Background and Aims Neuregulin‐4 (Nrg‐4) is a new adipokine released from brown adipose tissue. It plays pivotal role in regulating systemic energy balance, glucose and lipid metabolism and in reducing chronic inflammation. We aimed to investigate the relation between diabetic microvascular complications (DMC) and serum (Nrg‐4) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into DMC and diabetic patients without microvascular complications (non‐DMC). Nrg‐4 levels of the patients were compared. Results Fifty and 29 patients enrolled to the DMC and non‐DMC groups, respectively. Nrg‐4 was 1.23 (0.02‐5.1) ng/mL and 2.5 (0.21‐6.01) ng/mL in DMC and in non‐DMC groups, respectively (P < .001). In patients with DMC, FPG was 189.5 (89‐446) mg/ dL, whereas it was 128 (95‐278) mg/dL in non‐DMC diabetic patients (P < .001). HbA1c was also significantly higher in the DMC group than in the non‐DMC group (P < .001). Negative correlation was found between Nrg‐4 and FPG (r = −0.231, P = .03), HBA1c (r = −0.312, P = .003) and microalbuminuria (r = −0.277, P = .009). Logistic regression analysis showed a 1‐unit decrease in Nrg‐4 to increase the presence of DMC by 1.9 times. The best cut‐off value of Nrg‐4 was 1.56 ng/mL with 82.1% sensitivity and 64% specificity, in predicting DMC. Conclusion In patients with diabetes, Nrg‐4 levels may be a good predictor of early detection of one or more DMC, as microvascular dysfunction in an organ system is considered to be an initial onset of subclinical systemic damage.

We investigated the effect of antithrombin III on 60 min warm intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 220-250 g, were divided into three groups: group 1 sham-operated group (no IR injury, n=8), group 2 ischemic control group (control, Ringer's lactate infused, n=8), group 3 Antithrombin III treated group (250 U/kg before ischemia, n=8). Intestinal ischemia was induced in rats by occluding the superior mesenteric artery for 60 min. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and mucosal damage were investigated after 120 min reperfusion. Elevated MDA levels and MPO activity and severe histopathological damage were observed in the control group compared with the sham group (P<0.05). Decreased MDA levels and MPO activity and less histopathological damage were detected in group 3 compared with the control group (P<0.05). Accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and neutrophils in mucosal tissues were significantly inhibited by antithrombin III treatment. We conclude that treatment with antithrombin III before intestinal ischemia prevents histological damage in rats.

BACKGROUND: Neuregulin-4 is a cytokine with many functions and is primarily produced by fat tissue.AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to observe the relationship between serum neuregulin-4 levels and diabetes regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to compare neuregulin-4 levels of diabetic subjects with those in healthy controls. METHODS: Patients with T2DM were included to the study. Healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Subjects with T2DM with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) <7% were classed as well controlled and those with HbA1c ≥7% were classed as poorly controlled. Neuregulin-4 levels of the study and control groups were compared. RESULTS:The neuregulin-4 levels of the poorly controlled T2DM, well-controlled T2DM and control groups were significantly different (p = 0.005). Neuregulin-4 was significantly correlated with fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.247, p = 0.002) but not with HbA1c. In a regression analysis model, 0.1 point elevation in neuregulin-4 levels increased the rate of existence of T2DM 4.4-fold (odds ratio 4.4, 95% confidence interval 1.26-15.1; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Neuregulin-4 is significantly increased in patients with T2DM compared with control subjects, which means that it could be a marker of T2DM. Since neuregulin-4 was correlated with fasting glucose, we suggest that elevated neuregulin-4 could predict poor control in T2DM for short periods when HbA1c is not useful. Moreover, one unit elevation in neuregulin-4 (0.1 ng/ml) increases the rate of existence of T2DM 4.4-fold, independently from other variables.

The effectiveness and success of antituberculosis therapy is mainly measured by its ability to identify the organism in the sputum. In certain cases, available tuberculosis tests are not satisfactory and do not provide enough information on the effectiveness of antituberculosis therapy. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) are the essential elements that play a crucial role in the immune system. The serum levels of these elements vary in many diseases including tuberculosis. In this study, we investigate whether the serum levels of Cu, Zn, and Se change during antituberculosis therapy. We have included 22 pulmonary tuberculosis cases that were newly diagnosed with positive sputum and 18 healthy subjects. At the beginning and 2 mo after therapy, serum levels of Cu, Zn, and Se were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Despite Se and Cu levels not being affected during the treatment, we found that there was a significant increase in the levels of Zn and a decrease in the Cu/Zn ratio. Serum Zn levels and the Cu/Zn ratio could be used as a valuable laboratory tool for the clinicians to assess response to therapy or effectiveness of the ongoing antituberculosis therapy.

and corneal antioxidant enzyme activities after refractive corneal surgery AbstractPurpose Refractive corneal surgery induces keratocyte apoptosis and generates reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) in the cornea. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between keratocyte apoptosis and corneal antioxidant enzyme activities after different refractive surgical procedures in rabbits. Methods Rabbits were divided into six groups. All groups were compared with the control group (Group 1), after epithelial scraping (Group 2), epithelial scrape and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) (traditional PRK: Group 3), transepithelial PRK (Group 4), creation of a corneal flap with microkeratome (Group 5) and laserassisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK, Group 6). Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nickend labelling assay (to detect DNA fragmentation in situ) and light microscopy were used to detect apoptosis in rabbit eyes. Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the corneal tissues were measured with spectrophotometric methods. Results Corneal Gpx and SOD activities decreased significantly in all groups when compared with the control group (PϽ0.05) and groups 2, 3 and 6 showed a significantly higher amount of keratocyte apoptosis (PϽ0.05). Not only a negative correlation was observed between corneal SOD activity and keratocyte apoptosis (cc: ؊0.3648) but Gpx activity also showed negative correlation with keratocyte apoptosis (cc: ؊0.3587). Conclusion The present study illustrates the negative correlation between keratocyte apoptosis and corneal antioxidant enzyme activities. This finding suggests that ROS may be partly responsible for keratocyte apoptosis after refractive surgery.