Differential expression of hypertension-associated microRNAs in the plasma of patients with white coat hypertension.

White coat hypertension (WCH) is a high cardiovascular risk condition, and a fundamental understanding of the cause and pathophysiology of the disorder is still lacking. Recent studies demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in hypertension; however, the roles of miRNAs in WCH are not known. The expressions of selected 10 miRNAs were investigated independently in plasma samples from 30 hypertension (HT) patients, 30 WCH patients, and 30 normotensive (NT) subjects.

The effect of chronic long-term intermittent hypobaric hypoxia on bone mineral density in rats: role of nitric oxide.

Intermittent hypoxia is the most common pattern of hypoxic exposure in humans. The effect of chronic long-term intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CLTIHH) on bone metabolism is not investigated. We examined the effect of CLTIHH on bone metabolism and the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this process.

Prevalence and characteristics of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in the elderly and the relation of serum ferritin levels with disease severity: hospital-based study from Istanbul, Turkey.

The RLS is an underdiagnosed condition, characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs. Pathophysiological mechanisms may include iron deficiency as reflected by low serum ferritin levels and dopaminergic system dysfunction. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of RLS in the elderly and the relation of serum ferritin levels with disease severity.

Ezetimibe therapy and its influence on oxidative stress and fibrinolytic activity.

Objective: The effect of ezetimibe on blood lipids, oxidative stress, and fibrinolytic activity in hyperlipidemic patients was investigated after three months of therapy.

Methods: Thirty hyperlipidemic patients were treated for twelve weeks with ezetimibe 10 mg/day. A healthy control group with matching age and gender was also included.

Nebivolol: more than a highly selective Beta blocker.

Although their specific mechanisms of action are incompletely understood, beta blockers are most likely lower blood pressure and provide target organ protection by several different mechanisms, including inhibition of renin-angiotensine system by decreasing renin release by the jugstaglomerular cells of the kidney, central inhibition of sympathetic nervous system outflow and slowing of heart rate with a decrease in cardiac output. These agents are widely recommended as important parts of antihypertensive regimens and as well as preferred therapies for patients at high risks of coronary heart disease, and including those with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or heart failure. The third generation beta blockers are distinguished from the earlier class of beta blockers by their vasodilating activity.

Bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats with induced hyperthyroidism: the effect of estrogen replacement.

We aimed to investigate whether or not the estrogen is playing any role in the effect of thyroid hormones on bone metabolism. The rats were divided into five groups. In the first group L-thyroxine-induced hyperthyroid rats were ovariectomized (OVX) while the OVX rats were administered L-thyroxine in the second group.

Course and prognosis of sarcoidosis in a referral setting in Turkey; analysis of 166 patients.

Background: Clinical manifestations and prognosis of sarcoidosis are heterogenous and the prevalence varies depending on the country, area and race evaluated. Also the organs involved and courses of the disease differ greatly between countries, areas, races and individuals.

Aims: To investigate the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical presentation and symptoms and to determine the severity and prognosis of sarcoidosis in Turkey as a referral center.

Hyperhomocysteinemia: an additional risk factor in white coat hypertension.

The association between homocysteine and sustained hypertension (HT) has been studied. The aim of this study was to assess homocysteine levels in white coat hypertension (WCH) as an indicator of increased risk in the development of cardiovascular diseases. WCH was defined as clinical hypertension and a daytime ambulatory blood pressure of < 135/85 mmHg.

The role of nitric oxide on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats following chronic ethanol intake.

This experimental study was designed to examine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats following chronic ethanol treatment. Chronic ethanol intake was produced by gradual substitution (within 3 weeks) of tap water in diet with 5,10,15 and finally 20% of ethanol. Thereafter, the rats were maintained under these conditions for a duration of 4 months.

Potential effects of L-NAME on alcohol-induced oxidative stress.

Aim: Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive oxidant synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NO may cause injury through the generation of potent radicals. Nw- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) is a non-selective inhibitor of NOS.

The role of peripheral chemoreceptor activity on the respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in anaesthetised rabbits with induced hypothyroidism.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of peripheral chemoreceptor activity on the hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory drives in rabbits with induced hypothyroidism. Experiments were carried out in control and hypothyroid rabbits. Hypothyroidism was induced by an administration of an iodide-blocker, methimazole in food (75 mg/100 g food) for ten weeks.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis and renal cell carcinoma.

The association of leukocytoclastic vasculitis and renal cell carcinoma has been rarely documented. We report a patient who presented with leukocytoclastic vasculitis involving the skin and was diagnosed later as renal cell carcinoma. After the nephron-sparing surgery, the vasculitic lesions disappeared.

Osteoporotic cytokines and bone metabolism on rats with induced hyperthyroidism; changes as a result of reversal to euthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is characterized by increased bone turnover and resorptive activity. Raised levels of serum osteoporotic cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) -1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been demonstrated previously in hyperthyroidism. These elevations are controversial and it is difficult to differentiate the contribution of thyroid hormones to the elevation of cytokines from that of the autoimmune inflammation in Graves' disease (GD) and follicular cell damage in thyroiditis.

Effects of low and high doses of atorvastatin on arterial compliance.

At the beginning of atherosclerosis before evidence of morphological lesions or plaques, vascular distensibility or arterial compliance decreased gradually. This endothelial dysfunction is regarded as an early feature of atherosclerosis. In a randomized, double-blind study design, group 1 (12 patients; 7 males, 5 females) with serum LDL-C levels higher than 170 mg/dL and without any other risk factor for atherosclerosis received three months of 20 mg/day atorvastatin treatment while group 11 (8 males, 4 females) with the same characteristics received 80 mg/day.

Effects of osteoporotic cytokines in ovary-intact and ovariectomised rats with induced hyperthyroidism; is skeletal responsiveness to thyroid hormone altered in estrogen deficiency?

This experimental study was designed to examine the effects of hyperthyroidism on osteoporotic cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the physiological concentrations and in the deficiency of estrogen. We investigated the effects of thyroid hormones on cytokines and bone metabolism in L-thyroxine induced ovary-intact and ovariectomised rats, as levels of cytokines were increased in hyperthyroidism. The rats were divided into three groups.

Adult intussusception due to inverted Meckel's diverticulum: laparoscopic approach.

Nowadays, laparoscopy appears to be an attractive alternative to conventional surgery in the management of small bowel obstruction. Adult intussusception is an unusual cause of intestinal obstruction, and a wide range of pathologic conditions can result with intussusception. In this report, we present a very rare case of intussusception secondary to inverted Meckel's diverticulum in an adult who underwent laparoscopic surgery.

Erdheim-Chester disease: a rare cause of paraplegia.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare, non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. It is characterized by osteosclerosis of the metaphyseal regions of long bones and several extraskeletal manifestations. Clinically, it ranges from an asymptomatic focal process to systemic disease with life-threatening visceral involvement.