Browsing by Author "Türkdogan, MK"

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Epidemiological Aspects of Endemic Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers in Eastern Turkey
(H G E Update Medical Publishing S A, 2005) Türkdogan, MK; Akman, N; Tuncer, I; Uygan, I; Kösem, M; Özel, S; Memik, F
Background/Aims: The aim of our study was to present the epidemiological aspects of endemic upper gastrointestinal (esophageal and gastric) cancers in the Van region of Eastern Turkey. Methodology: The patients were diagnosed by esophagogastroscopy, biopsy and histopathological analysis. The control group consisted of 73 healthy subjects. Epidemiological characteristics (age, sex, dietary habits, educational status, life style) were evaluated by questionnaires. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed in nontumoral gastric mucosal biopsy specimens by Giemsa staining. Results: 298 esophageal Ca and 384 gastric Ca patients were diagnosed in seven years (1994-2001). Most of the patients (90%) were of rural origin. Endoscopic prevalence rate of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) Ca was the highest (1 Ca per 7 esophagogastroscopy) in the Van region compared to other parts of Turkey. Esophageal Ca were 1.5 times more common in females whereas gastric Ca were 1.6 times more common in males. Ninety per cent of esophageal cancers were epidermoid and the remaining 10% were adenocarcinomas. Ninety-seven per cent of gastric Ca were adenocarcinomas. Helicobacter pylori infection was not significantly increased in gastric Ca patients compared to controls. Conclusions: Low educational and socioeconomic status, consumption of smoked, salted, hot, fatty foods, overdrinking hot tea and well water, cigarette smoking, poor intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and poor hygienic conditions were probable culprit factors.
Heavy Metals in Soil, Vegetables and Fruits in the Endemic Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Region of Turkey
(Elsevier Science Bv, 2003) Türkdogan, MK; Kilicel, F; Kara, K; Tuncer, I; Uygan, I
The environmental exposure to heavy metals is a well-known risk factor for cancer. We investigated levels of seven different heavy metals, (Co, Cd, Pb, Zn, Mn, Ni and Cu) in soil, fruit and vegetable samples of Van region in Eastern Turkey where upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are endemic. Heavy metal contents of the samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. Four heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Co) were present in 2- to 50-fold higher concentrations whereas zinc levels were present in 40-fold lower concentrations in soil. The fruit and vegetable samples were found to contain 3.5- to 340-fold higher amounts of the six heavy metals (Co, Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni and Cu) tested. The volcanic soil, fruit and vegetable samples contain potentially carcinogenic heavy metals in such a high levels that these elements could be related to the high prevalence of upper GI cancer rates in Van region. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The Role of Antioxidant Vitamins (C and E), Selenium and Nigella Sativa in the Prevention of Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis in Rabbits
(M H Schaper Gmbh Co Kg, 2001) Türkdogan, MK; Agaoglu, Z; Yener, Z; Sekeroglu, R; Akkan, HA; Avci, ME
This experiment was carried out to investigate the role of antioxidants such as vitamin C and E, selenium and Nigella sativa (NS) on the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rabbits. It was found that superoxide dismutase (SOD) values in ail of the treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control at 12(th) week of experiment (p < 0.05), while at 6(th) week and 12(th) week of experiment glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) values in the vitamin C treated group were significantly different from the control (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, hepatocellular necrosis, degeneration and advanced fibrosis were found in the control group. Lesions were minor and only confined to midzonal regions without centrilobular necrosis and fibrosis in the NS treated animals (group B). The lesions observed in the vitamin C treated animals (group C) were similar to that of the control group. Parenchymal changes with fibrosis were less in selenium and vitamin E treated animals (group D) than in those of the control group, but more obvious than in NS group. Histopathological findings demonstrate that NS might, at least partly, be successful in the prevention of liver fibrosis in rabbits. Vitamin E plus selenium had little therapeutic effect and vitamin C seemed to be ineffective, as far as the results of this study are concerned.
The Role of Urtica Dioica and Nigella Sativa in the Prevention of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats
(Wiley, 2003) Türkdogan, MK; Ozbek, H; Yener, Z; Tuncer, I; Uygan, I; Ceylan, E
The role of Nigella sativa L. (Ranunculaceae) (NS) and Urtica dioica L. was investigated (UD) in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into five groups (I, IIA and B, IIIA and B) and CCl4 was injected biweekly to all groups. Group I (control, CCl4 only), group IIA and B (NS fixed oil and volatile oil), group IIIA and B (UD fixed oil and UD decoction extract) rats were killed at the end of week 12 and histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of liver tissues were performed. In the control group, coagulation necrosis and hydropic degeneration were marked in the periacinar regions (zone 3) associated with fibrosis in the periacinar regions and in the portal tracts. In groups IIA-B and IIIA-B (NS and UD), none of the serious histopathological findings were detected except for sparse coagulation necrosis in the periacinar regions. ASMA-positive perisinusoidal cells with myofibroblastic transformation and lysosomal enzyme activity suggesting fibrogenesis were also significantly more common in the control group than in the NS and UD groups. UD and NS seem to be significantly effective in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.