The association of body mass index values with severity and phenotype of sleep-disordered breathing.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to determine the BMI cut-off values for sleep-disordered breathing among adult population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 515 patients were evaluated retrospectively. These included demographic data, BMI, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen saturation (SaO2) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI). The BMI cutoff value for sleep-disordered breathing was determined and comparisons were made between two groups of patients (BMI ≤ 33 and BMI > 33). Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed using SPSS, version 24. RESULT: Higher BMI values were found to be correlated with diagnosis and severity of OSA and reduced sleep efficiency. Patients in the BMI > 33 group had significantly higher rates of co-morbid diseases than patients in the BMI ≤ 33 group. Patients with BMI ≤ 33 had significantly lower ODI values than patients with BMI > 33. In patients with BMI > 33, arousal index was significantly higher and SaO2 values were lower than those with BMI ≤ 33. In rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-related OSA, BMI values were higher than positional/classical OSA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with higher BMI experienced frequent nocturnal oxygen desaturation periods resulting in higher arousal indexes and decreased sleep efficiency. REM sleep-related OSA and high BMI values together may lead to increased nocturnal oxygen demand. We recommend the threshold values of BMI > 33 to be considered for screening OSA among adult population.

Inhibitor effect of paricalcitol in rat model of pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures.

Vitamin D has various systemic effects on bone metabolism, modulation of the immune system, stabilization of the cell membrane, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and various other hormones. Differing from active vitamin D, paricalcitol is a relatively safe VDR agonist due to its relatively few side effects. This study has investigated the anticonvulsant effect of paricalcitol in convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two groups: 18 for EEG recording (PTZ 35 mg/kg) and 18 for behavioral studies (PTZ 70 mg/kg). Forty-five minutes before the PTZ injection, both groups of rats were given 5 and 10 µg/kg of paricalcitol i.p., respectively. Racine convulsion scores, first myoclonic jerk time, spike percentages, and antioxidant status were evaluated in the groups. Our results showed that the Racine's Convulsion Scale (RCS) score significantly dropped in the paricalcitol-treated group, analysis of the first myoclonic jerk (FMJ) latencies demonstrated a significantly longer latency in the paricalcitol-applied group, and spike percentages at EEG recordings significantly decreased with paricalcitol. Moreover, MDA levels were lower and SOD activity were higher in the 5 µg/kg paricalcitol group compared to the saline group; these results were more prominent in 10 µg/kg paricalcitol group. Our study has demonstrated that paricalcitol has protective effects on PTZ-induced convulsions. Based on the SOD and MDA levels in our study, these effects may result from the antioxidant characteristics of paricalcitol.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation activity of Turkey in 2014: Ongoing increase in HCT rates.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation is an established treatment option with curative potential for a variety of clinical conditions. The last decade especially witnessed a remarkable increase in HCT activity in Turkey. In 2014, 696 pediatric and 2631 adult (total 3327) HCT were performed in Turkey. Corresponding transplant rates per 10 million inhabitants for autologous-HCT and allogeneic-HCT were 226 and 202, respectively. Total HCT procedures in Turkey increased 177% in the last 5 years and 791% in the last 14 years. This report focuses mainly on HCT activity of Turkey in 2014 based on the national HCT registry and presents a general picture of national HCT activity.

First hematopoietic cell transplantation in Uzbekistan: Progress through education and cooperation.

HCT rates are one of the important parameters defining developmental stage of a given country. There is a steady increase in HCT activity on both sides of Atlantic. But in certain parts of the world, HCT activities have yet to begin. Here we report the history of the establishment of the first HCT center and its preliminary activity in Tashkent-Uzbekistan through close cooperation between Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Uzbekistan Ministry of Health. As of 2014, a total of 10 multiple myeloma patients successfully underwent autologous HCT in Uzbekistan. This encouraging project may be seen as a good example for other developing countries.