Explore the vast range of titles available.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term and high-dose application of ketamine on the liver by employing histologic and biochemical methods. A total of 30 male rats were randomly assigned to control and four treatment groups (n: 6). Saline for control group and different doses of ketamine for four treatment groups (40, 60, 80 and 100 mg kg−1) were administered intraperitoneal twice a day for 2 weeks. Immunohistological staining, light and electron microscopy were used to study tissue specimens. Histopathological changes were more severe and diverse in groups 80 and 100 mg kg−1 day−1, and the least significant change was observed in groups 40 and 60 mg kg−1 day−1. The most important ultrastructural changes were seen in mitochondria and in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. The immunoreactivity of calcineurin was determined as different. Prolonged use of ketamine caused hepatocellualar toxicity and histological changes in hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner in all experimental groups.

Summary This study explored the use of thiol/disulphide homeostasis as a novel oxidative stress marker in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). Fifty‐five patients aged 40–57 were divided into two groups: Group I (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF‐5] score between 22 and 25, n = 20) and Group II (IIEF‐5 score < 22, n = 35). Blood samples were used to evaluate hormone levels, lipid profile and thiol/disulphide levels. A novel, fully automated method measured plasma native thiol, total thiol and disulphide levels. Mean age, body mass index, total testosterone, HbA1c, triglyceride, atherogenic index (AIP) and total cholesterol levels did not significantly differ between Groups I and II (p > .05). IIEF‐5 correlated weakly with native thiol level. Although non‐statistically significant, native thiol (431 [SD: 105] μmol/L vs. 404 [110] μmol/L) and total thiol (426 [64] μmol/L vs. 41 [78] μmol/L) levels were lower in the ED group compared to the controls, and disulphide (14 [11] μmol/L vs. 18 [9] μmol/L) levels were higher. Mean disulphide/native thiol and mean disulphide/total thiol ratios did not statistically differ between groups. There was a weak positive correlation between AIP and total cholesterol/HDL and disulphide and disulphide/total thiol ratios. Thiol/disulphide haemostasis levels are not a single factor in ED pathophysiology but may contribute.

We investigated the impact of vitamin D supplementation on glucose metabolism in Vitamin D-deficient patients with prediabetes. A total of 66 subjects with the mean ages 52.2±9.9 years were included in this prospective and a 6-month follow-up study between 2008-2010. Vitamin D deficient patients (<25ng/ml) were supplemented with oral Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency (<25ng/ml) was found in 93.9% of the patients. Post replacement Vitamin D levels increased significantly and insulin, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR decreased significantly following Vitamin D replacement. Conclusion : We found Vitamin D deficiency was very common in our study population. In Vitamin D deficient patients, supplementation treatment improved insulin resistance and glycemic parameters. Vitamin D replacement may be a promising intervention for the primary prevention of insulin resistance syndromes.

To investigate the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in relation to demographics, clinical diagnosis, season of measurement and laboratory parameters in adult out-patients. Descriptive, retrospective study concerning evaluation of the initial 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels determined at admission in relation to demographics, clinical diagnosis, season of measurement and laboratory parameters. 25(OH)D levels ,20 ng/ml were classified as deficiency, 20–30 ng/ml as insufficiency and .30 ng/ml as sufficiency. Out-patient clinics at a tertiary care centre. A total of 2488 adult patients (mean age: 53?3 (SD 15?2) years; 85?2% were females) admitted to out-patient clinics at Baskent University Istanbul Hospital were included. Mean level of 25(OH)D in the overall population was 17?4 (SD 11?5) ng/ml while insufficiency and deficiency were evident in 24% and 66% of patients, respectively. Mean 25(OH)D levels in males .45 years old were higher than in their female counterparts (19?4 (SD 11?3) ng/ml v. 17?8 (SD 12?2) ng/ml; P,0?05). Mean 25(OH)D levels obtained in summer (18?6 (SD 11?1) ng/ml) and autumn (23?3 (SD 13?6) ng/ml) were significantly higher than levels in spring (16?1 (SD 10?3) ng/ml) and winter (14?6 (SD 10?2) ng/ml; P,0?01). Mean 25(OH)D levels were determined to be significantly lower in obese patients compared with non-obese patients (15?6 (SD 10?4) ng/ml v. 17?6 (SD 11?6) ng/ml; P,0?05). Levels of 25(OH)D were significantly negatively correlated with serum parathyroid hormone levels (r520?194; P,0?001) while significantly positively correlated with phosphorus (r50?059; P,0?01) and HDL cholesterol (r50?070; P,0?01) levels. Our findings indicate that vitamin D deficiency is very common among out-patients in Turkey, regardless of gender and age, especially among obese people and during winter and spring.

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy (RT) on psychiatric disorder in patients undergoing RT for head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods: The prospective study included 51 patients with head and neck cancer. The diagnosis of psychiatric disorder was made by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criteria. Severity of psychopathology was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Results: Although HAM-D score increased after RT (from 4 [0-26] to 7 [0-24]), this increase was not significant (P = 0.108). Fourteen (27.5%) of 51 patients had a psychiatric disorder before RT treatment; adjustment disorder in 6, depression in 4, sleep disorder in 3, anxiety disorder in 1 patient. On the other hand, 16 (31.4%) of 51 patients had a psychiatric disorder after RT treatment; adjustment disorder in 6, depression in 5, sleep disorder in 4, anxiety disorder in 1 patient. There was no significant difference between two periods in terms of the prevalence of psychiatric disorder (P = 0.721). Conclusions: The presence of psychiatric disorder was high in patients with head and neck cancer even before RT. Similarly, its high rate continued after RT. However, there is no significant effect of RT on development of psychiatric disorder.

Other primary headache disorders (OPHD) are under-investigated compared to frequent primary headache types like migraine, tension-type headache, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Knowledge of the distribution and characteristics of OPHD subtypes is crucial for their recognition. We aimed to determine the prevalence at the hospital and headache clinics and clinical characteristics of OPHDs in patients from 13 countries. We analyzed a large dataset from the cross-sectional study Head-MENA-A (Middle East, North Africa, Asia). Consecutive patients over 10 years of age presenting with headaches were included from outpatient, inpatient, and emergency settings. A structured questionnaire addressing demographics, headache characteristics, accompanying symptoms, and triggers was administered. Headache subtypes were diagnosed according to the ICHD-3 criteria. Among patients complaining of headaches (n = 3722), 106 (2.9%) were diagnosed with OPHD. Fifty-two patients (1.4% of all headache patients) had only OPHD, while 54 (1.5%) had both OPHD and a co-existing primary headache (mostly migraine). All OPHDs were more common in females. The most frequent subtypes were new daily persistent headache and primary stabbing headache (0.2% each among all admitted patients). Photophobia and phonophobia were the most frequent accompanying symptoms, while physical activity (28.8%), stress (15.4%), and the Valsalva maneuver (15.4%) were the most common triggering factors. The majority of triggering factors were more pronounced in patients with both migraine and OPHD. Other primary headaches are rare and heterogeneous. Their high co-existence with migraine suggests shared predisposing factors, hinting at a \"headache continuum\" concept for primary headaches.

The aim of the study is to determine and to compare the oxidative and antioxidative status of penile corpus cavernosum and peripheral venous blood. A total of 28 adult healthy males were included in the study. Whole blood was simultaneously withdrawn from penile corpus cavernosum and the cubital vein and their plasma separated. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitamin C, total protein, albumin, uric acid, bilirubin and total peroxide (TP) levels of both plasma samples were measured and compared. While TAC, total protein, albumin, bilirubin and uric acid levels were higher, vitamin C levels were lower in cavernosal blood than that of peripheral blood. On the other hand, TP level was found to be higher in penile blood samples than that of peripheral blood. We thought that the normal erectile process of the penile cavernosal body leads to increased production of oxidants as in the mechanism of ischaemia–reperfusion; however, the increase of TAC can prevent development of oxidative injury.

The aim of this study is to give the conditions, in a linear regression model with proxy variables, when is the difference of variances of two estimators getting closer to each other. One of the mentioned estimators is the iterative Stein-rule estimator (ISRE) of the disturbance variance which is obtained by taking the Stein-rule estimator of the parameters in the estimator of the disturbance variance; one is the usual ordinary least squares (OLS) estimator of the disturbance variance. For that purpose the theoretical difference of variances is derived and the numerical analysis is handled to see the pattern of given theoretical difference.