The relationship between the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Preliminary evidence suggests that a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may be an indicator of active ulcerative colitis (UC). However, it is not clear whether the NLR is a useful and simple indicator of clinical activity in UC after adjusting for the other inflammatory markers. We designed a retrospective study to evaluate the role of the NLR in estimating disease severity in UC patients. The study consisted of 71 patients with UC and 140 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (control group). The NLR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell count were measured. The NLR values of the active UC group were elevated compared with those of the patients with inactive UC and the controls (2.59 ± 1.47, 2.03 ± 1.07, and 1.98 ± 0.85, respectively; p = 0.005). The receiver operating characteristic revealed that the optimum NLR cut-off point for active UC was 2.39. A multivariable logistic analysis showed that of the parameters studied, C-reactive protein was the only parameter able to significantly discriminate active from inactive UC (B: 0.222; p = 0.017; odds ratio: 1.248; 95% confidence interval: 1.041-1.497).

Cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3) improves cognitive dysfunction and reduces inflammation in a rat fatty liver model of metabolic syndrome.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cholecalciferol on systemic inflammation and memory in the setting of fatty liver disease in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To induce the development of fatty liver disease, the rats were fed a 35% fructose solution over 8 weeks. Group I (n=6) was designated as the control group and fed with standard rat chow. Group II (n=6) was provided with, standard rat chow, and 0.3 µg/kg/day of oral cholecalciferol over a duration of 2 weeks. In addition to standard rat chow, group III (n=6) and group IV (n=6) were given 4 mL of the 35% fructose solution per day via oral gavage for 8 weeks. However, group IV was also given 0.3 µg/kg/day of oral cholecalciferol over 2 weeks. After the treatment period, passive avoidance tasks were performed by all groups. The liver and brain were harvested for subsequent biochemical and histopathologic analyses. KEY FINDINGS: The development of fatty liver extends the memory latency period of passively avoiding tasks after 1 trial. Moreover, there were increases in brain TNF-α and plasma MDA levels according to two-way analysis of variance. Cholecalciferol supplementation decreased the latency period of passively avoiding tasks in rats with hepatosteatosis, and also significantly reduced brain TNF-α and plasma MDA levels. SIGNIFICANCE: Fatty liver may contribute to the development of systemic inflammation, which affects cognition and causes deficits in memory; however, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of vitamin D may improve the cognitive function of rats with hepatosteatosis.

Decreased central corneal thickness in ankylosing spondylitis.

Central corneal thickness and dry eye tests were evaluated in a study population consisting of 68 ankylosing spondylitis patients diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria, and 61 age-matched controls without ankylosing spondylitis. A full ophthalmological evaluation was performed on each subject. All subjects were screened for age, gender, HLA-B27, tear break-up time test, Schirmer test, and duration of disease. Central corneal thickness was measured under topical anesthesia with an ultrasonic pachymeter. The mean central corneal thickness was 537.3 ± 30.6 µm, range 462-600 µm, in ankylosing spondylitis patients, whereas it was 551.7 ± 25.2 µm, range 510-620 µm, in controls (p = 0.005). The Schirmer test result was 7.3 ± 5.9 mm for the ankylosing spondylitis patients and 11.7 ± 5.8 mm for the control group (p = 0.002). Tear break-up time was 7.3 ± 3.2 s for the ankylosing spondylitis patients and 14.0 ± 4.5 s for the control group (p < 0.001). The possibility of a thinner cornea should be taken into consideration in ankylosing spondylitis. In addition, attention must be given to lower dry eye tests in surgical interventions such as photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis in ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence in hypothyroidism before and after treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction may develop in patients with clinical or subclinical thyroid hormone deficiency. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) are used for evaluating changes in cardiac autonomic functions and also used to provide risk stratification in cardiac and noncardiac diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate cardiac autonomic functions before and 6 months after thyroid replacement therapy in patients with thyroid hormone deficiency. METHODS: Forty hypothyroid patients (mean age 48 ± 13, four male) and 31 healthy controls (mean age 51 ± 12, three male) were included in the study. Twenty-four hour ambulatory electrocardiogram recordings were taken using Pathfinder Software Version V8.255 (Reynolds Medical). The time domain parameters of HRV analysis were performed using the Heart Rate Variability Software (version 4.2.0, Norav Medical Ltd, Israel). HRT parameters, Turbulence Onset (TO), and Turbulence Slope (TS) were calculated with HRT! View Version 0.60-0.1 software. RESULTS: HRV and HRT parameters were decreased in the patient group (SDNN; P < 0.001, SDANN; P < 0.009, RMSSD; P = 0.049, TO; P = 0.035, TS; P < 0.001). After 6 months of thyroid replacement therapy, there were no significant changes observed in either HRV or HRT. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothyroidism may cause cardiac autonomic dysfunction. Treating hypothyroidism with L-thyroxine therapy does not effectively restore cardiac autonomic function. HRV and HRT can be used as to help monitor cardiovascular-related risk in this population.