ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYL ARGININE LEVEL AS A CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTOR IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTHYROIDISM

Alcelik, Aytekin/0000-0002-3156-1076WOS: 000302189400003Introduction. Thyroid diseases may cause endothelial dysfunction. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in patients with thyroid dysfunction were analyzed by few studies. Aim. We aimed to compare ADMA levels in patients with hyperthyroidism in a cohort free of cardiovascular risk associates such as diabetes or chronic renal failure with further comparison with healthy control subjects. Materials and methods. The study took place in Duzce University Medical Faculty, Cardiology and Internal Medicine Department during the year 2010. The study group consisted of patients with hyperthyroidism (overt and subclinical). The patients with renal failure, diabetes and severe hypertension were excluded. Results. Mean ADMA level was 1.04 +/- 0.43 mu mol/L in the hyperthyroid group and 0.68 +/- 0.21 mu mol/L in the control group (p <= 0.001). The comparison of patients with hyperthyroidism according to the etiology (three groups as Graves', multinodular goiter and thyroiditis) did not show any significant difference. Conclusion. Asymmetric dimethylarginine increases in patients with hyperthyroidism regardless of the etiology. The increase of ADMA levels is independent of known major cardiovascular risk factors. It may reflect the possible counteraction of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in hyperthyroidism beyond the known cardiovascular risk factors

The impacts of occupational risks and their effects on work stress levels of health professional (The sample from the Southeast region of Turkey)

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the occupational risks and their effects on the work stress of the health professionals working in state hospitals in the Southeast of Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was composed of 360 health professionals of the Pazarcık, Ergani, and Şehitkamil State Hospitals between December 2014 and January 2015. The data of the study were obtained by performing the survey which was composed of questions related to the socio-demographic characteristics, factors that were thought to affect the occupational risks and job stress, as well as, the questions of the Work Stress Scale. The analyses of the data have been performed using Student’s t test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The working hours, the number of being on-duty, insomnia, and burnout in health professionals were determined to be with the highest mean scores among other stressful risks and hazards. The mean work stress level, which increases the success by creating the group-stimulus effect, was indicated as 2.4 and 2.5 for the health professionals in Pazarcık and Ergani State Hospital, respectively. However, the stress level which poses a threat for the group-health and efficiency was found to be 4.0 for the health professionals of the Şehitkamil State Hospital. CONCLUSIONS: As the exposure of the occupational risks increases in the health professionals, the work stress scores also increase (p < 0.05). The occupational risks and work stress of the health professionals in the Şehitkamil State Hospital should be evaluated in terms of occupational health and safety