Evaluation of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte and Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratios in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of disease activity with Neutrophil-Lympho­cyte Ratio (NLR) and Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Methods: Seventy seven RA patients and 97 healthy sub­jects were examined retrospectively. People with chronic and systemic diseases were excluded from control group of the study. The disease activity scores (DAS 28) of pa­tient group, hematologic parameters and inflammation parameters of both groups were analyzed statistically us­ing independent t-test and spearman correlation test. Results: Age and gender was not found different be­tween groups. CRP and ESR levels were significantly higher in RA group (p<0.001). Hemoglobin and platelet count were lower (p<0.001 and p=0.022), while RDW, NLR, PLR and MPV levels were significantly higher in RA group (p<0.001, p<0.001. p<0.001, p<0.001, respec­tively). In patient group, ESR (p<0.001), lymphocytes (%) (p= 0.042), absolute neutrophil (p=0.047), and platelets (p= 0.019) were positively, whereas lymphocytes were negatively affected by improvement disease activity (DAS 28) scores. PLR levels significantly negatively correlated with MPV levels (r= -0.386) but showed a significant posi­tive correlation with RDW (r= 0.354) and NLR levels (r= 0.618). Conclusion: NLR and PLR are important and promising factors for disease activity estimation of rheumatoid ar­thritis and may be used in clinical practice. In our opinion, larger studies consisting larger group will help determina­tion of disease activity of RA by more specific indices us­ing these parameters

Thyroid Functions and Autoantibodies in Vitiligo Patients in Istanbul Medeniyet University Göztepe Education and Research Hospital

AimVitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder occurs with destruction of melanocytes, a common skin disease. Although many theories have been suggested for its pathogenesis, the role of autoimmunity is the most popular one. Our objective was to compare the prevalance of thyroid disorder, thyroid function tests and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG), vitamin B12 levels in vitiligo patients with healty subjects in Istanbul Medeniyet Uniersity (IMU) Göztepe Education And Research Hospital.Material and MethodsA retrospective review of vitiligo patients admitted to the IMU Göztepe Education And Research Hospital dermatology outpatient clinic was conducted from january 1, 2013 to january 1, 2014. 298 cases of vitiligo (170 female and 128 male) and 40 control subjects (24 female and 16 male) were enrolled in this study. FT3, fT4, TSH, anti-TG and anti-TPO levels were measured by hormone analyzer.ResultsWe detected various thyroid pathology and /or abnormal throid fuction tests 13% in patients group and 5.1% control group. Plasma level of anti-TG, anti-TPO( p<0,001, p<0,001 respectively) and Percent pozitivity of anti-TG and anti-TPO (p<0,01, p<0,001 respectively) were significantly higher in patients with vitiligo compared with healthy control. Anti-TPO was increased 23.7% anti-TG was increased 15,1% in patients group. Plasma level of vitamin B12 (p<0.01) were significantly lower in patients with vitiligo compared with healthy control.ConclusionAccording to our study, anti-TPO and anti-TG levels were shown to be significantly increased in vitiligo patients and vitamin B12 levels were shown to be decreased. We recommend periodical follow-up of vitiligo patients in terms of thyroid gland diseases

Chemerin as a marker of subclinical cardiac involvement in psoriatic patients

Background: Chemerin has been associated with psoriasis and inflammation, but there are no studies demonstrating an association between chemerin and subclinical cardiac involvement in psoriatic patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether psoriatic patients with increased epicardial fat tissue, impaired flow-mediated dilatation, and diastolic dysfunction have higher serum chemerin levels than a healthy control group. Methods: The study included 60 psoriatic patients and 32 healthy controls. Echocardiographic parameters, epicardial fat tissue, flow-mediated dilatation, and chemerin levels were recorded for both groups. Results: The serum levels of chemerin in the psoriatic patients were significantly higher than in the control group. The diastolic function parameters, including isovolumic contraction and relaxation time, E’/A’ (early diastolic mitral annular velocity/late diastolic mitral annular velocity), and E/E’ (early diastolic peak velocity of mitral inflow/early diastolic mitral annular velocity) values, differed significantly between the groups. Epicardial fat tissue was significantly higher and flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in psoriatic patients than in the controls. Chemerin was significantly positively correlated with age, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, waist circumference, E/E’, and epicardial fat tissue. Serum chemerin was significantly negatively correlated with E’, E’/A’, and flow-mediated dilatation. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that chemerin was independently correlated with E/E’. Conclusions: Psoriatic patients exhibit early subclinical atherosclerosis and diastolic dysfunction. Chemerin can be used as a marker to screen for patients with subclinical cardiac involvement

Serum Growth Arrest Specific Protein 6 (Gas-6) Levels in Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective: We have investigated serum growth ar­rest-specific protein 6 (GAS-6) levels from patients with schizophrenia divided into acute phase remission phases as well as control group. Methods: This study was conducted in Psychiatry De­partment of Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Fac­ulty. The patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia after regular psychiatric examination according to DSM-IV criteria (n=22) as well as control subjects were includ­ed in the study. Schizophrenia patients with acute phase and remission phase were evaluated by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Clinical global Impression Scale (CGI-S). The serum GAS-6 levels of schizophrenia patients during acute phase and remission phase were compared with the serum GAS-6 levels of healthy controls. Serum GAS-6 levels were measured by commercial ELISA kits. Results: No difference was found in serum GAS-6 levels among the three groups; schizophrenia with acute phase, schizophrenia with remission phase, and controls. There were no correlations between serum GAS-6 levels and PANSS and CGI scores. Conclusion: To reach a definitive data and better in­terpretation about the relationship between GAS-6 and schizophrenia, future studies with larger groups of pa­tients with schizophrenia subdivided by drug naïve and treated with antipsychotics/other treatment modalities and controls are needed

Mean Platelet Volume in Heterrozygous Beta Thallassaermia

Background/Aim: It is not known why cerebrovascular and cardiovascular ischaemic events are less frequently observed in heterozygous beta thalassaemia (HBT) patients than in the general population. However, we previously reported that serum levels of some platelet function markers, i.e. soluble CD40 ligand and soluble P-selectin, are lower in patients with HBT than in controls. A high mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of in vivo platelet activation and may indicate a tendency to thrombosis. We investigated whether MPV is lower in HBT patients than in controls. Methods: Forty-eight patients with HBT were compared with 51 controls matched for gender, age, and BMI for MPV in a cross-sectional study. Results: The MPV was within the normal range and higher in the HBT group (9.64 +/- 1.20 vs. 9.07 +/- 082 fL, p = 0.006). The 2 groups were similar in terms of atherosclerosis risk factors and medications. After linear regression analysis, the MPV was correlated with HBT, sensitive CRP, and BMI. Conclusion: The higher MPV in patients with HBT could indicate platelet activation, and this may repre-sent a dilemma. Higher MPV in the HBT group might have resulted from higher sympathetic nervous system activity, mild ineffective erythropoiesis, and haemolysis. (C) 2017 S. Karger AG, Base

Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Endothelial Dysfunction, and Atherosclerosis

Background: Chronic inflammation is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction (ED), and cardiovascular diseases. Because chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease, it may be associated with the development of ED and accelerated atherosclerosis. Objective: To investigate the relationship between CRS and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 38 patients with CRS and 29 healthy controls. In addition to measuring spot urine albumin-creatinine ratios, FMD of the brachial artery and CIMT were assessed noninvasively. Results: Patients with CRS had lower FMD scores (p= 0.031), higher CIMT scores (p =0.005), and a higher urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (p =0.036) compared with healthy controls. In a multivariate analysis, CIMT and FMD were independently associated with the presence of CRS. However, the relationship between urinary albumin and creatinine, and the presence of CRS was no longer observed. Conclusions: CRS is associated with ED and atherosclerosis, as indicated by decreased FMD and increased CIMT in patients with CRS. Further studies are necessary to identify the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for our findings

Chronic rhinosinusitis, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis

Background: Chronic inflammation is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction (ED), and cardiovascular diseases. Because chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease, it may be associated with the development of ED and accelerated atherosclerosis. Objective: To investigate the relationship between CRS and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and microalbuminuria. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 38 patients with CRS and 29 healthy controls. In addition to measuring spot urine albumin-creatinine ratios, FMD of the brachial artery and CIMT were assessed noninvasively. Results: Patients with CRS had lower FMD scores (p= 0.031), higher CIMT scores (p =0.005), and a higher urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (p =0.036) compared with healthy controls. In a multivariate analysis, CIMT and FMD were independently associated with the presence of CRS. However, the relationship between urinary albumin and creatinine, and the presence of CRS was no longer observed. Conclusions: CRS is associated with ED and atherosclerosis, as indicated by decreased FMD and increased CIMT in patients with CRS. Further studies are necessary to identify the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for our findings