Clin Lab
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Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) belongs to the acute phase proteins; its concentration increases significantly in the early stages of inflammation. In nearly 20% of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) escalated inflammation leads to the development of severe forms of the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of changes in PTX3 concentration in patients with AP at the early stage of the disease (first 5 days from admission) and to assess the relationship between PTX3 and other inflammatory markers. ⋯ The pattern of changes in PTX3 concentration in the early phase of AP is similar to that of IL-6, and its peak levels are achieved earlier compared to CRP. Our findings suggest that PTX3 may be useful in early evaluation and prediction of the severity of AP.
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Recent evidence has demonstrated that environment and genetic factors play pivotal roles in diabetes and its related complications. The significant contributory role of cytokines in pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes is also well documented. This study was aimed to examine and compare both CXCL1 (GRO-alpha) and CXCL10 (IP-10) circulating levels in type 2 diabetic patients and healthy controls. ⋯ Elevated levels of CXCL1 and CXCL10 could possibly be used as a marker of inflammation and angiogenesis/angiostasis in type 2 diabetes.
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Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a hydrolytic enzyme involved in the deamination of adenosine to inosine. ADA is involved in T-lymphocyte differentiation and development. This study was aimed to determine the diagnostic value of the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity test for the diagnosis of HIV positive patients in the Kurdish population. ⋯ Serum ADA was significantly increased in HIV infected patients. Therefore, because of its low cost and simplicity to perform, ADA activity might be considered a useful diagnostic tool among the other markers in this disease.
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Beta-thalassemia causes a severe hemolytic anemia in patients necessitating frequent transfusions leading to iron overload and endocrine complications, especially diabetes mellitus. We tried to determine the change or effect on carbohydrate physiology and oxidation markers and the association of these markers in chronic transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major and beta-thalassemia/HbE (beta-TM) patients. ⋯ Progression of iron overload, oxidative stress and hyperinsulinemia were substantially and persistently higher in beta-TM patients. We observed a positive association between oxidative stress, iron overload and insulin resistance in these beta-TM patients.
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It has been thought that neurotrophins have metabotrophic effects and take part in the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The aim of the present study is to examine the levels of neurotrophins in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and whether the levels are linked to the components of metabolic syndrome. ⋯ We thought that the changes in the serum neurotrophic factor levels were associated with metabolic syndrome components in T2DM.