Preservation of urine specimens for metabolic evaluation of recurrent urinary stone formers.

Objectives: Stability of concentrations of urinary stone-related metabolites was analyzed from samples of recurrent urinary stone formers to assess necessity and effectiveness of urine acidification during collection and storage.

Methods: First-morning urine was collected from 20 adult calcium-stone forming patients at Tomas Bata Hospital in the Czech Republic. Urine samples were analyzed for calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate, uric acid, sodium, potassium, chloride, citrate, oxalate, and urine particles.

Association of lupus anticoagulants with risk factors for obstetric complications and adverse gestational outcome.

Background: Lupus anticoagulant (LA) may be a cause of poor obstetric outcome.

Objective: To search the association of LA with risk factors for obstetric complications and adverse gestational outcome.

Methods: This retrospective cohort was consisted of 2 groups of pregnancies with poor obstetric history; 1) LA (+) gestations (Study Group, n= 20) and 2) LA (-) gestations (Control Group, 78).

Evaluation of atrial fibrosis in atrial fibrillation patients with three different methods.

Background: The presence of atrial fibrosis has already been known as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) development. We aimed to evaluate atrial fibrosis with previously defined three different methods, which were cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (C-MRI), echocardiographic strain imaging, and biomarkers and show the relationship between these methods in patients with AF scheduled for cryoballoon ablation.

Methods: A total of 30 patients were enrolled.

Treatment of hypothyroidism improves glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in geriatric patients.

Background/aim: Renal function of patients with hypothyroidism increases after reaching euthyroid state. There is no data regarding geriatric age group. The aim of the study was determined to investigate whether renal function of geriatric patients with hypothyroidism increases after they become euthyroid.

Efficacy of transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation in children with functional voiding disorders.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of transcutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (TPTNS) on functional voiding disorder (FVD) and investigate the utility of urine biomarkers (UBs: nerve growth factor, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2) in diagnosis and follow-up.

Methods: A total of 44 children were included to this randomized controlled trial prospectively. After randomization, 20 of 30 children with storage phase dysfunction those were unresponsive or noncompliant to medical treatment received TPTNS treatment (test group) and 10 children underwent TPTNS with no current (sham group) for 12 weeks.

Joint Modeling Approach on Evaluating Time-Dependent CutOff Values for C-Reactive Protein in Mixed Intensive Care Unit Population.

Background: Serial C-reactive protein (CRP) biomarker values are frequently recorded from patients in adult intensive care units (ICU). The aim of this study was to assess the time-dependent diagnostic accuracy of repeated CRP measurements in predicting ICU mortality and determine the time-dependent cutoff values for this biomarker in mixed ICU population.

Methods: Joint modeling was performed to model repeated CRP measurements and survival data.

Regulation and Effect of Telomerase and Telomeric Length in Stem Cells.

Telomeres are the protective end caps of eukaryotic chromosomes and they determine the proliferative lifespan of somatic cells, as the protectors of cell replication. Telomere length in leucocytes reflects telomere length in other somatic cells. Leucocyte telomere length can be a biomarker of human ageing.

Serum Apelin and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in Patients With Exfoliation Syndrome or Exfoliative Glaucoma.

Unlabelled: PRéCIS:: Apelin and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations, affecting the nitric oxide pathway, were different in the patient group compared with the control subjects. These 2 molecules may have potential effects in vascular pathologies and their possible role in predisposition to vascular comorbidities in exfoliation syndrome (XFS) or exfoliative glaucoma (XFG).

Purpose: To evaluate apelin and ADMA levels in serum samples from patients with XFS or XFG compared with healthy control subjects.

TKI-Related Platelet Dysfunction Does Not Correlate With Bleeding in Patients With Chronic Phase-Chronic Myeloid Leukemia With Complete Hematological Response.

Bleeding has been reported in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this study, we aimed to evaluate platelet functions and associated bleeding symptoms in patients with CML using TKIs. A standardized questionnaire that was developed for inherited bleeding disorders (ISTH/SSC Bleeding Assessment Tool) was used to score bleeding symptoms in 68 chronic phase patients with CML receiving imatinib (n = 47), dasatinib (n = 15), or nilotinib (n = 6).

A statistical approach to evaluate the performance of cardiac biomarkers in predicting death due to acute myocardial infarction: time-dependent ROC curve.

Background/aim: Myoglobin, cardiac troponin T, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) are frequently used biomarkers for evaluating risk of patients admitted to an emergency department with chest pain. Recently, time- dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis has been used to evaluate the predictive power of biomarkers where disease status can change over time. We aimed to determine the best set of biomarkers that estimate cardiac death during follow-up time.

Comparison of Spectrophotometric and Fluorimetric Methods in Evaluation of Biotinidase Deficiency.

Background: Biotin, a water-soluble vitamin, is used as a co-factor by enzymes involved in carboxylation reactions. Biotinidase (BTD) catalyzes the recycling of biotin from endogenous and dietary sources. Biotinidase deficiency (BD) is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder of biotin recycling that is associated with neurologic and cutaneous consequences when untreated.

The association between coenzyme Q10 concentrations in follicular fluid with embryo morphokinetics and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques.

Purpose: This study seeks to evaluate the association between follicular fluid (FF) coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels, embryo morphokinetics, and pregnancy rate.

Methods: Sixty infertile patients who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were included in the study. For each patient, CoQ10 level of the follicular fluid was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography system.

Placental respiratory chain complex activities in high risk pregnancies.

Objectives: Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is the key energy source for placental functions and fetal growth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the function of placenta in high risk pregnancies by measuring mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (RCC) activities, and to evaluate the correlation between double test risk ratio and RCC activities.

Methods: The placenta samples were collected from 50 pregnant women.

Gestation specific reference intervals for thyroid function tests in pregnancy.

Background: Thyroid function tests are frequently assessed during pregnancy to evaluate thyroid dysfunction or to monitor pre-existing thyroid disease. However, using non-pregnant reference intervals can lead to misclassification. International guidelines recommended that institutions should calculate their own pregnancy-specific reference intervals for free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).

Specimen rejection in laboratory medicine: Necessary for patient safety?

Introduction: The emergency laboratory in Hacettepe University Hospitals receives specimens from emergency departments (EDs), inpatient services and intensive care units (ICUs). The samples are accepted according to the rejection criteria of the laboratory. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sample rejection ratios according to the types of pre-preanalytical errors and collection areas.

European views on patients directly obtaining their laboratory test results.

Background: Medicine is a highly professionalized endeavour, by tradition centred on the authority of physicians. Better education and the advent of the information age cater for increased demands on society in general and on health care in particular to enable people to make informed decisions regarding themselves. Participation in medical decisions requires informed knowledge which is hard to obtain without substantial and time consuming professional help.

Effect of carotenoid β-cryptoxanthin on cellular and humoral immune response in rabbit.

Beta-cryptoxanthin (b-Cr) is a pro-vitamin A and one of the major carotenoids that can be commonly found in mammalian serum and tissues. Foods rich in certain fatty acids are known to be effective to gain a healthy immune system. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of b-Cr on rabbit humoral and cellular immune responses to have a better vision about the mechanism of effect of carotenoids on immune system.

The effect of telomerase template antagonist GRN163L on bone-marrow-derived rat mesenchymal stem cells is reversible and associated with altered expression of cyclin d1, cdk4 and cdk6.

Telomerase activity is essential for the continued growth and survival of malignant cells, therefore inhibition of this activity presents an attractive target for anti-cancer therapy. The telomerase inhibitor GRN163L, was shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) also show telomerase activity in maintaining their self-renewal; therefore the effects of telomerase inhibitors on MSCs may be an issue of concern.