Assessment of erythrocyte morphology in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pilot study of electron microscopy-based analysis in relation to healthy controls

Background/aim: The present study aimed to assess erythrocyte morphology in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using scanning electron microscopy. Materials and methods: In total, 30 patients admitted to endocrine outpatient clinics were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their fasting blood glucose levels: type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 15, fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 126 mg/dL) and control (n = 15, fasting blood glucose levels < 99 mg/dL). The patient's demographic characteristics, haemoglobin A1c levels, and scanning electron microscopy findings regarding erythrocyte morphology were recorded. Results: There was no significant difference between the control and type 2 diabetes mellitus group in terms of the participants' age (51.13 ± 8.53 vs. 50.33 ± 8.72 years, p = 0.8) and the male/female ratio (9/6 vs. 9/6). In the control group, discocytes were abundant, echinocytes were rare, and spherocytes were absent. On the other hand, discocytes were less common and echinocyte-shaped erythrocytes were more common in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group. In addition, spherocytes were detected in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group. Moreover, the diameter of discocytes was significantly lower (p = 0.014), and blood glucose and haemoglobin A1c levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05 for both) in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that high glucose levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients lead to significant alterations in erythrocyte morphology, including decreased erythrocyte deformability and the formation of echinocytes and spherocytes due to eryptosis. The possibility of decreased erythrocyte deformability due to excessive eryptosis may disturb microcirculation in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who do not have any complications.

Effects of propolis in an experimental rat model of allergic rhinitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-allergic activity of propolis in an ovalbumin-induced rat model of allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective experimental study was conducted at Hakan Çetinsaya Clinical and Experimental Animal Research Center with 30 rats. After sensitization of all rats with 0.3mg intraperitoneal ovalbumin plus 30mg aluminum hydroxide for 14days (first phase), rats were divided to five groups. In the second phase of the study 10µL of ovalbumin was applied to each nostril for 21days. Together with second phase, ketotifen (n:6), oral propolis (n:6), intranasal propolis (n:6) and intranasal mometasone furoate (n:6) were given to rats. A control group (n:4)(salin) and sham group (n:2) were planned. Symptoms were assessed on days 19, 22, 25, 30 and 35, resulting in 5 symptom scores: symptom scores 1-5. On day 35, nasal tissue was removed and histological examination was performed. RESULTS: When rats that received systemic and intranasal propolis were compared to controls, ciliary loss, inflammation, increase in goblet cells, vascular proliferation, eosinophil count, chondrocytes and allergic rhinitis symptom score were found to be decreased (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that propolis had anti-allergic effects on allergic symptom scores and nasal histology.

Letter to the editor regarding the article by Jenderny et al.

Jenderny et al. demonstrated that NOV-002 treatment may be protected by cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. However, Jenderny's article has some errors. These mistakes are checked and corrected.