Bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in a group of male ankylosing spondylitis patients: relationship to disease activity.

Conflicting data have been published about osteoporosis and bone turnover markers in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The aim of this study was to determine bone mineral density (BMD) of the lateral lumbar spine in a group of male patients with AS and to investigate the relationship between clinical parameters and markers of bone turnover. Thirty-two consecutive AS patients with a mean disease duration of 14.

Free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap with anterior rectus sheath to provide the orbital support in globe-sparing total maxillectomy.

Reconstruction after total maxillectomy with preservation of the orbital contents is technically more challenging than when the maxillectomy is combined with orbital exenteration. It results in severe complications if the orbital content is not supported. We would like to introduce a new technique using free rectus abdominis myocutaneous (RAM) flap with anterior rectus sheath to support the orbital content in a patient who underwent globe-sparing total maxillectomy.

Plasma visfatin levels in patients with newly diagnosed and untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance.

Visfatin, a new adipokine, facilitates adipogenesis and has insulin-mimetic properties. We aimed to investigate the plasma visfatin levels in patients with newly diagnosed and untreated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), who had no obesity or hypertension. Twenty-two patients with T2DM, 18 subjects with IGT and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.

The effect of balneotherapy on patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To compare the effect of balneotherapy on physical activity and quality of life as well as the symptoms of pain and stiffness with exercise alone in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods: A total of 60 patients who had a diagnosis of AS according to the modified New York criteria were included in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups.

["Retro-sartorius bypass" an alternative method during graft infection due to gunshot wound: a case report].

Graft infections can be seen after the peripheric vascular operations using synthetic graft. The patient who had femoro-femoral bypass with synthetic graft after a gunshot wound admitted to our department with graft infection and wide tissue loss. The distal pedal pulses were palpable.

Balneotherapy and tap water therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

To investigate if spa water is superior to tap water (TW) in relieving the symptoms of pain, joint motion, life quality in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. In this randomized placebo-controlled trial, 52 patients with KOA were followed in two groups. In group I (n = 27), patients were treated in the pool full of spa water at 37 degrees C for 20 min a day, 5 days a week, for a period of 2 weeks.

Activity-dependent dynamics and sequestration of proteasomes in dendritic spines.

The regulated degradation of proteins by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway is emerging as an important modulator of synaptic function and plasticity. The proteasome is a large, multi-subunit cellular machine that recognizes, unfolds and degrades target polyubiquitinated proteins. Here we report NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor-dependent redistribution of proteasomes from dendritic shafts to synaptic spines upon synaptic stimulation, providing a mechanism for local protein degradation.

Endovascular repair in management of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Objective: Aneurysms of the thoracic aorta are still potentially life-threatening situations. The conventional operation is still associated with morbidity. Endovascular stent graft repair offers an alternative to conventional operation for management of aortic diseases.

Neurobrucellosis as an exceptional cause of transient ischemic attacks.

We report a series of four cases presented with transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or ischemic stroke as the predominant manifestation of neurobrucellosis (NB). Three of the patients were 20-28 years of age, and one patient was 53 years old. They all used to consume unpasteurized milk or its products.

Association of plasma adiponectin concentrations with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and myeloproliferative diseases.

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-secreted hormone, is an important negative regulator in the immune system and hematopoiesis. In this study, we investigated the association of adiponectin levels with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and myeloproliferative diseases (MPDs). We measured adiponectin levels in 19 patients with CLL and 30 patients with MPD (chronic myelogenous leukemia, 15; polycythemia vera, 9; myelofibrosis, 4; essential thrombocythemia, 2).

The effect of fluvastatin on plasma adiponectin levels in dyslipidaemia.

Objective: There is controversy about the effects of statins on insulin resistance and plasma adiponectin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fluvastatin treatment on these parameters in a group of dyslipidaemic patients who had no confounding factors for insulin resistance or alterations in plasma adiponectin.

Design And Patients: Forty-nine patients [27 males, 22 females; mean age 47.

The effects of rosiglitazone and metformin on insulin resistance and serum androgen levels in obese and lean patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone on insulin resistance and serum androgen levels in both obese and lean patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Materials And Methods: Forty lean [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2] and 40 overweight and obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2) patients were included in the study. Waist and hip measurements, serum sex steroid levels, insulin response to 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, fasting insulin, fasting C-peptide levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined in all patients.

Low-power laser treatment for shoulder pain.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of low-power gallium-arsenide laser treatment on the patients with shoulder pain.

Background Data: Low-energy laser therapy has recently been popularized in the treatment of various rheumatologic, neurologic, and musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tendinitis, and chronic back pain syndromes.

Methods: A total of 40 patients who applied to our clinic with shoulder pain and complied with the selection criteria were included in the study.

Synaptic protein degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome system.

Synaptic plasticity -- the modulation of synaptic strength between a presynaptic terminal and a postsynaptic dendrite -- is thought to be a mechanism that underlies learning and memory. It has become increasingly clear that regulated protein synthesis is an important mechanism used to regulate the protein content of synapses that results in changes in synaptic strength. Recent experiments have highlighted a role for the opposing process, that is, regulated protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system, in synaptic plasticity.

Adiponectin level is reduced and inversely correlated with the degree of proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients.

Aims: Adiponectin seems to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases. We aimed to measure plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients and investigate any association with the severity of proteinuria.

Methods: 80 patients (mean age, 46.

Double aneuploidy involving trisomy 7 with Potter sequence.

We report a prenatal case of double aneuploidy (consisting of chromosome 7 and X) with the features of Potter sequence. Of the stillborn fetus, skin fibroblast cultures were performed and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique was also used for further investigation. On physical examination; the fetus was found to have malformed ears, micrognatia, hypertelorism, abnormal extremities, rocker-bottom feet and abnormal external genitalia and polycystic right kidney was seen after an extensive autopsy.

The effect of oral prednisolone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is still one of the most important problems in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the beneficial effects of oral prednisolone on pulmonary functions in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: Forty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were divided into two groups randomly and were given 20 mg oral prednisolone once daily perioperatively (Group I, n = 20) or identical placebo (Group II, n = 20).

The safety and efficacy of direct trocar insertion with elevation of the rectus sheath instead of the skin for pneumoperitoneum.

Abdominal access in endoscopic surgery carries a finite risk of visceral injury. Bleeding, subcutaneous emphysema, gastrointestinal tract perforation, minor and major vascular injury, and intraperitoneal adhesions are the potential complications associated with abdominal access and creation of pneumoperitoneum. There are 4 basic techniques used to create pneumoperitoneum: blind Veress needle, direct trocar insertion, optical trocar insertion, and open laparoscopy.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist increases plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Adiponectin appears to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases. A case-controlled study was designed to measure plasma adiponectin levels and investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria. Sixty-four patients (mean age, 46.

The association of plasma adiponectin levels with hypertensive retinopathy.

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated that low plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with essential hypertension. It has also recently been shown that adiponectin plays an essential role in the modulation of angiogenesis. These data led us to hypothesize that adiponectin might contribute to end-organ damage in hypertension.

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system increases plasma adiponectin levels in type-2 diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Background/aims: Adiponectin seems to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases. A case study was designed to measure plasma adiponectin levels and to investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on adiponectin levels in type-2 diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Methods: Forty-nine patients (28 males, 21 females) and 23 healthy volunteers (13 males, 10 females) were included in the case study.

A proteasome-sensitive connection between PSD-95 and GluR1 endocytosis.

Synaptic transmission at excitatory synapses can be regulated by changing the number of synaptic glutamate receptors (GluRs) through endocytosis and exocytosis. The endocytosis of GluRs has recently been shown to require the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS): proteasome inhibitors or dominant negative forms of ubiquitin block the ligand-stimulated internalization of GluRs. We have examined whether PSD-95 is a potential target of the UPS.

Adiponectin may play a part in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Objectives: To measure plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes and to investigate any association with the severity of diabetic retinopathy, because adiponectin seems to be an important modulator for metabolic and vascular diseases.

Methods: Seventy-four patients (mean age 46.8+/-5.

Surgical therapy for acute superior mesenteric artery embolism.

Background: Acute mesenteric artery embolism has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are the most important factors associated with morbidity and mortality.

Methods: During the period between 1997 and 2002, 24 patients underwent superior mesenteric artery embolectomy.