Mean platelet volume (MPV) is an indicator of platelet activation. Platelet activation and aggregation are central processes in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is present up to one-third of the general population and the majority of patients with cardio-metabolic risk factors such as abdominal obesity, type 2 diabetes and other components of the metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of the current study was to investigate the MPV in patients who had NAFLD. MPV values of the patients with NAFLD and of the patients without fatty liver disease were compared. NAFLD patients had significantly higher body mass index compared to the control cases. Among biochemical variables, fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride were significantly higher in the NAFLD group. NAFLD cases also had lower platelet count and higher MPV (10.43 +/- 1.14 vs. 9.09 +/- 1.25; p < 0.001, respectively). MPV was positively correlated with AST (r: 0.186, p < 0.042), ALT level (r: 0.279; p 0.002) and the presence of NAFLD (0.492; p < 0.001) but negatively correlated with platelet number (r: -0.26; p 0.004) and creatinine (r: -0.255; p 0.005). In logistic regression analysis (age, gender, NAFLD, body mass index, high-density lipid (HDL) cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting plasma glucose were used as covariates) only NAFLD was found to be the independent predictor of MPV (Odds Ratio (OR) 21.98) [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.404-201.048; p: 0.006]. We have shown for the first time in the literature that, patients with NAFLD have higher MPV. It may have prognostic value in NAFLD patients indicating a possible cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk increase.

INTRODUCTION Ethanol manifests its harmful effects either through direct generation of reactive metabolites, including free radical species that react with most of the cell components, changing their structures and functions, or by contributing to other mechanisms that finally promote enhanced oxidative damage (1,2). Ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury is associated with extensive damage to mucosal capillaries and increased vascular permeability (3,4). Mucosal capillary necrosis, vascular congestion and thrombosis in the subepithelial microvasculature accompany disruption of the gastric mucosal barrier. In addition to the direct injurious effects of ethanol on gastric mucosa, other factors are also thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of injury (5). Flavonoids are a group of naturally occurring compounds widely distributed as secondary metabolites in the plant kingdom. They have been recognized for having interesting clinical properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumoral activities (6).

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PURPOSEWe aimed to evaluate the role of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values calculated from diffusion-weighted imaging for head and neck lesion characterization in daily routine, in comparison with histopathological results. METHODSNinety consecutive patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a university hospital for diagnosis of neck lesions were included in this prospective study. Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI was performed on a 1.5 T unit with b factor of 0 and 1000 s/mm 2 and ADC maps were generated. ADC values were measured for benign and malignant whole lesions seen in daily practice. RESULTS Diagnosis of head and neck lesions is difficult due to the complicated anatomic structure and different histological components of the many tissues that the neck contains. Imaging of head and neck lesions is not only important for diagnosis of lesions, but also for differentiation of benign lesions from malignant lesions and staging of tumors. While conventional imaging methods mainly evaluate morphological properties, their value is limited in recognizing prognostic characteristics such as benign-malignant differentiation of lesions (1). Routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a time-consuming method, which is sensitive to differences between examiners and may require the use of contrast material. With development of rapid MRI sequences (such as echo-planar [EPI], fast advanced spin echo [FASE], split echo acquisition of fast spin echo [SPLICE]), the sensitivity to susceptibility artifacts limiting the use of MRI for the head and neck region and limitations linked to duration have been significantly reduced (2, 3).Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a short sequence produced from EPI, FASE, SPLICE sequences. DW-MRI is sensitive to the randomized (Brownian) motion of water molecules at a microscopic level, which provides functional information about tissues. DW-MRI was initially used to diagnose early stroke in the brain and to evaluate brain masses (4-6). Previous studies have shown that rapid growth of high-grade tumors like astrocytoma and lymphoma causes hypercellularity, which leads to limitation of the diffusion of water molecules. Nowadays, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps calculated from DW-MRI sequences are being increasingly used to provide quantitative data for head and neck lesion diagnosis. In malignant lesions, the DW-MRI signal increases and signal loss is observed on ADC maps (5,7,8). Many researchers benefited from this feature of DW-MRI and evaluated the effectiveness of DW-MRI for head and neck lesion identification, benign-malignant differentiation, and characterization of malignant lesions (9-11).In this prospective study, head and neck lesions that are seen in daily routine were evaluated using DW-MRI, and the role of ADC values in lesion characterization was investigated with the guidance of histopathological results. Methods PatientsFrom January 2012 to January 2014, 90 consecutive patients underwent MRI for diag...

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SummarySlow coronary flow (SCF) is the phenomenon of slow progression of angiographic contrast in the coronary arteries in the absence of stenosis in the epicardial vessels in some patients presenting with chest pain. There are no definite treatment modalities for patients with SCF. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of nebivolol in patients with slow coronary flow by monitoring its effects on endothelial function and different markers of inflammation. Forty-two patients (16 females, 26 males; mean age, 55 ± 10) with slow coronary flow (SCF) were included in the study. After baseline assessment, the patients were administered nebivolol 5 mg once daily. After 12 weeks of nebivolol therapy, the biochemical and ultrasonographic examinations were repeated. Chest pain relief was detected in 38 patients after treatment (90%). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and high sensitive CRP were significantly decreased after nebivolol therapy. Among brachial artery dilation variables that reflect endothelial function, basal resistive index (RI), post-flow mediated dilation RI, and post-nitrate mediated dilation RI were significantly decreased after therapy. Nebivolol is effective at improving endothelial function in patients with SCF. It controls chest pain, decreases CRP, and has favorable effects on brachial artery dilation variables in patients with coronary slow flow. (Int Heart J 2009; 50: 545-553)