Comparison of pre- and post-levothyroxine high-sensitivity c-reactive protein and fetuin-a levels in subclinical hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this trial was to determine the levels of inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A pre- and post-levothyroxine treatment in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients with a diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and a control group of 30 healthy individuals were tested for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A, followed by the administration of 50 µg of levothyroxine in the patient group for 3 months. During the post-treatment stage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A levels in the patient group were re-assessed and compared with pre-treatment values. RESULTS: Pre-treatment levels of both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A were observed to be higher in the patient group than in the control group. The decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels during the post-treatment stage was not statistically significant. However, the decrease observed in post-treatment fetuin-A levels was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The decrease in fetuin-A levels in subclinical hypothyroidism cases indicates that levothyroxine treatment exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Although the decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels was statistically non-significant, it is predicted to reach significance with sustained treatment

Increased circulating macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels are associated with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the macrophage migration inhibitory factor and E-selectin levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the plasma migration inhibitory factor and E-selectin levels in 87 patients who presented with chest pain at our hospital. The patients were classified into two groups according to their cardiac status. Sixty-five patients had acute myocardial infarction, and 22 patients had non-cardiac chest pain (non-coronary disease). We designated the latter group of patients as the control group. The patients who presented with acute myocardial infarction were further divided into two subgroups: ST-elevated myocardial infarction (n = 30) and non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (n = 35). RESULTS: We found higher plasma migration inhibitory factor levels in both acute myocardial infarction subgroups than in the control group. However, the E-selectin levels were similar between the acute myocardial infarction and control patients. In addition, we did not find a significant difference in the plasma migration inhibitory factor levels between the ST elevated myocardial infarction and NST-elevated myocardial infarction subgroups. DISCUSSION: The circulating concentrations of migration inhibitory factor were significantly increased in acute myocardial infarction patients, whereas the soluble E-selectin levels were similar between acute myocardial infarction patients and control subjects. Our results suggest that migration inhibitory factor may play a role in the atherosclerotic process

Determination and Comparison of In Vitro Radical Scavenging Activity of Both Garlic Oil and Aqueous Garlic Extracts and Their In Vivo Antioxidant Effect on Schistosomiasis Disease in Mice

Garlic has long been utilizing as a folk remedy for various diseases. In this study, the effect of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) (125 mg kg-1), garlic oil extract (GOE) (125 mg kg-1), and the combination of both extracts (AGE+GOE) (62.5 from each) was studied over a parasitic disease namely schistosomiasis. Determination of some radical scavenging activities including Ferric Reducing Ability Power, Hydrogen peroxide, DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities were studied. The antioxidant properties of the mentioned extracts on both normal and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice was also studied. The liver tissues were analyzed for the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) known as biomarkers for oxidative and reducing status, respectively. The results showed that almost all tested extracts showed high effect of radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, remarkable decrease in worms and tissue eggs were analyzed in all tested extracts as AGE+ GOE (1015 ± 1.41) represented higher level of prohibition in total number of worms and eggs compared to infected untreated mice (1502 ± 2.13). The garlic extracts were potent antioxidants with slight differences

Increased serum neuregulin 4 levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A case-control study

Neuregulin 4 (NRG4) is an adipokine that is synthesized in many tissues and has been shown to be associated with the development of obesity and metabolic disorders in animals and humans. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum NRG4 levels and various metabolic parameters in women with PCOS. This cross-sectional study included 40 women with PCOS and 40 age- and BMI-matched controls without PCOS. NRG4, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, hs-CRP, LDL-C, HDL-C, SHBG, DHEA-SO4 and total-testosterone levels were measured in all the participants. HOMA-IR was used to calculate the insulin resistance. Serum NRG4 levels were higher in women with PCOS than in healthy women (24.89 ± 9.32 [ng/mL] vs. 18.98 ± 6.40 [ng/mL], p = 0.002). FBG, LDL-C, HDL-C, LH, SHBG, FAI, DHEA-SO4, insulin, hs-CRP, HOMA-IR and total-testosterone levels were significantly higher in women with PCOS than controls. Circulating NRG4 levels were positively correlated with HOMA-IR, insulin and hs-CRP for both groups. There was a positive correlation between NRG4 and FBG in the PCOS group. HOMA-IR and hs-CRP were associated with NRG4. The high concentration of circulating NRG4 in PCOS may be associated with insulin resistance and low-grade chronic inflammation

The relationship of urotensin II with insulin resistance and hs-CRP in patients having PCOS.

UrotensinII (UII), one of the most potent vasoconstrictor proteins, may be associated with insulin resistance. The objective of our research was to determine the level of UII in sera of patients with PCOS and to investigate the relationship between UII and insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. Fourty seven PCOS patients and 42 healthy women were included in the study. Serum fasting glucose, insulin, UII, free testosterone and hs-CRP levels of the patients were examined. The HOMA-IR formula was used to calculate insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity was calculated by using the QUICKI-IS formula. The two groups did not show any a significant difference in terms of age and BMI (p>0.05). Serum UII, hs-CRP, insulin levels and the HOMA-IR were significantly higher in the patients with PCOS (p<0.05). In the analysis of the correlation, UII and HOMA-IR showed statistically significant, moderately strong and positive correlation(r = 044, p<0.001). UII and QUICKI-IS showed statistically significant, moderately strong and negative correlation(r = -0.44, p<0.001). Also, a significant and positive correlation was found between with UII and hs-CRP(r = 0.51, p<0.001). Our study data suggested that UII may have a role in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk, which are commonly found in patients with PCOS

Subclinical hypothyroidism: Comparison of adhesion molecule levels before and after levothyroxine therapy

Objective: Adhesion molecules are involved in inflammation, atherosclerosis and malignancy. This study measured levels of adhesion molecules before and after levothyroxine therapy in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHO)

Comparison of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A levels before and after treatment for subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism

This study was designed to show the effect of propylthiouracil treatment on sCD40L, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fetuin-A levels on subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism. After checking sCD40L, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fetuin-A levels of 35 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism, each was given 50 mg tablets of propylthiouracil three times daily. After 3 months, sCD40L, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and fetuin-A levels were then compared to the levels before treatment. Although high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and sCD40L levels were normal in the subclinical hyperthyroidism patients compared to the healthy controls, fetuin-A levels were statistically significantly higher (*p = 0.022). After treatment, fetuin-A levels of subclinical hyperthyroidism patients decreased statistically significantly compared to the levels before treatment (**p = 0.026). sCD40L and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels did not have a statistically significant difference compared to the control group and post-propylthiouracil treatment. In subclinical hyperthyroidism patients, high fetuin-A levels before propylthiouracil treatment and decreases in these levels after treatment in cases with subclinical hyperthyroidism indicated the possibility of preventing long-term cardiac complications with propylthiouracil treatment

Association between red blood cell distribution width and polycystic ovary syndrome

Aims: The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is being recognized as a marker of chronic inflammation and routinely reported as part of a complete blood count (CBC) without any additional costs. High levels of RDW associate with oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease risk. We aimed to investigate the relation between the level of RDW and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), HOMA-IR, BMI and body fat percentage in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and methods: Cross-sectional and observational studies were conducted in 90 subjects with PCOS and 87 age-and BMI-matched controls. Body fat percentage, CBC, fasting serum glucose, serum insulin, hs-CRP, lipids, and total and free-testosterone levels were measured. Results: RDW levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group compared with the control group (12.98 +/- 0.92% versus 12.59 +/- 0.84%, p = 0.004). RDW levels were positively correlated with hs-CRP, HOMA-IR and BMI. Multivariate analysis showed that high-RDW levels were associated with PCOS. Subjects with the highest quartile RDW levels were nearly 2.8 times more likely to develop PCOS compared with subjects with the lowest quartile RDW. ROC curve analysis showed that RDW levels were useful as a diagnostic marker for PCOS. The optimal cut-off value for detecting PCOS was >= 12.54% (sensitivity 67% and specificity 70%). Conclusions: RDW levels were higher in women with PCOS, and high-RDW levels were independently associated with PCOS. This link in between RDW and PCOS may be due to an underlying chronic inflammation in subjects with PCOS

Elevated circulating levels of betatrophin are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome

WOS: 000377934000030PubMed ID: 26832343Betatrophin is a newly identified hormone determined to be a potent inducer of pancreatic beta cell proliferation in response to insulin resistance in mice. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an inflammatory-based metabolic disease associated with insulin resistance. However, no evidence is available indicating whether betatrophin is involved in women with PCOS. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether betatrophin levels are altered in women with PCOS. This study was conducted in secondary referral center. This cross-sectional study included 164 women with PCOS and 164 age- and BMI-matched female controls. Circulating betatrophin levels were measured using ELISA. Metabolic and hormonal parameters were also determined. Circulating betatrophin levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared with controls (367.09 +/- 55.78 vs. 295.65 +/- 48.97 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Betatrophin levels were positively correlated with insulin resistance marker homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), free-testosterone, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), atherogenic lipid profiles, and BMI in PCOS. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio for PCOS was 2.51 for patients in the highest quartile of betatrophin compared with those in the lowest quartile (95 % CI 1.31-4.81, P = 0.006). Multivariate regression analyses showed that HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, and free-testosterone were independent factors influencing serum betatrophin levels. Betatrophin levels were increased in women with PCOS and were associated with insulin resistance, hs-CRP, and free-testosterone in these patients. Elevated betatrophin levels were found to increase the odds of having PCOS. Further research is needed to elucidate the physiologic and pathologic significance of our findings