Serum iron levels in schizophrenic patients with or without akathisia.

The pathophysiology of akathisia still remains controversial. Iron deficiency was proposed to be an important factor in the development of akathisia. In the present study, it was aimed to compare levels of serum iron and linked variables in chronic akathisic (n=30), and non-akathisic patients (n=30) with schizophrenia and healthy controls (n=30) because of the controversy in the association of iron and akathisia. The Barnes Akathisia Scale for akathisia and Simpson-Angus Rating Scale for extrapyramidal side effects were used. Serum iron and linked variables and hematological profile of the patients and control subjects were determined. Serum iron levels were significantly lower both in akathisic and non-akathisic groups compared to the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, akathisic patients had significantly lower iron levels than non-akathisic patients (P<0.05). Total iron binding capacity was significantly higher in patients with akathisia compared to the control group (P<0.01). Although non-akathisic patients had a mild increase in total iron binding capacity, it was not statistically significant compared to the control group (P>0.05). Ferritin levels were determined to be significantly lower in both groups compared to the control group (P<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in ferritin levels between the patients with and without akathisia (P<0.05). In conclusion, our results support the hypothesis that an association between akathisia and iron metabolism exists.     

Acute abdomen in a case with noncommunicating rudimentary horn and unicornuate uterus.

Unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary horn is the rarest congenital anatomic anomaly of the female genital system, causing many obstetrical and gynecologic complications. The frequency of this pathology is approximately 1/100 000. A rudimentary horn usually develops following insufficient development of mullerian ducts. These patients present with dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain because of endometriosis and rarely with acute abdominal symptoms following distention and torsion of the noncommunicating rudimentary horn. The case of a patient referred for acute abdomen after distention of a noncommunicating rudimentary horn is presented herein.     

Inhibition kinetics of human serum butyrylcholinesterase by Cd2+, Zn2+ and Al3+: comparison of the effects of metal ions on cholinesterases

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8) has been purified about 6600-fold from human serum with a procedure including ammonium sulfate fractionation (55-70%) with acid step at pH 4.5 and procainamide-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme exhibited negative cooperativity with respect to butyrylthiocholine (BTCh) binding at pH 7.5. Ks was found to be 0.128 +/- 0.012 mM. Inhibition kinetics of the enzyme by Cd2+, Zn2+ and Al3+ were studied in detail. The 1/v vs 1/[BTCh] plots in the absence (control plot) and in the presence of different concentrations of cations intersected above 1/[BTCh]-axis. The data were analyzed by means of a nonlinear curve fitting program. The results demonstrated that all of the three cations are the linear mixed-type inhibitors of BChE. Ca2+ and Mg2+ had no effect on the enzyme activity in the experimental conditions. But when the enzyme was inhibited by 0.5 mM Cd2+ or Zn2+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ partially reactivated the inhibited allosteric form of BChE. Results were compared with data obtained from brain BChE purified from sheep.     

Effects of simvastatin only or in combination with continuous combined hormone replacement therapy on serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolaemic post-menopausal women.

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of simvastatin only or combined with continuous hormone replacement therapy on the serum lipid profile in hypercholesterolaemic post-menopausal women. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred hypercholesterolaemic post-menopausal women were given either simvastatin 10 mg daily together with oestrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone 2.5 mg daily (HRT+simvastatin group) (n:50) or simvastatin 10 mg daily (simvastatin only group) (n:50) in a prospective manner. Serum total, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured at baseline, at 3 and 6 months. The initial mean (+/-SD) cholesterol values were as follows for the HRT+simvastatin group and the simvastatin only group, respectively: total cholesterol 240. 0+/-28.0 and 248.9+/-28.2 mg x dl(-1); low density lipoprotein cholesterol 174.7+/-25.6 and 175.1+/-25.9 mg x dl(-1); high density lipoprotein cholesterol 37.2+/-5.0 and 39.9+/-7.3 mg x dl(-1). Compared with the baseline, total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased; and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased significantly at 3 and 6 months in both groups. However, the mean percent reduction in total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly greater in the HRT+ simvastatin group compared with the simvastatin only group both at 3 months (12.3+/-7.0% vs 8.9+/-6.2%;P<0.01; and 19.0+/-10.6% vs 13.2+/-10.4%;P< 0.005, respectively) and at 6 months (14.6+/-7.7% vs 11.3+/-7.4%;P<0.05 and 23.3+/-9.7% vs 15.8+/-12.3%;P<0.005, respectively). The mean percent increase in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations was also significantly greater in the HRT+simvastatin group compared with the simvastatin only group at both times (14.6+/-11.8% vs 9.8+/-11.8%;P<0.005, at 3 months, and 21.3+/-15.2% vs 11.1+/-12.5;P<0.005, at 6 months, respectively). Furthermore, significantly more patients in the HRT+simvastatin group than in the simvastatin only group attained their target treatment goals dictated by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II Guidelines. Although the mean percent decrease in triglyceride levels was significantly greater in the HRT+simvastatin group at 3 months, the significance disappeared at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The combination of simvastatin and continuous combined hormone replacement therapy seems to be more effective than simvastatin only in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in post-menopausal women.     

High-sensitivity SERS based sensing on the labeling side of glass slides using low branched gold nanoparticles prepared with surfactant-free synthesis

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has become a more attractive tool for biological and chemical sensing due to having a great detection potential to extremely low concentrations of analyte. Here, we report high-sensitivity SERS detection of low branched gold nanoparticles which are produced by a surfactant-free synthesis method. The effects of the size and branches of nanoparticles on the SERS signal intensity were also investigated. Among the prepared nanoparticles, a new type of nanoparticle with small protrusions produced by using a very low concentration of silver ions (2 μM in final solution) achieved the best enhancement factor of ∼4 × 10⁵ for DTNB used as a probe molecule. SERS measurements were performed on the labeling side of microscope glass slides for the first time. The substrate exhibited a good reproducible SERS signal with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.7%. SERS signal intensity obtained using the labelling side was three times larger compared to that obtained using bare glass. To validate the sensing platform, dopamine, an important modulatory neurotransmitter in the brain, was tested. The reported platform was able to achieve label-free detection of dopamine at picomolar and nanomolar concentration level in aqueous and fetal bovine serum (FBS) solution at pH 8.5 respectively. Due to its surfactant-free preparation and enhanced SERS-based sensing features, our reported platform represents a strong alternative to be used in SERS-based sensing applications.

High-sensitivity dopamine detection on aggregated low branched nanoparticles on labelling side of glass slide as a SERS based sensor.     

Are radio‐contrast agents commonly used in discography toxic to the intact intervertebral disc tissue cells?

In the literature, there have been no studies showing clear results on how radio‐contrast pharmaceuticals would affect intact disc tissue cells. In this context, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of iopromide and gadoxetic acid, frequently used in the discography, on intact lumbar disc tissue in pharmaco‐molecular and histopathological level. Primary cell cultures were prepared from the healthy disc tissue of the patients operated in the neurosurgery clinic. Except for the control group, the cultures were incubated with the indicated radio‐contrast agents. Cell viability, toxicity and proliferation indices were tested at specific time intervals. The cell viability was quantitatively analysed. It was also visually rechecked under a fluorescence microscope with acridine orange/propidium iodide staining. Simultaneously, cell surface morphology was analysed with an inverted light microscope, while haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining methodology was used in the histopathological evaluations. The obtained data were evaluated statistically. Unlike the literature, iopromide or gadoxetic acid did not have any adverse effects on the cell viability, proliferation and toxicity (P < 0.05). Although this study reveals that radio‐contrast pharmaceuticals used in the discography, often used in neurosurgical practice, can be safely used, it should be remembered that this study was performed in an in vitro environment.     

Disturbed Left Atrial Function is Associated with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertension

Background

Hypertension is the most prevalent and modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation. The pressure overload in the left atrium induces pathophysiological changes leading to alterations in contractile function and electrical properties.

Objective

In this study our aim was to assess left atrial function in hypertensive patients to determine the association between left atrial function with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Method

We studied 57 hypertensive patients (age: 53±4 years; left ventricular ejection fraction: 76±6.7%), including 30 consecutive patients with PAF and 30 age-matched control subjects. Left atrial (LA) volumes were measured using the modified Simpson''s biplane method. Three types of LA volume were determined: maximal LA(LAVmax), preatrial contraction LA(LAVpreA) and minimal LA volume(LAVmin). LA emptying functions were calculated. LA total emptying volume = LAVmax−LAVmin and the LA total EF = (LAVmax-LAVmin )/LAVmax, LA passive emptying volume = LAVmax− LAVpreA and the LA passive EF = (LAVmax-LAVpreA)/LAVmax, LA active emptying volume = LAVpreA−LAVmin and LA active EF = (LAVpreA-LAVmin )/LAVpreA.

Results

The hypertensive period is longer in hypertensive group with PAF. LAVmax significantly increased in hypertensive group with PAF when compared to hypertensive group without PAF (p=0.010). LAAEF was significantly decreased in hypertensive group with PAF as compared to hypertensive group without PAF (p=0.020). A'' was decreased in the hypertensive group with PAF when compared to those without PAF (p = 0.044).

Conclusion

Increased LA volume and impaired LA active emptying function was associated with PAF in untreated hypertensive patients. Longer hypertensive period is associated with PAF.     

Aortitis in a patient with psoriatic arthritis

Aortitis, inflammation of the aortic tissue, is most commonly caused by vasculitic rheumatic conditions, and less frequently infectious organisms. Involvement of the aorta is well defined in HLA-B27-associated spondyloarthropathies such as long-standing ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome. However, unlike other spondyloarthropathies, aortic involvement or true aortitis is not a feature of psoriatic arthritis and has been reported in only a few cases. Herein, we report the case of a 22?year-old woman with psoriatic arthritis who developed descending aortitis while using tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.