Increased circulating interleukin-23 level in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a Th1-mediated chronic inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas. Its pathogenesis is not yet clear, but the possible role of various proinflammatory cytokines is being discussed.

Aim: This study aims to determine serum cytokine (IL-6, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-23) levels in patients with sarcoidosis, and to determine a possible correlation with clinical and laboratory findings of the disease.

Serum salusin-α and salusin-β levels in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by skin lesions and joint involvement. Salusin-α and salusin-β are two new bioactive molecules. It is reported that salusins may have role in regulation of the immune system and inflammation.

Brain stroke classification and segmentation using encoder-decoder based deep convolutional neural networks.

Accurate diagnosis of brain stroke, classification and segmentation of the stroke are extremely important for physicians to focus on specific points of the brain and apply the right treatment to patients. Encoder-decoder deep learning-based methods have been effectively integrated into many artificial intelligence applications. On the other hand, such networks have many disadvantages due to sampling methods, learning methodologies, and efficient operations.

[Efficacy of enteric lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: a meta-analysis].

Background: Phosphatidylcholine is an essential component of the intestinal mucus and serves as a protective shield against the ingress of bacteria from the stool. In the intestinal mucus of patients with ulcerative colitis, phosphatidylcholine is reduced by 70%, which makes the intestine susceptible to bacterial inflammation. Local application by administering enteric phosphatidylcholine could compensate for this deficiency.

Serum galectin-3 and TGF-beta levels in patients with sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that develops with non-caseified granuloma formation. Galectin-3 is a multifunctional protein operating in biological processes such as fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune activation.

Purpose: This study evaluates the levels of serum galectin-3 and TGF-beta in sarcoidosis patients to determine a possible correlation with clinical findings.

The potential pathophysiological role of altered lipid metabolism and electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular diseases.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an umbrella term for a range of conditions caused by a build-up of fat in the liver. It is usually seen in people who are overweight or obese. Increasingly common around the world, this disease is the most common chronic liver disease in the United States, affecting about a quarter of the population.

A case of COVID-19 with papulovesicular rash that progressed to retiform purpura, accompanied by cherry angiomas.

Context: Various skin manifestations have been reported in coronavirus disease. It may be difficult to determine the etiology of these lesions in view of the increased frequency of handwashing during the pandemic, along with occurrences of irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis due to disinfectant use; usage of herbal medicine and supplements to strengthen the immune system; and urticarial or maculopapular drug eruptions due to COVID-19 treatment. The variety of associated skin manifestations seen with COVID-19 makes it challenging to identify virus-specific skin manifestations.

Delayed-Release Phosphatidylcholine Is Effective for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is intrinsically missing in intestinal mucus of patients with ulcerative colitis. Topical supplementation with delayed intestinal release PC formulations is assumed to compensate this lack. Three monocenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a 30% PC-containing lecithin were successful, whereas 1 trial with >94% PC-containing lecithin failed.

Serum Galectin-3 and TGF-Beta Levels in Patients With Sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that develops with non-caseified granuloma formation. Galectin-3 is a multifunctional protein operating in biological processes such as fibrosis, angiogenesis, and immune activation.

Purpose: This study evaluates the levels of serum galectin-3 and TGF-beta in sarcoidosis patients to determine a possible correlation with clinical findings.

Why are cardiovascular diseases more common among patients with severe mental illness? The potential involvement of electronegative low-density lipoprotein (LDL) L5.

Despite tremendous efforts of experimental and clinical studies and knowledge, the pathophysiology of severe mental illness (SMI), including bipolar disorder (BD), unipolar depression (mood disorders, MD), and schizophrenia (SCZ), remains poorly understood. Besides their chronic course and high prevalence in society, mental and somatic comorbidities are really serious problems; patients with these disorders have increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases (CVD) including coronary artery diseases (CAD, i.e.

Serum adipokine levels in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granuloma which etiology is unknown yet. Adipokines are different proteins synthesized by adipose tissue that have an influence on angiogenesis, hemostasis, lipid metabolism, and immune system regulation. Adipokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Serum Annexin V and Anti-Annexin V levels and their relationship with metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: We investigated the serum annexin V and anti-annexin V levels and their relationship with metabolic parameters in patients recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic.

Methods: A total of 143 patients recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes and 133 control subjects were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI), hs-CRP, HOMA-IR, carotid intima-media thickness, and serum levels of annexin V and anti-annexin V were investigated.

Two-photon interference in the telecom C-band after frequency conversion of photons from remote quantum emitters.

Efficient fibre-based long-distance quantum communication via quantum repeaters relies on deterministic single-photon sources at telecom wavelengths, potentially exploiting the existing world-wide infrastructures. For upscaling the experimental complexity in quantum networking, two-photon interference (TPI) of remote non-classical emitters in the low-loss telecom bands is of utmost importance. Several experiments have been conducted regarding TPI of distinct emitters, for example, using trapped atoms, ions, nitrogen vacancy centres, silicon vacancy centres, organic molecules and semiconductor quantum dots.

Prediction of new potential associations between LncRNAs and environmental factors based on KATZ measure.

The associations between genetic and environmental factors (EFs) are significant to understand the development and progression of many complex human diseases. There have been many research studies concerning genetic factors (protein-coding genes, microRNAs) and EFs but limited research addressing the associations between long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and EFs. LncRNAs of more than 200 nucleotides are an important class of non-coding transcripts and are effective in the organization of gene expressions and, therefore, on the formation of diseases.

Antioxidant effects of melatonin in heart tissue after induction of experimental periodontitis in rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of melatonin on the oxidative stress in heart tissues after induction of experimental periodontitis in rats. Thirty Wistar Albino male rats were divided into four groups as follows: healthy + saline solution (Hs, n = 7), healthy + melatonin (Hm, n = 7), periodontitis + saline solution (Ps, n = 8), and periodontitis + melatonin (Pm, n = 8). Experimental periodontitis was induced using a ligature placed at the gingival margin of the maxillary second molars.

Plasma 8-isoPGF2α and serum melatonin levels in patients with minimal cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.

Background/aim: F2α-isoprostane is accepted as an oxidative stress indicator and melatonin shows neuroprotective effects by antioxidative and antiamyloidogenic influences. By measuring these in patients diagnosed with minimal cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer-type dementia, we intended to demonstrate whether the measurement of these markers contributes to early diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) in the MCI stage or not.

Materials And Methods: Three groups (n = 63) were created: the AD group, MCI group, and control group.

Protective role of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on serum cholinesterase inhibition by acute exposure to diazinon in rats.

Aim: To evaluate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a flavonoid-like natural compound plentifully found in beeswax, has a protective effect on diazinon-induced serum cholinesterase (ChE) inhibition in rats.

Materials And Methods: Animals were divided into 4 groups. The first animal group was not treated with any substance.

Effects of short-term hyperglycemia on the vasoconstriction of the aorta.

Background/aim: To investigate vasoconstrictor responses of healthy blood vessels to short-term hyperglycemic conditions such as postprandial hyperglycemia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and steroid-induced diabetes.

Materials And Methods: Female Wistar rat aorta rings were incubated in normal (11 mM) and high (22 mM and 44 mM) glucose concentrations for 4 h. Responses of vasoconstriction were measured in reaction to serotonin (10-5 M), phenylephrine (10-6 M), and KC1 (60 mM) compared to the ambient condition, including different glucose concentrations.

The effects of walnut supplementation on hippocampal NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B of rats.

Objectives: Walnuts contain numerous selected dietary factors that have an impact on brain functions, especially learning and memory formation in the hippocampus. Hippocampal N-methyl d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are involved in the formation of cognitive functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular effects of walnut supplementation on the hippocampal expressions of NMDARs involved in cognitive functions and lipid peroxidation levels in rats.

Effects of loratadine and cetirizine on serum levels of neuropeptides in patients with chronic urticaria.

H1-receptor inhibiting drugs, namely loratadine and cetirizine, were frequently used in treatment of chronic urticaria. Urticarial weal and flare reactions, a neurogenic reflex due to neuropeptides, were reported to be more effectively inhibited by cetirizine than loratadine. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the effects of systemic loratadine and cetirizine treatments on serum levels of selected neuropeptides in chronic urticaria.

The investigation of effects of fluorosis on thyroid volume in school-age children.

Aim: To compare the urine iodine, fluoride, and to measure thyroid volumes in 10-15-year-old children using ultrasonography, a gold standard in evaluating thyroid volume.

Methods: A total of 261 children were enrolled into the study group from the 4-8th grades of 3 different primary schools, which were in the zone with high fluoride levels. The control group was formed by enrolling 298 children from the 4-8th grades of only one primary school.

The effects of chelators on zinc levels in patients with thalassemia major.

Zinc which is an essential element has very important effects on growth and immune system in patients with thalassemia major (TM). The effects of two oral iron chelator agents, desferrioxamine (DFO) and deferiprone (DFP), on zinc levels were investigated in previous studies and they were found to cause zinc deficiency. Zinc level alteration by the new chelator deferasirox (DFX) is not present in the literature.

Effects of chronic scopolamine administration on spatial working memory and hippocampal receptors related to learning.

Scopolamine has been used in neuropsychopharmacology as a standard drug that leads to symptoms mimicking cognitive deficits seen during the aging process in healthy humans and animals. Scopolamine is known to be a nonselective muscarinic receptor blocker, but its chronic effect on the expression of certain hippocampal receptors is not clear. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of chronic scopolamine administration on hippocampal receptor expression and spatial working memory in two different learning tasks, the water maze and the eight-arm radial maze.

Cytokine levels and histopathology in chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C.

The changes in balance of cytokine profile may result in either recovery or persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. This study aims to reveal a possible correlation between cytokine levels, ie, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; interferon-gamma (IFN-γ); interleukin (IL)-10, IL-18, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β); and Ishak score or fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Fifty patients with CHB (n=25), CHC (n=25), and the control group of subjects with negative hepatitis B and C serology (n=30) were included in the study.