SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clinical entity that associated with increased risk of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Serum uric acid levels are correlated MS criteria. We hypothesized whether a uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR) could predict diabetic regulation and presence of MS in type 2 diabetic subjects. METHODS Admissions of the subjects with type 2 DM to outpatient clinics of our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Study population grouped into well-controlled and poorly controlled diabetics according to the HbA1c level (cut off 7%) and further grouped into type 2 DM with and without MS according to the presence of MS. UHR of study groups compared. RESULTS A hundred diabetic subjects enrolled. Mean UHR was significantly lower in well-controlled diabetics (9.7 ± 3.7%) compared to poorly controlled subjects (14 ± 5.4%) (p<0.001). Median UHR of diabetics with MS (13 (6-29) %) was greater than that of the diabetics without MS (9 (3-16) %) (p<0.001). UHR greater than 11% has 77% sensitivity and 60% specifity in predicting worse diabetic control (AUC: 0.752, p<0.001) and a UHR greater than 10.6% has 83% sensitivity and 71% specifity in predicting MS (AUC: 0.839, p<0.001). Sensitivity and specifity of UHR in predicting MS were better than most of the sensitivities and specifities of the five criteria of MS. CONCLUSION We suggest utilization of UHR in diagnosis of MS as a novel criteria. Nevertheless, prospective studies with larger population may make a better scientific evidence in that issue.

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We have shown that patients with coronary artery ectasia have an increased prevalence of varicocele compared to those with coronary artery disease. The mechanism underlying coronary artery ectasia might further increase the prevalence of varicocele in susceptible patients.

IntroductionThe prognostic value of hematological indices in cardiovascular diseases and the association between these parameters and cardiovascular conditions have been established in the literature.AimIn this study, we aimed to investigate the relation of mean platelet volume (MPV), MPV to platelet ratio (MPR) and red cell distribution width (RDW) with degree of coronary collateral development (CCD) in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) subjects with established critical coronary artery stenosis.Material and methodsA total of 306 patients with stable angina pectoris undergoing coronary arteriography were enrolled and divided on the basis of the development of CCD into two groups: a group with adequate CCD (n = 214) and a group with impaired CCD (n = 92). Routine complete blood count and biochemical parameters were measured before coronary arteriography.ResultsThe MPV and MPR levels were significantly higher in the inadequate CCD group (10.5 ±1.8 fl vs. 8.7 ±1.9 fl, p < 0.001 and 0.06 ±0.08 vs. 0.05 ±0.07, p = 0.036). Patients with inadequate CCD had significantly higher RDW levels compared to patients with adequate CCD (15.5 ±1.7% vs. 15.0 ±1.9%, p = 0.01). MPV and RDW were significantly associated with Rentrop collateral grading (r = –0.523, p < 0.001 and r = –0.239, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas the association with MPR was not significant. An MPV value greater than 9.95 fl, determined with ROC curve analysis, had 71% sensitivity and 70% specificity in predicting inadequate CCD. An RDW greater than 14.3% has 71% sensitivity and 53% specificity in selecting patients with adequate CCD.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that MPV and MPR may be associated with the degree of collateral development in chronic stable CAD. However, the negative association of RDW with inadequate CCD, in combination with previous contradictory reports, raises a doubt about the possible value of RDW in stable CAD. Although these parameters may be affected by various conditions, a high MPV may lead clinicians to suspect possible inadequate collateral development in stable CAD patients.

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