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A b s t r a c tBackground: Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, has recently been under the spotlight in studies regarding the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Aim:To evaluate the value of serum OPG in the diagnosis and severity in patients with stable angina pectoris (SA) and unstable angina pectoris/non ST elevation myocardial infarction. Methods:This study involved 160 patients, SA (n = 65), acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS; n = 65), and a control group (n = 30). Blood samples were collected in the first hour, after 24 hours and on the fifth day. The prevalence of coronary artery atherosclerotic lesions was determined using the Gensini scoring system.Results: A statistically significant difference was observed in the first hour OPG levels between the control group and both the SA and NSTE-ACS group (p < 0.001). When the cut-off value was determined as 247.71 pg/mL, the sensitivity and specifi city of the first hour OPG levels indicating coronary artery disease were 91.54% and 46.67%, respectively, while the positive predictive value was 88.1% and the negative predictive value was 56%. No correlations were observed between the first, 24 th hour and the fifth day OPG levels and the Gensini scores. No relation was denoted between the OPG levels and number of diseased coronary arteries. Conclusions:In our study, serum OPG level seemed to be unrelated to the severity or the degree of coronary artery disease in patients with SA and unstable angina pectoris/non ST elevation myocardial infarction. OPG may only be accepted as an indicator of coronary artherosclerosis. Copyright © Polskie Towarzystwo Kardiologiczne INTRODUCTION Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common form of cardiovascular disease, with high mortality and morbidity rates. Arterial calcification has been found to be related to an increased risk of cardiovascular events, although the predictive value of coronary risk factors remains unclear [1].

Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate plasma atrial natriuretic peptid levels in sitting and supine positions and cardiac functions in young male archery athletes. Materials and Methods:Six archery athletes and 10 sedentary males volunteered to participate in the study. Venous blood samples were taken after 10 minutes sitting and after 10 minutes in supine position. Plasma ANP levels were measured by the ELISA method. Cardiac parameters were assessed by echocardiography.Results: Plasma ANP levels in sitting position were higher in archery athletes (72.12±14.01 pg/ ml) than sedentaries (36.22±14.51 pg/ml; p<0.01). Similarly, plasma ANP levels in supine position (124.41±14.66 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the athletes than sedentaries (36.95±9.83 pg/ml). Plasma ANP levels were higher in supine position than those in sitting position in archery athletes (p<0.01). No significant increase in plasma ANP levels were found in supine position than sitting position in sedentary group. Echocardiographic parameters were similar in athletes and sedentary subjects. Conclusion:It is concluded that regular archery exercises without prominent functional and morphological alterations in the heart may cause differences in plasma ANP levels. Marked posture-related alterations may occur in plasma ANP levels of trained archery athletes.Key words: Atrial natriuretic peptid; exercise; posture; archery.Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, okçuluk sporu yapan genç erkek sporcuların plazma atriyal natriüretik peptid (ANP) düzeylerinde oturur ve yatar durumdaki değişimi ve kardiyak fonksiyonlarını incelemektir.Gereçler ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya, gönüllü 6 okçuluk sporcusu ve 10 sedanter erkek katıldı. Katılımcılardan 10 dk'lık oturma sonrası ve 10 dk'lık yatar durumdan sonra venöz kan alındı. Plazma ANP düzeyleri ELISA yöntemi ile ölçüldü. Kardiyak parametreler ekokardiyografi ile belirlendi. Bulgular:Okçuluk sporcularının oturur durumdaki plazma ANP düzeylerinin (72.12±14.01 pg/ml) sedanter grubun oturur durumdaki ANP düzeylerinden (36.22±14.51 pg/ml) yüksek olduğu bulundu (p<0.01). Aynı şekilde okçuluk sporcularının yatar durumdaki ANP düzeyleri de (124.41±14.66 pg/ml) sedanterlere göre (36.95±9.83 pg/ml) anlamlı yükseklik gösterdi (p<0.01). Sporcu grubun plazma ANP düzeyleri oturur duruma göre yatar durumda artmış bulundu (p<0.01). Sedanter grubun ANP düzeylerinde ise oturur duruma göre yatar durumda anlamlı bir artış saptanmadı. Sporcu ve sedanterlerin ekokardiyografik parametreleri benzer bulundu.Sonuç: Çalışmamıza göre okçulukla ilgili yapılan düzenli egzersizler, kalpte belirgin fonksiyonel ve morfolojik değişim olmaksızın, plazma ANP düzeyle-rinde farklılıklara neden olabilir. Okçuluk sporu yapanların plazma ANP düzeyinde postürle ilişkili belirgin farklılıklar oluşabilir.

Objective. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible role of serum cytokines in the development of hepatic osteodystrophy. Matherial and Methods. 44 consecutive male cirrhotic patients (17 alcoholic, 20 hepatitis B, 7 hepatitis C), 15 age- and sex-matched chronic alcoholics without liver disease, and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study during one year period. Bone mineral density was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar vertebrate and femoral neck. Serum interleukin levels were measured by ELISA method. Results. Although osteopenia frequency between our cirrhotic patients was 20%, there was no difference in T-scores among the controls and other groups. Serum interleukin-1, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels were not different between all groups. Serum interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 levels were higher in the cirrhotics than controls (P < 0.001). However, there were no significant difference between osteopenic and nonosteopenic cirrhotics. Conclusion. According to the results of the study in this small population of 44 male cirrhotic patients, frequency of hepatic osteopenia is small and serum interleukins 1, 2, 6, 8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha may not play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic osteodystrophy. Further studies in which large number of patients involved are necessary in this field.

Exercise may modulate lipolysis via leading to natriuretic peptide secretion and beta-adrenergic activation. Adiponectin, an adipose-secreted multifunctional signaling protein, may be the missing link between exercise and lipolytic activity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of supramaximal exercise on plasma levels of adiponectin, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and Btype natriuretic peptide (BNP) in healthy humans. Thirty-one healthy young adult volunteers (male/female, 15/16; mean age±SD, 20.7±1.7 years) underwent a 30-second Wingate anaerobic exercise test on a cycle ergometer and venous blood sampling before and after the exercise test. Plasma ANP and BNP levels were assayed by radioimmunoassay, whereas adiponectin levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, heart rate, hematocrit levels and blood lactate were also measured before and after exercise. The mean plasma adiponectin level significantly increased following a 30-second anaerobic exercise test compared to resting level (17.45±4.70 vs 31.29±5.16 μg/mL, respectively, p<0.001). The mean plasma ANP and BNP levels remained comparable before and after the 30-second anaerobic exercise. A 30-sec supramaximal exercise session enhanced circulating adiponectin levels in both gender groups, whereas ANP and BNP levels exerted nonsignificant alterations. We suggest that acute anaerobic exercise may affect secretory function of adipose tissue which seems not related with natriuretic peptide secretion.