Endocrine
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We initiated the present work to explore whether neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) could be used to predict the progression of diabetic nephropathy in type-2 diabetic patients. Seventy-four type-2 diabetic patients were divided into normo-, micro- and macro-albuminuria groups according to their 24 h-urinary albumin excreting rate. Serum and urine NGAL, and other clinical parameters were detected. ⋯ The results indicate that NGAL correlates closely with renal function. Both serum and urine NGAL are sensitive for predicting the progression of type-2 diabetic nephropathy but they may change differently. Serum NGAL may be more useful in early detection and urine NGAL may be more meaningful in renal function assessment.
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The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia as defined by NCEP ATP III criteria in the Trabzon Region of Turkey and to determine its associations with cardiovascular risk factors [hypertension (HT), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and fasting serum glucose (FBG)] demographic factors (age, sex, obesity, marital status, reproductive history in women, and level of education), socioeconomic factors (household income and occupation), a family history of selected medical conditions (diabetes, HT, obesity, and cardiovascular disease), and lifestyle factors (smoking habits, physical activity, and alcohol consumption) in the adult population. In this cross-sectional survey, a sample of households was systematically selected from the central province of Trabzon city and its nine towns, namely, Akcaabat, Duzkoy, Vakfikebir, Yomra, Arakli, Of, Caykara, Surmene, and Macka. A total of 4,809 subjects (2,601 women and 2,208 men) were included in the study. ⋯ Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that dyslipidemia was significantly associated with the factors of age, male gender, BMI, WC (except for TC and LDL-C), HT (only for LDL-C and TG), FBG (only for LDL-C and TG), education level, cigarette smoking (only for HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio), alcohol consumption (except for HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio), occupation (especially housewives), marital status (widows and widowers), and a family history of selected medical conditions (for only TC). In conclusion, Trabzon Lipid Study data indicate that dyslipidemias are very common and an important health problem among the adult population of Trabzon. To control dyslipidemias, effective public health education and urgent measures are essential.
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Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1(GH/IGF-1) hypersecretion may influence risk factors contributing to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with acromegaly However, so far little is known about the impact of GH/IGF-1 on coagulation and fibrinolysis in acromegalic patients as possible risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). To our knowledge, plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in these patients have not been investigated. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the markers of endogenous coagulation/fibrinolysis, including TFPI and TAFI, and to investigate the relationships between GH/IGF-1 and these hemostatic parameters and serum lipid profile in patients with acromegaly. ⋯ We found some important differences in the hemostatic parameters between the patients with acromegaly and healthy controls. Increased fibrinogen, t-PA, PAI-1 and decreased protein S and TFPI in acromegalic patients may represent a potential hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, which might augment the risk for atherosclerotic and atherothrombotic complications. Thus, disturbances of the hemostatic system and dyslipidemia may contribute to the excess mortality due to CVD seen in patients with acromegaly.
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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as a new element related with insulin resistance and obesity. ⋯ Serum BDNF increases in insulin-resistant overweight and obese subjects after three months on a RCD. This observation could indicate that BDNF may be modulated in humans through diet composition.
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Carbohydrate intolerance is a common feature of acromegaly. Frank diabetes mellitus is seen in about 10-20% of patients. There is no report of acromegaly presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), associated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), in the literature. ⋯ Follow-up showed normalization of growth hormone levels and plasma glucose levels. Only six other cases of DKA associated with acromegaly and only three other cases of RP associated with acromegaly were found in the medical literature. In conclusion, to our knowledge, the present case is a first report of DKA and RP in patient with acromegaly.