The relation of fragmented QRS with tissue Doppler derived parameters in patients with b-thalassaemia major.

PURPOSE: The most important complication encountered in patients with b-thalassaemia major is degenerative fibrosis developing as a result of iron accumulation in myocardial tissue. Dysfunction pursues this accumulation. Recently, presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) in ECG has been regarded as a predictor of myocardial fibrosis. We aimed in our study to investigate the frequency with which fQRS develops in patients with b-thalassaemia major and to disclose the correlation between fQRS frequency and Doppler-derived indices. METHODS: The patients with b-thalassaemia major (n=66; mean age: 23±6 years) and healthy controls (n=30; mean age: 23±4 years) were included. fQRS pattern was described as presence of RSR' manifested as existence of additional R wave and notching in either R or S waves in ECG recordings. 2D, M-mode, conventional Doppler, tissue Doppler echocardiography parameters were assessed. Mean serum ferritin levels over past 5 years were also calculated. RESULTS: When compared to those in control group, fQRS was more frequent in b-thalassaemia major group, indicating statistical significance (p = 0.001). While E/Em and ferritin level exhibited statistically significant increase in thalassaemia patients with fQRS (p < 0.05), the mean Em and Sm values were found to be significantly low (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: fQRS was frequently observed in the patients with b-thalassaemia major, which was of statistical significance. Tissue Doppler-derived diastolic and systolic indices in thalassaemia cases with fQRS showed statistically significant impairment compared to those without fQRS. In conclusion, fQRS may represent a novel noninvasive marker for cardiac involvement in patients with b-thalassaemia major.

Effects of erdosteine on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

We investigated the effects of erdosteine on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and ALT (alanine transaminase) activities, and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide levels as oxidant/antioxidant biochemical parameters were investigated with light microscopic evaluation in adult female Wistar Albino rats. APAP administration produced a decrease in hepatic SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities, and coadministration of erdosteine (150 and 300 mg/kg) resulted in increases in the activities. MDA and NO levels increased in the APAP group, and erdosteine treatments prevented these increases. Significant elevations in serum AST and ALT levels were observed in the APAP group, and when erdosteine and APAP were coadministered, their serum levels were close to those in the control group. Light microscopic evaluation of livers showed that there were remarkable centrilobular (zone III) hepatic necrosis and mild to moderate sinusoidal congestion in the APAP group, whereas in the erdosteine group, cellular necrosis was minimal and the hepatocytes maintained a better morphology when compared to the APAP group. Erdosteine prevented APAP-induced liver injury and toxic side effects probably through the antioxidant and radical scavenging effects of erdosteine.

[Evaluation of parasitology laboratory results of a group of people older than 15 years of age in Kutahya]. / Kütahya'da parazitoloji laboratuvar sonuçlarinin 15 ve üzeri yas grubunda degerlendirilmesi.

This research has been based on microscopic examination of stool specimens taken from 675 persons older than 15 years of age. The examinations were conducted in Parasitology Laboratory of the Dumlupinar University Hospital. Laboratory examinations of stools were done with native and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation methods. Different intestinal parasites were found in 52 (7.7%) of the stool specimens. At least one parasite species was found in 3.11% of women and 4.59% of men. The prevalence of helminths and protozoa were as follows; Giardia intestinalis 1.48%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 0.74%, Isospora belli 0.30%, Iodamoeba butschlii 1.33%, Blastocystis hominis 1.04%, Endolimax nana 0.44%, Entamoeba coli 1.04%, Taenia saginata 0.44%, Trichostrongylus spp. 0.15%, Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis 0.15%, Giardia intestinalis + Entamoeba coli 0.15%, Giardia intestinalis + Blastocystis hominis 0.44%. The dispersion of 52 parasite species in examined stools were as follows; Giardia intestinalis 19.23%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 9.62%, Isospora belli 3.85%, Iodamoeba bütschlii 17.31%, Blastocystis hominis 13.46%, Endolimax nana 5.77%, Entamoeba coli 13.46%, Taenia saginata 5.77%, Trichostrongylus spp. 1.92%, Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis 1.92%, Entamoeba coli + Giardia intestinalis 1.92%, Giardia intestinalis + Blastocystis hominis 5.77%.

[Evaluation of parasitological laboratory results of a group of people older than 15 years of age in Kutahya]. / Kütahya'da parazitoloji laboratuvar sonuçlarinin 15 ve üzeri yas grubunda degerlendirilmesi.

This research has been based on microscopic examination of samples of stool specimens taken from 675 persons older than 15 years of age. The examinations were conducted in the Parasitological Laboratory of the Dumlupinar University Hospital. Laboratory examinations of stools were done with native and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation methods. Different intestinal parasites were found in 52 (7.7%) of the stool specimens. At least one parasite species was found in 3.11% of women and 4.59% of men. The prevalence of helminths and protozoa were as follows; Giardia intestinalis 1.48%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 0.74%, Isospora belli 0.30%, Iodamoeba butschlii 1.33%, Blastocystis hominis 1.04%, Endolimax nana 0.44%, Entamoeba coli 1.04%, Taenia saginata 0.44%, Trichostrongylus spp. 0.15%, Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis 0.15%, Giardia intestinalis + Entamoeba coli 0.15%, Giardia intestinalis + Blastocystis hominis 0.44%. The dispersion of 52 parasite species in the stools examined were as follows; Giardia intestinalis 19.23%, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 9.62%, Isospora belli 3.85%, Iodamoeba butschlii 17.31%, Blastocystis hominis 3.46%, Endoli-max nana 5.77%, Entamoeba coli 13.46%, Taenia saginata 5.77%, Trichostrongylus spp. 1.92%, Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis 1.92%, Entamoeba coli + Giardia intestinalis 1.92%, Giardia intestinalis + Blastocystis hominis 5.77%.