The constriction of vessels due to atherosclerotic lesions causes hypoxia/ischemia and oxidative changes resulting in transformation of free albumin to ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in the circulation and increased carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). We investigated the reliability of IMA increase in evaluating atherosclerosis in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) compared with cIMT. Patients with FMF (n = 58) diagnosed by the Tel-Hashomer criteria in attack-free period and 38 healthy people were included in the study. Patient demographics as well as the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the healthy controls and patients with FMF were noted. The IMA levels and cIMT in patients with FMF were 0.30 ± 0.09 absorbance units (ABSUs) and 1.12 ± 0.27 mm, respectively, and in the control group, IMA levels and cIMT were 0.25 ± 0.07 ABSU and 0.74 ± 0.26 mm, respectively. The IMA levels and cIMT were significantly higher in patients with FMF than in controls (P= .020 andP< .0001, respectively). The IMA values showed positive correlation with cIMT in patients with FMF(r= .302,P= .041). Our results reveal that IMA--an oxidative stress marker--may be an indicator of atherosclerosis in patients with FMF. This finding deserves further investigation.

Background/aim: Albumin is the most important protein synthesized by the liver. Posttranscriptional changes occur in the molecular structure of albumin due to various factors and isoforms arise. Ischemic modified albumin (IMA) is one such isoform. This study was conducted to evaluate serum IMA concentrations in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related chronic liver diseases. Materials and methods:This study included 74 treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients, 25 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis, and 49 healthy controls. Serum IMA concentration was measured spectrophotometrically using the albumin cobalt binding test. Results:The mean IMA concentrations in the chronic hepatitis B group and healthy controls were 0.33 ± 0.11 ABSU and 0.27 ± 0.70 ABSU, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Mean IMA/albumin ratios (IMAR) in the chronic hepatitis B and control groups were 0.08 ± 0.04 and 0.06 ± 0.17, respectively, and the difference was also statistically significant (P < 0.001). Higher serum IMA concentrations and IMAR were detected in patients with advanced fibrosis. Conclusion:Serum IMA concentration and IMAR are increased in patients with HBV-related chronic liver diseases and IMA and IMAR are associated with the degree of liver fibrosis. IMA and IMAR may have potential use as noninvasive markers of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: Vasopressin exerts robust influences on social communication and behavior in humans. Apelin is a relatively novel neuropeptide that could counteract vasopressin's actions and has been shown to be closely related with a broad range of physiological functions. Abnormalities in vasopressin and apelin have been detected in a variety of psychiatric disorders, but their relation to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is unknown. In the present study, we explored the plasma levels of vasopressin and apelin-13 in children with ADHD.Methods: Thirty-four children with ADHD and 36 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed via Conners' Parent Rating Scale and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Plasma levels of vasopressin and apelin-13 were measured using commercial enzymelinked immunosorbent assay kits. Results:The mean plasma apelin-13 levels were significantly higher in male children with ADHD than in male control subjects; no significant difference was found between the groups for plasma apelin-13 levels in girls or in the entire subject cohort. Plasma vasopressin levels did not show any significant differences between groups. There were no significant correlations between plasma levels of these neuropeptides and scores for Conners' Parent Rating Scale and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. Conclusion:Our results suggest a sex-specific association between plasma apelin-13 levels and ADHD. Apelin-13 may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of ADHD either with a direct impact on the apelin receptor or via its opposing effect on the vasopressinergic system. Key words: apelin-13, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, children, plasma, vasopressin.A TTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISOR-DER (ADHD) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that can persist into adulthood with deleterious effects on social, academic, and behavioral outcomes.1 The etiology of ADHD involves complex interactions of neuroanatomical and neurochemical systems, but the precise neurobiological mechanisms underlying the disorder are currently unclear. Understanding the etiopathogenesis of ADHD would aid in both its diagnosis and in the development of new treatments for this complex disorder.The vasopressinergic system in the brain participates in the modulation of social behaviors, including social communication, parental care, parent-offspring bonding, pair-bonding, and sexual behavior.2 Because social deficiencies are core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), in recent years, a growing number of studies have investigated the potential relation between the vasopressinergic system and ASD. [3][4][5] These studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the alteration of blood vasopressin concentrations

This study puts forth the state of intolerance against Muslim women wearing hijab in Turkey especially focusing on 'the process of February, 28' and establishes its significant effects on women with hijab and its development till today. Wearing hijab especially in public space has been a big problem in Turkey for the religious people in society. Although the positive developments in Turkish politics in 2008 and in 2013 which provided hijab liberty, today still Islamophobia is manifested clearly with concealed and revealed signs by the Islamophobic print media in Turkey. In this qualitative study 10 Turkish women with hijab who experienced 'the period of 28 th February' and the process after it were interviewed and the women were reached by snowball method. It can be said obviously the period of 28 th Feb was a trauma on women causing depression, lack of self-confidence, lack of trust towards people, anxiety, OCD. Some of these women had to have therapies and medicine. Some overcame with the issue with religious practices. The participants who had to study university abroad started to seek justice with the motivation of seeking for human rights and in this sense orientation to west started. While it was being expected to see that

The purpose of this study was to evaluate insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function and islet-cell-directed autoimmunity in pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 21 women with normal glucose tolerance and 21 women with GDM were evaluated at 24-36 weeks' gestation. Insulin resistance and beta-cell function were evaluated using the continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA) method, which aims to give a near-physiological stimulus and to evaluate the endogenous insulin and glucose response. Islet-cell autoantibody was positive in one woman with GDM, and glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies were negative in both groups. The calculated CIGMA insulin resistance (CIGMA IR) was 2.04 +/- 1.74 and 1.08 +/- 1.22 in patients with GDM and in control subjects, respectively (p < 0.05). CIGMA percentage beta-cell values were 64.04 +/- 44.55% and 87.07 +/- 52.77% in patients with GDM and control subjects, respectively (p > 0.05). Decreased insulin sensitivity in late pregnancy was more evident in lean GDM subjects with mild hyperglycemia who did not require insulin therapy, and beta-cell function was partially preserved in this group of patients.