Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in acute myocardial infarction

Bilir, Cemil/0000-0002-1372-4791WOS: 000253218500016PubMed: 18163971Background: Elevated anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) immunoglobulin (IgG) and IgA levels were first described in the serum of Crohn disease patients and have increasingly been reported in other inflammatory diseases. The role of in situ and remote inflammation in atherosclerosis is a major area of interest. In this study, we compared ASCA IgG and IgA levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and controls to investigate the possible role of ASCA in AMI. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 140 consecutive patients who presented to the emergency department with acute chest pain. AMI was diagnosed by electrocardiography and serial enzymes. Patients ruled out for acute coronary event were grouped as controls. ASCA IgA and IgG levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Groups were compared for statistically significant difference. Results:ASCA IgG titers ranged between 0.1 and 31.0 RIU/mL (mean 4.92) in the AMI group and 0.1 and 6.0 (mean 0.84) in the controls. The groups were found to differ very significantly (p = .001). ASCA IgA titers ranged between 2.0 and 200.0 RIU/mL (mean 13.73) in the AMI group and 2.0 and 11.5 RIU/mL, (mean 4.25) in controls. The groups differed significantly (p = .32). AMI and controls were also analyzed for ASCA IgA and IgG positivity. Both groups differed significantly from controls (p = .013). Conclusion: Elevated ASCA IgA and IgG levels as well as ASCA positivity in the AMI might suggest use of ASCA as a marker for atherosclerotic plaque instability. It might also provide a link between inflammatory processes and increased cardiovascular risk. Further studies are needed on a Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based diet, related intestinal colonization, and associated inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and cardiovascular events

Are We Aware of Restless Legs Syndrome in COPD Patients Who Are in an Exacerbation Period? Frequency and Probable Factors Related to Underlying Mechanism

A few previous studies have reported that the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a 29.1% to 36.8% frequency of restless legs syndrome (RLS). In this study, we observed RLS symptoms in patients experiencing COPD exacerbation to better understand the relationship between the many clinical parameters of COPD and the presence of RLS and to attract the attention of specialists on the association between the two conditions. Twenty-two male patients in COPD exacerbation; 17 healthy individuals were evaluated in this study. The patients were evaluated using the 2003 RLS symptom criteria outlined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Groups (IRLSSG). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth daytime sleepiness scale were used to assess the sleep quality of patients. The RLS symptoms were correlated with blood levels of laboratory and clinical parameters. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistical software packet. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth daytime sleepiness scale scores were increased in COPD patients and correlated significantly with RLS symptoms. It was found that 54.5% of COPD patients with acute exacerbations were observed to have RLS symptoms. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was significantly higher in COPD patients with RLS symptoms compared to COPD patients without RLS symptoms (p < 0.05). We did not observe any significant difference in the previously reported metabolic and clinical parameters associated with RLS in COPD patients with and without RLS. RLS symptoms increase during COPD exacerbation and lead to decreased sleep quality

Immunohistochemical Expression of Telomerase in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Prediction of Metastasis and Prognostic Significance

Aim: To detect telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression in tissue and metastatic and non-metastatic lymph node samples from patients with non-small cell lung cancer; to evaluate whether TERT expression is correlated with pathological and clinical features, and/or patient survival times; to determine differences between TERT expression in metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. Patients and Methods: Tumor tissue samples from 17 patients with squamous cell lung cancer and 11 patients with adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2003 and 2004 were included in this study. All patients were diagnosed at our hospital and had samples stored in the pathology archive. Additionally, dissected lymph node samples, with and without metastases, were studied. Telomerase Gene Tex, Inc, Irvine, CA USA (TERT (2C4) antibody), Universal Kit (Lab Vision, Newmarket, UK) were used for immunohistochemical staining. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 17.0 statistical software. Results: TERT was positive in 18/28 of the samples, regardless of the histological tumor type. There was no significant correlation between TERT expression in lymph nodes with metastasis and clinical stage, histological type, tumor differentiation, or survival time. Conclusion: TERT expression may be used as a target for therapy. It may also be helpful in predicting metastasis but not in predicting survival time

The assessment of high sensitivity C-reactive protein as a systemic marker in moderate asthma patients and changing levels by inhaled corticosteroids

Objectives: To see if high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels increase even in the early stages of asthma, and to evaluate if corticosteroid therapy affects the levels in asthma patients

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in our asthma patients: the presence of dysphagia can influence pulmonary function

Background: The prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in Turkey is reported as 11.6%. Studies of pulmonary function in asthmatics have demonstrated a correlation between lung resistance and the occurrence of spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux. Few studies have included measures of lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. The aim of this study is to assess whether asthma patients had worse lung function and gas diffusion according to diversity of GERD symptoms they concurrently experienced. The secondary aim of the study is to determine the frequency and different faces of GERD in our asthma patients compared to healthy controls