Investigation of the relationship between pelvic floor awareness and urinary incontinence in young athletes

Objectives: Knowledge and awareness about the pelvic floor are closely related to knowing the function of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), identifying the risk factors for the PFM, and providing the diagnosis and treatment of possible problems. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between pelvic floor muscle awareness and urinary incontinence (UI) in young athletes.Methods: One hundred eighty athletes between the ages of 18-26 were included in the study, which was designed as a cross sectional. The UI status, pelvic floor health knowledge level, physical activity level and daily life effects related to incontinence of the athletes were evaluated. One way ANOVA test was used to analyze the presence of UI according to physical activity level. The presence of incontinence and pelvic floor awareness by gender were analyzed by t-test in independent groups.Results: There was no correlation between the pelvic floor awareness of young athletes and the presence of UI (p>0.01). It was determined that the athletes with moderate and vigorous physical activity levels experienced more incontinence than those with low-intensity physical activity (p<0.05). It has been concluded that athletes whose daily life is affected due to UI have more pelvic floor awareness (p<0.01).Conclusion: Although there is no relationship between the presence of UI and pelvic floor knowledge and awareness in athletes, pelvic floor awareness is higher in athletes whose daily life is affected due to UI

The effects of atorvastatin therapy on endothelıal function in patients with coronary artery disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Statins improve the endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, they contribute to the substantial decrease in coronary heart disease by reducing plasma cholesterol levels. They also, reduce oxidative stress, stabilize the atherosclerotic plaque and inhibit inflammatory response. These functions of statins have been briefly described as pleiotropic effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of atorvastatin therapy on endothelial functions in patients with CAD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fourty-nine patients (40 men, 9 women, mean age 59 +/- 11 years) with diagnosed CAD were selected as the study group. The patients were given 10 mg/day atorvastatin for 12 weeks. If the target cholesterol levels has not been achieved 6 weeks after the treatment, then the daily atorvastatin dosage has been increased. The endothelial function was evaluated by flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It has been figured out that 12 weeks later, atorvastatin caused a statistically significant decrease in the plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol (p < 0,0001). Meanwhile, it was determined that the FMD got statistically significant improved 12 weeks after the atorvastatin therapy (8,1%–4,2%, p < 0,001). However there was no statistically significant change in non-endothelium dependent dilatation (NID).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Endothelium derived vasodilatation (EBD), which was non-invasively detected via brachial artery ultrasonography, had statistically significant improvment within 12 weeks of atorvastatin therapy whereas non-endothelium dependent dilatation (NID) had no change.</p

Relationship between carotid intima-media thickness and coronary angiographic findings: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since cardiovascular diseases are associated with high mortality and generally undiagnosed before the onset of clinical findings, there is a need for a reliable tool for early diagnosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a non-invasive marker of coronary artery disease (CAD) and is widely used in practice as an inexpensive, reliable, and reproducible method. In the current study, we aimed to investigate prospectively the relationship of CIMT with the presence and extent of significant coronary artery narrowing in patients evaluated by coronary angiography for stable angina pectoris.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris and documented ischemia on a stress test were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the result of the coronary angiography: group 1 (39 patients) without a noncritical coronary lesion, and group 2 (61 patients) having at least one lesion more than 50% within the main branches of the coronary arteries. All of the patients underwent carotid Doppler ultrasound examination for measurement of the CIMT by a radiologist blinded to the angiographic data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean CIMT was 0.78 ± 0.21 mm in Group 1, while it was 1.48 ± 0.28 mm in Group 2 (p = 0.001). The mean CIMT in patients with single vessel disease, multi-vessel disease, and left main coronary artery disease were significantly higher compared to Group 1 (1.2 ± 0.34 mm, p = 0.02; 1.6 ± 0.32 mm, p = 0.001; and 1.8 ± 0.31 mm, p = 0.0001, respectively). Logistic regression analysis identified CIMT (OR 4.3, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR 2.4, p = 0.04) as the most important factors for predicting CAD.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The findings of this study show that increase in CIMT is associated with the presence and extent of CAD. In conclusion, we demonstrated the usefulness of carotid intima-media thickness in predicting coronary artery disease but large-scale studies are required to define its role in clinical practice.</p

Prostanoids in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Prostacyclin, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. This devastating disease of the pulmonary vasculature is associated with vasoconstriction, thrombosis and proliferation, and this may be partly due to lack of endogenous prostacyclin secondary to prostacyclin synthase downregulation. Prostanoids (prostacycin analogues) are potent vasodilators and possess antiaggregant, antiinflammatory and antiproliferative properties. The first agent to be approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension was epoprostenol. In the last decade other prostanoids (treprostinil, iloprost) has been approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2010; 10: Suppl 2; 2-8

Pulmonary hypertension: diagnosis and clinical classification

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex disease with limiting the physical activity, life expectancy significantly and requires multidisciplinary approach. In recent years, a dramatic increase was observed in the understanding and management of the disease. The first clinical classification of PH was made in Evian (France) in 1973 and the last clinical classification of PH was made in Dana Point (USA) in 2008. Diagnosis and clinical classification of PH is discussed in this review. (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2010; 10: Suppl 1; 2-4

“CONTRAST” STUDY: COMPARİSİON OF NEPHROPROTECTİVE THREE PROTOCOLS: ACETYLCYSTEİNESODİUM BİCARBONATE-THEOPHYLLİNE, TO PREVENT CONTRAST-İNDUCED NEPHROPATHY

Aim. The purpose of this study was to compare three prophylactic regimens, sodium-bicarbonate based hydration, sodium-bicarbonate + N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and sodium-bicarbonate + NAC + theophylline, for the prevention of contrast induced nephropathy.Material and methods. We prospectively randomized 151 patients with baseline eGFR values between 30–59 ml/min/1.73m² who were also undergoing coronary angiography with three prophylactic treatments: intravenous hydration with sodiumbicarbonate (3 ml/kg/h for 1 hours before and 1 ml/kg/h for 6 hours after contrast exposure, group 1; n=50), hydration + NAC (600 mg p. o. twice daily the preceding day and the day of angiography, group 2; n=50), and hydration + NAC + theophylline (600 mg p. o. NAC and 200 mg theophylline p. o. twice daily for the preceding day and the day of angiography, group 3; n=51). The incidence of contrast induced nephropathy (0,5 mg/dl increase in serum creatinine from the baseline value 48 hours after intravascular injection of contrast) from the three groups was compared.Results. Of the 151 patients, 4 patients (7.8%) in group 3 experienced CIN (p=0.01). CIN did not develop in group 1 and 2.Conclusion. Among patients with eGFR values between 30–59 ml/min/1.73m² undergoing coronary angiography, use of sodium-bicarbonate based hydration alone and sodium-bicarbonate with NAC was associated with a reduction in the rate of contrast induced nephropathy. Sodium-bicarbonate with theophylline therapy was found to have no effect for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy