Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Amaçları

  • MakaleAçık Erişim2024Scopus SJRQ2
    Evaluating STC-1 and STC-2 mRNA expressions in Schizophrenia patients with increased oxidative stress; [Évaluation des expressions d'ARNm de STC-1 et STC-2 chez des patients schizophrènes présentant un stress oxydatif accru]

    Karabulut Uzunçakmak, Sevgi; Özcan, Halil; Dirican, Ebubekir; Tavacı Özçelik, Ayşegül

    Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by cognitive impairment. Oxidative stress is associated with disease progression in patients with schizophrenia. Stanniocalcin (STC)-1 and STC-2 are two proteins commonly expressed in mammals belonging to the stanniocalcin family and they are involved in oxidative stress. The aim of this study is to investigate STC-1 and STC-2 mRNA expressions in schizophrenia patients with altered oxidative stress parameters. Methods: For this purpose, 70 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy individuals were recruited for the study. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from all participants. Glutathione (GSH) activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. STC-1 and STC-2 expressions were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reactions. Results: SOD activity levels were lower in patients than in healthy individuals (p = 0.0309), while the patients’ MDA levels were higher (p = 0.039). STC-1 and STC-2 expressions were lower in patients than in healthy individuals (p = 0.1049 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, these two genes had a positive correlation among the patients (r = 0.435, p = 0.0025). According to area under the curve (AUC) values, STC-2 (AUC = 0.8332, p < 0.0001) had better diagnostic power than STC-1 (AUC = 0.6167, p = 0.1037). Conclusions: The expression of stanniocalcins in schizophrenia was investigated here for the first time. Decreased STC-2 expression in patients with schizophrenia with increased oxidative stress parameters may guide the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms caused by oxidative stress, which may be increased in cognitive diseases such as schizophrenia, and it also has the potential to be a prognostic factor that can be used in the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2023Scopus SJRQ2
    Evaluation of IGFBP5 expression and plasma osteopontin level in COVID-19 patients

    Karabulut Uzunçakmak, Sevgi; Aksakal, Alperen; Kerget, Ferhan; Aydın, Pelin; Halıcı, Zekai

    Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) expression in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and its relationships with COVID-19 laboratory findings and plasma osteopontin (OPN) levels. Materials and methods: We enrolled 60 patients with COVID-19 and 30 healthy individuals in this study. mRNA expression of IGFBP5 was measured by RT-PCR. Plasma OPN levels were measured via the ELISA method. Results: Plasma OPN levels were higher and IGFBP5 expression levels were lower in COVID-19 patients than in the healthy individuals (p ​= ​0.0057 and p ​= ​0.0142, respectively). Critically ill patients had higher OPN and lower IGFBP5 than non-critically ill patients. Patients with affected lungs demonstrated increased OPN and decreased IGFBP5 (p ​= ​0.00032 and p ​= ​0.044, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that IGFBP5 expression and OPN levels can be used discriminate non-critically from critically ill patients (p ​= ​0.049; p ​= ​0.0016, respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that patients with a poor prognosis had increased OPN and decreased IGFBP5. High values of OPN and low values of IGFBP5 may be considered as signs of disease severity. Tissue-specific IGFBP5 expression may contribute to understanding the role of IGFBP5 in the lungs in COVID-19 cases.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
    AtıfScopus6WoS6OpenAlex6
    ScopusWeb of SciencePubMedİncele
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2023Scopus SJRQ2
    Suberosin Alleviates Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury in A Rat Model of Cecal Ligation and Puncture

    Karabulut Uzunçakmak, Sevgi; Halıcı, Zekai; Karakaya, Songül; Kutlu, Zerrin; Sağlam, Yavuz Selim; Bolat, İsmail; Aydın, Pelin; Kılıç, Ceyda Sibel

    Background/aims: Sepsis is one of the major problems encountered in intensive care units, causing organ damage and increasing mortality. Suberosin (SBR) is a type of coumarin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The goal of this study is to explore the protective effects of SBR on the lungs in a rat model of sepsis. Methods: Male Wistar rats were utilized in this study. A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was applied to induce sepsis. Rats were separated into six groups with nine animals in each group, including healthy control, SBR, CLP, and CLP + SBR (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) groups. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Histopathological changes in the lungs were investigated with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Results: MDA levels and GSH and SOD enzyme activities were negatively affected in the CLP group, but SBR treatment ameliorated these oxidative stress parameters in the SBR1-3 groups (p< 0.05). The mRNA expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were increased in the CLP group, and SBR treatment decreased those expression levels in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Organ damage and necrosis were seen in the CLP group and were alleviated in the SBR3 group. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of lung tissues demonstrated decreased TNF-α and IL-1β immunopositivity in the SBR1-3 groups (p< 0.05). Conclusions: SBR ameliorated sepsis-related lung injury in a dose-dependent manner. This compound has significant potential as a future agent in the treatment of sepsis.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
    AtıfScopus15WoS11OpenAlex15
    ScopusWeb of SciencePubMedİncele
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2022Scopus SJRQ2
    Preliminary investigation of gene expression levels of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α in SARS-Cov-2 infected patients

    Karabulut Uzunçakmak, Sevgi; Naldan, Muhammet Emin; Dirican, Ebubekir; Kerget, Ferhan; Halıcı, Zekai

    Background: Coronavirus-19 is still considered a pandemic that influences the world. Other molecular alterations should be clearer besides the increasing cytokine storm and pro-inflammatory molecules. Hypoxic conditions that induce HIF-1α lead to stimulate gene expression of STC-2 that targets PAPP-A expression. This study aimed to determine gene expression levels of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α in COVID-19 infection. We also aimed to reveal the relationship of these genes with laboratory and clinical data of COVID-19 patients. Materials and Results: We extracted RNA from peripheral blood samples of COVID-19(+) and COVID-19(−) individuals. The real-time PCR method was used to measure mRNA expression of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α. Gene expression analysis was evaluated by the 2−ΔΔCt method. PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α mRNA expressions of severe patients were higher than healthy individuals (p = 0.0451, p = 0.4466, p < 0.0001, respectively). Correlation analysis of gene expression patterns of severe patients demonstrated a positive correlation between PAPP-A and STC-2 (p < 0.0001, r = 0.8638). Conclusion: This is the first study that investigates the relation of PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α gene expression in patients with COVID-19 infection. Besides the routine laboratory findings, PAPP-A, STC-2, and HIF-1α mRNA expressions may be considered to patients’ prognosis as a sign of increased cytokines and pro-inflammatory molecules.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
    AtıfScopus6WoS6OpenAlex8
    ScopusWeb of SciencePubMedİncele
  • MakaleAçık Erişim2022Scopus SJRQ3
    Comparison of Serum Adropin Levels in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, COVID-19, and COVID-19 with Diabetes Mellitus

    Aydın, Pelin; Karabulut Uzunçakmak, Sevgi; Tör, İbrahim Hakkı; Bilen, Arzu; Özden, Ayşe

    Objective: In the present study, the relationship between a poor prognosis and adropin levels in diabetic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 was investigated by measuring serum adropin levels and levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and ferritin, which are considered prognostic factors for coronavirus disease 2019. Materials and Methods: Hundred volunteer participants treated in the Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital were included in this study. Serum adropin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relationship between serum adropin level and C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimer levels was analyzed by correlation analysis. Results: The participants’ serum adropin levels differed between the groups (P =.0007). The control group had the highest adropin levels among groups. The lowest adropin levels were in the COVID + diabetes mellitus group. Adropin levels of diabetes mellitus, COVID, and diabetes mellitus + COVID groups were significantly decreased when compared to the control (P <.05). There was a significant negative correlation between adropin and C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and ferritin. Conclusion: Adropin can be used as an auxiliary biomarker, a prognostic factor in the early management of coronavirus disease 2019 patients with diabetes mellitus. We think that our study will guide future studies conducted in this field.

    • SDG 3 · Sağlık ve Kaliteli Yaşam
    AtıfScopus9WoS10OpenAlex13TR Dizin3
    ScopusWeb of SciencePubMedTR Dizinİncele