Spiramycin-associated Acute Pancreatitis: Cause or Coincidence?

So far, spiramycin-associated acute pancreatitis has not been reported in literature. In this letter, it was presented that A 63-year-old female subject was experienced acute pancreatitis 4 days after taking spiramycin for therapy of dental infection, as an unusual approach. She was prescribed spiramycin tablet for dental infection, and in 4th day, she admitted to emergency service with severe epigastric pain with radiation to the flank and back. Her magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography and upper abdominal MR imaging revealed acute edematous pancreatitis without any gallstone. As a macrolide antibiotic, clinicians should be aware of potential side effects of spiramycin including acute pancreatitis. [Med-Science 2015; 4(2.000): 2352-5

The Increment of Choroidal Thickness in Euthyroid Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: Is It an Early Sign of Venous Congestion?

Objective. Clinical manifestations of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) are caused by the overcompression of orbital tissues within the restricted orbital bone cavity. Impaired ocular blood flow may disrupt the retinal microstructure and functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the macular and choroidal thickness changes in GO compared with healthy subjects. Materials and Methods. The study group comprised 50 adult patients with previously diagnosed Graves’ disease with ophthalmopathy who were on antithyroid treatment. For the assessment of GO activity, the VISA (vision, inflammation, strabismus, and appearance) inflammatory score was used. When euthyroidism was achieved without side effects, the patients were referred to the ophthalmology clinic for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) evaluation. Results. Subfoveal, mean, and temporal choroidal thicknesses were increased significantly in the study group according to the controls. The mean choroidal thickness was elevated. Conclusions. This elevation is because of the intraorbital inflammation even in this nonsevere GO group. Choroidal thickness might be affected from the venous obstruction and congestion in patients with GO. The elevation of the choroidal thickness might be an early sign of venous congestion that occurs before the elevation of intraocular pressure

The Prophylactic Effects of Metoprolol, Diltiazem, and Pilocarpine on Hypoglycemia-Induced Prolongation of QT Interval

WOS:000631941200009PubMed: 33898141Background Insulin-induced hypoglycemia has been demonstrated to prolong the corrected QT (QTc) interval. Prolongation of the QTc interval, especially in diabetic patients using insulin, can cause fatal ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of metoprolol, diltiazem, and pilocarpine on hypoglycemia-induced QTc prolongation. Methods Thirty male rats were randomly distributed into the following five groups: Group 1 (1 mL/kg saline, n=6), Group 2 (40 U/kg crystalline insulin + saline, n=6), Group 3 (40 U/kg crystalline insulin + 1 mg/kg metoprolol, n=6), Group 4 (40 U/kg crystalline insulin + 0.8 mg/kg pilocarpine, n=6), and Group 5 (40 U/kg crystalline insulin + 2 mg/kg diltiazem, n=6). Three hours after insulin injection, the blood glucose level was measured in all groups. Blood glucose <40 mg/dl was defined as hypoglycemia. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were taken in lead I (DI), and QTc was calculated by using Bazett's formula. Results Group 2 (insulin + saline) showed that it had a significantly prolonged QTc interval as compared to the control group (p<0.0001). However, treatments of the rats with metoprolol, pilocarpine, and diltiazem significantly prevented prolongation of the QTc interval as compared to the insulin + saline group (p<0.005, p<0.005, and p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion The findings of the present study demonstrated the efficacy of metoprolol, pilocarpine, and diltiazem in the prevention of hypoglycemia-induced QTc prolongation in male rats

Circulating mir-200c and mir-33a may be used as biomarkers for predicting high fructose corn syrup-induced fatty liver and vitamin D supplementation-related liver changes

Background/aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver is one of the most common forms of liver disease and role of microRNAs (miRNAs) on this illness is currently unclear. It was aimed to evaluate the predictive role of circulating miR-33a and mir-200c on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)-induced fatty liver and vitamin D-3 supplementation-related hepatic changes. Materials and methods: Twenty-four rats were randomized into three groups: sham (n = 8), experimental fatty liver group (n = 8), and fatty liver + vitamin D-3 supplementation group (n = 8). In the treatment group, 10 mu g/kg/week of vitamin D-3 was given by orogastric tube weekly for 4 weeks in addition to a high fructose diet. Serum AST, ALT, TNF-alpha, and MDA levels were tested. Liver tissue samples were examined using hematoxylin/eosin, periodic acid-Schif (PAS) and Masson's Trichrome staining. Circulating miR-33a and mir-200c were quantified by qRT-PCR method. Moreover, in silico analyses were accomplished. Results: In the vitamin D-3 group, results of biochemical parameters were significantly different than those of the fatty liver group (p < 0.001). Moreover, significant differences in serum levels of circulating miR-33a and mir-200c were identified among all groups (p < 0.05). Finally, more favorable histopathological changes were noticed in the vitamin D-3 supplementation group. The expressions of Ki-67 were also considerably reduced in the vitamin D-3 group. According to KEGG pathway analysis, mir-33a and mir-200c were found to play a common role in the Hippo signaling pathway, lysine degradation, and protein processing. Conclusion: Our current experimental fatty liver study showed that, in a specified dose, vitamin D-3 supplementation could alleviate adverse undesirable hepatic effects of HFCS via miR-33a and mir-200c.Scientific Research Project Fund of University of Health Sciences [2018/024]This work is supported by the Scientific Research Project Fund of University of Health Sciences under the project number 2018/024

Turkish nationwide survEy of glycemic and other Metabolic parameters of patients with Diabetes mellitus (TEMD study)

Aims: Turkey has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Europe. It is therefore essential to know the overall cardiovascular risk and reveal the predictors of metabolic control in Turkish adults with diabetes mellitus

Impact of Obesity on the Metabolic Control of Type 2 Diabetes: Results of the Turkish Nationwide Survey of Glycemic and Other Metabolic Parameters of Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (TEMD Obesity Study)

Background: Obesity is the main obstacle for metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Turkey has the highest prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe. The effect of obesity on the metabolic control, and the macro-and microvascular complications of patients are not apparent. Objectives: This nationwide survey aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among patients with type 2 diabetes and to search for the impact of obesity on the metabolic control of these patients. We also investigated the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients who were under follow-up for at least 1 year in 69 tertiary healthcare units in 37 cities. The demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data including medications were recorded. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, younger than 18 years, had decompensated liver disease, psychiatric disorders interfering with cognition or compliance, had bariatric surgery, or were undergoing renal replacement therapy. Results: Only 10% of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 4,648) had normal body mass indexes (BMI), while the others were affected by overweight (31%) or obesity (59%). Women had a significantly higher prevalence of obesity (53.4 vs. 40%) and severe obesity (16.6 vs. 3.3%). Significant associations were present between high BMI levels and lower education levels, intake of insulin, antihypertensives and statins, poor metabolic control, or the presence of microvascular complications. Age, gender, level of education, smoking, and physical inactivity were the independent associates of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: The TEMD Obesity Study shows that obesity is a major determinant of the poor metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. These results underline the importance of prevention and management of obesity to improve health care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, the results point out the independent sociodemographic and clinical associates of obesity, which should be the prior targets to overcome, in the national fight with obesity. (c) 2019 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Base