Association of Sclerostin with Bone Metabolism and Bone Mineral Density in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Aims: Type 1 DM (T1DM) patients are shown having lower bone mineral density (BMD). Wnt signaling pathway is important in bone homestasis. Sclerostin is a major inhibitor of this pathway. The objectives of our study are to evaluate sclerostin levels of T1DM patients and to analyse its relationships with bone turnover markers. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Endocrinology, Tekirdağ State Hospital, between January to December 2013. Methodology: 48 T1DM patients and age, sex and BMI-matched 40 healthy control cases were included in this study. BMD measurements of T1DM patients were done by dual energy x ray absorptiometry. Serum samples were used to measure albumin, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, pyrilinks-D, 25(OH) Vitamin D and sclerostin levels of all cases. Results: Sclerostin levels of T1DM patients (803,9±92,01 pg/ml) were significantly higher than control cases (522,9±76,23 pg/ml) (P=0.000). Sclerostin has no correlation with age or gender. Sclerostin level was negatively correlated with lumbar vertebrae and femur neck BMD; however, positively correlated with alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, pyrilinks-D. Lumbar vertebrae and femur neck BMD has negative correlation with HbA1c and duration of T1DM. Conclusions: Sclerostin is increased in T1DM patients and this increment is associated with degradation of lumbar vertebrae and femur neck BMD.

Comparison of Cajal-like cells in pelvis and proximal ureter of kidney with and without hydronephrosis

Objectives: To evaluate effects of Cajal-like cells on human renal pelvis and proximal ureter on peristalsis. Materials and Methods: 63 patients submitted to nephrectomy due to atrophic non-functional kidney associated with hydroureteronephrosis were included as study group and 30 cases with nephrectomy due to other reasons were included as control group. Samples from renal pelvis and proximal ureters were obtained and sections of 5μ form paraffin blocks of these samples were prepared; layers of lamina propria and muscularis mucosa were examined by immune-histochemistry using CD117 in order to determine count and distribution of Cajal-like cells. Results: During immune-histochemical examinations of sections, obtained from renal pelvis and proximal ureter of hydronephrotic kidneys by CD117, Cajal-like cells number determined in lamina propria and muscularis propria was statistically significantly lower compared to control group (p<0.001). Distribution of Cajal-like cells in renal pelvis and proximal tubulus was similar under examination by light microscope, and also both groups were not different from each other regarding staining intensity of Cajal-like cells by c-kit. Conclusion: Significantly reduced number of Cajal-like cells in study group compared to control group, shows that these cells may have a key role in regulation of peristalsis at level of renal pelvis and proximal ureter in urinary system.

Mydriasis induced hyphema in a patient with rubeosis iridis.

Hyphema is the presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye. The blood may completely or partially cover the pupil and cause decrease in visual acuity. Other signs and symptoms of hyphema include visible blood in the front of the eye, pain, and sensitivity to light. The most common cause of hyphema is ocular trauma, usually a blunt or lacerating one. Other causes of hyphema include intraocular surgery, eye infections caused by herpes virus, cancer of the eye, artificial lens implants and blood clotting problems such as hemophilia, sickle cell anemia and von Willebrand disease. Hyphema may also occur spontaneously in conditions such as rubeosis iridis, juvenile xanthogranuloma, myotonic dystrophy and iris melanoma. The purpose of this case report is to point to the management of hyphema which occurs after administration of mydriatic drugs.

Causes of the 1998 Bartin river flood in Western Black Sea region of Turkey.

A vast flood in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey in May 1998 caused great loss of life and significant damage. Communication network, transportation, and construction cost of the disaster was estimated around US $500 million. Since flood area was relatively large, only Bartin river watershed were analysed and investigated within the scope of this study. It is very common having intense summer showers, which results in floods and landslides in the region. Land use changes in Turkey are rapid; therefore, actual land use format and its recent change were determined using remote sensing. Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to evaluate the data collected in the area. Prolonged rainfall on saturated soil by antecedent rainfall; misuse of land both in upper and lower watersheds are main reasons affecting the formation of such a flood in Bartin river watershed.