Istanbul University

About: Istanbul University is a education organization based out in Istanbul, Turkey. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 19050 authors who have published 38464 publications receiving 727640 citations. The organization is also known as: İstanbul Üniversitesi & University of Istanbul.

Results of interferon-alfa therapy in patients with Behçet uveitis.

Abstract: Purpose To report on the results of interferon-α 2a (IFNα) treatment in patients with Behcet uveitis unresponsive to conventional immunosuppressive therapy.

Novel homozygous p.E64D mutation in DJ1 in early onset Parkinson disease (PARK7).

Abstract: Mutations in the parkin gene have been identified as a common cause of autosomal recessive inherited Parkinson disease (PD) associated with early disease manifestation. However, based on linkage data, mutations in other genes contribute to the genetic heterogeneity of early-onset PD (EOPD). Recently, two mutations in the DJ1 gene were described as a second cause of autosomal recessive EOPD (PARK7). Analyzing the PARK7/DJ1 gene in 104 EOPD patients, we identified a third mutation, c.192G>C (p.E64D), associated with EOPD in a patient of Turkish ancestry and characterized the functional significance of this amino acid substitution. In the patient, a substantial reduction of dopamine uptake transporter (DAT) binding was found in the striatum using [18F]FP-CIT and PET, indicating a serious loss of presynaptic dopaminergic afferents. His sister, homozygous for E64D, was clinically unaffected but showed reduced dopamine uptake when compared with a clinically unaffected brother, who is heterozygous for E64D. We demonstrate by crystallography that the E64D mutation does not alter the structure of the DJ1 protein, however we observe a tendency towards decreased levels of the mutant protein when overexpressed in HEK293 or COS7 cells. Using immunocytochemistry in contrast to the homogenous nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in HEK293 cells overexpressing wild-type DJ1, about 5% of the cells expressing E64D and up to 80% of the cells expressing the recently described L166P mutation displayed a predominant nuclear localization of the mutant DJ1 protein. Hum Mutat 24:321–329, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Vitamin E has a dual effect of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats.

Abstract: Background: Increased free radical production, decreased antioxidant capacity and excessive inflammation are well-known features in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and a scavenger of hydroxyl rad icals, and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in tissues. We investigated the effects of vitamin E on inflammatory activities using an acetic acid (AA)‐ induced ulcerative colitis model in rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. Acetic acid was given to 2 groups of animals to induce colitis while the other 2 groups received saline intrarectally. One AA-induced colitis group and 1 control group received vitamin E (30 U/kg/d) intraperitoneally and the pair groups received saline. After 4 days, we evaluated colonic changes biochemically by measuring proinflammatory cytokine levels in tissue homogenates and by histopathologic examination. Results: Acetic acid caused colonic mucosal injury, whereas vitamin E administration suppressed these changes in the AA-induced colitis group ( p< 0.001). Administration of AA resulted in increased levels of tumour necrosis factor- α, interleukin-1 β, interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, and decreased levels of glu tathione and superoxide dismutase; vitamin E reversed these effects (all p< 0.001). Conclusion: Our study proposes that vitamin E is an effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and may be a promising therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis.