Effects of exercise on periodontal parameters in obese women.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated an association between obesity, periodontitis, and exercise. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of regular exercise on obese women with periodontal disease, using serum, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples. A before-after study design was adopted to evaluate the effects of 12 weeks of regular exercise on obese women grouped according to periodontal status, without a control group (no exercise). The study sample comprised of 15 patients without periodontitis (NP group) and 10 patients with chronic periodontitis (CP group), from whom periodontal parameters were measured and serum, saliva, and GCF samples were collected. Body mass index (BMI), anthropometric measurements, somatotype-motoric tests, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were recorded at baseline and after exercise. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Med Calc was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After exercise, a significant decrease in BMI and a significant increase in VO2max were observed in both groups. A significant decrease in probing depth and clinical attachment loss, serum leptin, GCF tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and leptin, and a significant increase in GCF resistin were observed in the CP group. A significant decrease in serum TNF-α and leptin levels and a significant increase in serum resistin and GCF TNF-α, leptin, resistin, and adiponectin levels were observed in the NP group. Significant correlations between bleeding on probing and levels of interleukin-1ß and leptin in GCF were observed in the CP group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that regular exercise exerts different impacts with respect to clinical and biochemical aspects of periodontal and systemic conditions in obese women.

Dentists knowledge of lipid treatment of local anaesthetic systemic toxicity.

CONTEXT: : Local anesthetics (LAs) are in widespread use by dental practitioners, and erroneous administration, such as intravenously or exceeding the maximum dose, can cause the life-threatening condition of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). AIMS: The objective of the present study was evaluate the ability of dentists to recognize signs of LAST and quantify how often they have used lipids to treat LAST in dentistry patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study administered 600 questionnaires that asked about the frequency with which dentists encountered LAST and the symptoms of LAST and its treatment, especially with lipids. RESULTS: The results showed that 520 (86.66%) respondents had never seen LAST, and 404 (67.3%) had no idea about lipid treatment. In addition, 128 (21.3%) had heard about lipid treatment but had inadequate knowledge of it and 59 (9.8%) had read an article about lipid treatment, but only 9 (1.5%) knew how to use lipid treatment. Finally, 80 (13.33%) participants had seen LAST but had used a treatment other than lipids. CONCLUSION: Dentists and all facilities using LA must be aware of LAST, and knowledge of lipid treatment must be increased by education. Twenty percent lipid solutions must be kept handy in their offices by dentists.

Kidney transplant recipients with functioning grafts for more than 15 years.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the best renal replacement therapy because it significantly improves patient survival. The developments in transplantation and increasing number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have unmasked long-term complications secondary to immunosuppressive drugs and chronic renal failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty-six renal transplant recipients with grafts that have functioned more than 15 years were included in the study. This cross-sectional retrospective analysis of demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings was conducted in 3 Turkish transplantation centers. The mean age was 30.4 ± 10.2 years at the time of the transplantation. The mean time between the transplantation and the study was 19.1 ± 3.6 years. At the time of the study, mean creatinine level was 1.52 ± 0.60 mg/dL, 70.09% of the patients displayed glomerular filtration rates <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Urinary protein excretion was 0.57 ± 0.65 g/d. Hypertension and hyperlipidemia were the most common comorbid diseases. Twelve patients had diabetes and 9 cardiovascular disease. Seventeen patients had been diagnosed with skin and 5 with non-skin cancer. CONCLUSIONS: As the number of recipients with long-term functioning grafts increases, long-term complications become evident, particularly chronic renal failure. Survivors should be evaluated regularly and treated early for risk factors and complications to improve long-term graft and patient survival.

Investigation of schizophrenic patients from Istanbul, Turkey for the presence of West Nile virus.

Association of some neurotropic viruses like Borna Disease virus and Herpes virus with schizophrenia is better explained. However, the role of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in schizophrenia is not well documented. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate possible association between schizophrenia and presence of antibodies and WNV RNA in schizophrenic patients. For this, 200 blood samples from patients with schizophrenia and 200 from control groups were collected in Istanbul, Turkey. WNV RNA was not detected in any of the 200 patients and 200 controls analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. One hundred and twelve sera of schizophrenic patients and 162 of controls were analyzed for the presence of IgG antibodies to WNV by a commercial IgG-ELISA (Euroimmun, Germany). Antibodies to WNV were detected in 6 schizophrenic patients and 5 controls. ELISA positive patients had antipsychotic therapy. The difference between groups in terms of seropositivity to WNV was not statistically significant (p = 0.887, p = 0.148). Known symptoms of schizophrenia were observed in these patients, and interestingly majority had close contact to cats in the past and come from agricultural area of Turkey where potential area of mosquitoes and bird habitat. In conclusion, the results of this study show that antibodies to WNV in people do not seem to be associated with schizophrenia. However, detecting antibodies to WNV in schizophrenic patients suggests that WNV infection should be considered in endemic areas as it may play role in psychiatric diseases.

Insulin resistance and coronary flow velocity reserve in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) as a marker of endothelial dysfunction, carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) as a marker of subclinical organ damage and insulin resistance (IR) as a cardiovascular risk factor in patients with ADPKD. METHODS: Twenty-two normotensive ADPKD patients with well-preserved renal function and 19 healthy subjects were included in the study. Creatinine clearances were calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula. The homeostasis model of IR (HOMA-IR) was used to measure IR. CIMT was measured by high-resolution vascular ultrasound. CFVR was calculated as the ratio of hyperaemic to baseline diastolic peak velocities by echocardiography. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age, gender, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, CIMT and HOMA-IR were significantly increased and CFVR was significantly decreased in patients with ADPKD compared with healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of decreased CFVR, increased CIMT and increased IR suggest that cardiovascular risk is elevated even in the early stages of ADPKD.

Long-term prognostic value of coronary flow velocity reserve in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective study, we sought to investigate the long-term prognostic value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) estimates in renal transplant recipients without known coronary artery disease. METHODS: The 20 renal transplant recipients included in this study underwent CFR recordings performed by trans-thoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) and carotid IMT measured by carotid Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: During a 3-year follow-up only one patient experienced a cardiac event. The baseline CFR and carotid IMT values of the patients were 1.77 ± 0.47 and 0.67 ± 0.15 mm, respectively. After 3 years of follow-up, there were no significant differences compared with baseline measurements with regard to CFR and IMT values. CFR values at the third year of follow-up showed significant correlation with age as well as IMT at baseline and at the third year. Upon multivariate analysis, baseline carotid IMT (ß = -0.562; P = .05) was a significant independent predictor of CFR at the third year. CONCLUSION: Carotid IMT showed a greater predictive value for impaired CFR in renal transplant recipients. CFR was not an independent predictor for cardiovascular events among renal transplant recipients within the first 3 years of follow-up measurements.

Assessment of adrenal functions in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease and extrarenal manifestations may be observed in many organ systems. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis was not evaluated extensively in patients with ADPKD. We aimed to evaluate this axis in these patients. METHODS: Twenty two patients with ADPKD and 27 healthy subjects were enrolled. Basal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels and cortisol and DHEA responses to low dose short adrenocorticotropin stimulation test were assessed. Correlation analyses of these parameters with glomerular filtration rates (GFR), renal volumes and pain characteristics in patients with ADPKD were performed. RESULTS: Patients with ADPKD had higher basal cortisol levels (12.1 ± 3.4 vs. 9.6 ± 4.3 µg/dL, p=0.033), and higher basal cortisol/DHEAS ratios (0.073 ± 0.05 vs. 0.045 ± 0.02, p=0.015) compared to controls. None of the subjects had inadequate response to adrenocorticotropin stimulation. Patients with ADPKD had lower delta cortisol (absolute increase between peak and basal) levels (10.3 ± 2.8 vs. 12.6 ± 4.2 µg/dL, p=0.026) compared to controls. Subgroup analysis showed that significant differences existed only between female patients and female controls. There was no significant correlation between cortisol levels and renal volumes or GFR. A significant correlation was found only between delta cortisol and pain frequency in female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ADPKD had higher basal cortisol levels, higher basal cortisol/DHEAS ratios and lower delta cortisol levels compared to controls, indicating promptly stimulated zona fasciculata function. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to investigate possible underlying mechanisms.

Electrostatic hot spot on DNA-binding domains mediates phosphate desolvation and the pre-organization of specificity determinant side chains.

A major obstacle towards elucidating the molecular basis of transcriptional regulation is the lack of a detailed understanding of the interplay between non-specific and specific protein-DNA interactions. Based on molecular dynamics simulations of C(2)H(2) zinc fingers (ZFs) and engrailed homeodomain transcription factors (TFs), we show that each of the studied DNA-binding domains has a set of highly constrained side chains in preset configurations ready to form hydrogen bonds with the DNA backbone. Interestingly, those domains that bury their recognition helix into the major groove are found to have an electrostatic hot spot for Cl(-) ions located on the same binding cavity as the most buried DNA phosphate. The spot is characterized by three protein hydrogen bond donors, often including two basic side chains. If bound, Cl(-) ions, likely mimicking phosphates, steer side chains that end up forming specific contacts with bases into bound-like conformations. These findings are consistent with a multi-step DNA-binding mechanism in which a pre-organized set of TF side chains assist in the desolvation of phosphates into well defined sites, prompting the re-organization of specificity determining side chains into conformations suitable for the recognition of their cognate sequence.

Severe acetaminophen poisoning treated with a fractionated plasma separation and absorption system: A case report.

Acetaminophen is an analgesic drug that is frequently used in suicide attempts. In this paper, we report on a 17-year-old girl who was admitted to an emergency department 15 hours after taking acetaminophen pills in a suicide attempt. Her serum acetaminophen level was 73 mg/L on admission; she had elevated liver enzymes suggesting hepatic necrosis. She was started on N-acetyl cystein (NAC), and treated successfully with a fractionated plasma separation and absorption system.

A case of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria presenting with intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture, developing renal infarct.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and thrombosis. Thrombotic attacks are life threatening and are responsible for nearly 50% of PNH-related deaths. Compared with thrombotic events, bleeding related to thrombocytopenia in PNH is quite rare. This report describes an atypical clinical presentation with problems in the diagnosis and management of a woman who presented with a splenic infarct followed by massive intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture. She also developed a renal infarct during hospitalization after diagnosis.

Unusual presentations of scorpion envenomation.

Scorpions are nocturnal arthropods that inject their venom through the victims' skin by stingers. By the envenomation, clinical manifestations in a wide spectrum may occur, including pain at one side and death because of severe cardiopulmonary or neurological abnormalities. Sometimes the victim cannot describe the insect or does not remember even being stung after the event. We present two cases of scorpion envenomation with different and rare clinical situations with a short review of the literature.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis secondary to different etiologies (hemilaminectomy and hypothyroidism): reports of two cases.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RF) is a clinical entity characterized by the progressive proliferation of connective tissue that rarely forms a mass involving the periaortic area of the abdomen, which may be idiopathic as well as a result of an inflammatory process after aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta. This fibrotic tissue may cover both aorta and iliac arteries, reach the retroperitoneum and surrounding ureters, and cause serious obstructions and renal insufficiency in three-quarters of patients. Most of the patients are known to have atherosclerosis and local inflammation against the antigens of the plaques. A systemic autoimmune disease presenting with retroperitoneal fibrosis seems to be pronounced more frequently nowadays because of the elevated acute-phase reactant levels, positive autoantibodies, and concurrent autoimmune diseases affecting other organs in majority of the diagnosed patients. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and retroperitoneal biopsy are useful in diagnosing and assessing the full extent of the disease. Surgical interventions such as ureterolysis and aneurysm repair are frequently performed, but medical therapy including steroids and immunosuppressants is often needed because of the inflammatory and chronic-relapsing nature of the disease. In this paper, we described two cases diagnosed with RF secondary to hemilaminectomy and hypothyroidism, and we summarized the literature related to RF.

The effect of propofol as an antioxidant agent in intravenous regional anesthesia.

Intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) is a technique whereby a tourniquet is used to restrict blood flow to an exsanguinated limb. Propofol was shown to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion damage. We aimed to investigate the effect of low-dose propofol as an antioxidant in this process. Twenty-six unpremedicated adult patients (ASA I-II) were studied. The patients in the control group (Group C, n = 12) were administered 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine, while the patients in the propofol group (Group P, n = 14) were administered 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine plus 20 mg propofol for IVRA. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and paraoxonase activity were measured at 1 min before, immediately upon, and 30 min after the release of the tourniquet. Serum paraoxonase activity was observed to have a significant decreasing course in both groups (p < 0.01). In contrast, we observed a progressive increase in the serum levels of MDA in Group C (p < 0.05). However, in Group P, serum levels of MDA after the release of the tourniquet periods were significantly lower than that before the release of the tourniquet (p < 0.05). The addition of propofol (20 mg) to lidocaine for IVRA inhibits MDA levels. We conclude that the addition of propofol to lidocaine can be considered as a useful antioxidant in this type of anesthesia.