No abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the ratio of monocyte frequency to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level (the monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR)) and asymptomatic organ damage (AOD) in primary hypertension (PHT). A total of 366 participants were enrolled in the study, including 275 cases currently being followed up after a diagnosis of PHT in our clinic and 91 healthy volunteers. The MHR was higher in patients with PHT than in individuals in the control group. In the PHT group, the MHR was higher in patients with AOD (AOD+) than in patients without AOD (AOD-). In the correlation analyses performed in the PHT group, there were positive correlations between the MHR and the following AOD indicators: carotid intima media thickness, left ventricular mass index, urinary protein levels and urinary albumin levels. In a multivariate linear regression analysis, the MHR was found to be an independent risk factor associated with these indicators of AOD. In conclusion, our study shows that MHR is associated with AOD in patients with PHT.

Patients with endothelial dysfunction had significantly higher ambulatory blood pressure values and higher BPV. There was a significant negative correlation between endothelial function and BPV.

No abstract

Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis plays a critical role in numerous intracellular enzymatic pathways including antioxidant defence and detoxification. In this study, we sought to investigate dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with masked hypertension (MHT) and its relationship with blood pressure. Forty patients (23 men, 17 women) with newly diagnosed MHT and not yet on medical therapy, and 40 healthy volunteers (21 men, 19 women) were enrolled. Blood thiol/disulphide homeostasis was measured in both groups. Serum native and total thiol levels were measured using the novel, fully automated colorimetric method developed by Erel et al. Serum disulphide level was calculated as (serum total thiol - serum native thiol)/2. Native and total thiol levels (p = 0.001) and native thiol/total thiol ratio (p = 0.023) were found to be lower in patients with MHT when compared to those of the control group. Disulphide level and ratios of disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol were higher in patients with MHT than in the control group (p = 0.001). A positive correlation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was observed with disulphide/native thiol ratio (p < 0.001). Stepwise multivariable regression analysis showed disulphide/native thiol ratio to be an independent risk factor of SBP and DBP, and SBP to be an independent risk factor of disulphide/thiol ratio (p = 0.001). In this study, we found that dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis shifted towards disulphide formation due to thiol oxidation in patients with MHT. Prospective randomised controlled studies are required to elucidate whether abnormal thiol/disulphide status lies in the pathogenesis of MHT or is a consequence of MHT.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is considered to be a promising therapeutic agent in primary glomerulonephritis but there are no data on the use of MMF in Henoch-Schönlein nephritis (HSN). Herein we report the first adult crescentic HSN patient in whom long-term complete remission was achieved after MMF therapy.

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder resulting from lack of alpha-galactosidase A (AGALA) activity in lysosomes. Objective: In this multicenter study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of FD in renal transplant (Tx) recipients in Turkey. We also screened dialysis patients as a control group. Methods: All Tx and dialysis patients were screened regardless of the presence of a primary disease. We measured the AGALA activity in all male patients as initial analysis. Mutation analysis was performed in male patients with decreased AGALA activity and in female patients as the initial diagnostic assay. Results: We screened 5,657 patients. A total of 17 mutations were identified. No significant difference was observed between the groups regarding the prevalence of patients with mutation. We found FD even in patients with presumed primary kidney diseases. Seventy-one relatives were analyzed and mutation was detected in 43 of them. We detected a patient with a new, unknown mutation (p.Cys223) in the GLA gene. Conclusions: There are important implications of the screening. First, detection of the undiagnosed patients leads to starting appropriate therapies for these patients. Second, the transmission of the disease to future generations may be prevented by prenatal screening after appropriate genetic counseling. In conclusion, we suggest screening of kidney Tx candidates for FD, regardless of etiologies of chronic kidney disease.

Hypernatremia is a common electrolyte disorder associated with prolonged hospitalization and death. Severe hypernatremia is defined as a serum sodium (Na(+)) concentration >160 mmol/L. To the best of our knowledge, there is little information on patients with severe hypernatremia, Na(+) >160 mmol/L. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the frequency, demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbid conditions and treatment strategies in patients presenting to the emergency department with severe hypernatremia, and also to evaluate the effects of these factors on mortality. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients presenting to the emergency department between January 2011 and June 2014. Patients with Na(+) >160 mmol/L were screened retrospectively via the hospital electronic information management system and patient medical record files. During the 3.5 years of screening, 256 patients (0.04 %) with Na(+) >160 mmol/L presented to the emergency department. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 74.4 ± 15.2 years, mean Na(+) level was 168.7 ± 7.4 mmol/L and, mean mortality was 49.5 % during the hospitalization. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that low systolic blood pressure, low pH, Na(+) >166 mmol/L, increased plasma osmolarity, mean sodium reduction rate ≤-0.134 mmol/L/h, dehydration, and, pneumonia to be independently associated with mortality. This study describes the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with Na(+) >160 mmol/L in a large population along with comorbid conditions, incidence, treatment strategies and, its association with mortality.