Effects of atorvastatin on apelin, visfatin (nampt), ghrelin and early carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To investigate the influence of atrovastatin treatment on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum levels of novel adipokines, like apelin, visfatin (nampt), and ghrelin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 87 statin-free patients (50 males) with T2DM, aged 55-70, but without carotid atherosclerotic plaques were initially enrolled. CIMT was assayed in all participants by ultrasound.

Effects of rosiglitazone/metformin fixed-dose combination therapy and metformin monotherapy on serum vaspin, adiponectin and IL-6 levels in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Vaspin, adiponectin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) constitute novel adipose-tissue derivatives, known as adipokines, which mediate insulin resistance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of metformin and rosiglitazone on serum levels of those novel adipokines in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: 140 patients with T2DM, already treated with diet, but without adequate glycemic control (HbA1c > 7%), were randomly assigned to: RSG+MET group, (n = 70): Combination therapy with fixed dose of 4 mg rosiglitazone plus 500 mg metformin.

Verification of the accuracy of cervical cytology reports in women referred for colposcopy.

Objective: To verify the accuracy of cervical cytology in correlation with colposcopic and histological findings. DESIGN/SETTING/POPULATION/METHODS: In this retrospective chart review study 545 women, referred to the outpatient clinic for colposcopy, were included in the study. During the 4-year study period, two consultants performed the colposcopies and further necessary procedures, whereas patient charts were reviewed by two of the co-authors.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in an elderly population in Greece.

Introduction: Hypertension is a major public health problem and its prevalence increases with age. Despite an aging population, only a limited number of population-based studies, and fewer Greek studies, have focused exclusively on the elderly. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the rural residents of Paliouri village in Greece who were aged 65 years and older.

Exercise ameliorates serum MMP-9 and TIMP-2 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: This study assessed the impact of regular exercise on inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], fibrinogen), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Patients: Fifty overweight patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to two groups: (A) an exercise group (EXG, n=25), with self-controlled exercise for at least 150 min/week and one additional supervised exercise session/week; and (B) a control group (COG, n=25), with no exercise instructions. All participants were taking oral antidiabetic drugs, and none had diabetic complications.

Beneficial changes of serum calcification markers and contralateral carotid plaques echogenicity after combined carotid artery stenting plus intensive lipid-lowering therapy in patients with bilateral carotid stenosis.

Objectives/design: In symptomatic patients treated with ipsilateral carotid artery stenting (CAS) plus intensive lipid lowering, we assessed the changes of osteopontin (OPN), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the Gray-Scale Median (GSM) score contralateral to symptomatic carotid stenosis.

Materials/methods: Forty-six symptomatic patients (group A) with significant carotid stenosis (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET): >70%) underwent ipsilateral CAS. Those patients had simultaneously contralateral low-grade carotid stenosis (NASCET: 30-69%).

Exercise training ameliorates the effects of rosiglitazone on traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone and/or exercise training on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred overweight/obese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, with inadequate glycemic control (hemoglobin A(1c) >7%) despite combined treatment with gliclazide plus metformin, were randomized using a 2 x 2 factorial design to 4 equivalent (n = 25) groups, as follows: (1) CO: maintenance of habitual activities, (2) RSG: add-on therapy with rosiglitazone (8 mg/d), (3) EX: adjunctive exercise training, and (4) RSG + EX: supplementary administration of rosiglitazone (8 mg/d) plus exercise training. No participant had diabetic vascular complications or was receiving lipid-lowering therapy.

Aggressive lipid-lowering is more effective than moderate lipid-lowering treatment in carotid plaque stabilization.

Objective: Atherosclerotic plaque stabilization is a promising strategy to prevent cerebrovascular events in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Vascular calcification inhibitors, known osteopontin (OPN) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), have emerged as novel cardiovascular biomarkers. This open-label, prospective study aimed to examine whether aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with atorvastatin is more effective than moderate lipid-lowering in increasing carotid plaque echogenicity, assessed by Gray-Scale Median (GSM) score and suppressing serum OPN and OPG levels in patients with moderate carotid stenosis.

Visfatin (nampt) and ghrelin as novel markers of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Visfatin (nampt) and ghrelin are the most recently identified adipocytokines, but their role in atherosclerosis is poorly clarified. In our study we investigated their association with advanced carotid atherosclerosis and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: 122 patients (50 males) with T2DM, aged 55-70 were enrolled.

Brucella cervical spondylitis complicated by spinal cord compression: a case report.

A case of 65-year-old farmer who presented with Brucella-related cervical spondylitis is described. Because of the advanced form of the infection resulted in neurological impairment, cervical vertebra corpectomy and debridement of the paravertebral granulomatous tissue deposits were performed followed by stabilization with anterior plating and bone grafting. In addition, double antimicrobial chemotherapy regimen was administered for 12 weeks.

Effects of rosiglitazone and metformin treatment on apelin, visfatin, and ghrelin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Visfatin, ghrelin, and apelin are the most recently identified adipocytokines; but their response to insulin-sensitizing agents is poorly clarified. We aimed to assess the differential effects of either rosiglitazone or metformin monotherapy on the aforementioned adipocytokines in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One hundred T2DM patients (30 men, 70 women), with poor glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin >6.

Acoustic rhinometry to evaluate plastic surgery results of the nasal septum.

Unlabelled: Acoustic rhinometry to evaluate plastic surgery results of the nasal septum.

Objective: In this study, acoustic rhinometry was used in the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of 16 patients undergoing surgery for nasal obstruction.

Methodology: The parameters evaluated prior to and subsequent to the operation were the diameter of the nasal cavity at its narrowest point, and the total volume of the nasal cavity.

Cardiorespiratory capacity is associated with favourable cardiovascular risk profile in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between cardiorespiratory capacity and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Research Design/methods: A total of 92 patients with T2DM (40 men, 52 women) performed a symptom-limited exercise test on ergocycle, with continuous gas exchange measurement. All patients were overweight or obese (body mass index >25 kg/m(2)), with poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A(1c) >7%), but free from overt diabetic vascular complications.

Ovarian cyst as a pelvic mass in an infant.

Ovarian cysts in the neonate vary in size. Most of the cysts are asymtomatic but complications occur such as tortion, autoamputation or rupture. We report a case of a 3-month-old infant with an autoamputation ovarian cyst detected on a prenatal ultrasound scan (USS).