Explainable artificial intelligence for LDL cholesterol prediction and classification.

Introduction: Monitoring LDL-C levels is essential in clinical practice because there is a direct relation between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and atherosclerotic heart disease risk. Therefore, measurement or estimate of LDL-C is critical. The present study aims to evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Explainable AI (XAI) methodologies in predicting LDL-C levels while emphasizing the interpretability of these predictions.

Ethical Checklists for Clinical Research Projects and Laboratory Medicine: two tools to evaluate compliance with bioethical principles in different settings.

Objectives: To develop two ethical checklists to evaluate (i) management of ethical concerns in research projects and (ii) awareness of ethical conduct of healthcare laboratory professionals.

Methods: Comprehensive discussion among the members of IFCC Task Force on Ethics based on pertinent literature.

Results: This Checklist for Clinical Research Projects should be useful to evaluate research proposals from an ethical perspective before submitting it to an IRB or its equivalent, thereby diminishing rejection rates and resulting in more time-effective projects.

Concordance and generalization of an AI algorithm with real-world clinical data in the pre-omicron and omicron era.

All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, continue to evolve, which can lead to new variants. The objective of this study is to assess the agreement between real-world clinical data and an algorithm that utilizes laboratory markers and age to predict the progression of disease severity in COVID-19 patients during the pre-Omicron and Omicron variant periods. The study evaluated the performance of a deep learning (DL) algorithm in predicting disease severity scores for COVID-19 patients using data from the USA, Spain, and Turkey (Ankara City Hospital (ACH) data set).

Comparison of the Two Coagulation Techniques: Thrombolyzer XRM and Diagon Coag XL.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of the Thrombolyzer XRM against the Diagon Coag XL during the exchange of the coagulation analyzer.

Methods: The Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) and prothrombin time (PT) measurements were performed by using the Thrombolyzer XRM and Diagon CoagXL analyzers. The precision, accuracy, method comparison, and reference range verification studies were performed on the Thrombolyzer XRM based on Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.

Lipemia impact on HBA1C measurements in patients with and without hemoglobin variant: a rational laboratory use evaluation.

This study aims to compare the HbA1c test results obtained by widely used methods using samples with various lipemia levels and Hb variants, and to determine whether it is possible to correct the lipemia effect in the identical samples. Out of the laboratory information system (LIS), 48 patients with various HbA1c results were identified including patients with and without Hb variants. After the baseline measurements, all samples were spiked with intralipid solution and treated by a subsequent 0.

COVID-19 patients with altered steroid hormone levels are more likely to have higher disease severity.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the correlations between the severity of the disease and serum steroid levels by analyzing the serum steroid levels in COVID-19 patients with different levels of disease progression and the control group.

Methods: Morning serum Aldosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, Androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), Corticosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), Estrone, Estradiol, Progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, Cortisol, Corticosterone, Androsterone, Pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone and 21-deoxycortisol levels were measured in 153 consecutive patients were grouped as mild, moderate, and severe based on the WHO COVID-19 disease severity classification and the control group. Steroid hormone levels were analyzed at once with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS).

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.

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.

Effects of Bone Marrow and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on microRNA Expressions in Acute Alkaline Corneal Burn.

The aim of this study was to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expressions of the corneal tissue after an alkaline burn and to compare the efficiency of adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on expressions. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups. No intervention was made in the control group.

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antiapoptotic Effects of Bone Marrow and Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Acute Alkaline Corneal Burn.

The aim of the present study is to comparatively evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of bone marrow and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) applied subconjunctivally after alkaline corneal burn. Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups and included in the study ( = 8). While no intervention was made in the control group, a chemical burn was created by applying 4 μL of NaOH soaked in 6 mm filter paper to the right eye of each subject in the other groups under general anesthesia.

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.

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.

Effects of 1,25-Dihydroxy vitamin D on TNF-α induced inflammation in human chondrocytes and SW1353 cells: a possible role for toll-like receptors.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate anti-inflammatory and chondro-protective effects of 1,25(OH)D in human chondrocytes and SW1353 cells via investigating expressions of MMPs, TIMPs, VDR, and intracellular signalling pathway mediators such as TLR-2 and -4. The HC and SW1353 cells were treated with 1,25(OH)D at 10, 100, and 1000 nM concentrations in the absence/presence of TNF-α (20 ng/mL) for 48 h. The mRNA expressions of MMP-1, -2, -3, -9, and -13, TIMP-1 and -2, VDR, TLR-2 and -4 in HC and SW1353 cells were detected by qPCR after treatments.

Predictors of Language Dominance: An Integrated Analysis of First Language Attrition and Second Language Acquisition in Late Bilinguals.

Late bilinguals who spend (part of) their adult lives in an environment where a language other than the one they learned in childhood is spoken typically experience a range of language development phenomena. Most obviously, they will acquire some level of receptive and/or productive knowledge of the new, or second, language (L2). How basic or advanced that level will be is determined by a range of environmental, experiential, attitudinal and individual factors.

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.

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.

Transfer of single dose of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and bevacizumab into milk of sheep.

Aim: To investigate whether single-dose intravitreal injections of bevacizumab and ranibizumab transfer into milk.

Methods: This study included lactating 12 sheep and a single 3-month old suckling lamb of each sheep. Two groups consisting of 6 sheep and their lambs were constituted; the ranibizumab group and the bevacizumab group before the administration of intravitreal injections, blood and milk samples were obtained from all sheep and, following the injections, blood and milk samples of all sheep and blood samples of all lambs were collected at regular time points.

Is Turkish MEFV Mutations Spectrum Different Among Regions?

Background: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive inherited inflammatory disease. The gene responsible for the disease, called MEFV, encodes a protein called pyrin or marenostrin. According to recent data, MEFV mutations are not the only cause of FMF, but genetic analysis of MEFV gene is needed for confirming the diagnosis of FMF.

Effect of povidone iodine on thyroid functions and urine iodine levels in caesarean operations.

Objective: In the present study, the effects of povidone iodine (PI) used during Caesarean operations on maternal thyroid hormones and urine iodine levels in the infant and the mother were investigated.

Design: Twenty-seven patients were allocated to the PI group I (Gr I), and 28 to the non-PI group (Group II). Maternal preoperative and 24th-h postoperative free T3 (fT3), freeT4 (fT4), TSH, and urine iodine levels were determined, as well as infant urine iodine values.

Oral carbohydrate supplementation reduces preoperative discomfort in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral carbohydrate solution (CHO) on perioperative discomfort, biochemistry, hemodynamics, and patient satisfaction in elective surgery patients under general anesthesia. Sixty cases in ASA I-II group who were planned to have operation under general anesthesia were included in the study. The cases were randomly divided into two groups having 30 subjects in each.

[The role of blood S100B and lactate levels in minor head traumas in children and adults and correlation with brain computerized tomography].

Background: In this study, we aimed to set levels of blood S100B and lactate and to determine any correlation with brain computerized tomography in minor head traumas in children and adults.

Methods: This clinical trial is a prospective study including 100 head trauma patients who applied to Ankara Training and Research Hospital emergency service.

Results: In this study, cut-off ranges of 0.

Performance of different screening methods for the determination of urinary glycosaminoclycans.

Background: The study aim was to compare the performance of three different methods used for determining urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAG) levels in spot and 24-h urine samples.

Methods: Performance characteristics were studied for cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and manual and automated dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) methods.

Results: For automated DMB method, within-run precisions were 9.