Preoperative Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio and Saphenous Vein Graft Patency After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Aim:

The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of preoperative neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in postoperative saphenous vein graft patency in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

Method:

We retrospectively analyzed 444 patients who had undergone CABG and a further control coronary angiography due to recurrence of symptoms. The patients were divided into tertile groups according to the NLR. The primary end point was 50% saphenous vein graft stenosis or more or complete occlusion.

Result:

The saphenous vein graft failure in the 3 groups based on NLR was 33%, 66.2%, and 79.1%, in the low-, middle- and high-risk groups, respectively. In multivariate regression modeling, current smoker, diabetes mellitus, target artery diameter <1.5 mm, and NLR independently predicted saphenous vein graft patency in patients after CABG. Conclusion: Preoperative NLR is clearly an independent predictor of saphenous vein graft patency in patients after CABG.

Assesment life quality of familial Mediterranean fever patients by short form-36 and its relationship with disease parameters

BACKGROUND

Familial Mediterranean fever is an auto-inflammatory disorder. Long term complications of the disease include decreased quality of life. The measurement of quality of life in the patients with chronic disease has become an important research topic during the last years.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate life quality of the FMF patients by SF-36, and examine its relationship with the disease parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred voluntary patients (69 female, 31 male) admitted to the rheumatology clinic were included in the study. The control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals. All subjects in the study were asked to complete SF-36 questionnaire. Age of onset of FMF, age at diagnosis, age at the beginning of colchicine therapy, number of attacks per month, family history of FMF and dialysis were inquired of patients with FMF. Disease severity was determined using the FMF severity score.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patient group was 31±12 and that of the control group was 29±9. Sixty-nine patients (69%) were female, and 31 patients were male (31%) in both groups. The mean scores of the physical function, physical role function, emotional role function, mental health, and general health parameters of the patients were statistically significantly lower than those of healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). The difference in social function and vitality between two groups was found to be insignificant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We have shown that FMF had a negative impact on SF-36. FMF reduces quality of life both in physical and mental dimensions.

Formulation and evaluation of clozapine orally disintegrating tablets prepared by direct compression

In this study, clozapine orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) were prepared by direct compression method. Disintegration time, resistance to crushing of tablets, porosity, friability, dissolution tests were performed and dissolution profiles of ODTs were investigated. Morphological and interaction studies were also performed. Friability values were found to be less than 1%. All tablet formulations disintegrated within 1 min and fulfilled the 3 min disintegration time required for ODTs given in the European Pharmacopoeia. More than 85% of the labeled amount of clozapine was dissolved in 15 min from the ODTs. No interaction or changes were found between active substance and excipients. As a result of the studies, ODT formulations developed in this study can be suggested as promising formulations, which assist development and manufacturing a generic product of clozapine.

Transdermal methyl alcohol intoxication cause of pain relief

A 60-year old female patient was found comatosed at home and taken to the hospital's Emergency Department by her relatives. It was learnt that she wrapped her knees with spirit-impregnated cotton pad for pain for one week. On physical examination, only a colour change of purple violet on her knees was noted. Metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap was detected by arterial blood analysis. The patient underwent haemodialysis. She was discharged from the hospital with no complaints, alert and rational following five days of follow-up treatment, with the diagnosis of methyl alcohol poisoning.

Abstract P3-08-01: The prospective risk of ovarian cancer in 1433 women in a breast cancer family history clinic: no increased risk in families testing negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2

Since the identification of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes speculation has continued regarding the breast and ovarian cancer risk associated with mutations in these genes. Also, as to whether mutations in these genes account for the majority of the association between breast and ovarian cancer. Identification of RAD51C and RAD51D mutations in breast/ovarian cancer families has reawakened the debate as to whether it is safe to reassure women from BRCA negative families that they are not at increased risk of ovarian cancer. 1433 women from breast cancer families that had tested negative for BRCA1/2 were followed for a total of between 0.04 and 25 years and checked against a cancer registry for ovarian cancer incidence. Data was censored at ovarian cancer diagnosis, oophorectomy or death. During 16358 women years of follow up no invasive epithelial ovarian cancer occurred, although 2 borderline tumors were diagnosed. Expected rates for this cohort from cancer registry data were 2.75 epithelial ovarian tumors with 2.52 for invasive cancer and 0.23 for borderline tumors. The upper confidence limit for invasive RR was 1.3 and for borderline tumors 0.97–31. In conclusion this the largest prospective follow up of a BRCA negative cohort has demonstrated that there is no increase in risk of invasive ovarian cancer in families that have tested negative for BRCA1/2.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-08-01.

Neurophysiological and morphological responses to treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine in a sciatic nerve injury model: preliminary data

We investigated the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on the recovery of sciatic nerve injuries in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to two groups: ALCAR treated (for 14 days) and control. Each group was divided into three subgroups: distal transection, proximal transection, and grafted. Distal latencies, amplitudes, and motor nerve conduction velocities were measured. In the third month, biopsies were taken and examined under light microscopy. Electrophysiological measurements demonstrated that regeneration occurred earlier and was better in the ALCAR group, particularly in the distal transection subgroup. Better results were obtained in the distal transection subgroup in terms of axonal regeneration compared with the proximal transection and grafted subgroups because the regenerating segment was shorter. ALCAR enhanced the quality of neural recovery at the different levels and in different types of repair, and led to a decline in nerve death.