Browsing by Author "Türkdoǧan, M.K."

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Chronic Hepatitis Delta Virus Infection in Van Region of Eastern Turkey
(2005) Türkdoǧan, M.K.; Bozkurt, H.; Uygan, I.; Tuncer, I.; Irmak, H.; Buzgan, T.; Akdeniz, H.
Background/aims: Hepatitis delta virus infection is an important cause of liver morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Eastern Turkey, hepatitis B virus infection is the major cause of chronic liver diseases. We aimed to research the role of hepatitis delta virus infection in chronic liver diseases related to hepatitis B virus infection in the Van region of Eastern Turkey. Methods: Serological markers of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis delta virus infection [HBsAg, HbeAg, Anti-HBe and Anti- hepatitis delta virus total (IgM+IgG)] were determined by ELISA test in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Serum hepatitis B virus DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in chronic hepatitis B patients. Results: Hepatitis delta virus infection was detected in 5% (7/138) of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus carriers, in 16% (24/148) of chronic hepatitis B patients and in 45% (34/75) of cirrhotic hepatitis B virus patients, hepatitis delta virus infection showed a three-fold increase in chronic hepatitis (p<0.01) and nine-fold increase in cirrhosis (p<0.001) compared to hepatitis delta virus carriers. Also, it was three times more frequent in cirrhosis (p< 0.001) compared to chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis delta virus infection was equally distributed between sexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, whereas chronic hepatitis B virus infection alone was three times more frequent in males (p<0.001). Mean ages of hepatitis delta virus carriers, chronic hepatitis D and hepatitis delta virus cirrhosis patients were 30.7±8 (14-65), 36±13 (19-70) and 44±16 (25-55), respectively. Conclusions: The higher prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection in more severe form of hepatitis B virus infection suggests that hepatitis delta virus infection increases the severity of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in the Van region, hepatitis delta virus infection remains a second major cause of chronic liver diseases in Eastern Turkey in spite of its decreasing prevalence in Western countries and in Western Turkey.
Dietary Benzo(A)pyrene and 1,2-Benzanthracene Levels in an Endemic Upper Gastrointestinal (Oesophageal and Gastric) Cancer Region of Turkey
(2003) Türkdoǧan, M.K.; Daǧoǧlu, G.; Akman, N.; Alişarli, M.; Tuncer, I.; Uygan, I.
Background: In eastern Turkey, upper gastrointestinal (oesophageal and gastric) cancers are endemic and dietary factors play an essential role in carcinogenesis. Design: Laboratory analysis of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and 1,2-benzanthracene (BA) levels in a range of cooked foods in use in the Van region. Materials and Methods: BP and BA levels (ppb) in bread and cooked meat samples were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. An analysis of variance and the multitest were used. Results: The mean BP level was highest in bread baked in a bakery using fuel oil (3.32 ppb), followed by bread baked in an oven burning dried dung, fatty pizza cooked using a wood fire and meat roasted on a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fire (2.51, 2.37 and 2.32 ppb, respectively; p>0.05). The mean BP level in bread baked in a bakery using fuel oil was significantly higher than that in meat roasted in an oven burning dried dung, bread baked in an oven using wood fire and meat cooked using a wood fire (2.03, 1.54 and 1.39 ppb, respectively, p<0.01). Mean BA levels were highest in bread baked in an oven burning dried dung and bread baked in a bakery using fuel oil (1.06 and 1.04 ppb, respectively), followed by meat roasted using a LPG fire, fatty pizza cooked using a wood fire and meat roasted in an oven burning dried cow dung (0.91, 0.77 and 0.73 ppb, respectively, p>0.05). The mean BA levels in bread baked in an oven burning dried dung and bread baked in a bakery using fuel oil were significantly higher than those in bread baked in an oven using a wood fire and meat cooked using a wood fire (0. 55 and 0.55 ppb, respectively, p<0.01). The mean BP levels were two to three times more elevated than the mean BA levels in all food samples. Conclusions: These findings reveal the carcinogenic role of traditional foods baked or cooked using animal manure or fuel oil in the Van region because of high BP and BA levels.
Dietary Nitrate and Nitrite Levels in an Endemic Upper Gastrointestinal (Esophageal and Gastric) Cancer Region of Turkey
(2003) Türkdoǧan, M.K.; Testereci, H.; Akman, N.; Kahraman, T.; Kara, K.; Tuncer, I.; Uygan, I.
Background/aims: The aim of this study was investigate nitrate and nitrite levels in some traditional foods and drinking water in Van, an endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancer region of Eastern Turkey. Methods: Cheese with added herbs, drinking; water, bread baked by wood fire and bread baked by burning animal manure specimens collected in the Van region were analyzed by Stahr's modification method. Nitrite was reduced to nitrate by the following three reagents: hydrazine sulphate ((NH2) 2SO4), CuSO4 and NaOH. Nitrate was then determined by coupling reagent containing sulphanlyamide, phosphoric acid and N-1-naphtyl ethylendiamine dihydrochloride. Results: Nitrate and nitrite levels of all traditional foods and nitrite levels of drinking water were very significantly elevated compared to standard values (p<0.001-0.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the influence of a traditional diet rich in nitrate and nitrite is significant in the development of endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancers in the Van region of Turkey.
The Effects of Ursodeoxycholic Acid Alone and Ursodeoxycholic Acid Plus Low-Dose Acetylsalicylic Acid on Radiolucent Gallstones
(2003) Tuncer, I.; Harman, M.; Mercan, R.; Öztürk, M.; Arslan, I.; Meral, C.; Türkdoǧan, M.K.
Background/aims: Mucin, a high molecular weight glycoprotein secreted by the gallbladder and biliary duct epithelium, is a pronucleating agent in experimental and human gallstone disease. Blockage of mucin release with aspirin inhibits the formation of primary gallstones in animal models. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of ursodeoxycholic acid alone and plus low-dose aspirin on dissolution of solitary or multiple gallstones. Methods: There were three treatment groups comprising 43 patients with cholesterol gallstones: Group I (n=16, 13 females, three males) was givenursodeoxycholic acid (15 mg. kg. day) alone and Group II (n=14, 12 females, two males) was treated with aspirin (100 mg/day) in addition to ursodeoxycholic acid cholic. Group III was a control group of 13 cases (11 females, two males) who were monitored without medical treatment. Stone dissolution rates were evaluated sonographically in all patients at three month intervals during the treatment period. Results: After 12 months of treatment, stone dissolution was found in six (37.5%) of the patients in Group I and six (42.8%) of the patients in Group II. The difference in both treatment groups was significant compared to controls (p<0.05) but there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (p>0.05). Of the cases in whom dissolution was achieved, all patients had multiple gallstones except for one with a solitary stone in Group I. Gallstones were not dissolved of any subject of group III. Conclusions: The results showed that ursodeoxycholic acid cholic therapy is more effective in the dissolution of multiple gallstones than of solitary ones. Combination with aspirin did not potentiate the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid cholic.