Close Menu

Books in a Library

Vol 69, Issue 9: 2023

Content

Editorial

Original Articles

  • The Impact of Visual Impairment on the Quality of Life of Diabetic Patients Attending the University Hospital of the West Indies

    L Mowatt, T Foster, J Mullings
    Visual loss from diabetic retinopathy can affect the quality of life (QOL) of diabetic patients. This study assesses the impact of visual impairment on the QOL, and the relationship of other factors, including age, marital status, employment, exercise, and diet compliance.

  • Is Serum Antioxidant Status Impaired in Pregnant Women at High Risk for Carrying a Down Syndrome-affected Fetus?

    OH Edebal, E Devrim
    In this study, the oxidant/antioxidant status in pregnant women above the threshold for Down syndrome risk, according to the prenatal test, was investigated. Non-enzymatic, antioxidant capacity in pregnant women at high risk of bearing a Down syndrome-affected fetus was found to decrease.

  • Evaluation of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Gouty Arthritis Attacks

    A Şahin, AU Uslu, D Seven, A Camci, Ö Demirpençe, M Şahin, T Uncu, B Aydın
    Gout is an auto-inflammatory disease caused by accumulation of monosodium urate crystals in tissues and organs due to hyperuricemia. Neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes play a role in acute gouty arthritis (AGA) pathogenesis, directly or indirectly, and/or via complex interaction between them. Ratios between these immune system elements have been listed in inflammatory markers which have been used more frequently recently. The present study is the first one to evaluate neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) in gout, and to investigate the correlation between these and AGA. We found that NLR and MLR were higher in AGA patients when compared with patients in remission and controls, and they had correlations with other inflammatory markers, which suggested a possible correlation with AGA. In conclusion, NLR and MLR values could be used as a cheap and useful inflammatory marker to predict arthritis attacks in patients with gout.

  • Anti-RA 33: A Marker of Good Prognosis in Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis

    H Harman, E Karakeçe, MS Sağ, İ Tekeoğlu, İH Çiftçi
    We investigated the diagnosis capability and extent of anti-RA 33 positivity and clinical characteristics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We highlight a strong negative correlation between anti-RA 33 positivity and the quality of life. Anti-RA 33 antibodies may exert helpful effects determining prognosis in established RA patients though have poor diagnostic capability.

  • The Relationship between Serum IL-17 and IL-23 Levels, and Other Disease Activity Parameters in Patients with Behçet’s Disease

    O Küçükşahin, A Şahin, MT Yıldızgören, M Turgay, G Kinikli
    This study focuses on Behçet’s disease, a vasculitic syndrome with unknown aetiopathogenesis including genetic factors, infections and cytokines. IL17 and IL 23 play important roles in inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel diseases, asthma, bacterial, fungal infections, maybe Behçet’s disease.

  • Sonoelastographic Assessment of the Gender-related Changes of Achilles the Tendon

    E Caglar, İİ Öz
    In this study, the effect of gender on the Achilles tendon’s elastic property is not a significant covariable in the young, healthy sample. Muscle strength may play a more important role in the Achilles tendon’s injury rather than in tendon’s elasticity.

  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Infancy

    S-M Yuan
    Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in infancy is rare. The spectrum of aetiology and management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in infancy were updated in the past several decades. Currently, it is mainly composed of endocardial fibroelastosis, infants of diabetic mothers and infantile Pompe’s disease. This study shows that myocardial ischaemia and cardiomegaly are the major signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in infancy. The management strategies can be variable according to different etiologies of the lesion.

  • Rapamycin Improves Vascular Remodelling in a Controlled Rat Model of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

    A Sengul, C Vural, S Arkan, C Ozer, BY Bayrak, A Tas, N Altintas
    We evaluated the effect of rapamycin on pulmonary arterial hypertension. Rapamycin provided improvements in exercise capacity, right ventricular systolic pressure and hypertrophy, but those were not significant. There were significant recoveries in the pulmonary artery muscular layer thickness and in the median life span of rats.

Viewpoint

  • Need for Policy to Reduce Sugar Consumption in Trinidad and Tobago?

    R Naidu, F Lutchmansingh, A Sharma, S Teelucksingh
    With respect to the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Trinidad and Tobago and recent recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) on reducing sugar intake, this paper presents the case for the development of a national policy aimed at reducing sugar consumption.

Case Reports

Letters to the Editor

West Indian Medical Journal

Faculty of Medical Sciences,
The University of the West Indies,
Mona, Kingston 7
Tel: (876) 927-1214
Fax: (876) 927-1846
wimj@uwimona.edu.jm
Top of Page