PriPath: identifying dysregulated pathways from differential gene expression via grouping, scoring, and modeling with an embedded feature selection approach.

BACKGROUND: Cell homeostasis relies on the concerted actions of genes, and dysregulated genes can lead to diseases. In living organisms, genes or their products do not act alone but within networks. Subsets of these networks can be viewed as modules that provide specific functionality to an organism. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) systematically analyzes gene functions, proteins, and molecules and combines them into pathways. Measurements of gene expression (e.g., RNA-seq data) can be mapped to KEGG pathways to determine which modules are affected or dysregulated in the disease. However, genes acting in multiple pathways and other inherent issues complicate such analyses. Many current approaches may only employ gene expression data and need to pay more attention to some of the existing knowledge stored in KEGG pathways for detecting dysregulated pathways. New methods that consider more precompiled information are required for a more holistic association between gene expression and diseases. RESULTS: PriPath is a novel approach that transfers the generic process of grouping and scoring, followed by modeling to analyze gene expression with KEGG pathways. In PriPath, KEGG pathways are utilized as the grouping function as part of a machine learning algorithm for selecting the most significant KEGG pathways. A machine learning model is trained to differentiate between diseases and controls using those groups. We have tested PriPath on 13 gene expression datasets of various cancers and other diseases. Our proposed approach successfully assigned biologically and clinically relevant KEGG terms to the samples based on the differentially expressed genes. We have comparatively evaluated the performance of PriPath against other tools, which are similar in their merit. For each dataset, we manually confirmed the top results of PriPath in the literature and found that most predictions can be supported by previous experimental research. CONCLUSIONS: PriPath can thus aid in determining dysregulated pathways, which applies to medical diagnostics. In the future, we aim to advance this approach so that it can perform patient stratification based on gene expression and identify druggable targets. Thereby, we cover two aspects of precision medicine.

Axonal Transport Defects in Retinal Ganglion Cell Diseases.

For the survival and maintenance of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), axonal transportation is fundamental. Axonal transportation defects can cause severe neuropathies leading to neuronal loss. Axonal transport defects usually precede axonal degeneration and RGC loss in disease models. To date, the main causes of axonal transport defects have not been fully understood. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms that lead to transport defects will help us to develop novel therapeutic targets and early diagnostic tools. In this review, we provide an overview of optic neuropathies and axonal degeneration with a focus on axonal transport.

Nursing and Maternity in the Pandemic: A Qualitative Study from Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the experiences and perceived challenges of nurses who are also mothers having a child during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological design. The study was conducted with 18 nurse mothers working at COVID-19 clinics in Turkey. RESULTS: Nurse mothers missed their children and are worried about infecting their children. Based on content analysis, the themes of the study were determined as follows: (1) Nursing Care Process, (2) Disruption of Family Processes, (3) Nurse Mother's Perspective: Being a Child in a Pandemic, and (4) Coping with Challenges-"Searching for a solution." CONCLUSIONS: Necessary conditions should be provided for nurses with children or family members in need of care and protocols should be made with relevant institutions.

What is already known on the subject? Nurses working in COVID-19 units wear protective equipment and work for a long time under difficult conditions. In addition, nurses who have children are separated from their children because of the fear of transmitting COVID-19.What does this study add? Therefore, nurses caring for COVID-19 patients should alternately be replaced by nurses working in other services. They should be given the opportunity to rest and spend time with their loved ones if they are not carriers of COVID-19.

Determination of an effective agent combination using nisin against Salmonella biofilm.

This present study aims to determine the lowest concentration effects of the assayed different antibiotics; antimicrobial agents alone and their combinations with nisin were investigated to prevent the biofilm formation and break down the biofilm structure of Salmonella. While the combination of nisin and EDTA showed a synergistic effect against Salmonella strain, chlorhexidine digluconate and streptomycin with nisin showed a partial synergetic effect; citric acid and sulfonamides with nisin showed an indifferent effect. The use of citric acid and chlorhexidine digluconate alone was very effective in Salmonella inhibition. While the citric acid combined with other agents had not much effect, the use of chlorhexidine digluconate combined with nisin and EDTA inactivated the total initial count within 24 h. Significantly, when citric acid and sulfonamides are used alone, they reduce by 64% and 44%, respectively. When they used nisin + EDTA, this ratio increased to 83% and 84%, respectively. For the prevention of biofilm, the most suitable conditions were determined as 97% biofilm inhibition. The results of this study can be used as a guide for the emergence of new approaches to ensure the food safety and quality of the food industry.

The effect of steroid administration on fetal diaphragm function.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal steroid administrations lead to not only accelerated lung maturation, improved blood gas measurements but also lung dynamics and lung compliance. This study aimed to investigate structural and functional changes in diaphragm after antenatal steroid administration. METHODS: The 79 volunteers were divided into 2 groups according to presence of preterm delivery. Betamethasone (CelestoneR) 12 mg intramuscularly was routinely administered to pregnancies complicated with preterm delivery between 28th -34th weeks of gestation. Same dose was repeated 24 h later. In all patients, diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic excursion and costophrenic angle were measured in both the inspirium and expirium stage of respiration. This is an observational cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic excursion and diaphragm thickening fraction parameters were improved but costophrenic angle was not different 7 days after steroid administration. Diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic excursion and costophrenic angle changes during inspiration and expiration stage after 7 days of betamethasone treatment reflects the effect of steroid administration on diaphragm muscle. Comparisons of the differences that occur after steroid rescue protocol were done by subtracting the diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic excursion and costophrenic angle parameters before the treatment from the diaphragm thickness, diaphragmatic excursion and costophrenic angle parameters 7 days after steroid treatment respectively. CONCLUSION: Diaphragm became more mobile in patients with preterm labor, 7 days after steroid administration. This situation reflects positive effect of steroid administration on diaphragm function.

Evaluation of fetal diaphragm excursion and thickness in term pregnancies complicated with pre-gestational and gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Both pre-gestational (PGDM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) make pregnancy complicated. Moreover in the literature GDM and PGDM have been held responsible for respiratory morbidity in newborns. Diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) is a valuable and noninvasive method that provides an opportunity to examine the diaphragmatic morphology and function. This study examined the quality of fetal diaphragmatic contractions in pregnant women complicated with GDM and PGDM. METHODS: A total of 105 volunteers who were separated into three groups; (1) A GDM group (n = 35), (2) a PGDM group (n = 35), and (3) a healthy non-diabetic control group (n = 35). All volunteers with the cephalic presentation and only male fetuses were examined in the 37th week of gestation. This cross sectional and case controlled study was performed at the perinatology clinic of the Erciyes University School of Medicine between 15.01.2020 and 01.08.2021. The thickness of fetal diaphragm (DT), diaphragmatic excursion (DE), diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) and costodiaphragmatic angle (CDA) was measured and recorded by ultrasound and examined on the video frame during the inspiration and expiration phases of respiration. RESULTS: Especially the PGDM group represented adversely affected diaphragm function parameters. DT inspiration, DT expiration, DE, CDA inspiration and DTF values were significantly different between PGDM and the control group. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was high among babies who were born to pregnancies complicated with PGDM or GDM. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of fetal diaphragm movements is affected in pregnancies complicated with GDM and PGDM. The prolonged duration of diabetes may have additional adverse effects on diaphragm morphology and its function.

The percentage of pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM) in pregnancy is 13­21% and the remaining part of diabetes is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Both of the complications are related to respiratory problems at birth.Until now, it was known that this situation was due to the lack of surfactant, which has a facilitating effect on the participation of the lungs in respiration. However, in this study, the diaphragm of the babies of patients with PGDM and GDM was examined. The thickness of fetal diaphragm, movements and function were evaluated via using ultrasound. As a result, it was determined that the diaphragm movements were impaired and the babies born from these patients needed more pediatric care.This study will open horizon on new studies examining the functional capacity of the diaphragm in the future. In the future, it may be possible to decide which baby will need intensive care by examining the diaphragm.

Shear wave elastography for the evaluation of testicular salvage after testicular torsion.

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of shear wave elastography in the follow-up of testicular detorsion, evaluate long-term outcomes, and explore its relationship with parameters such as tissue stiffness values, pain duration, and torsion type. Elastography examinations were independently performed by two radiologists to evaluate patients who presented to our hospital for follow-up after being diagnosed with testicular torsion and age-matched controls. Inter-observer variability of the mean testicular tissue elasticity was excellent (Intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.939, p < 0.001). Median time between testicular detorsion and follow-up ultrasound examination was 18 months (range, 11-36 months). Torsion side, torsion degree, and pain duration were recorded, and testicular volumes were calculated. The study population comprised 24 patients (48 testes) with a mean age of 21.1 ± 7.8 years. The mean testicular volume was measured as 12.3 ± 5.4 ml for the testicular salvage group, 13.9 ± 3.8 ml for the contralateral testes, and 13.7 ± 2.7 ml for the control group (p = 0.553). The mean testicular speed mode values were higher in the testicular salvage group (1.34 ± 1.21 m/s) compared with the contralateral testes group (1.00 ± 0.08 m/s), and the control group (1.01 ± 0.06 m/s), however there was no statistically significant difference between the three groups (p = 0.861). While testicular atrophy was detected in three patients, an intraparenchymal wedge-shaped focal hypoechoic area developed after torsion in a further three patients. The elastography examination for focal hypoechoic areas revealed an increase or decrease in tissue stiffness compared to the normal parenchyma. The tissue stiffness values of the testicular salvage group were higher in complete torsion compared to incomplete torsion. The elastography method contributes to other imaging methods in distinguishing focal lesion areas that can be seen after testicular torsion from malignant conditions. Elastography presents as a feasible and practical complementary modality for the follow-up of testicular salvage after torsion.

EVALUATION OF ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF TRANSVERSUS ABDOMINIS PLANE BEFORE AND AFTER CESAREAN SECTION.

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is used to provide analgesia after lower abdominal surgery operations. TAP block has been shown to reduce postoperative pain scores and side effects of opioids after cesarean section. Generally, TAP block was introduced after cesarean section. It is assumed that delivery affects sonographic characteristics of the abdominal wall. For this reason, ultrasonographic measurement of the anatomy of the region defined for TAP block was performed before and after cesarean section. It was aimed to determine the estimated TAP block distance in the population undergoing cesarean section. Fifty patients who underwent cesarean section in the operating room were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were ASA score I-II, age 18-45 years, gestational age ≥32 weeks, and cesarean section performed by Pfannenstiel incision. Data on patient age, weight, height, body mass index, gravidity, parity, gestational age (weeks), concomitant disease and allergy were recorded. According to the results obtained in the study, ultrasound should be performed if TAP block is accessible. Before cesarean section, the external oblique muscle and internal oblique muscle are closer to surface than after cesarean section since the TAP distance after pregnancy will be deeper. Systematic data on ultrasonographic anatomy of the abdominal wall in pregnant women have not yet been published. The obstetric anesthesiologist should be aware of these changes when planning a TAP block in the context of cesarean section. There is a need for larger prospective studies.

Adverse fetal outcomes in patients with IUGR are related with fetal diaphragm evaluation parameters.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between diaphragmatic thickness, during both inspiratory (DTI) and expiratory (DTE) stages; diaphragmatic excursion (DE); diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF); and adverse fetal outcomes in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 77 participants were included in this case-control study. The case group was diagnosed as having both symmetric and asymmetric IUGR (n = 39). The control group included gestational age (GA)-matched healthy pregnant women (n = 38). DTI, DTE, DE (reflecting the capability of diaphragmatic movement during the respiratory cycle), and DTF were analyzed. RESULTS: Maternal demographic characteristics were similar between groups. DTI and DTE were significantly lower in the IUGR group compared to the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). DE was similar between the groups (p = 0.07). Additionally, in the IUGR group, DTI, DTE, and DE were significantly altered in newborns that required treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). ROC curve analysis determined that the DTI cut-off was 1.36 for NICU admission with 78% sensitivity and 100% specificity. DTE cut-off was 1.195 for NICU admission with 78% sensitivity and 96% specificity. DE cut-off was 4.25 for NICU admission with 71% sensitivity and 80% specificity. CONCLUSION: Measurement of DTI, DTE and DE may help clinicians to predict whether newborns with IUGR would require NICU hospitalization.

Affinity tag effect on the salt rejection potential of Halomonas elongata aquaporin incorporated in thin film nanocomposite membrane.

In this study, effect of affinity tags, Histidine (His) and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST), on the activity of halophilic aquaporin was analyzed. The gene coding for H. elongata aquaporin was cloned into pET28a vector and expressed in E. coli BL21 successfully. Stopped flow light scattering measurements showed that His-tagged aquaporin is functional. The difference in the filtration parameters caused by affinity tags were determined by using thin film composite nano-filtration (NFC) membranes prepared with the aquaporins. At 100 mM salt concentration, water permeability (L/m2.h) and the % salt rejection of NFC membranes produced with the His-tagged aquaporin was found to be higher than that of the membrane with GST-tagged aquaporin. Salt rejection of His-tagged aquaporin-membrane was found to be 53% with a lower solute permeability value (B). Use of short affinity tag (His tag) for cloning resulted in higher solute rejection ability of TFC membranes prepared with H. elongata aquaporins.

Thermochromic nail polish as a novel indicator to predict infraclavicular brachial plexus block success: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Skin temperature measurements after peripheral nerve block can be used as an easy and objective method to help predict block success. Thermochromic nail polishes are popular cosmetic products especially among young women. The colour change of nail polish is based on a thermochromic reaction as the temperature changes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the success of infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks (IBPBs) can be predicted by the colour change in thermochromic nail polish, which depends on skin temperature changes. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: Training and research hospital from December 2018 to March 2019. PATIENTS: A total of 50 patients who received IBPB for forearm, wrist or hand surgery were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Thermochromic nail polish was applied to the nails of both hands of all patients before the block. Reaction of the nail polish in both hands was photographed immediately after application of nail polish and at 30 min after performing the block. The digital photographs of each patient were evaluated by observers. To evaluate the validity of the colour change in nail polish in predicting a successful IBPB, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and positive and negative likelihood ratios were estimated. RESULTS: The positive predictive value for colour change in thermochromic nail polish predicting a successful IBPB was 96% [95% confidence interval (CI) 90 to 98] and sensitivity was 94% (95% CI 87 to 97). Fleiss kappa value showed substantial agreement (0.76; 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93) in the assessment of interobserver agreement. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that the colour change in thermochromic nail polish is a valid and reliable indicator for the prediction of block success. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03767868.

Effect of Centrifuge Temperature on Routine Coagulation Tests.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of cooled and standard centrifuges on the results of coagulation tests to examine the effects of centrifugation temperature. METHODS: Equal-volume blood samples from each patient were collected at the same time intervals and subjected to standard (25°C) and cooled centrifugation (2-4°C). Subsequently, the prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, and D-dimer values were determined in runs with the same lot numbers in the same coagulation device using the Dia-PT R (PT and INR), Dia-PTT-liquid (aPTT), Dia-FIB (fibrinogen), and Dia-D-dimer kits, respectively. RESULTS: The study enrolled 771 participants. The PT was significantly (p < 0.018) higher in participants on anticoagulant therapy. The respective median values of the test parameters determined using the standard and cooled centrifuges were as follows: PT 10.30 versus 10.50 s; PT (INR) 1.04 versus 1.09 s; APTT 28.90 versus 29.40 s; fibrinogen 321.5 versus 322.1 mg/dL; and D-dimer 179.5 versus 168.7 µg FEU/mL. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the parameters between the values obtained with the standard and cooled centrifuges. CONCLUSIONS: Centrifuge temperature can have a significant effect on the results of coagulation tests. However, broad and specific disease-based studies are needed.

The Effect of Oral Contraceptive Pills on the Macula, the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, and Choroidal Thickness.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) on the macula, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and choroidal thickness (CT). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 24 healthy women taking monophasic OCP (3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol) for contraception only for at least one year were compared with a control group of 24 healthy women who were not taking an OCP. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate the posterior ocular segments, and measurements were taken in the follicular phase (day 3) of the cycle in all women. RESULTS No disparity in terms of age and body mass index between the groups was observed (p=0.436, p=0.538, respectively). In comparison of the macular region and CT between groups, we found that all variables except foveal center thickness and CT were significantly thinner in the OCP group. Nasal and temporal inferior parts of the RNFL and average RNFL were significantly slimmer in the study group versus the control group (p=0.013, p=0.018, and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS OCP resulted in several structural changes in the posterior ocular segment. Thus, women using OCP for more than one year may have some eye problems. Therefore, it OCT should be performed for these women. Further clinical trials researching long-period effect of OCP on the eyes are needed.

Comparison of blood and urine nephrin levels in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between nephrin levels and preeclampsia severity by comparing serum and urine levels of nephrin in the severe and mild groups according to severity of associated intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) development. METHODS: A total of 150 patients who attended our ante-natal clinic (ANC) were included in this study. We had 5 groups; Group 1:30 patients with mild preeclampsia (MP) and normal fetal development (NFD), Group 2:30 patients with severe preeclampsia (SP) and NFD, Group 3: 30 patients with MP and IUGR, Group 4: 30 patients with SP and IUGR and Group 5: 30 volunteers who were normotensive and non-preeclamptic. We obtained both blood and urine samples for measuring nephrin levels. RESULTS: Both serum and urine nephrin levels were significantly higher for the fourth group compared with all other groups (p<0.001). The levels of SP group with NFD were measured considerably higher than MP group out of IUGR and control group (p<0.001). Urine and serum nephrin levels with gestational age of delivery showed a negative correlation (r=-0.621, p<0.001) and also urine and serum nephrin levels with birth weight showed a negative correlation too (r=-0.655 p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Both serum and urine nephrin levels correlated with the severity of preeclampsia and IUGR development.

The changing trends of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis and novel risk factors.

AIM: Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (PD) has become a treatment modality for end stage renal disease with a peak of its use in 1990 s. The aim of this study was to examine the peritonitis rates, causative organisms and the risk factors of peritonitis in a large group of patients in our center. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Nephrology Department of a University Hospital in Turkey. Patients in the PD programme between January 2000 and January 2006 were included. Cohort-specific and subject specific peritonitis incidence, and peritonitis-free survival were calculated. Causative organisms and risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: Totally 620 episodes of peritonitis occurred in 440 patients over the six years period. Peritonitis rates showed a decreasing trend through the years (0.79 episodes/patient-year 2000-2003 and 0.46 episodes/patient-year 2003-2006). Cohort-specific peritonitis incidence was 0.62 episodes/patient-years and median subject-specific peritonitis incidence was 0.44 episodes/patient-years. The median peritonitis-free survival was 15.25 months (%95 CI, 9.45-21.06 months). The proportion of gram-negative organisms has increased from 9.8% to 17.3%. There was a significant difference in the percentage of culture negative peritonitis between the first three and the last three years (53.1% vs. 43.2%, respectively). Peritonitis incidence was higher in patients who had been transferred from HD, who had catheter related infection and who had HCV infection without cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed significant trends in the peritonitis rates, causative organisms and antibiotic resistance. Prior HD therapy, catheter related infections and HCV infection were found to be risk factors for peritonitis.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphism influences renal allograft outcome.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic lesions within the graft are considered to be a major cause of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA). We evaluated the factors that influence the development of IF/TA and three- and five-yr graft survival including nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and angiotensin II type 1 and type 2 receptor gene polymorphism. METHODS: Seventy-one male and 35 female patients (age: 34.9 ± 11.2 yr) who underwent living-related renal transplantation were included. Angiotensin type 1 and type 2 receptor gene polymorphisms and eNOS intron 4 gene polymorphism were analyzed. The pre- and post-transplant laboratory data, patient characteristics, acute rejection episodes, and presence of IF/TA were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with the bb allele of eNOS gene had a lower prevalence of post-transplant third year (12.6% and 38.5%, p = 0.005) and fifth year IF/TA (46.6% and 82.3%, p = 0.02) and a lower incidence of five-yr graft failure (35.4% and 55.6%, p < 0.005). The eNOS gene polymorphism was independent and was the most prominent factor associated with third and fifth year IF/TA (p = 0.01, RR: 29.72, and p = 0.03, RR: 4.1, respectively). No significant relationship existed when angiotensin II gene polymorphisms were considered. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that recipient eNOS gene polymorphism can predict IF/TA, and the presence of the bb allele is associated with better graft outcome.

The role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in identifying contrast induced nephropathy development in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in detecting the development of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing contrast imaging in an emergency department setting. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at the emergency department of Uludag University, Turkey, between January 1 and July 1, 2012, and comprised patients who underwent a diagnostic thoracic or abdominal Computed Tomography examination with contrast agent. At 2 hours and 72 hours after the scan, control urea, creatinine, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin values were recorded. Plasma lipocalin measurement was performed using fluorescence-detected immunoassay method. An increase in serum creatinine of more than 0.5 mg/dl or 25% elevation from the basal level was considered to be a marker for the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy. SPSS 13 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 80 subjects in the study, 60 (75%) were cases and 20 (25%) were controls. Contrast-induced nephropathy did not develop in any of the patients, and, accordingly, no significant increase of plasma urea, creatinine, or neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels was observed. A significant positive relationship was found between urea and creatinine levels at 2 hours (p < 0.009) and at 72 hours (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic contrast computed tomography examination in patients with normal renal function did not lead to Contrast-induced nephropathy or increased neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels, an accepted early indicator of kidney injury.

Preferred strategy for euploid single embryo transfer in advanced maternal age: Fresh versus frozen.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare fresh and frozen-thawed euploid blastocyst transfer protocols following preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) in cases of advanced maternal age. METHODS: A total of 330 patients were examined retrospectively. PGS was performed on the embryos of 146 patients for whom fresh transfers were chosen. In contrast, frozen-thawed euploid single embryo transfer (ET) was selected after PGS for 184 patients, and their embryos were vitrified. The percentage of euploid embryos and rates of implantation, pregnancy, and pregnancy continuity, as well as clinical and biochemical abortion rates, were compared. RESULTS: The numbers of retrieved oocytes, metaphase II oocytes, and fertilized ova were greater in the frozen-thawed group. The percentages of euploid embryos were comparable between the fresh and frozen-thawed groups (32% vs. 34.8%, respectively). The rates of implantation (46.6%vs. 62.5%), pregnancy (50% vs. 66.8%), ongoing pregnancy (38.4% vs. 53.8%), and live birth percentage (37.0% vs. 53.8%) were significantly higher in the frozen-thawed group. However, no significant differences were found in the clinical and biochemical abortion rates. CONCLUSION: The use of frozen-thawed single euploid ET is associated with increased implantation and pregnancy rates compared to fresh single euploid ET with PGS.

The clinical significance of calcium/magnesium ratio in primary hyperparathyroidism: unveiling a clinical association.

PURPOSE: In previous studies, magnesium (Mg) was found to be lower in cases with more severe primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and higher calcium (Ca) levels. This study evaluated the relationship between serum Mg and serum Ca and phosphorus (P) levels in PHPT and their utility in determining the presence of osteoporosis and nephrolithiasis. METHODS: Patients who were followed up with PHPT between March 2019 and March 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Biochemical data, renal ultrasonography results, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) reports, and technetium 99 m sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy reports were obtained. MgxP, Mg/P, Ca/P, and corrected Ca (cCa)/P values were calculated. The relationships between biochemical parameters and clinical outcomes were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: A total of 543 patients were included in the study. Patients with nephrolithiasis had higher cCa/Mg or Ca/Mg than those without nephrolithiasis. Additionally, ROC analysis revealed that cCa/Mg greater than 5.24 could identify the presence of nephrolithiasis with a sensitivity of 73.3% and a specificity of 73%. No statistically significant correlation existed between the results of the Mg/P, MgxP, cCa/Mg, Ca/Mg values, and DEXA-bone mineral densitometry(BMD). CONCLUSION: Ca/Mg and cCa/Mg ratios in particular seem more valuable in determining the presence of nephrolithiasis than the currently used 24-h urine Ca measurement. Compared to urinary Ca measurements, they are cheaper, more practical, and more accessible.