Are the GLIM Criteria Guiding in the Course of Hematological Malignancies?

BACKGROUND: Different degrees of malnutrition are seen in patients with hematological malignancies. None of the approaches used to determine malnutrition risk have general acceptance. The use of the GLIM criteria developed by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition has promising results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 67 patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma were included in the study. NRS-2002 (Nutritional Risk Screening-2002) was used to screen the nutritional status of the patients, and malnutrition was diagnosed and graded using the GLIM criteria in patients who were found to be at risk of malnutrition in this test. The parameters followed in the groups with and without malnutrition were compared. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Patients were analyzed by dividing them into two groups as those with and without malnutrition. The presence of infection, duration of fever, antibiotic, and antifungal use were significantly higher in malnourished than in nonmalnourished patients. Platelet counts and sodium levels were significantly lower in the malnourished arm. CONCLUSION: Early nutritional support can increase the immunological status of patients with malignant disorders as well as their tolerability to treatment. Minimizing the risk of malnutrition and providing timely calorie and vitamin support are factors that may directly affect febrile neutropenia, duration of fever, and antifungal use, which will consequently lead to a decrease in the length of hospitalization.

Examination of histopathological findings in scabies cases: a retrospective analysis of five years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: Scabies is a skin infestation that has been known for hundreds of years and is caused by the ectoparasitis of Sarcoptes scabiei. Scabies is a public health problem that can be seen in all age groups, races, genders, socioeconomic groups, and all societies. The aim of this study was to identify the prominent histopathological findings in scabies cases and to guide the clinical approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Scabies cases, which were clinically diagnosed between January 2016 and December 2020 in our hospital, were retrospectively screened, and 3,027 cases were detected. As a result of the screening, a skin punch biopsy-histopathological examination was performed in only 62 cases that were included in the study. Cases without punch biopsy were excluded from the study. After a histopathological evaluation, the cases were divided into two groups: those diagnosed with scabies (n=9) and those diagnosed with nonscabies (n=53). Pathological findings of the groups were statistically compared using Fisher's exact Chi-square test. RESULTS: After microscopic examination, superficial and deep inflammatory reactions and the presence of lymphocytes were detected in 100% of cases. Furthermore, eosinophils and spongiosis were detected in 55% of cases. Histomorphological findings of the two groups were statistically examined and significant differences were found in spongiosis and eosinophil findings (p=0.019, p=0.025). There were no statistically significant differences in the other histopathological findings (parakeratosis, vesicle, bullae, intraepidermal pustule, vasculitis, dermal edema, superficial and deep inflammatory reaction, neutrophils, and plasma cells - p=0.259, p=0.266, p=0.083, p=0.683, p=0.557, p=0.066, p=0.980, p=0.290, and p=0.083, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In histopathological examination of scabies biopsies, spongiosis and eosinophil findings may be useful in differential diagnosis. Pathological diagnosis can be a decisive stage for controlling scabies, which has epidemic potential, especially in crowded environments such as schools, dormitories, and refugee camps. For pathology science to play an active role in the diagnosis of scabies, more punch biopsies are needed from cases. Large-sample prospective clinical studies comparing histopathological findings and the severity of the disease may contribute to the literature.

Maternal serum xenin-25 levels in gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Xenin-25 is a polypeptide having an insulinotropic effect via increasing the insulin-releasing action of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and promoting beta cell survival and proliferation. We aimed to assess serum xenin-25 levels in euglycemic pregnancies vs. pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty pregnancies complicated with GDM and 40 healthy pregnancies with gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks were included. Following eight hours of fasting, blood samples were drawn from the participants, and subsequently, 75 g of glucose was administered orally. Blood was drawn again 120 minutes after the glucose challenge. Serum xenin-25 levels were detected by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in maternal age, gestational age, BMI, fasting glucose, and insulin levels between the groups. Both fasting and 120th-minute xenin-25 levels were significantly higher in the GDM group when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Both the fasting and 120th-minute serum xenin-25 levels were significantly higher in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of xenin-25 were associated with gestational diabetes, and xenin-25 might be a potential marker for detecting GDM in the future.

Immediate post-operative intravesical instillation of a single dose chemotherapy is not superior to continuous saline irrigation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether there is any difference between immediate postoperative instillation of intravesical chemotherapy (IPOIC) and continuous saline bladder irrigation (CSBI) in terms of bladder cancer (BC) recurrence in patients with primary low- or intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of 1482 patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor between March 1994 and August 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to IPOIC and/or CSBI administration status [Group-1 = CSBI alone; Group-2 = CSBI following IPOIC]. Low- and intermediate-risk NMIBC patients were also divided into subgroups according to IPOIC and/or CSBI administration status. RESULTS: A total of 594 patients with primary NMIBC were included. Of the patients, 86 (14.5%) were female and 508 (85.5%) were male with a median age of 69 (60-78) years. The frequency of patients in Group-1 and Group-2 were 361 (60.8%) and 233 (39.2%), respectively. Recurrent disease was observed in 213 (35.9%) patients. There was no difference between the groups when they were compared for recurrent disease frequency, median time to first recurrence and frequency of recurrence within first 12 months (P = .064, P = .671, and P = .145, respectively). Disease recurrence rates in low-risk NMIBC patients was lower when they were treated with "CSBI following IPOIC" when compared to "CSBI alone" (P = .042). However, no difference was observed in low-risk NMIBC subgroups when they were compared for pathological features of recurrent tumors such as number, size, grade, stage, and presence of carcinoma in situ (P > .05, for each). CONCLUSIONS: "CSBI following IPOIC" combination was not superior to "CSBI alone" for preventing adverse pathological outcomes in recurrent low- and intermediate-risk NMIBC.

Real world results of venetoclax combined with hypomethylating agents in relapsed/refractory AML.

OBJECTIVE: Relapsed/refractory AML cases are much more resistant to chemotherapy. Venetoclax is a highly sensitive BCL-2 inhibitor. It was aimed to evaluate the effects of venetoclax therapy on real-world R/R AML survival outcomes, the effects of the cytogenetic characteristics of the patients and previous clinical applications on treatment response, and venetoclax treatment toxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients who only received a venetoclax-based salvage on R/R AML patients from Turkey. The study included a total of 62 patients from 6 different centers in Turkey. Response to 2 cycles of venetoclax treatment was assessed by bone marrow blast rate. The demographic data, cytogenetic characteristics, AML type, MDS type, response rates and overall survival of the patients after venetoclax combination treatment were assessed. Median age of the patients was 65 (19-85). Mean number of prior treatments was 2.67 ±1.75. RESULTS: 13 patients (21%) had a history of allogenic stem cell transplantation. 58 (93.5%) had received HMA therapy before venetoclax. 36 patients (58.1%) had de-novo AML, and 25 (40.3%) previously had MDS. Treatment response was evaluated as complete remission (n = 21, 33.9%), partial response (n = 17, 27.4%), and treatment failure (n = 24, 38.7%). Patients in the TF group were significantly more likely to have poor cytogenetic and to have received allogeneic transplants. The mean estimated overall survival after the venetoclax treatment was 9.13 ± 0.75 months. CONCLUSIONS: The study population consisted of a group of patients who had relapsed or primary refractory disease with poor prognosis, despite numerous rounds of chemotherapy. It is our belief that the high response rates obtained with the combination of venetoclax/HMA, and having obtained positive results with poor risk patients, indicated a promising perspective for R/R AML patients.

Primer malignant giant cell tumour of kidney: a case report.

Osteoclast-like giant cell tumours of the kidney are extremely rare and usually accompanied by a conventional urothelial neoplasm such as papillary, transitional renal cell, or sarcomatoid carcinoma. Although they have morphological features similar to those of the giant cell tumours in the skeletal system, their counterparts in the urinary system show highly malignant features. Our case is the third primer malignant giant cell tumour of the kidney in the literature. The patient was a 50-year-old male and underwent nephroureterectomy for a mass of 18×14×13cm in his left kidney. However, the patient died in the second month postoperatively as a result of local recurrences and multiple distant metastases. The general condition of the patient deteriorated progressively; hence, he could not have any adjuvant therapy. Having more information about the pathological and clinical findings of these exceedingly rare tumours can help inform treatment steps.

Salt inducible kinases as novel Notch interactors in the developing Drosophila retina.

Developmental processes require strict regulation of proliferation, differentiation and patterning for the generation of final organ size. Aberrations in these fundamental events are critically important in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Salt inducible kinases (Siks) are evolutionarily conserved genes involved in diverse biological processes, including salt sensing, metabolism, muscle, cartilage and bone formation, but their role in development remains largely unknown. Recent findings implicate Siks in mitotic control, and in both tumor suppression and progression. Using a tumor model in the Drosophila eye, we show that perturbation of Sik function exacerbates tumor-like tissue overgrowth and metastasis. Furthermore, we show that both Drosophila Sik genes, Sik2 and Sik3, function in eye development processes. We propose that an important target of Siks may be the Notch signaling pathway, as we demonstrate genetic interaction between Siks and Notch pathway members. Finally, we investigate Sik expression in the developing retina and show that Sik2 is expressed in all photoreceptors, basal to cell junctions, while Sik3 appears to be expressed specifically in R3/R4 cells in the developing eye. Combined, our data suggest that Sik genes are important for eye tissue specification and growth, and that their dysregulation may contribute to tumor formation.

Determination of the relationship between total antioxidant capacity and dietary antioxidant intake in obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Adipokines secreted from adipose tissue in obese individuals increase oxidative stress in the body and sufficient antioxidant consumption is recommended to reduce the effects of this stress. Consumption of foods rich in antioxidants is thought to be related to serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) but the effect of dietary antioxidant amount on serum antioxidant capacity is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary antioxidant intake and serum TAC in obese and normal-weight individuals. METHODS: Around 36 obese and 24 normal weighted volunteers participated in this study. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and antioxidant food consumption from frequency questionnaires (questionnaire TAC) of individuals were recorded. The amount of antioxidant intake from diet (dietary TAC) was calculated from food consumption records. Serum TAC values were measured calorimetrically according to the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). RESULTS: The dietary TAC levels of the experimental group were higher than the control group (5.45 ± 6.15 mmol/day vs. 3.20 ± 7.27 mmol/day, P = 0.006); whereas, the ratio of serum TAC per body weight was significantly lower in obese participants (0.013 ± 0.0134 mmol/L vs. 0.017 ± 0.003 mmol/L, P< 0.001). However, a positive relation (r = 0.339, P = 0.008) was observed between dietary TAC and serum TAC. Moreover, a positive correlation between the serum TAC levels of the individuals and the weight in both groups (r = 0.335, P = 0.046 in obese participants, and r = 0.523, P = 0.009 in control group), and the BMI in the experimental group (r = 0.384, P = 0.021). Likewise, there is an association between the diet TAC level and the diet protein ratio (r = 0.478, P = 0.018) in obese participants. CONCLUSION: Dietary TAC intake was significantly higher and the TAC/weight lower in the experimental group. Moreover, the relationship between diet TAC and serum TAC was significant.

Investigation of BK Virus by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Patients With Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: BK virus (BKV) is a common human polyomavirus and causes latent infection. Especially in immunosuppressive patients, early diagnosis and treatment are very important in reducing the high mortality rate. In this study, we investigated BKV DNA in serum and plasma and urine specimens by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BKV DNA was isolated in QIAsymphony SP/AS (Hilden, Germany) equipment using QIAsymphony DSP Virus/Pathogen Midi Kit, Version 1 (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) in urine and serum samples collected from 100 patients post-transplantation. Artus BKV QS-RGQ, V1 (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) kit for BKV PCR was prepared according to the company recommendations and loaded on Qiagen Rotor Gene (Hilden, Germany). It was evaluated with PCR, and >27 copies/mL was considered as positive. RESULTS: BKV DNA was positive in 57% of the urine specimens obtained; only 25% of the patients were found to have a significant BKV burden in the urine according to the American Society of Transplantation, suggesting a risk of developing nephropathy. Serum samples of the same patients were negative for BKV DNA in 94 cases and they were positive for BKV DNA at interval between 44 and 319 copies/mL in 6 patients, and none of the patients had clinically significant BKV DNA in serum samples. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring the viral load with urine samples were thought to be more convenient for the detection of BKV reactivation in our study.

Pediatric head trauma: an extensive review on imaging requisites and unique imaging findings.

The effects of trauma in children are different due to association with some anatomical and physiological differences compared with adults. The role of neuroimaging gains importance in early detection of traumatic brain injuries and prevention of secondary post-traumatic complications. Many algorithms are described for children with head trauma to decide the necessity of a computed tomography scan. The aims of this article are to describe differences of these algorithms, the mechanism of traumatic brain injury with radiological imaging findings in the pediatric population, and explain complications of undiagnosed traumatic brain lesions.

Prevalence of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and abnormal cervical cytology and knowledge about HPV vaccine in Eastern Turkey.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The aim of the present study was to gather data on the high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) frequency and the distribution of HIPV types in Eastern Turkey in relation to cervical cytology and to assess the knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV, and vaccination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 1,000 women aged between 20-65 years who attended the outpatients clinics of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of high risk HPV-DNA was 2.8 %. Abnormal cytology was observed in 12.9% of the cases. Abnormal cytology consisted of cervical cancer: 0.1%, LSIL: 1.6%, HSIL: 0.5%, ASC-H: 2.1%, atypical glandular cells: 0.4%, and ASCUS: 8.3 %. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HPV was low in Eastern Turkey and the most common HPV types are similar to the literature. However, the prevalence of HPV infection is a growing problem worldwide and the awareness of the women in the region is limited.

Evaluation of hs-CRP and visseral adiposity index in patients with policystic ovary syndrome by clinical and laboratory findings.

AIM: In this study, we aimed to evaluate two cardiovascular risk markers, hs-CRP and visseral adiposity index, in patients with policystic ovary syndrome in association with clinical and laboratory findings. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Study group included 75 patients who were diagnosed as PCOS according to the criteria of AE-PCOS 2006 and control group included 75 non-PCOS patients who were subsequently admitted to outpatient clinic for smear control, with urinary or vaginal symptoms. Physical and sonographic examinations were made to all subjects. Mean arterial pressure, waist/hip ratio and body mass index were calculated. Fasting blood glucose and insulin, HbA1c, lipids, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), estradiol, follicle stimulating hormon, luteinising hormone, tiroid stimulating hormone, prolaktin, total testosteron and sex hormone binding globulin were tested in venous blood samples collected from cases following overnight fast in follicular phase of spontaneous or induced menstruation. Visceral adiposity index was also calculated. FINDINGS: No statistically significant difference was found between PCOS group and control group concerning hs-CRP and VAI (p>0.05). When patients in PCOS group were further grouped as obese and non-obese, hs-CRP and VAI values in obese group were significantly higher than those in non-obese group (p<0.001). However, when control group were further grouped as obese and non-obese, there was no significant difference in terms of hs-CRP between groups (p>0.05), VAI values were significantly higher in obese control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, hs-CRP stands for a better and more specific marker than VAI to determine metabolic components and predictive risks for cardiovascular diseases in patients with PCOS. Further studies with larger populations are needed in order to determine cardiovascular risks particularly in young PCOS patients.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is a very rare type of tumor, and the prognosis is not well known mainly due to a limited number of cases reported. Here, we aimed to report a case with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman presented with weight loss, jaundice, and pain in the epigastric and right upper quadrant of the abdomen. With extensive radiological imaging, the patient was diagnosed with periampullary tumor and Whipple's procedure was performed. The immunohistochemical analyses supported the diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged, and adjuvant chemotherapy was recommended. CONCLUSION: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater is a very rare histological type with an unclear pathogenesis. A better understanding of pathogenesis might be helpful in optimizing the treatment for this specific rare type of tumor.

The influence of dietary antioxidant on ovarian eggs and levels of vitamin E, C, A, astaxanthin, ß-carotene and oxidative stres in tissues of Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz) during reproduction.

The experiment was conducted to determine the most effective antioxidant (among the vitamin E (VE), vitamin C (VC), vitamin A (VA), astaxanthine (AX), ß-carotene (ßC)) on the ovarian egg number and size, level of VE, VC, VA, AX, ßC and oxidative stress (as malondialdehyde (MDA)) in the hepatopancreas, ovarian, gills and muscle tissue during ovarian development of Astacus leptodactylus. One control (C) and five experimental diets (EE, EC, EA, EAX and EßC) were prepared. The EE, EC, EA, EAX and EßC groups were formed by added 150 mg kg-1 VE, 200 mg kg-1 VC, 240 mg kg-1 VA, 200 mg kg-1 AX and 200 mg kg-1 ßC to diet C, respectively. At the end of the experiment found that the dietary antioxidants increased ovarian egg number and size and reduced the level of MDA in the tissues. Ovarian egg number and size were highest in the EE and EAX diet groups in the comparison to control (p<0.001). The level of MDA in the tissues was lowest in the EAX diet group in the comparison to control (p<0.001). The highest levels of VE, VC, VA, AX and ßC were found in the hepatopancreas and ovarian compared with muscle and gills. The highest level of MDA also was determined in the ovarian according to other tissues. In conclusion, the VE and AX in broodstock diets were the most effective antioxidants on the ovarian egg number and size of A. leptodactylus.

Gingival crevicular fluid levels of human beta-defensin-2 and cathelicidin in smoker and non-smoker patients: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cathelicidin (LL-37) and human ß-defensin-2 (hBD-2) are antimicrobial peptides that have additional functions in innate immunity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate LL-37 and hBD-2 levels in the following patient groups: non-smoker patients with gingivitis (G), smoker patients with gingivitis (SG), non-smoker patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and smoker patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (SAgP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients, including 20 G, 20 SG, 20 AgP and 20 SAgP were enrolled in the study. Clinical periodontal parameters, including periodontal status were assessed by measuring bleeding on probing, plaque index, gingival index, probing depth and clinical attachment loss. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were done to quantify LL-37 and hBD-2 levels in gingival crevicular fluid. RESULTS: Clinical periodontal parameters were found to have no statistically significant differences between the SAgP and AgP groups or between the SG and G groups. LL-37 and hBD-2 levels were significantly lower in G patients than in other groups. LL-37 and hBD-2 levels in the gingival crevicular fluid of SAgP patients were significantly higher than in other groups. LL-37 and hBD-2 levels in SG patients were also significantly higher than in G patients. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial cells in contact with microorganisms release LL-37 and hBD-2 to eliminate them. The release response of LL-37 and hBD-2 formed against microorganisms can change depending on factors such as smoking, which activates the nicotinic receptors present on epithelial surfaces. This interaction can increase the release of LL-37 and hBD-2. Smoking may also affect the capillary tissues and reduce leukocytic chemotaxis. The increased number of colonized microorganisms may lead to higher levels of LL-37 and hBD-2 release in the tissues of smokers than in non-smokers.

Comparison of CCL28, interleukin-8, interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in subjects with gingivitis, chronic periodontitis and generalized aggressive periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cytokines produced by various cells are strong local mediators of inflammation. Mucosa-associated epithelial chemokine (CCL28), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are major cytokines that play important roles in the periodontal inflammatory process. In this study we aimed to compare the levels of CCL28, IL-8, IL-1ß and TNF-α in the gingival crevicular fluid of both periodontally healthy subjects and in subjects diagnosed with gingivitis, chronic periodontitis and generalized aggressive periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 84 subjects participated in the study: 21 subjects had gingivitis, 21 subjects had chronic periodontitis, 21 subjects had generalized aggressive periodontitis and 21 were periodontally healthy. The levels of CCL28, IL-8, IL-1ß and TNF-α were analyzed using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The total levels of CCL28 and IL-8 in the gingival crevicular fluid of the generalized aggressive periodontitis group (324.74 ± 42.62 pg/30 s, 487.62 ± 49.21 pg/30 s) were significantly higher than those of the chronic periodontitis group (268.81 ± 28.64 pg/30 s, 423.65 ± 35.24 pg/30 s), the gingivitis group (146.35 ± 17.46 pg/30 s, 310.24 ± 48.20 pg/30 s) and the periodontally healthy group (92.46 ± 22.04 pg/30 s, 148.41 ± 24.64 pg/30 s). Similarly, the total levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α in the generalized aggressive periodontitis group (110.23 ± 9.20 pg/30 s, 1284.46 ± 86.32 pg/30 s) were significantly higher than those in the chronic periodontitis group (423.65 ± 35.24 pg/30 s, 82.64 ± 9.12 pg/30 s), the gingivitis group (52.10 ± 7.15 pg/30 s, 824.24 ± 44.68 pg/30 s) and the periodontally healthy group (36.44 ± 8.86 pg/30 s, 628.26 ± 34.61 pg/30 s). CONCLUSION: CCL28, IL-8, IL-1ß and TNF-α may play key roles in the host response to inflammation in periodontal diseases. As the severity of periodontal diseases increases, destruction of periodontal tissues also increases. Inflammation is one among many factors that trigger periodontal tissue destruction. Identification of the mediators that influence the development and progression of inflammation in periodontal diseases may be very important in understanding the prognoses of periodontal diseases.

Serum trace elements and heavy metals in polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the serum levels of essential trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) and heavy metals cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: A total of 65 (35 patients with PCOS and 30 healthy controls) women were included in the study. Serum Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Mg, Co and Cd levels were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. RESULTS: Serum Cu and Zn levels were significantly higher, but Mn and Pb levels were lower in patients with PCOS compared with the healthy participants (p < 0.01). There was no difference between patients with PCOS and the controls with respect to the serum levels of Mg, Co and Cd. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study investigating serum Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Co, Mg and Cd levels in the patients with PCOS. The serum levels of trace elements and heavy metals might change in patients with PCOS. The findings in this study should be investigated with further trials in order to obtain new insights into PCOS.

Wear and repair of stainless steel crowns.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the wear of stainless steel crowns (SSCs) in children, and compare the extent of microleakage in SSCs that had been repaired using either a cermet glass-ionomer cement (GIC) or a packable composite resin (CR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the first aim, the occlusal surface thickness of 31 harvested SSCs (21 primary first and 10 second molars) and 18 unused SSCs was measured, and then examined under scanning electron microscopy. For the second aim, standardised holes were prepared on the occlusal surfaces of 20 SSCs, and then repaired using either a cermet GIC or packable CR. After their repair, the extent of microleakage was determined using 0.5% basic fuchsin and stereomicroscopy. RESULTS: The thickness of all the harvested SCCs was 5.3 µm less than that of the unused SCCs (p<0.02), and there were no significant differences between the thickness and occlusal wear rates of harvested SSCs from the first and second primary molars. Although neither of the two repair materials completely prevented microleakage, the number of specimens in which microleakage occurred after repair with a cermet GIC was significantly lower than the number of specimens in which a packable CR was used (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the occlusal surfaces of SSCs for first and second primary molars display wear. Although perforated SSCs can be repaired using either a cermet GIC or a packable CR, less microleakage occurs in SSCs that were repaired with a cermet GIC than those with a packable CR.