Serum Irisin Levels in Patients with Acute Atrial Fibrillation

Objective: The purpose of this research was to investigate whether changes in serum irisin levels can represent a marker of altered energy requirements in patients with acute atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardioversion (CV). Methods: The research was planned as a randomized, prospective case-control study. Patients presenting to the emergency medicine and cardiology departments of a university hospital due to acute AF were included in the study. Irisin levels were measured from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 hours (h) following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV in patients in AF rhythm. The values obtained were then compared using statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-one patients undergoing CV due to acute AF were enrolled. Mean irisin levels were studied from serum specimens collected 24 and 72 h following restoration of sinus rhythm with CV, and were then compared. No statistically significant difference was determined at comparison of patients’ basal to 24 h, basal to 72 h, and 24 to 72 h mean irisin values (p0.734, p0.958, and p0.643, respectively). Negative correlation was determined between basal serum irisin levels and LDL (r= -0.519, p= 0.002), but no significant correlation was observed with epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness. Conclusion: We determined no change in serum irisin levels studied 24 h and 72 h following return of normal sinus rhythm after CV from basal serum irisin levels in patients with acute AF. No correlation also was determined between serum irisin levels and EAT thickness

Circulating parameters of oxidative stress and hypoxia in normal pregnancy and HELLP syndrome

Demir, Selim/0000-0002-1863-6280WOS: 000451837100015PubMed: 30129291Background. the HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) is a complication of severe pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by oxidative stress elevation caused by disequilibrium between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense mechanisms, which, in turn, results in endothelial compromise and free radical-mediated cell damage. While several studies have examined the relationship between pre-eclampsia and oxidative stress, research investigating oxidative and hypoxic status in HELLP syndrome is limited. Objectives. the aim of this study was to compare the levels of oxidative stress markers - total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and malondialdehyde (MDA) - and a hypoxia marker- carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) - in patients with HELLP syndrome and in healthy pregnant women. Material and methods. A total of 23 women with HELLP syndrome and 30 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Serum levels of oxidative stress markers were determined using colorimetric methods, while serum levels of CA IX were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results. the TOS, OSI, MDA, and CA IX levels were significantly higher in women with HELLP syndrome than in the controls (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, p = 0.0001, and p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions. Increased levels of oxidative stress and hypoxia markers in women with HELLP syndrome suggest that oxidative stress and hypoxia may be significantly involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Furtherfollow-up studies are now needed to investigate the prognostic roles of these parameters in patients with HELLP syndrome

Can Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (I-FABP) Be A Marker in the Diagnosis of Abdominal Pathology?

SUMMARYObjectivesBiochemical markers play an important role in the early diagnosis of abdominal pain. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of intestinal type fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in patients with abdominal pathology.MethodsThis prospective and descriptive study was performed at the University Hospital Emergency Department. Serum I-FABP levels of patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were measured at time of admission and were compared with those of healthy individuals.ResultsThe mean I-FABP level of the 171 patients enrolled in this study was 170.1±543.4 pg/ml, while that of a healthy control group was 61.4±47.4 pg/ml. Although I-FABP levels were higher in the patient group, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). However, I-FABP levels of patients with mesenteric ischemia and intra-abdominal mass were significantly higher than those of healthy individuals (p≤0.05).ConclusionsI-FABP levels that are evaluated at time of admission in patients presenting with abdominal pain to the emergency department are significantly higher in patients with mesenteric ischemia and intra-abdominal mass than are those of healthy individuals

Effects of Metoprolol on Experimental Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of metoprolol and its efficacy in reducing lipidperoxidation levels in the spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion model in rats.Material and Methods: Twenty (20) Sprague-Dawley female rats weighing between 220 gr and 280 gr were randomlydivided into 3 groups. Only laparotomy was performed in the control group, and the aorta abdominalis was revealed. Inthe groups other than the control group, clip compression was applied to the aorta abdominalis for 45 minutes. Theischemia group was not given any medication. Metoprolol was administered intraperitoneally at 0.5 mg/kg to themetoprolol group. Motor examination was made according to Tarlov scale at the 1st and 24th hours and then, spinalcords of all rat models were removed. Spinal cord tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination andfor determining malondialdehyde (MDA) level. All rats were sacrificed by draining blood after their motorexaminations.Results: According to motor examination findings at the 1st and 24th hours, metoprolol resulted in a statisticallysignificant improvement in recovery (p=0.045). Histopathological examinations revealed that metoprolol contributed toneurological recovery by reducing neuronal necrosis. MDA levels, which is an indicator of lipid peroxidation, weresignificantly lower in the metoprolol group when compared to the ischemia group (p=0.001).Conclusion: Metoprolol was found to be significantly effective in reducing and/or preventing spinal cord ischemiareperfusion injury

The Diagnostic Value of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE-1) in an Experimental Model of Strangulated Mechanical Bowel Obstruction

Background Mechanical bowel obstruction (MBO) is one of the principal pathologies requiring emergency surgery and a significant worldwide cause of morbidity. The identification of patients in whom bowel obstruction resolves spontaneously is important in terms of preventing unnecessary surgical interventions and future potential adhesions. The decision-making process is difficult in patients presenting without classic examination findings. Methods 36 female Sprague-Dawley rats randomly divided into six experimental groups. In Group 1, 3 and 5, laparotomy was performed, with blood and tissue specimens being collected after 1, 2 and 6 h, respectively. In Group 2, 4 and 6, the ileum segment was ligated following laparotomy, and blood and tissue specimens were collected after 1, 2 and 6 h, respectively. The ileum specimens were examined macroscopically, after which 1-cm sections were taken and examined in terms of histopathological changes. IMA and SCUBE-1 levels were determined for each group, and macro- and microscopic tissue examination findings were compared between the groups. Results Comparison within the groups exposed to waiting times of 1 h (groups 1 and 2), 2 h (groups 3 and 4) and 6 h (groups 5 and 6) revealed higher mean IMA and SCUBE-1 levels in rats undergoing ligation together with incision (groups 2, 4, and 6) compared to those undergoing laparotomy only (groups 1, 3, and 5). Correlation analysis was applied to determine the relationship between total scores obtained from histopathological examination and IMA and SCUBE-1 values. The analysis revealed strong, significant and positive correlation between histopathological examination scores and IMA (r=0.643, p=0.000) and SCUBE-1 (r=0.509, p=0.002) values. Conclusion The study findings showed that both IMA and SCUBE-1 values increased in a strangulated MBO model in rats. We think that IMA and SCUBE-1 values can be used as a markers of damage in the early period in strangulated MBO, and that the patient's surgery requirement can thus be determined in the early period

The relationship between ischemia-modified albumin and myocardial infarction in on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Conclusion: Our study results show that IMA may be an early marker of myocardial infarction in the ONCABG patients

Ischemia-Modifi ed Albumin Levels in Children with Chronic Liver Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels have been shown to correlate with the severity of liver failure in adults. However, the role of IMA levels has not been evaluated in children with chronic liver disease (CLD). We analyzed the clinical significance of IMA levels in children with CLD. METHODS: Thirty-three children with CLD and 33 healthy children were included in the study. Blood was collected to analyze biochemical parameters, oxidant status, and IMA. Liver biopsies were re-evaluated for liver fibrosis; severe fibrosis (SF) was defined as fibrosis stage ≥4. RESULTS: The IMA and and IMA to albumin ratios (IMARs) were significantly higher in children with CLD than in those without (IMA: 0.545±0.095 vs 0.481±0.062, p=0.003; IMAR: 0.152±0.046 vs 0.126±0.018, p=0.04). The IMAR was positively correlated with the pediatric end-stage liver disease score (p=0.03, r=0.503) and fibrosis score (p=0.021, r=0.400). Patients with SF had higher IMARs compared to patients with mild fibrosis (0.181±0.056 vs 0.134±0.025, p=0.003). The area under the receiver operation curve (AUROC) for predicting SF was 0.78 (p=0.006). Using a cutoff ratio value of 0.140, the sensitivity and specificity were 84% and 70%, respectively. The AUROC for predicting the need for liver transplantation and/or death was 0.82 (p=0.013). With a cutoff value of 0.156, the sensitivity and specificity was 83% and 82%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed increased morbidity and/or mortality in the group with an IMAR>0.156 (50% vs 4.3%, p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: IMARs have been shown to provide important clues in predicting the fibrosis stage of the disease and determining the outcome in children with CLD