Browsing by Author "Tutkun E."

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Evaluation of DNA Damage Using 3 Comet Assay Parameters in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Lead
(2015-05-04) Kayaalti Z.; Yavuz I.; Söylemez E.; Bacaksiz A.; Tutkun E.; Sayal A.; Söylemezoʇlu T.
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between DNA damage and blood lead levels in individuals occupationally exposed to lead. To evaluate this association, 61 workers exposed to lead were monitored in terms of DNA damage in blood lymphocytes. The levels of DNA damage were measured according to 3 comet assay parameters, including tail intensity (TI), tail moment (TM), and DNA tail (DNAt). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the lead levels and TI, TM, and DNAt (p <.01). Smoking had independent effects on DNA damage. A statistically significant difference was observed between smokers and nonsmokers in regards to DNA damage parameters (p <.05). In addition, the lead and DNA damage levels in smokers were found to be significantly higher than the levels observed in nonsmoking workers (p <.05). Our results show that exposure to lead induces genotoxic effects in peripheral lymphocytes, as measured by comet assays.
Lack of association between serum prolactin and lead exposure among battery workers
(2015-01-01) Abusoglu S.; Tutkun E.; Yilmaz O.H.; Gunduzoz M.; Bacaksiz A.; Giynas N.; Aydin E.G.; Park E.K.; Unlu A.
Objective: Serum prolactin (S-PRL) has been reported as a biomarker of early neurotoxic effect related to lead exposure. Raised S-PRL levels are generally considered to provide indirect evidence of reduced dopaminergic tuberoinfundibular (TIDA) activity. Elevated serum prolactin levels were reported due to lead-exposure. Our aim was to determine the relation between serum prolactin levels and lead-exposure. Material: Serum and whole blood samples were collected from 72 non-exposed and 35 lead-exposed male workers. Method: Blood lead was analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer. Serum prolactin levels were analyzed by immunological method. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and whole blood count were analyzed by using commercial kits. Results: Although serum prolactin levels were higher in control group compared to lead-exposed group (12.7 ± 7.5 vs. 11.8 ± 77), this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.432). Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was significantly higher in control group than lead-exposed group (p < 0.001) and reticulocyte distribution width (RDW) was significantly lower in control group than lead-exposed group (p = 0.031). Serum ALP levels were significantly higher in lead-exposed group than control group (197 ± 51 vs. 133 ± 65) (p = 0.000). According to Spearman correlation analysis, there was a significantly negative correlation between blood lead levels and MCHC (r = -0.373, p ≤ 0.001). Also, serum ALP levels were positively correlated with blood lead levels (r = 0.436, p ≤ 0.001). The correlation between blood lead levels and RDW was statistically weak (r = 0.225, p = 0.030). Conclusions: Serum prolactin level is not a diagnostic marker for determining the effect of lead-exposure.
Lymphocyte DNA damage in Turkish asphalt workers detected by the comet assay
(2014-01-02) Bacaksiz A.; Kayaalti Z.; Soylemez E.; Tutkun E.; Soylemezoglu T.
Asphalt has a highly complex structure and it contains several organic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic compounds. In this study, comet assay was used to detect the DNA damage in blood lymphocytes of 30 workers exposed to asphalt fumes and 30 nonexposed controls. This is the first report on Turkish asphalt workers investigated DNA damage using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). The DNA damage was evaluated by the percentage of DNA in the comet tail (% tail DNA) for each cell. According to our results, workers exposed to asphalt fumes had higher DNA damage than the control group (p < 0.01). The present study showed that asphalt fumes caused a significant increase in DNA damage and the comet assay is a suitable method for determining DNA damage in asphalt workers. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.