Total Testosterone as a Specific Marker of Acute Kidney Injury in Male Patients With Myocardial Infarction.

Aim The aim of the present study was to assess the significance of total testosterone (T) as a marker of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Patients and methods The study was a retrospective, single-center cohort study that included 55 consecutive male patients diagnosed with acute MI who were admitted to the Cardiology Clinic of Alexandrovska University Hospital (Sofia, Bulgaria) between July 2011 and December 2013. The plasma total T levels, measured at admission, the peak levels of myocardial necrosis markers, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were analyzed in relation to the incidence of AKI.

Serum AGEs and sRAGE levels are not related to vascular complications in patients with prediabetes.

Background: While hyperglycemia has a key role in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications of diabetes, it is just one of the many factors contributing to macrovascular damage. The aim of the present study is to investigate the link between serum pentosidine and sRAGE levels and vascular complications in patients with prediabetes compared to normal glucose tolerance controls with obesity.

Methods: In this study were included 76 patients with mean age 50.

Prevalence of Positive Diabetes-Associated Autoantibodies among Type 2 Diabetes and Related Metabolic and Inflammatory Differences in a Sample of the Bulgarian Population.

Background: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of unrecognized cases with positive autoantibodies among type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a sample of the Bulgarian population and to compare some metabolic and inflammatory markers to those of patients having negative autoantibodies and subjects with latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA).

Methods: Patients with T2D, patients with LADA, and control participants were enrolled. Antiglutamic acid decarboxylase, anti-insulinoma-associated 2, and antizinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were assayed through ELISA.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in Hospitalized COPD Patients: Impact on Quality of Life and Lung Function.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is estimated to affect 2-37% of COPD patients, results varying widely between studies. DM may also correlate with quality of life and lung function.

Aim: To examine correlations between DM and quality of life and lung function in COPD patients admitted to hospital with exacerbation of COPD.

25(OH) vitamin D levels in premenopausal women with polycystic ovary syndrome and/or obesity.

Background: Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and obesity play an important role in development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Current evidence suggests that vitamin D (VitD) deficiency may contribute to the disturbance in insulin metabolism and the development of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate VitD levels, measured as 25(OH)D, in Bulgarian women with PCOS and/or obesity.