Učinak mamografskog postupka na serumske razine upalnih i/ili tumorskih biljega

Mammography is one of the gold standard screening tests for breast cancer. The effects of mammography procedure on blood parameters are not known. This study aimed to investigate whether the procedure-associated breast compression affects the widely and simultaneously performed blood measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and cancer antigen (CA) 15-3. According to breast ultrasound examination results, participants were divided into 3 groups as follows: group 1 (participants with breast mass size ≥20.0 mm, n=48); group 2 (participants with breast mass size <20.0 mm, n=17); and group 3 (participants with no breast mass, n=23). In groups 1 and 2, on the day of the mammographic imaging study, serum CRP, CEA, and CA 15-3 levels were measured before and after the imaging study. Participants in group 3 had their blood parameters measured without mammography and/or any breast compression. Post-mammography blood measurements displayed a significant increase in serum CRP levels, and a significant decrease in serum CEA and CA 15-3 levels in group 1 (in comparison with the same day pre-mammography blood sampling levels; p<0.05 all). Although pre-mammography serum CEA levels in group 1 participants were significantly higher than those in group 2 and 3 participants, this significant elevation became nonsignificant at post-mammography measurements (p0.05, respectively). On the day of the mammographic imaging study, the optimal time of blood sampling for testing CRP, CEA and CA 15-3 levels in persons with a breast mass is before, but not after the mammographic imaging procedure. This issue requires additional detailed studies.Mamografija je jedan od ‘zlatnih’ standardnih testova probira za rak dojke. Učinci mamografskog postupka na krvne parametre nisu poznati. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati djeluje li kompresija dojke povezana s ovim postupkom na često i istodobno izvođena mjerenja C-reaktivnog proteina (CRP), karcinoembrijskog antigena (CEA) i karcinom antigen (CA) 15-3 u krvi. Ispitanice su podijeljene u 3 skupine prema rezultatima ultrazvučnog pregleda dojki: 1. skupina (ispitanice s masom u dojci ≥20,0 mm, n=48); 2. skupina (ispitanice s masom u dojci <20,0 mm, n=17); 3. skupina (ispitanice bez mase u dojci, n=23). U 1. i 2. skupini serumske razine CRP, CEA i CA 15-3 mjerene su prije i nakon mamografskog postupka. Kod ispitanica 3. skupine krvni parametri mjereni su bez mamografije i/ili bilo kakve kompresije dojke. Mjerenja provedena nakon mamografije pokazala su značajan porast serumskih razina CRP i značajan pad serumskih razina CEA i CA-15-3 u 1. skupini u usporedbi s razinama tih parametara zabilježenim istoga dana prije mamografije (p<0,05 sve). Iako su razine CEA u serumu prije mamografije bile značajno više u 1. skupini u usporedbi s 2. i 3. skupinom, značajnost tog porasta izgubila se kod mjerenja nakon mamografije (p0,05). Dakle, u danu kad je zakazana mamografija optimalno vrijeme za uzorkovanje krvi za mjerenje razina CRP, CEA i CA 15-3 kod osoba s masom u dojci je prije, a ne poslije mamografskog postupka. Ovo pitanje zahtijeva daljnje podrobne studije

Wilson's disease

Wilson's disease is an autosomal-recessive disorder caused by mutation in the ATP7B gene. Absent or reduced function of ATP7B protein leads to decreased hepatocellular excretion of copper into bile. Subsequent copper accumulation, first in the liver but ultimately in the brain and other tissues, produces different clinical manifestations such as hepatic, neurological, hematological, ophthalmological, and psychiatric problems. Diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion, parameters of copper metabolism, ophthalmic examination (Kayser-Fleischer rings) and a liver biopsy. Genetic studies are of limited use. Early diagnosis and initiation of therapy with chelators and therapeutic plasma exchange therapy are essential for prognosis. Liver transplantation corrects the underlying pathophysiology and can be lifesaving in fulminant hepatic failure. Screening of siblings and 1st degree relatives of the patients is also important

Porast enzima kreatin kinaze povezan sa sintetskim kanabinoidom bonzai: istraživanje centra u Turskoj

Synthetic cannabinoid (locally named ‘Bonzai’ in Turkey) use is increasing worldwide (especially among people with low income). One of its harmful adverse effects is an increase in serum levels of muscle enzymes (i.e., creatine kinase [CK]). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Bonzai use in patients admitted with elevated CK levels and to compare the 1-month survival status of Bonzai users with that of non-Bonzai users. This retrospective study was conducted on a total of 468 patients, median (min-max) age 48±22 (18-93) years. It was found that 10.68% (n=50) of the patients presenting with elevated CK levels were using Bonzai (group 1), while the remaining 418 (89.32%) patients were non-Bonzai users (group 2). Median age was higher in group 2 as compared with group 1 (p=0.001). In group 1, the predominance of male (M) over female (F) patients was interestingly high, yielding a F:M ratio of 1/49 (χ2=110.03, p<0.001). The prevalence of Bonzai use among patients admitted to our center with elevated CK levels was 10.68%. The Bonzai group patients were younger and mostly males, and none of them died at 1 month of admission. These findings may help in the management of such clinical conditions and could be a pathfinder for further studies in this field.Uporaba sintetskog kanabinoida (u Turskoj nazvan “bonzai”) povećava se diljem svijeta (osobito među osobama nižih primanja). Jedan od štetnih učinaka ove tvari je porast razina mišićnih enzima (tj. kreatin kinaze, CK) u serumu. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi učestalost uporabe tvari bonzai kod bolesnika primljenih s povišenim razinama CK i usporediti jednomjesečno preživljenje korisnika tvari bonzai i bolesnika koji ne uzimaju bonzai. Ovo retrospektivno istraživanje obuhvatilo je ukupno 468 bolesnika, medijan (minimum-maksimum) dobi 48±22 (18-93) godine. Utvrđeno je da 10,68% (n=50) bolesnika primljenih s povišenim razinama CK uzima bonzai (1. skupina), dok preostalih 418 (89,32%) bolesnika nije uzimalo bonzai (2. skupina). Medijan dobi bio je viši u 2. skupini u usporedbi s 1. skupinom (p=0,001). U 1. skupini muški bolesnici (M) uvelike su prevladavali nad bolesnicama (F), s F:M omjerom 1/49 (χ2=110,03; p<0,001). Učestalost uporabe tvari bonzai među bolesnicima primljenima u naš centar s povišenim razinama CK bila je 10,68%. Bolesnici iz skupine koja je uzimala bonzai bili su mlađi i uglavnom muškarci i nitko od njih nije umro unutar mjesec dana od prijma u bolnicu. Ovi nalazi mogli bi pomoći u liječenju ovakvih kliničkih stanja te uputiti na daljnja istraživanja u ovom području

Evaluation of the Prevalence of Barotrauma and Affecting Factors in Patients with COVID-19 during Follow-Up in the Intermediate Care Unit

It is known that pneumothorax (PX) and pneumomediastinum (PM) develop due to COVID-19 disease. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of PX/PM due to COVID-19 in the intermediate intensive care unit (IMCU) and to evaluate the factors causing barotrauma and also the clinical outcomes of these patients. A total of 283 non-intubated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia followed up in the IMCU in a 1-year period were included in the study. The patients were classified as group 1 (having barotrauma) and group 2 (without barotrauma). The rate of barotrauma was 8.1% (n = 23, group 1). PX developed on the right hemithorax in 12 (70.6%) patients. Group 1 had statistically significantly higher 28-day mortality rates compared with group 2 (p = 0.014). The eosinophil and d-dimer levels of the patients in group 1 were higher, while C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and albumin levels were lower than Group 2 (p p = 0.017, p = 0.001, p p < 0.001, respectively). The similar rates of NIMV administration in our study groups support that barotrauma is not the only mechanism in the development of PX/PM. The findings of high blood eosinophil count and low blood levels of CRP, albumin, and fibrinogen in the barotrauma group of our study might be a pathfinder for future studies

Prevalence of Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy antibodies in Restless Legs Syndrome

WOS: 000299907100005PubMed: 22368967The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is increased in gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE); hut prevalence of GSE is not known in RLS. 96 RLS patients and 97 healthy controls, both with or without iron deficiency were enrolled. All secondary RLS patients except iron deficiency were excluded. Subjects underwent a thorough biochemistry and routine blood analyses, and tissue transglutaminase antibodies (TTGA), endomysium antibodies (EMA) and gliadin antibodies (AGA) were also tested. In RLS patients positivity rates of all GSE antibodies were similar to those in controls. The rate of iron deficiency anaemia in RLS patients with at least one positive GSE antibody was significantly higher than that of RLS patients whose GSE antibodies were all negative. The prevalence of GSE antibodies in RLS patients is not increased. GSE might have a role in the aetiology of RLS in association with iron deficiency anaemia. Since the prevalence of GSE antibodies is not increased in RLS, it seems unlikely that GSE is involved in the aetiology of RLS through different mechanisms (e.g. immunological mechanisms) other than iron deficiency as proposed in some published papers

The Prevalence of Low T3 With Arrhythmia and Heart Failure in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of low T3 in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

THE EFFECTS OF CARVEDILOL ON LEFT VENTRICULAR FUNCTIONS AND ARRHYTHMIAS IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE CARDIAC FAILURE

Objective: Arrhythmia are seen frequently in patients with heart failure (HF). Carvedilol which has both beta-blocker and alfa-blocker properties has led to new expectations in the treatment of HF. Our aim is to explore the effect of carvedilol on left ventricular (LV) function and development of arrhythmia in patients with HF