Prolonged hyperglycemia in the early subacute period after cerebral infarction: effects on short term prognosis

Although the adverse effect of admission hyperglycemia in cerebral infarction on prognosis is well known, studies generally have not questioned the effect of hyperglycemia in the early subacute period on prognosis after a stroke. Forty-six patients with acute ischemic stroke were seperated into 3 groups: Group 1) Known diabetes or admission blood glucose (ABG) > or = 140 mg/dl and HbA1c > or = 8,0%); Group 2) ABG > or = 140 mg/dl and HbA1c < 8,0%; and Group 3) ABG < 140 mg/dl and HbA1c < 8,0%. Blood glucose was followed-up 4 times a day for 10 days after the stroke and the mean of these measurements was calculated as the mean of glycemic regulation (MGR). Neurological evaluation was done at presentation and on day 10 and 30 with the National Institute of Health (NIH) scale. Oedema, lesion size and presence of hemorrhagic transformation were evaluated using CT. The MGR was significantly higher in group 1 compared to the other two groups (p < 0,001 and p < 0,01) and in group 2 compared to group 3 (p < 0,001). Patients with clinical worsening had a significantly higher MGR (p < 0,05). Patients with marked cerebral edema had a significantly higher MGR (p < 0,01) compared to patients with lesser edema. No correlation was found between MGR and lesion size or hemorrhagic transformation. Our results show that hyperglycemia in the early subacute period after cerebral infarction is associated with more pronounced cerebral edema and has an adverse effect on short term prognosis. We suggest that studies investigating the effect of insulin infusion on stroke prognosis should also consider infusions for a longer period than 24 hours.     

An interactive dynamic analysis and decision support software for MR mammography

A fully automated software is introduced to facilitate MR mammography (MRM) examinations and overcome subjectiveness in diagnosis using normalized maximum intensity–time ratio (nMITR) maps. These maps inherently suppress enhancements due to normal parenchyma and blood vessels that surround lesions and have natural tolerance to small field inhomogeneities and motion artifacts. The classifier embedded within the software is trained with normalized complexity and maximum nMITR of 22 lesions and tested with the features of remaining 22 lesions. Achieved diagnostic performances are 92% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 91% accuracy, 92% positive predictive value and 90% negative predictive value. DynaMammoAnalyst shortens evaluation time considerably and reduces inter and intra-observer variability by providing decision support.     

Investigation of UCH-L1 levels in ischemic stroke,intracranial hemorrhage and metabolic disorder induced impaired consciousness

Objective

We aimed to determine the levels of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) in patients admitted to the emergency department with impaired consciousness due to metabolic or neurological reasons.

Plasma homocysteine levels in obese and non-obese subjects with or without hypertension; its relationship with oxidative stress and copper

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between plasma total Homocysteine (tHcy) and oxidative stress and plasma levels of lipids, insulin and copper levels were investigated in obese and nonobese hypertensives. DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma tHcy levels were determined by an enzyme immunoassay method. Plasma lipid peroxidation levels were measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by spectrophotometric methods. Plasma levels of copper and insulin were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and electrochemiluminescence method, respectively. RESULTS: Plasma tHcy, copper and insulin levels did not differ in nonobese hypertensives compared to nonobese normotensives. Plasma TBARS levels were significantly increased in nonobese hypertensives when compared to nonobese normotensives (p < 0.001). Plasma tHcy, TBARS, copper and fasting insulin levels were significantly higher in obese normotensives and hypertensives than in nonobese normotensives and hypertensives, respectively (for each comparison; p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in plasma tHcy, TBARS and copper levels between obese subjects with or without hypertension (for each comparison p < 0.01). The univariate analyses demonstrated a significant positive correlation between tHcy and TBARS (coefficient +/- SE, 0.411 +/- 0.115, p < 0.01) and copper (coefficient +/- SE, 0.425 +/- 0.135, p < 0.01) in obese subjects. In a multivariate regression analysis in obese subjects tHcy was positively correlated with TBARS (coefficient +/- SE, 0.480 +/- 0.155, p < 0.01) and copper (coefficient +/- SE, 0.486 +/- 0.140, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that in the presence of other traditional risk factors, Hcy may have a permissive role in the endothelium damage even within the normal range and this role may be related to free radical generating systems. Therefore, modest elevation of plasma Hcy may causally be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and/or cardiovascular disease.     

Gammarus pulex as a Model Organism to Assess the Residual Toxicity of Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treated by Electrocoagulation Process

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology - It was assessed the efficiency of the electrocoagulation (EC) in slaughterhouse wastewater (SW) treatment by using antioxidant parameters of...