The Association between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Pro-Inflammatory Markers in New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes.

In this study, we aimed to reveal the pro-inflammatory effects of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (Vit D) deficiency and insufficiency in new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and prediabetes. We recruited 84 prediabetes patients, 94 new-onset T2DM patients and 113 healthy participants. We measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, ferritin, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the serum of the participants. ANOVA Bonferroni and Kruskal-Wallis Dunn tests were used to compare the inflammation markers and vitamin D levels between the groups. Based on covariance analysis with age, gender and BMI, the Vit D levels of the T2DM group were significantly lower (p < 0.003). Pro-inflammatory markers and CRP were significantly higher in prediabetic and diabetic subjects. In the prediabetes group, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and MAPK were significantly higher in those with Vit D insufficiency and deficiency groups. In the T2DM group, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, NF-κB, MAPK and CRP were significantly higher in those with Vit D insufficiency and deficiency. Our study emphasizes the pro-inflammatory effects of Vit D deficiency and insufficiency in new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes.

Impaired Perceptions and Conspiracy Beliefs about the Way of Emergence of the COVID-19 Infection.

This study aimed to reveal the perceptions and conspiracy theories surrounding the new coronavirus infection. We aimed to explore associations between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs with recommended health protective attitudes and sociodemographic features among the Turkish population. A questionnaire consisting of seven items about COVID-19 conspiracy theories and perceptions and ten items about attitudes was given to patients and their relatives in five different centres during the second national lockdown in Istanbul. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the associations of disease perceptions and conspiracy beliefs with sociodemographic features and with health protective attitudes. Logistic regression analysis was performed for significant results. Of 483 participants, 242 (50.1%) were found to have a conspiracy belief. Conspiracy theories were more frequent in the participants who were older than 50 years of age (p = 0.009) (OR: 1.83) and less frequent in higher education levels (p = 0.005) (OR: 0.499). In addition, 6.6% of the participants were infected with COVID-19, but having the infection was found to have no effect on disease perceptions or conspiracy beliefs. Wearing a mask in crowds, avoiding shaking hands and kissing, and washing hands were less frequent among conspiracy believers and participants with impaired perceptions. These results indicate that misconceptions and conspiracy beliefs are driving the adoption of disinformation about the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Impaired postnatal growth of infants prenatally exposed to cigarette smoking.

Most of the previous studies have shown a significant inverse relationship between smoking during pregnancy and weight, height and head circumference of infants at birth, but there is limited literature that assesses the head circumference measures of infants of smoker mothers in postnatal follow-up. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of maternal smoking and passive smoking during pregnancy on postnatal anthropometric measures of infants. Infants were divided into 3 groups: infants of smokers (n = 48), passive smokers (n = 57) and nonsmokers (n = 54), and were evaluated for their weight, height and head circumference at birth, 3 months and 6 months of age. Infants of smokers showed significant weight and head circumference deficits at birth compared to nonsmokers' infants (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). At 6 months of age, infants of smokers continued to show significant deficits in all 3 measures compared to nonsmokers' infants (p < 0.001 for each), and infants of passive smokers showed only marginal decreases. Moreover, the weight and height growth velocities of the smokers' infants remained deficient, whereas their growth velocity of the head circumferences increased from birth up to 6 months and reached the growth velocity of the nonsmokers' infants. Infants of passive smokers showed a complete catch-up growth at 6 months. This study indicates that smoking during pregnancy results in serious deficits in infants' growth even after birth. Therefore, it is essential to inform smoker women before pregnancy the possible growth retardation of infants.

The relationship of gestational smoking with pregnancy complications and sociodemographic characteristics of mothers.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship of gestational smoking and passive smoking with pregnancy complications like preterm delivery, low birthweight, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae, fetal distress and preeclampsia. We also analyzed the sociodemographic features of mothers who smoked during their pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pregnant women have been questionned for their habits of smoking and household members' usage of tobacco products during their antenatal visits. Perinatal outcome of gestational smoking was assessed by the type of the delivery, birthweight, occurrence of preeclampsia, early membrane rupture and fetal distress during pregnancy. Differences in group means were analyzed with the Fisher's exact test, Chi-square test and ANOVA. RESULTS: There wasn't any significant statistical difference between the smokers' (n=86), passive smokers' (n=118) and nonsmokers' (n=77) groups in terms of maternal age, socioeconomic status of the family, gestational age, Apgar scoring and the rate of delivery by cesearian section. However, gestational smoking was found to be more common in mothers with poor or none education (p=0.001). There wasn't any significant statistical change in the rates of fetal distress, early membrane rupture, abruptio placentae and preeclampsia by gestational smoking (p>0.05). But, infants of mothers who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day showed statistically significant birthweight deficits (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Data from this study indicate that gestational smoking is more common among women with low education and results in low birthweight. Therefore, it is essantial to educate the women before pregnancy and implement new smoking cessation programs for pregnancy.