Browsing by Author "Karabulut, Aysun Bay"

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Citation Count: 7
A comparison of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in patients with hepatitis C infection
(2002) Bayındır, Yaar; Karabulut, Aysun Bay; Sönmez, Emine; Gözükara, Engin M.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains important due to difficulties in treatment up to a chronic state. It is considered that free radicals, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense play a role in various tissue damages, just as in certain types of viral hepatitis. Since only limited data has been reported concerning oxidative stress in viral hepatitis, a comparative study was planned for patients with hepatitis C. In this study, we searched for erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in patients with HCV infection who had received and not received recombinant interferon alpha. Four groups of patients [Group 1: 15 healthy, volunteers served as a control group; Group II: 10 patients with acute HCV infection; Group III: 15 untreated patients with chronic HCV infection; and Group IV: 15 patients who completed six months of interferon therapy (9 million U/week)] were included in the study. In Group I, SOD activity (as means ± standard deviation) was 2213.29 ± 152.01 U/g Hb; in Group II, 2643.03 ± 142.44 U/g Hb; in Group III, 1135.79 ± 122.27 U/g Hb; and in Group IV, 1734.78 ± 183.72 U/g Hb. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Erythrocyte means ± standard deviation CAT levels in Group I were 252.10 ± 61.09 K/g Hb; in Group II, 253.37 ± 29.68 K/g Hb; in Group III, 291.80 ± 72.54 K/g Hb; and in Group IV 220.43 ± 36.39 K/g Hb. The difference between Groups I, II and III was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), but was for Groups III and IV (p < 0.005) In conclusion, erythrocyte SOD activity increased in acute hepatitis C patients, but decreased in chronic hepatitis C patients, and this decrease was reversed when treated with interferon.
Citation Count: 3
Effect of the treatment of brucellosis on leukocyte superoxide dismutase activity and plasma nitric oxide level
(Sage Publications Inc, 2005) Karabulut, Aysun Bay; Sönmez, Emine; Bayındır, Yaşar
Background: The mechanisms by which brucellae evade intracellular killing by polymorphonuclear leukocytes are incompletely understood. In this study we evaluated changes of leukocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and plasma total nitrite as an indicator of nitric oxide (NO) levels during brucellosis therapy. Methods: Thirty-two patients with acute brucellosis 27 patients with chronic brucellosis and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Patients with acute brucellosis were tested for leukocyte SOD activity and plasma total nitrite levels before during (21st day) and at the end (45th day) of the combined therapy of rifampicin and doxycycline. The same parameters were also investigated in chronic cases and controls. Results: The SOD activities were lower in patients with acute brucellosis before therapy compared with those 21 and 45 days after starting therapy (P < 0.001). In contrast total nitrite levels did not change significantly (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In the present study leukocyte SOD activity was found to be decreased in patients with acute brucellosis. Enzyme activity was increased by treatment finally reaching the activity of healthy controls. Using an antioxidant agent in addition to classical antimicrobial therapy for acute brucellosis might be a therapeutic approach.