An Evaluation of Oxidative Stress With Thiol/Disulfide Homeostasis in Patients With Persistent Allergic Rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of medical treatment on thiol-disulfide balance despite ongoing allergic stimulation. METHODS: The research design was a prospective observational study that included 35 persistent allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. All patients who were diagnosed with persistent AR were included. A skin prick test was applied to all patients, and the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 was used to evaluate sinonasal symptoms. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis balance parameters were measured using a novel automatic and spectrophotometric method and compared statistically. Serum total thiol (TT), native thiol (SH), disulphide (SS), disulphide/native thiol (SS/SH), disulphide/total thiol (SS/TT), and native thiol/total thiol (SH/TT) ratios were measured after the second month of the treatment. RESULTS: The 35 patients included 20 (58%) females and 15 (42%) males. The mean age of the patients was 33.17 ± 9.9 years. Disulphide, SS/SH, and SS/TT ratios decreased significantly after the treatment (P < .05), while SH and SH/TT increased significantly (P < .05). The mean SH measurement increased significantly in the second month (P = .001), but TT mean measurements showed no difference after the treatment (P = .058). The mean SS measurements, on the other hand, decreased significantly in the second month (P = .003). CONCLUSION: Thiol/disulfide homeostasis may be used as a marker to evaluate the efficacy of persistent AR treatments. After the treatment, the increase in SH levels suggested the decrease in oxidative stress, even though allergen exposure continued.

Association of sociodemographic profile, dyslipidemias, and obesity in smoker, former smoker, and nonsmoker patients with coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD), there are different reports on gender, age, dyslipidemia, and obesity according to smoking behavior. Smoking, obesity, and dyslipidemia are targets in secondary prevention. In this study, we aimed to investigate the sociodemographic differences, lipid profiles, body mass index (BMI), and cigarette smoking status in patients diagnosed with CAD. METHODS: Patients with records of angiography, smoking behavior, sociodemographic information, lipid levels, and BMI present at the outpatient visits were included in the study. Patients were grouped as active smokers, nonsmokers, and former smokers. Statistical methods were used for comparison of variables and means. RESULTS: A total of 235 patients, 167 (71.1%) men and 68 (28.9%) women, were included in the study. Nonsmokers group (31.4%) consisted of mostly women while active (22.6%) and former smoker (46%) groups consisted mostly of men (P < 0.0001). The mean age was 60.65 ± 11.55. Age was associated with the smoking status of patients, and nonsmokers consisted of geriatric patients significantly (P = 0.001). Educational status was associated with smoking history. Cessation of smoking after CAD diagnosis was achieved in 46% of patients. Active smokers had highest mean triglyceride (TG) values while nonsmokers had highest mean high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) values. Active smokers had the highest mean TG values while nonsmokers had the highest mean HDL-C values. BMI was higher in nonsmokers than active smokers. CONCLUSION: Gender, age, and educational status are determinants of smoking behavior in patients with CAD. BMI is associated with smoking history. In nonsmokers, values of HDL were highest while TG values were lowest. To prevent reoccurring cardiovascular events, young patients and men are two groups which health professionals need to concentrate in motivating to quit smoking.

Bacteriemia causada por Rothia mucilaginosa después de neumonía en un paciente con trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas / Bacteremia caused by Rothia mucilaginosa after pneumonia, in a patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

La Rothia mucilaginosa forma parte de la flora normal y no suele causar una enfermedad invasiva. Los pacientes inmunodeprimidos tienen mayor riesgo de infección grave. En este artículo, presentamos el caso de un paciente con neuroblastoma recidivante hospitalizado por neumonía. Después de la mejoría clínica, los síntomas respiratorios del paciente empeoraron de nuevo. En el hemocultivo, se aisló la bacteria Rothia mucilaginosa. El empeoramiento de los síntomas respiratorios puede explicarse por la diseminación hematopoyética de la bacteria. Se le administró tratamiento con meropenem y vancomicina durante 14 días, cuyos resultados fueron satisfactorios. Se sabe que esta bacteria poco frecuente tiene una alta tasa de mortalidad si no se trata de forma adecuada, y debe considerarse especialmente en los pacientes inmunodeprimidos con neoplasias malignas.

Rothia muciloginosa is a member of normal flora and rarely causes invasive disease. Immunosupressed patients have increased risk for severe infection. Here, we report a male patient with relapsed neuroblastoma hospitalized for pneumonia. After clinical improvement, patient's respiratory symptoms worsened again. Rothia muciloginosa was isolated from blood culture. The worsening of respiratory symptoms can be explained by hematogenous spread of bacteria. He was successfully treated with meropenem and vancomycin for 14 days. This rarely seen bacterium is known to have high mortality rates unless treated appropriately and should be considered especially in patients with malignancy due to their immunsupressed situation.

Bacteremia caused by Rothia mucilaginosa after pneumonia, in a patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. / Bacteriemia causada por Rothia mucilaginosa después de neumonía en un paciente con trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas.

Rothia muciloginosa is a member of normal flora and rarely causes invasive disease. Immunosupressed patients have increased risk for severe infection. Here, we report a male patient with relapsed neuroblastoma hospitalized for pneumonia. After clinical improvement, patient's respiratory symptoms worsened again. Rothia muciloginosa was isolated from blood culture. The worsening of respiratory symptoms can be explained by hematogenous spread of bacteria. He was successfully treated with meropenem and vancomycin for 14 days. This rarely seen bacterium is known to have high mortality rates unless treated appropriately and should be considered especially in patients with malignancy due to their immunsupressed situation.

La Rothia mucilaginosa forma parte de la flora normal y no suele causar una enfermedad invasiva. Los pacientes inmunodeprimidos tienen mayor riesgo de infección grave. En este artículo, presentamos el caso de un paciente con neuroblastoma recidivante hospitalizado por neumonía. Después de la mejoría clínica, los síntomas respiratorios del paciente empeoraron de nuevo. En el hemocultivo, se aisló la bacteria Rothia mucilaginosa. El empeoramiento de los síntomas respiratorios puede explicarse por la diseminación hematopoyética de la bacteria. Se le administró tratamiento con meropenem y vancomicina durante 14 días, cuyos resultados fueron satisfactorios. Se sabe que esta bacteria poco frecuente tiene una alta tasa de mortalidad si no se trata de forma adecuada, y debe considerarse especialmente en los pacientes inmunodeprimidos con neoplasias malignas.

The relationship between antibeta 2 glycoprotein antibodies and SYNTAX score in patients undergoing coronary artery by-pass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The SYNTAX Score was recently developed to characterize the coronary vasculature with respect to the number of lesion's location, complexity, and functional impact and it is a quantitative scoring system to assist with patient selection for optimal revascularization strategy between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery by-pass surgery (CABG). b2-glycoprotein I (b2GPI), a plasma protein that binds cardiolipin, acts as a modulator of platelet aggregation and coagulation. Antibodies to b2GPI may have a role in atherosclerosis by inducing endothelial cell activation. We investigated the relationship between anti beta 2 GPI and severity of coronary artery stenosis by calculating the SYNTAX Score among patients undergoing CABG surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively investigate 612 patients who undergo elective coronary angiography between September 2012 and June 2013. Patients were evaluated for blood chemistry and anti-b2GPI IgA, IgM and IgG. Ninety seven patients with complete biochemical analysis including anti Beta 2 GPI antibodies and undergone CABG have been enrolled in this study. We divided patients in to 2 groups according to the SYNTAX scores. Group 1 included 48 patients with low SYNTAX scores (<23) and group 2 included 49 patients with intermediate and high SYNTAX scores (>23). RESULTS: There was significant correlation between elevated anti b2GPI IgG levels and higher SYNTAX score which indicate advanced and complex CAD. In this study, lesion complexity increased progressively with increasing anti-b2GPI-IgG type of antibody levels. According to this findings, anti-b2GPI-IgG is a strong predictor of higher SYNTAX score. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, the proinflammatory and procoagulant activities of antiphospholipid antibodies appear to be important risk factors for atherosclerotic occlusive disease.

The effect of exercise on urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase and protein levels of volleyball players.

AIM: Postexercise proteinuria and increased urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels can be indicative of exercise-induced renal damage. In the literature, there exists numerous studies on exercise-induced proteinuria; but studies investigating the effects of exercise on urinary GGT levels are quite few. We aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on renal function, expressed through the exercise-induced differences in urinary GGT, creatinine and protein levels. METHODS: The study was performed on 12 female and 12 male volleyball players of the same sports club. Urine samples collected before and 1 h after the exercise were analyzed for urinary GGT, creatinine and protein amounts. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between pre- and postexercise urinary GGT levels (U/L and U/g creatinine) of female and male volleyball players (P>0.05). A significant exercise-induced increase in urinary protein excretion was observed for the male players, while a significant exercise-induced increase in urinary creatinine excretion was observed for the female players (P<0.05). When urinary GGT levels (U/L) were compared separately for setters and spikers, it was observed that female players had no significant difference, while male spikers had a statistically significant exercise-induced increase in the urinary GGT levels (U/L) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the insignificance of the exercise-induced increases in the urinary parameters could be due to the relatively short-course of the exercise and the timing of postexercise urine collection. A comprehensive study performed on more subjects could yield results that are more significant.

Nephrotoxicity of gentamicin and co-trimoxazole combination in rats.

1. The nephrotoxicity of gentamicin is well known. However, little information is available regarding the combined effects of gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Therefore, Wistar rats were treated daily with 100 mg/kg gentamicin or 100 mg/kg gentamicin plus 30 mg/kg trimethoprim-150 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole for 14 days. 2. Serum biochemical parameters were measured on days 0, 8 and 15, and histopathological examinations of kidneys were performed on day 15, one day following end of treatment. Gentamicin treated rats exhibited a 63% increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a 124% increase in uric acid, and a 63% decrease in serum potassium levels on day 15. 3. The combination of gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole partially ameliorated these effects. With the three drug combination no change occurred in BUN, and only a 30% decrease occurred in serum potassium levels. 4. While serum creatinine levels significantly increased following gentamicin, the co-administration of co-trimoxazole resulted in a significant decrease (30%) in creatinine. Histopathological examinations of kidneys suggested a lower degree of nephrotoxicity in rats treated with gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole as compared to animals treated with gentamicin alone. 5. The results support the importance of monitoring serum biochemical parameters when treating with gentamicin or gentamicin plus co-trimoxazole.