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Background Although Th2 immune activation is predominant in allergic diseases, neopterinlevels and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-1 activity (kynurenine:tryptophan ratio), which reflect Th1 immune activity, increase with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) stimulation. We investigated neopterin, tryptophan, and kynurenine levels as biomarkersof the Th1 immune system activation and changes in IDO-1 activityin children with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, as well as the relationship between these biomarkers and the total IgE level, age, and disease severity. Methods We divided 205 children (80 girls and 125 boys, four months to 17 years old) into four groups: controls, patients with asthma, patients with allergic rhinitis, and patients with atopic dermatitis. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected. Neopterin levels were determined by an enzyme immunoassay. Tryptophan and kynurenine levels were analyzed using HPLC. IDO-1 enzyme activity was calculated using tryptophan and kynurenine levels. IgE levels were measured. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Conover post-hoc method were used for statistical analysis. Results Neopterin, tryptophan, and kynurenine levels were higher and IgE levels and IDO-1 enzyme activity were lower in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis than in controls ( P <0.05). Patients with atopic dermatitis showed higher neopterin, tryptophan, and kynurenine levels, higher IDO-1 activity, and lower IgE levels thancontrols ( P <0.05). Conclusions The Th1/Th2 balance is disrupted in children with allergic diseases, concomitant with increased Th1-mediated immune response activation and reduced IgEproduction, which is promoted by Th2-type cytokines.

Summary Background: Neopterin is a pyrazino-pyrimidine compound which is used as a marker of cell-mediated immunity in a variety of diseases. It is known that neopterin levels increase in diseases where interferon-gamma (IFN-g) stimulation is present, and also as a result of deficiencies in renal function, given that the primary means of elimination of neopterin is through the kidneys. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of increased neopterin levels as a prognostic biomarker in patients with impaired renal function. Methods: A total of 90 individuals including 63 patients with chronic kidney failure (CKF) and 27 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Serum neopterin concentrations were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A Mann-Whitney U test and a Pearson Correlation Test were used in the statistical analysis, with a p value of <0.05 being considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 52.21±0.16 years in the patient group and 56.55±0.32 years in the control group. In the CKF patients, serum neopterin levels increased to a significantly greater degree than in the control group (p<0.001), while no statistically significant correlation was identified between serum neopterin levels and age (p>0.05). Conclusions: A significant increase was found in the serum neopterin levels in the CKF patients, due to both the triggering of the disease and the reduction of neopterin elimination.

In the present study, we investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the lipid profile, oxidative stress, and liver enzyme markers, and its protective activity against diabetic complications, in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzyme activities, were measured 7 weeks after the administration of STZ and atorvastatin. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), non-protein associated sulfhydryl (NP-SH), total sulfhydryl (T-SH), and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured to evaluate oxidative stress. Atorvastatin was found to inhibit ALT and AST activities and to reduce FBG levels in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Moreover, atorvastatin treatment significantly reduced lipid peroxidation in kidney, heart, and eye tissues (P < 0.001, for all), and resulted in a significant increase in NP-SH levels in brain tissues (P < 0.001). Total NO and nitrate levels increased significantly after atorvastatin treatment (P < 0.01). Our results revealed that atorvastatin has a protective effect against STZ-induced oxidative damage by reducing TBARS levels and increasing NP-SH levels, has a hepatoprotective effect by decreasing ALT and AST activities. It also shows the antihyperglycemic activity by lowering FBG levels. K E Y W O R D Satorvastatin, diabetes mellitus, lipid peroxidation, liver enzymes, streptozotocin (STZ)

BackgroundMetastasis is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Migration of tumor cells is an important stage in metastasis. Therefore, recent studies have focused on clarifying migration and migration-dependent cell functions such as angiogenesis, wound healing, and invasion.ObjectivesIn the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of acetazolamide, which is a classical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, on the cell viability, migration, and colony forming capacity of human LS174T colorectal cancer cells.MethodsThree different cell culture techniques (MTT test, wound healing and clonogenic assay) were performed in this in vitro study on colorectal cancer cells.ResultsAcetazolamide reduced the cell viability, migration and colony formation ability of cells depending on dose. There was no significant difference between the cells treated with acetazolamide with 1 µM dose and the control. However, it can be concluded that acetazolamide exerts its effect on human colorectal cancer cells at 10-1000 µM concentrations.ConclusionAcetazolamide was observed to significantly inhibit the cell viability, colony forming capacity, and migration ability in the culture medium of LS174T cells. This inhibitor effect of acetazolamide was observed to be dependent on the concentration in medium.