Backgrounds: Turmeric (Curcuma longa, Turmeric, Indian saffron) is a widely used herb in China and India. Curcumin, the most active ingredient in this plant, has been shown to have protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion damage. In our study, the effects of Curcumin on vascular endothelium in ischemia-reperfusion injury in the abdominal aorta were investigated. Methods: Fifteen Wistar-albino rats were divided into three groups as sham, control and treatment (Curcumin group). Abdominal aortic ischemia was applied to the control and Curcumin groups for 60 minutes. Curcumin was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 200 mg / kg to the Curcumin group 5 minutes before reperfusion. Afterwards, a 60-minute reperfusion period was applied to both groups. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in blood serum were measured. Aortic endothelial tissue was examined in a histopathological way and endothelial damage was scored and compared. Results: It was observed that TAC, TOS and OSI activities in blood samples were significantly decreased in sham and curcumin groups compared to the control group (p <0.05). There was no difference in vascular endothelial damage scores in Sham, curcumin and control groups (p> 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed no lesions in the curcumin and control groups. Curcumin administration reduces oxidative stress in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Conclusion: It was thought that the aortic tissue was more resistant to I / R damage due to possible perfusion differences. In future studies, the effects of Curcumin on vascular endothelium in ischemia-reperfusion injury will be understood more.

Objective: To compare plasma free amino acid (FAA) and carnitine levels in pregnant women with and without hydatidiform mole (HM). Methods: This prospective study was conducted in patients admitted to Harran University Medical Faculty Hospital Obstetrics Clinic between January and November 2018. Twenty-three pregnant women with HM, and 24 healthy pregnant women as controls were enrolled in the study. The venous blood samples were collected, and, FAA and carnitine concentrations were measured in plasma using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: The levels of alanine, arginine, and valine from the 14 amino acids examined were significantly lower in the HM group than in the healthy group (475.46 ± 103.55 µmol/L vs 556.99 ± 105.16 µmol/L, p = 0.019; 428.87 ± 138.91 µmol/L vs 547.11 ± 140.20 µmol/L, p = 0.009; and 290.96 ± 97.10 µmol/L vs 358.61 ± 75.40 µmol/L, p = 0.03; respectively). In addition, several carnitines, C8DC, C16:1, and C18, of the 27 carnitines examined were significantly higher in the HM group than in the control group (0.07 ± 0.06 µmol/L vs 0.03 ± 0.01 µmol/L, p = 0.021; 0.18 ± 0.09 µmol/L vs 0.10 ± 0.06 µmol/L, p = 0.03; and 0.07 ± 0.02 µmol/L vs 0.03 ± 0.01 µmol/L, p = 0.021; respectively). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that a decrease in some plasma FAAs and an increase in some plasma carnitine levels might be effective in the pathogenesis of HM.

Objective: Increasing evidences suggest that oxidative stress is closely related to the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis (DTDH) and total oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with HCV infection. Methods: Levels of serum total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide (DS), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI; TOS/TAS ratio) as oxidative stress markers were determined in 162 individuals, including 74 patients with HCV infection and 88 non-HCV controls. Results: The NT, TT levels and NT/TT ratio were significantly lower and DS level, DS/NT and DS/TT ratios were significantly higher in HCV group compared to the control group. The TOS and OSI values were significantly higher and the TAS level was significantly lower in the HCV group than in the control group. No significant correlations were found between oxidative stress markers and albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin levels in patients with HCV infection. A negative correlation was found only between OSI and albumin. Conclusion: These results indicate that patients with HCV infection are vulnerable to oxidative stress and have disturbed status of oxidant and antioxidant.