Background: Depression has been found to be a predictor of rehospitalization and mortality in heart failure (HF). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a novel promising biomarker that can predict hospitalization, functional status and mortality in HF.

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder, characterized by acute exacerbation and remission phases. Immune system has a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1)  is a macrophage secreted protein activating immune cells to produce cytokines. The aim of this study was to evaluate HMGB-1 levels among patients with schizophrenia both in acute exacerbation and remission phases. Methods: Consecutive schizophrenia patients in acute exacerbation and remission phases were enrolled and compared with each other and with age-sex matched healthy subjects. Patients were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS), Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Results: Mean HMGB-1 levels were not significantly different in acute exacerbation phase versus remission phase schizophrenia patients (2139±564 pg/ml vs. 2326±471 pg/ml, p=0.335) and both were individually higher than the control group (1791±444 pg/ml, p=0.05 for acute exacerbation vs control, p=0.002 for remission vs control). In remission phase schizophrenic patients, HMGB-1 levels were positively correlated with Scale For The Assessment of Positive Symptoms (r=0.447, p=0.015) and BPRS (r=0.397, p=0.033) scores and HMGB-1 levels were independently associated with BPRS. Conclusion: Serum HMGB-1 levels were shown to be increased in patients with schizophrenia patients irrespective of phase and HMGB-1 levels were related to symptom severity according to psychiatric scales among patients in remission phase of schizophrenia.

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Objectives: We aimed to evaluate echocardiography-guided hemodynamic determinants of quality of life (QoL) via the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire in patients with mild to moderate mitral stenosis (MS). Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with rheumatic MS, who were admitted to the outpatient department, were enrolled into the study upon obtaining informed consent. Forty age-sex-matched healthy individuals were enrolled as a control group. Results: All subscale scores and total SF-36 scores were significantly lower in the patient group representing a worse QoL. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, only mean pulmonary artery pressure (OR 1.138, 95% CI 1.049–1.234, p = 0.002) was found to be an independent predictor of poor QoL in patients with mild to moderate MS. Conclusion: During follow-up of MS patients before intervention, physicians should consider that mean pulmonary artery pressure is the main factor which influences the patients’ QoL. In patients with MS, it seems that referral to intervention should consider components and derivatives of QoL.