Karaca, Yunus; Tatli, Ozgur; Eryigit, Umut; Aksüt, Nurhak; Sahin, Aynur; Mentese, Ahmet; Altay, Diler Us; Beslioglu, Necla; Karatas, Mevlut; Örem, Asim

Aim: The early diagnosis and treatment of patients presenting to the emergency department symptoms of stroke can significantly reduce mortality and morbidity rates associated with it. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of serum yclophilin A levels in our study group who presented to the emergency department with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: In total, 114 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke between October 2013 and October 2014 and a control group of 66 healthy volunteers were included. Cyclophilin A levels in the patient and control groups were compared. Results: The median cyclophilin A levels in the patient and control groups measured at the time of presentation were 13.47 (11.97-17.92) ng/mL and 11.54 (8.48-16.22) ng/mL, respectively. These levels were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Plasma cyclophilin A levels were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group.

Kural, Birgül Vanizor; Küçük, Nurçin; Yücesan, Fulya Balaban; Örem, Asim

Of Brassicaceous plants, kale (Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala DC) contains polyphenols, flavonoids, isoflavones and glucosinolates and so has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. Antioxidants inhibit negative effects of free radicals and may, therefore, protect tissues against oxidative damage. Oxidation of lipoproteins is a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. In the current study, the levels of total phenolic and flavonoid contents and total antioxidant capacity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of kale leaves were determined. In addition, the susceptibility of isolated lipoproteins - very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) to the Cu 2+-induced oxidation with various concentrations of metanolic and aqueous extracts was evaluated as t-lag values. Although aqueous extract had higher total antioxidant capacity, methanolic extract had higher total phenolic and flavonoid content (P<0.05). On the other hand, both extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation in both isolated VLDL and LDL. Inhibitory effect of extracts or increasing t-lag values, mainly in methanolic extract was found to be related to increasing the concentration of extracts. It was concluded that because of high antioxidant capacity and phenolic content, kale showed a protective effect on the oxidation of lipoproteins. Therefore, it may be speculated that kale consumption may play an important protective role in the cardiovascular and other related diseases resulting from imbalance of oxidant and antioxidant status.