Outcomes and effectiveness of bilateral percutaneous transluminal renal artery stenting in patients with critical bilateral renal artery stenosis

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of percutaneous bilateral renal artery stenting in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and in-hospital and 4 month outcome of the procedure, focusing on the changes in renal function and blood pressure. Methods: Five consecutive patients (mean age: 64.8 ± 9.7 years, 1 women) with bilateral renal artery stenoses underwent percutaneous interventions. We compared blood pressure, number of oral antihypertensive medications, and renal function changes preprocedure and postprocedure at 4 months follow-up. Results: A total of 5 bilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis patients underwent percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty and 10 stents were placed. Although systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased in follow-up period, glomerular filtration rates were not significantly changed as compared with baseline data (p = 0.009, p = 0.008, p = 1.00, respectively). Also, the number of oral antihypertensive medications were significantly decreased at follow-up period (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Bilateral renal artery stenting provides a beneficial outcome such as stabilization of renal functions, significant improvement in blood pressure control and reduction in the number of oral antihypertensive medications at follow-up

Treatment Outcomes of HER-2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Pertuzumab in the First Line Setting- Real Life Experience

INTRODUCTION: Pertuzumab is a new recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody, has been developed to inhibit the formation of HER2: HER3 heterodimerization. The clinical benefit of pertuzumab therapy in HER2 positive metastatic Breast Cancer (mBC) patients in the first-line setting has been shown in previous phase III studies. Herein we aimed to analyze the efficacy and toxicity profile of pertuzumab in patients with HER2 positive mBC. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 28 patients with mBC followed from two different centers in Turkey. All patients were treated with pertuzumab in the first line setting, with combination of trastuzumab and docetaxel. Treatment outcomes along with drug efficacy and safety were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: At a median follow-up time of 10.1 (2.4-25.2) months, among the 28 patients, 1 (3.6%) died and 2 (7.1%) developed disease progression. The median age of study population was 47 (18-74) years. Excluding 1 patient, all had (96.4%) de-novo metastatic disease at presentation. The median number of treatment cycles was 7 (4 - 12) for docetaxel, 18 (4 - 35) for pertuzumab + trastuzumab, and 10 (1 - 29) for the maintenance therapy (pertuzumab + trastuzumab). The most common side effects were; fatigue (75%) and arthralgia/myalgia (64.3%). Grade 3 or 4 toxicity were observed to be very infrequent. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Even with a small sample size, our results confirm that, pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel combination therapy in the first line setting in HER2 positive mBC patients is the standardof care, with acceptable toxicity profile and promising survival results

Course of Encephalopathy in a Cirrhotic Dialysis Patient Treated Sequentially with Peritoneal and Hemodialysis

End-stage kidney disease and advanced cirrhosis are sometimes seen concomitantly. There is no consensus on dialysis modality in terms of determining the optimal way of treating these patients. It has been suggested that peritoneal dialysis is a better choice for these patients, but efficacy of hemodialysis in stable cirrhotic patients has not been evaluated sufficiently. We report a case with advanced cirrhosis and end-stage kidney disease who was faced with hepatic encephalopathy episodes up on starting renal replacement therapy. The case is also interesting in that it reveals effects of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on hepatic encephalopathy episodes and quality of life of the patient

Evaluation of Body Composition and Quality of Life of University Students

The aim of this study is to evaluate the physical activity levels and the quality of life of the university students. In this purpose, the SF-36 life quality scale was used to examine the quality of life of the participants and physical activity levels were also determined through IPAQ. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the quality of life based on the physical activity levels of the participants. Moreover, the Bonferroni Correction were used to determine which physical activity level causes the difference by keeping the type I error rate fixed at 0.05. Statistically significant results were observed between social function and physical activity levels for the female group. In addition, statistically significant results were found between vitality and physical activity levels for the male group. The results show that there is a significant relationship between physical activity and quality of life. The individuals who feel more fit and social tend to have an active life. Given that it is crucial to intensify the studies on this topic for university students to encourage them for taking up regular physical activity as a part of life style

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

Cutaneous Metastasis from Squamous Cell Carcinoma of The Bladder: A Case

Objective: To report a case with cutaneous metastasis of bladder squamous cell carcinoma. Very few cases of skin metastases from the urinary bladder are reported in the literature.Case report: Cutaneous metastasis of bladder squamous cell carcinoma is an extremely rare clinic entity associated with poor prognosis. Cutaneous metastasis is accepted as a late manifestation of systemic spread. A 58-year-old man had undergone radical cystoprostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in November 2013. The pathology report showed a moderately differentiated squamous cell bladder carcinoma with a staging of T3N0M0. Then, a large regional cutaneous lesion measuring 4x3.5 cm with an ulcerated and necrotic appearance located in the suprapubic area was detected in February 2014, and the lesion was removed with a 2 cm safety margin. The pathologic examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma. This report describes an interesting and rare case of cutaneous metastasis of bladder squamous cell carcinoma as the primary presentation of metastatic disease with a generally dismal prognosis.Conclusion: The skin metastasis of bladder squamous cell carcinoma is a rare clinical entity with a poor prognosis. Clinicians should be aware of this rare entity

Value of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Pretreatment in Experimental Sepsis Model in Rats

Background and Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the actions of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the changes of endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) alpha, and oxidative stress parameters such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in experimental sepsis model in rats. Materials and Methods. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: sham (group 1), sepsis (group 2), and sepsis + CAPE (group 3), n = 8 each. CAPE was administered (10 µmol/kg) intraperitoneally to group 3 before sepsis induction. Serum ET-1, serum TNF-alpha, tissue SOD activity, and tissue MDA levels were measured in all groups. Results. Pretreatment with CAPE decreased ET-1, TNF-alpha, and MDA levels in sepsis induced rats. Additionally SOD activities were higher in rats pretreated with CAPE after sepsis induction. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that CAPE may have a beneficial effect on ET and TNF-alpha levels and oxidative stress parameters induced by sepsis in experimental rat models. Therefore treatment with CAPE can be used to avoid devastating effects of sepsis

N-[2-(4-Bromo­benzo­yl)eth­yl]isopropyl­aminium chloride

The crystal structure of the title compound, C12H17BrNO+·Cl−, is stabilized by N—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network. The inter­actions framework is completed by C—H⋯π contacts between a methyl­ene group and the benzene ring of a symmetry-related mol­ecule

Acylated and Desacylated Ghrelin, Preptin, Leptin, and Nesfatin-1 Peptide Changes Related to the Body Mass Index

This study examines the levels of acylated and desacylated ghrelin, preptin, leptin, and nesfatin-1 peptide changes related to the body mass index (BMI). The subjects were allocated to 5 groups depending on their BMIs as follows: Group I (BMI 40 kg/m2). Serum acylated and desacylated ghrelin, preptin, and leptin levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nesfatin-1 was measured by the enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Desacylated ghrelin levels showed a gradual and statistically significant drop from Group I to Group V, while preptin and leptin levels exhibited a gradual and significant increase from Group I to Group IV. Serum nesfatin-1 levels gradually, but not significantly, increased from Group I to Group III and showed a significant decrease in Groups IV and V. In conclusion, leptin, preptin, and acylated ghrelin (AG) levels increased with higher BMI, whereas desacylated ghrelin (DAG) decreased and nesfatin-1 showed no clear relationship to BMI