Adiponectin, leptin, nitric oxide, and C-reactive protein levels in kidney transplant recipients: comparison with the hemodialysis and chronic renal failure.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) including kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Secondary lipid metabolism disorders, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation enhance the risk of CVD development in these patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the lipid profile, adiponectin, leptin, nitric oxide (NO), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in KTR and to compare these parameters with those of the patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), hemodialysis (HD) patients, and healthy controls.

Serum Levels of sRAGE Are Associated with Body Measurements, but Not Glycemic Parameters in Patients with Prediabetes.

Background: Our aim was to assess serum levels of the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and to examine their association with anthropometric and metabolic parameters in patients with prediabetes and obese controls.

Methods: The two study groups were composed of 42 patients with prediabetes and diabetic neuropathy and 42 age-, gender-, body weight (BW)-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched obese adults as the control group. Prediabetes was diagnosed by the following criteria issued by the American Diabetes Association: impaired fasting glucose [fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of 100-125 mg/dL], impaired glucose tolerance (2 hr plasma glucose level of 140-199 mg/dL after a 75 grams oral glucose challenge), or a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) level of 5.

Does varicocele correction lead to normalization of preoperatively elevated mean platelet volume levels?

Introduction: There are several studies on the relationship between increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and varicocele. We investigated the relationship between preoperative and 6-month postoperative MPV values in patients whose varicocele was corrected with surgery.

Methods: A total of 282 patients underwent surgery at our urology clinic between December 2011 and December 2013 for primary varicocele.

Effect of repeatedly given CDP-choline on cardiovascular and tissue injury in spinal shock conditions: investigation of the acute phase.

Objectives: The protective effect of CDP-choline in spinal cord transection and the mediation of its cardiovascular effects were investigated.

Methods: Spinal cords of rats were transected at the T1-T2 levels. CDP-choline (250 mg/kg; intravenous) was administered 2 h and/or 24 h after the injury.

The effects of vitamin E-coated dialysis membranes on serum paraoxonase activity in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Hemodialysis patients are exposed to oxidative stress, which can lead to several complications. We therefore sought to evaluate the effect of using vitamin E-coated dialysis membranes for a period of 3 months on serum paraoxonase activity and oxidative stress markers.

Methods: Twenty patients and 25 healthy controls were included in this study.

Arterial elasticity and plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin in type 2 diabetic patients treated with thiazolidinediones.

Background: Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve peripheral insulin sensitivity, but the effect on arterial stiffness is less clear. The aim of the present study was to assess the differential effect of pioglitazone or rosiglitazone on arterial stiffness and plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Thirty-five type 2 diabetic subjects were randomly assigned to receive pioglitazone (30 mg/day; n = 14), rosiglitazone (4 mg/day; n = 11), or placebo (medical nutrition therapy; n = 10) for 12 weeks.

Coronary artery disease risk factors in patients with schizophrenia: effects of short term antipsychotic treatment.

The aim of the present study was to investigate serum paraoxonase/arylesterase activities and oxidation/oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and several coronary artery disease risk factors, including homocysteine, high sensitive C-reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, leptin and adiponectin in patients with schizophrenia. Oxidation of lipoproteins plays an important role in atherogenesis, and the enzyme paraoxonase has been shown to prevent lipoprotein oxidation. Furthermore, low paraoxonase activity has been suggested to predict coronary artery disease.

Paraoxonase activity in glomerulonephritic patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic renal failure. Glomerulonephritic patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but its etiology is unclear. It is known that an increase in oxidizability of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins has a key role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, and paraoxonase enzyme activity particularly has a preventive role against atherosclerosis.