Browsing by Author "Dundar, Ahmet"

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Evaluation of Serum Levels of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) as Potential Biomarkers of Renal Tubular Damage in Brucellosis Patients
(Dove Medical Press Ltd, 2025) Dundar, Ahmet; Irmak, Halit; Ayhanci, Tugba; Yildiz, Songul Cetik
Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic and multisystemic disease that is widespread worldwide and can present with many different clinical conditions, ranging from asymptomatic to serious and fatal conditions. Brucellosis may be linked to renal tubular and acute kidney damage, nephrotic syndrome, and various types of nephropathies. Objective: Our research was carried out prospectively to investigate the relationship between brucellosis and various biochemical markers and particularly to investigate the role of renal tubular damage biomarkers. Methods: Demographic and biochemical data from 60 controls and 60 brucellosis patients were included in the study. Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were analyzed by. The diagnostic accuracy of KIM-1 and NGAL for brucellosis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: According to our findings, significant differences of KIM-1 and NGAL were observed between brucellosis and healthy patients. A high AUC (area under the curve) value of 0.742 (95% CI: 0.616-0.868) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.729-0.941) was observed for KIM-1 and NGAL, respectively. Conclusion: Serum levels of KIM-1 and NGAL, which are renal tubular damage markers, where higher in Brucellosis than in healthy patients. These biomarkers can contribute to the rapid and accurate diagnosis of brucellosis regarding the involvement of nephropathies and to the standardization of comprehensive diagnostic warning indicators.
Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites as Potential Biomarkers in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An ELISA-Based Prospective Study
(BMC, 2025) Dundar, Ahmet; Cetik Yildiz, Songul
ObjectivesAge-related macular degeneration (AMD), in which oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolic imbalances play a role in its pathogenesis, is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss. The kynurenine (KYN) pathway, one of the principal routes of tryptophan (TRP) metabolism, constitutes an important mechanism in retinal neurodegeneration. Based on this information, our study aimed to compare the serum TRP, KYN, kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3HK), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) and, quinolinic acid (QA) levels of AMD patients and to investigate the diagnostic values of these biomarkers.MethodsSerum samples were collected from AMD patients and control groups. TRP, KYN, KYNA, 3HK, 3HAA, and QA levels were measured using a commercial ELISA method. KYN pathway activity, KYN/TRP and, KYNA/3HK ratios were also assessed. Mann-Whitney U test, ROC analysis, Spearman correlation were applied for statistical comparisons.ResultsAccording to our results, 3HK was significantly higher in the AMD group, while TRP, KYN, QA, and KYNA/3HK ratio were higher in the control. ROC analysis revealed 3HK to be the strongest discriminatory marker. The KYNA/3HK ratio also provided significant diagnostic value. Correlation analysis revealed strong negative correlations between 3HK and KYN, QA, and especially KYNA/3HK. Conversely, strong positive correlations were found between KYN and KYNA/3HK, and between TRP, KYN, QA, and KYNA.ConclusionKYN pathway metabolites exhibit significant alterations in patients with AMD. 3HK levels and the reduction of the KYNA/3HK ratio suggest a disruption of the neurotoxic-neuroprotective balance and imply that KYN pathway dysfunction may play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD. Among the biomarkers examined, 3HK displayed the highest diagnostic performance, while the KYNA/3HK ratio emerged as an additional biological indicator. These findings indicate that 3HK and the KYNA/3HK ratio may serve as potential biomarker candidates for the early diagnosis and monitoring of AMD.