Atherosclerosis and Liver Function Tests in Coronary Angiography Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated aminotransferase levels indicating liver function, even in the normal range, have attracted great concern as potential novel markers of cardiovascular risk assessment. We hypothesized the possibility that liver function test variations in the normal range might be meaningfully associated to coronary artery disease (CAD). METHOD: Eighty-eight patients were randomly selected from those who underwent coronary angiography from June 2010 to June 2011 after applying to the outpatient cardiology clinic in Gulhane Military Medical Academy. According to the results of angiographies, patients were classified into three groups as normal, non-critical (< 50% involvement in coronaries), and critical (≥ 50% involvement in coronaries). In addition to angiographic intervention, measurements of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations, albumin and the other serum parameters were performed in all patients. RESULTS: The patient groups of CAD were balanced (28 critical cases, 30 non-critical cases and 30 normal cases). Mean age was 51.93 ± 9.3 (range 32-65) years and 19.3 per cent (n = 17) were females. Multiple linear regression analysis of all three liver function tests explained a significant portion of the variance, but adjusted r-squares were small (AST = 0.174, ALT = 0.242, albumin = 0.124). Albumin was significantly higher for patients with critical CAD than for patients with no CAD (beta = 3.205, p = 0.002). Non-critical CAD was not significantly different from no CAD for any of the dependent variables. Mean AST was significantly higher for patients taking aspirin (beta = 0.218, p = 0.049), as was mean ALT (beta = 0.264, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Alanine aminotransferase and AST may not be associated with angiographically determined coronary atherosclerosis. Albumin may be more sensitive to demonstrate the burden of atherosclerosis. These results indicate that the association between the liver function tests and coronary atherosclerosis may be more complex than generally appreciated.

Levels of neopterin and C-reactive protein in pregnant women with fetal growth restriction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pregnant women with fetal growth restriction (FGR) have higher plasma neopterin and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations compared with those with uncomplicated pregnancy. A total of 34 pregnant women with FGR and 62 patients with uncomplicated pregnancy were included. Neopterin and CRP levels were measured at the time of diagnosis. The primary outcome of this study was to compare the neopterin and CRP levels in pregnant women with FGR and those with uncomplicated pregnancies. The secondary outcome of our study was to evaluate the correlation between fetal birth weight and maternal neopterin levels. The serum neopterin levels were significantly elevated in pregnant women with FGR (22.71 ± 7.70 vs 19.15 ± 8.32). However, CRP was not elevated in pregnant women with FGR (7.47 ± 7.59 vs 5.29 ± 3.58). These findings support the hypothesis that pregnancy with FGR is associated with a marked increase in macrophage activation and the natural immune system.

The effects of glycyrrhizin on experimental acute pancreatitis in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Although physiopathology of acute pancreatitis (AP) is not fully understood, the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and changes of cytokines have been determined. AIM: To investigate anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of glycyrrhizin (GL) on taurocholate-induced AP in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty six rats were randomly divided into three groups as sham, AP and AP+GL (n=12 per group). AP was induced by 1 ml/kg body weight using 5% taurocholate injection into the biliopancreatic duct in groups II and III after clamping the hepatic duct. In groups III, GL (20 mg/kg) was given by oral gavage twice daily for 4 days. Group I and II did not receive any treatment. After the rats were killed; blood samples were taken to measure amylase, lipase, calcium, albumin, urea, glucose, AST and LDH assays before killing. Pancreatic tissue samples were also taken for biochemical analyses and histopathology. RESULTS: Amylase, lipase, AST and urea levels were significantly lower in the AP+GL group than in the AP group. Cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α and MPO levels were significantly lower in the AP+GL group than in the AP group. Even so there is no statistically difference between in the AP+GL group and the AP group in terms of pancreatic tissue IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α levels. DISCUSSION: GL treatment significantly decreased pancreatic tissue MPO activities and MDA levels in the AP+GL group compared with the other groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.05, respectively). Acinar cell necrosis, hemorrhage, and edema determined that were significantly lower in the AP+GL group than in the AP group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GL treatment for acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and caused a clear recovery of histological changes.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment and N-acetylcysteine ameliorate acetaminophen-induced liver injury in a rat model.

An overdose of acetaminophen (APAP) produces centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis. We aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) only and hyperbaric oxygen (O(2)) treatment (HBOT) combined with NAC, and their anti-inflammatory properties in liver tissue. In the current study, a total of 32 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: sham, APAP, NAC, and NAC + HBOT. In the APAP, NAC, and NAC + HBOT groups, liver injury was induced by oral administration of 1 g/kg APAP. The NAC group received 100 mg/kg NAC per day. NAC + HBOT group received intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg/day NAC and were given HBOT at 2.8 ATA pressure with 100% O(2) inhalation for 90 min every 12 h for 5 days. Rats in the sham group received distilled water only by gastric tube. All animals were killed on day 6 after APAP or distilled water administration. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, hepatic neopterin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured. There was a significant increase in serum AST and ALT activities in the APAP group compared with the sham group (in both p = 0.001). NAC and NAC + HBOT groups had significant decreases in hepatic neopterin, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels compared with the APAP group. APAP administration caused extensive hepatic necrosis. NAC and NAC + HBO treatments significantly reduced APAP-induced liver injury. Our results showed that the liver damage in APAP toxicity was attenuated by NAC and NAC + HBO treatments. NAC + HBOT exhibit hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced liver injury in rats.

May long term oxcarbazepine treatment be lead to secondary hyperparathyroidism?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The adverse effects of newer antiepileptic drugs are not well-known. This study assessed the impact of oxcarbazepine (OXC) treatment on bone turnover. METHODS: Forty-four children with idiopathic focal (and/or secondarily generalized) epilepsy who had been treated with OXC for more than 1 year were compared with 33 healthy, age- and sex-matched children. Serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, calcitonin, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and bone mineral density were measured to evaluate and compare bone mineralization between the two groups. RESULTS: The serum levels of calcium, osteocalcin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and bone mineral density did not differ significantly between the study and control groups. However, serum levels of parathyroid hormone, alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, and calcitonin differed significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that OXC treatment leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism with high-turnover bone disease and/or impaired intestinal calcium absorption.