Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory.

Background/aim: There are insufficient tools to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular migraine. Hence, the aim of this study was to perform the Turkish adaptation of the Vestibular Migraine Patient Assessment Tool and Handicap Inventory (VM-PATHI). Materials and methods: After the language and content validity was completed, a pilot study was conducted. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to test construct validity, and as a result of the validity analyses, Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient and test-retest analyses were conducted for reliability. Results: In the study, in which 289 participants were evaluated, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient was calculated as 0.903. The percentage of variance explained by the EFA was 67.246% and the range of factor load change was 0.433-0.828. The scale structure was tested with CFA and the model was confirmed with adequate goodness of fit index values. The Cronbach's alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was 0.931. Conclusion: The VM-PATHI is a valid and reliable tool for the subjective evaluation of vestibular migraine in Türkiye.

Timing of four or more scheduled cesarean sections.

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing number of cesarean sections worldwide, the need to determine the gestational age for scheduled cesarean sections has increased. The literature needs clear information, especially about cesarean sections four or more times. Our study aims to determine the ideal gestational week for mothers and babies in patients who are not in labor and who will have four or more cesarean sections. METHODS: In our retrospective study, the records of 2318 pregnant women were accessed, and those with singleton pregnancies, without medication use during pregnancy, and without any complicated pregnancies, such as newly defined preeclampsia, diabetes, and thyroid disease, and those over 18 years of age were included. All of the cesarean sections were under scheduled conditions (no beginning of labor and no pain/contraction). The exclusion criteria were patients with vaginal dilatation and effacement, a history of uterine rupture, and a diagnosis of placental adhesion spectrum disorder. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in neonatal outcomes according to gestational week, regardless of the number of cesarean sections, transient tachypnea of the newborn increased significantly in scheduled cesareans performed at the 37th week compared with other weeks (p < 0.01). The results can be expected at 39 weeks and above. CONCLUSION: As a result, patients should not undergo cesarean section before 39 weeks unless they are in labor, and it seems safe to wait until 39 weeks.

A High-Dose Corticosteroid Treatment Increases Coronavirus Disease of 2019 Mortality in Intensive Care Units.

Objectives: The study is aimed to investigate the association between different corticosteroid treatment regimens and clinical status, complications, mechanical ventilation requirement, and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in individuals diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study. Patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 and treated with low- or medium-dose corticosteroid therapy (methylprednisolone at a dose of 0.5-1 mg/kg for 7-10 days) were compared with patients treated with high-dose pulse corticosteroid therapy (methylprednisolone at varying doses of 250 mg, 500 mg or 1000 mg for 3-7 days) in addition to standard therapy because of increased pulmonary infiltrate and elevated inflammatory markers during clinical monitoring. All demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, clinical course, laboratory findings, discharge status, 28-day mortality, intubation status, acute physiological assessment and chronic health evaluation II score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and sequential organ failure assessment score, were recorded. Results: Corticosteroid treatment was administered to 689 (88.3%) of 780 COVID-19 ICU patients between April 2020 and October 2021. The overall mortality rate was 45.1% (n= 352). When the mortality rates of patients were compared according to the corticosteroid dose, the mortality rate in the low-to-medium-dose group (40%) was significantly lower than that in the high-dose group (76%). In addition, significant deterioration in laboratory and clinical parameters was observed in the high-dose corticosteroid group. Conclusion: High mortality, adverse effects, and complications were significantly increased when high-dose corticosteroids were administered. Corticosteroid therapy should be used cautiously according to the patient's clinical condition, disease stage, comorbidities, and systemic or organ reserves.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Fibrosis Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated at Internal Medicine Clinics: Türkiye DAHUDER Awareness of Fatty Liver Disease (TR-DAFLD) Study.

This awareness study aimed to determine the ultrasound (US) examination rates in relation to US-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) diagnosis in internal medicine outpatients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) across Türkiye. A total of 6283 T2D patients were included in this multicenter retrospective cohort study conducted at 17 internal medicine clinics across Türkiye. The presence and indications for US performed within the last 3 years were recorded along with US-confirmed MAFLD rates, laboratory findings on the day of US, and referral rates. Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index was calculated to estimate the risk of advanced liver fibrosis (FIB-4 index ≥ 1.3). Overall, 1731 (27.6%) of 6283 patients had US examination, which revealed MAFLD diagnosis in 69.9% of cases. In addition, 24.4% of patients with US-confirmed MAFLD were at risk of advanced fibrosis (FIB-4 index ≥ 1.3), and the referral rate was 15.5%. In conclusion, our findings emphasize an insufficient MAFLD awareness among clinicians and the likelihood of most of T2D patients to be at risk of living with an unknown status regarding their MAFLD and advanced fibrosis risk.

The predictive role of carotid artery flow time for anesthesia-induced hypotension in high-risk elderly patients.

Hypotension induced by general anesthesia is associated with postoperative complications, increased mortality, and morbidity, particularly elderly patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of corrected carotid artery flow time (FTc) for predicting hypotension following anesthesia induction in patients over 65 years old. After faculty ethical committee approval and written informed consent, 138 patients (65 years and older, ASA physical status I-III) who scheduled for elective surgery were included in this study. In the pre-operative anesthesia unit, the carotid artery FTc value was measured by ultrasound and hemodynamic values were recorded. Following anesthesia induction with propofol, hemodynamic data were recorded at 1-minute intervals for 3 min. Measurements were terminated prior to endotracheal intubation, as direct laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation could cause sympathetic stimulation and hemodynamic changes. Hypotension occurred in 52 patients (37.7%). The preoperative FTc value of the patients who developed hypotension was statistically lower (312.5 ms) than the patients who did not (345.0 ms) (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for carotid artery FTc was 0.93 (95% CI for AUC:0.89-0.97; p < 0.001) with an optimal cut-off of value for predicting post-anesthesia hypotension 333 ms, a sensitivity of 90.4% and a specificity of 84.9%. As a result of the multiple logistic regression model, carotid artery FTc emerged as the sole independent risk factor for hypotension following anesthesia induction. Preoperative carotid artery FTc measurement is a simple, bedside, noninvasive, and reliable method for predicting anesthesia-induced hypotension in elderly patients.

The relationship between stathmin-2 level and metabolic parameters in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

BACKGROUND: Stathmin is a phosphoprotein that plays a role in intercellular and intracellular signaling, inflammation, and differentiation. Our aim was to evaluate the stathmin-2 level and its relationship with the metabolic parameters of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (nT2DM) patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This case-control study included 76 patients with nT2DM and 76 healthy individuals with a normal oral glucose tolerance test who were matched for body mass index (BMI), age, and gender. In addition to laboratory and anthropometric measurements related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), stathmin-2 levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We observed significantly higher circulating stathmin-2 levels in subjects with T2DM compared to the control group (6.39±1.60 ng/mL and 4.66±0.80 ng/mL, p<0.0001). In patients with metabolic syndrome, circulating stathmin-2 levels were significantly elevated compared to those without metabolic syndrome in both the T2DM and control groups (T2DM: 7.16±1.24 vs 5.06±1.24 ng/mL, p<0.001; Control: 3.84±1.40 vs 3.82±1.40 ng/mL). In both groups, we observed a positive correlation between stathmin-2 levels and BMI and circumference. Moreover, stathmin-2 showed a positive correlation with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, insulin, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, BMI, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol. A negative correlation was observed with stathmin-2 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Stathmin-2 did not show any correlation with age, triglyceride, and lactate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS: Stathmin-2 levels were found to be elevated in patients with nT2DM and exhibited positive correlations with hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia, HOMO-IR and hs-CRP levels. These results indicate that stathmin-2 may play a role in T2DM pathogenesis.

Entomopathogenic fungi with biological control potential against poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae, Arachnida: Dermanyssidae).

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (Arachnida: Dermanyssidae) is a pest that causes significant economic loss in laying hens for which control methods are limited. In this study, the effects of 20 indigenous fungal strains on poultry red mites in chicken farms were investigated. All experiments were conducted under laboratory condition at 28 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 5% humidity. A screening test showed that Metharizium flavoviride strain As-2 and Beauveria bassiana strain Pa4 had the greatest measured effect on D. gallinae at 1 × 107 conidia/ml 7 days after application. In a subsequent does-response experiment, these strains also caused 92.7% mortality at 1 × 109 conidia/ml within the same period. The LC50 of these strains was 5.5 × 104 (95% CI: 0.8-37.5) conidia/ml for As-2 and 3.2 × 104 (95% CI: 0.4-26.0) conidia/ml for Pa4, and their LT50 were 1.94 and 1.57 days, respectively. The commercial Metarhizium anisopliae bioinsecticide Bio-Storm 1.15% WP, used as a comparator, had LC50 and LT50 1 × 105 (95% CI: 0.1-7.9) conidia/ml and 3.03 (95% CI: 2.4-3.8) days, respectively. It is suggested that mycoacaricides could be developed using the best two fungal strains found in this study (As-2 and Pa4), providing potential for biological control of poultry red mites.

Epiregulin: A new prognostic molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Epiregulin is a molecule that plays a role in cell proliferation, tumor development, inflammation, and angiogenesis in malignant diseases. AIM: Our study aims to reveal, for the first time, the predictive value of this molecule in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and its association with disease stage, cell type, and extranodal involvement. METHODS: The study is an observational case-control trial involving 60 newly diagnosed NHL patients and 60 healthy individuals (control group) between 18 and 75 years old. Demographic characteristics of all volunteers, stages of patients' illnesses and lymphoma cell types, hemogram, biochemistry tests, beta 2-microglobulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and epiregulin levels were measured and statistically evaluated. RESULTS: Epiregulin levels were significantly higher in NHL patients compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). Similarly, a significant increase in epiregulin levels was observed in advanced NHL patients. Furthermore, the most common NHL subgroup within the NHL group, diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), and the subgroup with extranodal involvement also had significantly higher levels of epiregulin. A positive correlation was found between the epiregulin molecule and CRP, beta 2-microglobulin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in NHL patients. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that serum epiregulin levels, discovered to increase in NHL patients for the first time, may be an independent predictive molecule in an advanced stage, extranodal involvement, and the DLBCL subtype of this disease. Epiregulin positively correlates with prognostic molecules such as beta 2-microglobulin, LDH, and CRP. Illuminating its potential role in NHL pathogenesis could make epiregulin a vital drug target for treatment.

Matriptase as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects the processing of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. In T2DM, metabolic dysregulation occurs through various pathways caused by increased levels of many adipokines and inflammatory chemokines. Impaired insulin-glucose metabolism occurs in tissues. The proteolytic enzyme matriptase is thought to be closely related to glucose metabolism due to its glycolization sites. AIM: Our study aimed to evaluate the correlation between matriptase, a proteolytic enzyme, and metabolic parameters in individuals recently diagnosed with T2DM. We also sought to investigate the potential involvement of matriptase in the development of diabetes. METHODS: We measured all participants' metabolic laboratory parameters, including basic biochemical tests, hemograms, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and matriptase levels. RESULTS: Our results showed a significant increase in circulating matriptase levels in individuals with T2DM compared to the control group. Furthermore, individuals with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher matriptase levels than those without in the T2DM and control groups. We also observed that T2DM patients had elevated levels of Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), hsCRP, and matriptase, which displayed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: Our study is the first to report elevated levels of matriptase in individuals with newly diagnosed T2DM and/or metabolic syndrome. Additionally, we found a significant positive correlation between matriptase levels and metabolic and inflammatory parameters, indicating a potential role for matriptase in the pathogenesis of T2DM and glucose metabolism. Further research on matriptase could lead to its recognition as a novel target for investigation.

Isolation and identification of bacteria from the invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and evaluation of their biocontrol potential.

As an alternative to chemical insecticides, gut bacteria of insects could be used to control insect pests. In this study, bacteria associated with Tuta absoluta, an invasive species that has developed resistance to chemical insecticides, were isolated, and their potential for pest control was investigated. We isolated 13 bacteria from larvae of the pest and identified the isolates on the basis of their morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characteristics as Bacillus thuringiensis (Ta1-8), Staphylococcus petrasii (Ta9), Citrobacter freundii (Ta10), Chishuiella changwenlii (Ta11), Enterococcus casseliflavus (Ta12), and Pseudomonas tremae (Ta13). A laboratory screening test at 109 cfu/ml showed that B. thuringiensis (Bt) isolates caused more than 90% mortality after 3 days. Among the isolates, Bt-Ta1 showed the highest mortality in a short time. The LC50 and LC90 values for Bt-Ta1 were estimated to be 1.2 × 106 and 2 × 109 cfu/ml, respectively. Detailed characterization of Bt-Ta1 revealed that it is one of the serotypes effective on lepidopterans and contains the genes cry1Aa, cry2Aa, and vip3Aa, which encode lepidopteran toxic proteins. Bt-Ta1 isolate has been shown to have the potential to be used in the integrated management of Tuta absoluta.

Is enhanced recovery after surgery essential?

BACKGROUND: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) method is designed for the patient to recover quickly, have less pain and have a more comfortable period after the surgery; that includes preoperative, intra and postoperative processes. ERAS has been started to be applied in cesarean section surgeries as the patients need to recover quickly. In the literature, there is no study about the results of ERAS in cesarean section about pain scores and complications. OBJECTIVES: It is aimed to compare the results of cesarean section patients using the ERAS method completely in patients who have had cesarean section without meeting some of the postoperative conditions of the ERAS criteria. STUDY DESIGN: It is a prospective study designed as postoperative metoclopramide, enema and routine opioids in group 1, enema and metoclopramide in group 2, metoclopramide only in group 3 and nothing in group 4. Postoperative pain scoring was done by using visual analog scale (VAS). Analysis of variance tests and t tests were used for results. RESULTS: There was no difference between groups according to age, parity, and birth weight. As a result, although there was no difference between the groups in terms of discharge time and complications, the VAS score used in pain scoring was found to be significantly lower in group 3 compared to the other groups (p: 0.000). Only metoclopramide group (group 3) had lowest VAS score. CONCLUSION: It has been revealed that the ERAS procedure does not need to be so detailed in the postoperative period, and the addition of metoclopramide may be sufficient. Since pain can be a subjective factor, other randomized studies are needed in terms of other criteria.

Complete genome sequence analysis and genome organization of Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV-T1) from Turkey.

The economically important pale tussock moth Dasychira pudibunda L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), known as a beech pest in Europe, primarily inflicts damage on beech leaves. In the present study, we aim to reveal the genome characteristics of Dasychira pudibunda nucleopolyhedrovirus (DapuNPV-T1), which was detected for the first time in Turkey and compare it with the reference genome and other baculovirus genomes. The DapuNPV-T1 genome was determined to be a circular, double-stranded DNA molecule with 136,920 bp and a nucleotide distribution of 54.4% G + C. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the DapuNPV-T1 genome contains 163 open reading frames with more than 150 nucleotides. Fifty-four ORFs of unknown function, 6 homologous regions (hrs), 1 AC-rich region, and 3 bro genes (bro-a, bro-b, and bro-c) were determined in the genome sequence. Comparative analysis with other baculovirus strains revealed distinctions in the DapuNPV-T1 genome based on ORF. The gene parity plot and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that DapuNPV-T1 belongs to the alphabaculovirus group Ib. In addition, the DapuNPV-T1 isolate was found to be close to the nucleopolyhedrovirus Poland isolate in Dasychira pudibunda and Orgyia pseudotsugata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. With this study, the first genome analysis of DapuNPV from Turkey became the second in the world to enter the literature. Comprehensive information on a wide range of isolates will provide a more detailed overview of baculoviruses and help overcome their shortcomings as biocontrol agents.

Evaluation of vestibulo-ocular reflex with functional head impulse test in healthy individuals: normative values.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the normative values of the functional head impulse test (fHIT) test in healthy young adults. Materials and methods: The study included 100 individuals, 58 females and 42 males, aged 20-25 years. Beon Solution Zero Branco (TV) fHIT test was applied to all participants. FHIT results were analyzed in terms of lateral-posterior-anterior semicircular canals (SSCs), gender, and right-left ear. Results: In the fHIT test, for the lateral SSC the mean percent correct answer (%CA) values for 4,000-6,000°/s2 and 1,000-7,000°/s2 were 88.52 ± 9.04 and 89.91 ± 6.95, respectively; for the posterior SSC, the mean %CA values for SSC 3000-6,000°/s2 and 1,000-7,000°/s2 were 90.63 ± 8.69 and 91.16 ± 7.42, respectively; for the anterior SSC, the mean %CA values for 3,000-6,000°/s2 and 1,000-7,000°/s2 were 91.21 ± 7.96 and 91.49 ± 7.13, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the right and left ear in %CA values at all accelerations in all SSCs (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between genders in the mean %CA values for 6,000-7,000°/s2, 4,000-6,000°/s2, and 1,000-7,000°/s2 in the lateral SSC and 3,000-6,000°/s2 in the anterior SSC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The FHIT is a noninvasive test battery that functionally evaluates the VOR of the six semicircular canals. In clinical use, the determination of normative values at all accelerations (1,000-7,000 degrees/s2) constitutes an important database for future studies to distinguish pathologic results.

Vestibular Evaluation of Children Diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorder.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the vestibular function of children diagnosed with specific learning disorders (SLD). Methods: This study was conducted with 30 children diagnosed with SLD and 30 healthy children matched for age and sex, and vestibular tests were applied. Results: Optokinetic and head shake test values in videonystagmography subtests were found to be pathological in the study group, and the lateral asymmetry value in video head impulse test (v-HIT) was found to be significantly higher in the study group. Also, a significant difference was found in the N1 latency, P1-N1 interlatency, P1-N1 amplitude values in the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential test, and asymmetry values in the ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential test. Conclusion: The current study showed that vestibular functions may differ from normal in SLD patients and that vestibular dysfunction may play a role in symptoms such as postural instability, balance, and gross and fine motor disorders that are frequently observed in these children.

Neutrophil/Lymphocyte and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio in Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate maternal hematological laboratory parameters of pregnancies complicated with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) compared to mothers of healthy-term infants (control group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 158 mothers who were divided into PPROM (n=67) and control (n=91) groups, respectively. Laboratory parameters of platelet, lymphocyte, and neutrophil counts, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were recorded at the time of diagnosis for the PPROM group and at the time of hospital admission for birth for the control group. RESULTS: NLR was significantly higher in the PPROM group than in the control group (p=0.001). The cutoff value of NLR to predict PPROM was 6.73 (AUC=0.671, 95% confidence interval=0.58-0.75, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: A cheap and routine NLR blood test can be used to predict PPROM before labor.

Results of Endometrial Sampling in a Tertiary Hospital.

AIM: This study aims to investigate the results of endometrial sampling in a tertiary hospital according to age and symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 505 patients who underwent endometrial sampling due to various reasons in our tertiary hospital in the last six months were included in our study, and the pathological results of endometrial sampling were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of 505 patients was 45.03 + 7.40 (19-74) years, and 91.5% of the indications were premenopausal abnormal uterine bleeding and 8.5% were postmenopausal bleeding. The most common pathological result of all age groups was proliferative endometrium (37.6%), and the least was the endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (0.2%). In 9.3% of patients, the result was insufficient material. Of the patients, 88.7% had no additional organic pathology. A total of 30 (5.9%) patients have undergone surgery after endometrial sampling. CONCLUSION: It should be kept in mind that despite the pathological result may be insufficient rarely, endometrial sampling should be performed as the first choice in abnormal uterine bleeding.

Predicting asphyxia in term fetus.

This aim of this study was to investigate maternal hematological laboratory parameters of term infants before birth diagnosed with asphyxia compared to mothers of healthy term infants and predict asphyxia by these parameters. This study was conducted on 109 and 192 mothers of the fetus with asphyxia and healthy, respectively. Laboratory parameters of complete blood count, including PDW (platelet distribution width), PCT (procalcitonin) and NLR (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio), were recorded before birth from pregnant women. PDW and basophil counts were significantly higher in the asphyxia group than healthy group (p: .000). The cut-off level of 19.425 accurately predicted the occurrence of asphyxia (AUC = 0.724 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.78), p = .000). Basophil count could predict asphyxia, especially the cut-off level of> 0.15(10³/µL) (AUC = 0.67) (95% confidence interval 0.60-0.74, p = .000). To predict asphyxia before labor, a cheap and routine test of PDW can be used after more research in this area.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Asphyxia is still an unsolved problem in neonatal mortality and morbidity, and it is seen in babies of mothers who carry some risks during pregnancy (such as multiple pregnancy, baby of mother with preeclampsia, meconium aspiration, diabetes); however, it is known that it is a subject that is still not fully understood as it can also occur as a result of labor that does not have any risk factors and goes well.What do the results of this study add? In term fetuses without risk factors, it can be predicted to a certain extent whether the fetus will be diagnosed with asphyxia from the hemogram test that can work from the blood of the mother before birth.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In clinical practice, asphyxia can be estimated with a cheap and simple test, without any extra examination, by looking at the routine blood tests taken from the mother before going into labor.

The short-term effect of COVID-19 on the cochleovestibular system in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES: The audio-vestibular equivalent of neurological symptoms secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been discussed; however, it has not been fully clarified. Although it has been reported that the vestibulocochlear system is affected in adult coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients, there is no study in the literature in which the pediatric patient group with COVID-19 was evaluated comprehensively with auditory and vestibular tests. In this study, the short-term damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 in the vestibulocochlear system in pediatric patients was examined. METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the vestibulocochlear system of pediatric patients (aged 9-15 years) with a recent history of COVID-19. The study included 35 individuals with a recent history of COVID-19 and 35 age-gender-matched healthy individuals (control group). Pure tone audiometry, suppressed otoacoustic emission (OAE), video head impulse test (VHIT), and cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (c/o-VEMP) tests were administered to all participants following their otoscopic examinations, and the obtained data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: When the data obtained with pure tone audiometry were compared, statistically significant differences were found between the groups at four different frequencies (1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) in favor of the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values obtained before noise at 2800 Hz and before and after noise at 4000 Hz. VHIT lateral gain, LARP gain, and RALP gain were statistically significantly lower in the COVID-19 group than in the control group (p < 0.05). VHIT lateral asymmetry parameter was measured higher in the COVID-19 group than in the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the VHIT test, the asymmetry parameter was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.05). In the o-VEMP test, n10 latency, p15 latency, n10-p15 interlatency, n10-p15 interpeak amplitude, and asymmetry parameters were measured, and no statistically significant difference was found between the COVID-19 group and the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Evidence was obtained that the cochleovestibular system was damaged in pediatric patients in the early post-COVID-19 period.

Agreement between tele-assessment and face-to-face assessment of 30-s sit-to-stand test in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The globalization of healthcare systems, and the aim to lower healthcare costs have all contributed to the growth of telehealth technology in recent years. However, before these systems are put into use, their efficacy should be verified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study focusing on the evaluation of functional exercise capacity using the 30-s sit-to-stand (30-s STS) test as a tele-assessment method in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). AIMS: The purpose of the study is to investigate the level of agreement between tele-assessment and face-to-face assessment of 30-s STS test in patients with T2DM. METHODS: Fifty participants performed two times 30-s STS tests separated by 1 h: a face-to-face and an Internet-connected video call examination (tele-assessment). Two physiotherapists conduct these evaluations; each was blinded to the other. The order of the evaluations was designated at random for each participant and physiotherapist. RESULTS: There was a good level of agreement between tele-assessment and face-to-face assessment of the 30-s STS test (mean differences = 0.20 ± 0.88, limits of agreement = 1.93 to - 1.53). Excellent interrater reliability was found for scores of the 30-s STS test [ICC = 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88; 0.96)]. In addition, all before and after test parameters show that there was a very good interrater reliability (ρ ≥ 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a good level of agreement between tele-assessment and face-to-face assessment of the 30-s STS test. Our study's findings indicate that tele-assessment is a potential application to determine the level of physical capacity remotely in patients with T2DM.

Genome Sequencing and Organization of Three Geographically Different Isolates of Nucleopolyhedrovirus from the Gypsy Moth Reveal Significant Genomic Differences.

Background: The gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L., Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a worldwide pest of trees and forests. Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) belongs to the Baculoviridae family and is an insect virus specific to gypsy moth larvae. In this study, we describe the complete genome sequences of three geographically diverse isolates, H2 (China), J2 (Japan), and T3 (Turkey), of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV). Methods: The genomes of isolates H2, J2, and T3 were subjected to shotgun pyrosequencing using Roche 454 FLX and assembled using Roche GS De Novo Assembler. Comparative analysis of all isolates was performed using bioinformatics methods. Results: The genomes of LdMNPV-H2, J2, and T3 were 164,746, 162,249, and 162,614 bp in size, had GC content of 57.25%, 57.30%, and 57.46%, and contained 162, 165, and 164 putative open reading frames (ORFs ≥ 150 nt), respectively. Comparison between the reference genome LdMNPV-5/6 (AF081810) and the genomes of LdMNPV-H2, J2, and T3 revealed differences in gene content. Compared with LdMNPV-5/6, ORF5, 6, 8, 10, 31, and 67 were absent in LdMNPV-H2, ORF5, 13, and 66 were absent in LdMNPV-J2, and ORF10, 13, 31, and 67 were absent in LdMNPV-T3. In addition, the gene encoding the mucin-like protein (ORF4) was split into two parts in isolates H2 and T3 and designated ORF4a and ORF4b. Phylogenetic analysis grouped isolates H2 and J2 in a different cluster than isolate T3, which is more closely related to the Turkish and Polish isolates. In addition, H2 was found to be closely related to a South Korean LdMNPV isolate. Conclusion: This study provided a more detailed overview of the relationships between different geographic LdMNPV isolates. The results showed remarkable differences between groups at the genome level.