Measuring the performance of an artificial intelligence-based robot that classifies blood tubes and performs quality control in terms of preanalytical errors: A preliminary study.

Objectives: Artificial intelligence-based robotic systems are increasingly used in medical laboratories. This study aimed to test the performance of KANKA (Labenko), a stand-alone, artificial intelligence-based robot that performs sorting and preanalytical quality control of blood tubes.

Methods: KANKA is designed to perform preanalytical quality control with respect to error control and preanalytical sorting of blood tubes.

The Role of Breast Milk Neurotrophin Levels in Infantile Colic Pathogenesis: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study.

Immaturity of the digestive tract and enteric nervous system is a widely accepted theory for infantile colic (IC) etiopathogenesis. The study aimed to show whether neurotrophins that are necessary for normal functioning and development of the gastrointestinal system have a role in the pathogenesis of IC. The IC group ( = 75) comprising the mothers of infants with IC and the control group ( = 75) were included to this cross-sectional case-control study.

Evaluation of ischemia-modified albumin in the diagnosis and the clinical severity of COVID-19 in children.

Background: There is no specific biomarker used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and predicting its clinical severity. This study aimed to investigate the utility of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) in diagnosing and predicting clinical severity in children with COVID-19.

Methods: Between October 2020 and March 2021, 41 cases constituted the COVID-19 group and 41 cases constituted the healthy control group.

Galanin-like peptide and its correlation with androgen levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate serum galanin-like peptide (GALP) levels and their correlation with hormonal and metabolic parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Material And Methods: The study included 48 women (age range, 18-44 years) with a diagnosis of PCOS, and a control group that included 40 healthy females (age range, 18-46 years). Waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and Ferriman-Gallwey score were evaluated and plasma glucose, lipid profile, oestradiol, progesterone, total testosterone, prolactin, insulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), fibrinogen, d-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and GALP levels were measured in all study subjects.

The effect of positive pressure ventilation on serum ischemia-modified albumin levels in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Introduction: Respiratory abnormalities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are corrected with positive pressure ventilation treatments. We investigated the effect of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment on the serum level of ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), an oxidative stress product, in OSAS patients with higher body mass index (BMI) and indication for PAP treatment.

Materials And Methods: Seven consecutive female and 23 male patients with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 who were diagnosed as having OSAS according to ICSD3 criteria and were planned for PAP, were included.

Are Thyroid Functions Affected in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children?

Objective: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), associated with Coronavirus disease-2019, is defined as the presence of documented fever, inflammation, and at least two signs of multisystem involvement and lack of an alternative microbial diagnosis in children who have recent or current Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 infection or exposure. In this study, we evaluated thyroid function tests in pediatric cases with MIS-C in order to understand how the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis was affected and to examine the relationship between disease severity and thyroid function.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted between January 2021 and September 2021.

Galectin-3 levels and inflammatory response in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Purpose: Obesity, a low-grade systemic inflammatory disease, causes inflammation in metabolic tissues. Galectin-3(Gal-3) is one of the lectin molecules involved in inflammatory processes. We evaluated the possible relationship between Gal-3 level and the metabolic inflammatory process before and after obesity surgery.

Biological variation data for kidney function related parameter: serum beta trace protein, creatinine and cystatin C from 22 apparently healthy Turkish subjects.

Objectives: Biological variation is defined as the variation in analytical concentration between and within individuals, and being aware of this biological variation is important for understanding disease dynamics. The aim of our study is to calculate the within-subject (CV) and between-subject (CV) biological variations of serum creatinine, cystatin C and beta trace protein (BTP), as well as the reference change value (RCV) and individuality indexes (II), which are used to calculate the glomerular filtration rate while evaluating kidney damage.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 22 healthy volunteers for 10 consecutive weeks and stored at -80 °C until the day of analysis.

Diagnostic utility of C-reactive protein to albumin ratio as an early warning sign in hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients.

C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) has been used as an indicator of prognosis in various diseases. Here, we intended to assess the CAR's diagnostic power in early differentiation of hospitalized severe COVID-19 cases. In this retrospectively designed study, we evaluated 197 patients in total.

Apelin: A potential novel serum biomarker for early detection of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major cause of chronic renal failure, and proteinuria is an independent risk factor for the end stage renal disease. The random urine protein: creatinine ratio (P:C ratio) can accurately predict the amount of 24-hour urinary protein excretion. Apelin is thought to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis, and inflammation.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid associated megaloblastic anemia: Could it mislead the diagnosis of breast cancer?

CA 15-3 is a tumor-associated antigen and is overexpressed in breast tumors, and may also be high in some other non-cancerous conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency on the levels of tumor markers. Five-year patient data were retrospectively analyzed.

The Effects of Education and Training Given to Phlebotomists for Reducing Preanalytical Errors.

Background: The most common sources of error in the preanalytical phase are considered to be at the stage of patient preparation and sample collection. In order to reduce the preanalytical errors, we aimed to determine the level of phlebotomists knowledge about the preanalytic phase before and after planned trainings in the study.

Methods: Training about preanalytical processes was given to the 454 health professionals and the majority of them were employed as nurse.

Increased zonulin is associated with hyperactivity and social dysfunctions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background: In attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), deteriorations of brain gut axis has been shown in previous studies. One area where the most important challenges are seen in ADHD is social functioning. Zonulin is a protein found in the intestinal intraepithelial component; it has been shown that the level of zonulin increases when intestinal permeability is impaired.

The local clinical validation of a new lithium heparin tube with a barrier: BD Vacutainer® Barricor LH Plasma tube.

Introduction: Although serum-providing blood tubes with a barrier are still widely used due to their significant advantages, the use of blood tubes with a barrier to provide plasma is becoming widespread. We compared 22 analytes in a BD Vacutainer® Barricor LH Plasma tube for local clinical validation of this new lithium heparin tube with a barrier.

Materials And Methods: Samples from 44 volunteers were collected in different tubes (Becton Dickinson and Company): Z tube without additive (reference), clot-activator tube with gel (SST), lithium heparin tube without gel (LiH), and lithium heparin tube with barrier (Barricor).

Anemia considerations when assessing natriuretic peptide levels in ED patients.

Introduction: The incidence of heart failure (HF) has reached epidemic levels in western populations, and the majority of these patients are admitted to hospitals through the emergency department (ED). We aimed to aid clinicians assessing natriuretic peptide (NP) levels in cases with suspected HF. In this study, we investigated the effect of anemia on amino-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and on B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels.

Mean platelet volume and vitamin D level.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and a high mean platelet volume (MPV) are related to cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with high MPV.

Methods: This study included 434 patients without chronic disease who were not taking vitamin D or calcium supplements.

Effect of chronic fluorosis on lipid peroxidation and histology of lung tissues in first and second generation rats.

This experiment was designed to investigate the lipid peroxidation and histological effects of chronic fluorosis on first and second generation rat lung tissues. Sixteen, virgin, female Wistar rats were mated with eight males (2:1) for approximately 12 h to obtain first-generation rats. Pregnant rats were divided into two experimental groups (control and fluoride supplemented).

Chlorpyrifos increases the levels of hippocampal NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in juvenile and adult rats.

The present study investigated the effect of chlorpyrifos on NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in juvenile and adult rats. Chlorpyrifos was administered with the dose of 40 and 70 mg/kg to juvenile and adult rats, respectively. Chlorpyrifos significantly inhibited the AChE activity in juvenile and adult rats (p < .