Polypharmacy May Be the Cause of Acute Lithium Intoxication at the Second Day of Treatment.

Unlabelled: Lithium is frequently used as a mood stabilizer in patients with mood disorders. Lithium has a narrow therapeutic index and high toxicity. Predisposing factors for intoxication are advanced age, diet disturbances, comorbid medical conditions affecting heart, kidneys or central nervous system and polypharmacy.

The association between endothelial dysfunction and hypertensive retinopathy in essential hypertension.

Background: Endothelial dysfunction, which is characterized by an imbalance between relaxing and contracting factors, procoagulant and anticoagulant substances, and between pro-inflammatory mediators, may play a particularly significant role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Numerous experimental and clinical reports suggest that a high von Willebrand factor (vWF) level reflects endothelial damage or dysfunction. Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is a condition characterized by a spectrum of retinal vascular signs in people with elevated blood pressure.

Tension pneumoperitoneum complicated with tension pneumothorax in a patient with diaphragmatic eventration.

Tension pneumothorax complicating a pneumoperitoneum is a rare but known entity. However, all previously published articles report an air leak through defects in the diaphragm connecting the pneumoperitoneum and the pneumothorax. Here, the case of a 36-year-old man in whom the pneumoperitoneum acted like a tension pneumothorax because of a congenital eventration of the left diaphragm without penetration is presented.

The association of oxidative stress with hypertensive retinopathy.

This study was designed to answer the following questions: (i) Do levels of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), a marker of oxidative stress, change in hypertensive retinopathy (HR)? (ii) Is there any relation between degree of HR and GGT levels? This study included 80 hypertensive patients with HR. Group 1 comprised 40 patients with grade I HR, and group 2 comprised 40 patients with grade II HR. We selected 40 healthy subjects for the control group.

The relationship between levels of von Willebrand factor and mean platelet volume in subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose.

Background: To understand the heterogeneity of platelets, we investigated the correlation between von Willebrand factor (vWf) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose (IFG).

Material/methods: We selected 48 subjects with isolated IFG and 48 normoglycemic control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index. We measured levels of vWf and MPV in all subjects.

The association of low-grade systemic inflammation with hypertensive retinopathy.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of systemic low-grade inflammation. The pathophysiologic mechanism of hypertensive retiopathy (HR) is not fully established. Elevated blood pressure (BP) alone does not fully account for the extent of retinopathy, other pathogenic mechanisms may be involved, such as low-grade inflammation.

Increased mean platelet volume in chronic hepatitis B patients with inactive disease.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide, responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease. Conflicting findings on the possible association between HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity, indicating inactive HBsAg carrier status, and atherosclerosis have been reported. Platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis.

Serum ferritin levels correlate with hypertensive retinopathy.

Background: In recent years several studies showed an association between body iron stores, represented by serum ferritin, and oxidative stress. The pathophysiological mechanism of hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is not fully established. Elevated blood pressure alone does not fully account for the extent of retinopathy; other pathogenic mechanisms may be involved, such as increased oxidative stress.

Comparison of the effects of sibutramine versus sibutramine plus metformin in obese women.

Sibutramine and metformin are drugs commonly used to obtain weight loss. We aimed to compare the effects of sibutramine alone with that of sibutramine plus metformin combination on weight loss, insulin sensitivity, leptin and C reactive protein in obese women. Seventy obese women were included.

Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor in subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose.

Background: It has been shown that an increased von Willebrand factor level reflects endothelial dysfunction and may also have prognostic value in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Impaired fasting glucose is likely a frequent glycemic disorder in the general population and is considered a prediabetic state. Impaired fasting glucose is associated with cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether it is an independent risk factor because it commonly coexists with other cardiovascular risk factors present in metabolic syndrome.

Platelet activation in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Increased platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Increased platelet activity is associated with increased platelet volume. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet function, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis.

Levels of plasma fibrinogen and D-dimer in subjects with subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Background: During the last 15 years, several risk markers for atherosclerosis, such as fibrinogen and D-dimer, have been identified. The role of elevated fibrinogen levels as an independent risk factor for coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vascular disease is well established on the basis of clinical and epidemiological studies. Increased D-dimer levels are associated with increased risk of future myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Low-grade inflammation in white-coat hypertension.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic low-grade inflammation, is frequently elevated in essential hypertension and predicts cardiovascular prognosis independently of conventional risk factors. The risk profile of white-coat hypertension is not yet completely clear. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) in white-coat hypertensive subjects.

Platelet activation in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a prediabetic state, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet activation, is a newly emerging risk factor for atherothrombosis. This study was designed to answer the following questions: (i) Do MPV levels change in IGT? (ii) Is there any relation between MPV levels and 2 h plasma glucose levels after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.

The association of mean platelet volume levels with hypertensive retinopathy.

The pathophysiological mechanism of hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is not fully established. Elevated blood pressure alone does not fully account for the extent of retinopathy so other pathogenic mechanisms may be involved, such as increased platelet activation. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation.

The effect of rosuvastatin treatment on the mean platelet volume in patients with uncontrolled primary dyslipidemia with hypolipidemic diet treatment.

Platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease. Mean platelet volume (MPV), a determinant of platelet activation, is a newly emerging risk marker for atherothrombosis. Rosuvastatin, a new hydrophilic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin), is approved as an adjunct to diet in patients with dyslipidemia.

The spectrum of diseases causing fever of unknown origin in Turkey: a multicenter study.

Objective: The purpose of this trial was to determine the spectrum of diseases with fever of unknown origin (FUO) in Turkey.

Methods: A prospective multicenter study of 154 patients with FUO in twelve Turkish tertiary-care hospitals was conducted.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 42+/-17 years (range 17-75).