Interleukin-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Diabetic Patients with Helicobacter pylori in Kosovo

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative spiral-shaped bacterium that infects from 30% to 50% of the world’s population and it is one of the most important in dyspeptic syndrome causes of gastritis and peptic ulcer. H. pylori is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections especially in the development countries because the socioeconomic contribute to chronic disease. The infection induces an acute polymorphonuclear infiltration in the gastric mucosa. Infection with H. pylori has been epidemiologically linked to some extra digestive conditions, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), and others. The patients with DM are at risk for H. pylori infection, since they have coupled susceptibility of to a wide range of infections as a result of chronic elevation of blood glucose level and impairment of immune functions. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, because inflammation, vascular injury and thrombosis are considered to cause atherosclerosis. The risk of cardiovascular events is associated with increased levels of the acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP), and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a major pro-inflammatory cytokine is produced in a variety of tissues, including activated leukocytes, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. CRP is the principal downstream mediator of the acute phase response and is primarily derived through IL-6-dependent hepatic biosynthesis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as an important inflammatory factor, has been shown to play a central role in the pathogenesis of diabetes. CRP and IL-6 were determinant of risk for the development of type 2 DM in apparently healthy middle-aged women. Since the prevalence of infected persons with H. pylori in Kosovo is high, the aim of this study was the evaluation of cytokines (IL1, TNF-α) and CRP in diabetic type 2 patients with positive H. pylori

Blood urea nitrogen/creatinine index is a predictor of prerenal damage in preeclampsia

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a disease whose etiology is not very clearly explained. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine ratio in diagnosing preeclampsiaand evaluating prognosis.Methods: The patients in this research were examined and diagnosed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo. Control group included 25 pregnant women with a normalblood pressure and with a gestational age of more than 20 weeks, whereas the investigation group included 25 women diagnosed with preeclampsia. The patients were not administered therapy four days before the examination. For the determination of biochemical parameters we used end point bichromatic enzymatic rate and enzymatic conductivity rate.Results: BUN/Creatinine index in the preeclamptic group was 19±7.7, uric acid 280±70 μmol/L, lactate dehydrogenase198±63 U/L, while the number of platelets was 195±5061 x 109/L. In control group BUN/Creatinine index was 12±3, lactate dehydrogenase was 165±57 U/L, uric acid 197±79 μmol/La and the platelet numberwas 243±61 x109/L. Albumin/Globulin index in the preeclamptic group was 0.8±0.12, whereas in the control group it was 0.9±0.16.Conclusions: BUN/Creatinine ratio in pregnant women with preeclampsia was significantly increased (t=-4.14; p=0.00013) in comparison to the control group. It indicates the prerenal source of azotemia. This indexcan be important for the evaluation of preeclampsia severity

Lipoprotein (a) as an Acute Phase Reactant in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients on chronic hemodialysis. A low concentration of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and serum albumín are another potential risk factors. The purpose of this study was to explore in patients on chronic hemodialysis, whether Lp(a) elevated levels are influenced by activated acute phase response (APR) and the correlation of Lp(a) with HDL-C and serum albumin. In 69 hemodialysis patients with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels over than 10 mg/L and 101 hemodialysis patients with CRP levels in the normal range, Lp(a), HDL-C and serum albumin were determined in relation to CRP, as a sensitive marker of an APR. Results showed that serum concentration of CRP in 69 hemodialysis patients was significantly higher than in controls (44,62 mg/L versus 8,75 mg/L, p<0,01). Patients with elevated CRP had significantly higher serum levels of Lp(a) and lower serum levels of HDL-C and albumin, than patients with CRP in the normal range (35,39 mg/dl versus 28,6 mg/dl, p<0,01, 0,91 mmol/L versus 1,29 mmol/L, p<0,01 and 33,56 g/L versus 35,86 g/L, p<0,01). Lp(a) levels correlated positively with CRP and negatively with HDL-C and serum albumin, in patients with elevated CRP, but not in healthy controls. According to the results Lp(a) reacts as an acute phase protein, in patients with APR

HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC URTICARIA

Abstract Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are a gram negative bacterium, which is responsible for most cases of gastritis and peptic ulcer. It is associated with several diseases that are not related to gastrointestinal tract also. Recently, the possible association between helicobacter pylori infection and chronic urticaria (CU) is discussed in some investigations. Since the prevalence of infected persons with H. pylori and CU in Kosovo is high, the aim of this study was to evaluate correlation between the concentrations of anti-H. Pylori antibodies (IgG and IgA) and CU. The study population included 105 persons (18 -65 Years old). With CU were diagnosed 62 of them. The diagnose was made by dermatologist and based on clinical features of CU. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for levels of serum IgG and IgA antibodies against H. pylori using ELISA method. Data were analyzed using Vassar-Stats system student&apos;s t-test for their level of significance. Results were considered statistically significant at P &lt; 0.05. From 62 patients with chronic urticaria, 44 (71%) had elevated titer of H. Pylori IgG antibodies. H. Pylori IgG plus IgA antibodies were found elevated in 47.13 % of patients, while only IgA antibodies were elevated in 43.55 % of patients. Among group without chronic urticaria we found elevated values of H. Pylori antibodies IgG in 39.6 % of patients. H. Pylori IgG plus IgA antibodies were higher than normal value in 41.9 %, while anti-H. Pylori IgA were increased in 37.4%. The value P=0.002 showed significant association between Helicobacter Pylori antibodies (IgG) and chronic urticaria. Statistically significant association (p=0.0085) was found in patients with both (IgG and IgA) elevated values too. The increased titer of IgA antibodies against H. pylori didn&apos;t show statistically significance. Based on our findings these results indicate a significant relationship of elevated concentrations of IgG and IgA antibodies against H. pylori with chronic hives, confirming the possible role of H. pylori in symptoms of chronic urticaria. Appearance of hives can be result of high level of Helicobacter Pylori IgG antibodies. An overall result of our study correlates with that by other researches

Blood urea nitrogen/creatinine index is a predictor of prerenal damage in preeclampsia

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a disease whose etiology is not very clearly explained. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine ratio in diagnosing preeclampsiaand evaluating prognosis.Methods: The patients in this research were examined and diagnosed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinical Centre of Kosovo. Control group included 25 pregnant women with a normalblood pressure and with a gestational age of more than 20 weeks, whereas the investigation group included 25 women diagnosed with preeclampsia. The patients were not administered therapy four days before the examination. For the determination of biochemical parameters we used end point bichromatic enzymatic rate and enzymatic conductivity rate.Results: BUN/Creatinine index in the preeclamptic group was 19±7.7, uric acid 280±70 μmol/L, lactate dehydrogenase198±63 U/L, while the number of platelets was 195±5061 x 109/L. In control group BUN/Creatinine index was 12±3, lactate dehydrogenase was 165±57 U/L, uric acid 197±79 μmol/La and the platelet numberwas 243±61 x109/L. Albumin/Globulin index in the preeclamptic group was 0.8±0.12, whereas in the control group it was 0.9±0.16.Conclusions: BUN/Creatinine ratio in pregnant women with preeclampsia was significantly increased (t=-4.14; p=0.00013) in comparison to the control group. It indicates the prerenal source of azotemia. This indexcan be important for the evaluation of preeclampsia severity

The importance of determining procalcitonin and C reactive protein in different stages of sepsis

Rapid and early diagnosis of systemic infections is very important for acting on time with an adequate therapy. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic importance of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of bacterial infections in different stages of sepsis.PCT and CRP have been determined in 45 newborns, 1-21 days of age, with different stages of sepsis, in the centre for prematurely born neonates. These parameters have also been determined for control group, in which there were 10 healthy newborns. Procalcitonin values were significantly increased in neonates with septic shock (92,5 ng/mL; 6,06-200 ng/mL) compared to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome- SIRS (41 ng/mL; 0,28-200 ng/mL), neonatal sepsis (10,26 ng/mL; 1,08-111,3 ng/mL), neonatal sepsis and purulent meningitis (9,80 ng/mL; 4,3-18,9 ng/mL). The control group values were lower than 0,5 ng/mL. CRP is increased without statistical differences in all stages of sepsis in newborns with septic shock (93,2 mg/L; 6,0-196 mg/L) in cases with SIRS (45,64 mg/L; 6,0-147 mg/L), neonatal sepsis (70,02 mg/L; 6-177 mg/L), neonatal sepsis and purulent meningitis (61,98 mg/L; 24-192 mg/L). The average values for the control group were 4,7 mg/L. Procalcitonin is increased in all stages of sepsis with higher values in the septic shock. The increase of PCT levels is related to the severity, course of infection and prognosis of disease

Treatment Benefits on Metabolic Syndrome with Diet and Physical Activity

The research has included 422 patients aged between 25 to 60, of whom 341 were men and 81 women. The purpose of research was to determine impact of diet and physical activity in the treatment of metabolic syndrome during the six month period. Processing of results through descriptive and discriminative analysis have indicated that 6 month treatment with diet and physical activity have had an impact in the: waistline decrease by 6,05 cm or 5,50% among males, and 4,92 cm or 5,10% among females; body mass index (BMI) decrease by 1.78 or 6.20% among males, and 2,3 or 8,16% among females; decrease of blood triglycerides levels by 0,35 mmol/L or 16,28% among males, and 0,27 mmol/L or 13,30% among females; increase of blood cholesterol HDL-C by 0,48 mmol/L or 34,78% among males, and 0,06 mmol/L or 4,28% among females; systolic arterial pressure decreased by 15 mmHg or 10,18%, and diastolic blood pressure by 8,74 mmHg or 9,47% among males, and systolic arterial pressure decreased by 7,39 mmHg or 5,17%, and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 5,18 mmHg or 5,75% among females; the level of blood glucose decreased by 0,45 mmol/L or 7,04% among males, and by 0,64 mmol/L or 9,92% decreased among females. The results show that physical exercise and diet are important factors in reducing the values symptoms of metabolic syndrome. In order to improve symptoms of metabolic syndrome, it is necessary to keep on with healthy diet and physical exercise that means the change of lifestyle