Assessment of paraoxonase activity and lipid peroxidation levels in diabetic and senile subjects suffering from cataract

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate antioxidant effect of paraoxonase 1 activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a marker of oxidative stress in patients suffering from cataract due to diabetes and aging.Design and methods:One hundred cataract patients (senile and diabetic) and age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Paraoxonase 1 and arylesterase activities in plasma samples were measured using paraoxon and phenylacetate as substrates, respectively. The magnitude of lipid peroxidation was established by measuring plasma MDA and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox LDL) levels. One-way ANOVA was employed for analysis of results.Results:We observed significantly lower plasma paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in senile and diabetic cataractous patients as compared to respective controls (p < 0.001). Plasma MDA and ox LDL levels were found to be higher in patients suffering from cataract (p < 0.001).Conclusions:The results of present study suggest that the observed decrease in PON1 activity may be due to increase in oxidative stress. It can be concluded that lower paraoxonase activity could contribute to the higher risk of cataract formation.     

The quality of life and self-efficacy of Turkish breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Self-efficacy has a positive effect on health behaviors, symptom control, compliance with cancer treatment, and quality of life. This study aims to describe the quality of life and self-efficacy of Turkish breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The sample consisted of 141 patients. Data was gathered using a Patient Information Form, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B), a scale about Strategies Used by Patients to Promote Health and the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist. All quality of life dimensions were negatively affected at a significant level. Following commencement of chemotherapy, there was an increase in the negative effect on physical well-being, emotional well-being and additional concerns subscales and total FACT-B and their self-efficacy was negatively affected to a moderate degree. However, a significant degree of change did not occur in the self-efficacy. During treatment the physical symptoms and psychological distress increased and the activity level was negatively affected. The quality of life and self-efficacy were influenced by personal and medical characteristics, showing consistency with similar studies. Because there are negative effects of cancer and chemotherapy on patients' quality of life and self-efficacy, nurses need to focus on designing psychosocial interventions to improve their self-efficacy and quality of life.     

Critical limb ischemia: does long-term patency matter?

In critical limb ischemia (CLI), an underlying principle of treatment is that it takes more oxygenated blood to heal a wound than to maintain tissue integrity. Urgent restoration of perfusion to the ischemic territory, not long-term patency of the target vessel, is the primary treatment goal. However, in patients with CLI treated by surgical bypass, loss of graft patency is associated with poor outcomes. We decided to address the conventional wisdom that restenosis is not a major concern in CLI as long as tissue healing occurs in patients undergoing endovascular revascularization. We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients treated for CLI with infra-popliteal percutaneous revascularization from 2007 to 2009. Those with prior ipsilateral percutaneous revascularization for CLI formed the study population. Among 29 CLI patients treated for infra-popliteal revascularization, six patients had a history of prior successful ipsilateral revascularization for CLI. All six patients were free of rest pain and ulcers at the 60-day follow-up. The median time interval between the two percutaneous revascularization procedures was 21 months (quartile ranges: 25th = 4.5 months, 75th = 36 months). Five of the six patients had restenosis of a previous lesion, while the sixth patient had a de novo lesion causing recurrent CLI. In conclusion, we found that one in five patients receiving infra-popliteal angioplasty for CLI has had a similar percutaneous revascularization procedure in the past. Among these patients most cases were for restenosis rather than de novo lesions. Further research is needed to determine whether the incidence of recurrent CLI is due to de novo lesions or restenosis. Close clinical follow-up of these patients and maintaining long-term patency with endovascular techniques will likely reduce CLI recurrence.     

Mannose binding lectin levels are not related to radiographic damage in ankylosing spondylitis

In the current study we aimed to investigate the effect of MBL deficiency in radiographic damage of the spine in a large group of AS patients. One hundred and ninety-one AS patients and 85 healthy controls were studied. Disease activity, radiological scores, and demographic features were recorded. MBL levels were measured with standard ELISA kits. Results showed that median MBL levels in AS and healthy controls were 2,530 (range 0–5,861) ng/ml and 3,415 (0–7,950) ng/ml, respectively (p = 0.1). MBL deficiency (<500 ng/ml) was comparable in both groups (%21.5 in AS, % 17.6; p = 0.5). Disease activity, clinical picture, and therapies were not associated with MBL levels. Both BASRI and mSASSS scores were found similar in AS patients with or without MBL deficiency [BASRI: MBL < 500 ng/ml: 6(2–12), MBL ≥ 500 ng/ml: 6(2–12); p = 0.75], [mSASSS: MBL < 500 ng/ml: 3(0–72), MBL ≥ 500 ng/ml: 5(0–72); p = 0.81]. We conclude that MBL deficiency prevalence is not increased in AS patients and it is not a cause of a severe radiographic damage.     

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis induced by cetuximab

Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor used in metastatic colorectal cancer, and head and neck cancers. Several cutaneous side effects due to cetuximab such as acne-like rash, pruritus, dry skin, desquamation, hypertrichosis, and paronychia have been reported so far. A 59-year-old male patient with metastatic colon cancer referred to our outpatient clinic for his lesions on the dorsal surfaces of his hands and wrists, and on thighs developing after the chemotherapy. He was diagnosed as neutrophilic eccrine hydradenitis related to cetuximab in the light of clinical and histopathological findings. According to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of neutrophilic ecrine hydradenitis due to cetuximab.     

The XXXIV Spanish Congress of Pediatric Nephrology 4-7 June 2008, Sevilla, Spain

Abstracts

The XXXIV Spanish Congress of Pediatric Nephrology 4-7 June 2008, Sevilla, Spain     

A rare cause of sudden vision loss in a young male: papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPF) is a rare cardiac neoplasm predominantly affecting the cardiac valves. Although it is most commonly an incidental finding, it can result in life-threatening complications, such as coronary and cerebral embolism, acute valvular dysfunction, and sudden death. In this report, we describe a case of a patient with aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma, which presented with sudden vision loss due to branch retinal artery occlusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third case of CPF-related retinal artery embolism in English literature.