Can the Serum Endocan Level Be Used as a Biomarker to Predict Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Prediabetes?

Background: Patients with prediabetes have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; therefore, early detection is important.

Objective: The present study aimed to reveal the usability of serum endocan levels as a biomarker in the diagnosis of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with prediabetes, based on CIMT measurements.

Methods: Participants were classified according to the presence (n=42) or absence (n=42) of prediabetes.

A homozygous Y443C variant in the RNPC3 is associated with severe syndromic congenital hypopituitarism and diffuse brain atrophy.

Biallelic RNPC3 variants have been reported in a few patients with growth hormone deficiency, either in isolation or in association with central hypothyroidism, congenital cataract, neuropathy, developmental delay/intellectual disability, hypogonadism, and pituitary hypoplasia. To describe a new patient with syndromic congenital hypopituitarism and diffuse brain atrophy due to RNPC3 mutations and to compare her clinical and molecular characteristics and pituitary functions with previously published patients. A 20-year-old female presented with severe growth, neuromotor, and developmental delay.

Serum prolidase activity in patients with cardiac syndrome X.

Objective: Although the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood, Cardiac Syndrome X (CSX) is defined as microvascular dysfunction. Prolidase plays a role in collagen synthesis. Increased serum prolidase activity (SPA) has been shown to correlate with collagen turnover.

Serum endotrophin levels in patients with heart failure with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction.

Background: Endotrophin, a type VI collagen cleavage product, has fibrosis, and insulin resistance effects. Type VI collagen also plays a role in cardiac fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of endotrophin in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis by determining its levels in patients with heart failure with reduced and mid-range ejection fraction (EF).

Serum Adropin Levels Are Reduced in Adult Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objectives: Adropin is a novel marker of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to explore the association of serum adropin levels with hepatosteatosis among adult patients.

Materials And Methods: Serum biochemical parameters including liver and renal function tests, insulin levels, and serum adropin levels were compared between adult patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and healthy control cases.

Whipple's Disease: A Case Report.

Objective: Whipple's disease is a very rare systemic infectious disease with an annual incidence of 3 in one million, which may be fatal if not diagnosed and treated appropriately.

Clinical Presentation And Intervention: Herein we describe a 49-year-old patient admitted to the hospital with symptoms of severe malabsorption and diagnosed with Whipple's disease. The diagnosis was based on the histopathological findings of small intestine biopsies and PCR analysis.

Evaluation of the Tp-Te interval, Tp-Te/QTc ratio, and QT dispersion in patients with Turner syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate ventricular repolarization parameters using the interval from the peak to the end of the T wave (Tp-Te), together with QT and corrected QT (QTc) intervals, QT dispersion (QTd), and Tp-Te/QTc ratio in patients with Turner syndrome (pwTS) and to compare the results with those from healthy controls.

Methods: In total, 38 patients previously diagnosed with Turner syndrome (TS) and 35 healthy girls (controls) were included in our cross-sectional study. Twelve-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography after a 30-min rest were performed.

Serum Angiopoietin-like peptide 4 levels in patients with hepatic steatosis.

Objectives: Angiopoietin-like peptide 4 (ANGPTL-4) plays an important role in lipid metabolism by inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase. This effect of ANGPTL-4 results in suppression of the release of plasma triglyceride-derived fatty acids. Increase in fatty acid levels entering to the liver and abnormalities in their secretion is one of the main mechanisms in pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis.

Evaluation of protein C and protein S levels in patients with diabetes mellitus receiving therapy with statins and ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers.

Aims: To evaluate protein C, protein S level in patients with diabetes mellitus receiving statin and ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy.

Methods: 95 patients were included in the study and divided into four groups depending on the use of statin and ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy. Group 1 comprised of patients receiving statin therapy (n = 15), Group 2 comprised of patients receiving ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy (n = 31), Group 3 comprised of patients receiving statin and ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy (n = 23), and Group 4 comprised of patients who did not receive either statin or ACE inhibitor/ARB therapy (n = 26).

Parathyroidectomy Decreases Insulin Resistance Index in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been considered a cause of insulin resistance (IR) and impaired glucose metabolism. However, there are conflicting results related with the recovery of insulin resistance in patients with PHPT following curative parathyroidectomy. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of curative parathyroidectomy on IR in patients with PHPT.

Chylothorax due to tuberculosis lymphadenitis.

Chylothorax is a rare clinical condition characterized by high triglyceride and low cholesterol levels in milky pleural aspirate. Generally, it occurs through leakage of chyle as result of trauma or malignancy. Chylothorax due to tuberculous lymphadenitis is very rare clinical condition that has only been documented in a few cases.

The Effects of Blood Glucose Regulation in Omentin-1 Levels among Diabetic Patients.

Omentin-1, an adipocytokine that increases the insulin sensitivity, has been determined to be reduced in patients with insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, and Type-2 diabetes mellitus. In this study, we have investigated the alterations in Omentin-1 levels with the blood glucose regulation in diabetic patients having poor glycemic control. By this way, we aimed to determine the role of Omentin-1 as a marker in follow-up and monitoring progression of diabetes.

Plasma total oxidant and antioxidant status after oral glucose tolerance and mixed meal tests in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Purpose: Insulin resistance (IR) and increased oxidative stress (OS) are the characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of oral glucose tolerance (OGTT) and mixed meal tests (MMT) on plasma total oxidant (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) in patients with PCOS and the relationship between these parameters and IR, calculated via homeostasis of model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda's insulin sensitivity index (ISI) derived from OGTT and MMT.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with PCOS, and age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched 20 women as controls were enrolled into the study.

A rare cause of pleural effusion: adult onset Still's disease.

Adult onset Still's disease is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder. At the onset of the disease sore throat, pharyngitis; which does not respond to antibiotics, one or two times peaking febrile episodes, marked salmon-colored rash on the trunk and extremities, arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia, fatigue, loss of appetite with nausea and weight loss; hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy can be seen. Among laboratory examinations levels of ferritin and other acute phase reactants distinctly rise, and neutrophilic leukocytosis; ANA and RF negativity are detected.

Frequency of metabolic syndrome in patients with knuckle pads.

Knuckle pads are hyperkeratotic, benign skin lesions that we commonly observe in obese patients. There is no study that investigates the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and knuckle pads. We aimed to investigate the frequency of MetS in patients with knuckle pads.

Frequency of nodular goiter and autoimmune thyroid disease in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and nodular and autoimmune thyroid diseases are frequently seen disorders. Previous studies reported conflicting results regarding possible association between PCOS and thyroid disorders. In this study, we investigated the frequency of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and nodular goiter in patients with PCOS.