Yaman Artunç, Nihal; Yirün, Anıl; Yıldıztekin, Gizem; Erkekoğlu, Pınar; Zengin Akkuş, Pınar; İlter Bahadur, Evin; Özdemir, Gökçenur; Özmert, Elif N.

Speech delay is a common developmental concern. Environmental pollutants like phthalates, recognized as endocrine disruptors, may be a risk factor. We aimed to investigate the relationship between phthalates and speech delay. The study comprised 50 children with isolated speech delay and 40 healthy children of similar ages. Children were assessed for speech delay risk factors and phthalate exposure sources. High-pressure liquid chromatography examined plasma di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) levels. DEHP, MEHP, and DBP levels varied between study and control groups: 0.377 (0.003–1.224 µg/ml), 0.212 (0.007–1.112 µg/ml) (p = 0.033), 0.523 (0.031–2.477 µg/ml), 0.152 (0.239–2.129 µg/ml) (p < 0.001), and 0.395 (0.062–1.996 µg/ml) and 0.270 (0.006–0.528) (p = 0.004). Multiple linear regression was used to adjust phthalate levels and speech delay risk factors. DEHP levels were did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.233), whereas MEHP and DBP levels were considerably higher in the study group (p < 0.001). The statistically significant rise in plasma phthalate levels in children with speech delay implies phthalate exposure may be a risk factor, but further epidemiological research is needed.

Yeni, Yesim; Cicek, Betul; Yildirim, Serkan; Bolat, İsmail; Hacimuftuoglu, Ahmet

Therapeutic approaches based on isolated compounds derived from natural products are more common in preventing diseases involving inflammation and oxidative stress at present. S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a promising garlic-derived organosulfur compound with many positive effects in cell models and living systems. SAC has biological activity in various fields, enclosing healing in learning and memory disorders, neurotrophic effects, and antioxidant activity. In this study, we purposed to identify the neuroprotective activity of SAC toward 6-OHDA-induced cell demise in the SH-SY5Ycell line. For this purpose, 6-OHDA-induced cytotoxicity, and biochemical, and gene expression changes were evaluated in SH-SY5Y cells. SH-SY5Y cells grown in cell culture were treated with SAC 24 h before and after 6-OHDA application. Then, cell viability, antioxidant parameters, and gene expressions were measured. Finally, immunofluorescence staining analysis was performed. Our results showed that SAC increased cell viability by 144 % at 80 µg/mL with pre-incubation (2 h). It was observed that antioxidant levels were significantly increased and oxidative stress marker levels were decreased in cells exposed to 6-OHDA after pre-treatment with SAC (p<0.05). SAC supplementation also suppressed the increase in pro-inflammation levels (TNF-α/IL1/IL8) caused by 6-OHDA (p < 0.05). While 8-OHdG and Nop10 expressions were observed at a mild level in SAC pretreatment depending on the dose, 8-OHdG, and Nop10 expressions were observed at a moderate level in SAC treatment after 6-OHDA application (p<0.05). Our findings demonstrate the positive effect of pretreatment with SAC on SH-SY5Y cells injured by 6-OHDA, suggesting that SAC may be beneficial for neuroprotection in regulating oxidative stress and neuronal survival in an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease.