Publications (5)7.55 Total impact
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Article: Long-term prognostic value of coronary flow velocity reserve in renal transplant recipients.
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ABSTRACT: In this prospective study, we sought to investigate the long-term prognostic value of coronary flow reserve (CFR) and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) estimates in renal transplant recipients without known coronary artery disease. The 20 renal transplant recipients included in this study underwent CFR recordings performed by trans-thoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) and carotid IMT measured by carotid Doppler ultrasonography. During a 3-year follow-up only one patient experienced a cardiac event. The baseline CFR and carotid IMT values of the patients were 1.77 ± 0.47 and 0.67 ± 0.15 mm, respectively. After 3 years of follow-up, there were no significant differences compared with baseline measurements with regard to CFR and IMT values. CFR values at the third year of follow-up showed significant correlation with age as well as IMT at baseline and at the third year. Upon multivariate analysis, baseline carotid IMT (β = -0.562; P = .05) was a significant independent predictor of CFR at the third year. Carotid IMT showed a greater predictive value for impaired CFR in renal transplant recipients. CFR was not an independent predictor for cardiovascular events among renal transplant recipients within the first 3 years of follow-up measurements.Transplantation Proceedings 09/2011; 43(7):2612-6. · 1.00 Impact Factor -
Article: Investigation of schizophrenic patients from Istanbul, Turkey for the presence of West Nile virus.
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ABSTRACT: Association of some neurotropic viruses like Borna Disease virus and Herpes virus with schizophrenia is better explained. However, the role of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in schizophrenia is not well documented. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate possible association between schizophrenia and presence of antibodies and WNV RNA in schizophrenic patients. For this, 200 blood samples from patients with schizophrenia and 200 from control groups were collected in Istanbul, Turkey. WNV RNA was not detected in any of the 200 patients and 200 controls analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. One hundred and twelve sera of schizophrenic patients and 162 of controls were analyzed for the presence of IgG antibodies to WNV by a commercial IgG-ELISA (Euroimmun, Germany). Antibodies to WNV were detected in 6 schizophrenic patients and 5 controls. ELISA positive patients had antipsychotic therapy. The difference between groups in terms of seropositivity to WNV was not statistically significant (p = 0.887, p = 0.148). Known symptoms of schizophrenia were observed in these patients, and interestingly majority had close contact to cats in the past and come from agricultural area of Turkey where potential area of mosquitoes and bird habitat. In conclusion, the results of this study show that antibodies to WNV in people do not seem to be associated with schizophrenia. However, detecting antibodies to WNV in schizophrenic patients suggests that WNV infection should be considered in endemic areas as it may play role in psychiatric diseases.Archiv f ur Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten 07/2011; 262(2):173-7. · 2.75 Impact Factor -
Article: Assessment of adrenal functions in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
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ABSTRACT: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common hereditary kidney disease and extrarenal manifestations may be observed in many organ systems. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis was not evaluated extensively in patients with ADPKD. We aimed to evaluate this axis in these patients. Twenty two patients with ADPKD and 27 healthy subjects were enrolled. Basal dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels and cortisol and DHEA responses to low dose short adrenocorticotropin stimulation test were assessed. Correlation analyses of these parameters with glomerular filtration rates (GFR), renal volumes and pain characteristics in patients with ADPKD were performed. Patients with ADPKD had higher basal cortisol levels (12.1 ± 3.4 vs. 9.6 ± 4.3 μg/dL, p=0.033), and higher basal cortisol/DHEAS ratios (0.073 ± 0.05 vs. 0.045 ± 0.02, p=0.015) compared to controls. None of the subjects had inadequate response to adrenocorticotropin stimulation. Patients with ADPKD had lower delta cortisol (absolute increase between peak and basal) levels (10.3 ± 2.8 vs. 12.6 ± 4.2 μg/dL, p=0.026) compared to controls. Subgroup analysis showed that significant differences existed only between female patients and female controls. There was no significant correlation between cortisol levels and renal volumes or GFR. A significant correlation was found only between delta cortisol and pain frequency in female patients. Patients with ADPKD had higher basal cortisol levels, higher basal cortisol/DHEAS ratios and lower delta cortisol levels compared to controls, indicating promptly stimulated zona fasciculata function. Further studies are needed to confirm these results and to investigate possible underlying mechanisms.Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes 02/2010; 118(10):741-6. · 1.69 Impact Factor -
Article: A case of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria presenting with intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture, developing renal infarct.
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ABSTRACT: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder characterized by intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, and thrombosis. Thrombotic attacks are life threatening and are responsible for nearly 50% of PNH-related deaths. Compared with thrombotic events, bleeding related to thrombocytopenia in PNH is quite rare. This report describes an atypical clinical presentation with problems in the diagnosis and management of a woman who presented with a splenic infarct followed by massive intra-abdominal bleeding due to splenic rupture. She also developed a renal infarct during hospitalization after diagnosis.International Journal of Laboratory Hematology 07/2008; 30(3):248-53. · 1.18 Impact Factor -
Article: The effect of propofol as an antioxidant agent in intravenous regional anesthesia.
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ABSTRACT: Intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA) is a technique whereby a tourniquet is used to restrict blood flow to an exsanguinated limb. Propofol was shown to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion damage. We aimed to investigate the effect of low-dose propofol as an antioxidant in this process. Twenty-six unpremedicated adult patients (ASA I-II) were studied. The patients in the control group (Group C, n = 12) were administered 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine, while the patients in the propofol group (Group P, n = 14) were administered 40 ml of 0.5% lidocaine plus 20 mg propofol for IVRA. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and paraoxonase activity were measured at 1 min before, immediately upon, and 30 min after the release of the tourniquet. Serum paraoxonase activity was observed to have a significant decreasing course in both groups (p < 0.01). In contrast, we observed a progressive increase in the serum levels of MDA in Group C (p < 0.05). However, in Group P, serum levels of MDA after the release of the tourniquet periods were significantly lower than that before the release of the tourniquet (p < 0.05). The addition of propofol (20 mg) to lidocaine for IVRA inhibits MDA levels. We conclude that the addition of propofol to lidocaine can be considered as a useful antioxidant in this type of anesthesia.Methods and Findings in Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology 10/2006; 28(8):523-6. · 0.93 Impact Factor
