Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients.

Background and Objectives: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are stress proteins. The endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is a mediator of endothelial dysfunction. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus causes endothelial dysfunction and coagulopathy through severe inflammation and oxidative stress. Using these markers, we analyzed the prognostic value of serum ADMA and HSP-90 levels for early prediction of severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 COVID-19 patients and 35 healthy control subjects were included in this case-control study. COVID-19 patients were divided into two groups: mild and severe. Results: Serum ADMA and HSP-90 levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients compared to the control subjects (p < 0.001). Additionally, serum ADMA and HSP-90 levels were determined to be higher in a statistically significant way in severe COVID-19 compared to mild COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that ADMA and HSP-90, respectively, were independent predictors of severe disease in COVID-19 patients (ADMA (OR = 1.099, 95% CI = 1.048-1.152, p < 0.001) and HSP-90 (OR = 5.296, 95% CI = 1.719-16.316, p = 0.004)). When the cut-off value for ADMA was determined as 208.94 for the prediction of the severity of COVID-19 patients, the sensitivity was 72.9% and the specificity was 100% (AUC = 0.938, 95%CI = 0.858-0.981, p < 0.001). When the cut-off value for HSP-90 was determined as 12.68 for the prediction of the severity of COVID-19 patients, the sensitivity was 88.1% and the specificity was 100% (AUC = 0.975, 95% CI= 0.910-0.997, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased levels of Heat shock proteins-90 (HSP-90) and ADMA were positively correlated with increased endothelial damage in COVID-19 patients, suggesting that treatments focused on preventing and improving endothelial dysfunction could significantly improve the outcomes and reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19. ADMA and HSP-90 might be simple, useful, and prognostic biomarkers that can be utilized to predict patients who are at high risk of severe disease due to COVID-19.

Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain all over the body, whose diagnosis and treatment are not fully understood. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease that causes apnea, hypopnea and oxygen desaturation due to collapse in the upper respiratory tract and is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue and lack of attention. Symptoms and signs of OSAS and fibromyalgia are similar. In our study, we aimed to compare the association of fibromyalgia in female OSAS patients in terms of polysomnography and laboratory parameters. Materials and Methods: We aimed to examine the association of fibromyalgia in patients with female OSAS. A total of 190 female OSAS patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of fibromyalgia: 88 (46.3%) patients in the fibromyalgia group and 102 (53.7%) patients in the control group. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used for the evaluation of demographic data, polysomnography parameters and laboratory tests of the patients, and values with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: Mean age of the patients was 52.1 ± 11.9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 35.1 ± 7.2. There was no difference between age and BMI (p= 0.971, p= 0.716, respectively). Periodic leg movements (PLMS) were higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.02). The desaturation index (CT90) was found to be high in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.043). The minimum SaO2 value was found to be low in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.022). Sleep latency was found to be higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.031). Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were found to be statistically significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.020, p= 0.027, respectively). Triglyceride level was found to be high in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.043). Conclusions: We recommend clinical evaluation of female patients with fibromyalgia and we suggest polysomnography, especially in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. Early diagnosis and treatment of concomitant OSAS will contribute to quality of fibromyalgia patients' life.

Endocan as a potential biomarker of disease severity and exacerbations in COPD.

INTRODUCTION: Endocan is a proteoglycan that is regarded as a novel marker of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction in pulmonary vascular bed is known to play an important role for the pathogenesis of COPD. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine serum endocan levels in patients with stable COPD and acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and to test the relationship between serum endocan levels and exacerbations. METHODS: This study enrolled a total of 55 COPD patients, 24 of which had AECOPD and 31 had stable COPD. All patients' basic demographic and clinical data were recorded and blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Serum endocan levels were significantly higher in the AECOPD group compared to the stable COPD and control groups (for both p < 0.001) and stable COPD group had higher levels than the control group (p < 0.005). Additionally, serum endocan levels were negatively correlated with FVC, FEV1, partial oxygen pressure and oxygen saturation (r = -0.30, p = 0.03; r = -0.34, p = 0.01; r = -0.34, p = 0.01 and r = -0.36, p = 0.007 respectively), and positively correlated with disease duration and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (r = 0.47, p < 0.001; r = 0.31, p = 0.02 respectively). A cut-off value of 434.29 pg/ml for endocan predicted exacerbation with a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 84% (AUC: 0.778, 95% Cl 0.648-0.909; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that increased endocan levels was independent predictor of COPD exacerbation (OR = 9.32, 95%CI, 1.64-52.95; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Endocan may be a novel biomarker for detection of endothelial dysfunction and prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD.

The effects of PAP therapy on energy metabolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, changes in energy metabolism before and after treatment were compared in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients who received positive airway pressure therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (22 male, 17 female) were admitted to study. Patients for PAP therapy who had moderate to severe in polysomnography were included. Values of energy metabolism were recorded during three days via metaboic holter device, before and after PAP therapy. RESULT: The mean age of the patients was 51.53 ± 11.16 year. In 15 (38.46%) of the patients BPAP, and in 24 (61.54%) of the patients CPAP treatment started. Three days after using metabolic holter device: the total daily energy consumption of the patients was found to be 482,4 ± 296.1 kcal/day before treatment and 524.5 ± 343.1 kcal/day after treatment (p<0.0001); patients' daily physical activity was 7867 ± 3319 steps/day before treatment and 12.416 ± 1451 steps/day after treatment, which was considered statistically significant (p<0001); the total daily resting period of the patients was 7.90 ± 1.36 hours/day before treatment and 7.44 ± 1.42 hours/day after treatment, considered statistically significant (p<0001); the total sleep duration of the patients was 5.50 ± 1.88 hours/day before treatment and 5.87 ± 1.20 hours/ day after treatment, considered statistically significant (p<0001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we found that daily physical activity and energy consumption increased with PAP treatment. With PAP treatment, obesity, diabetes and hypertension can be controlled. In our study, since PAP treatment was effective with effective sleep, the immobilization time was decreased and therefore the duration of daytime physical activity was prolonged. With these effects, patients' compliance with treatment increases. In conclusion, PAP treatment should be recommended in patients with moderate and severe OSAS.