Biomedical subjects

Ersin Akarsu

Publications and source records attributed to Ersin Akarsu.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The value of urine specific gravity in detecting diabetes insipidus in a patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus: urine specific gravity in differential diagnosis.

When a patient with diabetes mellitus presents with worsening polyuria and polydipsia, what is a sensible, cost-effective approach? We report the unique coincidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus. A 46-year-old woman with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes complained of polyuria with a daily output of 5 L. Although urinalysis demonstrated significant glucosuria, diabetes insipidus was suspected owing to a low urine specific gravity (1.008). The low specific gravity persisted during a water deprivation test. Ultimately, diabetes insipidus was confirmed when urine specific gravity and urine osmolality normalized following desmopressin administration. This case emphasizes the importance of accurately interpreting the urine specific gravity in patients with polyuria and diabetes mellitus to detect diabetes insipidus.

Diabetes Insipidus↗

PubMed2006

The relationship between serum total sialic acid levels and adenosine deaminase activity in obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between serum adenosine deaminase (AD) activity and serum total sialic acid (TSA) levels in obese individuals. METHODS: We performed this study at the Department of Chemistry, Division Biochemistry, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Arts and Science Faculty, Turkey from 2003 to 2004. Fifty obese subjects and 25 non-obese healthy controls were included in the study. The serum AD activity and TSA concentrations were measured by spectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: The AD activity (p<0.01) and TSA concentrations (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the sera of obese subjects than those of non-obese control subjects. But, there was no statistically significant difference in the serum TSA levels and AD activity of the obese subjects with metabolic syndrome properties compared with those without metabolic syndrome properties. A significant correlation between the serum TSA and AD was found in the obese subjects (p<0.05, r: 0.33). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there may be a closer interaction between the inflammatory events and obesity. However, our observations need to be confirmed by further studies to understand more regarding the underlying mechanisms.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

PubMed2006

Propylthiouracil-related hemorrhagic diathesis: a case report and review of the literature.

We present an unusual case of a drug-related hemorrhagic diathesis. One month prior to admission, the patient was diagnosed at another medical center as having Graves' disease and propylthiouracil therapy (PTU) was initiated. Since clinical recovery was not achieved, the PTU was quickly increased to an unconventional daily dose of 1,000 mg. The patient was referred to our hospital because of spontaneous epistaxis, multiple ecchymoses and prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), which developed soon after the increase in PTU dose. Drug-related hemorrhagic diathesis was considered, after other possible causes had been eliminated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous hemorrhage due to PTU use.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Iodine deficiency and goiter prevalence of the adult population in Erzurum.

It is believed that total goiter prevalence in Turkey is as high as 30.5%. The iodine deficiency is the distinct etiologic factor in the development of goiter. The aim of this study was to determine goiter prevalence and iodine deficiency in adults living in Erzurum (1659 m above sea level) for at least 10 year. The study involved 340 people (192 females, 148 males). The median age was 38.5 year (ranging from 20 to 76 years). Ultrasound-measured thyroid volume (TV) for men (TV>25 ml) and for women (TV>18 ml) was considered goiter indicator. By this evaluation, goiter was diagnosed in 94 (27.6 %) cases, whereas the goiter prevalence, based on the palpation method, was 5.6%. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured by ammonium persulfate method. UIC in subjects with goiter was significantly lower than that of the others (median values 5.0 vs 7.8 microg/dl, p<0.0001). While the value of UIC > or = 10 microg/dl (no. 121, 36.6%) was accepted normal, the extent of iodine deficiency in other subjects was classified as severe (UIC<2.0 microg/dl, no.53, 15.6%), moderate (UIC=2.0-4.9 microg/dl, no.75, 22%) and mild (UIC=5.0-9.9 microg/dl, no.91, 26.8%). TV values were found to be significantly different among the four groups (p<0.05). TV values were significantly correlated with body surface area and UIC (r=0.15 and r=-0.16, respectively, p<0.005). Also, the prevalence of thyroid nodules was estimated as 2.1% by palpation and 18% by ultrasonography. We conclude that goiter originating from iodine deficiency has been an important health problem in Erzurum. Besides taking measures at national level, local factors and risks which interfere with the nationwide efforts should also be dealt with for the eradication of the iodine deficiency problem. In the region, periodical evaluation of iodine level and iodine related disorders will guide the measures to be taken for the well being of people's general health.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Adenosine deaminase activity in the serum of type 2 diabetic patients.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is suggested to be an important enzyme for modulating the bioactivity of insulin, but its clinical significance in diabetes mellitus (DM) is not yet characterized. We measured the serum level of ADA in healthy controls (C, n=29) and type 2 diabetic patients (n=42). The mean serum level of ADA in C, and type 2 diabetic patients was 13.04 +/- 3.3 and was 22.2 +/- 4.3 U/L, respectively (P<0.01[corrected] vs. C). ADA levels of patients were significantly correlated with HbA1c (r=0.45, p<0.01). Our findings suggest that ADA may play a role in insulin effect and glycamic control. On the other hand, increased activity of ADA in type 2 DM might be a marker for insulin indication. However, further studies are required for the pathogenic role of elevated ADA activity in type 2 DM.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Case report: A brucellosis case with subacute thyroiditis].

Brucellosis is a systemic infectious disease, and multi-organ involvement is commonly seen. However, thyroid gland involment is a rare complication of brucellosis. In this report, a 34 years old male patient who had been followed up with the complaints of malaise, pain in front of the neck, throat pain, joint pains and fever, was presented. This case was diagnosed as brucella subacute thyroiditis by serological and histological findings. The patient was succesfully treated with rifampicin (300 mgr/day) plus doxycycline (200 mgr/day) therapy for eight weeks. The aim of this presentation was to discuss subacute thyroiditis, as a rare complication of brucellosis, and to withdraw the attentions of the clinicians on this subject.

Adult↗