Background: There are few existing large population studies on the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome-related disorders of Turkey. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome-related disorders in the Turkish adult population, to address sex, age, educational and geographical differences, and to examine blood pressure, body mass index, fasting blood glucose and serum lipids in Turkey.

The objective of this study was to evaluate size, bilaterality, histopathologic origin, and the serum levels of some tumor markers in patients with mature cystic teratomas (MCTs) of the ovary. Retrospective study of 80 patients operated at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Turkey, between the years 1998 and 2003 was performed. The mean age was 33.1 +/- 11.3 years (median 34; range 15-69). The mean tumor diameter was 7.2 +/- 4.5 cm (median 5; range 3-20). The mean serum CA19-9 level was 101.2 +/- 179.7 IU/mL (range 1-841, normal value < 37), the mean serum CA125 level was 32.0 +/- 37.8 U/mL (range 2.2-205, normal value < 35), the mean carcino-embryogenic antigen (CEA) level was 1.46 +/- 1.20 ng/mL (range 0.2-4.8, normal value 3.4), and the mean serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 2.7 +/- 3.0 ng/mL (range 0.1-10.5, normal value <8.1). The elevated rate of CA19-9, CA125, CEA, and AFP was 38.8% (31/80), 25% (18/72), 9.1% (4/44), and 8.7% (4/46), respectively. The bilaterality rate was 27.5% (22/80). Patients with an elevated serum CA19-9 level showed significantly higher bilaterality rate (51.6% versus 12.2%, P < 0.05) than the patients with low levels. Likelihood ratio for bilaterality was 2.8 for CA19-9 and 4.6 for CA125. Bilateral teratomas showed a significantly higher rate of ectodermal component than the unilateral ones (100% versus 74.3%, P < 0.05). Ovarian MCTs were diagnosed especially during the reproductive period. CA19-9 may be the only important marker in the diagnosis of MCTs. Elevated levels of CA19-9 and CA125 may be an indicator of bilaterality. Since levels of CA19-9 and CA125 may be elevated in both benign and malignant conditions, interpretation of these findings must be made in light of the clinical condition of the patient.

PROJECT:Noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus is supposed to be associated with fluctuations in the plasma levels of several trace elements. There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progression of this disorder.PROCEDURE:The aim of the present study is to compare the levels of essential trace and toxic elements including lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), barium (Ba), silver (Ag), and mercury (Hg) in patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (n = 31), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 20), impaired fasting glucose (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 22). Plasma concentrations of the elements were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.RESULTS:The results indicated that values of lead, nickel, aluminium, copper, and chromium were significantly higher, but not above toxic levels, in the plasma of nonsmoker patients with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05). The values for these elements were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with impaired fasting glucose than in controls. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was found between plasma levels of glycated hemoglobin and of some trace elements like lead, nickel, aluminium, copper, chromium, cadmium, and mercury.CONCLUSIONSThus, it was concluded that chronic complications of glucose metabolism disorders might be associated with alterations in the levels of some trace elements. Nevertheless, some more timely and extensive studies are required to clarify the exact mechanisms of each of these changes.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the serum copper, zinc, magnesium, and selenium levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in the iodine-rich region of Ankara, Turkey. The effects of hormone replacement therapy on these elements were also studied in these patients. Basal levels of selenium and iron in patients were significantly lower than control group (67.7 +/- 10.4 vs. 83.7 +/- 17.3 microg/dl, p = 0.02; 55.7 +/- 38 vs 275.7 +/- 24, P = 0.03 microg/dl). Serum magnesium levels were significantly higher in patient group (2.16 +/- 0.31 vs 1.95 +/- 0.13 mg/dl, P < 0.0001). There was a correlation between selenium levels with hsCRP (r = -0.408, p = 0.007). HsCRP levels in patients with selenium levels <80 microg/l (n = 31) was significantly higher than hsCRP levels in patients with selenium levels >80 microg/l (n = 12; 1.99 +/- 1.0; 1.02 +/- 0.9, p = 0.014). None of these biochemical risk factors and trace elements have changed after euthyroidism in patients with SH when compared to pretreatment levels. Selenium deficiency may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in these patients.

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