We examined the association between serum trace elements and clinical findings such as number of sensitive tender points, severity of fatigue and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Thirty-two patients diagnosed as having FM according to the ACR 1990 criteria and 32 normal healthy controls (NHC) were included in this study. The demographic data, disease duration, number of tender points and accompanying symptoms (fatigue, sleep disorders, headache, paresthesia, irritable bowel syndrome, sicca symptoms, Raynaud's phenomena) of the patients were noted. Visual analog scale (10 cm) was implemented to estimate daily severity of pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire was used for functional assessment. Serum selenium (microg/dL) and serum zinc (microg/dL) levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometer. Serum magnesium (mmol/L) level was measured by the original kits of Abbott Aeroset auto-analyzer. The mean age of patients in FM group and NHC were calculated as 42.9 (SD = 7.7) years and 41.3 (SD = 9.7) years, respectively. Serum levels of zinc (P = 0.001) and magnesium (P = 0.002) were significantly decreased by FM groups, whereas there was no considerable difference with selenium levels of both groups (P > 0.05). Association between serum zinc level and number of tender points (P = 0.008) and that between fatigue and magnesium level (P = 0.003) was found as meaningful. According to the results of this study, it was asserted that serum magnesium and zinc levels may play an important role in the pathophysiology of FM.

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Reactive oxygen species generated during the reperfusion of ischemic kidney, as well as any other tissue, cause lipid peroxidation damaging the cell membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carnitine in reperfusion injury of the kidney. Male albino rabbits were subjected to unilateral renal 1-h warm ischemia followed by 15 min of reperfusion. Group I (n = 9): control group received 3 cc of isotonic saline solution and group II (n = 9): carnitine group received 100 mg/kg of carnitine. Blood samples were collected at the 15th min of reperfusion from the left renal vein selectively. Preischemic and post-reperfusion serum and renal tissue MDA levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) spectrophotometric analysis. The preischemic serum and tissue MDA values (sham values) for groups I and II were statistically comparable (P > 0.01). Serum and tissue MDA levels were markedly elevated after 15 min of reperfusion in group I (P < 0.01), while the values remained in the baseline levels following reperfusion in group II (P > 0.01). In group I, the major histological differences observed in the reperfused kidneys were marked edema and congestion whereas glomerular and tubular cellular integrity were well preserved in group II. Pre-treatment with carnitine in solid organ transplantations, preschock states, surgical procedures that require temporary vascular clamping etc. may be helpful to minimize the reperfusion injury in the involved tissue, reducing morbidity and mortality.

Three weeks of preoperative enteral administration of a synbiotic composition reduced peritonitis-induced acute lung injury in rats in a CLP model.

Leptin is an adipocytokine that is produced mainly by adipose tissue; it is also identified in atherosclerotic lesions in human coronary atherosclerosis. However, the relation of serum leptin concentrations to ischemic heart disease (IHD) is still obscure. The aims of the present study were to investigate serum leptin concentrations in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) and with chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP) and to evaluate the possible correlations of leptin to other atherosclerotic risk factors; including serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), serum homocysteine, and fibrinogen concentrations. For this purpose, 35 patients with CSAP, 40 with acute STEMI, and 30 control subjects with normal findings from coronary angiography were taken into the study prospectively. Serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with CSAP and STEMI compared to the control group (7.74 +/-1.34 vs 6.37 +/-1.85 ng/mL, p=0.021 and 8.22 +/-3.13 vs 6.37 +/-1.85 ng/mL, p=0.023, respectively). In addition, serum homocysteine concentrations were significantly increased in patients with CSAP (15.23 +/-5.96 vs 11.40 +/-2.11 micromol/L, p=0.025) and patients with STEMI (15.90 +/-5.02 vs 11.40 +/-2.11 micromol/L, p=0.012) compared to the control group. Serum fibrinogen concentrations were significantly increased only in the CSAP group as compared to controls (4.15 +/-1.39 vs 3.45 +/-1.19 g/L, p=0.025). No significant correlation was found between leptin levels and selected risk factors. In conclusion, serum leptin concentrations were significantly higher in both the CSAP and STEMI groups. However, owing to the lack of correlation between the leptin levels and selected classical coronary risk factors, it may be considered that leptin can be evaluated as one of the independent risk factors for IHD. Further randomized and controlled studies will be required to determine the pathophysiological meaning of the increased leptin levels and the central role between adipocyte function and atherosclerosis.