Comparing the predictive values of procalcitonin/albumin ratio and other inflammatory markers in determining COVID-19 severity.

Objective: To examine the relationship between COVID-19 severity and procalcitonin/albumin ratio (PAR) and compare the PAR with oft-reported inflammatory markers, including procalcitonin, white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods: In this retrospective research study conducted at Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital during May to September 2020; total, 577 adult subjects diagnosed with COVID-19 were included and categorized into two groups based on place of hospitalization: the intensive care unit (ICU) group (n=151) and the general ward (GW) group (n=426). Laboratory test results and demographic characteristics of the subjects were recorded.

Inflammation-based Indices Predicting Mortality in COVID-19.

Efficiency of various inflammation-based indices, including neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR), C-reactive protein/lymphocyte ratio (CLR), albumin/globulin ratio (AGR), haemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP), systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI), was examined in predicting mortality in COVID-19 patients. The study population consisted of 827 COVID-19 patients, including 733 survivors and 94 non-survivors. Compared with the survivor group, the NLR, PLR, CLR, and SII values of the non-survivor group were markedly higher; however, the LMR, PNI, HALP and AGR values were markedly lower.

Nitric oxide synthase activity: A novel potential biomarker for predicting Alopecia areata.

Background: Alopecia areata is a dermatological disease characterized by nonscarring type hair loss. The cause of Alopecia areata not known exactly but studies support that it has an autoimmune etiology in which oxidative stress play an important role.

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the level of nitrosative stress in Alopecia areata and to investigate the predictive power of nitrosative stress parameters for Alopecia areata.

Role of NLR, PLR, ELR and CLR in differentiating COVID-19 patients with and without pneumonia.

Objectives: Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio (ELR), and C-reactive protein (CRP)/lymphocyte ratio (CLR) are well-established inflammatory indices. This study aimed to examine whether NLR, PLR, MLR, ELR and CLR could differentiate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with pneumonia from those of without.

Methods: We retrospectively examined the laboratory parameters including CRP, D-dimer, procalcitonin and complete blood count of 306 COVID-19 patients (pneumonic = 152 and non-pneumonic = 154).

The value of C-reactive protein/albumin, fibrinogen/albumin, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in predicting the severity of CoVID-19.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to determine the predictive values of the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR), fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) parameters, which reflect the systemic inflammatory status, for the severity of COVID-19.

Methods: A total of 188 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Among them, 118 were in the severe group, and 70 were in the non-severe group.

Thiol level and total oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress is closely related to the pathogenesis and severity of COVID-19 infection. Here, we attempted to compare thiol, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels between COVID-19 patients who need and do not need intensive care unit (ICU) support, and determine whether these markers could be used as predictors of ICU admission.

Methods: We recruited 86 patients with COVID-19 infection and classified them into two groups according to the level of care: ICU group (n = 40) and non-ICU group (n = 46).

COVID-19 infection in pregnancy: a single center experience with 75 cases.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the clinical features, maternal, fetal, and perinatal outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proven infections of pregnancies.

Material And Methods: This retrospective single center study was conducted on 75 pregnant patients diagnosed of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Demographic characteristics, clinical courses, laboratory and radiological findings, and maternal and perinatal outcomes were analyzed using medical records.

Thiol-disulphide balance and total oxidant-antioxidant status in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To assess the dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis (DTDH) and total oxidant/antioxidant status in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to evaluate their association with HCV-RNA levels.

Methods: Levels of serum total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), disulphide (DS), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) as oxidative stress markers were determined in 162 individuals, including 74 patients with HCV infection and 88 non-HCV controls. HCV genotypes and HCV-RNA levels of the patients were recorded.

Increased ischemia-modified albumin levels in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Objective: Growing evidence shows that oxidative stress plays an important role in the development and progression of nephrotic syndrome (NS). In this study, we aimed to examine serum IMA levels as an indicator of oxidative stress in children with steroid-sensitive NS (SSNS) in remission and relapse.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Pediatric Nephrology Unit of Sanliurfa Training and Research Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey, from April 2019 to December 2019.

Impaired thiol/disulphide homoeostasis in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Abnormal thiol/disulphide homoeostasis (TDH) is responsible for the pathogenesis of various diseases. We aimed to examine the TDH in children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS).

Methods: A total of 131 children, 60 with SSNS and 71 healthy controls, participated in the study.

Protective effect of alpha lipoic acid on cisplatin induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

We investigated the protective effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA) against cisplatin (CIS) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. ALA is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that exhibits free radical scavenger properties and direct antioxidant effects on recycling of other cellular antioxidants. We used four equal groups of rats.

Assessment of thiol/disulfide balance as an oxidative stress marker in children with β-thalassemia major.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the oxidative stress status in children with β-thalassemia major (β-TM) by measuring native thiol (SH), disulfide (SS) and total thiol (SH + SS) plasma levels.

Methods: This study was carried out from November 2017 to March 2018 at the Pediatric Hematology Clinic of the Harran University Medical Faculty Hospital. Blood specimens were collected from 100 participants, including 50 β-TM patients and 50 controls, and SH, SS and SH+SS levels were detected through a newly developed method.

The Evaluation of Error Types and Turnaround Time of Preanalytical Phase in Biochemistry and Hematology Laboratories.

Background & Objective: Each laboratory should determine the type of errors and turnaround time (TAT), especially in the preanalytical phase to report quality and timeliness of the test results. The current study aimed at investigating the common causes of preanalytical errors in biochemistry and hematology laboratories and evaluating the preanalytical TAT for outpatient samples.

Methods: Data of rejected samples in the laboratory information system from September 2014 to September 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.

Serum Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9/ Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin Complex Levels in Patients With Early-stage Diabetic Nephropathy.

Introduction: This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)-bound form of MMP-9 (MMP-9/NGAL complex) markers in the determination of early nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria, 27 type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria, and 23 healthy controls were recruited. Serum levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP9/NGAL complex were measured in all participants.

The protective effects of alpha lipoic acid on methotrexate induced testis injury in rats.

Methotrexate (MTX) is frequently used in the treatment of several diseases including cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis. Previously, chemotherapeutic agents have been reported to cause permanent azoospermia and infertility in men. Methotrexate has been also shown to damage the seminiferous tubules of the testicles, lower the sperm count, and cause genetic mutations (in DNA) in sperm.

Lipid profile and atherogenic indices and their association with platelet indices in familial Mediterranean fever.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate lipid profiles and atherogenic indices and their association with platelet indices in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) patients.

Methods: A total of 63 FMF patients and 51 healthy individuals were included in this retrospective study. Inflammatory marker values (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP] and fibrinogen), platelet indices (mean platelet volume, plateletcrit value, platelet large cell ratio, and platelet distribution width), lipid profiles (levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were recorded.

The Effect of Pneumatic Tube Systems on the Hemolysis of Biochemistry Blood Samples.

Unlabelled: Pneumatic tube systems (PTSs) are widely used in many hospitals because they lead to reduced turnaround times and cost efficiency. However, PTSs may affect the quality of the blood samples transported to the laboratory. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the PTS used in our hospital on the hemolysis of the biochemical blood samples transported to the laboratory.