The role of irisin and asprosin level in the pathophysiology of prediabetes.

Purpose: We aimed to examine whether irisin and asprosin have a role in the physiopathology of prediabetes.

Methods: Hundred people were selected between the age of 18-65 years for the study population (60 prediabetes, 40 healthy). For the follow-up study, the patients with prediabetes were offered a 3-month program for lifestyle change and then reevaluated.

The effect of acid use as a preservative on the results of biochemical tests measured in 24-h urine.

Twenty-four-hour urine measurements play a crucial role in the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of various diseases. There are different approaches to the collection of urine in patients who need to collect multiple urine samples at a time, especially in hospitals with heavy workloads. In this study, we compared the sodium, potassium, chloride, amylase, calcium, creatinine, phosphorus, microalbumin, protein, magnesium, urea, uric acid, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, metanephrine, normetanephrine, vanillylmandelic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and homovanillic acid results of 24-h urine samples analyzed immediately without acid addition, which we accepted as the reference and baseline measurement, with the results of the samples analyzed after waiting for 24 h without acid addition, analyzed immediately with acid addition and analyzed after waiting for 24 h with acid addition.

Longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion Course and Antibody Levels by Blood Groups in Convalescent Plasma Donors in Turkey.

Objective: The present study investigates the seroconversion time course of the IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and ascertains whether its levels change according to the patient's ABO blood group.

Method: A total of 36,003-convalescent plasma (CP) donations of 12,315 Turkish Red Crescent CP donors were analyzed. The ABO blood group of the CP donors was determined by Gel Centrifugation; and IgG was measured using the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA.

Evaluation of the diagnostic performance of an oral fluid screening test device for substance abuse at traffic controls.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performance of the Kite Biotechnology Oral fluid (OF) screening test device, which is used for roadside screening of cannabis, opiates, amphetamines, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), cocaine and benzodiazepines by comparing samples with matched plasma samples, analysed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for confirmation.

Methods: OF and plasma samples were obtained simultaneously from a total of 100 subjects. OF samples were analysed by OF screening test based on immunochromatography.

Assessment of Galectin-1, Galectin-3, and Prostaglandin E2 Levels in Patients with COVID-19.

It is important to determine the inflammatory biomarkers in the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with the emergence of the pandemic. Galectins and prostaglandins play important roles in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate Galectin-1 (Gal-1), Galectin-3 (Gal-3), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in patients with COVID-19.

Lymphocyte Subset Alteration and Monocyte CD4 Expression Reduction in Patients with Severe COVID-19.

The spectrum of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity, related to cellular immune functions, has not been fully clarified yet. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the alteration of peripheral blood cells in patients with COVID-19. The flow cytometric characterization of immune cell subset was performed on 69 COVID-19 patients and 21 healthy controls.

Evaluation of the efficiency of serum biotinidase activity as a newborn screening test in Turkey.

Objectives: Biotinidase Deficiency (BD) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. However, the relationship between genotype and biochemical phenotype has not been completely elucidated yet. But still, some mutations are accepted to be associated with profound or partial deficiency.

Convalescent plasma therapy in patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Passive antibody therapy has been used to immunize vulnerable people against infectious agents. In this study, we aim to investigate the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in the treatment of severe and critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Method: The data of severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients who received anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody-containing CP along with the antiviral treatment (n = 888) and an age-gender, comorbidity, and other COVID-19 treatments matched severe or critically ill COVID-19 patients at 1:1 ratio (n = 888) were analyzed retrospectively.

Clinical and laboratory features of COVID-19: Predictors of severe prognosis.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged first in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and quickly spread throughout the world. Clinical and laboratory data are of importance to increase the success in the management of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Data were obtained retrospectively from medical records of 191 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from a tertiary single-center hospital between March and April 2020.

Arsenic-induced inflammation in workers.

Occupational and environmental exposures to metal and metalloids can result in neurotoxicity and immunotoxicity. Selenium (Se) is essential for the proper functioning of neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, T-lymphocytes and other immune mechanisms, while zinc (Zn) is a trace element essential for basic cell activities, including cell growth and differentiation. Arsenic (As) may lead to different types of immunosuppressive effects.

Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide levels in Turkish patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is present in the brain and cerebral arteries and it enables the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), which plays a critical role in brain perfusion. Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous NOS inhibitor.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum ADMA levels, which are an indicator of endothelial dysfunction of the renal functions in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and to determine whether there is a possible correlation between ADMA and NO levels and the l-arginine-to-ADMA ratio.

Hemodilution is not the only reason of difference: Comparison of fasting and non-fasting lipoproteins in paired samples.

Introduction: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and generally measured after 8-12 h fasting. However, some recent studies have pointed that non-fasting lipoproteins, especially LDL concentrations, are better indicators for demonstrating CVD risk and atherosclerosis. They asserted that nutrition is a negligible factor on changes in lipoprotein concentrations and claimed this difference as a result of hemodilution effect, caused from fluid intake and can be eliminated by applying some adjustments.

Netrin 1 and Alpha-Methyl Acylcoenzim-A Racemase in diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Objectives: To investigate serum and urine levels of Alpha-methylacyl-CoA-racemase (AMACR) and Netrin 1 in patients with and without prostate cancer and to determine whether these markers could be used as alternatives in diagnosis of prostate cancer instead of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.

Methods: One hundred and seventy five patients between 45-75 years to whom transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies were performed for abnormal serum PSA levels or digital rectal examinations were included. The levels of AMACR and Netrin 1 levels of blood and urine samples of 5 mL those were taken prior to biopsies were measured.

Serum S100B, NSE, and GRIA1 levels as neurological biomarkers in lead exposure.

Background/aim: The central nervous system is one of the major targets in lead exposure. Biomarkers for the diagnosis and follow-up of lead exposure have not been identified. In this study, serum S100B, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and glutamate receptor 1 (GRIA1) levels were determined as possible biomarkers for lead neurotoxicity.

An Investigation of the Effects of Curcumin on the Changes in the Central Nervous System of Rats Exposed to Aroclor 1254 in the Prenatal Period.

Background & Objective: Aroclor 1254 is a widespread toxic compound of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), which can create significant nervous problems. No remedies have been found to date. The aim of this study was to reveal the damage that occurs in the central nervous system of rat pups exposed to Aroclor 1254 in the prenatal period and to show the inhibiting effect of curcumin, which is a strong anti-oxidant and neuroprotective substance.

The effect of oxidative stress on the progression of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).

Methods: Forty euthyroid and 40 subclinical hypothyroid patients older than 18 years and not yet had received treatment were enrolled in the study.

Results: In the 9 months follow-up, 14 of the HT patients developed overt hypothyroidism.

Effects of Remote Ischemic Conditioning Methods on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Muscle Flaps: An Experimental Study in Rats.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of remote ischemic conditioning on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat muscle flaps histopathologically and biochemically.

Methods: Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups. No procedure was performed in the rats in group 1, and only blood samples were taken.

Comparison of noninvasive and invasive point-of-care testing methods with reference method for hemoglobin measurement.

Background: Rapid and practical point-of-care testing (POCT) devices become more popular, especially in blood donation centers for determining predonation hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate accordance between the POCT methods and the venous method as the reference to Hb screening.

Methods: A total of 353 subjects with no known significant health problems were included in the study.

Neuroprotective activity of cannabinoid receptor-2 against oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat pups having experimentally-induced congenital hypothyroidism.

In this study, it was aimed to show the cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) role, which is a part of neuroprotective endocannabinoidal system, against increasing nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS, eNOS) levels and the apoptotic activity (caspase-3, caspase-9, and DNA in situ fragmentation) within the postnatal critical period in pups of pregnant rats with artificially induced maternal thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency. Each of the three groups established comprised one male and two female rats, and they were coupled. Their pups were used.

A novel clinical index for the assessment of RVD in acute pulmonary embolism: Blood pressure index.

Background: This study aims to investigate the role of the blood pressure index (BPI), which is a new index that we developed, in detection of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods: A total of 539 patients, (253 males and 286 females), diagnosed with APE using computer tomography pulmonary angiography were included in the study. The BPI was obtained by dividing systolic blood pressure (SBP) by diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Serum Toll-Like Receptor-2, Toll-Like Receptor-4 Levels in Patients with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Viral Hepatitis B.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may play an important role in hepatitis-B pathogenesis. However, serum TLR-2 and TLR-4 levels and their association with serum liver enzymes, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, quantitative HBsAg levels, and liver biopsy findings, are unknown. A total of naive 40 HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 20 healthy control subjects were recruited in this study.

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in untreated schizophrenia patients.

Backround: The aim of the study was to investigate dynamic thiol/disulfide (SH/SS) homeostasis in untreated schizophrenia.

Methods: Blood thiol/disulfide homeostasis status, which reflects native thiol-disulfide exchanges, was investigated in 87 untreated patients (52 males, 35 females), and the obtained results were compared with 86 healthy controls. Blood serum native thiol and total thiol (ToSH) concentrations were measured in a paired test.

The relationship between procalcitonin and thyroid autoantibodies in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the serum levels of procalcitonin and its association with autoantibodies in patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Methods: A total of 80 participants were included in the study; 40 of which were newly diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, aged over 18, and 40 of which were healthy volunteers. The serum levels of procalcitonin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Diagnostic validity of hematologic parameters in evaluation of massive pulmonary embolism.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the hematologic parameter with the highest diagnostic differentiation in the identification of massive acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on patients diagnosing with APE between June 2014 and June 2016. All radiological and laboratory parameters of patients were scanned through the electronic information management system of the hospital.