Comparison of Glycemic Markers in Chronic Hemodialysis Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Background: Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among diabetic hemodialysis patients continues to be the standard of care, although its limitations are well recognized. This study evaluated glycated albumin (GA) and glycated serum protein (GSP) as alternatives to HbA1c in detecting glycemic control among diabetic hemodialysis patients using continuous-glucose-monitoring (CGM)-derived glucose as reference standard.

Methods: A CGM system (iPRO) was applied for 7 days in 37 diabetic hemodialysis patients to determine glycemic control.

Associations of Apolipoprotein A, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Fasting Plasma Insulin in Obese Children With and Without Family History of Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: The worldwide prevalence of childhood obesity has increased from 4.2% to 6.7% during the last two decades.

Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine is associated with oxidant stress aggravation in patients with early stage autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background/aims: In experimental models of polycystic kidney disease impaired bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and elevated mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers at the kidney level was noted. However, clinical studies investigating the potential role of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are limited. We evaluated asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as marker of NO synthase inhibitor as well as 15-F2t-Isoprostane and oxidized-low density lipoprotein (oxidized-LDL) as measures of oxidative stress in patients with early stages ADPKD.

Increased serum C-reactive protein levels in normal weight women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: The clinical spectrum of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) includes components of the metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension and, even, disturbances of the clotting mechanism. All these disorders are epidemiologically related to cardiovascular disease, most probably through low-grade intravascular chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a non-specific marker of low-grade inflammation and a predictive marker for cardiovascular disease, in normal weight women with (PCOS).

Glomerular filtration rate estimation in patients with type 2 diabetes: creatinine- or cystatin C-based equations?

Aims/hypothesis: It is argued that GFR estimation (eGFR) using cystatin C-based equations (eGFRcys) is superior to that using creatinine-based equations (eGFRcre). We investigated whether eGFRcys are superior to eGFRcre in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: GFR was measured in 448 type 2 diabetic patients using (51)Cr-EDTA-measured GFR (mGFR) as the reference standard.

Effects of oral folate supplementation on serum total homocysteine and cholesterol levels in hyperhomocysteinemic children.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease even among children. Increased levels of total serum homocysteine (tHcy) may initiate atherosclerosis by modulating increased cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Folate supplementation has been found to reduce homocysteine levels.

Oral supplementation of folic acid for two months reduces total serum homocysteine levels in hyperhomocysteinemic Greek children.

Background & Aim: Hyperhomocysteimemia is a cardiovascular risk factor even among children. Supplementation of oral folic acid may reduce homocysteine levels to normal. However, data is limited at this point for healthy children and adolescents.

Serum beta-endorphin response to stress before and after operation under fentanyl anesthesia in neonates, infants and preschool children.

Introduction: The endogenous opioid beta-endorphin is a known indicator of stress and pain. Opioid anesthesia during operation may prevent postoperative beta-endorphin hypersecretion. We examine the effect on serum beta-endorphin of both preoperative stress and stress of operation under opioids in neonates, infants and preschool children.

Coagulation factors as biological risk markers of endothelial dysfunction. Association with the thrombotic episodes of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the coagulation factors as endothelial dysfunction markers and prospectively their association with thrombotic episodes in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-four randomly selected patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD), 34 men and 20 women were included in this study. Their mean age was 56 years and the mean hemodialysis duration was 53.

Homocysteine lowering with folic acid supplements in children: effects on blood pressure.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is emerging as an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and hypertension among children. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of oral folic acid on homocysteine and blood pressure. Folic acid supplementation has been found to reduce homocysteine levels and in some cases blood pressure.

Lipid profile, low-density lipoprotein oxidation and ceruloplasmin in the progeny of families with a positive history of cardiovascular diseases and/or hyperlipidemia.

Fifty-eight healthy progeny (mean age +/- SD 13.9 +/- 7.9 years) of 39 families with a positive history for cardiovascular diseases ([CVD] n = 44) or hyperlipidemia (n = 14) were included in the study and were compared with 30 age-matched control participants, with a negative family history, to evaluate lipid profile, ceruloplasmin (Cp), and lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde [MDA]) levels, as well as in vitro copper-induced Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidizability.

ACE gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and renal scarring in children with urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infection is a common bacterial disease that presents during childhood and may lead to renal scarring. Several studies have shown a strong association between the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) deletion polymorphism and renal scarring in children with vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible correlation between the ACE deletion polymorphism and renal scarring in 186 children with urinary tract infection (UTI), of whom 90 were renal scar positive and 96 were renal scar negative.

Is there any association between high-density lipoprotein, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to occur in about 50% of obese children. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of anthropometric, biochemical and liver indexes in obese children with and without NAFLD and its relation with insulin resistance (IR). Forty-three obese children participated in the study.

Effects of succinylcholine on the recovery of block produced by mivacurium in rats.

This study investigates the effects of succinylcholine on the recovery of neuromuscular blockade produced by mivacurium in rats. In 48 anesthetized animals, the sciatic nerve was prepared and stimulated, and twitches of the flexor digitorum longus muscle were recorded. Animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 12 each): bolus dose of succinylcholine 0.

Enterococcus faecalis: an unusual cause of meningitis in a child with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Enterococcal meningitis is an uncommon disease in children, most frequently reported in infants or in children with central nervous system pathology. We report a rare case of Enterococcus faecalis meningitis in an 11-year-old child with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient during the course of chemotherapy became neutropenic, febrile, agitated, and disoriented with clinical signs of meningeal irritation.

Are saturated fatty acids and insulin resistance associated with fatty liver in obese children?

Background: Fatty liver (FL) is a common cause of liver disease in children. Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) play an important role in pathogenesis of FL. Diet has been reported to affect IR and possibly FL.

Amelioration of cardiovascular risk factors with partial biochemical control of acromegaly.

Objective: Complete remission of acromegaly is associated with favourable changes in cardiovascular risk parameters. We evaluated the effects of suboptimal therapy on haemodynamic, metabolic, inflammatory and coagulation cardiovascular risk indices.

Design And Methods: Eighteen acromegalic patients on somatostatin analogues, with incomplete biochemical control, were evaluated at diagnosis and 6 months after treatment and compared to 15 healthy age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls.

Association of blood pressure, obesity and serum homocysteine levels in healthy children.

Aim: Obesity, hypertension and total serum homocysteine levels are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adults. However, there is limited data on the relation of these risk factors in children.

Methods: Five hundred twenty-four healthy school children aged 6-15 years participated in the study.

Slow intravenous iron administration does not aggravate oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers during hemodialysis: a comparative study between iron sucrose and iron dextran.

Background/aims: Fast intravenous (i.v.) iron administration during hemodialysis (HD) is associated with the augmentation of oxidative stress and the increase in inflammatory biomarkers, which are also induced by the hemodialysis procedure itself.

Oxidative stress is progressively enhanced with advancing stages of CKD.

Background: Oxidative stress appears to have a central role in the pathophysiological process of uremia and its complications, including cardiovascular disease. However, there is little evidence to suggest how early oxidative stress starts developing during the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study is to assess oxidative stress activity in a cross-sectional study of patients with CKD stages 1 to 4.

Reference range of total serum homocysteine level and dietary indexes in healthy Greek schoolchildren aged 6-15 years.

Elevated total serum homocysteine (tHcy) may be a possible risk factor for CVD. A 5 micromol/l increase in tHcy is associated with an approximately 70 % increase in relative risk of CVD in adults. Data for children and adolescents are, however, limited.

Total serum homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a Greek school age population.

Background & Aims: Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) even among children. The purpose of this study is to investigate for the first time the distribution and determinants of total serum homocysteine (tHcy) levels in healthy Greek children.

Methods: tHcy, folate, B12 were measured in 524 children (275 boys and 249 girls) aged 6-15 years old from different socioeconomic status in Northern Greece.

Acute laryngotracheobronchitis and associated transient hyperphosphatasemia: a new case of transient hyperphosphatasemia in early childhood.

We report the case of a 20-month old boy with markedly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels, documented during an episode of acute laryngotracheobronchitis. Biochemical investigations and imaging studies revealed no evidence of bone or liver disease. Transient hyperphosphatasemia (TH) was confirmed when serum ALP levels normalized within 2 months.

Metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after the completion of chemotherapy.

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of potent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. To provide information on the late complications of chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the authors prospectively studied the frequency of overweight, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in survivors of ALL in the initial years after the completion of therapy. Children and adolescents were classified as having the metabolic syndrome if they met three or more of the following criteria: hypertriglyceridemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high fasting glucose, obesity, and hypertension.

Association between hyperhomocysteinemia and ultrasonographic atherosclerotic indices of carotid arteries in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular events are a major cause of morbidity and the main cause of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Hyperhomocysteinemia--which is a consistent finding in uremic patients--is considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations and atherosclerotic CVD has not been extensively investigated.