Evaluation of endothelial dysfunction in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Association of selenoprotein P with carotid intima-media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

BACKGROUND: In patients with NAFLD, there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Selenoprotein P (SelP), a hepatokine, is associated with insulin resistance (IR) and serum SelP was found to be elevated in patients with NAFLD. AIM: This study aimed to determine the risk of CVD in NAFLD patients and the association of serum SelP levels with this NAFLD related CVD risk. METHODS: Ninety-three patients with NAFLD and 37 healthy controls were included in the study. Complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting glucose, serum lipid levels, and SelP levels were tested from fasting blood samples. Moreover, body mass index (BMI), HOMA-IR, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. RESULTS: In patients with NAFLD, the FMD ratio was significantly lower than in controls (P=0.027). cIMT measurements were similar in both groups (P=0.996). Serum SelP levels were significantly higher than controls (P<0.001). SelP levels were significantly correlated with BMI, fasting glucose, LDL-cholesterol and HOMA-IR (r=0.395, P<0.001; r=0.322, P=0.002; r=0.353, P<0.001; r=0.521, P<0.001, respectively). Also, SelP levels were significantly lower and correlated with FMD (r=-0.674, P<0.001). SelP, ESR and CRP were significantly higher (P<0.05) and FMD ratios were significantly lower (P<0.05) in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) when compared to patients with simple steatosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in young NAFLD patients without additional comorbidities, there is an increased risk of CVD. FMD may be a better predictor for assessment of CVD risk when compared with cIMT. We assume that there could also be an important role of SelP in the pathogenesis of NASH.

Evaluation of endothelial dysfunction in patients with familial Mediterranean fever: the relationship between the levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine and endocan with carotid intima-media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

It has been suggested that there is an ongoing subclinical inflammation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients also in attack-free periods as well. Due to this ongoing inflammation, endothelial dysfunction (ED) may develop. Previously, ED has been suggested to increase the risk of the atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endocan is recognized as a specific molecule of the endothelium and has been shown to increase in some cases associated with inflammation. However, there is not sufficient data whether those with FMF could develop ED in the early period of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate ED and its relation with endocan in young FMF patients. A total of 57 male patients diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel Hashomer criteria and a total of 33 healthy males with similar characteristics to the patient group were included in this research. Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, serum glucose, serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride (TG), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and endocan levels were tested from fasting blood samples. Moreover, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured. The endocan levels of the FMF patients during an attack-free period were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.001). On the other hand, FMD measurements were significantly lower among FMF patients (p < 0.001). ADMA levels were higher in the patient group; however, this difference was similar (p > 0.05). CIMT values were similar among FMF patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05). These results have suggested that ED may develop in the patients with FMF who have no additional CVD risk, even during young adulthood, and endocan may be a favorable biomarker at demonstration of ED than ADMA among FMF patients.

Anaphylactic reactions presenting with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Although a few case reports about hypertensive anaphylaxis (HA) are available in the present literature, there is no study about the prevalence of HA. In this study, we review our cases with anaphylaxis presenting with hypertension and ascertain its prevalence. The documents of the patients who had anaphylactic reactions after the procedures performed for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases in GATA Haydarpasa Clinic of Allergy and Immunology between January 2010 and December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Within the study period, 324 patients had undergone 4332 procedures in which 62 of them had developed anaphylaxis. RESULTS: During the procedures, the rate of anaphylaxis was found to be 1.43 %. The rate of HA among the anaphylaxis patients was 12.9 % (8 of 62 patients). During treatments, 2 patients received adrenaline injections without any adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS: HA may be seen at a considerable rate during an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis and hypertension can be recovered by adrenaline injection when required. According to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first original study about the prevalence of HA in English-language medical literature.

Insulin analogues may accelerate progression of diabetic retinopathy after impairment of inner blood-retinal barrier.

Diabetic retinopathy regresses after spontaneous infarction or surgical ablation of pituitary gland. Growth hormone deficiency seems to be a protective factor for development of diabetic retinopathy in dwarfs. Despite the same glycemic control, development of diabetic retinopathy is significantly higher in pubertal subjects than pre-pubertal subjects. These evidences indicate a strong relationship between growth hormone and progression of diabetic retinopathy. Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is the most important mediator of effects of growth hormone (GH). It stimulates IGF-1 receptor. Insulin analogues also stimulate IGF-1 receptor. Therefore insulin analogues may show similar effects like growth hormone and deteriorate diabetic retinopathy. However we suggest that impairment degree of inner blood-retinal barrier should be considered for this claim. We hypothesize that insulin analogues have dual effects (beneficial and worsening) depending on stage of impairment of inner blood-retinal barrier. Insulin analogues protect pericytes and blood-retinal barrier by decreasing blood glucose level. Analogues may pass into the retinal tissue in very low amounts when inner blood-retinal barrier is intact. Therefore, insulin analogues may not deteriorate diabetic retinopathy but also have beneficial effect by protecting blood-retinal barrier at this stage. However, they may pass into the retinal tissue in much more amounts when inner blood-retinal barrier impairs. Analogues may deteriorate cellular composition of retina through stimulation of IGF-1 receptors. A number of different cell types, including glia, retinal pigment epithelial cells and fibroblast-like cells have been identified in diabetic epiretinal tissues. Insulin analogues may cause proliferation in these cells. A type of glial cell named Non-astrocytic Inner Retinal Glia-like (NIRG) cell was identified to be stimulated and proliferate by IGF-1. IGF has been reported to generate traction force in retinal pigment epitelium (RPE) and mullerian cells. Mullerian cells also support inner blood-retinal barrier. Insulin analogues may cause proliferation in glial cells and generate traction force in RPE and mullerian cells by stimulating IGF-1 receptor. These effects of analogues may increase after deterioration of inner blood-retinal barrier and cause structural changes in retinal tissue. Deterioration of cellular structure may contribute to impairment of inner blood-retinal barrier, facilitate anjiogenesis and influence vitreoretinal interface. Therefore we suggest that insulin analogues should be used carefully after impairment of inner blood-retinal barrier. Analogues that bind with lesser affinity to IGF-1 receptor should be chosen after impairment. Pharmacologic agents may be developed to antagonize effect of insulin analogues on IGF-1 receptors.