Association of plasma GDF-9 or GDF-15 levels with bone parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome.

We aimed to determine plasma levels of growth and differentiation factor (GDF)-9 and GDF-15, and their possible association with bone turnover parameters and bone mineral density (BMD), in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Forty-two obese PCOS women aged 25-35 years, 23 women with idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and 20 healthy controls matched for age and body mass index were enrolled. Anthropometric, metabolic and hormonal patterns, plasma GDF-9 and GDF-15 concentrations, bone turnover markers and BMD were measured. No significant differences were observed in bone turnover markers, BMD measurements, plasma GDF-9 and GDF-15 levels in subjects with PCOS compared with the other two groups. In the combined population of all three groups, GDF-15 concentrations were negatively correlated with osteocalcin (r = -0.317, p < 0.01). Analysis of PCOS patients showed a significant correlation of GDF-15 concentrations with age and homeostasis model assessment index (r = 0.319, p < 0.05, and r = 0.312, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, GDF-15 concentrations were negatively correlated with osteocalcin (r = -0.395, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with urine deoxypyridinoline (r = 0.353, p < 0.05). GDF-9 did not correlate with bone markers and BMD measurements. In conclusion, plasma GDF-9 and GDF-15 levels as well as bone turnover markers and BMD measurements in subjects with PCOS (25-35 years of age) were comparable with those either in subjects with IH or in healthy controls with similar anthropometric and metabolic profiles. GDF-15 might be a marker of a crossregulation between bone and energy metabolism.

Is there a relationship between small, dense LDL and lipoprotein--associated phospholipase A2 mass in dialysis patients?

BACKGROUND: We aimed to measure small, dense LDL (sdLDL) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) concentrations and to evaluate their relationship with other risk factors of atherosclerotic heart disease in dialysis patients. METHODS: Study group consisted of 30 peritoneal dialysis and 20 hemodialysis patients with 20 healthy control subjects. sdLDL was measured by homogeneous LDL assay after precipitation of Apo B containing lipoproteins with heparin-magnesium. Lp-PLA2 mass was measured by immunoturbidimetric assay. RESULTS: sdLDL concentrations in the samples collected before hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis treatment were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Lp-PLA2 concentrations of both pre-hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis groups were higher than control group (p < 0.05). There was not a significant correlation between sdLDL and Lp-PLA2. sdLDL concentrations are significantly decreased after a hemodialysis session. CONCLUSIONS: sdLDL and Lp-PLA2 concentrations are increased independently in the end stage renal failure patients who are receiving dialysis treatment.

Higher levels of circulating CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 in euthyroid women with autoimmune thyroiditis and recurrent spontaneous abortions.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to measure serum CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 levels in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). METHODS: Forty-one euthyroid, non-pregnant women with AIT and a history of unexplained first trimester RSA, 35 euthyroid women with AIT, and 29 healthy controls matched for age and body mass index were enrolled. Serum CXCL-9 and CXCL-11 were measured. RESULTS: Serum CXCL-9 and -11 levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001 for both) in the antibody-positive women with a history of abortions than in both control groups. Additionally, CXCL-9 levels were higher in patients with AIT without RSA than in healthy controls. No significant differences were found in CXCL-9 and -11 levels in subjects with a history of RSA in relation to the number of previous abortions. In multiple linear regression analyses, abortions were significantly related to CXCL-9 (ß-coefficient = 0.174, p < 0.001), CXCL-11 (ß-coefficient = 0.490, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher circulating levels of CXCL-9 and -11 have been shown in non-pregnant AIT patients with a history of RSA as compared to both control groups, suggesting that this subgroup produce a more dominant Th-1 cytokine profile.

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 and disease progression in renal amyloidosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important health care problem with increasing incidence. Early diagnosis, recognition and interventions to avoid the disease progression have great value. Even some risk factors for disease progression have been described; there are still some dark spots. Transforming growth factors (TGFs), particularly bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) take place in renal fibrosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between serum BMP7 levels and the progression of CKD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study has been conducted between January 2008 and December 2010. Decrease in GFR by 10%, doubling of serum creatinine and need for renal replacement therapy have been set as progression end-points. Totally 93 patients (48 female, 45 male) have been included. Baseline and end of follow-up BMP7 levels have been measured. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, 46 of 93 patients have been considered as having progressive CKD. Higher levels of serum BMP7 levels have been found to be associated in progressive kidney disease. DISCUSSION: Our results showed that BMP7 levels were higher in patients with progressive CKD, and also BMP7 to be associated with CKD progression. But this relationship was not statistically significant. In patients with progressive CKD, higher levels of proteinuria and blood pressure have been previously described. The effect of BMP7 on kidneys is not still clear, it is hypothesized that TGF-beta1 inhibition may alter renal fibrosis.

[Can mannose-binding lectin and plasma level of soluble urokinase receptor be used in diagnosis and treatment monitorization of brucellosis patients?]. / Brusellozlu Hastalarda Mannoz-Baglayan Lektin ve Plazma Çözünür Ürokinaz Reseptör Düzeyi Tani ve Tedavi Izleminde Kullanilabilir mi?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR) levels in monitoring the treatment in patients with brucellosis, by comparing their levels before and after treatment with the values obtained from healthy control group. Thirty brucellosis patients (mean age: 25.8 ± 12.2 years; 15 were male) and 28 healthy controls (mean age: 29.3 ± 12.3 years; 15 were male) were included in the study. Patients were diagnosed with brucellosis according to the characteristic clinical findings and by brucella standard tube agglutination test (SAT) titer ≥ 1/160 and/or blood culture positivity. Serum MBL (Antibodyshop, Denmark) and plasma SuPAR (Virogates, Denmark) levels were investigated with commercial ELISA kits. In our study, no statistical significance was observed between the pre-treatment (13.8 ± 13.4 ng/ml) and post-treatment (12.4 ± 13.1 ng/ml) MBL levels of the patient group and MBL levels of the control group (16.5 ± 14.8 ng/ml) (p> 0.05). Moreover, the mean SuPAR levels measured in pre-treatment and post-treatment plasma samples of the brucellosis patients was 5.1 ± 1.9 ng/ml and 2.9 ± 1.3 ng/ml, respectively, while the mean SuPAR level was 1.8 ± 0.5 ng/ml in the control group. The difference between mean SuPAR levels of patients in pre- and post-treatment samples was found statistically significant (p< 0.001). In addition SuPAR levels were significantly higher in patients before and after treatment than the control group (p> 0.001). In conclusion, plasma SuPAR level would be a useful marker for the diagnosis and treatment follow up of the patients with brucellosis.

Dexmedetomidine attenuates the hemodynamic and neuroendocrinal responses to skull-pin head-holder application during craniotomy.

We tested dexmedetomidine, an alpha2 agonist, for its ability to decrease heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and neuroendocrinal responses to skull-pin head-holder application during craniotomy. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 40 patients undergoing craniotomy with attachment of a pin head-holder were randomly assigned to one of 2 equal groups. The placebo group received saline, whereas the treatment group (DEX group) received a single bolus dose of dexmedetomidine (1 microg/kg) intravenously over 10 minutes before induction of anesthesia. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and sequential concentrations of circulating cortisol, prolactin, insulin, and blood glucose were measured. Relative to baseline and the other group, arterial blood pressure and heart rate decreased significantly after the administration of dexmedetomidine through skull pinning (P<0.05). In the placebo group, patients' heart rate and arterial blood pressure measures increased at 1 and 5 minutes after skull-pin insertion, compared with baseline and the DEX group (P<0.05). In both groups, plasma cortisol, prolactin, and blood glucose increased significantly relative to baseline after skull-pin insertion. However, the values were significantly higher in the placebo group compared with the DEX group (P<0.05). Although insulin levels were not significantly altered in the DEX group, the plasma concentrations of insulin decreased significantly after pin insertion in the placebo group. Our results suggested that, a single bolus dose of dexmedetomidine before induction of anesthesia attenuated the hemodynamic and neuroendocrinal responses to skull-pin insertion in patients undergoing craniotomy.