Gender differences in severity of sickle cell diseases in non-smokers

To find out gender differences in severity of sickle cell diseases [SCDs] in non-smokers. Three groups of SCDs patients on the basis of red blood cell [RBC] transfusions were included. Less than 10 units in their lives were kept in Group-1, Ten units of higher in Group-2 and 50 units or higher as the Third Group. Patients with a history of using one pack of cigarettes -year or above were excluded. The study included 269 patients. Mean ages of the groups were similar [28.4, 28.5, and 28.9 years, respectively]. Prevalences of cases without any RBC transfusion in their lives were 7.2% and 3.7% in females and males, respectively [p < 0.05]. Prevalences of cases without any painful crisis were 13.8% and 6.0% in females and males, respectively [p < 0.001]. There was progressive increase according to mean painful crises, clubbing, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], leg ulcers, stroke, chronic renal disease [CRD], pulmonary hypertension, and male ratio from the first towards the third groups [p < 0.05, nearly for all]. Mean ages of mortal cases were 29.1 and 26.2 years in females and males, respectively [p > 0.05]. The higher painful crises per year, digital clubbing, COPD, leg ulcers, stroke, CRD, pulmonary hypertension, and male ratio of the third group, lower male ratio of patients without any RBC transfusion, lower male ratio of patients without any painful crisis, lower mean ages of male SCDs patients with mortality, and longer overall survival of females in the world could not be explained by well known strong atherosclerotic effects of smoking alone, instead it may be explained by the dominant role of male sex in life

Gender differences in coronary heart disease in Turkey

To find out whether or not there are some gender differences according to prevalence and underlying risk factors of coronary heart disease [CHD]. The study was performed in the Internal Medicine Polyclinic on consecutive patients coming with any complaint at and above the age of 15 years between August 2005 and March 2007. Patients under 15 years of age are examined in Paediatrics Department. The study included 2860 cases. Prevalence of CHD was similar both in males and females [4.4% vs 3.8%, p > 0.05, respectively]. Mean age of CHD was 63.5 years in males and 61.5 years in females [p > 0.05]. Prevalence of smoking was higher in males with CHD [54.5% vs 9.6%, p < 0.001]. Females had a nonsignificantly higher mean body mass index [BMI] [28.3 vs 29.7 kg/ m2, p > 0.05]. Mean values of low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and triglyceride [TG] were higher in females [115.6 vs 132.6 mg/dL, p = 0.008 and 150.1 vs 250.3 mg/dL, p = 0.002, respectively]. White coat hypertension [WCH] was nonsignificant [23.6% vs 30.6%, p > 0.05], but hypertension [HT] and diabetes mellitus [DM] were significantly higher in females [p<0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively]. On the other hand, coronary artery stenting [CAS] and/or coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery was greater among males [21.8% vs 1.6%, p < 0.001]. CHD is probably seen with similar prevalences in both sexes in Turkey with some prominent differences in the underlying risk factors. Prevalence of smoking was higher in males, whereas mean values of the BMI, LDL-C, TG and prevalences of the WCH, HT, DM were higher in females. On the other hand, prevalence of CAS and/or CABG surgery was significantly higher in males

Association of increased triglyceride levels in metabolic syndrome with coronary artery disease

We tried to understand significance of increased triglyceride [TG] values in metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease [CAD]. Check up cases with a TG value lower than 60 mg/dL were collected into the first, between 60 and 99 mg/dL into the second, between 100 and 149 mg/dL into the third, between 150 and 199 into the fourth, and 200 mg/dL and greater into the fifth groups. Study included 478 cases. Values of the mean age, weight, body mass index, TG, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] and prevalences of smoking, white coat hypertension [WCH], hypertension [HT], type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM], and CAD increased gradually and significantly nearly in all steps from the first towards the fifth groups. Metabolic syndrome may be a progression step between complete physical health and irreversible end points, such as obesity, type 2 DM, HT, CAD, and stroke. Hypertriglyceridemia and White Coat Hypertension [WCH] may be the most significant reversible parameters of the syndrome, and it is better to have the lowest TG value as much as possible. The most significant increase was seen after the value of 100 mg/dL. The overweight, smoking, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperbetalipoproteinemia, and WCH may only be one of hundreds of parameters of the syndrome. Therefore, it is advisable that underlying etiologies rather than revesible parameters of the syndrome should be targeted for treatment. For example, increased TG and LDL-C values, and prevalence of WCH by aging may be secondary to decreased physical and mental stresses in elderly

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with brucella infection is highly responsive to combined plasma infusion and antimicrobial therapy

To report a case of brucella infection presenting with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura [TTP] that responded well to plasma and antimicrobial treatment infusion. Case Presentation and Intervention: A 51-year-old man with moderate confusion, depressed mood and dysar-thria was admitted. He was chronically ill, with fever [38.5 ° C], anemia, jaundice and petechial purpuric skin lesions. Neurological examination revealed diminished consciousness with a Glasgow coma scale score of 7 and+1 neck rigidity. The hemoglobin and platelet counts were decreased and reticulocyte index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as well as serum lactate dehydrogenase and renal dysfunction were elevated. TTP was a possible diagnosis and the patient responded well to plasma infusion and antimicrobial treatment. This report shows that therapy of under-lying infection together with plasma infusion may be a successful treatment option for brucellosis-induced TTP