Infections of Larval Stages of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in Brown Garden Snail, Helix aspersa, in Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of larval stages of Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in the first intermediate host, a species of land snail, Helix aspersa, in Turkey. A total of 211 snails were collected in April-May 2014 from pastures in Mersin District. Larval stages of D. dendriticum were identified under a light microscope. Hepatopancreas from naturally infected H. aspersa snails were examined histologically. The prevalence of larval stages of D. dendriticum and Brachylaima sp. in H. aspersa snails was found to be 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively, in Mersin, Turkey. Cercariae were not matured in sporocysts at the beginning of April; however, it was observed that cercariae matured and started to leave sporocysts by early-May. Thus, it was concluded that H. aspersa acts as an intermediate host to D. dendriticumin and Brachylaima sp. in Mersin, Turkey. A digenean trematode Brachylaima sp. was seen for the first time in Turkey.

Epicardial adipose tissue increased in patients with newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism

To investigate whether or not patients with subclinical hypothyroidism [SH] have increased epicardial adipose tissue [EAT]. Sixty-one patients with newly diagnosed SH and without any known cardiovascular disease were enrolled. Twenty-four subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index without any thyroid dysfunctions were included as a control group. The EAT was measured by echocardiography and thyroid functions were assessed by routine blood examination. Patients with SH had higher EAT values than control subjects [3.6 +/- 0.9 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.4, p = 0.005]. Also, SH patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] >/= 10 mU/l had higher EAT than those with SH with TSH <10 mU/l and control subjects [p = 0.013]. In addition, while there was significant correlation between EAT and TSH [r = 0.31, p = 0.014] in patients with SH, there was no significant relation between EAT and TSH in normal subjects [r = 0.09, p = 0.64]. There was a higher level of EAT in patients with SH compared with normal subjects and a significant correlation between EAT and TSH was found