Treatment of hemorrhagic gastritis by Ankaferd blood stopper versus Omeprazole: experimental randomized rat models.

BACKGROUND: Ankaferd blood stopper (ABS) is a herbal extract that enhances mucosal healing. It has therapeutic potential in the management of external hemorrhage and controlling gastrointestinal bleeding associated with various benign lesions refractory to conventional antihemorrhagic measures. The aim of this experimental study was to assess the effects of ABS on hemorrhagic lesions and compare them with omeprazole. METHODS: The study was conducted on 30 rats. Rats were divided into five groups: group A (only indomethacin), group B (ABS administration 60 min before indomethacin-induced injury), group C (ABS administration 30 min after indomethacin-induced injury), group D (omeprazole administration 60 min before indomethacin-induced injury), group E (omeprazole administration 30 min after indomethacin-induced injury). Gastric mucosal lesions were produced by indomethacin in all three groups. The effect was studied morphologically 6 h after oral administration of the drug. Subsequently, affected tissue was examined histologically. RESULTS: Based on the number and the total size of hemorrhagic lesions, the hemorrhagic lesion scores were significantly better in Group C compared to other groups (p < 0.05). The hemorrhagic lesion score of Group B was significantly better than Group D and Group A (p < 0.05). Omeprazole groups (Group D, Group E) did not show significant improvement as indicated by macroscopic scores. There was no significant difference between the groups with respect to microscopic scores. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that ABS has a potent inhibitory action on indomethacin-induced gastric bleeding and mucosal lesions and it is useful in the treatment of acute gastric mucosal lesions.

Löfgren's syndrome: an acute variant of sarcoidosis diagnosed by mediastinoscopy.

Löfgren's syndrome is an acute clinical form of sarcoidosis that is first described by Sven Löfgren as bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy together with Erythema Nodosum (EN) and accompanying arthritis/arthralgia. This syndrome has some differences in terms of treatment, prognosis and recurrence compared to sarcoidosis. In this report, we describe a 70 years old lady who admitted with multiple erythematous lesions and arthralgia of both lower extremities and she was diagnosed as Löfgren's syndrome via mediastinoscopy.

Relationship between red cell distribution width and long-term mortality in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has been reported to be a predictor of cardiac events in coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we hypothesized that RDW level on admission would be predictive of adverse outcomes in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NST-ACS). METHODS: In total, 202 patients with NST-ACS (159 males and 43 females) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on the 50th percentile of admission RDW levels. A high RDW group (n=100) was defined as those patients having RDW levels of >14.0. The relationship between RDW and primary endpoint (cardiovascular death), secondary endpoints [(reinfarction, repeat target vessel revascularization-percutaneous/surgical)], and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were assessed. The median follow-up time was 18 (13-24) months. RESULTS: The patients in the high RDW group were older (62.9 vs. 57.5, p = 0.001). Multivessel disease, low-density lipoprotein, creatinine, platelet, CK-MB, troponin I, and RDW were higher (p = 0.047, p = 0.003, p = 0.012, p = 0.012, p = 0.017, p < 0.001, respectively), and gender (male/female), ejection fraction, and hemoglobin levels were lower (p = 0.021, p = 0.04, p = 0.016, respectively) in the high RDW group. Cardiovascular death and MACE were higher in the high RDW group (16% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.01, 52% vs. 31.4%, p = 0.003, respectively). By multiple regression analysis in 202 patients, age ≥ 65 and RDW >14.0% on admission were found to be powerful independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 1.5-13.1, p = 0.005, OR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.0-8.9, p = 0.039, respectively). CONCLUSION: A high RDW level on admission is associated with increased long-term mortality in patients with NST-ACS.

Less aggressive disease in patients with primary squamous cell carcinomas of the thyroid gland and coexisting lymphocytic thyroiditis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the thyroid gland is extremely rare. Infrequently, primary SCC of the thyroid gland is accompanied by other thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Recently, studies have demonstrated that differentiated thyroid cancer with coexisting HT has a better prognosis. However, the prognosis of patients with primary SCC of the thyroid gland and coexistent HT has not been clearly identified. We compared the clinical characteristics and disease stages of patients with primary SCC with and without lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed reports of primary SCC of the thyroid gland published in the English literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified 46 papers that included 17 cases of primary SCC of the thyroid gland with LT and 77 cases of primary SCC of the thyroid gland without LT. Lymph node metastasis and local invasion rates did not differ between these two groups. Distant metastases were absent in patients with LT, and were observed in 13 (16.9%) patients without LT. A greater proportion of patients without LT had advanced stage disease (stage IV A-B-C) than patients with LT (p < 0.05). Patients with primary SCC of the thyroid gland and coexisting LT had lower tumour-node-metastasis stage and frequency of distant metastasis than those without LT. Lymphocytic infiltration in patients with SCC appears to limit tumour growth and distant metastases.

Aromatase inhibitor treatment for breast cancer: short-term effect on bone health.

AIM OF THIS STUDY: Aim of this study was to examine the effects of aromatase inhibitors (AIs), which are used in every phase of breast cancer treatment, on the bone mineral density (BMD) of patients with early-stage breast cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Menopausal female patients who were diagnosed with stages 1-3 breast cancer and who were planned for anastrazole or letrozole as adjuvant therapy were examined. After the patients' BMD was measured, 45 patients without osteoporosis were included in the study. Six months after AI therapy started, the patients' BMD was measured again. RESULTS: In this study, we tried to show that there was a statistical difference in the BMD of 45 patients before and 6 months after treatment. Among all measurements (femur and lumbar T-scores), the femur Z-score (p = 0.52) was the only score that was not statistically significant. Statistical significance (p < 0.01) was detected in comparative analysis of the other measurements. According to this analysis, a significant loss of BMD was seen even in the first six months after AI treatment was introduced. CONCLUSIONS: Female patients with breast cancer are at higher risk for bone loss and fractures than healthy women. In this study, we showed the negative effects on BMD of aromatase inhibitor therapy, one of the main contributions to osteoporosis in women with breast cancer. This study is the first to quantify the short-term effect of AI treatment on BMD in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

Pantoprazole-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are highly effective drugs for patients suffering from peptic ulcer and gastro-esophageal reflux diseases, but recent studies have indicated possible risks with the long-term use of PPIs, such as osteoporosis, fractures, increased risk of pneumonia, diarrhea, iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies. There are publications written as a case study that indicate thrombocytopenia as side effects of PPIs, but there is no study on this subject. This study aimed to investigate the development of thrombocytopenia in patients with short-term use of PPI-infusion therapy. In this study, the records of the patients were evaluated retrospectively, for the period between January 2012 and January 2013. Thirty-five patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were enrolled. Platelet counts were analyzed before treatment, and on the first, second and third day of treatment, respectively. All patients were treated with intravenous pantoprazole. Hemogram values of patients were analyzed before and after PPI infusion treatment. Platelet counts were found to decrease from the first day to the third day of treatment (249 714.29/µl, 197 314.29/µl, 193 941.18/µl, 183 500/µl, respectively). The platelet count decrease was statistically significant (p < 0.001). After cessation of infusion therapy, platelet counts began to rise on the fourth day. Three patients had severe thrombocytopenia on the third day of the treatment. (69 000/µl, 97 000/µl and 49 000/µl respectively). Platelet counts recovered after discontinuation of treatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PPIs may cause thrombocytopenia, and this result should not be ignored. In particular, patients with PPI infusion therapy should be monitored more closely.

Evaluation of liver perfusion in diabetic patients using 99mTc-sestamibi.

OBJECTIVE: The liver is an important organ for various aspects of glucose metabolism, including glucose uptake, storage, and synthesis. It is a major organ in the metabolic process with perfusion provided by both the portal vein and hepatic artery. In diabetic patients organ perfusion is reduced and this is linked to atherosclerosis, and as a result complications occur. In this study, we aimed to evaluate liver perfusion by scintigraphic methods in diabetic patients. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We retrospectively investigated 1,100 myocardial perfusion scintigraphies taken between January 2011 and December 2012 at Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University Medical Faculty Nuclear Medicine Department. A total of 66 patients who were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and had myocardial perfusion scintigraphies were included in the study. The control subjects included 127 patients without diabetes mellitus who were chosen at random. Patients with chronic liver disease were not included in the study. The values from liver regions of interest (liver-ROI) rates and heart regions of interest (heart-ROI) rates were compared between the patients and controls. RESULTS: Patients were grouped according to the presence of diabetes. In the diabetes mellitus group, the liver-ROI average was lower (p = 0.66) than in the controls. In the control group, the average liver-ROI/heart-ROI ratios were higher than the ratio in the diabetes mellitus group (p = 0.019). Multivariate variance analysis showed that the diabetes mellitus liver-ROI/heart-ROI ratio was independent of other risk factors (p = 0.003; F: 9.6). Powered by Editorial Manager(®) and ProduXion Manager(®) from Aries Systems Corporation. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that liver perfusion in diabetic patients is reduced compared with those without diabetes. Prospective studies with larger patient groups are required.

Serum H-FABP levels in patients with hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism (HT) has an increased risk for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity due to increased atherosclerosis. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is abundant in the cytosol of cardiomyocytes, and transports fatty acids into these cells. Although H-FABP has been shown to increase in several atherosclerotic and inflammatory conditions, there is no literature data indicating an alteration in other atherosclerotic processes such as HT. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH), 26 patients with overt hypothyroidism (OH), and 29 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Carotid artery intima media thickness (CIMT) was measured by high resolution B mode ultrasonography. H-FABP levels, thyroid function test, and biochemical tests of all subjects were measured. The associations between H-FABP and thyroid test and CIMT were examined with correlation and regression analysis. RESULTS: OH patients had higher H-FABP levels (mean, 6.18 ± 3.08 ng/mL) than both the SCH (mean, 3.81 ± 2.16 ng/mL) and the controls (mean, 2.12 ± 1.27 ng/mL) (P < 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively). SCH patients had increased serum H-FABP levels compared with control subjects (P < 0.01). CIMT of both OH and SCH patients was also significantly greater compared with control subjects (both of p < 0.01). H-FABP was significantly and positively correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, and CIMT, and negatively correlated with fT4 levels. The H-FABP levels retained an independent and positive association with systolic blood pressure, and a negative association with fT4 levels. CONCLUSION: Serum H-FABP levels progressively increased from the control group to the OH group. This suggests that H-FABP may be an indicator of low-level myocardial damage in HT, especially when used together with CIMT. Decreasing serum fT4 levels seem also to have an effect on H-FABP levels.

Increase in the risk of ST elevation myocardial infarction is associated with homocysteine level.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between coagulation defects and ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients without any known coronary artery risk factors and considered low risk according to the Framingham risk classification. METHODS: This study included 76 (73.6% male) STEMI patients without any known risk factors for coronary artery disease and 56 healthy controls (67.8% male) with similar characteristics. RESULTS: Factor V Leiden mutation was noted in two patients and in one control. There were no significant differences in protein C, protein S, or antithrombin 3 values between the patient and control groups (p = 0.405, p = 0.476, and p = 0.221, respectively). None of the participants had antiphospholipid syndrome, factor V deficiency, or factor VII deficiency. Plasma homocysteine level was significantly higher in the patient group (19.0 ± 3.6) µmol/L than in the control group (15.8 ± 4.2) µmol/L (p = 0.008). Homocysteine levels in both groups were higher in males without a statistically significant difference. Vitamin B12 and folate levels, which are directly related to homocysteine metabolism, did not differ significantly between groups. Correlation analysis showed that the homocysteine level was not correlated with lipid parameters, folate, or vitamin B12. CONCLUSION: Homocysteine level was significantly higher in acute MI in patients without any risk factors and were considered low risk according to the Framingham risk score. The findings support the hypothesis that homocysteine level may be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Evaluation of epicardial fat tissue thickness in patients with hyperthyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones have several effects on the cardiovascular system, and recent studies have found that thyroid disorders affect coronary intima-media thickness (CIMT) in particular. Despite increased CIMT in patients with hyperthyroidism, the extent of the relationship between CIMT and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) in those patients is unknown. Furthermore, there is no report evaluating the relationship between EFT and overt hyperthyroidism (OH) in the literature. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of EFT in predicting atherosclerosis as well as CIMT in patients with OH. METHODS: A total of 30 newly diagnosed, untreated overt hyperthyroid patients and 44 control subjects were included in the study. EFT was measured using a commercially available echocardiography machine (VIVID 7; General Electric Medical Systems, Norway) with a 2.5-MHz probe. The echo-free space between the visceral and parietal pericardium on the anterior wall of the right ventricle was diagnosed as EFT. A linear-array imaging probe of the same echocardiography probe was used to evaluate the CIMT of the right common carotid artery. RESULTS: The hyperthyroid patients had a significantly greater EFT (mean: 4.31 ± 1.12 mm) than the healthy subjects (mean: 3.11 ± 0.84 mm; p < 0.001). CIMT was also significantly greater in the hyperthyroid patients (mean: 0.62 ± 0.17 mm) than in the healthy subjects (mean: 0.50 ± 0.11 mm; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the present study shows that mean EFT and CIMT were significantly higher in OH patients, irrespective of confounding factors such as hypertension.

Platelet/lymphocyte ratio and risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is a new prognostic marker in coronary artery disease. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between PLR and in-hospital mortality in patients with ST-elevated acute myocardial infarction (AMI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study included 636 patients with ST-elevated AMI. The study population was divided into tertiles based on their admission PLR. Patients having values in the third tertile was defined as the high PLR group (n=212) and those having values in the lower 2 tertiles were defined as the low PLR group (n=424). RESULTS: Risk factors of coronary artery disease and treatments administered during the in-hospital period were similar between the groups. Male patient ratio was found to be lower in the high PLR group (73% vs. 82.8%, p=0.004). In-hospital mortality was increased in the high PLR group when compared to the low PLR group (12.7% vs. 5.9%, p=0.004). The PLR >144 was found to be an independent predictor of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.16-4.0, p=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that PLR is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in patients with ST-elevated AMI.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma concentrations in newly diagnosed hypertension patients and the metabolic effects of olmesartan.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We undertook this study to investigate the effects of olmesartan treatment on PPAR-gamma (PPAR-γ) concentrations and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components in hypertensive (HT) patients. METHODS: The study included 46 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients and 30 healthy controls. All hypertensive patients were given 40 mg of olmesartan, and they were evaluated weekly in the first month and then twice weekly during follow-up visits. At the end of 3 months, MetS components were assessed and serum PPAR-γ transcription factor concentrations were again measured. RESULTS: MetS was noted in 80.4% of HT patients. Serum PPAR-γ transcription factor concentration were significantly lower in those with HT compared with the controls (p = 0.005). PPAR-γ concentrations of controls were 1.14-fold higher than hypertensive patients. HDL levels were significantly increased after treatment (p = 0.004), triglyceride, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and LDL levels were significantly reduced (p <0.05). There was a tendency toward increased PPAR-γ concentrations after treatment, but these were not statistically significant (p = 0.154). CONCLUSIONS: Olmesartan treatment was found to generate beneficial effects on MetS parameters in HT patients but did not produce any significant increases in serum PPAR-γ transcription factor concentration.

Decrease in TSH levels after lactose restriction in Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients with lactose intolerance.

We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lactose intolerance (LI) in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT) and the effects of lactose restriction on thyroid function in these patients. Eighty-three HT patients taking L-thyroxine (LT4) were enrolled, and lactose tolerance tests were performed on all patients. Lactose intolerance was diagnosed in 75.9 % of the patients with HT. Thirty-eight patients with LI were started on a lactose-restricted diet for 8 weeks. Thirty-eight patients with LI (30 euthyroid and 8 with subclinical hypothyroidism), and 12 patients without LI were included in the final analysis. The level of TSH significantly decreased in the euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid patients with LI [from 2.06 ± 1.02 to 1.51 ±1.1 IU/mL and from 5.45 ± 0.74 to 2.25 ± 1.88 IU/mL,respectively (both P<0.05)]. However, the level of TSH in patients without LI did not change significantly over the 8 weeks (P>0.05). Lactose intolerance occurs at a high frequency in HT patients. Lactose restriction leads to decreased levels of TSH, and LI should be considered in hypothyroid patients who require increasing LT4 doses,have irregular TSH levels and are resistant to LT4 treatment.

Evaluation of epicardial fat tissue thickness in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) affects the cardiovascular system, and epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness is closely associated with cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. Despite this, the association between EFT thickness and pHPT has not been studied in a clinical setting. This study aimed to assess EFT thickness in patients with pHPT. METHODS: The study included 38 patients with pHPT and 40 healthy controls. EFT thickness, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), serum levels of parathormone (PTH) and calcium, and blood chemistry profiles were determined in all subjects. Correlation and regression analyses were performed with EFT thickness and CIMT as dependent variables and age; systolic and diastolic blood pressure; body mass index (BMI); presence of diabetes mellitus; and free plasma glucose (FPG), PTH, and serum calcium (Ca) levels as independent variables. RESULTS: Both the mean EFT thickness and the mean CIMT were significantly greater in the pHPT group than the control group (P < .001 for both). Correlation analysis showed that EFT thickness was significantly correlated with CIMT, age, systolic blood pressure, and PTH and serum Ca levels. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed that EFT thickness retained its independent and positive association with FPG and serum Ca levels. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that EFT thickness may be a useful marker of early atherosclerosis in patients with pHPT. Furthermore, the increase in EFT thickness appears to be due to hypercalcemia.