Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Pentraxin 3, Interleukin-6, CRP, and Procalcitonin Levels in Patients with Sepsis and Septic Shock.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: In this prospective study, we aim to evaluate the effects of antibiotherapy on pentraxin-3 (PTX3), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in patients with sepsis and septic shock. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In our study, CRP, procalcitonin, IL-6, and PTX3 levels at initial and 48 hours of the antibiotherapy of patients who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock between June 2020 and March 2021 were compared. Patients were compared with the age-appropriate case-control group formed from the patients who received pre-operative routines to investigate the diagnostic value. RESULTS: CRP, IL-6, and PTX3 levels of the patients were significantly higher compared to controls (P < 0.05). After the 48th hour of treatment compared to initial CRP, lactate and PCT levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05). The IL-6 and PCT levels were significantly higher in patients with mortality than in surviving patients. Surviving patients showed a significant decrease in CRP level at the 48th hour. IL-6 levels of patients with septic shock were significantly higher than those with sepsis (P = 0.010; P < 0.05). In the diagnosis of septic shock, the area under curve was 0.785 for IL-6 and the standard deviation was 0.09 (P = 0.002, cut-off value, >32 pg/mL, 88.9% sensitivity, 65.6% specifity). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that IL-6 level is an appropriate biomarker with high specificity in the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock and in evaluating the response to treatment and determining the prognosis.

Protection with thymoquinone against formaldehyde-induced neurotoxicity in the rats.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic damage of formaldehyde (FA), which is commonly used in medicine and industrial fields, for the hippocampus of rats and the protective role of thymoquinone (TQ) against this neurotoxicity. METHODS: There were five groups with eight rats in each. Two control groups were formed, in one of them physiological saline was applied and in the other one corn oil was applied. FA was injected in Group 3. Group 4 was exposed to FA and TQ simultaneously. Group 5 received TQ only. At the end of the experiment animals were sacrificed and brain tissues were removed for biochemical and histopathological investigation. RESULTS: catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), all known as enzymes with antioxidant activities, were increased in FA and TQ simultaneously administered group. FA caused prominent subarachnoidal hemorrhage and vacuolization. Vacuolization was not observed but occasional subarachnoidal hemorrhage was detected in the FA+TQ group. CONCLUSION: Neurotoxic damage in hippocampus induced by FA was reverted by administration of TQ (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 26).

The Diagnostic Value of SCUBE1 in Acute Appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: SCUBE1 has recently been studied as a diagnostic biomarker for acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, and acute mesenteric ischemia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of SCUBE1 and routine parameters used in patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis. METHODS: Of the 150 patients admitted to the emergency department whose initial diagnosis were acute appendicitis (AA), 103 patients were excluded from the study for various reasons. Forty-seven patients with a definitive diagnose of AA and 43 volunteers were enrolled in the study. SCUBE1, Alvarado scoring (ASK), C-reactive protein (CRP), and routine tests were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: SCUBE1 was not statistically significant between the patient and the control groups (p = 0.209). SCUBE1 was significantly higher in the CRP (+) group (p = 0.048). Both the diameter of the appendix on computerized tomography (CT) and SCUBE1 levels increased proportionally (p = 0.043). CRP was significantly higher in the perforated appendicitis (PA) compared to non-perforated appendicitis (NPA) (p = 0.007). White blood cell (WBC) count was not differential for perforation (p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Although SCUBE1 was significantly higher in CRP (+) patients, it was not a diagnostic biomarker for AA. There was a positive correlation between SCUBE1 values and the diameter of appendix measured on CT.

PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS AND CORRELATIONS OF NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES AND OXYTOCIN DURING LABOR AND EARLY POSTPARTUM PERIOD.

CONTEXT: Natriuretic peptides (NP) and oxytocin (OT) play an important role in cardiovascular and hydro-electrolytic homeostasis. Changes in NP levels and their roles in cardiovascular adaptations in pregnancy and labor have not been clear. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the changes and correlations in plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and OT during labor and the postpartum period. STUDY DESIGN: Blood samples were collected from 29 healthy pregnant women in the active phase of spontaneous labor, 15 minutes after delivery and 3 hours postpartum. Plasma levels of OT and the stable N-terminal fragments of NPs (NT-proANP, NT-proCNP, NT-proBNP) were measured using enzyme or electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. RESULTS: The plasma levels of NT-proANP and NT-proCNP significantly decrease 3 hours postpartum compared to the active phase of labor and to 15 minutes after delivery. The plasma NT-proBNP levels significantly higher after delivery and 3 hours postpartum compared to the active phase of labor. A significant correlation exists between OT and NT-proANP levels during the active phase of labor and 15 minutes after delivery. CONCLUSIONS: The data show that during labor and postpartum, the plasma concentrations of the NPs change differently. Elevations in NT- proBNP after delivery suggest that BNP may be involved in postpartum adaptations. The correlations between OT and ANP levels indicate that OT may be partly responsible for the increased levels of ANP and may have a role in the modification of the cardiovascular system.

Effects of beta-glucan on protection of young and aged rats from renal ischemia and reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the leading causes of acute renal failure which is a common clinical event leading to development of chronic kidney disease and a high mortality; especially in elderly people. ß-glucans are glucose polymer groups with free-radical scavenger, macrophage activator, and immune defense inducer functions. We designed this study to determine the possible protective effects of ß-glucan against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury comparatively in young and aged rats. METHODS: Rats were assigned to the following groups: Young and aged sham, young and aged ischemia-reperfusion, young and aged ß-glucan, young and aged ischemia-reperfusion+ß-glucan. At the end of the experiment, following collection of blood samples, rats were sacrificed and kidneys were removed for histopathological and biochemical examination. RESULTS: Mean tissue histopathological damage scores of young ß-glucan group was lower than that of young ischemia-reperfusion group, and of aged ß-glucan group was lower than that of aged ischemia-reperfusion group. Urea and creatinine levels of young and aged of sham group and ß-glucan administered groups were all lower than those of ischemia-reperfusion and ß-glucan+ischemia-reperfusion groups. Oxidative stress indexes of ischemia-reperfusion groups were increased however ; oxidative stress indexes of ß-glucan administered to young and aged rats were lower than those of ischemia-reperfusion groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ß-glucan is effective to protect kidneys from ischemia-reperfusion-induced oxidative damage, especially in young rats (Fig. 6, Ref. 45).

Evaluation of the possible protective role of naringenin on gentamicin-induced ototoxicity: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible protective role of naringenin in gentamicin-induced ototoxicity through an audiological, biochemical and histopathological evaluation. METHODS: This study was conducted on 32 adult male rats that were randomized into 4 groups(control, gentamicin, naringenin + gentamicin, and naringenin). Naringenin was given to the rats via oral gavage in a dose of 50 mg/kg/day during the 14 day study period. Gentamicin was given by the intraperitoneal route in a dose of 120 mg/kg/day. Audiological assessment was performed by the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) measurements, applied to all rats at the beginning of the study, and also on day 14. Biochemical parameters were calculated on day 14 to evaluate the oxidative and antioxidative status. Their cochleae were removed and examined histopathologically, also on day 14. The cochlea of animals were evaluated with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPbiotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method for apoptosis. RESULTS: On days 14, DPOAE values and ABR thresholds were preserved in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) when compared with group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.008). The total oxidant status values and oxidative stress index values were significantly higher in group 2(gentamicin) than in other groups (p < 0.008). The total antioxidant status value was significantly higher in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) and group 4(naringenin) than in group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.008). The number of TUNEL positive cells in both the organ of Corti and the stria vascularis were found to be statistically lower in group 3(naringenin + gentamicin) than in group 2(gentamicin)(p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study has demonstrated that the ototoxic effect generated by gentamicin could be ameliorated with the concurrent use of naringenin.