THE PREVALENCE OF POLYNEUROPATHY IN THE PRE-DIABETES PERIOD.

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of neuropathy in the prediabetic period. Design Subjects and Method: Informed consent was attained from the patients who volunteered to participate in the study after ethics committee approval was obtained. Patients under the age of 18, having vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, history of collagen tissue-rheumatological disease, chronic kidney failure, cirrhosis, ethylism, thyroid disease, autoimmune disease, malignancy, tuberculosis, type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus and pregnant women were excluded from the study. Patients diagnosed with prediabetes were evaluated by the DN4 neuropathy complaint questionnaire. Neuropathy was diagnosed in patients having a score of four or more. For the statistical analyses Student t-test, Pearson chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were performed using the NCSS program. Results: A total of 224 volunteers, 167 women and 57 men, were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 51 and the mean level of hemoglobin A1C was 5.9. Neuropathy was detected in 45% of the cases. Especially in women, there was a significant increase in the frequency of neuropathy compared to men. The most common complaints found in our study were burning sensation and numbness in the extremities. Conclusions: Similar to diabetic patients, prediabetic patients also have a high rate of neuropathy. For the early diagnosis of neuropathy and to be treated promptly, screening tests such as DN4 should be performed for all prediabetic patients. According to the test results, advanced examinations such as EMG or biopsy should be performed earlier.

Prognostic significance of Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular arrhythmias were the most frequent manifestations in patients with COVID-19. Both the natural course of the disease and the treatment drugs used have effects on ventricular repolarization. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repolarization parameters obtained from surface electrocardiography (ECG) on prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were 205 consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. The 12-lead surface ECG was obtained from each patient on admission. The ECG results were evaluated against the patients' clinical characteristics and outcomes by experienced cardiology specialists. RESULTS: The mean age was higher in the non-survivor group compared to the survivor group (57.4 ± 15.7 vs. 65.6 ± 16.6; p = 0.001). The demographical characteristics were similar between the survivor and non-survivor groups. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that age (OR: 1.041; p = 0.009), D-dimer (OR: 1.002; p = 0.031), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI) (OR: 1.010; p = 0.041), pneumonia on computed tomography (CT) (OR: 4.985; p < 0.001), the peak-to-end interval of the T wave (Tp-e) (OR: 3.421; p < 0.001), and Tp-e/QTc ratio (OR: 1.978; p = 0.013) were statistically significant independent predictors in terms of determining mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged Tp-e interval and increased Tp-e/QTc ratio on admission are decent predictors and linked with mortality. ECG is a practical study to evaluate prognosis and potential arrhythmias, as well as initiating suitable treatment.

Evaluation of cognitive functions in gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between cognitive functions and metabolic status in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: In this study 44 patients with GDM and 45 normal pregnant were included. Depression was evaluated with Beck's depression inventory (BDI). Cognitive functions were evaluated with Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT), spatial recall test (SRT), symbol digit modalities (SDMT), and word list generation (WLG). RESULTS: The mean gestational age, educational level and account of previous birth of the subjects in the study were not statistically different between the groups. The mean scores of BDI of the 2 groups were not statistically different. MOCA score and SDMT was significantly decreased in GDM in comparison to NP (p=0.005, p=0.04 respectively). Also, SDMT score was inversely correlated with number of pregnancies, postprandial blood glucose and HbA1c.The scores of PASAT, SRT, SPART and WLG were statistically similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings may be a clue for early onset of impairment in cognitive functions in cases with new onset diabetes during pregnancy.

Isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) deficiency associated with acute adrenal crisis.

A 37 year old black female presented with congestive cardiac failure, 2 months postpartum. She developed spontaneous hypoglycaemia and symptoms of acute adrenal crisis (hypotension, nausea, abdominal pain and tachycardia with small thready pulse), which responded to i.v. dextrose, sodium chloride and hydrocortisone. Biochemical investigations revealed low serum cortisol and plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) levels. The patient initially showed an impaired cortisol response to intramuscular aqueous tetracosactrin, but an exuberant response after priming with intramuscular tetracosactrin depot. These findings, together with the normal remaining pituitary function, led us to conclude that this patient had isolated ACTH deficiency associated with congestive cardiac failure and acute adrenal crisis.