Coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters in type 2 diabetic patients with and without diabetic vascular complications.

Objectives: To investigate the markers of endogenous coagulation/fibrinolysis and vascular endothelial cell function, and to assess the relationships between hemostatic parameters and diabetic vascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Materials And Methods: Coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters were measured in 92 type 2 diabetic patients (43 male, 49 female, mean age 50.1 +/- 13.

Effects of interferon-alpha-2a on Th3 cytokine response in multiple myeloma patients.

Aims And Background: Multiple myeloma cells increase Th3 cytokine response by secreting TGF-beta, which causes defective Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses. Therefore, a significant suppression of the immune system is seen in multiple myeloma. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is used in the treatment of multiple myeloma due to its immunomodulatory and anti-tumoral effects.

Effects of leptin and insulin on CA III expression in rat adipose tissue.

Studies on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying obesity have shown that the expression of some proteins was decreased with obesity in rat adipose tissue. One of these proteins is carbonic anhydrase III (CA III) which constitutes 24% of the cytosolic protein content and its function is unclear. A freshly isolated rat adipose cell culture model was used to examine the effect of leptin and insulin on CA III expression.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Turkey.

In 2002 and 2003, a total of 19 persons in Turkey had suspected cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) or a similar viral infection. Six serum samples were tested; all six were found positive for immunoglobulin M antibodies against CCHF virus. Two of the samples yielded CCHF virus isolates.

Hemostatic and fibrinolytic response to nasal desmopressin in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of desmopressin (DDAVP) on hemostatic parameters during dialysis and in the interval between dialysis sessions.

Subjects And Methods: Fifteen patients dialyzed twice weekly at least for 1 year and 15 healthy volunteers serving as a control group were enrolled in the study. Bleeding time, platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), euglobulin clot lysis time, protein C, protein S, fibrinogen, D-dimer, factor V, VII, VIII, IX, X and von Willebrand factor (VWF) values were studied at the beginning, at 2 and 4 h of dialysis with and without administration of DDAVP at a dose level of 2 microg/kg intranasally.

The effect of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on leptin secretion by rat adipose tissue.

It is well known that the role of leptin in the body is to regulate food intake and energy expenditure but the process of leptin secretion by adipose tissue and the components involved in this process are still obscure. Carbonic anhydrase III (CA III) is the most abundant protein of the rat adipose tissue and its amount decreases with obesity. The effect of the inhibition of CA III on leptin secretion by rat epididymal adipose tissue was examined.

Effects of dexamethasone, all-trans retinoic acid, vitamin D(3) and interferon-alpha on FO myeloma cells.

Background: Since multiple myeloma responds poorly to conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy, new therapeutic approaches are needed. This study investigated the effects of dexamethasone, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the active metabolite of vitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] and interferon-alpha on FO mouse myeloma cells (non-immunoglobulin-secreting myeloma cell line) in single drug or drug combination groups in vitro.

Methods: Apoptosis ratio and change in cell counts in 4 single drug groups (dexamethasone, ATRA, vitamin D(3) and interferon-alpha) and 6 combination drug groups (dexamethasone + vitamin D(3,) dexamethasone + ATRA, dexamethasone + interferon-alpha, vitamin D(3) + ATRA, vitamin D(3) + interferon-alpha, interferon-alpha + ATRA) were compared with the control group.

Isoniazid and hypoglycaemia in a premature infant.

Severe hypoglycaemia requiring more than 20 mg/kg per minute glucose infusion was seen in a premature infant. The infant was born to a woman with active tuberculosis, and she was on prophylactic isoniazid. Discontinuation of isoniazid resulted in prompt recovery of hypoglycaemia.

The in-vitro effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on acidic pH induced apoptosis of periferal blood mononuclear cells.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) which has a steroid structure, is widely used in oncology practice in the treatment of the cachexia of cancer and to reduce hematologic toxicity in patients receiving chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms of MPA on these effects are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of two different doses of MPA (10(-5) and 10(-6) M/L) on acidic pH induced apoptosis of periferal blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from 10 healthy volunteers.

MTHFR C677T polymorphism and its relation to ischemic stroke in the Black Sea Turkish population.

The MTHFR C677T mutation has been shown to be associated with venous thrombosis. The role of this mutation in ischemic stroke is unclear. We investigated whether the MTHFR mutation is a risk factor for patients with ischemic stroke in the Black Sea Turkish population or not.

Coexistence of prothrombic risk factors and its relation to left ventricular thrombus in acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Within the last few years a number of thrombophilic mutations have been identified. Pre-symptomatic testing for these established genetic risk factors identifies individuals predisposed to a disease and often allows to select suitable prophylactic interventions in time. We investigated whether or not the prothrombin G20210A allele, the factor V Leiden G1691A, and MTHFR C677T allele are risk factors for left ventricular thrombus (LV) in patients with myocardial infarction (AMI) or not.

Intrauterine growth curves for Turkish infants born between 25 and 42 weeks of gestation.

Intrauterine growth curves should be specific to each population and are needed for the Turkish population. An analysis of birthweight, crown-heel length, and head circumference in newborns between 25 and 42 weeks of gestational age was made. A total of 2481 babies were evaluated.

Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of growth of human hepatoma HepG2 cells by heparin.

Background/aims: Apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of heparin on a number of cancers have been described. There have been no studies analyzing the effect of heparin on human hepatoma cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heparin on human hepatoma cell line, HepG2.

Nimesulide-induced fulminant hepatitis.

An 18-year-old boy was brought to the hospital with jaundice, confusion, abdominal discomfort and distension. He had a history of oral intake of nimesulide for three days. Clinical and laboratory findings were compatible with fulminant hepatitis.

Internal ophthalmomyiasis presenting as endophthalmitis associated with an intraocular foreign body.

Ophthalmomyiasis interna infestation by fly larva can present in various forms. A 3-year-old girl with a 15-day history of pain, redness, and tearing of the right eye was referred to our clinic with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis associated with an intraocular foreign body, based on clinical and ultrasonographic findings. The patient underwent pars plana vitrectomy, during which an 8-mm long larva was encountered within the vitreous cavity.

A new, practical, low-dose 14C-urea breath test for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: clinical validation and comparison with the standard method.

The carbon-14 urea breath test (UBT) is a reliable and non-invasive technique for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic performance of a new, practical and low-dose (14)C-UBT system for the diagnosis of HP and compared the results with those obtained using the standard method. Seventy-five patients (56 female, 19 male) with dyspepsia underwent (14)C-UBT and endoscopy with antral biopsies for histological analysis.

Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN): a role for polymorphisms of surfactant protein B (SP-B) encoding gene?

Background: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is usually a benign self-limiting respiratory disorder in the immediate neonatal period. The lipophilic surfactant-associated protein B (SP-B) was demonstrated to be the most relevant structural component of the surfactant system for immediate postnatal pulmonary adaptation. We hypothesized genetic variations of surfactant protein B (heterozygous 121 ins 2 mutation er intron 4 polymorphisms) to be related to TTN.

Leiomyosarcoma of the Uterus Presenting with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) typically presents with consumptive thrombocytopenia, non-immune intravascular hemolytic anemia, renal failure, various neurologic findings and fever. It is a clinical syndrome that can be associated with drugs such as ticlopidine, quinine, mitomycin C and cyclosporine, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, pregnancy, infections, autoimmune diseases and metastatic carcinoma. Here, we describe a 48-years- old women presented with full picture of TTP and diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma with further evaluation.

Philadelphia negative, Bcr-Abl positive chronic myeloid leukemia associated with pure red cell aplasia.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare disorder which is associated with thymoma, viral infections and autoimmune diseases. A few cases of PRCA during the clinical course of CML have been reported and these usually terminate in blastic crisis and death, suggesting a poor prognosis. However, only one case of Philedelphia chromosome negative, Bcr-Abl positive CML associated with PRCA has been reported.

Therapeutic Trial of Cobalamin in Patients with Normal Serum Cobalamin Levels and Predicted Cobalamin Deficiency.

Diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency can be difficult due to the variation in clinical presentation and lack of specificity of the laboratory findings. Although hypersegmentation and macrocytosis are important findings observed in cobalamin deficiency they are not sensitive and spesific. Additionally, cobalamin assays in commercial laboratories, being not reliable, makes the diagnosis more difficult.

Early medical treatment is life saving in acute Budd-Chiari due to polycythemia vera.

Here we describe two women with polycythemia vera presented with fulminant hepatic failure due to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. Both had a history of severe abdominal pain and distention of short duration. Clinical and laboratory findings showed fulminant hepatic failure due to acute Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Large volume donor plasmapheresis in inherited thrombophilia implicated in arterial thrombosis.

Background: Life-threatening complications following apheresis are rare, and include venous thrombosis. Arterial thrombosis following apheresis has not been reported.

Case Report: A 48 year old donor had cerebral infarction following large volume plasma donation.

The effects of dexamethasone on leukemic cells derived from patients with AML.

This study was performed to investigate the effects of dexamethasone on acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) cells. The study has been designed to investigate the in vitro effects of dexamethasone on the proliferative capacity, maturation and apoptosis of leukemic cells derived from patients with AML. Dexamethasone induced leukemic cell apoptosis and decreased cell count compared to the control.

Granulocytic sarcoma presenting as a right atrial mass.

We describe a 48-year-old male who developed acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) associated with a right atrial mass. The patient was admitted with fatigue, positional dyspnoea and headache. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed that the right atrium was filled with a mass.