The effect of rupatadine on lung histopathology in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Introduction: Rupatadine is a new second-generation antihistamine with H(1) receptor antagonist activity and platelet-activating factor antagonist properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of rupatadine on histologic changes in the lungs in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-five BALB/c mice were divided into five groups of seven mice each: group I (control), group II (placebo [saline]), group III (dexamethasone 1 mg · kg(-1)·d(-1)), group IV (rupatadine 3 mg·kg(-1) d(-1)), and group V (rupatadine 30 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)).

Diverse captive non-human primates with phytanic acid-deficient diets rich in plant products have substantial phytanic acid levels in their red blood cells.

Background: Humans and rodents with impaired phytanic acid (PA) metabolism can accumulate toxic stores of PA that have deleterious effects on multiple organ systems. Ruminants and certain fish obtain PA from the microbial degradation of dietary chlorophyll and/or through chlorophyll-derived precursors. In contrast, humans cannot derive PA from chlorophyll and instead normally obtain it only from meat, dairy, and fish products.

Amlodipine seems to be superior to valsartan in decreasing microalbuminuria in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients: a novel effect to be explained with hyperfiltration?

Background: Microalbuminuria (MA) is common in hypertensive population and is a marker for endothelial dysfunction and a predictor of increased cardiovascular risk. A great body of data shows the importance of MA as a strong predictor of renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in hypertensive population.

Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the anti-albuminuric effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, valsartan, with a calcium channel blocker, amlodipine, in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

The comparative effects of valsartan and amlodipine on vWf levels and N/L ratio in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.

High levels of circulating Von Willebrand factor (vWf) and increased neutrophil to lymphocyte (N/L) ratio may reflect vascular inflammation in hypertensive patients. In present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of valsartan as an angiotensin II receptor antagonist and amlodipine as a calcium channel blocker on the vWf levels and N/L ratio in patients with essential hypertension. Patients were randomized to one of the following intervention protocols: calcium channel blocker (amlodipine, 5-10 mg/day) as group A (n = 20 mean age = 51.

Investigation of the aortic pulse wave velocity in patients with Gilbert's syndrome.

Arterial stiffness is currently the "gold standard" measure of aortic (carotid-femoral) pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is an important independent predictor of risk of developing a cardiovascular event. Gilbert's syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by intermittent and non-hemolytic elevation of indirect bilirubin levels due to the deficiency of the enzyme UDP-glucuronyl transferase in the liver and many prospective studies found an inverse relationship between bilirubin levels and cardiovascular events in these patients. We aimed to investigate serum bilirubin levels and arterial stiffness parameters in patients with Gilbert's syndrome in this study.

Modified Raz operation backed with periurethral roll mesh in female stress urinary incontinence.

Objectives: With the modifications that we made, the aim is to increase the effectiveness and the success rate of the Raz operation in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to present a new approach in the treatment by reducing the complication rates.

Patients And Methods: Between November 2002 and December 2010, the Raz operation that we modified with the changes such as the placement of cystostomy catheter with the Lowsley clamp, vaginal incision of the bilateral oblique, the placement of periurethral roll mesh, the use of a single 0-degree stamey needle instead of a double needle applicator, binding the sutures mutually and on the support of the polypropylene mesh in suprapubic region was performed to 81 female patients with SUI in lithotomy position under the regional anesthesia.

Results: We performed the modified Raz operation to 81 female patients with SUI, who had the complaint of urinary incontinence with the effort lasting for about 4.

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase levels are inversely related to endothelial function in chronic kidney disease.

Backgrounds: Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is an enzyme responsible for the extracellular catabolism of the antioxidant glutathione and recently implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction is a prodromal feature of atherogenesis. Since oxidative stress is highly present in uremia and causally linked to endothelial dysfunction, we hypothesized that GGT may be a factor implicated in this process.

An additional LDL-lowering effect of amlodipine; not only an antihypertensive?

Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is associated with several metabolic disorders like dyslipidemia. Higher levels of triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are quite strong factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of valsartan and amlodipine on the lipid profile in patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension.

Skinfold thickness as a predictor of arterial stiffness: obesity and fatness linked to higher stiffness measurements in hypertensive patients.

Hypertensive patients have strong evidence of endothelial dysfunction. Some novel endothelial dysfunction parameters such as pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), and central aortic pressure (CAP) have been investigated as predictive markers of atherosclerosis. It is well known that obesity has relationships with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

The relationship between some of the cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness parameters in essentially hypertensive patients.

Hypertensive patients have strong evidence of endothelial dysfunction. We aimed to explore the relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and arterial stiffness parameters in hypertensive patients. The study population included 109 hypertensive patients (63 females, 46 males).

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio independently predicts cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Increased inflammation is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events (CVE). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was used to predict survival in patients with acute coronary syndrome. We aimed to evaluate predictive ability of NLR in CKD patients.

The comparative effects of valsartan and amlodipine on vascular microinflammation in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a new candidate immunoinflammatory marker that has been reported to be associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. We aimed to investigate the effects of valsartan and amlodipine on the PTX3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with essential hypertension. Patients with a newly diagnosed essential hypertension were admitted to our internal medicine outpatient clinic.

The relationship between microalbuminuria, left ventricular hypertrophy, retinopathy, and sex hormone status in newly diagnosed hypertensive women.

An increased incidence of hypertension (HT) in postmenopausal female population has been shown in previous studies and this has been ascribed to an association with altered status of estrogen (E2) and other female sex hormones. Hypertension is associated with certain target organ damage (TOD) and related clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between microalbuminuria, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), retinopathy, and sex hormone status in newly diagnosed hypertensive women.

A comparison of incidence of Frey's syndrome diagnosed based on clinical signs and Minor's test after parotis surgery.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether postoperative follow-up period, clinical signs or Minor test is effective to determine the incidence of Frey's syndrome following superficial parotidectomy.

Patients And Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2008, 30 patients, (16 males, 14 females; mean age 47.7±15.

Increased sperm DNA damage in experimental rat varicocele model and the beneficial effect of varicocelectomy.

Background: Varicocele, the abnormal dilatation of the veins in the pampiniform plexus is commonly seen in infertile patients. In this study, we aim to examine sperm DNA damage after the creation of experimental varicocele in rats and to observe the change of this damage after a varicocelectomy.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 30 adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups.

Acute scrotum in Henoch-Schönlein purpura: fact or fiction?

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common systemic vasculitis of childhood. It is usually seen following upper respiratory tract infections. It rarely involves the genital system or causes scrotal edema.

Symptomatology and etiology of chronic pediatric rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: This study aims to define symptoms and etiology and determine how to prevent chronic rhinosinusitis in children.

Patients And Methods: Between February 2003 and February 2005, 50 pediatric patients (25 girls and 25 boys; mean age 8.22 years; range 4 to 14 years) with chronic rhinosinusitis were included in the study.

The SENSE-Isomorphism Theoretical Image Voxel Estimation (SENSE-ITIVE) model for reconstruction and observing statistical properties of reconstruction operators.

The acquisition of sub-sampled data from an array of receiver coils has become a common means of reducing data acquisition time in MRI. Of the various techniques used in parallel MRI, SENSitivity Encoding (SENSE) is one of the most common, making use of a complex-valued weighted least squares estimation to unfold the aliased images. It was recently shown in Bruce et al.

Acute effects of sildenafil on uroflowmetric parameters in erectile dysfunction patients with and without lower urinary tract symptoms.

Using phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms continues to draw attention. Despite clinical improvements in patients, it is still debatable whether urinary flow rates are increased or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of sildenafil, a PDE5 inhibitor, on uroflowmetry parameters.

Hormonal evaluation in premature ejaculation.

Introduction: Premature ejaculation (PE) is a frequently encountered sexual dysfunction in men. It significantly impairs quality of life of the affected male and his partner. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of hormonal factors in patients with PE.

Analysis and comparison of changing in thyroid hormones after percutaneous and surgical tracheotomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on the thyroid hormones and their comparisons.

Materials And Methods: Between January and May 2010, the surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy had been performed on 40 patients with respiration problems. The thyroid hormone levels were measured just before, after one and three hour of the operation and than these measurements were compared statistically.

Adult tonsillectomy: relationship between indications and postoperative hemorrhage.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the possible relationship between the indications for tonsillectomy in adult population and to estimate the incidence of postoperative hemorrhage.

Patients And Methods: Medical records of 200 adult patients who underwent tonsillectomy between January 2003 and October 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The indications for adult tonsillectomy were chronic infection in 153 patients (76.