Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common health problem, and associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and diabetes. Growing evidence shows that 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 (25-OH-D) insufficiency and high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels may be correlated to glucose intolerance, MetS, obesity, and cardiovascular abnormalities similar to OSAS. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor agent which exerts a wide variety of metabolic effects. It has estrogenic activity and its exposure may contribute to weight gain, obesity, impaired glucose metabolism, and the development of diabetes, also similar to OSAS. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between OSAS and serum BPA, 25-OH-D, and PTH levels. This study enrolled 128 subjects, with all of the OSAS patients having been diagnosed by polysomnography. The 128 subjects were divided into three groups: a control (n = 43), a moderate OSAS (n = 23) (AHI = 15-30), and a severe OSAS groups (n = 62) (AHI > 30). The serum BPA, 25-OH-D, and PTH levels for each subject were analyzed. 25-OH-D was lower in both OSAS groups, and PTH was higher in the OSAS groups than in the control subjects. The BPA levels were higher in the severe OSAS group than the moderate OSAS and control. There was a positive correlation between the BPA and body mass index, and a negative correlation between the 25-OH-D and BPA levels in all of the individuals. OSAS is related to high BPA and PTH levels, and low vitamin D levels. There is a positive association between BPA levels and OSAS, and the severity of OSAS. These results suggest that the BPA levels may have a role in the pathogenesis of OSAS.

Aim of the studyThis study explores the efficacy of oral glutamine in the prevention of acute radiotherapy-induced esophagitis in patients with lung cancer who are treated with thoracic radiotherapy.Material and methodsThis study was planned as a retrospective randomized experimental study. Forty-six patients with lung cancer, who were treated and kept under control between January 2008 and January 2010, were included in the study by the Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 21) was given prophylactic oral powder glutamine (daily 30 g), while the second group (n = 25) was not given oral glutamine.ResultsThere were 21 patients in Group 1 (45.7%) and 25 patients in Group 2 (54.3%). No significant statistical difference was observed between the two groups in terms of age, gender, stage, histopathological type, treatment choice, received radiation doses, esophagus length in RT field, or location of the tumor (p > 0.05). A significant statistical difference was observed between the glutamine-supplemented group (first group) and the glutamine-free group (second group) according to the grade of esophagitis (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsIn our retrospective randomized experimental study, we determined that the severity of acute radiotherapy-induced esophagitis might be decreased with oral glutamine in patients with lung cancer who were treated with thoracic radiotherapy.

Organophosphate poisoning is a life-threatening condition, which is being responsible for the symptoms due to cholinergic effects. Clinical status and blood levels of cholinesterase are used its diagnosis. While atropine and pralidoxime (PAM) appear as essential medications, hemofiltration treatments and lipid solutions have been widely studied in recent years. In this study, the importance of high-dose atropine therapy and early intervention and novel treatment approaches are discussed. Records of a total of 25 patients treated for organophosphate poisoning in the intensive care unit (ICU) between April 2007 and December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Of the 25 patients, 14 (56%) were male and 11 (44%) were female with a mean age of 34.8 ± 17.66 years (range: 14-77 years). The patients were most frequently admitted in June (n = 4) and July (n = 4) (16%). Of the 25 patients, 22 patients (88%) were poisoned by oral intake, two (8%) by inhalation, and one (4%) by dermal route. Of them, 20 patients (80%) took organophosphates intentionally for suicidal purposes, while five (20%) cases poisoned due to accidental exposure. The scores of Glasgow Coma Scale of nine patients (36%) were below 8 point upon admission to hospital. The highest dose of atropine given was 100 mg intravenously on admission and 100 mg/h/day during follow-up. The total dose given was 11.6 g/12 days. A total of 11 patients (44%) were on mechanical ventilation for a mean duration of 5.73 ± 4.83 days. The mean duration of ICU stay was 6.52 ± 4.80 days. Of all, 23 patients (92%) were discharged in good clinical condition and one patient (4%) was referred to another hospital. This study suggests that atropine can be administered until secretions disappear and intensive care should be exerted in follow-up of these patients. In addition, in case of necessity for high doses, sufficient amounts of atropine and PAM should be available in hospitals.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important public health problem and it is associated with systemic inflammation. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is one of the markers indicating platelet activation, and it was found to be high in many diseases related to inflammation. In previous studies reported different results evaluating of MPV in COPD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate of C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), and MPV in acute exacerbation of COPD and stable COPD patients. Methods:In this retrospective study, data of 40 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, 43 stable COPD patients and 40 healthy subjects were evaluated. Results:The mean MPV, CRP and WBC were found in control, stable COPD and acute exacerbation of COPD groups, 7.9±1.1; 8.2±1.3 and 8.7±1.6 fL; 3.4±1.2; 5.2±3.5 and 27.5±23.6 mg/L; 7.8±1.6; 8.1±2.1 and 11.4±4.5 x10 3 / ϻL, respectively. The mean WBC and CRP in the acute exacerbation of COPD group were significantly higher than the other groups (for both values p ˂0.001). The mean MPV in the acute exacerbation of COPD group was found higher than in the other groups. The mean MPV values were significantly higher in patients of acute exacerbation than control subjects (p=0.030). Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that the increased MPV may be a marker for the evaluation acute exacerbation of COPD as well as the classic acute phase reactant CRP.

Administration of nebulized salbutamol during the emergency treatment of acute exacerbation of asthma is not associated with a statistical decrease in serum phosphate. There was significant hypokalemia. This study indicates that a further study is needed to elucidate the clinical significance of nebulized salbutamol on serum phosphate.