The evaluation of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is considered a cause of conditions such as depression and eating disorders, and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Material And Methods: This study was conducted as a prospective study at Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study included 73 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies (32 pregnant women with HG and 41 pregnant women without hyperemesis).

Biochemical and histopathologic assessment of effects of acitretin on epiphyseal growth plate in rats.

Introduction: Acitretin is a commonly used retinoid in dermatology. Although there are generally known side effects, the effects on the epiphyseal plaque and bone metabolism are not clear in the literature.

Aim: To histopathologically investigate the effects on the epiphyseal plate and assess variations in bone metabolism caused by acitretin.

Hypoxia causes important changes of extracellular matrix biomarkers and ADAMTS proteinases in the adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis model.

Aim: Renal fibrosis is a common cause of renal dysfunction with chronic kidney diseases. This process is characterized by excessive production of extracellular matrix (ECM) or inhibition of ECM degradation. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) proteinases, which are widely presented in mammals, have very critical roles in ECM remodelling.

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.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is increased in serum levels of patients with symptomatic dermographism.

Introduction: Symptomatic dermographism (SD) is the most common form of physical urticaria. However, the role of neuroimmune mechanisms in SD is unclear.

Aim: To investigate circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in symptomatic dermographism.

Investigation of the Levels of Serum Amyloid A, YKL-40, and Pentraxin-3 in Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.

Background: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive form of recurrent episodes of fever and an autoinflammatory disease characterized by inflammation of the serous membranes. The clinical diagnosis is supported by the laboratory findings. This study investigated the relationship of Serum Amyloid A (SAA), YKL-40, and Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) with the FMF disease.

Are progranulin levels associated with polycystic ovary syndrome and its possible metabolic effects in adolescents and young women?

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an important disease that may alter metabolic balances of the whole body. Progranulin is a growth factor which is related to epithelial, neuronal growth and oogenesis. Here, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of the levels of Progranulin in the clinical setting of PCOS, and its metabolic effects.

Ameliorative effect of selenium in cisplatin-induced testicular damage in rats.

In this study, we investigated the protective effect of selenium (Se) on cisplatin (Cis) induced testicular damage using histopathological, immunohistochemical and biochemical approaches. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were equally divided into three groups of seven rats each: control (C), Cis, and Cis+Se. Cis and Cis+Se group rats received Cis at a dose of 12mg/kg b.

Mercury concentration in maternal serum, cord blood, and placenta in patients with amalgam dental fillings: effects on fetal biometric measurements.

Aim: We aimed to determine the extent to which mercury is transmitted from the mother to fetus via the umbilical cord in patients with amalgam dental fillings, and its effect on fetal biometric measurements.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients as the study group with amalgam fillings, and 32 of them as the control group were included in this prospective case-control study. The mercury levels were measured in the maternal and cord venous sera, and the placental samples.

The Effects of Valsartan and Amlodipine on the Levels of Irisin, Adropin, and Perilipin.

Background: Hypertension and obesity are two major threats for public health. Up to the present, antihypertensive medications have been used to lower blood pressure, which seem to provide a better life with lower morbidity and mortality rates. Their effect on etiopathogenesis of hypertension is now an area of developing research.

Serum Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Preterm Babies with Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) may suffer from severe hypoxia, asphyxia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) level as a diagnostic marker for hypoxia in preterm infants with RDS. Thirty-seven premature newborns with RDS were allocated as the study group and 42 healthy preterm neonates were selected as the control group.

Increased levels of serum granzyme-B is associated with insulin resistance and increased cardiovascular risk in adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome patients.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine serum perforin and granzyme-B levels in adolescent PCOS patients, and to investigate whether they are associated with some of the insulin sensitivity, obesity and cardiovascular (CV) risk markers and metabolic syndrome.

Study Design: A case-control study was carried out including a total of 172 adolescents (83 PCOS patients and 89 age-matched healthy controls). Participants were recruited consecutively.

Can Serum ST2 Levels Be Used as a Marker of Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection?

Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a cytokine belonging to the IL-1 superfamily. Soluble ST2 (sST2) binds to IL-33 and by functioning as trap receptor inhibits signal sending to Th2 via transmembrane ST2. Because Th2-type cytokines play an important role in fibrosis, the aim of this study is to determine whether sST2 can be used as a marker of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients or not.

Is Kidney Injury Molecule 1 a Valuable Tool for the Early Diagnosis of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy?

Aim/scope: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common complication of diagnostic/therapeutic procedures. Serum creatinine levels are sensitive but often lead to diagnostic delays in acute kidney injury and potential misclassification of actual injury status. Kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) is a novel early marker of acute kidney injury.

Serum levels of endocan correlate with the presence and severity of pre-eclampsia.

Background: Endocan, a cysteine-rich dermatan sulfate proteoglycan expressed by endothelial cells, is seemed to be a new biomarker for endothelial dysfunction. Pre-eclampsia (PE) is characterized by the new onset of hypertension, proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation, placental vascular remodeling, systemic vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of PE and its severity with serum endocan levels.

Sleep deprivation in the last trimester of pregnancy and inadequate vitamin D: Is there a relationship?

Background: Disturbed sleep is a significant health issue for pregnant women. Inadequate vitamin D intake is common among pregnant women and can affect many bodily systems. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that serum vitamin D levels are low in pregnant women who have poor sleep quality in their last trimester.

What is the most reliable marker in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and community-acquired pneumonia?

Because of similar clinical manifestations and laboratory findings, differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is generally difficult. Therefore, this study was conducted to find good markers for the easy, cheap, and fast differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and CAP. Thirty-four patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and 38 patients with CAP who were admitted to either emergency department or chest diseases outpatient clinic were included in this study.

Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Could Be Better Predictor than C-reactive Protein (CRP) for Liver Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis(NASH).

Background-aim: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. The aims of this study were to assess Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and their association with liver histology in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), chronic hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV).

Material-methods: We studied 38 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven NASH, 19 patients with HCV, 45 patients with HBV, and 35 healthy controls who were similar for age and gender.

Assessment of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Background And Aims: Clinicopathologic and molecular studies have provided new insights and understanding on the pathological events during ovarian carcinogenesis. Moreover, angiotensin II-enhanced tumor cell invasion via type 1 angiotensin II receptor in ovarian cancer cell lines was recently demonstrated. It has been suggested that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity increases in diseases involving the female reproductive system.

Wet-cupping removes oxidants and decreases oxidative stress.

Objectives: Wet-cupping therapy is one of the oldest known medical techniques. Although it is widely used in various conditions such as acute\chronic inflammation, infectious diseases, and immune system disorders, its mechanism of action is not fully known. In this study, we investigated the oxidative status as the first step to elucidate possible mechanisms of action of wet cupping.

Comparison of Doppler echocardiographic and tissue Doppler velocity data in beta-thalassaemia major with high and normal NT-proBNP levels of children in the south-east region of Turkey.

Background: It has been reported that N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is early biomarker of iron- induced cardiomyopathy in β-thalassemia major (β-TM). In this study, we aimed to assess the Doppler echocardiographic, tissue Doppler velocity datas and clinical characteristics in β-TM patients with high and normal NT-proBNP levels who have normal systolic function.

Material And Method: Fifty-eight β-TM patients who were on regular transfusion in every 3-4 weeks for more than one year and 20 healthy children were included into the study.

Relationship between late arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Objectives: Primary cause of late arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction is venous stenosis as result of neointimal hyperplasia. The mechanism of AVF stenosis is not exactly understood. But inflammation is a contributing factor for development of AVF stenosis.

Levels of ischemia-modified albumin in transient tachypnea of the newborn.

Aim: The aim of the article is to evaluate ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels in infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) and to find out its relation to the disease severity. Patients and

Methods: Infants with > 37 weeks of gestation, without any respiratory and cardiac symptoms and without any maternal health problems, and diagnosed as TTN were allocated as the study group. Patients with obvious retractions, grunting, hypercarbia (Pco 2 > 60 mm Hg) or hypoxia (oxygen saturation < 88% with Fio 2 of 0.