A novel indicator of widespread endothelial damage and ischemia in diabetic patients: ischemia-modified albumin.

Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a novel marker of tissue ischemia. Nowadays, IMA is accepted as a marker of oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed at establishing an association between IMA and hyperglycemia, blood pressure, lipid parameters, microvascular complications, hsCRP, and microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes patients without overt macrovascular disease and acute ischemia.

Methyltetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene mutation and hyperhomocysteinemia as a novel risk factor for diabetic nephropathy.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a well-defined risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. A point mutation (677 C-T) of MTHFR gene results in a significant increase at plasma homocysteine levels. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effects of MTHFR gene mutation and consequent hyperhomocysteinemia on the development of diabetic microvascular complications in comparison with the other defined risk factors.

Evaluation of left ventricular function using Tei index in patients with preinfarction angina.

Objective: The study investigated whether preinfarction angina influences left ventricular functions assessed using Tei index, which is an independent predictor for left ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: We studied 96 patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (80 men, 16 women; mean age 57.5+/-9.

The effects of N-acetylcysteine on antioxidant enzyme activities in experimental testicular torsion.

Testicular torsion is a serious problem in male children and, if not treated at the right time, can lead to subfertility and infertility. The main reason for testicular damage is ischemia-reperfusion injury. A number of chemical substances have been used to protect testes against ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental animals.

The effects of short-term raloxifene therapy on fibrinolysis markers: TAFI, tPA, and PAI-1.

Background: Markers of fibrinolysis, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were studied for the evaluation of short-term effects of raloxifene administration in postmenopausal women.

Methods: Thirty-nine postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis were included in this prospective, controlled clinical study. Twenty-five women were given raloxifene hydrochloride (60 mg/day) plus calcium (500 mg/day).

The effects of atorvastatin treatment on the fibrinolytic system in dyslipidemic patients.

Statins have pleiotrophic effects related to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and thrombogenicity of the vessel wall beyond lipid lowering. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of atorvastatin treatment on the fibrinolytic system in patients with dyslipidemia. The investigation was carried out on 41 dyslipidemic patients (21 males and 20 females) with a mean age of 53.