Serum thrombopoietin levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

To observe thrombopoietin [TPO] levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. The study was performed between November 2010 and March 2011 at the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, Ankara, Turkey. A total of 60 consecutive patients with ultrasound proven NAFLD [study group], and 28 healthy volunteers [control study] were included in the study. The patient group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the ultrasonographic images as follows: minimal, intermediate, and marked hepatosteatosis. The TPO levels of the patient subgroups were compared with the healthy controls. All the data were collected prospectively, and recorded in FUHIS data collecting system, which is produced by our data-knowledge team. Quantitative measurements of thrombopoietin level were carried out by using the Human Thrombopoietin Quantikine ELISA Kit [R and D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA]. Thrombopoietin levels were significantly increased in the patient subgroups compared with the controls. The TPO levels were also higher in the patient subgroup of grade 1-nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [grade 1- NAFLD] compared with the control group. The TPO increased in patients with NAFLD possibly as an acute phase reactant to decreased inflammation. In clinical practice, physicians should be alerted to increased TPO levels in patients

Hemostatic efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper [R] in a swine bleeding model

The purpose of this study was to show the hemostatic effect of spray, solution and tampon forms of Ankaferd Blood Stopper[R] [ABS], a unique medicinal plant extract historically used as a hemostatic agent in Turkish folklore medicine, in a porcine bleeding model. Two 1-year-old pigs were used as bleeding models for superficial and deep skin lacerations, grade II liver and spleen injuries, grade II saphenous vein injury and grade IV saphenous artery injury. Spray, solution or tampon forms of ABS were applied after continuing bleeding was confirmed. The primary outcome was time to hemostasis. Volume of blood loss was not measured. The pigs were euthanized at the end of the experiment. Spray or direct application of ABS solution resulted in instant control of bleeding in superficial and deep skin lacerations as well as puncture wounds of the liver. A 40-second application of ABS tampon was sufficient to stop bleeding of skin lacerations, while 1.5- and 3.5-min applications were used to control hemorrhage from the saphenous vein and artery, respectively. No rebleeding was observed once hemostasis was achieved. However, repeated applications of ABS solution and tampon were only temporarily effective in the hemostasis of spleen injury. The data showed that ABS was an effective hemostatic agent for superficial and deep skin lacerations and minor/moderate trauma injuries in a porcine bleeding model