Asprosin, visfatin and subfatin as new biomarkers of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity are important public health problems associated with adipose tissue mass. Asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin are new members of which fate in MetS and obesity has not been fully revealed yet. Thus, this study was to investigate the association between asprosin, visfatin, subfatin, and biochemical values, demographic data, and body composition measurement values in MetS patients with and without obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were taken from a total of 90 people, including 31 MetS patients with obesity, 29 MetS patients without obesity, and 30 healthy (control). Asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin were studied by the ELISA method. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between asprosin and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the MetS + Obese group. The correlations between asprosin and urea and fasting insulin (FI) levels in the MetS group were positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05). While there was a statistically significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between visfatin and BMI in the MetS + Obese group, the correlation with waist circumference in the MetS + Obese and MetS groups was statistically significant and negative (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant negative relationship (p < 0.05) between aspartate aminotransferase value and visfatin. The results between visfatin values and asprosin and subfatin in all groups were significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a direct relationship between circulating amounts of asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin hormones and age, weight, height, diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and creatinine. Therefore, asprosin, visfatin, and subfatin hormones are the new biomarkers of metabolic turbulence.

Analysis of the alterations in porosity features of some natural stones due to thermal effect.

Three types of commercially available carbonate rocks were used in the study to determine the effect of thermal treatment in the range from 100 °C to 500 °C on porosity features in terms of two different approaches such as pore shape factor and quality index values. The ratio of the ultrasonic velocity measurements before and after water saturation was used to differentiate porosity of pores from porosity of cracks under varying temperatures. It was found that, pores in Burdur Beige and Usak White are in the form of cracks, which are situated through inner structure. On the other hand, pores in Patara Limestone are in the form of porosity with lower pore shape factor values. Quality index calculation is another approach based on the comparison of the measured and theoretical ultrasonic velocity values. When the rocks were subjected to higher temperatures, internal stress was developed, crack lengths and numbers were increased and finally the higher pore shape factor and lower quality index values were obtained. This situation was proven by the higher water absorption values for all the stone types with the higher pore shape factor and lower quality index values depend on the noticeable increase in effective porosity values.

Extragonadal germ cell tumors: clinicopathologic findings, staging and treatment experience in 14 patients.

Extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT) are a rare group of neoplasms histologically identical to testicular counterparts. Fourteen cases of primary mediastinal and retroperitoneal germ cell tumors were treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy between 1987 and 1999 in Ankara Oncology Hospital. There were 9 (64%) complete remissions (CR),one (7%) partial remission (PR) and 2 (14%) stable diseases (SD). The remaining 2 patients were lost due to dissemination of disease. The median duration of response was 19 months. Our modified chemotherapeutic results were similar to original doses of PVB and BEP but toxicity was less. The neccesity of a uniform staging system and treatment programs are discussed.