Does endocan level increase in women with polycystic ovary syndrome? A case — control study

Objectives: To evaluate endocan levels of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to healthy women. Material and methods: A cross-sectional case-control study on 88 patients with PCOS (mean age, 22.06 ± 4.24 years; body mass index [BMI], 23.9 ± 4.74 kg/m2) and 87 age- and BMI-matched healthy women (mean age, 23.71 ± 4.42 years; BMI, 22.15 ± 3.03 kg/m2). Results: Serum endocan level was significantly higher in PCOS group than control group (540.9 ± 280.3 pg/mL vs. 355.5 ± 233.5 pg/mL, respectively; p < 0.001). The presence of polycystic ovary finding on ultrasonography or oligomenorhea did not produce significant effect on serum endocan levels (p > 0.05). In PCOS group, endocan level was negatively correlated with BMI and C-reactive protein level, and positively correlated with high density lipoprotein level (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Blood endocan level is increased in PCOS. Further studies are needed to evaluate the clinical value of blood endocan level as a marker for the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in patients with PCOS

An Analysis of Dairy Cattle Production in Southern Marmara in terms of Heat Stress

Yaz aylarındaki yüksek dış ortam sıcaklıkları, barınak iç ortam sıcaklıklarını arttırarak nemin de etkisiyle süt sığırlarının ısı stresine girmesine yol açmaktadır. Günümüzde hava sıcaklığı ve bağıl nem ilişkisine bağlı olarak geliştirilen sıcaklık nem indeksi; süt sığırları için ısı stresinin etkisini belirlemede yaygın olarak kullanılan bir yöntemdir. Isı stresine giren süt sığırlarında yem tüketimi ve buna bağlı olarak da süt verimi azalmaktadır. Güney Marmara, süt sığırı işletmeleri yönünden zengin bir bölgedir. Bölgede süt üretiminin ve büyük kapasiteli işletmelerin fazla olduğu Balıkesir, Bursa ve Çanakkale illerine ilişkin sıcaklık nem indeksi hesaplanarak ısı stresi analizi yapılmıştır. Bu illere ait 2007-2014 yıllarını kapsayan meteorolojik veriler Meteoroloji Genel Müdürlüğü’nden elde edilmiştir. Çalışmada saatlik sıcaklık ve bağıl nem ortalamalarından her il için sıcaklık bağıl nem indeksi değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Önlem alınmadığında, süt sığırlarının süt veriminde ısı stresine bağlı olarak meydana gelen azalmalar her il için ayrı ayrı değerlendirilmiş ve günlük toplam kayıpların analizi yapılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda; inek başına günlük süt kayıplarının Balıkesir, Bursa ve Çanakkale illeri için sırasıyla Haziran ayında, 0.05 kg, 1.02 kg, 0.78 kg, Temmuz ayında 0.42 kg, 2.48 kg,2.68 kg, Ağustos ayında ise 0.30 kg, 2.70 kg ve 3,07 kg olduğu belirlenmiştir. Süt veriminde en fazla kaybın bölgesel olarak Haziran ayında Bursa, Çanakkale ve Balıkesir illerinde, Temmuz ve Ağustos aylarında ise sırasıyla Çanakkale, Bursa ve Balıkesir illerinde olduğu belirlenmiştir.High outdoor-temperatures in summer months lead to the increase in indoor temperature. High indoortemperatures with high humidity, resulting heat stress in dairy cattle. Nowadays, temperature humidity index, improved based on air temperature and relative humidity relationship, is a commonly used method for determining the effect of heat stress in dairy cattle. Under the heat stress conditions, feed intake and thus milk yield of dairy cattle is reduced. Southern Marmara is a very important region for dairy cattle production. Heat stress analysis was performed for Balıkesir, Bursa, and Çanakkale, in which high milk production and large dairy cattle farms are existed. For analysis, temperature humidity index were calculated for each city. Meteorological data from 2007 to 2014 for each city were obtained from Turkish State Meteorological Service. Temperature humidity indexes for each city were calculated based on hourly average temperatures and relative humidity. On condition that no measure is taken to reduce the effects of heat stress, reductions in the milk yield of dairy cattles resulting from heat stress were evaluated separately for each city and the daily total milk losses were also analyzed. According to analysis results; daily milk losses per cow in Balıkesir, Bursa, and Çanakkale were 0.05 kg, 1.02 kg, and 0.78 kg in June; 0.42 kg, 2.48 kg, and 2.68 kg in July, and 0.30 kg, 2.70 kg, and 3.07 kg in August, respectively.Higher milk losses in June were observed in Bursa, Çanakkale, and Balıkesir, respectively. Also in July and August, higher milk losses were observed in Çanakkale, Bursa, and Balıkesir, respectively

Exercise-Induced Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia in a Patient with Isolated Left Ventricular Noncompaction

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction is a hereditary cardiomyopathy in which a variety of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias could be observed. We report a patient with exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia with left bundle branch block morphology that had characteristics of an idiopathic ventricular tachycardia who was subsequently diagnosed as left ventricular noncompaction. Successful remission of arrhythmia was ensured after the introduction of oral beta-blocker therapy

Comparison of mean platelet volume values among different causes of pulmonary hypertension

Background: Pulmonary hypertension is caused by a heterogenous group of disorders with diverse pathophysiological mechanisms, with ultimate structural changes in the pulmonary vascular bed. Platelet activation plays an important role in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension, while it is unknown whether it contributes to pathogenesis in other conditions. We aimed to investigate platelet activation in different causes of pulmonary hypertension by means of mean platelet volume measurement. Methods: A total of 67 patients with different causes of pulmonary hypertension, and 31 controls, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with pulmonary hypertension were further grouped according to underlying disease, including pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular failure, and pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. All patients and controls&#8217; past medical data, admission echocardiograms and complete blood counts were reviewed. Results: Patients with pulmonary hypertension had higher mean platelet volume levels compared to healthy controls (8.77 &#177; 1.18 vs 7.89 &#177; 0.53; p < 0.001), and statistical significance was still present when pulmonary arterial hypertension patients were not included in the pulmonary hypertension group (8.59 &#177; 1.23 vs 7.89 &#177; 0.53; p < 0.001). Among patients with pulmonary hypertension, the pulmonary arterial hypertension group and the pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular failure group had higher mean platelet volumes compared to healthy controls. Mean platelet volume did not correlate with pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusions: Our results indicate that mean platelet volume is not only elevated in pulmonary arterial hypertension, but also due to other causes of pulmonary hypertension. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 180&#8211;187

Attitude scale of individuals having mental disabilities towards sports activities (zebseytö): Validity and reliability studyZihinsel engelli bireylerin sportif etkinliklerine yönelik tutum ölçeği (zebseytö): Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması

In this research, it was aimed by university students to develop a measurement tool to measure the attitudes of individuals having mental disabilities towards sports activities in terms of validity and reliability. This study which was designed as a mixed model, was performed as two different working groups consisting of totally 376 university students (235 females, 141 males) in 2014-2015 Education year spring term. In order to test the validity of measurement tool, Exploratory Factor Analysis (AFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (DFA) were applied. As a result of AFA, a structure including 28 items and two sub-dimensions explaining 60.988% of total variance was obtained. As a result of DFA which was carried out to confirm this presented structure, sufficient fit indices were obtained. The reliability of measurement tool was investigated by Cronbach Alpha internal coefficient of consistency and test-retest method. Cronbach Alpha and test-retest method analysis provided evidence related with high-level reliability of measurement tool. In the light of these findings, it can be concluded that ZEBSEYTÖ is a data collecting tool which can do valid and reliable measurements and university students can measure the attitudes of individuals having mental disability towards sports activities via this tool. ÖzetBu araştırmada, üniversite öğrencilerinin zihinsel engelli bireylerin sportif etkinliklerine yönelik tutumlarını geçerli ve güvenilir olarak ölçebilen bir ölçme aracının geliştirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Karma (mixed) modelde desenlenen bu araştırma, 2014-2015 Eğitim-Öğretim yılı bahar döneminde toplam 376 (235 kadın, 141 erkek) üniversite öğrencisinden oluşan iki farklı çalışma grubu üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Ölçme aracının psikometrik özelliklerine kanıt sağlamak amacıyla öncelikle madde analizi uygulanmıştır. Madde analizleri kapsamında, maddelerin ayırt ediciliğini tespit etmek amacıyla düzeltilmiş madde toplam test korelasyonu incelenmiş ve toplam puan üzerinden % 27’lik alt-üst grup karşılaştırmalarına yer verilmiştir. Ölçme aracının yapı geçerliğini sınamak için Açımlayıcı Faktör Analizi (AFA) ve Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA) uygulanmıştır. AFA sonucunda toplam varyansın % 60.988’ ini açıklayan, 28 madde ve iki alt boyuttan oluşan bir yapı elde edilmiştir. Ortaya çıkan bu yapının doğrulanması amacıyla gerçekleştirilen DFA sonucunda, yeterli uyum indekslerine ulaşılmıştır. Ölçme aracının güvenirliği, Cronbach Alfa iç tutarlık katsayısı ve test-tekrar test teknikleri ile incelenmiştir. Cronbach Alfa ve test-tekrar test analizleri, ölçme aracının yüksek düzeyde güvenilir olduğuna dair kanıt sağlamıştır. Bu bulgular ışığında, ZEBSEYTÖ’ nün geçerli ve güvenilir ölçümler yapabilen bir veri toplama aracı olduğu ve üniversite öğrencilerinin zihinsel engelli bireylerin sportif etkinliklerine yönelik tutumlarını ölçebilir nitelik taşıdığı söylenebilir

An unusual presentation of pericardial cyst: Recurrent syncope in a young patient

Although pericardial cysts are generally benign structures and detected incidentally, they may be associated with life-threatening complications. We present the case of a 24 year-old man with a giant hemorrhagic pericardial cyst diagnosed after evaluation for recurrent syncope which caused compression of the right ventricle. Spontaneous hemorrhage into a pericardial cyst is an extremely rare event, and to our knowledge this is the first case in which a pericardial cyst has been shown to cause recurrent syncope. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 2: 188&#8211;191

Impaired fasting glucose is associated with increased perioperative cardiovascular event rates in patients undergoing major non-cardiothoracic surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established risk factor for perioperative cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, the impact of preoperative glucose levels on perioperative cardiovascular outcomes in patients undergoing nonemergent, major noncardiothoracic surgery is unclear.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>A total of 680 patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery were prospectively evaluated. Patients older than 18 years who underwent an elective, nonday case, open surgical procedure were enrolled. Electrocardiography and cardiac biomarkers were obtained 1 day before surgery, and on days 1, 3 and 7 after surgery. Preoperative risk factors and laboratory test results were measured and evaluated for their association with the occurrence of in-hospital perioperative cardiovascular events. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) defined as fasting plasma glucose values of 100 to 125 mg/dl; DM was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl and/or plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl or the current use of blood glucose-lowering medication, and glucose values below 100 mg/dl were considered normal. Plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in patients with perioperative cardiovascular events (n = 80, 11.8%) in comparison to those without cardiovascular events (131 ± 42.5 <it>vs </it>106.5 ± 37.5, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with IFG and DM were at 2.1- and 6.4-fold increased risk of perioperative cardiovascular events, respectively. Every 10 mg/dl increase in preoperative plasma glucose levels was related to a 11% increase for adverse perioperative cardiovascular events.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Not only DM but also IFG is associated with increased perioperative cardiovascular event rates in patients undergoing noncardiothoracic surgery.</p

Congenital absence of the pericardium: A rare cause of right ventricular dilatation and levoposition of the heart

Congenital absence of the pericardium is a rare cardiac defect with variable clinical presentations and is usually discovered incidentally. The pathology may lead to serious complications such as incarceration of cardiac tissue, myocardial ischemia, aortic dissection or valvular insufficiency. Diagnosis is not difficult so long as some tips are remembered. We present the cases of two patients with congenital absence of left pericardium

Evaluation of macular choroidal and microvascular network changes by activity scores and serum antibodies in thyroid eye patients and healthy subjects

AIM: To investigate the choroidal thickness and the microvascular network changes around the macula in thyroid eye disease (TED) patients at different stages and the relationship of those changes with risk factors, serum antibodies and the severity of TED. METHODS: A total of 85 participants were enrolled. All participants underwent ophthalmology and endocrinology examinations. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), superficial (s) and deep (d) foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, mean (m) and central (c) superficial vascular density (SVD), deep vascular density (DVD) measurements of the enrolled cases were performed with Topcon swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT)/OCT angiography (OCTA) DRI OCT Triton. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the associations between SFCT, FAZ area, SVD, DVD and the relevant factors of TED. RESULTS: Those with active TED patients had higher c-DVD and m-DVD levels (P<0.05), however there is no statistically significant difference in SFCT between active and stable TED patients. Among the serum antibodies, it was observed that s-FAZ and d-FAZ increased, c-SVD and m-SVD decreased in patients with high thyroid stimulating hormone-receptor autoantibodies (TRAB) level, whereas SFCT thickened in patients with high levels of both TRAB and human thyroglobulin (hTG). There was no significant difference in SFCT, FAZ, SVD and DVD measurement at gender, between hyperthyroid and euthyroid patients and among those with or without thyroid papillary carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The results show that both disease activation and serum antibodies differentially affect both superficial and deep retinal vascular density. It has also been shown that high serum antibody levels affect choroidal thickness independent of clinical activity