Increased Monocyte Count is Related to the Development of Atrial Fibrillation in Subjects with Heart Failure

Determining subjects with heart failure (HF), who have a high risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), is crucial since it is related to an increase in morbidity and mortality. The importance of an increase in inflammatory response cannot be ignored in developing AF in subjects with HF. This study’s goal was to evaluate the relationship between the development of AF and monocyte count, the main components of the inflammatory response, in subjects with HF. Medical data of 158 subjects in total with sinus rhythm, admitted to the emergency department and hospitalized with systolic HF between January 2009 and February 2014, were analyzed prospectively. All the subjects followed up in terms of the development of AF. The subjects separated into two groups according to their rhythm at the end of the follow-up period. Group 1 included subjects who maintained sinus rhythm, while Group 2 included subjects with AF. Echocardiographic findings and laboratory data were collected. No statistically significant difference was determined between the groups concerning age, sex (p=0.056), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking status. The two groups differed significantly regarding the presence of moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation (MR) [32 (28%) vs. 22 (51%), p=0.010] and monocyte count [560 (20-3100) vs. 800 (380-1510) μL,

Uric Acid and P-Wave Dispersion in Subjects with Heart Failure

Uric acid used as a marker of cardiovascular risk, which is associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. P-wave dispersion (PWD) is an electrocardiographic measure, which shows heterogeneity of atrial depolarization. It has demonstrated that there is an association of increased PWD with atrial fibrillation. This article aimed to investigate the relationship between PWD and uric acid in subjects with heart failure (HF). This descriptive method, cross-sectional study included a total of 315 stable HF outpatients. The subjects were classified into two groups by their PWD: the normal PWD group consisted of subjects with a PWD lower than 40 ms (n = 201), and the increased PWD group consisted of subjects with a PWD higher than or equal to 40 ms (n = 114). Significantly, the results showed higher uric acid levels determined in the increased PWD group, in comparison with the normal PWD group (7.4 ± 1.6 mg/dL, vs. 6.5 ± 1.6 mg/dL p < 0.001). Univariate analyses revealed an association between uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, left atrial diameter, and increased PWD. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, there was an association of uric acid level (OR: 1.293; 95% CI: 1.106-1.511, p: 0.001), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR: 1.027; 95% CI: 1.011-1.044, p: 0.001), and left atrial diameter (OR: 1.754; 95% CI: 1.028-2.992, p: 0.039) with PWD. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that the optimal cut-off level of uric acid for predicting increased PWD was ≥ 7.1 mg/dL with a specificity of 77 percent and a sensitivity of 81 percent. Conclusion of our study results suggested that serum uric acid levels independently correlated with PWD in subjects with HF

Association of the TG/HDL-C and Monocyte Count/HDL-C Ratios with Coronary Artery Disease in Non-ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Monocyte Count/HDL ratio (MHR) is a simple and inexpensive parameter used as a risk predictor in patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI). This study aims to investigate the association between Triglyceride/HDL-C (TG/HDL-C) ratio and coronary artery disease in patients diagnosed with non-ST segment elevation MI (NSTEMI). Total of 100 patients, 50 patients with NSTEMI and 50 healthy individuals, who had admitted to the cardiology outpatient clinic between January 2018 and January 2019 included in the study. Higher monocyte count, MHR, and TG/HDL-C ratios detected in patients with coronary artery disease in comparison to healthy individuals. Although monocyte count was higher in NSTEMI group, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.101). There was an increase in the MHR NSTEMI group when compared against the control group (

A Preliminary Study on Protease Activity of Russian Sturgeon, Acipencer gueldenstaedtii Brandt and Ratzenburg, 1833, at Early Life Stages

The fish feed industry continues to researches for optimum diet demands for candidate species culture. For this purpose, in vitro analyze methods may be more efficient than in vivo assays. This study includes two different stages; the first one is about the effect of commercial feeding protocol on protease enzyme alteration and the second one is about the inhibitory effects of different protein sources on early life proteases of Russian sturgeon, A. gueldenstaedtii, juveniles. In the first step, feeding with live prey and transition period to artificial feed significantly affected the daily amount of protease in digestive system ( P < 0.05). In the second part, some protein sources used in micro diets were tested in vitro for examination of their possible inhibitory effects on the proteases of Russian sturgeon larvae. The minimum inhibitory effect was obtained from fish meal (15.44%), but however, soybean protein concentration, soybean meal, corn gluten and rice bran inhibited the proteases significantly higher than FM and its combinations (63.55, 71.81, 72.24, and 80.77%, respectively). Additionally, dual combinations between fish meal and soybean meal/soybean protein concentration with the ration of three to one ( 3: 1) was moderate (26.38 and 22.13 %), whereas blood meal extremely produced a 97.28% inhibitory ratio

Assessment of the Level of Knowledge about Migraines and Medication Among Pharmacy Technicians

Objective: A limited number of studies focus on pharmacy technicians (PT) and their knowledge level regarding migraines. The present study aimed to determine their level of awareness and knowledge regarding migraines and migraine treatment. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine in Kayseri, Türkiye. It was conducted from February 2019 to May 2019 and completed with the participation of 324 PTs (75.8% response rate). Forms containing questions about the diagnosis of migraines, the characteristics, and the treatments were administered to the PTs in person and then evaluated by a neurologist. Results: The ratio of PTs who knew of a drug therapy that reduced migraine attacks was 10.2%. Most PTs (85.2%) had no training in migraine treatment and obtained knowledge from their work experience. Ninety-one participants (28.1%) recommended medication to patients who visited the pharmacy due to headaches. When asked about the drug they recommend for migraines, 29.6% suggested ergotamine, 26.9% suggested analgesics, and 15.7% suggested triptans. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that PTs working in pharmacies that support primary care services might not have sufficient awareness and knowledge about migraine treatments, and appropriate training should be provided on this subject

Evaluation of patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease: Preliminary results from the Turk-UIP study

OBJECTIVE: Differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is important among fibrotic interstitial lung diseases (ILD). This study aimed to evaluate the rate of IPF in patients with fibrotic ILD and to determine the clinical-laboratory features of patients with and without IPF that would provide the differential diagnosis of IPF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included the patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern or possible UIP pattern on thorax high-resolution computed tomography, and/or UIP pattern, probable UIP or possible UIP pattern at lung biopsy according to the 2011 ATS/ERSARS/ALAT guidelines. Demographics and clinical and radiological data of the patients were recorded. All data recorded by researchers was evaluated by radiology and the clinical decision board. RESULTS: A total of 336 patients (253 men, 83 women, age 65.8 +/- 9.0 years) were evaluated. Of the patients with sufficient data for diag-nosis (n=300), the diagnosis was IPF in 121 (40.3%), unclassified idiopathic interstitial pneumonia in 50 (16.7%), combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) in 40 (13.3%), and lung involvement of connective tissue disease (CTD) in 16 (5.3%). When 29 patients with definite IPF features were added to the patients with CPFE, the total number of IPF patients reached 150 (50%). Rate of male sex (p<0.001), smoking history (p<0.001), and the presence of clubbing (p=0.001) were significantly high in patients with IPE None of the women <50 years and none of the men <50 years of age without a smoking history were diagnosed with IPE Presence of at least 1 of the symptoms suggestive of CTD, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity rates were significantly higher in the non-IPF group (p<0.001, p=0.029, p=0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: The rate of IPF among patients with fibrotic ILD was 50%. In the differential diagnosis of IPF, sex, smoking habits, and the presence of clubbing are important. The presence of symptoms related to CTD, ESR elevation, and EANA positivity reduce the likelihood of IPF

Hollanda hastalığının gelişmekte olan ülkeler üzerine etkisi : bir panel veri uygulaması

1977 yılında yayınlanan The Economist dergisinde ilk defa Hollanda Hastalığından bahsedilmiştir.1960’lı yıllarda Hollanda’da doğal gazın bulunmasıyla ülke doğal gaz ihracatında artış olmuş, Florin değerlenmiştir. Hollanda Hastalığında kaynak dağılımı ticarete konu olan sektörlerden ticarete konu olmayan sektörlere doğru hareket etmiştir. Literatürde her ne kadar doğal kaynaklarla özdeşleştirilse de Hollanda Hastalığının benzer belirtileri, göçmen işçilerin para transferleri ve doğrudan yardımlarda da gözlenmektedir. Bu çalışmada gelişmekte olan ülkelerde göçmen işçilerin para transferlerinin ve doğrudan yardımların Hollanda Hastalığına seçilen gelişmekte olan ülkelerde neden olup olmadığı ve ilişkisinin ne yönde olduğu araştırılmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada 2000-2017 yılları arasında 33 tane gelişmekte olan ülkeyle çalışılmış ve dinamik panel veri analizi yapılmaya çalışılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular sonucunda literatürle uyumlu olduğu gözlemlenmiştir. -------------------- In The Economist magazine, published in 1977, Dutch Disease was mentioned for the first time. The distribution of resources in Dutch Disease has moved from tradeable sectors to non-tradeable sectors. Although identified in the literature with natural resources, similar symptoms of Dutch disease are also observed in migrant remittance and foreign aid. In this study, it is aimed to investigate whether migrant remittance and foreign aid workers in developing countries cause Dutch disease in these developing countries and the relationship between them. In this study, 33 developing countries were studied between 2000-2017 and dynamic panel data analysis was performed. As a result of the findings, it was observed that it is compatible with the literature