The Impact of Obesity and Insulin Resistance on Iron and Red Blood Cell Parameters: A Single Center, Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Obesity and iron deficiency (ID) are the 2 most common nutritional disorders worldwide causing significant public health implications. Obesity is characterized by the presence of low-grade inflammation, which may lead to a number of diseases including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. Increased levels of acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) have been reported in obesity-related inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of obesity/IR on iron and red blood cell related parameters

The effects of renal replacement therapy on plasma, asymmetric dimethylarginine, nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels

Purpose: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), nitric oxide (NOx), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are important risk factors for endothelial dysfunction and mortality in the end stage renal diseases population. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between renal replacement therapy and endothelial dysfunction. Methods: Plasma NOx, ADMA and CRP levels were examined in randomized selected 30 patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD), 28 patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 30 patients receiving regular hemodialysis (HD) and age-matched 20 healthy controls. The duration of dialysis was from 4, 5 to 11, and 6 years, respectively. Results: CKD patients had higher plasma ADMA (1.26±0.53?mol/L) and CRP levels (1.02±025mg/L) and lower NOx levels (28.6±5.4?mol/L) than controls (0.45±0.20; 0.65± 0.45; 32.5±37 respectively, P < 0.001).Plasma NOx and CRP levels were higher in HD patients (32.9±5.5?mol/L, P < 0.05 and 4.59±3.18mg/L, P < 0.001) and plasma ADMA and CRP levels were higher in PD patients (1.82±0.98?mol/L, P < 0.001 and 2.40±1.53mg/L, P < 0.001) than in CKD patients. PD patients had higher plasma ADMA levels (P < 0.05) and lower plasma NOx and CRP levels than HD patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Plasma ADMA levels were negatively correlated with NOx levels in all patient groups (P < 0.001). Plasma CRP levels in CKD and HD patients were positively correlated with plasma urea levels (r:0,437, P < 0,001) and duration of dialysis (r:0,370, P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: CRP and ADMA may be emerging as important risk factors for atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. Reduced NO elaboration secondary to accumulation of ADMA and elevated inflammation may be important pathogenic factors for endothelial dysfunction in both dialysis treatment strategies

The effects of renal replacement therapy on plasma, asymmetric dimethylarginine, nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels

Purpose: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), nitric oxide (NOx), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are important risk factors for endothelial dysfunction and mortality in the end stage renal diseases population. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between renal replacement therapy and endothelial dysfunction. Methods: Plasma NOx, ADMA and CRP levels were examined in randomized selected 30 patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD), 28 patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 30 patients receiving regular hemodialysis (HD) and age-matched 20 healthy controls. The duration of dialysis was from 4, 5 to 11, and 6 years, respectively. Results: CKD patients had higher plasma ADMA (1.26±0.53?mol/L) and CRP levels (1.02±025mg/L) and lower NOx levels (28.6±5.4?mol/L) than controls (0.45±0.20; 0.65± 0.45; 32.5±37 respectively, P < 0.001).Plasma NOx and CRP levels were higher in HD patients (32.9±5.5?mol/L, P < 0.05 and 4.59±3.18mg/L, P < 0.001) and plasma ADMA and CRP levels were higher in PD patients (1.82±0.98?mol/L, P < 0.001 and 2.40±1.53mg/L, P < 0.001) than in CKD patients. PD patients had higher plasma ADMA levels (P < 0.05) and lower plasma NOx and CRP levels than HD patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). Plasma ADMA levels were negatively correlated with NOx levels in all patient groups (P < 0.001). Plasma CRP levels in CKD and HD patients were positively correlated with plasma urea levels (r:0,437, P < 0,001) and duration of dialysis (r:0,370, P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: CRP and ADMA may be emerging as important risk factors for atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. Reduced NO elaboration secondary to accumulation of ADMA and elevated inflammation may be important pathogenic factors for endothelial dysfunction in both dialysis treatment strategies

Role of Uric Acid in Determining Cardiovascular Risk

Objective: In this retrospective study, serum uric acid levels of patients with diabetes, diabetes and chronic renal failure, and chronic renal failure without diabetes were compared respectively. It was investigated if uric acid can be used as a risk factor in diabetic and nondiabetic patients as an indicator of cardiovascular risk

The effects of renal replacement therapy on plasma, asymmetric dimethylarginine, nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels

Purpose: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), nitric oxide (NOx), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are important risk factors for endothelial dysfunction and mortality in the end stage renal diseases population. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between renal replacement therapy and endothelial dysfunction

The cardiac effects of Formaterol in mild to moderate asthma and COPD patients

Cardiac side effects of beta 2 agonists have been evaluated in many studies. The most important factors were hypoxia and hypokalemia. We searched for the cardiac side effects of formaterol in asthma and COPD patients with Pa 02> 60 mm Hg, FEV1 > %50 and without any other cardiac disease. Patients after a period of withdrawal of bronc-hodilatator therapy were applied placebo, Formaterol 12 microgram and 24 microgram on days 0, 1 and 2 respectively. Their arterial blood gases, serum electrolytes and cardiac rithyms by Holter moniterisation were evaluatedfor three days. Serum potassium levels significantly decreased in correlation with formaterol dose. 12 microgram formoterol did not change Pa 02 levels compared with placebo though 24 microgram decreased Pa 02 significantly. Also 24 microgram caused a significant decrease of Pa 02 compared with 12 microgram (p<0.05). 24 microgram formaterol decreased serum potassium levels more than 12 microgram; but neither doses caused difference in atrial and ventricular arrythmia pruduction. We conclude that in mild to moderate stable asthma and COPD patients without hypoxemia both 12 and 24 microgram of formaterol did not cause significant arrythmia although they gave rise a decrease in potassium levels inaccordance with dose

Association of serum fetuin-A levels with heart valve calcification and other biomarkers of inflammation among persons with acute coronary syndrome

Purpose: Fetuin-A is a multifunctional hepatic secretory protein that inhibits dystrophic vascular and valvular calcification. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship among fetuin-A levels, heart valve calcification and other biomarkers of inflammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: The associations among serum fetuin-A concentrations, mitral annular (MAC) and aortic valve calcification and other biomarkers of inflammation (hs-CRP, ferritin, fibrinogen, white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin levels) were evaluated in ACS patients and healthy controls. The study included 95 patients (mean age 61.8±12.10 years) and 81 healthy controls (mean age 48.33±9.19 years). Results: Fetuin-A levels were significantly lower in patients with ACS than in healthy controls (0.76 ± 0.23 and 1.10 ± 0.45 g/L, respectively; p < 0.001). Fetuin-A was lower in patients with mitral annular calcification (p=0.007) and aortic (p=0.001) valve calcification. In patients with ACS, there was a negative correlation among serum urea (r=-0.377; p < 0.001) and creatinine (r=-0.232; p=0.024) levels and fetuin-A, and a negative correlation among WBC (r=-0.156; p=0,132), ESR (r=-0.214; p=0.037), hs-CRP (r=-0.220; p=0.032) levels and fetuin-A. A positive correlation was seen between albumin and fetuin-A (r=0.362; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that fetuin-A was the variable that had a significant effect on ACS (p = 0.020 OR = .015; (95% CI)(0.000–0.520). Conclusion: Fetuin-A levels decrease in patients with acute coronary syndromes, independent of heart valve calcification. Fetuin-A may therefore act as a negative acute phase protein after myocardial infarction