scholarly journals Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Djordje Culafic ◽  
Miroslav Markovic ◽  
Radmila Obrenovic ◽  
Dragana Mijac
Keyword(s):  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Enzyme Defect ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Homocysteine Concentration ◽  
Serum Homocysteine ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Prevalent Form

Background/Aim. Homocysteine (2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid) is an amino acid that may be found in small quantities in all cells, and is quantitatively the major methionine metabolite. The most prevalent form is protein-bound homocysteine (about 80%), mostly to albumins. If catabolism of homocysteine is impaired either due to enzyme defect or deficiency of required intracellular cofactors, homocysteine accumulates in cells and reaches the circulation. The aim of our study was to determine homocysteine values and factors affecting homocysteine metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. The prospective study included 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. All the examinations were based on: medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests including serum homocysteine levels and liver biopsy. The degree of liver failure was assessed according to the Child-Pugh classification. Results. The mean plasma homocysteine levels were much higher in the patients with liver cirrhosis than in the healthy controls (t-test, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the plasma homocysteine concentration and etiology of liver cirrhosis (ANOVA, p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the homocysteine and creatinine concentrations and between the serum albumin and homocysteine values, (Pearson's correlation, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05 respectively). Conclusion. In liver cirrhosis, the genesis of homocysteinemia is multifactorial, influenced significantly by impaired catabolic liver function, renal failure and hypoalbuminemia.

scholarly journals Interleukin-37 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine: does its relation to disease activity suggest its potential role in rheumatoid arthritis therapy?

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman A. Baraka ◽  
Mona G. Balata ◽  
Shereen H. Ahmed ◽  
Afaf F. Khamis ◽  
Enas A. Elattar
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Background This study aimed to measure the serum and synovial interleukin (IL)-37 levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to patients with primary knee osteoarthritis (PKOA) and healthy controls and to detect its relation to RA disease activity. Results This cross-sectional study included 50 RA patients with a mean age of 40.24 ± 8.62 years, 50 patients with PKOA with a mean age of 56.69 ± 4.21, and 40 healthy controls with a mean age of 41.75 ± 7.38 years. The mean serum IL-37 level in the RA patients (382.6 ± 73.97 pg/ml) was statistically significantly (P < 0.001) the highest among the studied groups; however, it showed a non-significant difference between the PKOA patients (70.38 ± 27.49 pg/ml) and the healthy controls (69.97 ± 25.12 pg/ml) (P > 0.94). Both serum and synovial IL-37 levels were significantly positively correlated with disease activity scores (r = 0.92, P< 0.001 and r = 0.85, P < 0.001), tender joint counts (r = 0.83, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001 ), swollen joint counts (r = 0.72, P < 0.001 and r = 0.60, P < 0.001), visual analog scale (r = 0.82, P < 0.001 and r = 0.82, P < 0.001), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.75, P < 0.001 and r = 0.65, P < 0.001), and C-reactive protein (r = 0.93, P < 0.001 and r = 0.79, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Serum and synovial IL-37 were significantly elevated in the RA patients, and they were closely correlated. Being less invasive, the serum IL-37 could be a marker of disease activity and could reflect the effective disease control by drugs. Having an anti-inflammatory effect could not suggest IL-37 as the key player to control inflammation alone, but its combination with other anti-proinflammatory cytokines could be investigated.

Effect of migraine attack on pupil size, accommodation and ocular aberrations

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212097533
Author(s):  
Merve Beyza Yildiz ◽  
Elvin Yildiz ◽  
Sevcan Balci ◽  
Buse Rahime Hasirci Bayir ◽  
Yılmaz Çetinkaya
Keyword(s):  
Migraine Attack ◽  
Pupil Size ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Unilateral Headache ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Prospective Case Control Study

Purpose: To evaluate the pupil size, accommodation, and ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in patients with migraine during migraine attacks and compare them with interictal period and healthy controls. Methods: This prospective, case–control study included 48 eyes of 24 patients with migraine and 48 eyes of 24 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Measurements were performed using a Hartmann Shack aberrometer. Accommodative responses to accommodative stimulus ranging from 0 to 5 diopters (D) in increments of 0.5 D were recorded. Spherical, coma, trefoil aberration, and root mean square (RMS) of total HOAs were assessed. Patients with migraine were measured twice during the interictal phase and during migraine attack. Results: The mean pupil size significantly decreased during migraine attack (5.85 ± 0.19 mm) compared with the interictal phase (6.05 ± 0.19 mm) in the patients with migraine ( p = 0.012). There was a significant increase in the accommodative response to accommodative stimulus of 1.5 to 5 D during migraine attack. No significant change was observed in HOAs during migraine attack. In addition, no ictal or interictal period measurements were statistically significantly different from the controls. Comparing symptomatic and non-symptomatic sides in 17 migraine patients with unilateral headache, no significant difference was found in any of the measurements in both ictal and interictal periods. Conclusion: Our results suggest the presence of a subtle oculosympathetic hypofunction in patients with migraine during the ictal period compared to the interictal period. The accommodation status of the eye seems to be affected by this autonomic dysfunction.

scholarly journals STEM Integration: Factors Affecting Effective Instructional Practices in Teaching Mathematics

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Nor Syazwani Mohd Rasid ◽  
Nurul Akmal Md Nasir ◽  
Parmjit Singh A/l Aperar Singh ◽  
Tau Han Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Practices ◽  
Stem Education ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
Classroom Culture ◽  
Teaching Mathematics ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
The Mean

Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) has created initiatives in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2013- 2025 that aim to increase teachers’ and students’ competencies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and create learning experiences that will prepare students for the considerable array of STEM career fields. There are so many effective instructional practices suggested in integrating STEM education for teaching Mathematics. However, there are some factors that need to be concerned in producing effective instructional practices in teaching Mathematics. This study investigated the factors affecting instructional practices of mathematics since the implementation STEM education. Using a descriptive design method, a questionnaire was administered to 100 students and 50 mathematics teachers in Klang Valley. The overall mean score of all four factors (Lesson plan and implementation, Mathematical discuss and sensemaking, task implementation, and classroom culture) measured in this study is moderately high based on students’ and teachers’ perspectives. Teachers rated all factors higher than students’ rate. Both teachers and students agreed that classroom culture is the important factor. There are no significant differences in the mean score of factors among gender of students and teachers. There is a significant difference in the mean score of factors among the achieving abilities among the students. Keywords: STEM Education, Mathematics, Lesson plan, Task, Classroom culture, Mathematical discuss

scholarly journals Role of dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for long anterior urethral strictures

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3110
Author(s):  
Vedamurthy Reddy Pogula ◽  
Ershad Hussain Galeti ◽  
Venkatesh Velivela ◽  
Bhargava Reddy Kanchi
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Urethral Strictures ◽  
Buccal Mucosal Graft ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dorsal Onlay ◽  
The Mean

Background: Treatment of the urethral strictures is challenging and with appropriate evaluation preoperatively and surgery planning it is possible to achieve good results. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty in treating long anterior urethral strictures.Methods: Between August 2018 to July 2019 a total of 25 patients with anterior urethral stricture were treated with dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty. Age, etiology of the stricture, stricture length (≤ 7 cm, and > 7 cm), and site of the stricture were assessed as the factors affecting the success rate.Results: The clinical outcome as Success was defined as the patient not needing any form of urethral instrumentation postoperatively. The mean follow-up period was 18 months. Of 25 patients, 22 (92%) were successful and 3 (8%) were a failure. There was no statistically significant difference between the age groups, etiology of the stricture and success rate (p=0.21 and p=0.444). The statistical difference was significant for the site and length of the stricture by means of success (p=0.005 and p=0.025).Conclusions: Our results show stricture length and localization are the most important variables for good success. Because of less failure rate, single-stage dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty may be offered as an alternative to staged urethroplasty in case of long urethral strictures.  

scholarly journals Sputum and plasma adiponectin levels in clinically stable adult cystic fibrosis patients with CFTR I1234V mutation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atqah AbdulWahab ◽  
Mona Allangawi ◽  
Merlin Thomas ◽  
Ilham Bettahi ◽  
Siveen K. Sivaraman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Adiponectin Level ◽  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Plasma Adiponectin ◽  
Inflammatory Status ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is associated with chronic inflammation leading to progress in lung function. Adiponectin is a predominantly anti-inflammatory adipokine that may have a role in CF lung. This study aims to determine total sputum and total plasma adiponectin levels in clinically stable adults CF patients with CFTR I1234V mutation, compared to plasma adiponectin levels in healthy controls and to investigate their correlations with body mass index (BMI) and spirometry in patients with CF. Methods: A cross-sectional study comprises 17 CF patients and 18 healthy controls. Adiponectin levels were measured by magnetic bead-based multiplex assay. Results: The mean age of adult CF patients was 22.9 years± 3.8 (18-30) and 76.5% CF patients had pancreatic sufficiency. The mean BMI in healthy controls was slightly higher than CF patients. The mean sputum adiponectin level was significantly lower than plasma adiponectin levels in CF patients and healthy controls (p<0.001), whereas no significant difference in plasma adiponectin levels between CF patients and healthy controls. The mean sputum adiponectin level was observed to be higher in CF patients with pancreatic insufficiency. Sputum adiponectin level was correlated positively with plasma adiponectin level in CF patients (r= 0.47, p=0.06). Sputum and plasma adiponectin levels in CF patients were correlated negatively with BMI and percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and Forced vital capacity (FVC). Conclusions: Sputum adiponectin may provide a minimally invasive tool in the assessment of an inflammatory status in CF patients. Further larger study to address any difference in sputum and plasma adiponectin levels among CF patients with pancreatic sufficiency versus pancreatic insufficiency.

scholarly journals Risk Factors of Esophageal Bleeding in Children with Various Etiologies of Liver Cirrhosis – A Single-Center Report from Iran

2019 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohsen Dehghani ◽  
Zeinab Rashidinia ◽  
Iraj Shahramian ◽  
Ali Bazi ◽  
Amir Saeed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Liver Cirrhosis ◽  
Clinical Importance ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Meld Score ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Esophageal Bleeding ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Esophageal bleeding is a common complication in patients with liver cirrhosis. In thee present study, our aim was to divulge major factors predicting esophageal bleeding in Iranian children with liver cirrhosis. This was a cross-sectional study including 101 children < 18 years old referred to the Pediatric Endoscopy Unit of Nemazee Teaching Hospital of Shiraz from 2014 until 2016. Children with esophageal varices were included. The patients were divided into two groups including those with and without history of esophageal bleeding. Statistical methods were performed in SPSS 16 software. There were 49 boys and 52 girls. The mean age was 7.74±5.26 years old. A history of esophageal bleeding was observed in 53 (52.4%). In univariate analyses, significant relationships were found between esophageal bleeding and varices size (P=0.001), Child-Pugh score (P=0.01), age of bleeding initiation (P<0.001), serum creatinine (P=0.01), and serum sodium (P=0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean of PELD/MELD score among children with (12.34±12) and without (14.61±17.51) history of esophageal bleeding (P=0.5). Among various etiologies of cirrhosis, a significant association was observed between autoimmune hepatitis and the history of esophageal bleeding (P=0.01). Regarding the clinical importance of esophageal bleedings in children with liver cirrhosis, it is recommended to further divulge the risk factors pre-disposing to this event.

Homozysteinspiegel von Patienten mit Raynaud-Phänomen

VASA ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Al-Awami ◽  
Schillinger ◽  
Maca ◽  
Gschwandtner ◽  
Bieglmayer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Homocysteine Concentration ◽  
Age And Sex

Background: Patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) have vasomotor dysregulation, mainly caused by dysfunction of the endothelium. Since homocysteine has been found to be damaging to endothelial cells, we investigated the concentrations of plasma homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in patients with primary or secondary RP compared to healthy individuals. Patients and methods: We measured the concentrations of plasma fasting homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in a group of healthy individuals (n = 45) and in patients with primary (n = 26) or secondary RP (n = 42). Results: Median homocysteine levels in healthy controls and in patients with primary RP, secondary RP were 7.9 (IQR 4.1 to 11.8) 9.8 (IQR 5.1 to14.4), and 10.6 (6.0 to15.3) mumol/L, respectively. Patients with primary and secondary RP had significantly higher homocysteine concentration compared to healthy controls (Kruskal Wallis p = 0.01). After matching for age and sex, patients with either primary or secondary RP showed significantly higher homocysteine levels (Wilcoxon p < 0.0001). No significant differences between the three groups were found concerning serum levels of vitamin B12 (p = 0.9 ) and serum folate levels (p = 0.2). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that patients with RP have higher plasma levels of homocysteine. No significant differences in folate and vitamin B12 levels were found between patients with primary RP, secondary RP, and healthy individuals.These data suggest that homocysteine may play a role in RP and may provide new clues in understanding of the vasomotor dysregulation.

scholarly journals Cut-off value of serum homocysteine in relation to increase of coronary artery calcification

2020 ◽  
pp. jim-2020-001478
Author(s):  
Nam-Seok Joo ◽  
Susie Jung ◽  
Yu-Na Kim ◽  
Beom-Hee Choi
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Coronary Artery Calcification ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Homocysteine Concentration ◽  
Serum Homocysteine ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Operating Characteristic Curve ◽  
Age And Sex

A recent study reported that coronary artery calcification (CAC) and serum homocysteine were well associated; however, no report is available for the cut-off value of serum homocysteine according to increase of coronary-artery calcification volume score (CVS). The data of 469 out of 777 subjects in 1 health promotion center located in Seoul were selected after exclusion of the missing data of serum homocysteine and CVS. CVS was categorized into 2 groups: CVS=0 and CVS>0. Serum homocysteine according to the CVS groups was compared, and the cut-off value of serum homocysteine according to the increase of CVS (>0) was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Mean age was 54.5 years and the proportion of females was 22.2%. Mean serum homocysteine concentration and CVS were 11.2 μmol/L and 50.4, respectively. After adjustments for age and sex, serum homocysteine was associated with CVS (r=0.167, p=0.001), and Log(Homocysteine) also showed a significant difference according to the CVS groups. The cut-off value of serum homocysteine according to the increase of CVS (>0) was 9.45 μmol/L (area under the curve=0.569 (95% CI 0.512 to 0.625), p=0.015). The cut-off value of serum homocysteine was 9.45 μmol/L according to the increase of coronary-artery CVS.

Common VWF Haplotypes in Normal African-Americans and Caucasians Recruited into the ZPMCB-VWD and Their Impact on VWF Laboratory Testing.

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 714-714
Author(s):  
Veronica H. Flood ◽  
B.C. Kautza ◽  
C.A. Miller ◽  
B.R. Branchford ◽  
J.C. Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Gene Sequencing ◽  
Von Willebrand Disease ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Bleeding Score ◽  
Von Willebrand

Abstract Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common bleeding disorder that has been reported to affect up to 1% of the population. Diagnostic testing for VWD relies on specific tests of von Willebrand factor (VWF) that include VWF antigen (Ag) and VWF ristocetin cofactor activity (RCo). Variability in these tests, especially in the RCo, has the potential to affect diagnosis of VWD. Clinically, the RCo/Ag ratio is used to identify patients with type 2M VWD, of which 35% of our local type 2M index cases were of African-American descent. As part of the ZPMCB-VWD, a large study of both healthy controls and patients with VWD, we evaluated VWF Ag, RCo, multimers, EU bleeding score, and VWF gene sequencing to look for mutations and/or common polymorphisms (SNPs) that might contribute to RCo measurement. Healthy controls completed a computerized version of the EU bleeding score and provided blood for clinical VWF testing. Since platelet VWF binding primarily involves the A1 domain of VWF, exon 28 gene sequencing was analyzed and common SNPs were identified, particularly in African-Americans (AA) with altered RCo/Ag ratios. Statistical comparisons were performed using t-tests. For the AA control group, the presence of specific exon 28 SNPs, including I1380V, N1435S, and D1472H, correlated with a low RCo/Ag. In controls, the 3 SNPs occurred together in 22% of AA and 1.5% of Caucasians. For AA controls with all 3 SNPs, the mean Ag was 155, RCo 115, and RCo/Ag 0.77, while for AA without the 3 SNPs, the mean Ag was 129, RCo 129, and RCo/Ag 1.01. The difference in RCo/Ag ratio was significant (p<0.001). In comparison, the Caucasian controls without the 3 SNPs had a mean Ag of 108, RCo of 115, and RCo/Ag of 1.08. When only D1472H was considered, a significant difference in RCo/Ag ratio was noted for both African-American and Caucasian controls with D1472H (present in 63% of AA and 24% of Caucasian controls). For AA controls with D1472H, the mean RCo/Ag ratio was 0.82 (range 0.42–1.16) compared to 1.01 for those without the SNP (p<0.001). The Caucasian controls with D1472H had a mean ratio of 0.87 (range 0.57–1.17) compared to 1.08 for those without the SNP (p<0.001). EU Bleeding Score was not significantly affected by either race or SNP status. All Caucasian controls with D1472H were heterozygous, while 14% of the African-American controls were homozygous. The mean RCo/Ag for the homozygous controls was 0.71, compared to 0.86 for the AA heterozygous controls (p<0.025). In order to determine if the exon 28 SNPs intrinsically altered the measurement of VWF, the 3 SNPs were engineered into recombinant VWF and expressed in HEK293T cells. VWF Ag and RCo were performed on the purified expressed VWF. The RCo/Ag ratios for the recombinant expressed VWF were decreased for 1380V and 1472H, while the construct containing all 3 SNPs showed an even lower ratio (59% of wild-type RCo/Ag ratio). These data suggest that specific exon 28 SNPs may contribute to low RCo/Ag ratios, especially in the African-American population. Since the RCo assay involves ristocetin binding to VWF, mutations (and polymorphisms) in VWF may affect the measurement of “VWF activity” by this assay and might not reflect true hemorrhagic risk.

scholarly journals Correlation between Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Alzheimer Type Dementia and Plasma Homocysteine Concentration

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanjie Zheng ◽  
Jindong Wang ◽  
Lei Yi ◽  
Hui Yu ◽  
Lingli Kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Alzheimer Type ◽  
Homocysteine Concentration ◽  
Alzheimer Type Dementia ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine Concentration ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms

The relationship between plasma homocysteine and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) has not been specifically investigated in previous research. In this study, we compared plasma homocysteine (Hcy) among 40 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients with BPSD, 37 AD patients without BPSD, and 39 healthy controls. Our results evidenced that the plasma homocysteine levels in AD patients with BPSD and without BPSD were higher than healthy controls and that the plasma homocysteine concentration in AD patients with BPSD was the highest among the three groups. Significant correlation between plasma homocysteine concentration and cognitive decline and duration of dementia was observed, but there was no correlation between BPSD and cognitive dysfunction or duration of dementia. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that BPSD were associated with plasma homocysteine concentration in Alzheimer's dementia, and the results supported that hyperhomocysteine may take part in the pathogenesis of BPSD.

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