The effect of overt and subclinical hypothyroidism on the development of non-dipper blood pressure.

Introduction: 'Non-dippers' are individuals without the anticipated nocturnal decrease in blood pressure. An increased incidence of target organ damage and a worse outcome in terms of cardiovascular events have been reported in this group of people. The pathogenesis of non-dipper hypertension is not clear at present.

The relationship between adipocyte fatty acid binding protein-4, retinol binding protein-4 levels and early diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein-4 (A-FABP4) and retinol binding protein-4 (RBP4) have recently been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Serum A-FABP4 and RBP4 levels and their relationships with early diabetic nephropathy were examined in 87 type 2 diabetic patients. The patients with diabetic nephropathy showed high A-FABP4 levels compared to the patients without diabetic nephropathy (p=0.

Serum resistin and adiponectin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aim: This study was performed to compare the serum levels of resistin and adiponectin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and normal controls.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six patients (36 obese, 40 non-obese) with PCOS and 42 healthy subjects were included in the study. Serum levels of resistin, adiponectin, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), 17-hydroxy progesterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, glucose, insulin and lipid parameters were measured.

Influence of H pylori on plasma ghrelin in patients without atrophic gastritis.

Aim: To determine the association between H pylori infection and serum ghrelin levels in patients without atrophic gastritis.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients (24 males and 26 females) with either H pylori-positive gastritis (n = 34) or H pylori-negative gastritis (n = 16) with normal gastric acid secretion determined by 24-h pHmetry and without atrophic gastritis in histopathology were enrolled in this study. Thirty-four H pylori-infected patients were treated with triple therapy consisting of a daily regimen of 30 mg lansoprazole bid, 1 g amoxicillin bid and 500 mg clarithromycin bid for 14 d, followed by an additional 4 wk of 30 mg lansoprazol treatment.

The effect of vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels in hemodialysis patients.

Background: This study has been undertaken to investigate the possible alterations of oxidant/antioxidant status in uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and the effects of vitamin E supplementation.

Methods: Erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities [glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations as a measure of lipid peroxidation in HD patients have been determined and compared with healthy controls. The patient group consisted of 36 uremic patients 21-75 years of age undergoing maintenance HD three times weekly for an average of 41 months.

Assessment of DNA strand breakage by the alkaline COMET assay in dialysis patients and the role of Vitamin E supplementation.

Although the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chronic renal failure (CRF) is not definitely demonstrated, a consistent number of observations has provided evidence for the presence of oxidative stress in uremic patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. In order to investigate this hypothesis further and to understand the role of antioxidant supplementation, peripheral blood lymphocytes were taken from 36 dialysis patients before and after Vitamin E supplementation in a dosage of 600 mg per day (2x300 mg) for 14 weeks and examined in the alkaline Comet assay for DNA strand breakage. The results were also compared with those of 36 controls with comparable age, sex, and smoking habits, and with no history of renal disease.