Red cell distribution width (RDW) is independently associated with morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases. RDW is elevated in hypertensive patients compared with normotensives. Based on the nocturnal course, hypertension classified as dipper and non-dipper. Non-dipper hypertension is associated with higher inflammation and worse prognosis. We aimed to investigate whether RDW and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are elevated in non-dipper hypertensive patients compared with dippers. The study included total 247 essential hypertensive patients. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed for each patient. Thereafter patients were divided into the two groups on the basis of the results of 24-h ABPM: 127 dipper hypertensives and 120 non-dipper hypertensives. Complete blood count and biochemistry were measured by standard methods and hsCRP was assessed by using BN2 model nephelometer. Non-dippers had significantly higher RDW levels than dippers [14.6 (13.8-17.0) vs 13.0 (12.5-13.4), p < 0.001, respectively]. After adjustment for hemoglobin, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, sex, age and hs-CRP, mean RDW values were for dipper and non-dippers 13.4 (12.4-13.2) and 14.5 (13.7-16.8), respectively (p < 0.001). RDW was negatively correlated with the percentage decline of systolic and diastolic BP from day to night (r = - 0.392, p < 0.001 and r = - 0.294, p < 0.001, respectively). Serum hsCRP levels were also significantly higher in the non-dippers (p < 0.001) and it was significantly positively correlated with RDW (r = 0.403, p < 0.001). In receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off value of RDW to predict non-dipping pattern was > 13.8%, with 80% sensitivity and 75% specificity. RDW is significantly increased in patients with non-dipper hypertension compared with the dipper hypertension. Inflammatory activity was closely related to RDW in non-dipper hypertensives. RDW, as easy and quick measurable tool, can predict non-dipping pattern in essential hypertension.

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.

Cancer prevention and treatment strategies have attracted increasing interest. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis extract, specifically inhibits NF-κB at μM concentrations and shows ability to stop 5-lipoxygenase-catalyzed oxygenation of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. Previous studies have demonstrated that CAPE exhibits antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, cytostatic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and, most improtantly, antineoplastic properties. The primary goal of the present review is to summarize and critically evaluate the current knowledge regarding the anticancer effect of CAPE in different cancer types.

Vitamin D is believed to affect the progression and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD). Allergic sensitization may cause this effect to vary. Individuals who fulfilled the Hanifin and Rajka criteria for AD underwent epidermal prick tests and blood tests for specific immunoglobulin E(IgE), serum total IgE, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, and peripheral blood eosinophil count and percentage. Disease severity was determined according to the Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Patients were grouped according to allergic sensitization. Seventy-three children with AD (median age 33.0 mos, interquartile range 19.0-61.5 mos) were enrolled in the study; 33 (45.2%) were found to have allergic sensitization. In this group there was a negative correlation between SCORAD score and serum vitamin D level (p = 0.047, correlation coefficient [r] = -0.349), whereas there was no correlation in the group without sensitization (p = 0.30, r = -0.168). Vitamin D was not correlated with total IgE and eosinophil percentage in either AD group (p = 0.77, r = 0.054 and p = 0.73, r = -0.062, respectively). Vitamin D may affect the severity of AD, especially in children with allergic sensitization.

Protection of the patients against the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens has attracted increasing interest of clinicians and practitioners. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is extracted from the propolis of honeybee hives as an active component, specifically inhibits nuclear factor κB at micromolar concentrations and show ability to stop 5-lipoxygenase-catalysed oxygenation of linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. CAPE has antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, antioxidant, cytostatic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antineoplastic properties. The purpose of this review is to summarize in vivo and in vitro usage of CAPE to prevent the chemotherapy-induced and radiotherapy-induced damages and side effects in experimental animals and to develop a new approach for the potential usage of CAPE in clinical trial as a protective agent during chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens.

Both insulin resistance (IR) and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) are found to be associated with many cancer types. In this study, we evaluated the presence of IR and VDD in thyroid cancer patients based on controls. Total 344 papillary thyroid cancer and 116 controls were part of the study. Glucose, insulin, homeostasis model analysis-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (control group 2.12 ± 0.9 and patient group 3.6 ± 1.1; p < 0.0001), LDL were significantly high; HOMA-S and vitamin D3 levels (control group 19.11 ± 8 and patient group 17 ± 16; p = 0.004) were significantly low in the patient group. Vitamin D deficiency (64/108 in controls vs 166/235; p = 0.026) and insulin resistance (24/108; 115/235; p < 0.0001) were more frequent in papillary thyroid cancer patients. After regression analysis, tumor diameter showed significant association with log-HOMA-IR (B = 0.315; p = 0.017) and log-vitamin D3 (B = 0.207; p = 0.04). Vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance frequencies show no difference between micro- and macropapillary thyroid cancers. Receiver operating characteristic curve shows the best cutoff point for tumor diameter showing that the presence of lymph node metastasis was 0.65 cm with 81.2 % sensitivity and 52 % specificity. Best cutoff point for the capsular invasion tumor diameter was 0.75 cm with 83.3 % sensitivity and 60.4 % specificity. No difference between follicular and classical type papillary thyroid carcinomas has been yet discovered. As a result, thyroid cancer patients are more insulin resistant and vitamin D3 deficient. Vitamin D3 levels and HOMA-IR index may affect tumor diameter. Tumor size that is lower than 1 cm (0.65-0.75 cm) may be related with capsular invasion and lymph node involvement.

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This study suggests that EFT and risk of subclinical cardiovascular disease are increased in patients with acromegaly. Serum GH level is an independent risk factor for EFT.