Obesity without comorbidity may also lead to non-thyroidal illness syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obesity mediates a series of operations in the body by increasing the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Cytokines play an important role in the development of non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and NTIS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 423 subjects were included. The study group was comprised of 219 obese patients without any comorbid disease and the control group was comprised of 204 healthy subjects. Body mass index (BMI), thyroid hormone levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count, and other biochemical parameters were measured. Frequencies of NTIS were calculated. MedCalc 12.5 software program (MedCalc, Ostend, Belgium) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Groups were statistically different according to BMI (p < 0.001). The mean BMIs of the study and the control group were 34.6 ±5.0 kg/m2 and 22.6 ±1.8 kg/m2, respectively. Obese patients had higher serum hs-CRP levels, ESR and white blood cells (WBC) levels (0.99 ±3.17 mg/L vs 0.39 ±1.09 mg/L; 17.2 ±10.6 mm/h vs 12.6 ±8.0 mm/h; 7.8 ±2.1 103/µL vs 6.9 ±1.5 103/µL, respectively; p < 0.001). There were 21 (9.5%) obese patients with NTIS, while there were none NTIS cases in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a strong association between obesity and NTIS (odds ratio (OR) = 44.2, confidence interval (CI) = 95% 2.66-736.3; p = 0.0082). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation, which is strongly associated with adipose tissue, may lead to NTIS in obese patients without any comorbid disease.

Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for elevated intraocular pressure.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between intraocular pressure and metabolic syndrome by comparing central corneal thicknesses. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, with 89 subjects in a metabolic syndrome group and 73 subjects in a control group. Ophthalmological examinations, including intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness measurements, were performed on each subject. Serum fasting glucose, triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels were measured, and waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of all patients were recorded. RESULTS: Participants with metabolic syndrome had a significantly higher intraocular pressure than those without metabolic syndrome (p = 0.008), and there was no statistically significant difference between the central corneal thicknesses of the two groups (p = 0.553). Most of the metabolic syndrome components were associated with higher intraocular pressure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relationship between metabolic syndrome and intraocular pressure, but no association between metabolic syndrome and central corneal thicknesses. Intraocular pressure is affected by central corneal thicknesses, and intraocular pressure is used to correct according to the central corneal thicknesses measurement. To our knowledge, this is the first study that determines the positive relationship between metabolic syndrome and intraocular pressure by comparing the central corneal thicknesses of the groups.

H. pylori May Not Be Associated with Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients with Normal Gastrointestinal Tract Endoscopy Results.

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between iron deficiency anemia and H. pylori in patients with normal gastrointestinal tract endoscopy results. Materials and Methods. A total of 117 male patients with normal gastrointestinal tract endoscopy results were included in this retrospective study. The study and control groups included 69 and 48 patients with and without iron deficiency anemia, respectively. The prevalence of H. pylori, the number of RBCs, and the levels of HGB, HTC, MCV, iron, and ferritin were calculated and compared. Results. There was no statistically significant difference found between the groups according to the prevalence of H. pylori (65.2% versus 64.6%, P = 0.896). Additionally, the levels of RBCs, HGB, HTC, MCV, iron, and ferritin in the patients in the study group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Finally, there was no association between iron deficiency anemia and H. pylori (OR 1.02, Cl 95% 0.47-2.22, and P = 0.943). Conclusion. H. pylori is not associated with iron deficiency anemia in male patients with normal gastrointestinal tract endoscopy results.