Angiotensin II and angiotensin II receptor 2 levels can predict shock and mortality in septic patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the place of angiotensin II and its receptors in the prognosis of septic patients. METHODS: Patients with sepsis and septic shock were included in the study group. The control group consisted of patients who were followed up in the ICU and had no sepsis/septic shock. Plasma angiotensin II, angiotensin receptor-1 and 2 (AT-1, AT-2) levels were evaluated first and third days. RESULTS: Angiotensin II levels were significantly lower in the septic shock and non-survivor. AT-1 levels were lower in all septic patients on the first day compared to the control. While AT-1 levels on the third day decreased in the septic shock group, it increased in the sepsis group. AT-2 levels were significantly higher in sepsis, and lower in septic shock compared to controls on the first day. Angiotensin II (95%, 82%) and AT-2 levels (100%, 87%) were observed to have high sensitivity and specificity in demonstrating the presence of shock in septic patients. Angiotensin II and AT-1/AT-2 ratios were observed to have high sensitivity and low specificity in the development of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In septic patients, angiotensin II, AT-2 and AT-1/AT-2 levels can predict the probability of shock development and mortality.

Comparison between prognostic indicators in organ insufficiency with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Organ failures that develop due to acute pancreatitis (AP), some laboratory values and the anthropometric characteristics of the patients have been shown to play a role in the prognosis AP and have been increasingly used to investigate the prognosis of the disease although classification systems, such as Ranson's criteria, are still used habitually. In this stud, we aimed to investigate the relationship of the organ failures observed during the course of AP, the biochemical parameters and the anthropometric characteristics of the patients and compare using Ranson's and Atlanta Classifica-tion (AC) systems. METHODS: Laboratory values, anthropometric data, including the waist circumference and body mass index, Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and organ failures developed during the course of the disease, were investigated prospectively in 153 AP patients and the Ranson and Modified Atlanta Classifications (MAC) were made. RESULTS: A relationship was observed between the organ failures that were established in the course of the disease (lung, liver, kidney, heart and MOF (multiple organ failure)) and higher Ranson's and MAC scores (p<0.05). Among the patients included in this study, 13 (8.4%) had multiple organ failure and 17 (11.1%) had SIRS. Exitus occurred in 10 patients (6.5%). A statistically significant relationship was found with organ failure, multiple organ failure and SIRS; and ensuing exitus (p<0.05). While no relationship was observed between the waist circumference, body mass index, Ranson's score, there was a significant relationship between the MAC and the waist circumference (p<0.01). Among the laboratory values, high urea and ALT values showed a relationship with the Ranson and MAC (p<0.001), while between the CRP values tested at the 0 time point and the 48th hour, only the CRP value at the 48th hour had a relationship with Ranson's score (p<0.05). Organ failure, MOF, and SIRS showed a correlation with both the severity scores and the mortality rate. In addition, a significant corre-lation was observed between the cholesterol, triglycerides and the CRP level at the time of hospitalisa-tion and mortality. On the contrary, no significant relationship was observed with the other laboratory results, including calcium, lipase and hematocrit. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, to determine the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis, and ex-pect the organ failures that may occur in severe pancreatitis, the body mass index, waist circumference and laboratory values, including cholesterol, triglycerides, ALT, and CRP may supply important prog-nostic data besides the conventional disease severity scoring methods.

Is ischemia-modified albumin a reliable tool for the assessment of acute pancreatitis?

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress has been implicated in several disorders, including acute pancreatitis (AP). Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), which reflects the ability to bind cobalt, has been found to be elevated in conditions of oxidative stress and tissue hypoxia. This study examined IMA and adjusted IMA levels in patients with AP, and examined the associations of IMA and adjusted IMA levels to the severity of AP. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 42 consecutive patients with AP and 43 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Serum samples were obtained from patients with AP on admission as well as 48-72 hours after hospitalization, and from the controls, at the time of enrollment. Adjusted IMA was calculated by multiplying the IMA value of each patient with the ratio of the patient's albumin value and the median albumin value of the study population. The severity of AP was assessed according to the modified Atlanta classification, and the patients were divided into 2 groups: mild AP and severe AP. RESULTS: The serum IMA and adjusted IMA values of patients with AP on admission and those of the controls did not differ (p=0.86 and p=0.99, respectively). The second measurements of IMA and adjusted IMA in the AP group were higher than the first measurements of both the AP group and controls (for all, p<0.01). Among the IMA measurements, only adjusted IMA on admission had the ability to predict the severity of AP. Severe AP was correlated with albumin, and the area under the curve of adjusted IMA values on admission was 0.746 for differentiating patients with severe AP from mild AP with statistical significance (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: It was shown that IMA and adjusted IMA levels rise with the progression of AP. Lower levels of adjusted IMA predict the severity of AP. Further studies with serial measurements of IMA are warranted to explore the indicative role of IMA in the course of AP.

Sleep quality, sleeping postures, and sleeping equipment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Background/aim: Inflammatory back pain, spinal stiffness, and limited spinal mobility are characteristic features of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Sleeping postures can affect and/or reflect sleeping disturbances. The aim of the study was to evaluate sleeping postures and sleep disturbances in patients with AS. Materials and methods: Seventy-seven patients with AS and 49 healthy controls were enrolled. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were applied to both groups. The most common sleeping postures were noted. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of sleeping postures. Total PSQI and ISI scores were higher in the AS group than in the controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.038, respectively). The selection of sleeping postures of active and inactive patients were similar. The number of pillows used was not the same in the AS and control groups (P = 0.016). The frequency of customized bed use was higher in the AS group compared to the control group (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are more of a problem in patients with AS compared to healthy patients and in active AS patients compared to inactive ones. However, sleeping postures do not seem to affect either sleep disturbances or disease activity in patients with AS.

QT dispersion and P wave dispersion in patients with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disease characterized by widespread pain. Somatic complaints associated with the cardiovascular system, such as chest pain and palpitations, are frequently seen in FM patients. P and QT dispersions are simple and inexpensive measurements reflecting the regional heterogeneity of atrial and ventricular repolarization, respectively. QT dispersion can cause serious ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of the present study was to evaluate QT dispersion and P wave dispersion in patients with FM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 48 FM patients who fulfilled the established criteria and 32 healthy controls (HC). A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was performed on all participants. QT dispersion was defined as the difference between the longest and the shortest QT intervals. Similarly, the differences between the shortest and longest P waves were defined as P wave dispersion. RESULTS: The QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion were shorter in the FM group compared with the HC group (p<0.001 for both). In terms of the P wave dispersion value, there was no significant difference between the FM and HC groups (p=0.088). CONCLUSION: Longer QT and P wave dispersions are not problems in patients with FM. Therefore, it may be concluded that fibromyalgia does not include an increased risk of atrial and/or ventricular arrhythmias.