Midkine levels and its relationship with atherosclerotic risk factors in essential hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hypertension (HT) is one of the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis. Midkine (MK) plays a role as a growth factor in various biologic and pathologic events. In some reports, MK expression has been shown to be linked with vascular smooth muscle proliferation and neo-angiogenesis in atherosclerotic vessels. The aim was to research relationship of MK serum levels with some atherosclerotic risk factors in hypertensive patients. METHODOLOGY: This study examined 60 patients with essential HT and 30 healthy controls. Serum biochemistry, including lipid profile, MK, Vitamin B12, C-reactive protein, zinc and copper levels were obtained. RESULTS: MK levels of the HT patients were significantly higher than the control group (24.8 ± 6.8 ng/mL vs. 18.39 ± 5.6 ng/mL, respectively, P < 0.01). Lipid profile parameters such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were also significantly higher in HT patients (P < 0.021, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively). Zinc levels were 179.13 ± 34.06 µg/dL and 172.55 ± 45.47µg/dL in the HT and control group, respectively. Serum MK levels were positively correlated with diastolic (r = 0.288, P < 0.05) and systolic blood pressures (r = 0.390, P < 0.002), and also with serum total cholesterol (r = 0.406, P < 0.002) and LDL cholesterol (r = 0.318, P < 0.015) levels. Furthermore MK was also negatively correlated with zinc and Vitamin B12levels (r = -0.298, P < 0.023, r = -0.334, P < 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated an important association between increased serum MK levels and risk factors of atherosclerosis such as HT, increased total and LDL cholesterol.

Trace elements and toxic heavy metals play a role in Buerger disease and atherosclerotic peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to define the roles of trace elements and toxic heavy metals in Buerger disease and atherosclerotic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). METHODS: Seventy-five subjects who were identical in demographic charecteristics were selected for the study; 25 with Buerger disease, 25 with PAOD, 25 healthy volunteers. Serum selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe),whole blood cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), erythrocyte and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. RESULTS: Serum Se and Zn levels were significantly low in patients with Buerger disease compared to patients with PAOD and controls (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). Serum levels of Fe and Zn were also significantly low in patients with PAOD compared to controls (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively). In contrast, Cu and Pb levels in Buerger disease group were significantly high compared to PAOD and control groups (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). Erythrocyte GSH and GSH-Px levels were significantly lower in patients with Buerger disease compared to patients with PAOD and controls (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively), while erythrocyte and plasma MDA levels were significantly higher (P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the levels of trace elments and toxic heavy metals and oxidative stress influence the disease process in Buerger disease more than PAOD.

Relationships between levels of estradiol and testosterone in seminal plasma and GSTM1 polymorphism in infertile men.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) enzyme serves as a steroid-binding protein by its ability to bind to testosterone and estradiol. The levels of total estradiol and testosterone were measured by using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in serum and seminal plasma from 103 subjects including 62 subfertile patients. GSTM1 polymorphism was examined using polymerase chain reaction. The estradiol and testosterone levels in seminal plasma were not different in control and subfertile subjects. No role for GSTM1 enzyme as a steroid-binding protein seemed likely as there was also no significant difference in seminal plasma estradiol and testosterone levels according to GSTM1 genotype. Significant positive correlations were found between seminal estradiol and serum estradiol in infertile males, and between seminal testosterone and serum testosterone in fertile males, independent of GSTM1 genotype. GSTM1 polymorphism is not a genetic risk factor of seminal estradiol and testosterone levels in infertile males although further studies are warranted.

Outcome of renal allograft in Turkish patients with pretransplantation hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the long-term survival of renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Outcomes and survivals among 325 patients who received renal allografts from July 1991 to September 2005 were compared between those known to have pretransplantation HCV infection (Group I, HCV+ group, n = 33) versus a matched cohort of those without this infection (Group II, HCV- control group, n = 33). Allograft performance, liver function, cholesterol, and glucose levels were determined both at transplantation and at a mean of postgrafting year 8. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical method was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (10.15%, 19 women and 14 men) were positive for HCV antibody. The mean follow-up period was 8 years (range, 0.5-14 years). The mean survival rates were similar in Groups I and II (96.6% and, 100%, respectively). Although the allograft survival rate was lower in Group I (84.8% vs 90.9%), the rejection rate among the HCV- group was 6%; only 1 patient died of hepatic failure. In spite of a significant rise in both total and direct bilirubin values (P < .01) in both groups, we failed to observe an adverse effect on graft survival. A significant rise in the fasting glucose level was seen in both HCV+ and HCV- patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic HCV infection before transplantation did not have a significant impact on graft survival or mortality compared with noninfected patients.

Effects of coronary artery diseases on haemorheological parameters and trace elements.

The effects of coronary artery diseases on haemorheological parameters (blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and haemoglobin level) and serum trace element (Cu,Zn) levels were investigated. Subjects were 16 male patients having coronary artery disease. Three blood samples were drawn pre-operation and at the 10th and 30th day after operation. To determine the effects of by-pass surgery on haemorheological parameters and serum trace elements, we used a centrifugal method for erythrocyte deformability, Harkness relative viscometer for blood viscosity, spectrophotometry for haemoglobin level, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry for trace elements. Parameters of coronary artery patients were compared with normal values.