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Objective Zinc transporter 8 protein (ZnT8A) is a transmembrane protein which functions to transfer zinc to insulin vesicles. Antibodies formed against ZnT8A (ZnT8A) are regarded as an independent autoimmunity demonstrator in type 1 diabetes (T1D). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of ZnT8A in Turkish children with new onset T1D. Method Eighty four patients between 1-18 years of age diagnosed with T1D between February 2015-March 2016 and the control group consisting of 50 healthy children without any autoimmune diseases were included in the study. Serum samples for ZnT8A testing were taken from the patient group within a week of diagnosis. A ZnT8A enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used in the analyses. Results ZnT8A positivity was detected in 58% of the patients with new onset T1D and 8% of the control group. ZnT8A were demonstrated in 5 of 11 patients with negative results for classical diabetes antibodies [insulinoma antigen-2 antibody (IA-2A), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) or insulin autoantibodies]. No association was found between ZnT8A positivity and age, gender, presence or degree of ketoacidosis at presentation, hemoglobin A1c, insulin or C-peptide concentration, or the presence of either thyroid or celiac antibodies. Conclusion ZnT8A prevalence in children with T1D in Turkey was compatible with the literature. The ratio of patients who are clinically considered to have T1D but have negative routine diabetes auto-antibodies were observed to decrease nearly by 50% when ZnT8 antibodies were added to the panel. ZnT8 measurement should be more widespread for clarifying the etiology in T1D.

Background Vitamin D is known for its effect in calcium and bone homeostasis. There is an increasing evidence for health benefits accomplished by activated vitamin D that go beyond these classical functions. Previous studies have suggested that lower vitamin D levels are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate relationship between vitamin D levels and extent and severity of coronary artery disease. Materials and methods A total of 746 patients in whom coronary angiography was performed between August 2012 and July 2013 were enrolled in this study. Serum vitamin D levels were measured, and patients were grouped according to their serum vitamin D levels (vitamin D 20 ng/dL (n = 144) Group 2). Gensini score system was used to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and severity and extent of coronary artery disease. Results There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of baseline characteristics and demographic characteristics. Mean serum vitamin D levels of all patient cohort was 15·54 ± 7·46 ng/mL. Group 1 and Group 2 had an average serum vitamin D levels of 12·6 ± 3·3 ng/mL and 27·5 ± 7·8 ng/mL, respectively. Gensini score for all cohort was 26·25 ± 34·32. Group 1 had an average Gensini score of 26·4 ± 35·7; on the other hand, Gensini score was 25·5 ± 27·5 in Group 2 (P = 0·097). Conclusions This study failed to demonstrate significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the severity and extent of coronary artery disease. Further studies with more participation and homogenous groups with comparable individual and environmental features are needed to evaluate the association of serum vitamin D levels and cardiovascular diseases.

Background and Aim Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common cause of chronic liver disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim was to investigate whether serum toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) levels are correlated with NASH and able to predict liver fibrosis, as well as to compare these markers with other non-invasive fibrosis scores (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] to alanine aminotransferase ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, fibrosis index, fibrosis 4, and fibrosis cirrhosis index). Methods Serum samples were obtained from consecutive biopsy proven NASH patients and healthy controls. Serum TLR2 and TLR4 were measured using ELISA. Stage of fibrosis was evaluated using the Brunt Criteria. The different non-invasive fibrosis scores were compared using areas under the curve. Results Fifty-seven patients with NASH and 57 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Serum TLR2 levels were not significantly different between the healthy controls and NASH patients. The medians were 3.88 ng/mL ± 0.29 versus 3.81 ng/mL ± 0.32, respectively (P = 0.587). In comparing the levels of TLR4 between groups, the medians were 1.05 ng/mL ± 0.13 versus 1.46 ng/mL ± 0.27, respectively (P

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a syndrome related with mood and appetite changes during the late luteal phase. Leptin and insulin are the hormones related to appetite, and leptin may have a role in reproductive functions and mood. Our aim was to determine whether there are differences in serum leptin and insulin levels between women with and without PMDD during the follicular and luteal phases. In this study, 20 women with PMDD and 18 women without PMDD were included. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin, progesterone levels and HOMA-IR were measured in the follicular and luteal phases separately. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant interactions for serum leptin, insulin and HOMA-IR levels between the diagnosis of PMDD and menstrual phases (F = 5.4, p = 0.025; F = 5.4, p = 0.026; and F = 4.7, p = 0.036, respectively). A significant correlation was found between progesterone and insulin levels in subjects without PMDD in the luteal phase (r = 0.58, p = 0.01). Whether the alterations in serum leptin and insulin are related with the changes of appetite and mood in PMDD or secondary to other factors should be clarified.

Background The therapeutic potential of anthracycline antibiotics is limited by their cardiotoxicity. Electrocardiography, exercise testing, and two-dimensional echocardiography are non-invasive techniques used in the follow-up of children for cardiotoxicity. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are thought to be useful markers in the early detection of AC induced cardiomyopathy. Procedure We evaluated cardiac status of 34 patients with solid tumors treated with anthracycline antibiotics. All of the patients were asymptomatic and had no evidence of residual malignancy. They were evaluated by electrocardiography, exercise testing, echocardiography, and plasma BNP levels measured before and after the exercise testing. Results Electrocardiography revealed only minor abnormalities of little clinical significance. All of the patients completed the exercise testing without complication, and the duration of the exercise for each patient was between normal limits. Cardiac output (CO) and wall stress (WS) were significantly increased in patients, than in controls in echocardiographic evaluation of systolic functions (P 0.05). Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that echocardiographic and biochemical abnormalities could be found even at low cumulative doses of AC antibiotics. The use of serial echocardiographic studies and plasma BNP determinations to identify high-risk patients for cardiotoxicity needs to be verified by additional studies. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate relationships between biochemical parameters and interleukin-6 according to the ovarian morphology in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and methods: A total of 85 patients with PCOS were divided into three groups according to the ultrasonographic examination of the ovaries; group 1 (with no polycystic image at any of the ovaries, n=22), group 2 (with polycystic image at only one ovary, n=41), and group 3 (with polycystic image at both of the ovaries, n=22). Serum interleukin 6 (IL-6), hormone levels, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured. Results: The mean serum IL-6 levels for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 14.65 ± 6.18 pg/mL, 16.22 ± 6.55 pg/mL, and 14:53 ± 7.32 pg/mL, respectively. There was no statically difference between three groups for serum IL-6 levels (p>0.05). For metabolic profile, the mean of HOMA-IR was 3.09±1.56 for group 2 and this was significantly lower than other groups (p, Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı polikistik over sendromunda (PKOS) biyokimyasal parametreler ve interleukin-6 ile over morfolojisi ilişkisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve yöntem: PKOS tanısı almış 85 hasta overlerin ultrasonografik değerlendirmesine göre; grup 1 ( polikistik görünümü olmayan, n = 22), grup 2 (bir overde polikistik görüntüsü olan, n = 41) ve grup 3 (her iki overde polikistik görüntüsü olan, n = 22) olmak üzere üç gruba ayrıldı. Hastaların serum interlökin 6 (IL-6), hormone düzeyleri ve homeostasis model assessment-insulin rezistans (HOMA-IR) değerleri ölçüldü. Bulgular: Serum IL-6 seviyeleri değerlendirildiğinde, ortalama değerler gruplar için sırasıyla 14.65±6.18 pg/mL, 16.22±6.55 pg/mL ve 14.53±7.32 pg/mL olarak bulundu. Serum IL-6 düzeyleri için üç grup arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark yoktu (p> 0.05). Metabolik profiling değerlendirmesinde ise HOMA-IR değeri grup 2 de 3,09±1,56 bulundu ve diğer gruplara göre anlamlı düzeyde düşüktü (p

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) metabolism may be disturbed in obese children. We investigated serum GH, IGF-I, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in 42 obese and 40 non-obese healthy children aged 6-14 years. GH stimulation tests with L-dopa and insulin were performed. Serum IGF-I levels were studied by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and IGFBP-3 levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA). IGF-I levels were significantly higher in the obese group (p < 0.05), but IGFBP-3 levels were not different from the control group. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were significantly higher in the obese pubertal children than in the obese prepubertal ones (p < 0.05). A positive linear correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and IGF-I levels (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). These results suggest that obesity may have a considerable effect on IGF-I.