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Biomedical subjects

C Erem

Publications and source records attributed to C Erem.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Plasma endothelin-1 levels in Behçet's disease.

Plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictor peptide released from vascular endothelial and synovial cells, were measured by radioimmunoassay in 27 patients with Behçet's disease (BD) and 18 healthy controls. The plasma ET-1 concentrations were found to be significantly increased in patients with BD (121.15 +/- 11.6 fmol/dl) compared with the healthy subjects (89.37 +/- 8.03 fmol/dl p < 0.05). The elevation of ET-1 did not correlate with the disease duration, gender, ocular or articular involvement. Whether the elevated ET-1 level is a direct result of its increased synthesis from injured vascular endothelial cells or whether its presence in high concentrations may be responsible, together with other factors for both vascular and articular complications in patients with BD is uncertain.

Adult↗

Cardiac arrhythmias in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Cardiac arrhythmias were evaluated in 20 patients (14 males and 6 females; 38.2 +/- 17.6 years) undergoing regular maintenance hemodialysis (HD) for chronic and renal failure (CRF) by Holter ECG monitoring a 24-hour period. Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) were observed in 18 of 20 patients (90%). Sporadic VAs were recorded in 75% and frequent VAs in 15% of 20 patients. It was found that VAs were correlated with an increase in duration of CRF, but there was no relation with age, duration of HD, frequency of HD, body surface area, the levels of serum sodium, chloride creatinine, phosphorous (P), magnesium, free calcium (Ca), and free fatty acids, Ca x P, cardiothoracic ratio, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular wall thickness, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension and left ventricular end-diastolic index. VAs recorded frequently during HD and for 4 hours after HD. In addition, sporadic supraventricular arrhythmias (SVAs) were observed in 16 patients (80%) and frequent SVAs were recorded in 2 patients (10%). It was concluded that cardiac arrhythmias frequently developed in patients with CRF receiving HD, VAs significantly increase during HD and for 4 h after HD and frequency of VAs may be correlated with duration of CRF and the use of acetate as a buffer in the dialysate.

Acetates↗

The presence of both horseshoe and a supernumerary kidney associated with coarctation of aorta.

Congenital urinary malformations associated with congenital heart disease are very rare. We present a case of horseshoe and supernumerary kidney associated with coarctation of aorta diagnosed by a combination of techniques of teleradiography, aortography, intravenous pyelography; ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and Dimercapto Succinic Acid (DMSA) and Diethylene Triamine Pentacetate (DTPA) imaging. This case represents the first reported instance of horseshoe and supernumerary kidney associated with coarctation of aorta.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Impact of hemodialysis on QT interval.

Holter electrocardiographic recordings were performed for 24 hours in 20 patients with chronic renal failure on chronic hemodialysis to evaluate the effects of changes in serum calcium and potassium during hemodialysis period on the QT interval. Hemodialysis caused an increase in serum calcium from a predialysis value of 9.1 +/- 1.3 mg/dl to 11.5 +/- 1.2 mg/dl and a decrease in serum potassium from 5.6 +/- 1.4 mEg/L to 4.9 +/- 1.2 mEg/L. The Q-oTC interval shortened from a predialysis value of 0.240 +/- 0.0023 sec to 0.216 +/- 0.024 sec during the 5th hour of hemodialysis. The Q-eTc interval increased from a predialyse value of 0.391 +/- 0.030 sec to 0.412 +/- 0.024 sec during the 5th hour of hemodialysis. This shortening of Q-oTc interval was correlated with an increase in serum calcium and Q-eTc interval prolongation was correlated with a decrease in serum potassium. It was concluded that hemodialysis caused a lengthening of the Q-eTc interval and a shortening of the Q-oTc interval.

Adolescent↗

Non-valvular main pulmonary artery vegetation associated with aortopulmonary window.

We present a 32-year-old female with aortopulmonary window and vegetation of non-valvular main pulmonary artery. The aortopulmonary window is a rare congenital disease in which the aorta and pulmonary arteries are communicated by a defect of variable diameter. The pulmonic valve is the least commonly involved valve in bacterial endocarditis, but there is no vegetation of non-valvular main pulmonary artery in the literature. Colour duplex sonography showed an aortopulmonary window with aortic regurgitation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrating the vegetation on the wall of main pulmonary artery, is an useful and complementary method, and can be used for demonstration of congenital and acquired cardiovascular pathologies including aortopulmonary window and subpulmonic or suprapulmonic vegetations.

Adult↗

A cardiac giant hydatid cyst of the interventricular septum masquerading as ischemic heart disease: role of MR imaging.

Cardiac echinococcosis is a very rare disease, especially in girls. We report a case of interventricular septum echinococcosis. A 14-year-old girl was referred for chest pain. Magnetic resonance imaging and two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a cyst in the distal interventricular septum. We concluded that MR imaging is useful in diagnosis and planning of surgery. Cardiac hydatid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with anginalike pain in endemic areas.

Adolescent↗

Urinary beta 2-microglobulin levels and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase enzyme activities in early diagnosis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus nephropathy.

To assess whether urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) levels could be used as predictors of diabetic nephropathy or not, 59 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients were included in our study (31 females, 29 males; mean age 54 +/- 10.1). The control group consisted of 20 healthy non-diabetic subjects (12 males and 8 females; mean age 47 +/- 13.9). The patients in the study group were classified according to the duration of diabetes. In all cases, urinary beta 2-MG levels were measured by specific enzyme immunoassays and urinary NAG enzyme activities were determined by colorimetric methods. The mean urinary NAG level in study group was higher than that of the control group (p < 0.01). It was observed that NAG activity begins to rise in the third year of NIDDM, makes a plateau between 3-10 years, and rapidly increases after the 10th year. No significant difference in NAG activity was found between chemical NIDDM and control groups. No significant difference in beta 2-MG levels was found between study and control groups. The mean NAG activity in patients with early glomerular hyperfiltration was significantly higher than those without early hyperfiltration and control group (p < 0.05), whereas the mean beta 2-MG level was not. As a result, urinary NAG enzyme activity significantly increases, while urinary beta 2-MG level remains unchanged in patients with NIDDM. It was concluded that measurement of urinary NAG enzyme activity may be a good indicator in early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗