Browsing by Author "Sezgin, Nurzen"

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Can serial monitoring of serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Nitric Oxide (NO), and Angiotensin II (ANGII) levels have predictive role during Bevacizumab treatment?
(2014) Sumbul, Ahmet Taner; Disel, Umut; Sezgin, Nurzen; Sezer, Ahmet; Kose, Fatih; Besen, Ali Ayberk; Sumbul, Zehra; Abali, Huseyin; Ozyilkan, Ozgur
Background: Standard treatment of colorectal cancer includes both cytostatic chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Bevacizumab, targeting the VEGF receptor, is one of the primary targeted therapies that achieve better response rate and survival rate as compared to combination chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, there is no established single marker that can be used as a predictive marker in bevacizumab therapy. Material/Methods: We enrolled 24 patients with the diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer in our study. During the study, 2 blood samples were drawn from patients before the first cycle and after the sixth cycle of bevacizumab therapy. Serum levels of VEGF, ANG II, and NO were recorded. Results: While the change across VEGF levels was found to be a statistically significant decreasing trend (p=0.009), this decrease was not found to be correlated with treatment response and hypertension development. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was found in terms of NO and ANG II levels. Conclusions: This study showed a significant decrease in serum VEGF, but failed to show a significant change in NO and ANG II levels during bevacizumab treatment. Although no significant correlation was found between the presence of hypertension and markers, most patients (83%) had an increase in their blood pressure. Our results suggest that dynamic monitoring of NO and ANG II, along with VEGF, may not be useful as predictive markers for bevacizumab treatment in colorectal cancer.
The Effect of Serum Mannose-Binding Lectin Levels on Dialysis-Related Peritonitis and Catheter-Related Bacteremia
(2015) Erken, Ertugrul; Torun, Dilek; Sezgin, Nurzen; Micozkadioglu, Hasan; Zumrutdal, Aysegul; Ozelsancak, Ruya; Yildiz, Ismail; 0000-0002-6267-3695; 0000-0002-0788-8319; 0000-0001-5142-5672; 0000-0002-7054-1203; AAD-9111-2021; AAD-5716-2021; AAE-7608-2021; P-4517-2015
OBJECTIVE: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) takes part in innate immunity through opsonisation and complement activation. Deficiency of MBL is associated with some infections and autoimmune disorders. This study focused on functional MBL deficiency and its effects on dialysis-related peritonitis and catheter-related bacteremia in patients with end stage renal disease. MATERIAL and METHODS: The study included 51 patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) program and 31 under maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who had tunneled/cuffed hemodialysis catheters (total 82). Serum MBL level measurements were performed by ELISA technique. RESULTS: The mean value for serum MBL in patient groups of PD, HD, and healthy controls were 2536.5 ng/ml, 2088.7 ng/ml, 1924 ng/ml respectively. Difference of MBL level was not significant among groups. Serum MBL value was negatively correlated to the number of peritonitis episodes in PD group (p=0.019). Deficiency of MBL was not associated with high incidence of peritonitis. Surveillance of catheter associated blood stream infection for tunneled/cuffed hemodialysis catheters was 2.07 episodes/1000 catheter days. An association with MBL deficiency and incidence of catheter-related bacteremia was not observed. CONCLUSION: Serum MBL value was negatively correlated to the number of peritonitis episodes but an expected association of MBL deficiency with high incidence of dialysis-related peritonitis and catheter-related bacteremia was not found. New studies with greater sample size might probably indicate the potential effect of MBL deficiency on dialysis-related peritonitis.
Effects of Enteral Protein Supplements on Nutritional Status and Clinical Outcome in Unconscious Elderly Malnourished Patients
(2014) Gulsen Atalay, Betul; Yagmur, Cahide; Nursal, Tarik; Atalay, Hakan; Sezgin, Nurzen; Giray, Semih; Selcuk, Haldun; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0722-3181; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8445-6413; IQV-1169-2023; AAH-1091-2020; AAJ-6976-2021
Aim: Unconscious malnourished patients have reduced serum proteins. Enteral protein supplements may improve their nutritional status and clinical outcome. Our aim for the present study was to determine the effect on nutritional status and patient prognosis of enteral protein supplementation in tube-fed hospitalised unconscious elderly malnourished patients. Methods: In total, 20 patients were fed a standard enteral nutrition formula during the four-day adaptation period. The study group (n = 10) received an enteral protein supplement (2 g/kg/day protein) and the control group (n = 10) received only standard enteral nutrition (1 g/kg/day protein) during the 12-day study period. Nutritional status and clinical outcome were assessed. Results: No difference was observed between the groups with regard to biochemical, inflammatory parameters, anthropometric measurements or nitrogen balance (P > 0.05). Triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness mean levels were elevated in the study group at the end of the study compared with the beginning of the study (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the groups with regard to complications or mortality rate (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In the present study, the use of enteral protein support (EPS) in unconscious malnourished patients provided some advantages in the early stages of medical treatment. Triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness mean levels were increased significantly in our study group. Although there was no significant difference, serum insulin-growth factor, retinol-binding protein and prealbumin mean values showed a tendency to increase in the study group at the end of the study. We believe that further research is required to determine the effects of EPS on these values in malnourished elderly patients.
Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms in patients with slow coronary flow
(2017) Tekin, Abdullah; Sezgin, Nurzen; Atac, Fatma Belgin; Verdi, Hasibe; Sezgin, Alpay Turan; 0000-0002-5658-870X; 0000-0001-6868-2165; 0000-0003-0591-009X; 29201435; ABG-9940-2020; ABD-7304-2021; ABG-9966-2020
Background and aims: The aim of this study was to explore potential associations of the intron 4 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) and E298A polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene with slow coronary flow (SCF). The association between plasma nitrate and nitrite (NOx) concentrations and eNOS gene polymorphisms was also assessed. Materials and methods: The intron 4 VNTR and E298A polymorphisms of the eNOS gene were evaluated in the isolated DNA blood samples obtained from the SCF patient group (n = 30) and healthy group consisted of age- and sex-matched controls (n = 61). Results: Plasma NOx level was significantly lower in patients with SCF than in controls. In addition, patients with SCF have significantly lower nitric oxide levels than control subjects within each genotype variants. The allele and genotyped frequencies of the eNOS intron 4 VNTR and E298A polymorphisms were similar between patients with SCF and the controls. Plasma NOx concentrations with respect to the relevant genotypes were found insignificant. Discussion and conclusion: Plasma NOx is lower in patients with SCF than in healthy subjects. Our findings may suggest the lack of association between intron 4 VNTR and E298A polymorphisms of the eNOS gene and SCF.
Intra-Articular Zoledronic Acid in A Rat Osteoarthritis Model: Significant Reduced Synovitis May Indicate Chondroprotective Effect
(2015) Cinar, B. Murat; Ozkoc, Gurkan; Bolat, Filiz; Karaeminogullari, Oguz; Sezgin, Nurzen; Tandogan, Reha N.; 0000-0002-7906-5039; 24664185; AAL-4474-2021
The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of intra-articular application of zoledronic acid (ZA) on joint cartilage and synovial tissue following induction of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a rat model. An OA model was created by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in the right knees of 48 adult Wistar albino rats. The rats were randomized into a study and control groups, each including 24 rats, and 10 mu g of ZA was injected in 0.1 ml of sterile saline to 24 animals in the study group on the first day to operation and was repeated weekly until the rats were killed. The same volume of sterile saline was injected with the same schedule to the control group. Eight rats from both the study and control groups were killed, each time, on the 4th day, the 3rd week, and the 6th week after the operation. The groups were compared based on the histological scores of synovitis and cartilage destruction and the evaluation of serum markers. Histological score indicates progression of synovitis was significantly less in the study group (p = 0.047). There was significant increase in the mean Mankin cartilage damage score in the control group (p = 0.021), while no significant change was found in the study group. When the two groups were compared over time, no statistically significant difference was detected in total histological scores, although there was a 47 % less incidence of cartilage tissue damage in the study group and better cartilage structure and tide mark integrity scores were also detected in the study group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.021, respectively). Intra- articular zoledronic acid may suppress synovial inflammation. Furthermore, Zoledronic Acid does not reduce cartilage degeneration in early osteoarthritis models, but may provide some chondroprotective effect in ACLT- induced knee osteoarthritis model in rats.
A Multicenter Nationwide Reference Intervals Study For Common Biochemical Analytes in Turkey Using Abbott Analyzers
(2014) Sezgin, Nurzen; 25153598
Background: A nationwide multicenter study was organized to establish reference intervals (RIs) in the Turkish population for 25 commonly tested biochemical analytes and to explore sources of variation in reference values, including regionality. Methods: Blood samples were collected nationwide in 28 laboratories from the seven regions (>= 400 samples/region, 3066 in all). The sera were collectively analyzed in Uludag University in Bursa using Abbott reagents and analyzer. Reference materials were used for standardization of test results. After secondary exclusion using the latent abnormal values exclusion method, RIs were derived by a parametric method employing the modified Box-Cox formula and compared with the RIs by the non-parametric method. Three-level nested ANOVA was used to evaluate variations among sexes, ages and regions. Associations between test results and age, body mass index (BMI) and region were determined by multiple regression analysis (MRA). Results: By ANOVA, differences of reference values among seven regions were significant in none of the 25 analytes. Significant sex-related and age-related differences were observed for 10 and seven analytes, respectively. MRA revealed BMI-related changes in results for uric acid, glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, and.-glutamyltransferase. Their RIs were thus derived by applying stricter criteria excluding individuals with BMI >28 kg/m(2). Ranges of RIs by non-parametric method were wider than those by parametric method especially for those analytes affected by BMI. Conclusions: With the lack of regional differences and the well-standardized status of test results, the RIs derived from this nationwide study can be used for the entire Turkish population.
Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in patients with hypothyroidism
(2014) Bakiner, Okan; Bozkirli, Emre; Ertugrul, Derun; Sezgin, Nurzen; Ertorer, Eda
Objective: To determine plasma fetuin-A levels in hypothyroid patients before and after treatment with L-thyroxine (T-4) and to determine the relation between plasma fetuin-A levels with cardiovascular risk factors. Design: A prospective, controlled, single-blind study. Methods: Forty-four treatment-naive female patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism and 39 age-and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, plasma TSH, fetuin-A, free T-4, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen levels, and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation were measured. All measurements were repeated after 3 months in the control group and 3 months after the attainment of euthyroidism with (L)-T4 replacement in the hypothyroid group. Baseline data were compared between the two groups. Posttreatment plasma fetuin-A levels of hypothyroid patients were compared with baseline levels of both groups. The relationship between plasma fetuin-A, TSH levels, and other cardiovascular risk factors was evaluated. Results: Plasma fetuin-A levels were similar to 20% lower in hypothyroid female patients compared with the controls (P=0.0001). Fetuin-A levels increased by similar to 20% in hypothyroid patients after achievement of euthyroidism (P=0.0001) and were no longer different compared with controls (P=0.38). There was a negative correlation between plasma TSH and fetuin-A levels (r=-0.79; P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between plasma fetuin-A levels and cardiovascular risk factors within or between groups. The fetuin-A levels were normalized with thyroid hormone treatment. Conclusion: Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in female patients with hypothyroidism, which are restored to normal during restoration of euthyroidism. There was no relation with cardiovascular risk factors.
Plasma fetuin-A levels are reduced in patients with hypothyroidism (vol 170, pg 411, 2014)
(2014) Bakiner, Okan; Bozkirli, Emre; Ertugrul, Derun; Sezgin, Nurzen; Ertorer, Eda
Serum Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, and Homocysteine Levels in Children with Febrile Seizure
(2015) Ozkale, Yasemin; Erol, Ilknur; Kilicarslan, Buket; Ozkale, Murat; Saygi, Semra; Sariturk, Cagla; Sezgin, Nurzen; 0000-0002-3530-0463; 0000-0002-8522-5078; 0000-0003-0625-1057; 0000-0003-3009-336X; 0000-0002-4130-1059; 27186696; AAK-4825-2021; AAB-1203-2021; A-7806-2016; AAL-6136-2021; AAS-7129-2021
The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between febrile seizure and serum levels of vitamin B-12, folic acid, and homocysteine. One hundred and four children who presented with febrile seizure and 75 controls who presented with febrile illness unaccompanied by seizure were enrolled into the study. Mean levels of vitamin B-12, folic acid and homocysteine were compared between two groups. Mean vitamin B-12 level in the febrile seizure group was significantly lower than the control group. The febrile seizure patients with 3 or more had significantly lower serum folic acid than the subgroups with two or one episode only. Serum concentrations of folic acid were significantly lower in the febrile seizure subgroup with body temperature 37.5-39.0 degrees C at time of convulsion. Low serum vitamin B-12 may reduce a child's threshold for seizure and may be a risk factor for febrile seizure. Low serum folic acid level may be predisposed to recurrent febrile seizure.