The role of shear wave elastography in predicting endometrial cancer in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is an objective quantitative ultrasound elastography technique that can demonstrate the stiffness of anatomical structures to aid in their detection and characterization. We aimed to evaluate the role of shear wave elastography in differentiating endometrial carcinoma from benign uterine pathologies in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at our institution from January 2020 to April 2020. A hundred patients with endometrial sampling planned and SWE due to abnormal uterine bleeding were included in the study. According to the histopathological results of the patients, those with normal and atrophic endometrium results were defined as group I (control group), those with benign results such as polyps and endometrial hyperplasia were defined as group II, and those with endometrial cancers were defined as group III. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, a statistically significant difference was found in Emean (mean and adjusted mean) value between the study groups (F2.96=86.37, p<.001, η2=0.64). The post-hoc analysis was performed with a Bonferroni adjustment. The mean Emean value was found to be statistically significantly higher in group III (17.14±0.40) compared to group I (10.39±0.26) and group II (11.49±0.32) (p<0.001). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the benign and normal groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a new diagnostic technique in gynecology, elastography appears to be a valuable tool in differentiating malign endometrial pathologies from normal or benign endometrial pathologies in females with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Lymph node size detected by magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of lymph node involvement in locally advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymph node (LN) size detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for prediction of LN involvement in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 55 cases diagnosed with LACC (IIB-IVA FIGO 2018) between 28 December 2010 and 30 October 2020 were evaluated in this retrospective study. LN involvement was evaluated in patients who underwent surgical staging and MRI. The prediction of LN involvement based on LN size on MRI was calculated statistically. RESULTS: The mean age of 55 patients was 56 (33-78) years. For the cases, 76.4% were stage IIB, 12.7% were stage III, and 10.9% were stage IVA. Squamous cell histological type was detected with a rate of 90.9%. The cut-off value for pelvic LN diameter on MRI in predicting pelvic LN involvement was 18.5 mm, and the sensitivity and specificity values were calculated as 50.0% and 93.6%, respectively (p=0.027). The cut-off value for pelvic and para-aortic LN diameter on MRI in predicting pelvic and para-aortic LN involvement was 17.0 mm with a sensitivity of 41.7% and specificity of 88.4% (p=0.081). CONCLUSIONS: In LACC, prediction of LN involvement by LN diameter detected on MRI has moderate sensitivity and high specificity with a cut-off value of 17.0 mm.

Association of dipping pattern of blood pressure and atherosclerotic burden of coronary arteries in hypertensive patients.

Aim    The aim of this study was to determine the association between the dipping pattern of BP and coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients.Material and methods    A total of 356 hypertensive patients were included in the study. The results of ambulatory BP monitoring, echocardiography, and coronary computerised tomographic angiography were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of their ambulatory BP monitoring: 1) patients with the dipping pattern of BP; 2) patients with the non-dipping pattern (NDP).Results    Among the 356 patients, 145 were male (40.7 %). The smoking status was higher in patients with NDP (p=0.023). The statin usage in patients with the dipping pattern was higher in patients with NDP (p=0.027). There were no significant differences in the echocardiographic findings. 58.6 % of the patients without plaque formation had the dipping pattern of BP (p<0.05), however 84.4 % of patients with >50 % plaque formation had the NDP of BP (p<0.001).Conclusion    The NDP of BP might be related to the increased atherosclerotic process in coronary arteries, and pa-tients with NDP might have an increased atherosclerotic burden for coronary arteries when compared with patients with a dipping pattern.

Tratamiento endoscópico del reflujo vesicoureteral primario en niños con dos materiales diferentes. Tasa de éxito alta y tasa de complicaciones baja: comparación entre Dexell y Vantris / Endoscopic treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children with two different bulking agents, high success and low complication rates: comparison of Dexell and Vantris

Introducción y objetivos: Comparar, en términos de eficacia y seguridad, los resultados del tratamiento endoscópico del reflujo vesicoureteral (RVU) en dos cohortes diferentes de RVU primario tratadas con Dexell y Vantris.PacientesEl estudio incluyó 128 unidades de reflujo renal (URR) en 87 pacientes con RVU primario (64 mujeres, 23 hombres). Se excluyeron los pacientes con RVU secundario y disfunción vesical e intestinal severa. Un total de 22 niños mayores ya continentes, con disfunción vesico-intestinal leve, fueron sometidos a entrenamiento vesico-intestinal previo a la implantación. Todos los procedimientos se realizaron en presencia de orina estéril mediante la técnica convencional de inyección transuretral subureteral.ResultadosNo hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos en cuanto a media de edad, sexo, lateralidad de la URR, captación de 99mTc-DMSA y grado de reflujo. Las tasas de resolución global con base en el número de URR con hasta tres tratamientos endoscópicos fueron del 80% (56/70) en el grupo Dexell y del 94,8% (55/58) en el grupo Vantris (p = 0,012). No se observaron recidivas ni obstrucciones de la unión vesicoureteral en el postoperatorio en ningún grupo.ConclusionesDexell y Vantris proporcionaron un tratamiento endoscópico eficaz y seguro en el seguimiento a corto y medio plazo del RVU primario en niños. Se requieren más estudios para evaluar la eficacia de estas sustancias, cuyo efecto de volumen depende del tamaño de sus partículas, en la resolución segura del RVU. (AU)

Introduction and Objectives: To compare the results in terms of efficacy and safety of the endoscopic management for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in two different standardized primary VUR cohorts treated with Dexell and Vantris.Patients128 refluxing renal units (RRU) in 87 patients with primary VUR (64 females, 23 males). Patients with secondary VUR and severe bladder and bowel dysfunction were excluded. A total of 22 continent children with mild bladder-bowel dysfunction underwent bladder-bowel training before the implantation. All procedures were performed in the presence of sterile urine using a conventional subureteral transurethral injection technique.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of mean age, sex, RRU side, 99mTc-DMSA uptake, and reflux grade. The overall resolution rates based on the number of RRUs for up to three endoscopic treatments were 80% (56/70) in Dexell group and 94.8% (55/58) in Vantris group (p = 0.012). No postoperative recurrences or vesicoureteral junction obstructions were seen in any group.ConclusionsDexell and Vantris provided an effective and safe endoscopic VUR treatment in the early and mid-term follow up of children with primary VUR. The effectiveness of these substances, which can produce different mass effects with different particle sizes, in safe VUR resolution, needs further investigations. (AU)

Endoscopic treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children with two different bulking agents, high success and low complication rates: Comparison of Dexell and Vantris.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the results in terms of efficacy and safety of the endoscopic management for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in two different standardized primary VUR cohorts treated with Dexell and Vantris. PATIENTS: 128 refluxing renal units (RRU) in 87 patients with primary VUR (64 females, 23 males). Patients with secondary VUR and severe bladder and bowel dysfunction were excluded. A total of 22 continent children with mild bladder-bowel dysfunction underwent bladder-bowel training before the implantation. All procedures were performed in the presence of sterile urine using a conventional subureteral transurethral injection technique. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of mean age, sex, RRU side, 99mTc-DMSA uptake, and reflux grade. The overall resolution rates based on the number of RRUs for up to three endoscopic treatments were 80% (56/70) in Dexell group and 94.8% (55/58) in Vantris group (P = .012). No postoperative recurrences or vesicoureteral junction obstructions were seen in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Dexell and Vantris provided an effective and safe endoscopic VUR treatment in the early and mid-term follow up of children with primary VUR. The effectiveness of these substances, which can produce different mass effects with different particle sizes, in safe VUR resolution, needs further investigations.

OPERA tau neutrino charged current interactions.

The OPERA experiment was designed to discover the vτ appearance in a vµ beam, due to neutrino oscillations. The detector, located in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, consisted of a nuclear photographic emulsion/lead target with a mass of about 1.25 kt, complemented by electronic detectors. It was exposed from 2008 to 2012 to the CNGS beam: an almost pure vµ beam with a baseline of 730 km, collecting a total of 1.8·1020 protons on target. The OPERA Collaboration eventually assessed the discovery of vµâ†’vτ oscillations with a statistical significance of 6.1 σ by observing ten vτ CC interaction candidates. These events have been published on the Open Data Portal at CERN. This paper provides a detailed description of the vτ data sample to make it usable by the whole community.

Acceso ureteral proximal para la eliminación de cálculos sintomáticos mediante ureterorrenoscopio semirrígido ultrafino en niños en edad preescolar: ¿es posible? / Proximal ureteral access for symptomatic stone removal using ultrathin semirigid ureterorenoscope in preschool-age children: Is it possible?

Introducción y objetivos: Determinar la viabilidad del acceso ureteral y la eficacia de la eliminación de la obstrucción con mini-URS en el manejo de los cálculos ureterales proximales en niños menores de 5 años.PacientesRevisamos retrospectivamente los datos de 26 niños que se sometieron a mini-URS-LL por cálculos obstructivos situados en el uréter proximal entre enero de 2016 y agosto de 2018. La efectividad de mini-URS-LL se evaluó sobre la base de su viabilidad, fiabilidad y el éxito de la técnica.ResultadosLa media de edad fue de 3±1,3 años. Once (42,3%) pacientes tenían≤2 años y los 15 restantes (57,7%) tenían entre 3 y 5 años. El tamaño medio del cálculo era 9,11±3,02mm. Se obtuvo un estado libre de cálculos al final de 31 procedimientos ureteroscópicos en 24 (92,3%) pacientes. Se encontró que la edad media fue significativamente más alta en los pacientes que se sometieron al procedimiento sin cateterización previa (p=0,027). No se experimentó ninguna complicación perioperatoria.ConclusiónEn niños entre 2 y 5 años, la litotricia láser con mini-URS (mini-URS-LL) puede ser un procedimiento seguro en manos de urólogos expertos en técnicas endourológicas, pero su eficacia es baja, sus tasas de cateterización previa son altas, requiriendo consultas de anestesia adicionales. (AU)

Introduction and objectives: We aimed to point out the ureteral access facility and obstruction removal efficiency of mini-URS in the use of proximal ureteral stone management in children under five-year-old.PatientsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 26 children who underwent mini-URS-LL for obstructive stones in proximal ureter between January 2016 and August 2018. The effectiveness of the mini-URS-LL was assessed based on the feasibility, reliability, and success of the technique.ResultsMean age was 3±1.3 years, and 11 (42.3%) patients were≤2 years old, remaining 15 (57.7%) were aged 3-5 years. Mean stone size was 9.11±3.02mm. A stone-free status was obtained at the end of 31 ureteroscopic procedure in 24 (92.3%) patients. The mean age was found significantly higher in patients who had the procedure without pre-stenting than the others who did (P=.027). No perioperative complication was experienced.ConclusionIn preschool-age children, laser lithotripsy with mini-URS may be a safe technique in the hands with advanced endo-urological skills but it has low efficacy with higher rates of prestenting causing additional anesthesia sessions. (AU)

Endoscopic treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children with two different bulking agents, high success and low complication rates: comparison of Dexell and Vantris. / Tratamiento endoscópico del reflujo vesicoureteral primario en niños con dos materiales diferentes. Tasa de éxito alta y tasa de complicaciones baja: comparación entre Dexell y Vantris.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the results in terms of efficacy and safety of the endoscopic management for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in two different standardized primary VUR cohorts treated with Dexell and Vantris. PATIENTS: 128 refluxing renal units (RRU) in 87 patients with primary VUR (64 females, 23 males). Patients with secondary VUR and severe bladder and bowel dysfunction were excluded. A total of 22 continent children with mild bladder-bowel dysfunction underwent bladder-bowel training before the implantation. All procedures were performed in the presence of sterile urine using a conventional subureteral transurethral injection technique. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of mean age, sex, RRU side, 99mTc-DMSA uptake, and reflux grade. The overall resolution rates based on the number of RRUs for up to three endoscopic treatments were 80% (56/70) in Dexell group and 94.8% (55/58) in Vantris group (p = 0.012). No postoperative recurrences or vesicoureteral junction obstructions were seen in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Dexell and Vantris provided an effective and safe endoscopic VUR treatment in the early and mid-term follow up of children with primary VUR. The effectiveness of these substances, which can produce different mass effects with different particle sizes, in safe VUR resolution, needs further investigations.

Binaural beats or 432 Hz music? which method is more effective for reducing preoperative dental anxiety?

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to investigate the effectiveness of binaural beats and music at a frequency of 432 Hz and compare which method is more effective for reducing preoperative dental anxiety in impacted third molar surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety patients were randomly selected to the binaural beats group, music group and control group. Visual analog scale used to evaluate dental anxiety before the local anesthesia in the first measurement. Local anesthesia was applied to the all patients. Patients in the music group listened to 432 Hz tuned music using earphones for 10 minutes. Patients in the binaural beats group listened to binaural beats using earphones (for the right ear, 220 Hz and for the left ear 210 Hz) for 10 minutes. No special treatment was applied to the patients in control group. In the second measurement, dental anxiety was measured again in all three groups. For analysis of differences between three groups was used One way Anova and Kruskal Wallis test. RESULTS: Twenty seven male and 53 female patients included the study. In the first measurement, the same level of anxiety was recorded in all three groups. (p=0.811) There was a significant decrease in anxiety in both the binaural beats and music group in the second measurement. (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Binaural beats and 432 Hz tuned music are a valid non pharmacological adjuvant to reduce dental anxiety in impacted third molar surgery. They have a positive effect to reduce the dental anxiety.

Assessment of pulp volume changes after surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion.

Maxillary transverse deficiency is a common skeletal problem. When the patient is younger, it is treated by rapid palatal expansion by using orthodontic appliances. If this fails or the patient is older, which means skeletal growth is completed, surgically aided rapid palatal expansion (SARPE) becomes necessary. In this technique, after the osteotomies have been made, the two maxillary bones are distracted by tooth-borne device. Since a tooth-borne device will apply the distraction forces on the teeth, the pulp volumes may change. Our aim was to investigate the volume changes of the tooth pulps after SARPE in which a tooth-borne device was used. We scanned our database and included 20 patients (7 males and 13 females) aging between 16 and 30 (mean 19.5±3.97) to this retrospective study. All the patients had undergone SARPE surgeries and they had pre-surgery and postconsolidation cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images. All the surgeries had been done in similar ways; all the patients had used similar tooth-borne modified acrylic bonded expansion device. We divided the maxillary teeth into three groups: the incisors, the premolars and the molars. We imported the CBCT images of each patient into 3D Slicer software. We calculated volumes of pulps for all maxillary teeth. We compared volumes with paired t test. Statistical significance level was accepted as P< .05. The devices had been left in place between 83 and 179 days including distraction and consolidation periods (mean 121.35±27.83 days). Amount of the expansions varied between 6.03mm and 11.16mm (mean 7.19±1.18mm). We found a statistically significant decrease of the pulp volumes in incisor, premolar and molar teeth (P<.001) between pre-surgery and postconsolidation periods. When using tooth-borne devices in SARPE, their impacts on teeth pulps should also be considered.

Are YouTube videos related to dental implant useful for patient education?

PURPOSE: The aim of the research was to assess the quality of obtained information from YouTube videos related to dental implant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: "Dental implant" word was used as a key word in YouTube videos in this study. Videos were evaluated by three oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The first 150 videos were screened. After exclusion criterias, seventy-four videos were investigated regard to content's usefulness. The usefulness scores of the videos were poor (0), moderate (1) and excellent (2). Upload sources were recorded that were categorized as the individual users, health care professionals, and health companies. The type of videos was classified 3 sections: educational videos, patient's experience, and scientifically erroneous. We examined videos for the content presence in eight non-mutually exclusive domains of dental implant. RESULTS: Seventy-four videos were evaluated. The usefulness score of the videos ranged from 0-2 and the average was 0.324. The most discussed topics were regarding with procedures of dental implant (42.57%), however, the least one was related to contraindications (1%). No significant correlation was found between the source of upload and video usefulness score (P=0.086). There was a significant difference between number of comments and the video types. (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Our outcome emphasized that YouTube videos related to dental implant were a limited source for the patients. Many issues regarding dental implant were ignored in these videos.

Comparison of two different flap designs for bilateral impacted mandibular third molar surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the effect of lingual-based triangular flap with buccal-based triangular flap on postoperative complications in impacted third molar surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients aged between 18 and 36 (mean age 19.65±2.14) were included. They all had bilateral impacted third molars. We used buccal-based triangular flap on a randomly selected side (Group 1) and lingual-based triangular flap on the other side (Group 2). We evaluated pain during 7 days after the surgery; swelling and trismus on postoperative 2., 7. and 14. days; wound dehiscence and alveolar osteitis incidence on postoperative 7. and 14. days. RESULTS: Pain was significantly higher in Group 2 during 7 days postoperatively (P<.05). Trismus and swelling were also more prominent in Group 2 on postoperative days 2 and 7. In Group 2, the duration of the surgery in was longer than Group 1 (P<.05). In Group 1, 17 patients (56.7%) had wound dehiscence and 6 patients (20%) in Group 2 (P<.05). No alveolar osteitis developed in either groups. CONCLUSION: The buccal-based triangular flap seems better with regard to postoperative pain, swelling and trismus. On the other hand, the lingual-based triangular flap had a lesser incidence for wound dehiscence.

Frequency, characteristics, and clinical determinants of 'prodrome' in familial Mediterranean fever patients.

Objective: Prodrome is defined by manifestations that precede a familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) attack and predict its emergence. We aimed to determine the frequency, characteristics, and clinical determinants of prodrome in patients with FMF.Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary rheumatology clinic. During the clinical interview, all patients completed a standardized questionnaire about the pre-attack period. Prodrome was defined as the presence of any recurrent pre-attack manifestation occurring at least 4 h before an attack. Patients were classified according to whether they had prodrome of any kind of attack.Results: The study enrolled 401 patients aged 37.7 ± 11.0 years (mean ± sd). Male gender, M694V/M694V, homozygous MEFV mutation, peritonitis, pleuritis, and arthritis were more frequent in prodrome-positive patients. Altogether, 141 patients (35.2%) had prodrome. Male gender and ever having attack types of peritonitis or arthritis were independent clinical determinants of prodrome [relative risk (95% confidence interval): 1.72 (1.07-2.76), p = 0.02; 4.27 (1.80-10.1), p = 0.001; 1.77 (1.04-3.04), p = 0.04, respectively]. Age, MEFV mutations, pleuritis, and erysipelas-like erythema were not clinical determinants.Conclusions: All FMF patients, particularly males and patients who had peritonitis or arthritis at any time, should be questioned about prodrome. Prodrome should be analysed in terms of elucidating the pathogenesis of FMF and as an opportunity for a secondary prevention strategy for impending attacks. This study may shed light on prodrome for future cytokine or drug studies with the purpose of developing new cost-effective treatment protocols irrespective of colchicine resistance.

Elevated circulating levels of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 in relation to insulin resistance and androgens in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE: Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) is an adipokine involving in apoptotic process during ovulation and energy metabolism. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive and metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance and impaired oocyte maturation as well as apoptotic dysfunctions through oocyte development. Our aim was to determine whether there was an alteration in levels of SFRP4 and if there was an association between metabolic or hormonal parameters and SFRP4 in women with PCOS. METHODS: We enrolled 80 subjects with PCOS and 80 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched subjects with normal menstrual cycle into current case-control study. Metabolic and hormonal parameters of enrolled subjects were determined. Circulating SFRP4 levels were measured with ELISA method. RESULTS: We found that circulating SFRP4 levels were elevated in women with PCOS with respect to controls (5.87 ± 1.91 vs. 3.72 ± 1.29 ng/ml, P < 0.001). We also found a positive association between SFRP4 and insulin resistance, androgens, ovarian follicular number or ovarian volume in women with PCOS. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects with the highest tertile of SFPR4 levels displayed increased possibility of having PCOS risk compared to those subjects with the lowest tertile of SFRP4 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Increased SFRP4 levels were not only associated with higher possibility of having PCOS but also related to insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, ovarian follicular number and ovarian volume, suggesting that SFPR4 could be a player in different pathophysiologic pathways of PCOS.

Assessment of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with machine learning-based texture analysis of late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of machine learning-based texture feature analysis of late gadolinium enhancement images on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing the presence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 64 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac MRI and 24-hour Holter monitoring within 1 year before cardiac MRI. There were 42 men and 22 women with a mean age of 48.13±13.06 (SD) years (range: 20-70 years). Quantitative textural features were extracted via manually placed regions of interest in areas with high and intermediate signal intensity on late gadolinium-chelate enhanced images. Feature selection and dimension reduction were performed. The diagnostic performances of machine learning classifiers including support vector machines, Naive Bayes, k-nearest-neighbors, and random forest for predicting the presence of VT were assessed using the results of 24-hour Holter monitoring as the reference test. All machine learning models were assessed with and without the application of the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE). RESULTS: Of the 64 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 21/64 (32.8%) had VT. Of eight machine learning models investigated, k-nearest-neighbors with SMOTE exhibited the best diagnostic accuracy for the presence or absence of VT. k-nearest-neighbors with SMOTE correctly identified 40/42 (95.2%) VT-positive patients and 40/43 (93.0%) VT-negative patients, yielding 95.2% sensitivity (95% CI: 82.5%-99.1%), 93.0% specificity (95% CI: 79.8%-98.1%) and 94.1% accuracy (95% CI: 88.8%-98%). CONCLUSION: Machine learning-based texture analysis of late gadolinium-chelate enhancement-positive areas is a promising tool for the classification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with and without VT.

Is elevated urotensin II level a predictor for increased cardiovascular risk in subjects with acromegaly?

PURPOSE: Acromegaly is a rare disorder existed in the result of overproduction of growth hormone (GH). The disorder is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic abnormalities. Urotensin II (UII), a secreted vasoactive peptide hormone, belonging somatostatin superfamily, plays an essential role in atherosclerosis and glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether circulating UII levels are altered in subjects with acromegaly, and to describe the relationship between UII and hormonal or cardiometabolic parameters. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 41 subjects with active acromegaly, 28 subjects with controlled acromegaly, and 37 age- and BMI-matched controls without acromegaly. Hormonal and metabolic features of the subjects as well as carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) were defined. Circulation of UII levels was determined via ELISA. RESULTS: Both active and controlled acromegalic subjects showed a significant elevation of circulating levels of UII with respect to controls. There was no remarkable difference in circulating levels of UII between active and controlled acromegalic groups. Both cIMT and EFT were remarkably increased in acromegaly subjects comparing to controls. UII positively correlated with cIMT, EFT, BMI, and HOMA-IR. There was no correlation between UII and GH, insulin-like growth factor-1. According to the results obtained from regression models, UII levels independently predicted cIMT and EFT. CONCLUSION: Elevated UII levels are associated with severity of cardiovascular risk factors including cIMT and EFT in acromegalic subjects.

Circulating insulin-like peptide 5 levels and its association with metabolic and hormonal parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PURPOSE: Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5) is a gut peptide hormone that is a member of relaxin/insulin superfamily. Growing evidence implicates the crucial role of the peptide in some metabolisms including food intake, glucose homeostasis and reproductive system. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is involved in both reproductive and metabolic issues. The aim of the study was determination of circulating levels of INSL5 alteration in women with PCOS and evaluation of the relationship between INSL5 and hormonal-metabolic parameters as well as carotid intima media thickness (cIMT). METHODS: A total of 164 subjects were recruited in this cross-sectional study (82 women with PCOS and 82 age- and BMI-matched controls). Circulating INSL5 levels were assessed via ELISA method. High-resolution B-mode ultrasound was used to measure cIMT. The hormonal and metabolic parameters of the recruited subjects were determined. RESULTS: Circulating INSL5 levels were significantly elevated in women with PCOS compared to controls (27.63 ± 7.74 vs. 19.90 ± 5.85 ng/ml, P < 0.001). The mean values of INSL5 were significantly higher in overweight subjects compared to lean weight subjects in both groups. The women with PCOS having insulin resistance have increased INSL5 compared to those of PCOS subjects without insulin resistance. INSL5 is associated with insulin resistance, BMI, luteinizing hormone and free androgen index. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio for having PCOS in the highest tertile of INSL5 was higher than in the lowest tertile. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS subjects exhibited an elevation in circulating INSL5 levels along with a link between INSL5 level induction and metabolic-hormonal parameters.

Final Results of the OPERA Experiment on ν_{τ} Appearance in the CNGS Neutrino Beam.

The OPERA experiment was designed to study ν_{µ}→ν_{τ} oscillations in the appearance mode in the CERN to Gran Sasso Neutrino beam (CNGS). In this Letter, we report the final analysis of the full data sample collected between 2008 and 2012, corresponding to 17.97×10^{19} protons on target. Selection criteria looser than in previous analyses have produced ten ν_{τ} candidate events, thus reducing the statistical uncertainty in the measurement of the oscillation parameters and of ν_{τ} properties. A multivariate approach for event identification has been applied to the candidate events and the discovery of ν_{τ} appearance is confirmed with an improved significance level of 6.1σ. |Δm_{32}^{2}| has been measured, in appearance mode, with an accuracy of 20%. The measurement of the ν_{τ} charged-current cross section, for the first time with a negligible contamination from ν[over ¯]_{τ}, and the first direct evidence for the ν_{τ} lepton number are also reported.

Serum endocan levels in patients with cardiac syndrome X.

BACKGROUND: Endocan is a recently introduced marker of endothelial dysfunction and is also associated with inflammation and atherosclerosis. To date, the relationship between cardiac syndrome X (CSX) and endocan has not been studied. The objective of this study was to compare the serum endocan levels of patients with CSX with those of control subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 50 patients were included in the CSX group and 28 patients in the control group. Patients with pathological conditions that could potentially influence endothelial functions were excluded. Endocan serum concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean endocan level of the CSX group was significantly higher than that of the control group (3051.3 ± 1900.5 ng/l vs. 2088.1 ± 522.2 ng/l; p = 0.002). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and smoking status. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, endocan levels greater than 2072 ng/l had a 72% sensitivity and 54% specificity (p = 0.002) for accurately predicting a diagnosis of CSX. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that patients with CSX have higher endocan levels. Therefore, endocan may be valuable in helping uncover the underlying pathogenesis of CSX.

Quantitative evaluation of the enamel caries which were treated with casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this in vivo study was to quantitatively evaluate the remineralization of the enamel caries on smooth and occlusal surfaces using DIAGNOdent, after daily application of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty volunteers, aged 18-30 years, with white spot lesions on the smooth and occlusal surfaces of the teeth were included in the study. These white spot lesions were visually examined and the degree of demineralization was quantitatively evaluated using DIAGNOdent. Volunteers with lesions scored as enamel caries on smooth surfaces (n = 109) and on occlusal surfaces (n = 176) were randomly divided into control and study groups. Both groups were instructed regarding oral hygiene and were asked to brush their teeth with the same tooth paste and tooth brush. In the study group, CPP-ACFP was applied daily for 4 min on the existing enamel caries lesions. After 4 weeks, the mineralization changes in enamel caries on the smooth and occlusal surfaces were assessed by DIAGNOdent. Recorded data were statistically analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Comparison of DIAGNOdent values evaluated before and after the application of CPP-ACFP showed that the remineralization of enamel caries lesions on smooth and occlusal surfaces occurred in the study group (both, P < 0.001). The control group showed no quantitative changes at the end of 4 weeks (P > 0.05). At the end of the study period, the DIAGNOdent values differed significantly between the control and study groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Daily local application of CPP-ACFP for 4 min for 4 weeks results in significant remineralization of the initial caries lesions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CPP-ACFP can be used in the treatment of white spot lesions.