Establishment of a Transgenic Mouse Model Specifically Expressing Human Serum Amyloid A in Adipose Tissue

Obesity and obesity co-morbidities are associated with a low grade inflammation and elevated serum levels of acute phase proteins, including serum amyloid A (SAA). In the non-acute phase in humans, adipocytes are major producers of SAA but the function of adipocyte-derived SAA is unknown. To clarify the role of adipocyte-derived SAA, a transgenic mouse model expressing human SAA1 (hSAA) in adipocytes was established. hSAA expression was analysed using real-time PCR analysis. Male animals were challenged with a high fat (HF) diet. Plasma samples were subjected to fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) separation. hSAA, cholesterol and triglyceride content were measured in plasma and in FPLC fractions. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed an adipose tissue-specific hSAA gene expression. Moreover, the hSAA gene expression was not influenced by HF diet. However, hSAA plasma levels in HF fed animals (37.7±4.0 µg/mL, n = 7) were increased compared to those in normal chow fed animals (4.8±0.5 µg/mL, n = 10; p<0.001), and plasma levels in the two groups were in the same ranges as in obese and lean human subjects, respectively. In FPLC separated plasma samples, the concentration of hSAA peaked in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) containing fractions. In addition, cholesterol distribution over the different lipoprotein subfractions as assessed by FPLC analysis was similar within the two experimental groups. The established transgenic mouse model demonstrates that adipose tissue produced hSAA enters the circulation, resulting in elevated plasma levels of hSAA. This new model will enable further studies of metabolic effects of adipose tissue-derived SAA

Listening to Turkish Classical Music Decreases Patients\u27 Anxiety, Pain, Dissatisfaction and the Dose of Sedative and Analgesic Drugs During Colonoscopy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

AIM: To determine whether listening to music decreases the requirement for dosages of sedative drugs, patients\u27 anxiety, pain and dissatisfaction feelings during colonoscopy and makes the procedure more comfortable and acceptable. METHODS: Patients undergoing elective colonoscopy between October 2005 and February 2006 were randomized into either listening to music (Group 1, n = 30) or not listening to music (Group 2, n = 30). Anxiolytic and analgesic drugs (intravenous midazolam and meperidine) were given according to the patients\u27 demand. Administered medications were monitored. We determined their levels of anxiety using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test form. Patients\u27 satisfaction, pain, and willingness to undergo a repeated procedure were self-assessed using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The mean dose of sedative and analgesic drugs used in group 1 (midazolam: 2.1 +/- 1.4, meperidine: 18.1 +/- 11.7) was smaller than group 2 (midazolam: 2.4 +/- 1.0, meperidine: 20.6 +/- 11.5), but without a significant difference (P \u3e 0.05). The mean anxiety level in group 1 was lower than group 2 (36.7 +/- 2.2 vs 251.0 +/- 1.9, P \u3c 0.001). The mean satisfaction score was higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (87.8 +/- 3.1 vs 58.1 +/- 3.4, P \u3c 0.001). The mean pain score in group 1 was lower than group 2 (74.1 +/- 4.7 vs 39.0 +/- 3.9, P \u3c 0.001). CONCLUSION: Listening to music during colonoscopy helps reduce the dose of sedative medications, as well as patients\u27 anxiety, pain, dissatisfaction during the procedure. Therefore, we believe that listening to music can play an adjunctive role to sedation in colonoscopy. It is a simple, inexpensive way to improve patients\u27 comfort during the procedure

Polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene are associated with recurrence risk in lymph node-positive breast cancer patients

Ali Suner,1 Hakan Buyukhatipoglu,1 Gokmen Aktas,1 Tulay Kus,1 Mustafa Ulaslı,2 Serdar Oztuzcu,2 Mehmet Emin Kalender,1 Alper Sevinc,1 Seval Kul,3 Celaletdin Camci1 1Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gaziantep Oncology Hospital, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey; 2Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey; 3Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey Purpose: The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between recurrence risk of breast cancer and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphisms.Patients and methods: Breast cancer patients who had undergone surgery in Gaziantep University Oncology Hospital between June 2005 and June 2012 were followed-up and retrospectively enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected from all patients to assess MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. Stage according to tumor&ndash;node&ndash;metastasis system, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, grade of disease, menopausal status, and administered chemotherapy or hormonal therapy were recorded. Effects of these parameters on recurrence risk were evaluated using univariate analysis and multivariate binary logistic regression model.Results: Association of MTHFR C677T polymorphisms with recurrence risk was evaluated in 298 patients whose median age was 47&nbsp;years (range: 21&ndash;79&nbsp;years). In all patients, age (odds ratio [OR] =0.953, P=0.005) and N3 lymph node status (OR =6.293, P=0.001) were found to affect the recurrence risk. While MTHFR homozygote genotype did not have an effect on recurrence risk in all patients, increased risk was observed in lymph node-positive subgroup (OR&nbsp;=4.271; 95% CI 1.515&ndash;12.023; P=0.006). Adjusting for age, tumor size (T), and node status (N), MTHFR homozygote genotype had more statistically significant risk for recurrence (OR =3.255; 95% CI 1.047&ndash;10.125; P=0.041).Conclusion: MTHFR TT genotype was found to be associated with increased recurrence risk in patients with lymph node-positive breast cancer. Keywords: breast cancer, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR, rs9651118 polymorphism, recurrence ris

Evaluation of sleeping energy expenditure using the SenseWear Armband in patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the average sleeping energy expenditure (EE) levels using the SenseWear Armband (SWA) in patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods: Sixty patients with hypothyroidism and 30 healthy individuals were recruited for the study. Hypothyroid patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 30) consisted of patients with overt hypothyroidism and group 2 (n = 30) consisted of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Lastly, group 3 (n = 30) consisted of healthy subjects. The average EE and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values during sleep of all the hypothyroid participants were analyzed at baseline and at the end of the study. Data were also obtained from the healthy subjects at baseline. Results: The average sleeping EE and METs values were not significantly different at baseline. Similarly, these values did not change significantly after achieving a euthyroid state via thyroid hormone replacement (both p > 0.05). Conclusions: Contrary to what has been previously reported , the average sleeping EE and METs values in all hypothyroid patients and healthy individuals were similar at baseline and did not change in the patients with overt and subclinical hypothyroidism after achievement of a euthyroid state

Urotensin-II and endothelin-I levels after contrast media administration in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions

Background: Contrast induced kidney injury is an acute renal dysfunction that is secondary to the administration of radio contrast media. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the levels of urotensin-II (UT-II) and endothelin-I (ET-I) after contrast media administration in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions. Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated 78 patients with coronary artery disease who were scheduled for and ultimately underwent percutaneous coronary interventions. As a contrast material, nonionic contrast media was used in various amounts (70-480 mL). Blood and urine samples were obtained to measure U-II, ET-I just before and at the twenty-fourth hour of percutaneous coronary interventions. Results: Compared to baseline, twenty-fourth hour creatinine levels were significantly increased ( P < 0.001). The twenty-fourth hour serum and urine levels of both UT-II and ET-I were also significantly increased compared to baseline ( P < 0.001 for all) and 24 th hour serum and urine UT-II (r = 0.322, P = 0.004; r = 0.302, P = 0.007 respectively), ET-I (r = 0.511, P < 0.001; r = 0.266, P = 0.019 respectively) levels were significantly correlated with the amount of contrast media. Conclusion: Our study indicates that; increased UT-II and ET-I levels seem to be a consequence of hazardous effects of contrast media on blood vessels and the kidney