Cardiotrophin-1 and leptin as cardiovascular risk markers in male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Elevated cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and leptin levels are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has also been reported to increase this risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum concentrations of CT-1 and leptin in patients with OSAS and whether there is a possible association between CT-1, leptin and OSAS severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty newly diagnosed OSAS patients and thirty nonapneic snoring subjects participated in this study. Fasting serum lipid profile markers were evaluated. The measurements of serum CT-1 and leptin levels were carried out using human ELISA kits. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the serum CT-1 and leptin levels between the two groups. Serum median CT-1 levels in patient and control groups, respectively, were 19.47; 8.23 pg/ml and leptin levels were 2.07; 1.29 ng/ml (p < 0.001). In the severe patient group, serum median CT-1 level was statistically significantly higher than the median level in the mild/moderate group. There was no correlation between patients' leptin and lipid profile parameters and CT-1 concentrations were not associated with triglyceride, cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels except HDL cholesterol: CT-1 levels were positively correlated with HDL levels (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Both CT-1 and leptin were significantly elevated in the patient group. Furthermore, CT-1 and leptin were associated with OSAS and CT-1 was associated with the disease severity.

Is there clinical value in counting nucleated red blood cells and platelet indices in primary immunodeficiency disease?

Ekici-Günay N, Çakir I, Çelik T. Is there clinical value in counting nucleated red blood cells and platelet indices in primary immunodeficiency disease? Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 657-663. Infections are the most common presentation of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs). The increase of nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count is interpreted as a systemic inflammatory response. Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. The relationship of platelet indices (PIs) and disease activity have been demonstrated in various inflammatory diseases. The aims of this study was to evaluate and compare NRBC and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), PIs [mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), platelet large cell ratio (PLCR)] with a possible indirect inflammatory marker in children with PIDs. Data were recorded retrospectively from 66 PIDs patients, < 16 years of age. The relationships between peripheral NRBC, C-reactive protein (CRP) and PIs were analyzed. NRBC was positively correlated with CRP (p < 0.037), white blood cells (WBC) (p < 0.020), PLR (p < 0.044), PDW (p < 0.037) and PLCR (p < 0.001) and it was negatively correlated with platelet distribution width (PDW) (p < 0.036) in PIDs patients. A cutoff level of 0.80% NRBC, ≥15.55% PDW, ≥8.65 MPV and ≥43.67 PLR showed the best performance to predict PIDs, with 81% sensitivity, 27% specificity; 61% sensitivity, 37% specificity; 70% sensitivity, 43% specificity; 54% sensitivity, 40% specificity, respectively. Our results suggested that these indices may be used as auxillary diagnostic markers of PIDs with positive NRBC, showing more meaningful results than those known as the traditional infection markers for PIDs prediction. Elevated NRBC and MPV and low PDW are associated with infections and could be helpfull in the early diagnostic susception of PIDs. They can be used as rapidly accessible parameters for awareness of PIDs. These markers are easy to use in daily practice and without extra costs.