Insulin resistance and serum leptin levels in men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the insulin resistance andserum leptin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS), and to compare body mass indexes (BMI) of OSAS patients withmatched controls without OSAS.Method: Twenty eight patients having apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)?5included in the study. Thirty two healthy subjects assumed as a controlgroup. Venous blood was obtained in the fasting state for themeasurement of glucose, insulin and leptin levels. Insulin resistanceindex was based on the homeostasis model assesment method (HOMAIR).Result: There was no significant difference in the serum leptin levels(control group, 32.88±24.22 ng/ml, OSAS group, 24.93±25.84 ng/ml) and HOMA-IR (control group, 3.01±1.81, OSAS group, 2.58±1.21)between control group and OSAS patients. Insulin resistance and circulatingplasma leptin concentrations in OSAS patients were independentof the AHI and were not different from the control group.Conclusion: We concluded that insulin resistance and plasma leptinconcentrations are mostly associated with the degree of obesity andBMI. Those parameters seem not to be related with the AHI in OSASpatients

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 are not increased in dyspeptic patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis.

INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a non-invasive microorganism causing intense gastric mucosal inflammatory and immune reaction. H. pylori-induced gastric mucosal cytokine overproduction has been clearly documented previously. The stomach has a large surface area and continuous spill-over of locally produced cytokines into the blood stream is a possibility. There are few and conflicting data on circulatory proinflammatory cytokine levels in patients with H. pylori infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two dyspeptic patients were enrolled into the study. The presence of H. pylori infection was diagnosed with antral histopathologic examination. After overnight fasting; serum samples were obtained from each patient to determine circulating interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. RESULTS: H. pylori was shown in 30 cases using Giemsa stain in antral histopathologic evaluation. Twelve cases were negative for H. pylori staining. Both the age and sex distribution had an insignificant difference in both H pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative groups. The mean circulatory levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a in both groups were not different. The situation was same in respect to the serum levels of these cytokines and the degree of inflammation, H. pylori density and activation scores according to Sydney classification. CONCLUSION: We could not show elevated circulatory levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha in H. pylori-infected cases. We believe that H. pylori-related cytokine activation become concentrated on gastric mucosa and this pathogen-induced local inflammatory cascade does not cause changes in circulatory levels of these cytokines. Moreover, there is no correlation between the levels of serum cytokines and Sydney parameters

Antituberculosis drug resistance patterns in two regions of Turkey: a retrospective analysis

BACKROUND: The emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to antituberculosis agents has recently received increased attention owing largely to the dramatic outbreaks of multi drug resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB). METHODS: Patients residing in Zonguldak and Kayseri provinces of Turkey with, pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed between 1972 and 1999 were retrospectively identified. Drug susceptibility tests had been performed for isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (SM), ethambutol (EMB) and thiacetasone (TH) after isolation by using the resistance proportion method. RESULTS: Total 3718 patients were retrospectively studied. In 1972–1981, resistance rates for to SM and INH were found to be 14.8% and 9.8% respectively (n: 2172). In 1982–1991 period, resistance rates for INH, SM, RIF, EMB and TH were 14.2%, 14.4%, 10.5%, 2.7% and 2.9% (n: 683), while in 1992–1999 period 14.4%, 21.1%, 10.6%, 2.4% and 3.7% respectively (n: 863). Resistance rates were highest for SM and INH in three periods. MDR-TB patients constituted 7.3% and 6.6% of 1982–1991 and 1992–1999 periods (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the importance of resistance rates for TB. Continued surveillance and immediate therapeutic decisions should be undertaken in order to prevent the dissemination of such resistant strains

The effects of zoledronic acid treatment on depression and quality of life in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: A clinical trial study

Background: Osteoporosis affects quality of life (QoL) and may lead to depression in women. he purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of zoledronic acid (ZA) treatment on depression and QoL in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PO). Materials and Methods: A total of 88 newly diagnosed women with PO were included in this study. All patients were treated with once-yearly ZA (5 mg). A QoL questionnaire from the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and Beck Depression Inventory were given to patients at baseline and at 12 months. he results for baseline and post - 12th month were compared, and bone mineral density (BMD) levels were compared. Results: he consumption of once-yearly ZA (5 mg) treatment increases BMD at levels of lumbers 1-4 (P = 0.026), total Hip T score's P value is same as femoral neck (P: 0,033). ZA 5 mg treatment also improved QoL (P = 0.001) and reduced depression (P = 0.001). Conclusion: ZA treatment increases BMD levels and QoL while reducing depression. Once-yearly ZA (5 mg) may be considered for postmenopausal women as a first-line treatment

Oxidative stress markers, C-reactive protein and heat shock protein 70 levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors and essential components of metabolic syndrome are hyperglycemia, hypertension, visceral obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome components and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oxidative stress, C-reactive protein and heat shock protein 70 levels in the pathogenesis of this disease

A detailed investigation of hirsutism in a Turkish population: Idiopathic hyperandrogenemia as a perplexing issue

Hirsutism is a common clinical problem in women and the treatment depends on the cause of hirsutism. The study was designed to determine the various causes of hirsutism and their prevalences in a Turkish population. 168 women with hirsutism attending to Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Erciyes University Hospital were investigated in detail. Medical history, physical examination, and basal levels of free testosterone (IT), androstenedione, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEAS), 17 hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), 11-deoxycortisol (11-S), thyroid hormones, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and prolactin were determined. ACTH stimulation test was performed for the diagnosis of non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH). Pelvic/vaginal and adrenal ultra sonographics were performed for the detection of tumors and polycystic ovarian changes. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was diagnosed in 96 (57.1%) patients, idiopathic hirsutism in 27 (16%), NCAH in 12 (7.1%), adrenal carcinoma in 3 (1.8%), and Cushing's disease in 1 (0.6%) patient. Among patients with NCAH, 11 (91.7%) patients had 11-beta hydroxylase (11-beta OH) deficiency, and 1 (8.3%) had 21-hydroxylase deficiency. The etiology of hyperandrogenemia was not clear in 29 (17.4%) patients and these patients were named as idiopathic hyperandrogenemia. The clinical presentation of 11-beta OH deficiency is indistinguishable from that of other hyperandrogenic states and ACTH stimulation test is the only way to diagnose this entity. Although PCOS is the most common cause of hirsutism, it is notable that nearly one fifth of hirsute women have no apparent cause of hyperandrogenernia