Serum BMP-2 and BMP-4 levels and their relationship with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the levels of bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), one of the pathways affecting bone turnover in these diseases, and to investigate their relationship with disease activity. Patients and methods: Between September 2013 and July 2015, a total of 100 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients (53 males, 48 females; median age: 40 years; range, 18 to 62 years), 58 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (25 males, 33 females; median age: 40.5 years; range, 26 to 59 years), and 102 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (55 males, 47 females; median age: 38 years; range, 18 to 55 years) were included in the study. In all groups, serum BMP-2 and BMP-4 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic data (age, sex, duration of disease) and acute phase reactants of the patients at the final visit were recorded. Disease activity was assessed through the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score C-Reactive Protein (ASDAS-CRP) for AS patients and through the Disease Activity Score-28-CRP (DAS-28-CRP) for RA patients. Results: The median BMP-2 values were found to be significantly higher in the RA group compared to the other groups and in the control group compared to the AS group (p<0.001 for both). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of median BMP-4 values (p>0.05). No significant relationship was found between serum BMP-2 and BMP-4 levels and disease activity in both AS and RA patients, while there was a weak positive correlation between erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP levels with BMP-2 level in RA patients (p=0.014, r=0.320 and p=0.029, r=0.287, respectively). Conclusion: Our study results suggest that the BMP pathway may have different dual effects in AS and RA patients depending on the underlying pathogenesis, and that local effects are more prominent than serum levels.

Assessment of resting electrocardiogram, P wave dispersion and duration in different genders applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports - results of a single centre Turkish Trial with 2093 healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The 12-lead electrocardiogram shows a broad range of abnormal patterns in trained athletes. The primary end point of this study was to investigate P wave dispersion, and P wave durations and related factors in different genders applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 2006 to 2009, a total of 2093 students - 1674 boys with a mean age of 19.8 plus or minus 1.9 years and 419 girls with a mean age of 19.1 plus or minus 1.8 years - were included in the study. All 12 leads of the resting electrocardiogram were evaluated for P wave dispersion and electrocardiogram abnormalities. Baseline parameters such as age, body weight, body height, and body mass index, as well as electrocardiogram findings such as P wave maximal duration and P wave dispersion, were significantly higher in boys than in girls. Of all the parameters tested with correlation analysis, only gender (p = 0.03) (r = 0.04), body weight (p < 0.001) (r = 0.07), body height (p = 0.004) (r = 0.06), and body mass index (p = 0.01) (p = 0.05) were correlated with P wave dispersion. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of all electrocardiogram abnormalities, P wave dispersion, and P wave maximal duration were higher in boys as compared with girls in an unselected student population applying for registration to the School of Physical Education and Sports; in addition, P wave dispersion was correlated with gender, body weight, body height, and body mass index.

The factors associated with asymptomatic carriage of Helicobacter pylori in children and their mothers living in three socio-economic settings.

The number of children infected by Helicobacter pylori is increasing worldwide. The aim of this study is to identify demographic and maternal risk factors affecting H. pylori positivity in asymptomatic children. One hundred sixty-five asymptomatic children, 75 (45%) females, and 90 (55%) males, between 2 and 12 years of age (mean 6.8 -/+ 3.0 years) were tested for the presence of H. pylori stool antigen. The ages, genders, weights, heights, and breastfeeding histories of the children were reported. Information concerning the age and education levels of the mothers, number of siblings, and family incomes was also taken. H. pylori stool antigen positivity was 30.9% (n=51) of the children and 30.4% (n=48) of their mothers. H. pylori positivity was detected in 70.6% (36) of children whose mothers were positive (P<0.001, r=0.64). Lower education level of mothers, lower family income, poor living conditions, and higher numbers of siblings were correlated with higher H. pylori positivity in children. The children living in the worst conditions and having less well educated mothers were at higher risk for H. pylori infection. The best way to decrease the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children is to educate women about how to protect themselves and their offspring from H. pylori infection.

P-wave dispersion and P-wave duration in children with stable asthma bronchiale.

OBJECTIVE: P-wave dispersion is associated with inhomogeneous and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses. The aim of this present study was to investigate the impact of P-wave dispersion in children with stable asthma. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the study group consisted of 20 children (12 boys, 8 girls) with stable asthma and mean age of 7.7 +/- 2.0 years. During the study, these patients were treated with low dose inhaled corticosteroids for at least six months. Control group consisted of 20 healthy children matched by same sex and age population. Age, weight, height, echocardiographic values, P-wave maximum duration and P-wave dispersion were compared between asthmatic and healthy children. P-wave duration was calculated in 12-leads of the surface electrocardiography. The difference between P maximum and P minimum durations was defined as P-wave dispersion. The obtained results were compared by independent samples t test and Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations for P-wave dispersion were calculated using Pearson test. RESULTS: P-wave maximum duration is slightly increased in patients with stable asthma (0.092 +/- 0.017 ms) as compared with healthy controls (0.083 +/- 0.011 ms) (p=0.07). We found significant correlation between P-wave dispersion and age (r=0.40, p=0.01), weight (r=0.41, p=0.008) and height (r=0.41, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: P-wave maximum duration is slightly increased and P-wave dispersion is correlated with age, weight and height in children with stable asthma.

The effectiveness of Watson's Caring Model on the quality of life and blood pressure of patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Nurses caring relationships with hypertensive patients can have a positive effect upon their blood pressure and may increase quality of life and prolongation of life. Hypertension affects a large number of people. It is important that those affected receive, in addition to the best available medical treatment, nursing care that best meets their needs and adds to the quality of their lives. Watson's Caring Model is one nursing approach consistent with needs of persons with hypertension, and was used in this study to guide both research and practice. AIM: To determine the effectiveness of a nurse's caring relationship according to Watson's Caring Model on the blood pressure and the quality of life of patients with hypertension. METHODS: The design of the study was a one-group pretest and post-test. The study included 52 patients with hypertension in four health care units in Erzurum, Turkey in 2000. These patients had been diagnosed with hypertension and invited to participate in a research project involving nursing care. After acceptance, patients were given questionnaires consisting of demographic characteristics; their blood pressure was measured, and a quality of life scale was administered. Each of the participating nurse researchers was prepared in the use of Watson's Theory and Model of Caring (and the 10 Carative Factors). This training formed the basis of the caring process used by the nurse researchers who then visited the patients and their families once a week for blood pressure measurement for a 3-month period. At the end of care, the quality of life scale was applied to patients, and blood pressures were measured as the post-test. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between mean scores of general well-being (t = 3.097, d.f. = 51, P = 0.003), physical symptoms and activity (t = 2.994, d.f. = 51, P = 0.004), medical interaction (t = 2.127, d.f. = 51, P = 0.035). There were also significant differences between blood pressure (systolic: t = 4.830, d.f. = 51, P = 0.000; and diastolic: t = 3.51, d.f. = 51, P = 0.001) in pre- and post-test. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a relationship between care given according to Watson's Caring model and increased quality of life of the patients with hypertension. Further, in those patients for whom the caring model was practised, there was a relationship between the Caring model and a decrease in patient's blood pressure. The Watson Caring Model is recommended as a guide to nursing patients with hypertension, as one means of decreasing blood pressure and increase in quality of life.