Triglyceride glucose index is independently associated with aortic intima-media thickness in patients without known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Background: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a reliable marker of insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the TyG index and aortic intima-media thickness (IMT) in individuals without diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography due to suspected structural heart disease.Methods: One hundred twenty-two patients enrolled in the study between January 2021 and June 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to their median IMT; patients with an IMT equal to or less than 1.42 mm were low IMT group, and higher than 1.42 mm were high IMT group. Triglyceride-glucose index were higher in the high IMT group (8.69 ± 0.59 vs. 8.37 ± 0.53, p = .003).Results: Triglyceride-glucose index was correlated with IMT (r = 0.259, p = .005) and in binary logistic regression analysis age and TyG was independently associated with having high IMT (ß = 0.076, exp(B)=1.079 95%CI = 1.041-1.118, p < .001 and ß = 0.847, exp(B)= 2.334 95%CI= 1.048-5.199, p = .038, respectively).Conclusion: We found an independent relationship between TyG and IMT of the thoracic aorta, an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients without known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Therefore, the TyG index can identify high-risk subjects in the general population.

Thiols and disulfide levels are correlated with TIMI thrombus grade in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction patients.

Aim: We investigated the relationship between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) thrombus grade and thiol/disulfide levels. Materials & methods: 182 non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients were divided into two groups; TIMI grade 0 patients who do not have any visible thrombus in their culprit vessels, and TIMI thrombus grade 1-5 patients. Results: Native and total thiol levels and disulfide to thiol ratio were higher in the low thrombus group. In addition, thrombus grade was positively correlated with disulfide to native and total thiol ratio and negatively with native and total thiol levels in NSTEMI patients. Conclusion: We can assert that thiol levels tend to decrease and the disulfide to thiol ratio increase, with the increasing thrombus burden in NSTEMI patients.

Understanding medication adherence among patients of Turkish descent with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore perspectives of Turkish migrants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on adherence to oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA). DESIGN: In-depth interviews with 21 T2DM patients of Turkish descent recruited from primary care and community sources in Ghent, Belgium, using a theoretical sampling procedure. Analysis was guided by a grounded theory approach, using Nvivo 8. RESULTS: Respondents reported a multitude of barriers and facilitators of adherence to OHA. Some of these barriers are distinctive for T2DM patients of Turkish descent. Respondents' causal beliefs about stress and the Belgian climate often led to non-adherence during less stressful periods, like summer holidays in Turkey. Some respondents adjusted their medication use to food intake or during Ramadan fasting. Concerns about OHA were the main reason for the widespread use of herbal medicine in this sample. The religious framework used to interpret diabetes led, in combination with feelings of depression, to non-adherence in some respondents while it facilitated medication adherence in others. A potential gender effect with respect to the self-management of OHA was observed. Non-distinctive factors include: beliefs about OHA, polypharmacy, beliefs about the course of diabetes, forgetfulness, the perception of the doctor's medical expertise, feelings of depression and social support. CONCLUSION: Health care providers should explore in detail and regularly patients' perspectives on illness beliefs, medication beliefs and their trust in doctors' medical expertise as this will provide useful starting points for promoting medication adherence. Whenever possible health care workers should engage with their patients in therapeutic alliances.

Molecular characterization of two lactate dehydrogenase genes with a novel structural organization on the genome of Lactobacillus sp. strain MONT4.

Two lactate dehydrogenase (ldh) genes from Lactobacillus sp. strain MONT4 were cloned by complementation in Escherichia coli DC1368 (ldh pfl) and were sequenced. The sequence analysis revealed a novel genomic organization of the ldh genes. Subcloning of the individual ldh genes and their Northern blot analyses indicated that the genes are monocistronic.