27 research outputs found
Effect of vildagliptin add-on treatment to metformin on plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
No full textMustafa Cakirca,1 Cumali Karatoprak,1 Mehmet Zorlu,1 Muharrem Kiskac,1 Mustafa Kanat,2 Mehmet Ali Cikrikcioglu,1 Pinar Soysal,3 Mehmet Hursitoglu,4 Ahmet Adil Camli,1 Reha Erkoc,1 Muhammad Abdul-Ghani5 1Internal Medicine Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, 2Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Istanbul Medipol University, 3Department of Geriatric Medicine, Medical Faculty, Dokuz Eylül University, 4Department of Internal Medicine, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; 5Division of Medicine – Diabetes, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA Aims: A close association has been demonstrated between increased cardiovascular risk and high asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. We planned to measure serum ADMA levels in type 2 DM patients using vildagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. Materials and methods: A total of 68 type 2 DM patients who were on metformin were enrolled in the study. Based on the glycemic levels of patients, vildagliptin was added on to treatment in 33 patients. Patients were followed for 6 months. Serum ADMA, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen levels were compared in groups of patients using metformin or metformin + vildagliptin, after 6 months. Results: Serum ADMA levels were found to be significantly lower in the group using vildagliptin compared to the group using metformin + vildagliptin (P<0.001). However, serum C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were statistically similar in the two study groups (P=0.34 and P=0.23, respectively). Conclusion: Metformin + vildagliptin treatment was observed to lower serum ADMA levels in type 2 DM patients. Our findings notwithstanding, large-scale prospective randomized controlled studies are warranted to conclude that vildagliptin provides cardiovascular protection along with diabetes regulation. Keywords: asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, vildagliptin, type 2 diabetes mellitu
Evaluation of Gas6 and sAxl levels during attacks and attack-free periods of familial Mediterranean fever
No full textAbstract
Objectives:
We aimed to assess the growth arrest specific protein 6 (Gas6) and soluble Axl (sAxl) levels in the familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients, and to investigate the correlation between the levels of these with the inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and fibrinogen.
Materials and methods:
Seventy nine FMF patients (35 in attack period and 44 in attack-free period) and 40 healthy controls were involved in the study. The levels of serum Gas6 and sAxl were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
Results:
Gas6 levels of the FMF patients with attack were significantly lower than both the attack-free patients and the healthy controls (p=0.007 and p=0.003, respectively). However, no significant difference was detected between the Gas6 levels of the attack-free patients and the healthy controls (p>0.05). sAxl levels of the FMF patients with attack were significantly lower than the healthy control (p=0.007). A positive correlation was found between the Gas6 and CRP levels of the FMF patients with attack (r=0.379, p=0.025).
Conclusions:
This study indicates that decreased serum Gas6 and sAxl levels may be associated with FMF attack period. Further studies on the role of the Gas6/Axl system in FMF are needed.</jats:sec
Serum endocan levels in women with restless legs syndrome
No full textKenan Celik,1 Mehmet A Cikrikcioglu,1 Gulistan Halac,2 Elif Kilic,3 Siddika Ayhan,3 Nihal Ozaras,4 Kemal Yildiz,5 Rabia S Yildiz,1 Mehmet Zorlu,1 Cumali Karatoprak,1 Mustafa Cakirca,1 Muharrem Kiskac1 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Neurology, 3Department of Biochemistry, 4Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Fatih, 5Department of Internal Medicine, Private Medicana International Istanbul Hospital, Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, Turkey Background: Endocan is a recently introduced marker of endothelial dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare serum endocan levels in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and control subjects in order to elucidate whether RLS is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Methods: A total of 31 drug naïve female patients with RLS and 31 age- and BMI-matched women were included in the study. Patients with pathological or physiological conditions or with a history of medication use that could potentially influence endothelial functions were excluded, as well as those with alcohol or drug abuse history. The two groups were compared with routine blood tests and serum endocan levels. Results: Patients with RLS had lower serum endocan levels than the controls (P=0.037). There was a negative bivariate correlation between RLS severity score and serum endocan levels (r=-0.406, P=0.023). While white blood cell count was significantly higher in RLS group, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, vitamin B12, transferrin saturation rate, and HDL-cholesterol were significantly lower. Creatininemia and diastolic blood pressure were also marginally insignificantly lower in RLS group. Due to the presence of differences between two groups in these variables, a linear regression analysis was performed that showed a positive association between endocan and creatininemia (β=0.310, P=0.022), and a negative association between endocan and RLS (β=-0.502, P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study seem to suggest that patients with RLS may have better endothelial functions when compared with the general population and that these patients may be better protected against atherosclerosis. Keywords: endocan, restless legs syndrome, RLS, atherosclerosis, endothelial 
Parvovirus B19 infection as a cause of acute myositis in an adult
No full textAbstractParvovirus B19 infection is often asymptomatic, but clinical expressions may include transient aplastic crisis, erythema infectiosum, non-immune hydrops fetalis, and chronic red cell aplasia. This virus has also been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune connective tissue diseases; however, we could not identify any acute adult myositis case developed after a Parvovirus B19 infection in the literature. For this reason, we would like to present a rare case of acute myositis developed after Parvovirus B19 infection. In patients presenting with symptoms of fever, rash on the legs and myositis, viral infections such as Parvovirus B19 should be kept in mind
Thorax computed tomography findings and anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G levels in polymerase chain reaction-negative probable COVID-19 cases.
No full textOBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after 6 months of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negativebut assumed to be COVID-19 positive cases to investigate the relationship between IgG levels and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings.METHODS: This was a single-center study that included patients whose PCR test results were negative at least three times using nasopharyngealswabs but had clinical findings of COVID-19 and thoracic CT findings compatible with viral pneumonia. Six months after discharge, the IgG antibodieswere analyzed. The cutoff value for negative and positive serology was defined as <1.4 (index S/C) and ≥1.4 (index S/C), respectively. In addition, thepatients were categorized according to their thoracic CT findings as high (typical) and low (atypical). Also, the patients were grouped into classes as<5% lung involvement versus ≥5% lung involvement.RESULTS: The patients’ mean age was 49.78±12.96 years. PCR was negative, but patients with COVID-19 symptoms who had SARS-CoV-2 IgGpositive were 81.9% (n=95). The antibody titer and lung involvement ≥5% were statistically significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive cases(p<0.001 and p=0.021). Age and chest CT findings were the risk factors for lung involvement (OR=1.08, p<0.001 and OR=2.19, p=0.010, respectively).CONCLUSION: This study is valuable because increasing severity (≥5%) of lung involvement appears to be associated with high and persistent IgGantibody titers. In probable cases of COVID-19, even if the PCR test is negative, high IgG titers 6 months after discharge can predict the rate of lungparenchymal involvement
SERUM OSTEOCALCIN, BONE ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE AND CATHEPSIN K LEVELS OF PATIENTS WITH POSTMENOPAUSAL RA: CORRELATION WITH DISEASE ACTIVITY AND JOINT DAMAGE
No full textObjective: To investigate serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and cathepsin K in patients with postmenopausal rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the relationship between these markers and disease activity and radiological joint damage. Material and methods: Forty six postmenopausal women diagnosed with RA according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology and 42 postmenopausal healthy women who have similar age range with the patient group were involved into the study. Disease activity was measured with Disease Activity Score (DAS 28). Furthermore, Larsen score was used to evaluate radiological damage. Results: OC and BALP levels were not different between postmenopausal patients with RA and control group (p>0.05). However, levels of cathepsin K were elevated in serum of the patients with postmenopausal RA when compared with that of the healthy control group (p0.05). Conclusions: Cathepsin K may be a valuable parameter to assess disease prognosis in postmenopausal RA
Does Cholecystectomy Increase the Esophageal Alkaline Reflux? Evaluation by Impedance-pH Technique
No full textVaccine hesitancy and refusal among parents: An international ID-IRI survey
No full textIntroduction: Although vaccines are the safest and most effective means to prevent and control infectious diseases, the increasing rate of vaccine hesitancy and refusal (VHR) has become a worldwide concern. We aimed to find opinions of parents on vaccinating their children and contribute to available literature in order to support the fight against vaccine refusal by investigating the reasons for VHR on a global scale.Methodology: In this international cross-sectional multicenter study conducted by the Infectious Diseases International Research Initiative (ID-IRI), a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was used to determine parents' attitudes towards vaccination of their children.Results: Four thousand and twenty-nine (4,029) parents were included in the study and 2,863 (78.1%) were females. The overall VHR rate of the parents was found to be 13.7%. Nineteen-point three percent (19.3%) of the parents did not fully comply with the vaccination programs. The VHR rate was higher in high-income (HI) countries. Our study has shown that parents with disabled children and immunocompromised children, with low education levels, and those who use social media networks as sources of information for childhood immunizations had higher VHR rates (p < 0.05 for all).Conclusions: Seemingly all factors leading to VHR are related to training of the community and the sources of training. Thus, it is necessary to develop strategies at a global level and provide reliable knowledge to combat VHR.Keywords: Vaccine hesitancy; parents; vaccine refusal.Copyright (c) 2022 Yakup Cag, Mohammad Emad al Madadha, Handan Ankarali, Yasemin Cag, Kubra Demir Onder, Aysegul Seremet-Keskin, Filiz Kizilates, Rok Civljak, Ghaydaa Shehata, Handan Alay, Sevil Alkan-Ceviker, Fatma Yilmaz-Karadag, Meliha Cagla-Sonmezer, Manar Ezzelarab Ramadan, Dumitru Irina Magdelena, Ljiljana Betica Radic, Jurica Arapovic, Fatma Kesmez-Can, Nagwa Mostafa El-Sayed, Oladapo Babatunde Campbell, Gulden Eser-Karlidag, Reham Khedr, Mehmet Emirhan Isik, Michael Mihailov Petrov, Roxana Cernat, Umran Erturk, Yesim Uygun-Kizmaz, Eva Huljev, Fatma Amer, Mehmet Resat Ceylan, Andrea Marino, Gulnur Kul, Tuba Damar-Cakirca, Yara Mohsen Khalaf, Arzu Cennet Isik, Olumuyiwa Elijah Ariyo, Ismail Necati Hakyemez, Rezaul Karim Ripon, Abdorrahim Afkhamzadeh, Emine Kubra Dindar-Demiray, Osasona Oluwadamilola Gideon, Maya Belitova, Mustafa Altindis, Rehab El-Sokkary, Recep Tekin, Mohammed Ahmed Garout, Joanna Zajkowska, Farhan Fazal, Muhammed Bekcibasi, Mirsada Hukic, Summiya Nizamuddin, Serkan Surme, Ricardo Fernandez, Amani El-Kholy, Nasim Akhtar, Saadia Ijaz, Andrea Cortegiani, Meliha Meric-Koc, Hakan Hasman, Agah Victor Maduka, Jehan Ali ElKholy, Sema Sari, Mumtaz Ali Khan, Yasemin Akin, Sukran Kose, Hakan Erdem.</p
Anticholinergic burden and increased excessıve daytime sleepiness in older females
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Anticholinergic burden and increased excessıve daytime sleepiness in older females
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