Cortisol levels during an oral glucose tolerance test in lean and obese women

Because of the similarities between Cushing's syndrome and insulin resistance syndrome,cortisol metabolism in obesity has been investigated in numerous studies. Our study investigates serum glucose, insulin, and cortisol response to oral glucose stimulation in a group of obese and lean normotensive, normolipidemic, and glucose-tolerant premenopausal women. Twenty-one obese [body mass index (BMI) 37Z +/- 6.3 kg/m2) and 14 lean (BMI: 21.5 +/- 1.0 kg/m2) age-matched healthy premenopausal women were included in the study. Serum glucose, insulin, and cortisol levels were measured at 30-minute intervals during 120 minutes of oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). Mean serum glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared with lean subjects, and cortisol levels were similar during OGTT. There was not a significant difference for cortisol area under the curve (AUC) during OGTT between the two groups. No correlation between cortisol AUC, insulin AUC, and glucose AUC was noted for both groups. During OGTT, a decrease in cortisol levels was observed in both groups. The decrement occurred at 30 minutes of the OGTT in the obese group and at 60 minutes of the OGTT in the lean group. At 90 and 120 minutes of the OGTT, serum cortisol levels were similar to basal levels in both the obese group and the lean group. Previous studies reported altered hypotalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, altered levels of urinary cortisol excretion, and increased metabolic clearance of cortisol in obesity. In our study in obese women, the only detected difference from lean subjects was a quicker suppression and recovery in serum cortisol levels after glucose administration.     

Coronary atherosclerosis distribution and the effect of blood glucose level on operative mortality/morbidity in diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a single center experience.

OBJECTIVE: The study aim was to investigate the effect of blood glucose level on atherosclerotic lesion distribution and the contribution to the operative mortality/morbidity in diabetic patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Between 1986-2003, a total of 2095 patients with diabetes mellitus underwent CABG. The analysis was carried out retrospectively from the clinical records. The patients were divided into four groups according to the blood glucose levels that were obtained when they first applied to hospital; Group 1 (492 patients with blood glucose < 120 mg/dl), group 2 (1112 patients with blood glucose - 120-200 mg/dl, group 3 (261 patients with blood glucose 201-250 mg/dl) and group 4 (230 patients with blood glucose > 250 mg/dl). One way ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis of continuous variables and Chi-square test was used for analyzing the categorical variables. RESULTS: Emergent operation rate due to acute ischemia gradually increased from Group 1 to Group 4 and reached 6.6% in Group 4 (p=0.005). Operation time and the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp were significantly longer in patients with high blood glucose levels (p<0.05). Necessity for inotropic drug administration postoperatively (p<0.05) and mechanical support (p<0.05) were significantly higher also. The hospital mortality in group 3 was 9.6% and in group 4 was 11.3% (p=0.09). No statistically significant difference was found in terms of morbidity between the groups (p>0.05). The multi-vessel coronary artery disease was more common in groups with high blood glucose level (p<0.05). As the blood glucose level raised, patients were more frequently (p<0.05) confronted with distal left anterior descending artery, middle circumflex artery and right coronary artery lesions. CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled blood glucose level not only increased the perioperative complications but also the incidence of middle and distal coronary artery lesions. It is necessary to diagnose and aggressively treat the high blood glucose level especially before the CABG.     

In vitro antifungal effect of human milk.

A lower incidence of infection occurs among breast-fed babies because of the presence of antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic effects, but little is known about the antifungal effects to fungi other than Candida albicans. This study was undertaken to assess the antifungal effect of human milk to the fungi in the environmental air, which also may be allergenic. Milk samples were obtained from lactating mothers of healthy term infants between the 3rd and 8th days of lactation. Ninety-six Sabouraud agar petri dishes were separated into three groups, closed, and incubated in the same location after 15 minutes uncovered. The first group (group 1, n=48 dishes) was used to detect the fungal flora of the environmental air. The second group (group 2, n=24 dishes) was rubbed with a thin layer of human milk by a sterile pipette. The last group (group 3, n=24 dishes) was rubbed with 0.9% NaCIlsolution. After 7 days of incubation, the colony-forming fungal growths of all dishes were evaluated by a microbiologist who did not know the groups of the dishes. The number offungal colonies grown in human milk-rubbed dishes in group 2 was less than both of the other groups (group 1 and 3; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). These results indicated that human milk may have antifungal effects to fungi present in the environmental air as tested by Sabouraud agar petri dishes. To prevent infections and allergic diseases, human milk must be considered the ideal food for newborns.     

2'-Chloropentostatin: discovery, fermentation and biological activity

2'-Chloropentostatin (2-CP) is a new nucleoside antibiotic produced by Actinomadura sp. ATCC 39365. A selectively sensitive assay organism, Enterococcus faecalis PD 05045 (MIC 0.005 micrograms/ml) was instrumental in the discovery of this compound. 2-CP is a tight-binding inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (Ki = 1.1 X 10(-10) M).     

Plasma leptin and its relationship with lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide in obese female patients with or without hypertension

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggested that leptin-induced oxidative stress in human endothelial cells in vivo and increased oxidative stress in human essential hypertension may further contribute to both the development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the association of plasma leptin levels with plasma lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in obese hypertensive atherosclerosis model. METHODS: Plasma leptin, lipid peroxidation and NOx levels were determined in age-matched non-obese normotensive female subjects (n = 30), obese normotensive female subjects (n = 45), and obese hypertensive female subjects (n = 50). Plasma leptin levels were determined by immunoradiometric method. Lipid peroxidation was determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) using spectrophotometric method. NOx levels were determined using enzymatic method. RESULTS: We found that plasma leptin and TBARS levels were increased in obesity, and obese hypertensives have significantly higher plasma leptin and TBARS levels than obese normotensives (p <0.001 and p <0.001). Obese hypertensives have significantly lower plasma NOx levels than obese normotensives (p <0.001). In univariate and multivariate regression analysis, plasma leptin levels were significantly correlated with TBARS (p <0.01 and p <0.01) in obese subjects. Plasma TBARS were also inversely correlated with NOx in hypertensive obese subjects (r = -0.412, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown that elevated leptin levels may be associated with increased oxidative stress and free-radical-induced decreased NOx levels. Therefore, hyperleptinemia may be an important contributor to the generation of hypertension in obesity.     

Novel antitumor antibiotics, CI-940 (PD 114,720) and PD 114,721. Taxonomy, fermentation and biological activity

The novel, broad-spectrum antitumor antibiotics, CI-940 (PD 114,720) and PD 114,721 are components of bioactive compounds produced by a novel actinomycete (ATCC 39366). The organism is unique in that whole cell analysis revealed LL-diaminopimelic acid and major amounts of arabinose. These new antibiotics exhibit potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo versus an array of tumors and possess strong antibacterial and antifungal activity. The above antibiotics are produced in 7,570-liter fermentors at yields of 5 approximately 8 micrograms/ml.     

Synthesis of new Mannich bases of arylpyridazinones as analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents

A series of 2-[[4-(substituted-phenyl/ benzyl)-1-piperazinyllmethyl]-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3(2H)pyridazinone derivatives was prepared and examined for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The structures of these new pyridazinone derivatives were confirmed by their IR and 1H-NMR spectra and elementary analysis. Among the compounds prepared, 2-[[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-piperazinyl]methyl]-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3(2H)pyridazinone IVe was found to be a most promising analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. Compound IVe showed more potent analgesic activity than acetylsalicyclic acid in the phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing test. Also IVe showed anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of the standard compound indometacin against the carrageenan-induced paw edema. Side effects of the compounds were examined on gastric mucosa. None of the compounds showed a gastric ulcerogenic effect compared with reference nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. On the basis of the available data, the structure-activity relationship of the series of 2-[[4-(substituted-phenyl/benzyl)-1-piperazinyl]methyl]-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3(2H) pyridazinones is also discussed.     

Mirtazapine augmentation for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-induced sexual dysfunction: a retropective investigation

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively identify sexual dysfunction changes in the patients under mirtazapine-augmented serotonin reuptake inhibito (SSRI) treatment. The study comprised medical records of 20 outpatients, under mirtazapine-augmented SSRI treatment for their major depressive disorder, who had been selected among the patients that had developed sexual dysfunction to previous treatment as monotherapy, with SSRI for at least six weeks. These drugs were maintained and mirtazapine were added (15-45 mg/day). There was a significant difference in scores between baseline and week 4 or week 8 on the both Hamilton Depression Rating and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. According to Clinical Global Impression-Improvement, 68.4% of the patients were responders. The use of low-dose mirtazapine as an add-on treatment to SSRIs appears to be an effective and well-tolerated augmenttaion for sexual dysfunction caused by SSRIs.     

Immunohistochemical comparison of indermil with traditional suture materials in dental surgery

The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of indermil on the closure of oral mucosa wounds in comparison with conventional sutures by investigating interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) markers immunohistochemically in an animal model.The animals were anesthetized by intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (90 mg/kg body weight). Straight incisions were made to the buccal mucosa of the animals. Animals were randomly assigned to 5 groups. Five different materials were used in the study. These were silk, plain catgut, monocryl, vicryl rapide (polyglactin 910), and indermil (N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate). The wounds were closed primarily. After the region of wounds was examined clinically at the 2nd, 7th, 14th, and 21st days, excisional biopsies were performed, and the tissue samples were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically.On the 14th day, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were high in the plain catgut group, moderate in the indermil group, and mild in the monocryl, silk, and vicryl rapide groups. On the 21st day, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were moderate in the plain catgut group, mild in the indermil and monocryl groups, and nonsignificant in the silk group. After the second day, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were mild in the monocryl, silk, and vicryl rapide groups.Plain catgut had more negative effects than indermil on wound healing. Indermil should be applied to oral mucosa wounds together with sutures to provide better tissue support.     

Diagnostic value of thyroglobulin measurement in fine-needle aspiration biopsy for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Purpose  

We aimed to compare the diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and fine-needle aspiration thyroglobulin measurements (FNA-Tg) for detecting cervical lymph node metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinomas.