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Amaç: Bu çalışmada immünglobulin A vasküliti İmmünoglobulin A vasküliti (IgAV; eski adıyla Henoch Schonlein Purpurası) olan çocuklarda böbrek tutulumunun zamanını etkileyen faktörlerin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Yöntemler: Ocak 2015- Haziran 2022 arasında IgAV tanısı ile en az 1 yıl takip edilen hastaların verileri geriye dönük olarak incelendi. Hastaların demografik, klinik, laboratuar verileri ve uygulanan tedaviler kaydedildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 372 IgAV hastası dahil edildi, bu hastaların 81’inde IgAV böbrek tutulumu vardı. Hastaların 46’sı (%56,8) erkek, 35’i (%43,2) kızdı. Hastaların tamamında cilt tutulumu, 32’sinde (%39,5) eklem, 44’ünde (%54,3) gastrointestinal sistem (GİS), 2’sinde (%2,5) nörolojik tutulum vardı. 3 hastada tanı anında hipertansiyon vardı. Böbrek tutulumu, 45 hastada (%55,5) tanı anında, 10 hastada (%12,4) ilk 2 hafta içinde, 12 hastada (%14,8) 2-4. haftalar arasında, 14 hastada (%17,3) 1 ay-3 ay arasında saptandı. 3 aydan sonra böbrek tutulumu olmadı. Tanı anında böbrek tutulumu ile tanı yaşının büyük ve albümin düzeyinin düşük olması; 1-3 ayda böbrek tutulumu gelişmesi ile eklem ve GİS tutulumu arasında ilişki bulundu. Böbrek tutulumu olan hastalar içinde iyileşme süresi en uzun olanlar, tanı anında böbrek tutulumu saptananlar ve nefrotik düzeyde proteinüri olan hastalardı. İyileşme süresi en kısa olanlar ise, 1-3 ay arası böbrek tutulumu olan ve hematüri saptananlardı. Sonuç: Büyük yaştaki çocuklarda ve düşük albümin düzeyi olanlarda IgAV-böbrek tutulumunun gelişimi dikkatle takip edilmelidir. Özellikle ilk 3 ay böbrek tutulumunun saptanması için riskli dönemdir.

Aim: Enuresis and/or incontinence are one of the most common problems that families seek professional help. In this study we wanted to evaluate the patients who applied to pediatric nephrology outpatient clinics with enuresis and/or urinary incontinence during Covid19 pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients with the ICD diagnoses of “Non-organic enuresis” and “Urinary incontinence”. The data regarding two hundred and four patients were analyzed and compared via dividing them into two groups as Group A (Primary enuresis nocturna) and Group B (other enuresis and incontinence types such as dysfunctional voiding, secondary enuresis, bladder and bowel dysfunction etc.). Results: Mean age was significantly higher in Group A when compared with Group B (9.57 (± 2.78) vs. 8.67 (±3.27), p=0.036). In Group A male/female ratio was 61/43, in Group B male/female ratio was 36/64 (p

Aim: It is aimed to describe clinical properties and outcomes of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome hospitalized in pediatric intensive care. Material and Method: Our study was intended as observatory and retrospective. Symptoms before PICU admission, interventions before PICU admission, time period before PICU admission in days were defined as pre-PICU findings. Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at admission, Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRİSM-III), laboratory parameters, medical treatments, extracorporeal treatments data was collected as PICU interventions. Outcomes were examined as days in PICU, days in hospital and survival. Results: Twenty-three patients were included into study. Before PICU admission more than half of the patients were treated with antibiotics. Twenty-two were suffered from diarrhea. 3 patients had non-bloody diarrhea. 3 patients had central nervous system involvement presented as seizures. Intravenous diuretics (86.9%) and oral antihypertensives (73.9%) were the most common treatments in PICU. Eculizumab treatment was required for 6 patients. All patients got fresh frozen plasma. Nearly all of the patients required erythrocyte transfusions (95.6%). If we evaluated renal replacement therapies, 2 (8.6%) patients needed CRRT and 12 (52.7%) patients needed IHD. Extrarenal involvement was spotted in 5 patients (21.7%). Most of the patients were survived (95.3%). Conclusion: Hemolytic uremic syndrome is an important clinic entity. Most patients’ blood pressure could be controlled with oral antihypertensive treatments. Antibiotic prescriptions to diarrhetic patients should be more cautiously. There should be transfusion protocols of clinics about HUS patients to prevent over transfusion.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate the association between the presence and severity of CAD and NAFLD. Methods: The study group consisted of 153 patients who underwent coronary angiographies. Patients were categorized into CAD and non-CAD groups. CAD severity was determined by the number of CAD-involved arteries and the vessel score multiplied by Gensini score, the latter judging CAD severity. Fatty liver was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography (USG), with the patients being categorized by the degree of hepatosteatosis, as Grade 0, Grade 1, and Grade 2-3. Results: Among the whole study population, 47.1% of patients (n=72) were female and 52.9% of patients (n=81) were male. Forty-three patients had normal coronary arteries; 27 patients had non-critical CAD and side branch disease; and 83 patients had clinically significant CAD (stenosis>50%). The rate of CAD and Gensini score were significantly different between Grade 0, 1 and 2-3 hepatosteatosis groups (p

This research was performed to detect tissue fatty acid (FA) composition and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in Anatolian buffaloes at different muscle types (MTs) and slaughter weights (SWs). The research was carried out on a private commercial livestock farm in Tokat. The research's animal material comprised 20 Anatolian buffalo calves with approximately 100 kg body weights, weaned at about 150 days of age. Before the experiment started, the calves were randomly divided into two slaughter groups (SW) as low weight (LW=225 kg) and high weight (HW=325 kg). Ten calves from each of the two experimental groups, which were intensively fed, were slaughtered in two different weights. After the slaughtering, FA composition and CLA content of the Semimembranosus (SM), Semitendinosus (ST), and Triceps brachii (TB) muscle tissues of the animals were examined. The study determined that palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) were affected by MTs and oleic acid (C18:1) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) were affected by SW (P < 0.05). The highest CLA was in the ST muscle type (0.298) and the LW group (0.289) of the SW groups (P > 0.05). With the increase of SW (in LW and HW groups), n-6/n3 (SM: 7.783 and 6.533; ST: 8.115 and 7.859; TB: 8.416 and 8.215) (P > 0.05) and PUFA ratio decreased (P < 0.05). The SW increase raised the SFA ratio in the SM muscle (P < 0.05) while lowering it in the TB muscle (P > 0.05). Again, with the increase in SW, AI and TI values increased in SM and ST muscles, while the same index values decreased in TB muscle (P> 0.05). In conclusion, when considering the PUFA/SFA ratio and the beneficial effects of CLAs on human health, ST in the MT and LW groups in SW, and thus ST and LW in MT and SW were prominent in Anatolian buffaloes.

Amaç: Fraksiyone sodyum ekskresyonu (FeNa) ile fraksiyone üre ekskresyonu (FeU) akut böbrek hasarında prerenal ve renal hasarı ayırt etmek için kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, FeNa ve FeU değerlerinin prerenal ve renal azotemi grupları ile pRIFLE kriterlerine göre akut böbek hasarı evrelerini ayırdetmedeki gücünü kıyaslamayı amaçladık.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Akut böbrek hasarı tanısı sırasındaki FeU ve FeNa değerlerini hesaplamak amacıyla spot idrar üre, kreatinin ve sodyum ekskresyonları ile serum üre, kreatinin ve sodyum değerleri elde olunan 55 pediatrik akut böbrek hasarı hastasının laboratuvar ve klinik verileri retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. Hastalar klinik ve laboratuvar bilgiler ışığında prerenal ve renal hasar grupları olarak ikiye ayrıldı. Prerenal ve renal hasarı ayırt etmede FeNa ve FeU testlerinin sensitivite ve spesifisiteleri hesaplandı. Farklı RIFLE evreleri olan hastalar arasında FeNa ve FeU yüzdeleri kıyaslandı.Bulgular: Elli beş pediatrik akut böbrek hasarı hastasının 31’i erkek, 24’ü kızdı. Tanı anında ortalama yaş 71.1±83.5 ay (min-max: 1-216)’di. Hastaları FeU değerlerine göre FeU%1 ve FeU >%35) spesifisite %81’e yükseldi (p=0.020). FeU ortalaması akut böbrek hasarı evreleri arasında anlamlı olarak farklıydı (p=0.022) ve Risk evresiyle kıyaslandığında Injury ve Failure evrelerinde daha yüksekti. Sonuç: Fraksiyone üre ekskresyonu, pediatrik akut böbrek hasarı olan çocukların değerlendirilmesinde FeNa kadar önemlidir. Prerenal ve renal hasarı ayırt etmede ve akut böbrek hasarı evrelerine göre böbrek hasarının şiddetinin belirlenmesinde FeU değerinin elde edilmesini öneriyoruz., Objective: Fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) and fractional excretion of urea (FeU) are used to differentiate prerenal and renal injuries in acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we aimed to compare the discriminative power of FeU with FeNa between prerenal and renal azotemia groups as well as among AKI stages according to pRIFLE criteria.Material and Methods: Laboratory and medical records of 55 pediatric AKI patients who had the measurements of random urine excretions of urea, creatinine and sodium as well as serum urea, creatinine and sodium levels in order to calculate FeU and FeNa values at the time of AKI diagnosis were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into prerenal and renal injury groups according to the clinical findings and laboratory data. Sensitivities and specifities of FeNa and FeU in differentiating prerenal versus renal injury were determined. FeNa and FeU values were compared in patients with different RIFLE stages.Results: Among 55 pediatric AKI patients 31 were boys, 24 were girls. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 71.1 ± 83.5 months (min-max: 1-216). When we grouped the patients as having FeU1% and FeU>35%) in order to distinguish prerenal and renal injuries the specificity increased to 81% (p=0.020). Mean FeU was significantly different between AKI stages (p=0.022), and was higher in Injury and Failure stages when compared with the Risk stage. Conclusion: Fractional urea excretion is as important as FeNa in evaluating children with AKI. We recommend to obtain FeU in pediatric AKI in order to differentiate prerenal and renal etiology and to differentiate the severity of the injury according to the AKI stages in order to arrange the treatment.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of genotype and fattening system on carcass measurements of lambs and technological properties of the male lamb meat (Musculus longissimus dorsi, MLD). The animal material in the study included 39 Hemşin (H) and 39 Tuj (T) male lambs. Extensive (E), semi-intensive (SI) and intensive (I) fattening systems were applied in the study, which was completed within 90 d. In the E, SI and I fattening groups, a total of 48 lambs, including 16 lambs in each group, were slaughtered. The results of the study indicated that the effect of genotype on the first-hour yellowness (b*), being one of the colour parameters of the MLD, and the effect of the fattening system on 1 h hour redness (a*) and chroma (C*), being among the colour parameters, were statistically significant (P). The effect of genotype and fattening system on MLD pH at 45 min (pH45 min) and 24 h (pH24 h) after the slaughtering and on the third and seventh hour drip loss (DL %) was statistically nonsignificant (P>0.05). The effect of genotype and fattening system on DL, cooking loss (CL %) and texture (TT) was nonsignificant (P>0.05), whereas the effect of these factors on water-holding capacity (WHC %) was significant (P). The effect of genotype on external carcass length (ECL), internal carcass length (ICL), internal hindquarter length (IHL), and carcass and leg conformation was statistically significant (P). The effect of the fattening system on all the carcass measurements except for carcass conformation, carcass depth (CD) and external chest width (ECW) was statistically significant (P). Genotype and fattening system affected the colour and some quality traits of meat and carcass measurements of lambs.

This research was done to detect some meat quality traits and tissue fatty acid combination of the longissimus dorsi thoracis (LT) muscle of Brown Swiss bulls at the different slaughter weights (SW). The animal material of the study comprised 20 Brown Swiss bulls. In the study, Brown Swiss bulls were divided into two groups according to their SW as low (LSW (n = 10); 431–503 kg) and high (HSW (n = 10); 504–583 kg). In the study, the LSW group showed the lowest final pH value (pHF) (5.44) (P 0.05). In the research, the differences observed between the SW groups considering a* (redness) and C (chroma) values were found significant (P 0.05). Freeze–thaw loss (FL) and ether extract (PEE) were found 4.35% and 1.01% higher, respectively, in the HSW group than the LSW group (P 0.05) in the LT muscle decreased with the increase of SW. As a result, when LSW and HSW slaughter weight groups were evaluated considering the water losses causing financial losses in meat and fatty acids having beneficial effects on human health, it was seen that the LSW group came to the fore.

Bartter Syndrome (BS) is a hereditary condition characterized by polyuria, renal salt wasting, and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with high serum renin and aldosterone levels. Patients with BS usually have symptoms in the first two years of life, but they might also be diagnosed at school age or later. Associations between congenital renal and urinary system anomalies and BS are extremely rare. Here we present a case of a 4-year-old girl having a solitary functioning kidney (SFK) due to right renal agenesis, who eventually diagnosed as BS in the light of clinical and laboratory findings. The patient applied to the pediatric nephrology department with the complaint of polyuria. Laboratory evaluation revealed hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis, and high renin and aldosterone levels. Urine sodium, chloride, potassium excretions were increased. Sweat test was normal. CLCNKB mutation with the diagnosis of classic BS was negative. We assume that our patient might have another type of BS with a milder mutation. Urinary anomalies accompanying BS are very rarely reported and up to our knowledge the togetherness of renal agenesis and BS has not been defined in the literature yet., Bartter Sendromu (BS), poliüri, renal tuz kaybı, yüksek renin ve aldosteron düzeylerinin eşlik ettiği hipokalemik metabolik alkaloz ile karaterize kalıtsal bir hastalıktır. BS hastalarında semptomlar sıklıkla yaşamın ilk iki yılı içerisinde görülmekle birlikte okul çağından sonra da tanı konabilmektedir. Konjenital böbrek ve üriner sistem anomalileri ile BS birlikteliği çok nadirdir. Burada sağ renal ageneziye bağlı soliter böbreği olan ve daha sonra klinik ve laboratuvar bulguları ışığında BS tanısı alan 4 yaşında bir kız hasta sunulmuştur. Hasta, yaklaşık iki yıldır devam eden çok idrar yapma şikayetiyle çocuk nefroloji polikliniğine başvurmuştur. Laboratuvar incelemelerinde hiponatremi, hipokloremi, hipokalemi, metabolik alkaloz, renin ve aldosteron yüksekliği ile birlikte idrarda sodium, potasyum ve klor atılımında artış kaydedilmiştir. Ter testi normal olan hastadan klasik BS ön tanısıyla CLCNKB gen mutasyonu varlığı araştırılmış, mutasyon saptanmamıştır. Hastada diğer BS tiplerinin hafif bir formunun olabileceği düşünülmüştür. Renal agenezi ile BS birlikteliği literatürde daha önce bildirilmemiş olup diğer üriner anomaliler ve BS birlikteliği de çok nadirdir.Anahtar Kelimeler: Bartter sendromu, Renal agenezi, Tek böbrek

Nowadays, deficits in red meat resources in Turkey are caused by the import of red meat from different countries. Anatolian buffaloes used in this research are a species that can contribute to red meat production in Turkey. This study was performed to determine the slaughter and carcass traits of Anatolian buffaloes at different slaughter weights. Twenty weaned male Anatolian buffalo calves of about 5 months old, at an average live weight of 100 kg, were used as the animal specimen in the present study. The calves were fed with 30:70 roughage (alfalfa hay - 18.07% crude protein, 2186.90 kcal kg(-1) metabolic energy DM): concentrate feed (cattle fattening feed - 16.40% crude protein, 2696.94 kcal kg(-1) metabolic energy DM). The calves were randomly distributed into 4 different slaughter weight (SW) groups of GI (200 kg; n = 5), GII (250 kg; n = 5), GIII (300 kg; n = 5), and GIV (350 kg; n = 5). The results showed that hot and cold carcass ratios (P < 0.01) and carcass chilling loss increased with increasing slaughter weights. Except for head, feet, and kidney weight, the differences in all of the other organ weights of the SW groups were not statistically significant. The differences in all of the investigated carcass measurements of the SW groups were detected to be significant (P < 0.05). Although total carcass conformation index values increased with increasing slaughter weights, only the differences in the carcass compactness values of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Except for chunk, short loin, sirloin, rump, and flank ratios, the differences in all of the other carcass section ratios of the SW groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

This research was performed to examine the effects of different slaughter weights (SWs) on some meat quality traits of Anatolian Buffaloes (n=20). Weaned 5-month-old Anatolian Buffalo calves with an average live weight of 100 kg were used as the animal material of the study. Experimental calves were randomly divided into four different slaughter weight groups 200 kg (SW-1: n=5), 250 kg (SW-2: n=5), 300 kg (SW-3: n=5), and 350 kg (SW-4: n=5). Anatolian buffalo calves were fed with 30:70 roughage/concentrate feed ration. Meat quality attributes of musculus longissimus dorsi thoracis (LT) muscle of calves slaughtered at target slaughter weight were investigated. The quality traits included 45th minute pH (pH(45min)), 24th hour pH (pH(24h)), 1st and 24th hour color parameters (L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b* (yellowness), water holding capacity (WHC), drip loss (3rd day (DL-3) and 7th day (DL-7)), freeze-thaw loss (FTL), cooking loss (CL), chemical composition), fatty acid, and cholesterol profiles. The differences in LT muscle pH(24h), 24th hour a* and b* color parameters and WHC values of SW groups were not found to be significant (P>0.05). The lowest DL-3 was observed in SW-1 (6.89%) and the greatest in SW-2 (8.96%) groups. Ether extract (EE) ratios increased (P0.05) with increasing SWs. The differences in total cholesterol contents of SW groups were not detected to be significant (P>0.05). Among the SW groups of Anatolian Buffaloes, SW-1 was found to be prominent with high WHC, CP, and PUFA/SFA ratio and the least DL-3 ratio.

Aksoy, Yuksel/0000-0001-5709-937X WOS: 000457421800001 PubMed: 31807612 The study conducted a comparison of meat quality, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol amounts of longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles of male lambs born to Turkish indigenous sheep breeds raised under intensive conditions. A total of 36 singleton male lambs were used as experimental animals of the Akkaraman (A), Morkaraman (M), Awassi (IW), Karayaka (KR), Kivircik (KV), and Middle Anatolian Merino (MAM) pure breeds. All lambs were fed the same diet until they reached a target weight of 40 kg weight. After the feeding period, all lambs were slaughtered and LD and ST muscle samples were collected to determine meat quality traits, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol amounts. Although there were no significant differences between lambs in terms of the fatty acid profile of LD and ST muscles, KR lambs had a higher cholesterol content in both muscles in comparison with the lambs born to other breeds (p < 0.05). While water-holding capacity, dripping loss, pH, color, dry matter, ash, and intramuscular fat values of ST muscles showed differences among breeds (p < 0.05), dripping loss, pH, cooking loss, color, dry matter, ash, protein, and intramuscular fat values of LD muscles differed between breeds (p < 0.05). The data of the current study indicated that meat quality characteristics and cholesterol contents of Turkish indigenous breeds showed differences, and these differences may be used for alternative lamb meat production for the consumer. General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of TurkeyGida Tarim Ve Hayvancilik Bakanligi [TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13] The authors wish to thank the General Directorate of Agricultural Researches and Policies of Turkey (project no: TAGEM 10/AR-GE/13) for their financial support for the present research.

Introduction : Myocardial injury after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) occurs in approximately 30% of procedures, and is related to worse prognosis. Effects of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on reperfusion injury have been investigated before, yielding conflicting results. Aim : To assess the impact of a single episode of RIPC on myocardial injury after elective PCI. Material and methods : One hundred and four patients undergoing elective PCI, with normal baseline cardiac troponin-I (cTn-I) values, were randomized to two groups. Two patients were excluded due to data loss, and 102 patients were analyzed. Five minutes of ischemic preconditioning was delivered just before the intervention to the preconditioning group, by inflating the blood pressure cuff up to 200 mm Hg on the non-dominant arm. Postprocedural 16th hour cTn-I, cTn-I (difference between the 16th h and baseline cTn-I values) and the prevalence of type 4a myocardial infarction were compared between the two groups. Results : Median cTn-I values after the procedure were compared. 16th hour cTn-I was insignificantly lower in the preconditioning arm (0.026 µg/l vs. 0.045 µg/l, p = 0.186). The incidence of cTn-I elevation 5-fold above the upper reference limit (URL) (> 0.115 µg/l) was lower in the preconditioning group, but it was also not significant (21.6% vs. 11.8%, p = 0.184). Conclusions : A single episode of RIPC before elective PCI demonstrated less troponin elevation but failed to show a significant effect.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of slaughter weight on chemical composition, physical properties, and fatty acid profile of musculus longissimus dorsi (MLD) in Holstein bulls. The bulls (n = 20) were divided into two slaughter weight groups as light (450–520 kg) and heavy (521–580 kg) according to body weights at slaughter. After resecting MLD from the carcass, its chemical composition, physical properties, and fatty acid profile were determined. The analysis showed that fat, ash, and cholesterol contents of MLD were significantly affected by slaughter weight (P < 0.05). Higher fat, ash, and cholesterol contents were determined in heavy bulls compared with light ones. However, the protein and moisture contents were not significantly different between slaughter weight groups in terms of pH, drip loss, and water holding capacity. With regard to meat color, the a* was significantly higher in light bulls; however, the L* and b* values were similar in both slaughter weight groups. Of all fatty acids, only C:10 was found the highest in heavy bulls (P < 0.05). The n-6/n-3 ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in light bulls compared with heavy ones. Consequently, the best results were obtained from light Holstein bulls in order to achieve better beef quality. © 2019, Springer Nature B.V. Firat University Scientific Research Projects Management Unit, FÃ?BAP --This work was financially supported by Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit with project number: PYO-ZRT.4001.14.002.

Aksoy, Yuksel/0000-0001-5709-937X WOS: 000456658700004 This investigation was conducted to estimate the breeding values and genetic trends for body weight (BW), scanning fat depth (SFD) and scanning muscle depth (SMD) of Karayaka lambs (n= 1059) at 140 +/- 3.36 day of age. Experiments were conducted in a nucleus flock of Karayaka sheep under a selective breeding program to increase productivity at research farm of Gaziosmanpasa University between the years 2006 - 2011. Breeding values were estimated with ASREML software. While genetic trend for BW and SMD showed a smooth ascending trend, SFD exhibited a descending trend throughout the experimental period. The genetic trend for BW, SFD and SMD of Karayaka lambs were observed as 0.433 kg / year, 0.00686 mm / year and 0.00786 mm / year, respectively. The results showed that applying of a selection program on BW, SMD and SFD characteristics would increase BW and SMD values and decrease SFD value in Karayaka lambs. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey "TUBITAK"Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [104O329]; General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy of Turkey [60KYK2005-01] The authors wish to thank The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey "TUBITAK" (Project number: 104O329) and General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy of Turkey (Project number: 60KYK2005-01) for their financial support for the present research.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different fattening systems on the slaughter and carcass traits of male Hemsin lambs. Hemsin lambs were divided into three groups; extensive, semi–intensive, and intensive. Lambs in the extensive group were grazed on pasture. Lambs in the semi-intensive group were grazed on pasture and also fed with concentrated feed. The concentrated feed was given to lambs in the intensive group. The experiment was conducted for 90 days. A total of 24 lambs (8 fattening lambs from each group) were slaughtered. While slaughter weights of extensive, semi–intensive, and intensive fattening groups were 32.71, 41.38 and 41.49 kg, respectively (P, Bu araştırma, farklı besi sistemlerinin Hemşin erkek kuzularında kesim ve karkas özelliklerine etkisinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada ekstansif, yarı entansif ve entansif olmak üzere 3 değişik besi grubu oluşturulmuştur. Ekstansif grup merada otlatılmıştır. Yarı entansif gruba meraya ilaveten konsantre yem verilmiştir. Entansif gruba ise konsantre yem verilmiştir. Araştırma 90 günde tamamlanmıştır. Ekstansif, yarı entansif ve entansif beside her grupta 8, toplamda 24 kuzu kesilerek, kesim ve karkas özellikleri incelenmiştir. Ekstansif, yarı entansif ve entansif beside kesim ağırlığı sırasıyla 32.71, 41.38 ve 41.49 kg (P

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’de yetiştirilen 7 yerli koyun ırkında kalpastatin (CAST) gen polimorfzmi PCR-RFLP metodu kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. CAST geninin M ve N allelleri frekansları; Kangal (n= 31), İvesi (n= 26), Güney Karaman (n= 23), Akkaraman (n= 21), Morkaraman (n= 34), Karayaka (n= 33) ve Karakaş (n= 22) koyun ırklarında sırasıyla 0.92- 0.08, 0.59-0.41, 0.67-0.33, 0.69-0.31, 0.87-0.13, 0.86-0.14, 0.89-0.11 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Ki-kare testi CAST geni bakımından Morkaraman, İvesi ve Karayaka populasyonlarının Hardy-Weinberg dengesinden önemli düzeyde (P, In this study, calpastatin (CAST) gene polimorphism was investigated in 7 native sheep breeds reared in Turkey by using PCR-RFLP method. The frequencies of M and N alleles of CAST gene in Kangal (n= 31), Awassi (n= 26), Güney Karaman (n= 23), Akkaraman (n= 21), Morkaraman (n= 34), Karayaka (n= 33), and Karakas (n= 22) sheep breeds were determined as 0.92-0.08, 0.59-0.41, 0.67-0.33, 0.69-0.31, 0.87-0.13, 0.86-0.14, 0.89-0.11 respectively. According to chi-square test, all the other populations were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, whereas Morkaraman, İvesi and Karayaka populations showed signifcant (P

Background: Recent clinical observations have demonstrated that the beneficial effects of statins are not limited to LDL lowering effect. They have also favourable effects on platelet activation, endothelial function, inflammation, and coagulation cascade. Aim: To investigate the effects of statins on mean platelet volume (MPV) which is a simple measure of platelet activation volume in patients who have been prescribed statins. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were also compared in respect to effects on MPV. Methods: One hundred and forty five patients were retrospectively included in the study from the outpatient cardiology clinic. Patients who had been given statin treatment were recruited based on the records. Baseline and 4–8 weeks biochemical analysis and haematological measurements and cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Results: Both statins significantly decreased the MPV. MPV of patients did not show any significant correlation with lipid parameters. Linear regression analysis revealed that there were no statistically significant associations of ∆ MPV with the ∆ LDL-cholesterol (beta coefficient = 0.13; p = 0.24), ∆ DL-cholesterol (beta coefficient = 0.17; p = 0.18) or ∆ triglyceride (beta coefficient = –0.11; p = 0.21) after statin treatment. Both statins had comparable effects on lipid parameters at the end of the one month follow up period. Conclusion: Statins significantly reduce MPV irrespective of cholesterol levels, and atorvastatin and rosuvastatin have comparable effects in this regard.

WOS: 000402217900008, This research was conducted to determine muscle fiber characteristics and its relationship with some meat quality traits in Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles from lambs of some Turkish native sheep breeds. A total of 36 singleton male lambs were used as experimental pure breed animals of Karayaka (n = 6), Kivircik (n = 6), Middle Anatolian Merino (n = 6), Awassi (n = 6), Morkaraman (n = 6) and Akkaraman (n = 6) breeds. All experimental animals were fed the same diet until they reach to a target weight of 40 kg weight. After the feeding period all lambs were slaughtered and LD and ST muscle samples were collected for determination of some meat quality traits (tenderness, pH, water holding capacity, and colour) and ATPase staining of muscle fibers. Type IIB muscle fiber numbers of Morkaraman sheep were higher than those of other breeds in LD muscle (P < 0.05). Awassi lambs had higher number of (P < 0.05) type IIA fibers and total fiber numbers in ST muscle compared to other breeds. Diameter of type I muscle fiber of ST muscle from Kivircik lambs was higher than those of other breeds (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between diameters of type I (r = 0.513; P, TAGEM [TAGEM/10/AR-GE/13], The authors acknowledge the financial support by TAGEM (TAGEM/10/AR-GE/13) to carry out this study.

The underlying mechanism by which osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease may be linked is not fully understood. However studies mainly focused on the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular risk factors or atherosclerosis itself by only assessing the presence of vascular calcification. In this study we aimed to evaluate both cardiovascular risk factors, and presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in post-menopausal women patients with and without low BMD.Study population consisted of post menopausal women who were scheduled to coronary angiography. Two hundred and twenty seven consecutive female patients were included in the study and evaluated for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and CAD. Bone mineral density was measured in all patients either the day before or the day after coronary angiography. Low BMD was defined as T score-1 and normal BMD was defined as T scoreor = -1. For statistical analysis patients were divided into two groups: patients with low BMD and patients with normal BMD.There were not statistically significant differences between two groups in respect to body mass index, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Age and presence of CAD was found to be statistically different between two groups being higher in patients with low BMD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age was positively and independently associated with low BMD in post menopausal female patients (Odds ratio=1.072 CI: 1.036-1.11, p=0.001).Age is found to be an independent predictor of decreased BMD in our study population recruited from the coronary angiography laboratory. However, neither cardiovascular risk factors, nor coronary artery disease itself has been found to be associated with low BMD.

PubMed: 18810978 This study was planned to express the detailed traits of Karayaka sheep reared in Tokat province, also influencing factors on the traits were evaluated. While year effect was significant on 8 weeks weight, scanning weight, fat depth and muscle area, all the evaluated traits including birth weight and muscle depth were significantly affected by season (p

Background: Although previous studies have documented a variety of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in obesity, P-wave alterations, which represent an increased risk for atrial arrhythmia, have not been studied very well in these patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate P-wave duration and P dispersion (Pd) in obese subjects, and to investigate the relationship between P-wave measurements, and the clinical and echocardiographic variables. Methods: The study population consisted of 52 obese and 30 normal weight control subjects. P-wave duration and P-wave dispersion were calculated on the 12-lead ECG. As echocardiographic variables, left atrial diameter (LAD), left ventricular end-diastolic, and end-systolic diameters (LVDD and LVSD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), interventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), and left ventricular mass (LVM) of the obese and the control subjects were measured by means of transthoracic echocardiography. Results: There were statistically significant differences between obese and controls as regards to Pmax (maximum P-wave duration) and Pd (P dispersion) (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Pmin (minimum P wave duration) was similar in both groups. Correlation analysis showed that Pd in the obese patients was related to any the clinical and echocardiographic parameters including BMI, LAD, LVDD, IVST, LVPWT, and LVM. Conclusion: Our data suggest that obesity affects P-wave dispersion and duration, and changes in P dispersion may be closely related to the clinical and the echocardiographic parameters such as BMI, LAD, IVST, LVPWT, and LVM.

WOS: 000413672900011, The aim of this study was to determine the composition of raw milk from Anatolian water buffaloes raised under different village conditions in the Tokat province of Northern Turkey. The study materials included 600 milk samples from 120 water buffaloes raised at different farms in 12 separate villages of the Erbaa, Turhal, and Pazar counties in the Tokat Province. The dry matter, nonfat dry matter (or solid non fat), fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of the milk samples were determined. The study results demonstrated that the mean dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of the raw milk samples were 16.99 +/- 0.108%, 10.88 +/- 0.036%, 5.98 +/- 0.107%, 4.85 +/- 0.043%, 5.17 +/- 0,021%, and 3.61 +/- 0.036%, respectively. The study data were evaluated according to the water buffaloes' lactation stage, parity, and season by using the SPSS statistical program. It was concluded that the sampling time, parity, village conditions, stage of lactation and calving age had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of raw milk from the Anatolian water buffalo., Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [ZRT.E2.16.008]; General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies in Tokat province, This work was supported by the Ahi Evran University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit. Project Number: ZRT.E2.16.008. This study's data were obtained from the scope of the project of improvement of Anatolian buffalo in public hand supported by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies in Tokat province. We would like to thank Tokat Water Buffalo Breeders' Association for valuable technical assistance.

WOS: 000368558800006, In the current paper the direct additive and maternal genetic effects on birth, weaning (at 90 days of age), and scanning (at 20 weeks of age) weights and muscle and fat depths of the ribeye area in Karayaka lambs were investigated. Analyses were carried out by the restricted maximum likelihood approach, fitting 6 animal models with various combinations of direct and maternal effects. The best model was chosen after testing for improvement in the log-likelihood values. Direct heritability (h(d)(2)) for all traits decreased when maternal genetic effects were included in the models. The maternal heritability (h(m)(2)) ranged from 0.15 to 0.22 for birth weight, from 0.04 to 0.14 for weaning weight, and from 0.08 to 0.16 for scanning weight. The effects of h(m)(2) on muscle depth and fat depth of the ribeye area were not considered due to their insignificance. The permanent environmental effect of the dam was significant for birth, weaning, and scanning weights. Moderate negative genetic correlations (r(am)) between the direct and maternal genetic effects were observed, which were significant for birth (-0.179 and -0.221), weaning (-0.310 and -0.415), and scanning (-0.116 and -0.141) weights. As a result, h(d)(2) and h(m)(2) can be used as selection criteria for birth, weaning, and scanning weights in Karayaka lambs.

WOS: 000384688800015, PubMed ID: 27641929, The effect of maternal nutrition level during the periconception period on the muscle development of fetus and maternal-fetal plasma hormone concentrations in sheep were examined. Estrus was synchronized in 55 Karayaka ewes and were either fed ad libitum (well-fed, WF, n=23) or 0.5xmaintenance (under-fed, UF, n=32) 6 days before and 7 days after mating. Non-pregnant ewes (WF, n=13; UF, n=24) and ewes carrying twins (WF, n=1) and female (WF, n=1; UF, n=3) fetuses were removed from the experiment. The singleton male fetuses from well-fed (n=8) and under-fed (n=5) ewes were collected on day 90 of gestation and placental characteristics, fetal BWs and dimensions, fetal organs and muscles weights were recorded. Maternal (on day 7 after mating) and fetal (on day 90 of pregnancy) blood samples were collected to analyze plasma hormone concentrations. Placental characteristics, BW and dimensions, organs and muscles weights of fetuses were not affected by maternal feed intake during the periconception period. Maternal nutrition level did not affect fiber numbers and the muscle cross-sectional area of the fetal longissimus dorsi (LD), semitendinosus (ST) muscles, but the cross-sectional area of the secondary fibers in the fetal LD and ST muscles from the UF ewes were higher than those from the WF ewes (P, TUBITAK [TBAG-U/148], The authors are grateful to Dr H. Onder for his guidance and advice in statistical analysis of the data. The authors also acknowledge the financial support by TUBITAK (TBAG-U/148) to carry out this study.

WOS: 000373112900004, Maternal nutrient intake during early- and mid-gestation can alter fetal growth and development with long-term consequences on the postnatal productivity and health of offspring. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation on postnatal growth rate, carcass composition, muscle fibre characteristics and meat quality in lambs. Ewes were fed from Days 30 to 80 of gestation as follows: 100% (control group, C), 50% (undernutrition, UN) or 175% (overnutrition, ON) of their daily requirement. During the rest of the gestation, the ewes in all groups were fed 100% of their daily requirements. Birth and weaning (at Day 90) weights of lambs born to ewes in nutritional groups were similar, but slaughter weights (at Day 150) and daily weight gain during finishing period of lambs born to the UN group were lower (P < 0.05). Similarly, a decrease in weights of semitendinosus (ST), semimembranosus and gastrocnemius muscles was observed in the lambs born to the UN group (P < 0.05). Lambs born to the ON group had a higher (P < 0.05) concentration of DNA in longissimus dorsi (LD) and ST muscles than UN groups, but they had a lower (P < 0.05) total protein and other proteins concentrations in LD and ST muscles than those to C and UN groups. Protein to DNA ratio in LD and ST muscles of lambs born to ON group were lower than those to C and UN groups (P < 0.05). However, lambs born to the ON group had a higher number of Type IIA and IIB muscle fibres in ST muscles but not in LD muscles than those in the C and UN groups (P < 0.05). Additionally an increase in the number of fibres/mm(2) muscle area in lambs born to the ON group was observed in LD and ST muscles (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between treatment groups in terms of meat quality parameters studied. This study confirms that maternal nutrition level during mid-gestation alters the postnatal growth and muscle fibre development of lambs., TUBITAK [TBAG-U/148], The authors are grateful to Dr H. Onder for his guidance and advice in statistical analysis of the data. The authors also acknowledge the financial support by TUBITAK (TBAG-U/148) to carry out this study.

P wave duration and dispersion, defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum P duration, are regarded as very important non-invasive ECG markers for assessing atrial arrhythmia risk. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is an independent predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation. We compared the effects of hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) on P wave duration, P dispersion, and BNP in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and examined the relationship between BNP levels, P wave duration, and P dispersion.Age-matched 22 HD patients (mean age 52.3 +/- 14.0 years) and 19 CAPD patients (mean age 46.7 +/- 10.9 years) were studied.BNP levels were greater in HD patients before the HD session (459.0 +/- 465.1 pg mL(-1)) than in CAPD patients (139.0 +/- 170.1 pg mL(-1)). The maximum and minimum P duration, and P dispersion, were similar for both groups (P0.05). Whereas BNP levels were negatively related to minimum P duration (r = -0.518, P = 0.019), BNP levels were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.672, P = 0.001 and r = 0.497, P = 0.022, respectively) in HD patients.Whereas BNP levels are higher in HD patients when they are at peak-volume status, just before HD, P wave duration and P dispersion were similar for both groups. A negative relationship was detected between BNP levels and minimum P duration in HD patients. Expansion of extra-cellular volume causing myocardial stretching may be the principal cause of increased BNP in HD patients. A functional relationship between BNP and the P wave was not found. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the effect of BNP on the P wave.

Prevalences of mitral annular calcium (MAC), osteoporosis, and coronary artery disease (CAD) increase with aging and often usually coexist. Correlates of MAC including cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density (BMD) have never been evaluated in men and women undergoing coronary angiography. Accordingly, we assessed the association between cardiovascular risk factors, BMD, and MAC in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The study population consisted of 484 consecutive patients (180 women, mean 60 +/- 10 years of age; 304 men, mean 60 +/- 10 years of age) who underwent coronary angiography. Complete transthoracic echocardiographic studies were performed in all patients. Diagnosis of MAC was made by M-mode and cross-sectional transthoracic echocardiography. All patients were referred to the nuclear medicine department to measure BMD (T score) using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The following clinical and demographic parameters were recorded: age, gender, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CAD, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Prevalence of MAC in our study population was 20%. There were no statistically significant differences between groups with respect to body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and presence of CAD (p0.05 for all comparisons). Prevalence of hypertension and mean age were significantly higher in patients with MAC than in those without MAC (hypertension 74% vs 52%, p0.001; age 68 +/- 9 vs 58 +/- 10 years, p0.001, respectively). Age and hypertension were found to be independent positive risk factors for MAC, whereas T score and age-gender adjusted T score were found to be negatively and independently associated with MAC. In conclusion, we found that MAC in patients undergoing coronary angiography is independently and positively associated with age and hypertension and negatively associated with T-score measurement of BMD.

Unintentional extraction of a previously deployed stent is a rare complication. In this case report, we are presenting inadvertent extraction of a previously deployed stent occurring after repetitive balloon dilatations and manual thrombus aspiration to treat acute stent thrombosis. Operators must be careful dealing with in-stent lesions or passing through old stents. Learning objective: Operators must be careful when dealing with patients with previously deployed stents. There is no easy case in interventional cardiology; complications like this can occur although the case was seemingly uneventful.>

Coronary artery ectasia has been defined as localized or diffuse nonobstructive lesions of the epicardial coronary arteries with a luminal dilation exceeding the 1.5-fold of normal adjacent segment or vessel diameter. Although coronary artery disease is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. The brachial artery ultrasound test for flow-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilatory function includes administration of sublingual nitrates to examine the vasodilating effect of an exogenous source of nitric oxide. In the present study, we aimed to compare flow-mediated and nitrate-mediated responses of brachial artery in patients with coronary artery ectasia and patients with coronary artery disease.Thirty-six consecutive patients with coronary artery ectasia in combination with coronary artery disease and 42 age-matched and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease alone were included in the study. Flow-mediated and nitrate-mediated dilatations were measured in all patients using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonographic system.Baseline brachial artery diameters in patients with coronary artery ectasia were not statistically different from those in patients with coronary artery disease (4.2+/-0.6 vs. 4.0+/-0.6 mm, respectively, P=0.16). Although the forearm flow-mediated dilatation of the patients with coronary artery ectasia did not differ from that of patients with coronary artery disease alone (5.5+/-3.8 vs. 4.8+/-3.6%, respectively, P=0.41), nitrate-mediated dilatation was significantly lower than that of patients with coronary artery disease alone (7.9+/-5.2 vs. 10.9+/-5.4%, respectively, P=0.02).We have shown that patients with coronary artery ectasia have decreased nitrate-mediated response of brachial artery compared with patients with coronary artery disease alone, suggesting more severe dysfunction or, possibly, destruction of the media layer in coronary artery ectasia than in coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Migraine is a common neurovascular disorder characterized by attacks of severe headache, autonomic and neurological symptoms. We hypothesized that patients with migraine had abnormal endothelial function. The vascular theory of migraine assumes that the major pathophysiological events that initiate the migraine attack occur in the perivascular nerves of the major cerebral vessels. Accordingly, we aimed to measure endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in migraineurs by means of flow-mediated dilatation, which reflects endothelium-dependent vasodilatation capacity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-five patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for migraine and 45 age and sex-matched healthy participants were enrolled in the study. Flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery was determined using a high-resolution B-mode ultrasonographic system. Flow-mediated vasodilatation was expressed as the change in post-stimulus diameter as a percentage of the baseline diameter. RESULTS Mean ages of the patients were 33+/-10 years in migraineurs (range: 18-52 years, 36 female, 9 male) and 33+/-9 years in non-migraineurs (range: 17-50 years, 36 female and 9 male). Flow-mediated dilatation of patients with migraine is significantly lower than that of the controls (8.02+/-4.095% vs. 10.72+/-3.52%, respectively, P=0.001). CONCLUSION We have shown that migraineurs have decreased endothelium-dependent vasodilatation capacity compared with non-migraineurs. Migraine may be a local manifestation of systemic vascular vasomotion abnormalities.

Coronary artery ectasia is a variant of coronary atherosclerosis. Hyperhomocysteinemia has emerged as a major, independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The purposes of this study were to determine plasma hyperhomocysteine levels in patients with coronary artery ectasia, and to compare patients with coronary artery ectasia, coronary artery disease, and controls with normal coronary angiogram.The study population included 37 patients with coronary artery ectasia and 36 patients with coronary artery disease. The control group consisted of 32 patients with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Plasma hyperhomocysteine levels were measured in all study patients with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with both coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease than in the controls (14.8+/-1.1 and 15.9+/-0.8 vs. 2.5+/-0.6 micromol/l; P0.001 and P0.001, respectively). No significant differences in plasma homocysteine levels were found among CAE and CAD groups (P0.05).We have demonstrated that patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease have increased plasma hyperhomocysteine levels compared with the controls. These findings suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia may play an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia as in coronary artery disease.

Recent evidence suggests that the activation of platelets and their interaction with circulating cells are important independent risk factors for atherosclerosis. In non-uremic patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, a relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels and platelet activity had been reported. The purposes of this study were to evaluate of effects of dialysis modality on platelet activity in patients with end-stage renal failure and to investigate the relationship between platelet activity, Hcy, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).In age and sex matched 19 healthy subjects, 20 hemodialysis (HD) patients, and 18 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, the expression of platelet surface receptors CD41, CD61, CD42a, and CD62P were investigated. CD62P expression was statistically significantly increased in HD patients compared with CAPD patients and controls (34.4 +/- 22.5%; 17.3 +/- 19.6%, 12.0 +/- 15.6%, respectively, p0.05), but not in CAPD patients compared with controls. There was a positive correlation between CD62 expression and duration of dialysis in HD patients (r = 0.498, p = 0.026). Mean plasma Hcy levels in dialysis patients were higher than reference levels. However, we could not find any relationship between CD62 expression, Hcy, and LVH in both groups (p0.05).Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (PD) have a different impact on the expression of CD62: peritoneal dialysis seems to have a more favorable effect. It may be possible that the differences in biocompatibility between PD and HD potentially contribute to differences in CD62 expression.

An increase of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels is commonly observed in patients on dialysis. Increased circulating levels of BNP are related to future cardiac events and associated with shorter survival in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD). During the first 1 or 2 years on dialysis, patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) have been shown to have an improvement in left ventricular hypertrophy, blood pressure, and volume status. This study compares BNP levels and cardiac status of PD and HD patients without cardiovascular disease and on dialysis for less than 36 months. The correlation between plasma BNP concentration and findings of echocardiography before HD scans were examined and compared with findings of PD. Twenty-two HD patients (15 men, 7 women; mean age, 52.5 +/- 13.9 years) and 19 PD patients (10 men, 9 women; mean age, 47.6 +/- 11.3 years) were studied. There were no significant differences between HD and PD patients with regard to age, gender, duration of dialysis, left ventricular mass, left ventricular mass index (p0.05). Plasma BNP levels were markedly greater in HD patients (467.8 +/- 466.5 pg/ mL) than those of PD patients (143.1 +/- 165.2 pg/mL). Urine output was significantly higher in PD patients compared with HD patients (p0.05). A positive correlation between systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and plasma BNP in HD patients (r: 0.653, p: 0.001; r: 0.493, p: 0.023, respectively) was detected. Additional studies are needed to investigate whether lower BNP level in PD patients is an advantage.

Although atherosclerosis is supposed to be responsible for more than 50% of coronary artery ectasia, the precise pathology of coronary artery ectasia is not clearly understood. A histopathological examination of ectatic segments has revealed mainly destruction of the media layer of the artery. In the present study, we assessed carotid intima-media thickness and common carotid artery diameter in patients with and without coronary artery ectasia.Thirty-five consecutive patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease and 35 age and sex-matched patients with coronary artery disease alone were included in the study. The common carotid artery was studied as the longitudinal plane within 10 mm from the bifurcation of the common carotid artery. The intima-media thickness was measured in the far wall at end-diastole from the B-mode screen to a point within the 10-mm segment proximal to the bifurcation by one investigator blinded to clinical data.No significant differences with respect to age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and smoking habits were observed between the two groups studied. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery of the patients with coronary artery ectasia was significantly lower than that of the patients with coronary artery disease alone (0.71 +/- 0.13 vs. 0.77 +/- 0.09 mm, respectively, P = 0.04).Decreased intima-media thickness of the carotid artery in patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease may have pathogenic mechanisms different from coronary artery disease per se.

OBJECTIVE Alterations in aortic stiffness may reflect the elastic properties of the larger arteries. In many diseases, aortic elastic properties have been investigated to show whether the larger arteries are involved. The elastic properties of aorta in patients with coronary artery ectasia, however, have not been studied yet. We aimed to investigate aortic stiffness parameters in patients with coronary artery ectasia and to compare patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease with the control group. METHOD Thirty-three patients with coronary artery ectasia, 31 patients with coronary artery disease and 30 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries were included in this study. Aortic diameters were measured on the M-mode tracing obtained at a level 3 cm beyond the aortic valve at parasternal long-axis view. Aortic diameter change, aortic strain, aortic distensibility and stiffness parameters were measured as aortic stiffness parameters. RESULTS Aortic diameter changes were fewer in the coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease group than in the control group (0.4 +/- 0.1 and 0.3 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2; P < 0.001). Aortic distensibility and aortic strain were significantly lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease than in the controls (for aortic distensibility P < 0.001 and for aortic strain P < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, a significantly higher aortic stiffness index was observed in patients with coronary artery ectasia and coronary artery disease than in the control group (14.2+/-2.6 and 18.1 +/- 2.9 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.8; P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The impairment in aortic elastic properties in patients with coronary artery ectasia indicates that this disease is a generalized disease rather than a localized disease of the coronary arteries.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether tissue Doppler imaging could provide more information than standard echocardiography about left and right ventricular functions and their relations to homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the course of Behcet's disease (BD). In the right ventricle, patients with BD had lower early diastolic tricuspid annular velocity and early diastolic/late diastolic tricuspid annular velocity ratios than the control group. Mitral and tricuspid annular systolic velocities did not significantly differ; however, diastolic velocities were correlated with duration of the disease. In addition, early/late diastolic mitral annular velocity ratio and early/late diastolic tricuspid annular velocity ratios showed an inverse relation with ocular involvement, serum homocysteine, and CRP levels in patients with BD.

Coronary blood flow was quantified using the thrombosis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame-count method. This measurement has been significantly correlated with flow velocity measured invasively by use of a Doppler flow wire. Coronary artery ectasia or aneurysm (CEA) is thought to be present in patients with a slow blood flow. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between the ectasia size or ectasia ratio and TIMI frame count in patients with CEA. The study population included 58 patients with isolated CEA of the right coronary artery. In patients with CEA, an ectasia ratio was calculated as diameter of the ectatic segment/diameter of the adjacent normal segment. According to the ectasia ratio, ectatic vessels were divided into two groups: ectasias with a 1.5- to 2.0-fold increase (group A) and more than 2.0-fold increase (group B) in normal vessel diameter. Patients with a significant stenotic lesion (>50%) in the ectatic vessel were excluded. The control group was formed from a matched population of 35 patients with angiographically proven normal coronary arteries. Characteristics of the ectasia and control groups are similar. The TIMI frame counts for the right coronary artery (RCA) were significantly higher in the ectasia group as compared with the control group (43 ± 12 vs 23 ± 8, P < 0.001). The ectasia group had 38 patients in group A and 20 patients in group B. The TIMI frame counts were significantly higher in group B than in group A (43 ± 10 vs 51 ± 15, P < 0.05). The TIMI frame count of the RCA showed a significant correlation with the ectasia ratio and the maximum diameter of the ectatic segment (r = 0.578, P < 0.001 and r = 0.435, P < 0.001, respectively). Our data suggest that TIMI frame count measurement depends on the ectasia size or ectasia ratio, and an increased ectasia ratio is markedly associated with decreased TIMI frame counts in patients with CEA.

Background Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as localized or diffuse non-obstructive lesions of the epicardial coronary arteries with a luminal dilation exceeding the 1.5-fold of normal adjacent segment or vessel diameter. Varicocele is the dilatation of the pampiniform plexus. Recently increased prevalence of peripheral varicose veins has been shown in patients with CAE. In this study we aimed to assess the prevalence of varicocele, which is dilatation of another venous system, in patients with CAE. Materials and methods Thirty-five male consecutive patients with coronary artery ectasia in combination with or without coronary artery disease (CAD) and 63 male, age-matched patients with coronary artery disease were included in the study. All patients were evaluated for the presence of varicocele. Results Twenty-one patients with CAE were found to have varicocele (62% of group I patients). In patients with CAD, 24 patients (38%) were found to have varicocele. The difference between the two groups in respect to presence of varicocele was statistically significant (P=0.02; odds ratio=1.57; 95% confidence interval 1.05- 2.3). Conclusion We have shown that patients with coronary artery ectasia have an increased prevalence of varicocele compared to those with coronary artery disease. The mechanism underlying coronary artery ectasia might further increase the prevalence of varicocele in susceptible patients.