Combining Short- and Long-Read Sequencing Technologies to Identify SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Wastewater.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater was used to track the evolution and emergence of variant lineages and gauge infection levels in the community, informing appropriate public health responses without relying solely on clinical testing. As more sublineages were discovered, it increased the difficulty in identifying distinct variants in a mixed population sample, particularly those without a known lineage. Here, we compare the sequencing technology from Illumina and from Oxford Nanopore Technologies, in order to determine their efficacy at detecting variants of differing abundance, using 248 wastewater samples from various Quebec and Ontario cities.

The usefulness of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: We aimed to determine the utility of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) for the early diagnosis and prognosis of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Patients And Methods: Patients presented with STEMI arrived at the hospital within 45 minutes after the onset of chest pain were included in this study. Blood samples for TWEAK, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-TnT) levels were obtained at the time of arrival at the hospital.

A new marker of coronary collateral flow in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Objective: Multimerin-2 is an adhesion substrate between pericytes and basal membranes during angiogenesis. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between serum Multimerin-2 and coronary collateral flow grade.

Patients And Methods: Between April 2022 and August 2022, 88 patients with subacute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were included in this study.

Effects of human papillomavirus and LEEP on sexual function.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection in humans.

Aims: We evaluated the sexual function of human papillomavirus positive patients after colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).

Methods: This study enrolled 344 patients with an HPV infection detected on routine screening in 2020-2022.

The effects of sigma-1 agonist fluvoxamine on experimental induced tardive dyskinesia model in rats.

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a persistent involuntary complex movement disorder that is known to occur with long-term antipsychotic treatment. Despite being a well-recognized complication of this treatment, its symptoms are often masked by the antipsychotic agents, only to become apparent upon reducing or terminating the treatment. In an effort to advance our understanding of TD pathophysiology and to identify potential therapies, the current study aimed to establish an animal model of TD by administering haloperidol to rats and to evaluate the efficacy of fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), in ameliorating TD symptoms.

Influence of General and Local Anesthesia on Postoperative Pain After a Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure.

Objective: To compare patient satisfaction, histopathologic results, and short-term morbidity in patients undergoing loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) under local anesthesia (LA) versus general anesthesia (GA).

Methods: Participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the LA group or GA group. Pain was determined by both objective (faces pain scale-revised) and subjective (visual analog scale score) methods.

Serum chromogranin A levels are associated with the SYNTAX score in coronary artery disease.

Objective: In this article, we investigated the association of chromogranin A with coronary artery disease.

Methods: Biochemical parameters and chromogranin A levels obtained from peripheral blood samples during coronary angiography were analyzed in 90 patients. Patients were classified into two groups, namely, SYNergy between PCI with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery score ≥1 (n=45) and SYNergy between PCI with TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery score=0 (n=45).

Cardiovascular disease risk prediction in scleroderma.

Objective: Cardiovascular disease risk prediction in scleroderma is important. In this study of scleroderma patients, the aim was to investigate the relationship between cardiac myosin-binding protein-C, sensitive troponin T, and trimethylamine N-oxide and cardiovascular disease risk with the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 model of the European Society of Cardiology.

Methods: Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation 2 risk groups of 38 healthy controls and 52 women with scleroderma were evaluated.

Assessment of intracellular zinc levels in infants with food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis.

Background: Food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) is characterized by bloody stools in well-appearing infants. Zinc is a micronutrient that plays a crucial role in immune modulation and is essential for cellular function during immune response. Although there are studies on the assessment of intracellular zinc levels in allergic diseases, no data is available on erythrocyte zinc levels of patients with FPIAP.

Investigation of serum E-Cadherin, VEGF121, Survivin, Tenascin C and Tetraspanin 8 levels in patients with glioblastoma.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine biomarkers, which may be used in order to understand the pathophysiology, the diagnosis, progression surveillance/monitoring, and treatment efficacy of high graded glial tumors.

Background: Radiological imaging in the diagnosis and relapse surveillance of glial tumors is sometimes insufficient. There is need for additional methods of diagnosis and surveillance in order to rule out contradictory circumstances.

Plasma Asymmetrıc Dımethylargınıne (ADMA) and Nıtrıc Oxıde (NO) Levels ın Patıents wıth Chronıc Pansınusıtıs.

Chronic pansinusitis is a mucosal inflammation of the nose and all paranasal sinuses with severe inflammation of the upper airways. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is associated with oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to examine the plasma levels and importance of ADMA and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with chronic pansinusitis.

Long-lasting cognitive effects of COVID-19: is there a role of BDNF?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects numerous systems of the body during the illness, and there have been long-lasting effects. BDNF plays an important role in synaptic plasticity and synaptic communication. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 54 patients who had COVID-19 infection participated in this study.

Pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption of permanent dentition: A new classification and a multidisciplinary study.

The aims of this study were to develop a new classification for pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption(PIR) with different resorption areas and sizes and to compare the new classification scores among observers from different specialities and professional experience. The PIR was evaluated according to the new classification by two dentomaxillofacial radiologists and two endodontists. Information regarding the patient's age, gender, systemic diseases, the number of PIR, the affected tooth area and the size of the PIR was recorded.

Procollagen C-proteinase enhancer-1 and renal failure in multiple myeloma.

Background: Renal involvement is present in approximately 50% of multiple myeloma (MM) cases and is associated with a poor prognosis. Procollagen C-Proteinase Enhancer 1 (PCPE-1) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that has been shown to increase collagen production by enhancing the activity of Procollagen C-Proteinase (PCP) involved in collagen fibrillogenesis and contribute to the fibrotic process. This study investigates the relationship between PCPE-1 and renal function in myeloma patients.

A novel combined index of D-dimer, fibrinogen, albumin, and platelet (FDAPR) as mortality predictor of COVID-19.

Background: In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARSCoV2 viruses, coagulation abnormalities are strongly correlated between disease severity and mortality risk.

Aims: The aim was to search for new indices to determine mortality risk. Fibrinogen times D-dimer to albumin times platelet ratio calculated with the formula (FDAPR index: ((Fibrinogen × D-dimer)/(Albumin × Platelet)) investigated as a mortality marker in COVID-19 patients.

Diagnostic accuracy of adropin as a preliminary test to exclude acute pulmonary embolism: a prospective study.

Background: This study aims to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of adropin as a biomarker to exclude the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Patients admitted to the emergency department of a tertiary health centre between August 2019 and August 2020 and diagnosed with PE were included in this prospective cohort study. The amount of serum adropin was determined in patients with (PE) and compared with that of healthy volunteers.

C-Reactive Protein-to-Albumin Ratio as a Prognostic Inflammatory Marker in COVID-19.

 As a result of developed generalized inflammation, the main prognostic factor determining morbidity and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is acute respiratory distress syndrome. The purpose of our study was to define (1) the laboratory tests that will contribute to the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 patients, (2) the differences between the laboratory-confirmed (LC), unconfirmed (LUC), and control (C) groups, and (3) the variation between groups of acute-phase reactants and biomarkers that can be used as an indicator of disease severity and inflammation.  A total of 102 patients undergoing treatment with COVID-19 interim guidelines were evaluated.

[Investigation of Factors Affecting Viral Clearance Time by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Method in Nasopharyngeal Swab Samples of COVID-19 Patients].

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to threaten the lives of millions of people. Viral shedding through the respiratory tract is the main risk factor for the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus from sick individuals to healthy individuals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the viral clearance (VC) time in PCR tests of COVID-19 patients and the possible factors affecting this time.

Systemic Immune-Inflammatory Index as a Determinant of Atherosclerotic Burden and High-Risk Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Background: Systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), which is derived from neutrophil, platelet and lymphocyte counts, represents the homeostatic balance among inflammatory, immune and thrombotic status. The systemic immune-inflammatory index is superior to indices such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in predicting prognosis in various malignancies, while it is shown to predict future cardiac events better than traditional risk factors after coronary intervention.

Objectives: Herein, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of the systemic immune-inflammatory index with atherosclerotic burden and in-hospital complications in acute coronary syndrome patients.

Immunogenicity and safety of the CoronaVac vaccine in patients undergoing treatment for breast and lung cancer.

Objective: To compare seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) specific IgG positivity against two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine in breast and lung cancer patients receiving systemic therapy, to determine the factors affecting seropositivity, and to observe long-term results up to a secondary booster vaccine.

Results: The analysis included 201 cancer patients (99 breasts, 102 lungs; median age: 59 years (range: 28-92), 42.3 % men) and 97 controls (median age: 62 years (range: 24-87), 38.

Soluble B7H3 level in breast cancer and its relationship with clinicopathological variables and T cell infiltration.

Aim Of The Study: Although early diagnosis of breast cancer (BC) is often associated with a good prognosis, there is currently no biomarker with high sensitivity serving this purpose. B7H3, a recently identified member of the B7 family, appears to inhibit antitumor immunity. We investigated the soluble B7H3 (sB7H3) level in BC and its relationship with clinicopathological variables and stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs).

The Effects of Fentanyl on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Objective: Testicular torsion is a condition that often occurs as a result of the rotation of the spermatic cord in childhood and adolescence in men, manifests with acute pain and causes infertility in the future even if emergency intervention is performed. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective and preventive effects of fentanyl, a potent analgesic agent frequently used in anaesthesia practice, on testicular ischemia reperfusion injury, which manifests through acute pain.

Methods: A total of 16 adult male Wistar rats, weighing 200-250 g, were used in this study.

Can the unmodified incus be used for a simpler, more cost-effective functional ossicular chain reconstruction? A retrospective clinical study.

Objective: To evaluate patients' hearing outcomes after ossicular chain reconstruction using unmodified autologous incus.

Methods: A single-centred, retrospective study of patients who underwent incus interposition between June 2010 and October 2017 was conducted at a Dutch secondary referral centre. This paper describes a chart review of patients who presented with erosion of the long process of the incus due to atelectasis or cholesteatoma who were treated with an unmodified incus interposition.

Immunogenicity after CoronaVac vaccination.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity of CoronaVac-SinoVac vaccination in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) risk factors and comorbidities.

Methods: Immunoglobulin (IgG) antibody responses were examined on the 21st day after the second dose of CoronaVac-SinoVac 6 μg vaccine on the 28th day. SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels were measured by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in vaccinated health care workers (n=134) (Group I), vaccinated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (+) who had coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) disease (n=21) (Group II), and unvaccinated PCR (+) (n=28) (Group III) participants.