Evaluation of arterial stiffness and serum endocan levels in patients with primary aldosteronism with new-onset hypertension and long-term hypertension.

PURPOSE: There is growing evidence that prolonged exposure to high serum aldosterone concentrations results in target organ damage to the heart, kidney, and arterial wall, and that primary aldosteronism (PA) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In this study, we aimed to evaluate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indicators such as arterial stiffness [with pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement] in PA patients and endocan levels, which is a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: 28 patients with PA were included in our study. As the control group, 14 patients with essential hypertension (EHT) and 28 normotensive healthy volunteers were included. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum fasting glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), lipids and endocan levels of all subjects in the PA, EHT and control groups were measured. PWV measurements were performed to assess arterial stiffness. RESULTS: In the PA group, PWV levels were similar to the EHT group, and endocan levels were lower than the EHT group. In the PA group, PWV levels were higher than the control group, and endocan levels were lower than the control group. When we compared the PA group with new-onset HT with the PA group with long-term HT, PWV levels were higher in the PA group with long-term HT. When we compared the long-term HT group with the EHT group, PWV levels were higher in the long-term HT PA group and endocan levels were higher in the EHT group. When we compared the PA group with long-term HT with the control group, PWV levels were higher in the PA group with long-term HT, and endocan levels were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, it was determined that arterial stiffness increased in PA cases with long-term HT compared to PA cases with new-onset HT, EHT cases and normotensive healthy cases. We found that endocan levels in PA patients were also lower than both EHT patients and healthy controls.

NEW BIOMARKERS TO PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMA; IRISIN AND NESFATIN-1.

Objective: In our study, we aimed to investigate the levels of irisin, nesfatin-1 and the relationship between levels of these relatively new molecules with cardiometabolic risk markers; carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in patients with nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI). Materials and Methods: Patients with NFAI (n=59) and age, sex and body mass index-matched healthy control subjects (n=59) were enrolled in this study. Serum glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid, irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and echocardiographic CIMT and EAT thickness measurements were performed in patients and controls. Results: The irisin level was 17.58 ± 4.38 pg/mL in the NFAI group, significantly higher (p<0.001) than 14.03 ± 4.03 pg/mL in the control group. Nesfatin-1 level was significantly lower in the NFAI group 194.98 ± 119.15 pg/mL ((p < 0.001)) versus 303.48 ± 200.78 pg/mL in the control group. A positive correlation was found between irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and CIMT and EAT thickness in the NFAI group. Conclusions: In our study, we found that irisin level was higher and nesfatin-1 level was lower in patients with NFAI, and both irisin and nesfatin-1 levels were associated with CIMT and EAT thickness in NFAI patients.

Effect of L-Tryptophan on Sperm Quality of Tigris Scraper (Capoeta umbla) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) after Cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: The aromatic amino acid L-tryptophan is a versatile molecule and needed for the biosynthesis of proteins. Due to metabolic functions, it has been widely used in research and clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to test the usefulness of L-tryptophan as an extender of Tigris scraper (Capoeta umbla) sperm during cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples were diluted with a ratio of 1:3 (sperm: extender) and base extenders were supplemented with L-tryptophan (0 mM, 0.5 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM and 4 mM). Sperm motility and duration of post-thawed samples were assessed after the cryopreservation process. RESULTS: Our results revealed that motility rate and duration of sperm increased when the cryomedia was supplemented with L-tryptophan. On the other hand, an increase in the concentration of L-tryptophan in the extender caused a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the motility rate of Tigris scraper (C. umbla) sperm. The ideal results were obtained at 1 mM L-tryptophan; however, no motile sperm were shown in any samples when a concentration of 2 mM was used. CONCLUSION: The current study shows the importance of conducting further studies related to long-term storage and reproduction management.

Effect of salinity on growth of Abant trout Salmo trutta abanticus.

Abant trout Salmo trutta abanticus were grown for 154 days at three salinities of 0, 9 or 18 to assess mass gain, condition factor, food conversion ratio and food consumption. Appetite was significantly higher at 0 than at salinities of 9 or 18. Salinities >18 may have detrimental effects on biomass production. The mean ± S.E. of the condition factor at the three salinities were 1.29 ± 0.20 at 0, 1.22 ± 0.22 at 9 and 1.10 ± 0.20 at 18. Fish reared at a salinity of 0 showed higher mass gain, food conversion ratio and food consumption.