Visceral Adiposity Index Levels in Patients with Hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: To assess visceral adiposity index (VAI) as a sign of cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) in hypothyroidism patients and to compare CVD risks in overt or subclinical hypothyroidism patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight hypothyroidism patients (29 with overt and 39 with subclinical hypothyroidism) and 33 age- and gender-matched control patients were included. VAI levels were calculated with the following formula: (waist circumference (WC)/[36.58+(1.89xbody mass index (BMI))])x[(triglyceride (TG) (mmol/L)/0.81)x(1.52xhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) (mmol/L))] and (WC/[39.68+(1.88xBMI)])x[(TG (mmol/L)/1.03)x(1.31xHDL-cholesterol (mmol/L))], respectively. RESULTS: While body weight (p < 0.01), BMI (p < 0.01), TG and VAI levels (p < 0.01) were higher in hypothyroidism patients than controls, HDL-cholesterol levels were lower (p = 0.02). When patients were divided to groups as subclinical (n = 39) and overt hypothyroidism (n = 29) and compared with each other and controls (n = 33), body weight (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02, respectively), BMI (p = 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively) and TG (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively) were higher in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism groups than controls. HDL-cholesterol was lower only in the group with overt hypothyroidism than controls (p = 0.01). Although found similar to each other in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism groups, VAI levels were observed to be higher in both groups than controls (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). In correlation analysis, a positive correlation was determined between thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), BMI and VAI levels (p = 0.03 and p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the association between increased VAI levels, and metabolic syndrome and CVDs, we consider that several measures should be promptly taken to decrease these risk factors, and further studies with a larger sample size should be performed.

A New Method for the Prevention of Pre-Analytical Errors due to Hemolysis: Intensive Training.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to compare the routine training (RT) method with the intensive training (IT) method, described for the first time by our group, for preventing pre-analytical errors in induced hemolysis. METHODS: At two months, either RT or IT methods were introduced, and data collected in the second two months were compared with the initial two months to assess changes in the number of samples rejected. Working groups were formed according to the methods of training, clinics, and services. Group I contained only the emergency clinic and services. Group II included other polyclinics and services. In this study, Group I followed the IT method and Group II followed the RT method. Training and supervision were conducted during regular office hours every weekday. In this study, the percentage of errors in the different groups of the pre-analytical samples that underwent hemolysis was evaluated using the error correction ratio. The effectiveness of training in the groups was compared. RESULTS: The incidence of hemolysis in the samples showed a significant decline when the IT method was followed. The hemolysis frequency using the RT method had decreased compared to previous training. Both results were statistically significant. A further result of the study was a reduction in the incidence of the hemolysis ratio when comparing Groups I and II; the IT method was more effective than the RT method. CONCLUSIONS: The IT method is effective in preventing hemolysis-induced pre-analytical errors.

Refractive errors in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder that involves the small blood vessels, often causing widespread damage to tissues, including the eyes' optic refractive error. In patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus who have unstable blood glucose levels, refraction may be incorrect. We aimed to investigate refraction in patients who were recently diagnosed with diabetes and treated at our centre. METHODS: This prospective study was performed from February 2013 to January 2014. Patients were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus using laboratory biochemical tests and clinical examination. Venous fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels were measured along with refractive errors. Two measurements were taken: initially and after four weeks. The last difference between the initial and end refractive measurements were evaluated. RESULTS: Our patients were 100 males and 30 females who had been newly diagnosed with type II DM. The refractive and fpg levels were measured twice in all patients. The average values of the initial measurements were as follows: fpg level, 415 mg/dl; average refractive value, +2.5 D (Dioptres). The average end of period measurements were fpg, 203 mg/dl; average refractive value, +0.75 D. There is a statistically significant difference between after four weeks measurements with initially measurements of fasting plasma glucose (fpg) levels (p<0.05) and there is a statistically significant relationship between changes in fpg changes with glasses ID (p<0.05) and the disappearance of blurred vision (to be greater than 50% success rate) were statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, were detected upon all these results the absence of any age and sex effects (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Refractive error is affected in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus; therefore, plasma glucose levels should be considered in the selection of glasses.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between 5,10- methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a sample of Turkish children. STUDY DESIGN: MTHFR gene polymorphisms were assessed in 40 patients with ADHD and 30 healty controls. Two mutations in the MTHFR gene were investigated using polymerase chain reactions and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. RESULTS: Although there were no statistically significant differences in genotype distributions of the C677T alleles between the ADHD and the control groups (p=0,678) but the genotypic pattern of the distributions of the A1298C alleles was different between the ADHD patients and the controls (p=0,033). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data imply a possible relationship between A1298C MTHFR polymorphisms and the ADHD.