The Relationship Between Prognosis and Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and RDW-Albumin Ratio (RAR) in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Disease.

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between prognosis and the red cell distribution width (RDW) and the RDW-albumin ratio (RAR) in patients with coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19), since serum albumin and RDW levels may reflect inflammatory conditions. Patients and Methods: A total of 289 patients who had been diagnosed with severe COVID-19 in the emergency department were retrospectively analyzed. The RAR levels were calculated by dividing RDW-CV by albumin. Patient groups (survivors, dying patients, those who received mechanical ventilation (MV) support or not, and those who needed vasopressors or not) were compared with regard to RDW-SD, RDW-CV and the RAR levels. Results: RDW-SD, RDW-CV and the RAR levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in patients who died, and who received MV and vasopressor support, compared to those who survived and did not receive support (p<0.001 for all). In addition, while the cut-off value of RAR was >5.43, the sensitivity was 91.6%, the specificity was 93.7%, NPV was 93.1% and the AUC was 0.965 in predicting mortality (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that RDW-SD and RAR were independent risk factors for mortality in patients with severe COVID-19. Conclusion: Elevated RDW and RAR levels at the time of admission may independently predict mortality and the need for vasopressor or MV support.

Prognostic value of heparin-binding protein for mortality in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Aim: The study investigated heparin-binding protein (HBP) levels in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and their relation to prognosis. Methods: A total of 134 patients with serious COVID-19 pneumonia were prospectively analyzed. HBP levels were statistically compared between both the patient and healthy control groups and within the patient group itself. Results: HBP was defined to be significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group. There was a statistically significant distinction between the patients who survived and those who died with regard to HBP levels. When the cutoff value of HBP was >13.47, sensitivity (89.8%), specificity (74.1%) had area under the curve values of 0.806 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: HBP level may be used for prognosis prediction of patients with COVID-19.

Value of thiol and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in predicting mortality in serious COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background/aim: Viral infections of the respiratory tract are generally related to many factors such as excessive production of cytokines, inflammation, cellular death, redox imbalance or oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of thiol and IMA in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia to evaluate oxidative stress. Study design: This was a prospective, sectional cohort study conducted at a pandemics hospital between 01.01.2022 and 01.02.2022. Methods: A total of 153 patients who had been confirmed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in the emergency unit were prospectively analyzed. The control group was formed by 50 healthy volunteers with similar age and no chronic disease history. Thiol and IMA levels were statistically compared both in the patient and the control groups, and within the patient groups (survived and non-survival). Results: While 96 out of 153 patients had survived, 57 patients had non-survival. There was a statistically significant distinction between the survived and non-survival patients with regard to Thiol and IMA levels (p < 0.001). The thiol levels in the patient group were significantly lower compared to the control group, and the IMA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and NPV were 70.2%, 86.5% and 83% when thiol cut-off value was ≤345.2 µmol/L (AUC: 0.886, p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and NPV were 70.2%, 85.4% and 82.8% when the IMA cut-off was >302.9 ABSU (AUC: 0.875, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that thiol and IMA levels may be used as bioindicators for risk classification and mortality in patients with serious COVID-19 pneumonia.

The Relationship between Routine Blood Parameters and the Prognosis of COVID-19 Patients in the Emergency Department.

The aim of this study is to investigate the routine blood parameters of COVID-19 patients at the time of admission to the emergency department and their relationship with the severity of the disease and prognosis. A total of 500 patients, who were diagnosed with severe COVID-19 and hospitalized in the intensive care unit between 01.04.2020 and 01.02.2021 in the emergency department of a pandemic hospital, were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the patients were obtained from the hospital registry system. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated using neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts. These patients were divided into two groups: survivors and deceased. All parameters obtained from routine blood analysis were statistically compared between these two groups. While 280 out of 500 patients survived, 220 died. Of all patients, the mean age was 67 years and 51.8% were males. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, length of hospital stay, need for mechanical ventilation, white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, platelet counts, CRP, ferritin, procalcitonin values, NLR, MLR, and PLR (p < 0.001 for all). While NLR alone and MLR + NEU and NLR + PLR + MLR combinations had the highest AUC values (0.930, 0.947, and 0.939, respectively), MLR and PLR alone showed the lowest AUC values (0.875 and 0.797, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPVs), and negative predictive values (NPVs) in the prediction of death according to the cutoff values of the parameters have been determined. A significant correlation was determined between age, NLR, MLR, and PLR and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.001 for all). Routine blood parameters and NLR, MLR, and PLR can assist emergency physicians to identify the severity and early prognosis of COVID-19 patients.

The role of heparin-binding protein in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is associated with a high mortality rate, yet diagnostic difficulties persist. Although many biomarkers have been investigated for diagnostic purposes, as well as imaging methods, a sufficiently specific and sensitive marker has not been identified. This research was designed to examine whether heparin-binding protein (HBP), which has a role in the early phase of inflammation, could be useful in the diagnosis of AMI. METHODS: Serum samples obtained from a previously performed rabbit model of AMI were used in the study. HBP, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured in blood samples obtained at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 hours from subjects that were separated into 3 groups: control, sham, and ischemia. The change in each marker over time and comparisons of the groups were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: A significant difference was not detected at the first hour in any of the studied markers. At the third hour, the CRP and IL-6 levels in the ischemia group indicated a significant increase in comparison with the control and sham groups (p<0.001). The HBP values showed a significant increase at the sixth hour in the ischemia group in comparison with the others (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The HBP level demonstrated a slower increase in a rabbit model of AMI compared with CRP and IL-6. However, it still has the potential to become an early diagnostic biomarker. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity should be evaluated in further clinical trials.

Endoscopic repair of rectal perforation due to colonoscopy with a clamp method.

Colon perforation during colonoscopy is a rare complication that usually requires surgical intervention. Traditionally, primary repair by laparoscopy, laparotomy, resection, and anastomosis is performed for such perforations. More recently developed minimally invasive endoscopic instruments have also been used in the repair of these perforations; this is becoming increasingly common. An endoscopic over-the-scope clip clamp was used in a 59-year-old male patient who suffered a rectum perforation in connection with a diagnostic colonoscopy. He was referred to our clinic. A colonoscopy was performed in our clinic to assess the rectal perforation caused by a diagnostic colonoscopy 2 h after the initial colonoscopy, with the concurrent therapeutic purpose of repairing the perforation using an endoscopic clamping method. Oral feeding was started 24 h after the procedure. After three days, the patient was discharged. An endoscopic clamping method in appropriate cases can be a safe and appropriate alternative therapy in the management of colonoscopic perforations.

Phenytoin induced dystonia.

Acar T, Alkan G, Çaksen H, Ertekin B, Ergin M, Koçak S, Cander B. Phenytoin induced dystonia. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 111-112. The abnormalities of dopaminergic activity in the basal ganglia have been emphasized to be effective in dystonia. We hereby report a case of a 2.5-year-old male patient who presented with tonic-clonic sezures and who developed dystonia after being given phenytoin. Biperidene hydrochloride was administered intramuscularly; primidone was added to the treatment regimen. After a 7-day-follow-up at the hospital, the patient had no dystonia and was discharged.

Liporotein-associated phospholipase-A2 can be a diagnostic marker inthe early stage diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 (Lp-PLA2) in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) in the early stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups in this study. Blood specimens were obtained from the groups at hours 0, 1, 3, and 6. Using the blood samples drawn from all groups, Lp-PLA2 and C-reactive protein (CRP) parameters were investigated. RESULTS: There was a significant rise in the levels of both Lp-PLA2 and CRP starting at hour 1 (P < 0.05) (hour 1; Lp-PLA2, P = 0.003) in the ischemia group. In the sham group, the levels of Lp-PLA2 and CRP started to rise at hour 3 (P < 0.05) (hour 3; Lp-PLA2, P = 0.011). At hour 6 of ischemia, the area under the ROC curve was 100%, and the cut-off value of 63.91 ng/mL revealed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100% for Lp-PLA2. CONCLUSION: These findings showed the role of serum Lp-PLA2 and CRP levels in the early diagnosis of AMI. Thus, further studies are needed to describe the role of Lp-PLA2 in the early diagnosis of AMI.