The relationship between hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width (RDW) ratio (HRR) and mortality in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, many studies have shown that hemoglobin to red cell distribution width ratio (HRR), which is the ratio of hemoglobin (Hb) to red cell distribution width (RDW), is associated with inflammation. Inflammation is linked to both the development of stroke and the severe effects that follow. Therefore, the relationship between the HRR and mortality in patients with stroke was investigated in our study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 127 stroke patients who visited the emergency department between March 1, 2023, and June 1, 2023, were retrospectively evaluated. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to measure stroke severity. All stroke patients were divided into four groups: patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), those without AF, and those with low and high HRR. HRR levels were compared between patients with and without AF. The relationship between HRR and mortality was also analyzed. RESULTS: HRR levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with AF compared to those without AF (p<0.05 for all). NIHSS, requirement for mechanical ventilation, and mortality rate were significantly higher in the low HRR (HRR≤0.795) group compared to the high HRR group (HRR>0.795) (p<0.05 for all). HRR outperformed Hb and RDW alone in predicting mortality (AUC; 0.975, 0.952, 0.911, respectively). Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between HRR levels and NIHSS (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Low HRR measured on admission is a useful marker for predicting mortality and determining the severity of stroke.

The relationship between albumin and its proportion to other markers in predicting mortality in severe COVID-19 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/albumin ratio (BAR), D-dimer/albumin ratio (DAR), C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio (CAR), and neutrophil/albumin ratio (NAR) levels and prognosis in severe COVID-19 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 619 patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 in the emergency department were retrospectively analyzed. BAR, DAR, CAR, and NAR values were obtained by dividing BUN, neutrophil, CRP, and D-dimer by albumin. All patients were divided into groups [survived and deceased patients, and those who received and did not receive mechanical ventilation (MV) assistance]. These groups were statistically compared with regard to albumin, BAR, DAR, CAR, and NAR. RESULTS: While 350 out of 619 patients survived, 269 patients died. A statistically significant difference was determined between survived and deceased patient groups with regard to BUN, neutrophil, lymphocyte, CRP, D-dimer, albumin, BAR, NAR, DAR, and CAR levels (p<0.001 for all). Also, BAR, NAR, DAR, and CAR were significantly higher in those who received MV support, while albumin was found to be low (p<0.001). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, NAR, BAR, CAR, albumin, and DAR had the highest area under the curve (AUC) values compared to the other parameters (0.825, 0.815, 0.806, 0.772, and 0.770, respectively) (p<0.001 for all). According to logistic regression analysis, BAR, NAR, DAR, and CAR levels were determined as important risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Low serum albumin levels can be used for severity as an additional tool in severe COVID-19 patients. Moreover, the NAR, BAR, and CAR levels were found to be more valuable than albumin levels in predicting prognosis in these patients.

Anticipated discrimination among people with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of anticipated discrimination in people with schizophrenia (n = 732) from 27 countries in the International Study of Discrimination and Stigma Outcomes (INDIGO). METHOD: Anticipated discrimination was assessed through four questions of Discrimination and Stigma Scale. Twenty-five individuals were identified at each site who were reasonably representative of all such treated cases within the local area. RESULTS: Sixty-four per cent of the participants reported that they had stopped themselves from applying for work, training or education because of anticipated discrimination. Seventy-two per cent of them reported that they felt the need to conceal their diagnosis. Expecting to be avoided by others who know about their diagnosis was highly associated with decisions to conceal their diagnosis. Those who concealed their diagnosis were younger and more educated. The participants who perceived discrimination by others were more likely to stop themselves from looking for a close relationship. Anticipated discrimination in finding and keeping work was more common in the absence than in the presence of experienced discrimination, and the similar findings applied to intimate relationships. CONCLUSION: This study shows that anticipated discrimination among people with schizophrenia is common, but is not necessarily associated with experienced discrimination.

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with diagnoses of eating disorder in a university hospital in Istanbul.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the first-ever description of a clinical eating disorder population from Turkey. The aim of this study was to examine the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals with diagnosis of eating disorders (IDED) referred to a university psychiatry clinic in Istanbul between 2003 and 2009. METHOD: The diagnoses and subtype of 111 IDEDs, the referral type to the hospital, setting of treatment, and state of involuntary hospitalization were evaluated by interview and semi-structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The clinical sample included 64 individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), 38 with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 9 with eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), including only one male. Younger individuals and those with a lower BMI were significantly more likely to be family referred and hospitalized involuntarily. DISCUSSION: The overall socio-demographic features of the sample are generally consistent with data collected in other communities. However, aspects of the clinical features, referral types of eating disorders and subtypes exhibit some characteristics peculiar to our sample.