No abstract available.
Adenocarcinoma/*complications/diagnosis ; Aged ; Esophageal Achalasia/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper/physiopathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study to investigate the normal values of erythropoietin (EPO) and neuroprotective effects of quercetin and mannitol on EPO and hematocrit levels after acute severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rat model. METHODS: A weight-drop impact acceleration model of TBI was used on 40 male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into sham (group I), TBI (group II), TBI+quercetin (50 mg/kg intravenously) (group III), and TBI+mannitol (1 mg/kg intravenously) (group IV) groups. The malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, EPO, and hematocrit levels were measured 1 and 4 hour after injury. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The malondialdehyde levels decreased significantly after administration of quercetin and mannitol compared with those in group II. Catalase and glutathione peroxidase levels increased significantly in groups III and IV. Serum EPO levels decreased significantly after mannitol but not after quercetin administration. Serum hematocrit levels did not change significantly after quercetin and mannitol administration 1 hour after trauma. However, mannitol administration decreased serum hematocrit levels significantly after 4 hour. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that quercetin may be a good alternative treatment for TBI, as it did not decrease the EPO levels.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Brain Injuries* ; Catalase ; Erythropoietin* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Mannitol* ; Models, Animal ; Neuroprotective Agents ; Quercetin* ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin in obese and non-obese children with asthma and in healthy non-asthmatic children, and analyze their relationships with clinical outcomes. METHODS: This study enrolled 40 obese and 51 non-obese children with asthma and 20 healthy children. Body mass index and serum leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin levels were determined in all children. Asthma symptom scores and lung function test results were recorded for subjects with asthma. RESULTS: Serum leptin levels (11.8+/-7.9, 5.3+/-6.8, and 2.1+/-2.4 ng/mL in the obese asthmatic, non-obese asthmatic, and control groups, respectively) and adiponectin levels (12,586.2+/-3,724.1; 18,089.3+/-6,452.3; and 20,297.5+/-3,680.7 ng/mL, respectively) differed significantly among the groups (P<0.001 for all). Mean ghrelin levels were 196.1+/-96.8 and 311.9+/-352.8 pg/mL in the obese and non-obese asthmatic groups, respectively, and 348.8+/-146.4 pg/mL in the control group (P=0.001). The asthma symptom score was significantly higher in the obese children with asthma than in the non-obese children with asthma (P<0.001). Leptin and adiponectin levels were correlated with the asthma symptom score in non-obese children with asthma (r=0.34 and r=-0.62, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity leads to more severe asthma symptoms in children. Moreover, leptin, adiponectin, and ghrelin may play important roles in the inflammatory pathogenesis of asthma and obesity co-morbidity.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Asthma ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Ghrelin ; Humans ; Leptin ; Obesity ; Respiratory Function Tests

Assessment of asthma control in preschool children is important for therapeutic decisions. Aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of TRACK questionnaire scores for subsequent clinical parameters and to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the TRACK questionnaire. We enrolled 100 children with asthma aged 4 years or younger in this cohort study. We recorded sociodemographic characteristics and clinical severity parameters. A pediatric allergist filled in the asthma severity scale and the caregiver of the child filled in the TRACK questionnaire. We called in the children again at the end of one month and recorded the same parameters and administered TRACK again. Uncontrolled asthma was defined as a TRACK score below 80. According to the TRACK score, 65% of the children had controlled asthma initially while at the end of the study 64.1% had controlled asthma. At the beginning of the study, all clinical parameters were worse in children with uncontrolled asthma according to TRACK score. Similarly, other objective clinical parameters during the following one month period were worse in children with initial uncontrolled asthma. Cronbach's alpha score for the TRACK questionnaire was 0.84. Turkish TRACK questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that is predictive of short term asthma prognosis.
Asthma* ; Caregivers ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Assessment of asthma control in preschool children is important for therapeutic decisions. Aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of TRACK questionnaire scores for subsequent clinical parameters and to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the TRACK questionnaire. We enrolled 100 children with asthma aged 4 years or younger in this cohort study. We recorded sociodemographic characteristics and clinical severity parameters. A pediatric allergist filled in the asthma severity scale and the caregiver of the child filled in the TRACK questionnaire. We called in the children again at the end of one month and recorded the same parameters and administered TRACK again. Uncontrolled asthma was defined as a TRACK score below 80. According to the TRACK score, 65% of the children had controlled asthma initially while at the end of the study 64.1% had controlled asthma. At the beginning of the study, all clinical parameters were worse in children with uncontrolled asthma according to TRACK score. Similarly, other objective clinical parameters during the following one month period were worse in children with initial uncontrolled asthma. Cronbach's alpha score for the TRACK questionnaire was 0.84. Turkish TRACK questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that is predictive of short term asthma prognosis.
Asthma* ; Caregivers ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxanase-1 (PON) activity, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in tinnitus; and to compare the results with data from healthy subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 114 subjects-54 patients with tinnitus and 60 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum PON activity, TOS, TAS, and OSI levels were measured. RESULTS: In the tinnitus group, TAS, and PON were significantly lower than in the control group (p<0.001). However, the TOS, and OSI levels were significantly higher in the tinnitus group than in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: According to the data obtained from the present study, patients with tinnitus were exposed to potent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress may be the key contributing factor to the pathogenesis of tinnitus.
Aryldialkylphosphatase* ; Humans ; Oxidative Stress ; Tinnitus*

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow involvement (BMI) affects the lymphoma stage, survival, and treatment. Bone marrow biopsy (BMB) and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography- computed tomography (PET/CT) are useful techniques to detect BMI. Both have advantages and disadvantages. We aimed to identify factors that could be used to predict BMI with positive and negative results on PET/CT compare them with BMB in newly diagnosed patients with lymphoma. METHODS: We included 22 non-Hodgkin and 16 Hodgkin lymphoma patients in this single center study. All patients had PET/CT examination and BMB before treatment. BMI in BMB was reported as negative or positive. Bone marrow was classified into 3 types by FDG uptake on PT/CT; diffuse involvement, focal involvement, and normal bone marrow. RESULTS: PET/CT and BMB results were concordant (7 positive, 15 negative) in 22 patients (57%). We evaluated concordant and discordant patient characteristics and risk-stratified patients for BMI. Our findings suggest that patients with diffuse FDG uptake on PET/CT, especially patients with advanced age and low platelet and white blood cell counts, are likely to have BMI and could potentially forego BMB. Patients with negative PET/CT findings and no significant laboratory abnormalities are very unlikely to have BMI. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that BMI should not be decided solely based PET/CT or BMB findings. It is reasonable to use both diagnostic assays along with clinical and laboratory findings. PET/CT result, clinical and laboratory findings could be useful for predicting BMI in patient for whom BMB is contraindicated.
Biopsy ; Blood Platelets ; Bone Marrow* ; Electrons ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphoma* ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography*

This paper reports a presumptive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection in a cat. A cat with respiratory disease living with three individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 showed bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung on X-ray and computed tomography. The clinical swabs were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, but the serum was positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Interstitial pneumonia and prominent type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia were noted on histopathology. Respiratory tissues were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen, but the cat was positive for feline parvovirus DNA. In conclusion, the respiratory disease and associated pathology in this cat could have been due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Along with the increase in the incidence of NAFLD and associated obesity, an increase in gallbladder disease (GD) has been noted. This has led to the identification of a new disease entity called fatty GD. There is a gap in the literature on the dynamics of gallbladder function in patients with NAFLD. METHODS: An observational case-control study, a total of 50 patients with biopsy proven NAFLD without gallbladder stone/sludge and 38 healthy comparison subjects were enrolled. Fasting, postprandial gallbladder volumes (PGV), gallbladder ejection fraction (GEF), and fasting gallbladder wall thickness (FGWT) were measured by real-time 2-dimensional ultrasonography. RESULTS: Fasting gallbladder wall thickness, fasting gallbladder volumes and PGV were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD than control subjects (P < 0.001, P = 0.006, and P < 0.001, respectively). Gallbladder ejection fraction was significantly lower in the NAFLD group than the controls (P = 0.008). The presence of NAFLD was an independent predictor for GEF, PGV, and FGWT. Also, steatosis grade was an independent predictor for GEF, and GEF was significantly lower in the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) subgroup than the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder dysfunction and increase in gallbladder wall thickness exists in asymptomatic (without stone/sludge and related symptoms) patients with NAFLD and are useful in identifying fatty GD. Measurement of these variables in NAFLD patients may be useful in identifying those at higher risk for GD.
Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Fasting ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Diseases ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Obesity ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Genetic predisposition is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of rs10757274 and rs2383206 polymorphisms in chromosome 9p21 on presence and severity of CAD in a Turkish population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 646 patients who underwent coronary angiography were included in this study. Coronary vessel score and Gensini score were calculated to assess the angiographic severity of CAD. Alleles of AA, AG, and GG were determined for rs10757274 (polymorphism-1) and rs2383206 (polymorphism-2) polymorphisms located in chromosome 9p21 from the blood samples. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the alleles in polymorphism-1 in the presence of coronary artery disease (38.9% in AA, 48.0% in GG and 56.4% in AG, p=0.017). However, there was no difference between the alleles in polymorphism-2. According to vessel scores, there was a significant difference between the alleles in polymorphism-1 (AA 0.71±1.04, GG 0.88±1.07, AG 1.06±1.12, p=0.018). In polymorphism-2, vessel scores did not show a difference between the alleles. In polymorphism-1, there was a significant difference in Gensini score (p=0.041). Gensini scores did not differ between the alleles in polymorphism-2 (p>0.05 for all). In multivariate analyses, none of the alleles was an independent factor for presence of CAD. CONCLUSION: The presence of rs10757274 polymorphism including AG allele in chromosome 9p21 was related to CAD. However, this relationship was not independent of other cardiovascular risk factors.
Alleles ; Atherosclerosis ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetics ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors