Ömer Faruk Türkoğlu's scientific contributions

Background Neurological damage from spinal cord injury (SCI) is a result of primary mechanical injury and secondary damage from oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Although genistein has been shown to have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in studies of brain injury, its effect on secondary damage in SCI has remained unknown. Objective To determine effects of genistein in a model of SCI in rats. Methods We divided 21 rats evenly into 3 groups, a control group, in which only a laminectomy was performed; a trauma group in which SCI was induced; and a genistein group in which genistein was administered subcutaneously after SCI. The rats were assessed using a Basso–Beattie and Bresnahan functional score at the 12th hour and on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days. Biochemical analyses were conducted at the same time points to determine the serum levels of catalase, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), disulfide (SS), total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulfide/total thiol (SS/TT), and native thiol/total thiol (NT/TT). Total oxidant and antioxidant capacity, and oxidative stress index were determined in spinal cord tissue obtained on the 7th day together with immunohistochemistry for cyclooxygenase-2 levels. Result Catalase activity on the 7th day was significantly ( P = 0.001) higher in the genistein-treated rats than in other groups, and IMA levels became stable earlier (3rd day) in the genistein group. SS values were significantly ( P = 0.004) lower in the genistein group. NT/TT ratio were significantly ( P = 0.049) higher in the genistein-treated rats on the 7th day. Conclusion Genistein has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and protective effects in a model of SCI in rats and warrants further study.

Objective: We aimed to investigate antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of chlorogenic acid in SCI. Method: Twenty-one rats were divided into three groups. Laminectomy was performed in group L (n = 7), spinal cord trauma was induced in group T(n=7), and spinal cord trauma was induced and chlorogenic acid treatment was started in group C(n=7). Blood samples were collected to analyze baseline values and the 12th hour, 1st day, 3rd day, and 5th day catalase, native thiol (NT), total thiol (TT), disulfide (SS), SS/TT, SS/NT, and NT/TT levels. Functional analysis with Basso-Beattie and Bresnahan scores was performed at the same time points. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidative stress, oxidative stress index, and Cox-2 were examined in the spinal cord of rats euthanized on day 7; results were statistically analyzed. Results: On day 7, catalase levels in group C were significantly higher than baseline levels, whereas those in group T were significantly lower than baseline levels; group L showed no significant difference (p = 0.008). SS values on day 7 were lower in group T than in groups C and L. Group C showed the lowest decrease in NT/TT level after trauma. On day 7, SS/TT level was high in group T but stable in groups C and L (p = 0.04). Histopathological examination revealed significantly lower Cox-2 and TAS levels in group C than in group T (p = 0.003, p = 0.017, respectively). Conclusion: In this study, SCI was primarily examined through thiol-disulfide balance, and it was demonstrated by experimental models that Chlorogenic acid has antioxidant and neuroprotective effects in SCI. Keywords: Chlorogenic acid, oxidative stress, spinal cord injury, thiol/disulfide

Purpose: The follow-up of damage and evaluation of the cell's response to damage in experimental spinal cord injuries are among the main factors. In this study, the changes of serum and tissue oxidant-antioxidant substances in two different experimental spinal cord trauma models were investigated and usability of these spinal cord trauma models were examined Material and methods: In this study, 6 Wistar rats were used in each 3 groups. Laminectomy was performed in the group A. Spinal cord injury was created with laminectomy and weight drop model in group B, and laminectomy and clip compression technique in the group C. The animals were examined functionally at the 12th hour and on the 1st day, 3rd day, 5th day and 7th day. Biochemically, oxidant-antioxidant substances were examined in the tail blood taken at the 12th hour, on the 1st, 5th and 7th days. Total antioxidant capacity (TAS), Total oxidant capacity (TOS) and OSI (oxidative stress index) were examined in the spinal tissues of the rats sacrificed on the 7th day. Results: Disulphide (SS) / Total thiol (TT), SS / Native thiol (NT) and NT / TT ratios were significantly different in group B and C compared to group A on 7th day ((p=0.018). On the 7th day, a significant difference was found between the catalase values in group C compared to groups A and B, and the most significant catalase decrease was noted in group C (p=0.012). Although IMA (ischemia modified albumin) increased at an early stage, it decreased again from the 3rd day of the injury and reached nearly normal values on the 7th day. When the C and B groups were compared, it was seen that the parameters showed more significant changes in the C group. Conclusion: In trauma models, oxidative-antioxidative markers can be used to demonstrate the severity of the damage and to follow-up the progression of the damage. Clip compression method is a more successful method for measuring oxidative-antioxidative parameters in serum and evaluating spinal cord trauma.

Objectives:Teratomas are nongernimmatomatous germ cell tumors of the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of central nervous system teratomas.Materials and Methods:Central nervous system teratomas were separated according to decades and localization using the United States National Cancer Institute [Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER)] database and demographic data were statistically analyzed retrospectively.Results:Four hundred and twenty-two patients diagnosed with teratoma were found in the SEER database. It was determined that 69% (n=293) of the patients had benign and 31% (n=129) had a malignant histological character. 87.6% (n=113/129) of malignant teratomas were detected in the first two decades. 56.7% (n=166/293) of benign teratomas were found in the first 3 decades of life. Among the lobes of the brain, teratomas are most frequently located in the frontal lobe (9.7%). The rate of teratomas in the pineal region was found to be 16.4%.Conclusion:Teratomas are frequently seen in the first two decades and approximately two-thirds of all teratomas are benign. While teratomas tend to localize from the brain lobes to the frontal lobe, the most common extra-axial localization is the pineal gland.