Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are the most common underlying causes of chronic liver injury. They are associated with a wide spectrum of hepatic disorders including basic steatosis, steatohepatitis, and cirrhosis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying hepatic injury in NAFLD and NASH are still unknown. This review describes the roles of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and its progression to NASH.

Insulin resistance is a well-documented risk factor for the development of endometrial cancer. Adiponectin and vaspin are insulin-sensitizing proteins that are secreted from adipose tissue. A clear association between serum levels of adipokines and endometrial cancer has yet to be established. The study group consisted of postmenopausal women with confirmed endometrial cancer, whereas patients with benign endometrial conditions constituted the control group. The two groups were compared in terms of insulin resistance and serum levels of adiponectin and vaspin. A total of 60 patients with confirmed endometrial cancer and 70 controls with benign endometrial conditions (polyps and atrophy) were enrolled. Median homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value was significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group (2.93 vs 1.27, P!0.0001), whereas mean quantitative insulin sensitivity check index value was significantly lower (0.33G0.02 vs 0.37G0.37, P!0.0001). Median values for both adiponectin and vaspin were significantly lower in patients with endometrial cancer compared with the control group (4.09 vs 17.13 mg/ml, P!0.0001 and 0.21 vs 0.39 ng/ml, P!0.0001 respectively). Low levels of both adiponectin and vaspin were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk for endometrial cancer. Following adjustment for confounding factors, the respective odds ratios for endometrial cancer in patients in the first tertile compared with those in the third tertile were 10.80 (2.76-42.24; PZ0.001) and 13.23 (2.94-59.64; PZ0.001). Our results show that lower levels of circulating adiponectin and vaspin levels are associated with an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer.

Our results suggest that serum TGF-β1, TIMP-1, fetuin-A, and FGF21 are not useful for the assessment of the extent of liver fibrosis in CHB in this patient group. However, APRI, FIB-4, and Forn's index have a better diagnostic value in patients with significant fibrosis than in those with no/minimal fibrosis.

Chemerin is expressed mainly in the adipose tissue. It is an agonist of chemokine-like receptor-1, which is expressed by the immune system cells. Chemerin stimulates the chemotaxis of the immune system cells, and this indicates the function of chemerin and chemokine-like receptor-1 in the immune response. The tumor microenvironment is very important for determining cancer cell growth and spreading. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between colorectal cancer, inflammation, and adipokines including chemerin, adiponectin, and vaspin. The study group consisted of patients with colon cancer, whereas the control subjects consisted of patients with benign conditions, diagnosed with colonoscopy. The two groups were compared in terms of the C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, adiponectin, chemerin, and vaspin. A total of 41 (28 men, 13 women) patients with confirmed colon cancer, and 27 (15 men, 12 women) controls without, confirmed by colonoscopy, were enrolled. The median chemerin levels were found significantly higher in the study group than the controls (390 vs. 340 ng/mL, p = 0.032), whereas the mean vaspin and adiponectin levels were not significantly different. The median values for the CRP, fibrinogen, and ESR were significantly higher in the patients with colon cancer, when compared to the control group (6.08 vs. 1.4 mg/L, p < 0.0001; 408 vs. 359 mg/dL, p = 0.002; and 30 vs. 8 mm/h, p < 0.0001, respectively). Our results show that higher levels of circulating chemerin, CRP, fibrinogen, and ESR are associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

iSED sedimentation showed a poor correlation and a high bias (>10%) with the Westergren method, and Ves-Matic Cube 200 method showed a higher correlation and a lower bias than the iSED device when compared with Westergren reference method. These instruments should be carefully monitored.

Our results suggest that out of the 13 indices evaluated, only FIB-4 index may be useful in estimating the extent of fibrosis in patients with CHB. There is a need for more comprehensive prospective studies to help determine the diagnostic value of non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis.

A series of coordination polymers of the general formula {[M(BDC)(azoles)(H 2 O) m ].xH 2 O} n (where M = Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II); BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; azoles = 2-aminobenzothiazole, 2aminothiazole, and 2-amino-4-methyl-thiazole; m = 0 or 1; and x = 1 or 2) were prepared and characterized.The complexes were characterized based on elemental analysis, infrared and electronic spectral studies, magnetic measurements, molar conductance, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and biological activity. Thermogravimetry, derivative thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis were used to study the thermal decomposition of the complexes. The kinetic parameters were calculated making use of the Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger equations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESBecause subclinical thyroid dysfunction may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, we evaluated the atherosclerosis tendency in subclinical hypothyroid (SCH) patients.PATIENTS AND METHODSFifty-three subclinical hypothyroid patients (serum thyrotropin [TSH] concentrations >4.12 mU/L) were compared with a control group of 50 euthyroid subjects whose age, sex and body mass indices were similar to the patient group. We tested whether serum TSH concentrations were correlated with plasma total homocysteine concentration (tHcy), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG).RESULTSThere was a significant statistical difference between the patient and control groups for normal free T4 (1.02±0.17 vs. 0.86±0.13, P<.001), TSH (1.64±1.02 vs. 6.62±2.61, P<.001), TC (185±39 vs. 206±42, P=.01), TG (103±54 vs. 132±85, P=.04), LDL-C (114±33 vs. 127±36, P=.04), and TC/HDL-C (3.81±106 vs. 4.19±1.02, P=.04), respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for HDL-C, VLDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and tHcy. Serum TSH was significantly correlated with plasma tHcy (r=0.55; P=.001), TC (r=0.52; P=.001), LDL-C (r=0.49; P=.001), TC/HDL-C (r=0.38; P=.002) and LDL-C/HDL-C (r=0.36; P=.004) across all participants.CONCLUSIONOur study suggests that the atherogenicity of SCH is not mediated by hyperhomocysteinemia. Associated hyperlipidemia may explain the observed increased risk of coronary artery disease in patients with SCH.