The Diagnostic Value of Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells for Patients with Acute Stone Pyelonephritis.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) is a new biomarker that can be used for the diagnosis and monitoring of urinary system infections. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum sTREM-1 in patients with a diagnosis of acute stone pyelonephritis (ASP). This prospective study included 46 patients with a diagnosis of ASP and a control group of 23 individuals without urinary system infection. Blood samples were taken from participants upon hospital admission, and basal serum sTREM-1 levels were analyzed using the ELISA method. Serum sTREM-1 concentrations were measured after treatment of ASP patients. Basal leukocyte counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, procalcitonin (PCT), and sTREM-1 (98.6 vs. 68.4 pg/mL, p < 0.001) levels were higher in the ASP group compared to the control group. After treatment, the median leukocyte counts, PCT, and sTREM-1 levels decreased and were similar to those of the control group. The median CRP level also decreased after treatment, but it remained higher than that of the control group. In predicting patients with ASP, the baseline sTREM-1 exhibited a sensitivity of 74.6% and a specificity of 78.2%, while its diagnostic performance was lower than that of leukocyte counts, CRP, and PCT. Despite the findings that levels of sTREM-1 were higher upon hospital admission in patients with ASP and significantly decreased after treatment, the utility of sTREM-1 as a biomarker for predicting patients with ASP remains constrained when compared to established inflammatory markers.

The Effect of Corrected Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction on Fmd Levels in Patients with Selected Chronic Diseases: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

While the pathophysiology of chronic disorders varies there are three basic mechanisms - inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction - that are common in many chronic diseases. However, the failure of these mechanisms to work synchronously can lead to morbidity complicating the course of many chronic diseases. We analyzed data of 178 patients from cohorts with selected chronic diseases in this quasi-experimental study. Endothelial dysfunction was determined by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels. Serum ADMA, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum PTX3, malondialdehyde (MDA), Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels and FMD were studied in baseline and after 12 weeks of Morinda citrifolia (anti-atherosclerotic liquid- AAL), omega-3 (anti-inflammatory capsules- AIC) and extract with Alaskan blueberry (anti-oxidant liquid- AOL). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the association of FMD with clinical and serologic parameters. Serum ADMA, MDA, PTX3, hsCRP and albumin levels, and proteinuria were significantly decreased while CuZn-SOD, GSH-Px and FMD levels were significantly increased following AAL, AIC and AOL therapies. The FMD was negatively correlated with serum ADMA, MDA, PTX3, and hsCRP levels and positively correlated with CuZn-SOD and eGFR levels. ADMA and PTX3 levels were independently related to FMD both before and after AAL, AIC and AOL therapies. Our study shows that serum ADMA, MDA, PTX3 levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with selected chronic diseases. In addition, short-term AAL, AIC and AOL therapies significantly improves a number of parameters in our cohort and can normalize ADMA, PTX3, hsCRP and MDA levels.

Attitudes and behaviors of family physicians regarding occupational diseases.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of occupational diseases (ODs) is below expectations. The approaches of family physicians are very important. In this study, we aimed to evaluate attitudes and behaviors of family physicians about ODs. METHODS: The questionnaire was first sent to family physicians via e-mail. Of 3663 responders, 3090 replies were included to study. RESULTS: 44.1% of them stated they obtained detailed occupational history. In logistic regression analysis, physicians who obtained detailed occupational history, discussed their patient's health with an occupational physician, had education about ODs and those who stated that they wanted to receive training in ODs were more likely to refer their patient. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was determined that those who received education on ODs and those who have worked as workplace physician obtained occupational history, knew occupational diseases hospitals and wanted to receive further education.

The Mersin Greenhouse Workers Study. Surveillance of Work-related Skin, Respiratory, and Musculoskeletal Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers are frequently observed due to exposure to plant products and pesticides in enclosed conditions and ergonomic risks. Current studies on occupational health risks of greenhouse workers in Turkey are insufficient. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess work-related skin, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases in greenhouse workers in the Erdemli province, Mersin, an area with a workforce predominantly active as greenhouse workers. METHODS: The study population consists of adult greenhouse workers, who visited their family physician between June 12-14, 2017 and were diagnosed with dermatological, respiratory, and musculoskeletal diseases. Immediately after this consultation, occupational physicians conducted face-to-face interviews, asking questions about sociodemographic features and occupational factors including current and previous work, current exposures and relation of current symptoms with work. RESULTS: In total, 423 workers with 555 diagnoses were included in the study. Percentages of diagnoses were 30.1%, 21.6% and 48.3%, for skin, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases respectively. Nearly half of participants had taken an absence from work due to those diseases. Mean age of onset for greenhouse working was 15.5 years. Almost all participants (96.2%) reported contact with chemicals, and usage of respiratory protection was low (17.3%). Pesticides were regarded as a risk factor by nearly two-thirds of workers with skin or respiratory system disorders. Participants' answers to questions regarding the relationship between their diseases and their work was positive for more than half of patients and patients with skin and respiratory diseases. Nearly half of the patients with musculoskeletal diseases attributed their complaints to physical overload at work. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence of work-relatedness in almost half of the 555 greenhouse workers with dermatological, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases. These findings are helpful in creating an awareness program. There is a need for a more detailed assessment of the cases and the related working conditions to start a tailored prevention program.

Gene polymorphisms of adducin GLY460TRP, ACE I/D, AND AGT M235T in pediatric hypertension patients.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a major global public health problem that affects both pediatric and adult populations. ACE I/D, AGT M235T, and ADD Gly460Trp polymorphisms are thought to be associated with primary hypertension. In the present study, we examined the frequency of these polymorphisms in a pediatric population with secondary hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Included in the study were 58 hypertensive and 58 normotensive pediatric patients. ACE I/D and AGT M235T polymorphisms are determined by conventional PCR; ADD Gly460Trp polymorphism was investigated using PCR amplification of genomic DNA. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the control group and pediatric hypertensive group in terms of ACE I/D (P<0.05) and AGT M235T (P<0.05) polymorphisms, but there were no differences in ADD Gly460Trp (P>0.05) polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that RAS gene polymorphisms (ACE-I/D, AGT M235T) are significantly associated with susceptibility to diseases that lead to secondary hypertension.

Evaluation of the effect of thymoquinone treatment on wound healing in a rat burn model.

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a plant extract that has been shown to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Because of these activities, the authors hypothesized that TQ would reduce inflammation and oxidative stress and accelerate wound closure in a rat model of deep second-degree burns. For the purposes of this study, 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups of eight rats each. Group 1 was the control group, group 2 was the silver sulfadiazine group, group 3 was treated with systemic TQ, group 4 received topical TQ, and group 5 was administered topical and systemic TQ. After the deep second-degree burn damage was created, daily dressing changes and TQ administration were continued in the study groups for a period of 21 days. Systemic TQ was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day, whereas the topical treatment was applied using a 0.5% solution. The changes in the wound site were observed macroscopically, histopathologically, microbiologically, and biochemically in all groups. The smallest necrotic areas were observed at the end of the study in the groups that were administered a combination of systemic and topical TQ, or solely topical TQ (6.1 ± 1.6 cm and 6.7 ± 0.4 cm, respectively), whereas the largest necrotic areas were observed in the control group (11.2 ± 1.2cm). The total antioxidant state levels in the control group were significantly lower than in the other groups (P < .05), whereas the total oxidative stress levels were lower in the TQ groups compared with the control group (P < .05). The lowest bacterial counts were observed in the groups treated with both topical and systemic TQ (P < .05). TQ given systemically and/or topically reduced inflammation and oxidative stress and accelerated the rate of wound closure or reepithelialization.

Evaluation of the protective effects of CoQ10 on ovarian I/R injury: an experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on ovarian ischemia/reperfusion injury in an experimental rat adnexal torsion model. METHODS: 48 female adult Wistar albino rats, weighing 220-250 g, were randomly equally divided into six groups (n = 8): sham, torsion, detorsion, sham+CoQ10, torsion+CoQ10, and detorsion+CoQ10 groups. Bilateral adnexal torsion was performed for 3 h in all groups, except the sham and sham+CoQ10 groups. Bilateral adnexal detorsion was performed on the detorsion and detorsion+CoQ10 groups. CoQ10 was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the sham operation, torsion, and detorsion. RESULTS: The torsion and detorsion groups had significantly higher histologic evaluation scores, as well as higher MDA levels, TOS values, and oxidative stress index values than the sham group. A strong correlation between total histologic evaluation scores for ischemia/reperfusion injury and the oxidative stress index was found. The mean oxidant marker levels and histopathologic scores for the ovarian tissue significantly decreased after using CoQ10, which is a potent antioxidant. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative surgery (detorsion) was found to provide inadequate protection to ovarian tissue. The results of this study suggest that CoQ10 could be useful for the protection of ovarian tissue before conservative surgery.

The biochemical and histologic effects of adnexal torsion and early surgical intervention to unwind detorsion on ovarian reserve: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine to what extent ovarian reserves are affected by ischemia-reperfusion injury, evaluating the number of growing follicles and the serum levels of the ovarian hormones. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty female fertile adult Wistar albino rats, weighing 200 to 220 g, were previously numbered to randomization, and then randomly divided into 3 equal groups (n = 10): sham, torsion, and detorsion groups. In torsion and detorsion groups, bilateral adnexal torsion (3-hour ischemia) was carried out. Bilateral adnexal detorsion (3-hour reperfusion) was performed in the detorsion group. RESULTS: The mean number of preantral and small antral follicles in detorsion group were lower than those of the sham group (P < .01). After torsion, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol, and inhibin B levels decreased significantly compared to the preoperative and postoperative periods (P = .003, P = .032, and P = .014, respectively). In detorsion group, only AMH levels were found to decrease significantly following the 3-hour ischemia and 3-hour reperfusion (P < .05). CONCLUSION: After adnexal torsion, a significant decrease in ovarian reserve has been detected for the first time in this study. Additionally, the results of this study suggest that conservative surgery alone is insufficient to protect ovarian reserve.

Effect of pneumatic tube delivery system rate and distance on hemolysis of blood specimens.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effects of pneumatic tube system (PTS) transport rates and distances on routine hematology and coagulation analysis. PTS effects on centrifuged blood samples were also examined. METHOD: The study was completed at Dicle University Hospital, which has the longest pneumatic tube system in Turkey. Blood samples were collected at three different locations within the hospital and an emergency department, and delivered to the central laboratory by the PTS or a human carrier. Samples were transported at different rates and over varying distances. Each specimen's potassium (K) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, in both the serum and plasma, were tracked to monitor hemolysis. Measurements of LDH and K were obtained using heparin or citrate. RESULT: A positive correlation was observed between distance and hemolysis in serum samples transported at 4.2 m/sec, and at 3.1 m/sec for more than 2200 m (r = 0.774 and r = 0.766, respectively). Distance and hemolysis were also correlated in non-centrifuged samples (r = 0.871). The alterations in plasma LDH and K levels at different rates and PTS lengths were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The rate of hemolysis in PTS transported samples, dependent on PTS length and rate, may seriously affect routine tests of non-centrifuged samples.

Plasma concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand in smokers with acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is believed to be the single leading cause of death in both men and women in the world. Smoking is the most important risk factor for CAD. Smoking increases platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a transmembrane glycoprotein derived from activated platelets. It participates in thrombus formation during the acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (MI). Elevation of CD40L identifies the patients who are at highest risk for cardiac events and who are likely to benefit from treatment with the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) receptor antagonists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels of CD40L in smokers with acute MI. Fifty-seven patients with acute MI were enrolled in this study. Thirty-one smokers were compared with 26 non-smokers. Soluble CD40L level in the plasma was determined by a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating levels of CD40L were higher in the smokers' group. Smokers with acute MI may have increased risk for thrombotic complications during acute MI, and optimal antiaggregant therapy should be administered.