrophil count over 1000/mm3, duration of hospitalization, need for erythrocyte and platelet transfusion and mortality rate were similar in both study groups. Side effects of therapy were mild. These results provide preliminary evidence that G-CSF administration, in addition to effective antibiotic therapy as treatment of febrile neutropenic patients with solid tumor, does not help improve infection-related morbidity and mortality.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Post-operative sequential chemo-radiotherapy in high-grade cerebral gliomas with fotemustine.

High-grade gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors in adults. Twenty-seven patients with histopathologically proven anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme were enrolled in this study from November 1998 to August 2002. Radiotherapy was administered after surgery and fotemustine (100 mg/m2) was sequentially administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Overall, 111 cycles were administered to the 27 patients (median, 5 cycles; range, 1 to 6 cycles). Myelosuppression was mild to moderate. The median overall survival and progression free survival were 11+/-3.1 months (95%CI, 4.9-17.1) and 8+/-0.5 months (95%CI 7.1-8.9), respectively. One-year and two-year survivals were calculated at 48% and 7%, respectively. Significant prognostic factors (P<0.05) via univariate analysis were divided into two groups: completion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy versus incompletion of 6 cycles of chemotherapy. This trial demonstrates that postoperative radiotherapy and sequential fotemustine therapy is feasible, well tolerated, and may prolong survival in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Oxidative stress and changes in alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels during coronary artery bypass grafting.

We studied whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has any immediate impact on the initiation of antioxidative defenses in the body by measuring F(2)-isoprostanes and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, respectively. 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) levels increased significantly within 3 minutes and until the end of CPB. alpha-Tocopherol levels increased gradually at 20 min during CPB and continued until 6 hours after CPB. gamma-Tocopherol levels followed a similar fashion at the end of CPB. 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and tocopherol levels kept at basal level 12 and 24 hours post CPB. These findings suggest that an increased free radical-induced oxidative stress together with a gradual appearance of antioxidative defense system during and after CPB.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cardiopulmonary bypass as a cause of free radical-induced oxidative stress and enhanced blood-borne isoprostanes in humans.

Free radicals are believed to be involved in postsurgery-related complications. We studied whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) operation has any immediate impact on the initiation of oxidative stress and inflammatory response by measuring isoprostanes and prostaglandin F2alpha during and 24 h following CPB. The levels of 8-iso-PGF2alpha (a major F2-isoprostane and biomarker of oxidative stress) and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha (a major metabolite of PGF2alpha and biomarker of inflammatory response) were measured in frequently collected plasma samples before, during, and up to 24 h postsurgery in 21 patients. 8-Iso-PGF2alpha levels significantly increased within 3 min (p <.0001) and continued until 50 min (p <.0001) during CPB. On the contrary, no significant increase of inflammatory response indicator, 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alpha was found during and up to 24 h postoperatively. These findings establish an increased free radical-induced oxidative stress activity rather than inflammatory response after CPB.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Urinary neopterin measurement as a non-invasive diagnostic method in pulmonary tuberculosis.

SETTING: Pulmonary department of a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the usefulness of neopterin in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) as a rapid diagnostic tool. DESIGN: Neopterin concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), serum and urine were measured in patients with PTB, with lung cancer and with pneumonia and in a healthy control group. RESULTS: In the BAL of PTB patients, serum and urine levels of neopterin were significantly higher than all the other groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the lung cancer group, PTB patients had higher neopterin in BAL and urine (P < 0.05). The PTB group had higher levels not only in BAL and urine, but also in serum, than the pneumonia group (P < 0.05). Compared with the pneumonia group and the healthy controls, neopterin levels in serum and urine were significantly higher in the lung cancer group (P < 0.05). In the PTB group, patients with moderately advanced PTB according to radiographic extent had higher levels of urine neopterin than patients with minimal disease (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Neopterin levels in BAL, serum and particularly in urine may reflect PTB activity before exact diagnosis of the disease by culture results, and correlates with radiological extent.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Giant ancient schwannoma of the posterior mediastinum cytologically misdiagnosed as a malignant tumour. A case report.

We report a case of a 45-year old woman who was found to have a giant mediastinal tumour with radiological degenerative changes. She underwent thoracotomy to remove the mass, which was eventually diagnosed histologically as an ancient schwannoma, whereas cytological interpretation of the accompanying pleural fluid was malignant. Ancient schwannoma is a rare variant of schwannoma, histologically showing atypical features that may result in erroneous diagnosis of a malignant tumour. Clinical and radiological findings are important aids for further consideration of surgical removal of these potentially resectable tumours.

Female↗
PubMed2001

Alterations in exhaled gas profile during allergen-induced asthmatic response.

The source of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and the relationship to airway inflammation are not clear. If CO is produced by the inflamed airway, we hypothesized that inflammation induced by allergen challenge would increase exhaled CO of atopic asthmatics. Eight atopic asthmatics underwent whole lung allergen challenge. CO, nitric oxide (NO), oxygen, and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) were measured simultaneously in exhaled breath which was collected into Mylar balloons before (baseline), immediately after, and at subsequent times after allergen. NO was higher in asthmatics than control subjects at baseline, increased further in seven of the eight asthmatics after allergen, and was inversely correlated to specific conductance. In contrast, exhaled CO of asthmatics was not higher than that of control individuals at baseline, decreased immediately after allergen, and returned to baseline levels during the late asthmatic response. Thus, allergen-induced airway inflammation did not lead to increased exhaled CO in asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Indirect MR arthrography of the shoulder in detection of rotator cuff ruptures.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of indirect MR arthrography images obtained following intravenous contrast injection and conventional MR imaging in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. Twenty-four patients with clinically suspected rotator cuff disease were examined. Conventional MR images and post-contrast indirect MR arthrography images were obtained. All images were evaluated in a blinded fashion by two musculoskeletal radiologist. Results were than analyzed depending on surgical output. The correlation coefficient (Spearman rank correlation test) and the kappa values for agreement between surgery and imaging techniques were calculated. The correlation coefficients between indirect MR arthrography and surgery for reader 1 and reader 2 were 0.9137 and 0.9773, respectively. Whereas the agreement between conventional MR imaging and surgery was moderate (n = 0.383-0.571), the agreement between indirect MR arthrography and surgery was excellent (n = 0.873-0.936). We suggest the use of indirect MR arthrography technique when conventional MR images are equivocal in diagnosis of rotator cuff disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

High levels of nitric oxide in individuals with pulmonary hypertension receiving epoprostenol therapy.

Lack of vasodilator substances, such as nitric oxide (NO), has been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension, but the pathogenesis of the disease remains speculative. We hypothesized that NO plays a role in the pathogenesis of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), and may serve as a sensitive and specific marker of disease progression and/or severity. To test this, exhaled NO and pulmonary artery pressure were measured in individuals with PPH and secondary pulmonary hypertension (SPH) on various therapies, including the potent vasodilator epoprostenol (prostacyclin), compared with healthy controls. NO in exhaled breath of individuals with PPH was lower than SPH or control (p<0.05). In contrast, exhaled NO of individuals with PPH or SPH receiving epoprostenol was strikingly higher than PPH or SPH individuals not receiving epoprostenol, or controls. Concomitant with higher NO levels, right ventricular systolic pressure of individuals significantly decreased with epoprostenol. Importantly, in paired measures of exhaled NO before and after epoprostenol, NO increased in all pulmonary hypertensive individuals 24 h after initiation of epoprostenol therapy (p<0.05). NO may be a useful noninvasive marker of pulmonary hypertension severity and response to prostacyclin therapy.

Adolescent↗