Relationships among the metabolic syndrome, bone mineral density, bone turnover markers, and hyperglycemia.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the possible effects of metabolic syndrome on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in Turkish postmenopausal women. METHOD: This prospective case-control study included a total of 230 postmenopausal women, between 45 and 65 years old, including 63 with metabolic syndrome and 167 without metabolic syndrome on the basis of the International Diabetes Federation criteria. The height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio of each subject were measured. Fasting and nonfasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), parathyroid hormone (PTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), calcium, phosphorus, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (ALP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH) D], osteocalcin, and the ß-isomerized form carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ß-CTx) were measured. Bone mineral densities in the lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The mean age was 58.49±5.7 years in metabolic syndrome patients and 56.13±5.0 years in patients without metabolic syndrome. There was a statistically significant difference in the age of the patients. The mean BMI was 33.96±5.3 and 30.867±3.8 kg/m(2) in metabolic syndrome patients and patients without metabolic syndrome, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference. Serum calcium, osteocalcin, and ß-CTx were statistically significantly lower in metabolic syndrome patients. There was no significant difference in the levels of phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and bone-specific ALP, TSH, and PTH among the patients with metabolic syndrome and without metabolic syndrome. The statistical analysis, after adjusting for age and BMI, revealed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of lumbar and femoral BMD. When the patients in the metabolic syndrome group were split into two groups on the basis of those with a T score -2.5 or less and those with a normal score, a statistically significant difference was identified between the two groups in terms of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c values (P<0.05). Furthermore, a negative correlation was identified between the lumbar T score and the FBG and HbA1c values (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for age and BMI in a comparison of BMD between postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome, it was revealed that metabolic syndrome has no positive or negative effect on BMD. In contrast, a negative correlation was identified between FBG and HbA1c levels and lumbar BMD, suggesting that poor glycemic control may have a negative effect on lumbar BMD in this group of patients.

Is neutrophil lymphocyte ratio an indicator for proteinuria in chronic kidney disease?

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a strong indicator in determining inflammation in cardiac and non-cardiac diseases. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between proteinuria and NLR in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Between 2011 and 2012 files of a total of 1000 CKD patients attending outpatient clinic were retrospectively scanned. Patients with DM, chronic disease, malignancy or stage 5 CKD were excluded. After these patients were excluded, a total of 69 patients with stage 3 and 4 CKD were evaluated. RESULTS: The study comprised 27 patients with CKD without proteinuria (Group 1), 42 patients with CKD and proteinuria (Group 2) and 30 healthy volunteers (Group 3). NLR was highest in Group 2 and this was statistically significant compared with the control group (p = 0.012). The platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in Group 2 was higher than the control group at a significant level (p = 0.004). There was a moderate positive correlation found between proteinuria and NLR (p = 0.013, r = 0.3). There was a positive correlation found between proteinuria and PLR (p = 0.002, r = 0.306). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, NLR, a parameter easily found in routine blood counts of CKD patients, is a marker with prognostic value for the presence and degree of proteinuria.

Serum omentin-1, inflammation and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with non-diabetic chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Omentin-1 is suggested to affect inversely atherosclerosis (AS). Data about omentin-1 is limited to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to examine omentin-1 in non-diabetic CKD patients who are not dialyzed and investigate its relationships with inflammation and carotid AS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in 55 non-diabetic CKD patients and 30 healthy controls. Baseline clinical and laboratory data were obtained for all participants. Serum omentin-1 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured according to the manufacturer's instructions. Carotic plaque and intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed by carotid ultrasonography. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was used to assess IR. RESULTS: Omentin-1 and IL-6 levels in the patient group were found to be higher than the control group; the differences were statistically significant (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). Carotid IMT(mean) was significantly higher in the patient group (p = 0.01). Omentin-1 did not correlate with IL-6 and IMT in the patient group (p = 0.51 and p = 0.76, respectively). In subgroup analysis, omentin-1 levels in patients with carotid plaque were lower than those without carotid plaque (179.5 ± 88.1 ng/ml and 185.9 ± 67.8 ng/ml, respectively). However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.47). CONCLUSION: We conclude that omentin-1 is higher in not dialyzed non-diabetic CKD and there is no correlation between omentin-1 and IL-6 or carotid IMT(mean).

An Unusual Initial Presentation of Sjögren's Syndrome: Severe Hypokalemic Paralysis Secondary to Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis.

Sjögren's syndrome is mainly affects the exocrine glands. Patients usually complain of persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. However, nonexocrine organs such as the kidneys are often affected in these patients. Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and interstitiel nephritis are common in Sjögren's syndrome. Nonetheless, severe hypokalemia and paralysis secondary to dRTA are unusual initial manifestation of Sjögren's syndrome. Here, we describe a case of a 48 year old women admitted to the emergency setting with severe hypokalemic paralysis and diagnosed Sjögren's syndrome.