Differential Diagnosis of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis and Charcot Neuropathic Osteoarthropathy with Deep Learning Methods.

Our study aims to evaluate the potential of a deep learning (DL) algorithm for differentiating the signal intensity of bone marrow between osteomyelitis (OM), Charcot neuropathic osteoarthropathy (CNO), and trauma (TR). The local ethics committee approved this retrospective study. From 148 patients, segmentation resulted in 679 labeled regions for T1-weighted images (comprising 151 CNO, 257 OM, and 271 TR) and 714 labeled regions for T2-weighted images (consisting of 160 CNO, 272 OM, and 282 TR). We employed both multi-class classification (MCC) and binary-class classification (BCC) approaches to compare the classification outcomes of CNO, TR, and OM. The ResNet-50 and the EfficientNet-b0 accuracy values were computed at 96.2% and 97.1%, respectively, for T1-weighted images. Additionally, accuracy values for ResNet-50 and the EfficientNet-b0 were determined at 95.6% and 96.8%, respectively, for T2-weighted images. Also, according to BCC for CNO, OM, and TR, the sensitivity of ResNet-50 is 91.1%, 92.4%, and 96.6% and the sensitivity of EfficientNet-b0 is 93.2%, 97.6%, and 98.1% for T1, respectively. For CNO, OM, and TR, the sensitivity of ResNet-50 is 94.9%, 83.6%, and 97.9% and the sensitivity of EfficientNet-b0 is 95.6%, 85.2%, and 98.6% for T2, respectively. The specificity values of ResNet-50 for CNO, OM, and TR in T1-weighted images are 98.1%, 97.9%, and 94.7% and 98.6%, 97.5%, and 96.7% in T2-weighted images respectively. Similarly, for EfficientNet-b0, the specificity values are 98.9%, 98.7%, and 98.4% and 99.1%, 98.5%, and 98.7% for T1-weighted and T2-weighted images respectively. In the diabetic foot, deep learning methods serve as a non-invasive tool to differentiate CNO, OM, and TR with high accuracy.

Radiomics method in the differential diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis and charcot neuroarthropathy.

OBJECTIVES: Our study used a radiomics method to differentiate bone marrow signal abnormality (BMSA) between Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) and osteomyelitis (OM). METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 166 patients with diabetic foot suspected CN or OM between January 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively examined. A total of 41 patients with BMSA on MRI were included in this study. The diagnosis of OM was confirmed histologically in 24 of 41 patients. We clinically followed 17 patients as CN with laboratory tests. We also included 29 nondiabetic patients with traumatic (TR) BMSA on MRI as the third group. Contours of all BMSA on T 2 - and T1 -weighted images in three patient groups were segmented semi-automatically on ManSeg (v.2.7d). The T1 and T2 features of three groups in radiomics were statistically evaluated. We applied the multi-class classification (MCC) and binary-class classification (BCC) methodologies to compare results. RESULTS: For MCC, the accuracy of Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) was 76.92% and 84.38% for T1 and T2, respectively. According to BCC, for CN, OM, and TR BMSA, the sensitivity of MLP is 74%, 89.23%, and 76.19% for T1, and 90.57%, 85.92%, 86.81% for T2, respectively. For CN, OM, and TR BMSA, the specificity of MLP is 89.16%, 87.57%, and 90.72% for T1 and 93.55%, 89.94%, and 90.48% for T2 images, respectively. CONCLUSION: In diabetic foot, the radiomics method can differentiate the BMSA of CN and OM with high accuracy. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The radiomics method can differentiate the BMSA of CN and OM with high accuracy.

Evaluation of the relationship between progression and SARS-CoV-2 viral load in COVID-19 cases in Ankara, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 may present with varying clinical pictures. This study aimed to examine the relationship between viral load cycle threshold value, clinical prognosis and other laboratory parameters in initial swab samples on the day of hospitalization. METHODOLOGY: This retrospective and cross-sectional study included 112 patients, who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 via the Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM system. Cycle threshold values for the RdRp gene obtained from reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction positive patients were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of the 112 patients was 47.57 ± 17 years. No relationship was found in symptoms, pneumonia, oxygen need, follow-up in intensive care unit, and mortality between patient groups with cycle threshold values of < 30 and ≥ 30. Frequencies of thrombocytopenia (50%) and elevated LDH levels were higher in patients with cycle threshold values of ≥ 30 (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). There was a weak but significant correlation between cycle threshold values and CRP levels (Pearson's r = 0.207, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms or clinical prognosis were not significantly related to the SARS-CoV-2 viral load levels tested at admission or for the first time within the scope of this study. Thrombocytopenia and elevated LDH rates were higher in patients with cycle threshold values of ≥ 30. A weak but significant correlation was found between the viral load and CRP levels. Large-scale studies are needed to further elucidate this subject matter.

Comparison of tomographic kidney volumes measured by semiautomatic segmentation method with scintigraphic split renal function in predicting posttransplant kidney functions.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, it was aimed to compare scintigraphic split renal function (SRF) and computed tomographic (CT) kidney volumes by semiautomatic segmentation method in predicting graft functions after kidney transplantation. METHODS: One hundred and twelve patients (77 males, 35 females) who had a living-donor kidney transplant between 2015 and 2017 in our centre were included in the study. While SRF was calculated with technetium-99m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99m Tc-DTPA) scintigraphy, CT angiography was used for volumetric calculations. RESULTS: CT-volumetric measurements, especially renal cortical volume (RCV: 103.8 ± 20 ml) and ratio to body mass index (RCV/BMI: 4.45 ± 1.3) were found to be more significant than 99m Tc-DTPA-SRF in predicting graft functions. The correlations between SRF and RCV with 6th-month estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (rSRF: 0.052, rRCV: 0.317, p = 0.041) and 1st-year eGFR (rSRF: 0.104, rRCV: 0.374, p = 0.033) were found to be more significant in favour of RCV. The correlation between SRF/BMI and RCV/BMI with 1st-, 6th- and 12th-month eGFR (respectively, p = 0.02/0.048/0.024) were found to be more significant in favour of RCV/BMI. Although univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between most volumetric measurements and 1st-year graft functions, in multivariate analysis only RCV [odds ratio (OR): 1.04 (1.01-1.07), p = 0.023] and RCV/BMI [OR: 2.5 (1.27-5.39), p = 0.013] showed a significant relationship between graft functions. CONCLUSION: In our study, it was shown that CT-based renal volumetric measurements, especially RCV and RCV/BMI, predicted graft functions more strongly than scintigraphic 99m Tc-DTPA-SRF.

Investigation of Viral Load Cycle Threshold Values in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Associated Pneumonia with Real-Time PCR Method.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed investigate the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 viral load cycle threshold (Ct) values with pneumonia. METHODOLOGY: A total of 158 patients in whom SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in upper respiratory tract (URT) samples with molecular method and who had computed tomography (CT) of the chest, between April 2020 and June 2020 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Mean age of 158 PCR positive patients was 45.22 ± 17.89 and 60.8% of them were male. Pneumonia was detected in 40.5% of the patients on their chest CT. A weak but significant correlation was found between SARS-CoV-2 Ct value detected with PCR in analysis of oropharyngeal/ nasopharyngeal (OP/NP) samples and chest CT score (Pearson's r: 0.197, p = 0.01). No correlation was found between the first detected viral load Ct value and age, gender and mortality. There was no significant correlation between chest CT score and mortality. While the areas remaining under ROC curve for Ct value in analysis of OP/NP samples in prediction of chest CT score ≥ 1, ≥ 5 and ≥ 10 were 0.564, 0.640 and 0.703 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the amount of SARS-CoV-2 viral load (inverse relationship with Ct) detected in OP/NP samples of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia did not reflect the increasing severity of pulmonary lesions on chest CT. Although primary target of SARS-CoV-2 is all epithelial cells of the respiratory tract we believe studies comparing viral loads in lower respiratory tract samples are needed to determine the severity of pulmonary disease.

Clinical presentation and course of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with various types of cancer: A retrospective case-control analysis of an experienced cancer center in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Cancers have been reported to worsen the clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. We aimed to demonstrate the real-life data on health outcomes in COVID-19-infected cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the data of 43 COVID-19-infected cancer patients in our COVID-19 clinics between March 25, 2020, and May 9, 2020, retrospectively. RESULTS: We determined that 1051 patients were followed up with COVID-19 infection and 43 (4%) of them were cancer patients. The mean age of the patients was 64.3 ± 12.3 years. Lung cancer is the most common cancer type among the patients (23.2%). Dyspnea (51.2%) was the most common symptom in the first admission. Typical ground-glass consolidation or patchy appearance with peribronchial thickening resembling bronchopneumonia on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) was present in 29 (67.4%) patients. COVID-19 was diagnosed in 14 (32.5%) patients based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis of nose-throat swab samples without any sign of lung involvement on HRCT. Total mortality of the COVID-19 infection was 46.5% (n = 20). Presence of heart disease (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-9.4), previous surgeries to the respiratory system (HR: 6.95; 95% CI: 1.29-27.7), and presence of dyspnea at admission (HR: 4; 95% CI: 1.31-12.3) were statistically significantly associated with death (P = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our practices supported that cancer patients were more affected by COVID-19 disease than the normal population. However, our findings can not be generalized due to being retrospective and single centered study, Also, we did not compare the findings with noncancer patients with COVID19 disease.

The boundaries between survival and nonsurvival at COVID-19: Experience of tertiary care pandemic hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging, fast-spreading, highly mortal and worldwide infectious disease. The pulmonary system was defined as the main target of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the mortality concept of this disease presented with more severe and systemic disease. The present study investigated the relationship between the patient characteristics at the initial hospital administration and fatality in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this retrospective and comparative cohort study, all the 767 hospitalised COVID-19 patients, treated between 18 March and 15 May 2020 in the Covid Clinics of Gulhane Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, were evaluated. RESULTS: The fatality rate was significantly increased in patients with any comorbid disease except asthma. The initial laboratory test results indicated highly significant differences according to the patient's outcome. A multifactor logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate the adjusted odds ratios for predicting patient outcomes. Being older than 60 years increased the death risk with an adjusted OR of 7.2 (95% CI: 2.23-23.51; P = .001). The presence of a cancer and the extended duration of intensive care unit treatment were other significant risk factors for nonsurvival. Azithromycin treatment was determined as significantly reduced the death ratio in these patients (P = .002). CONCLUSION: It was revealed that being older than 60 years, presence of a cancer and extended duration of ICU treatment were the major risk factors for predicting fatality rate in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Investigation of the Value of T peak to T end and QTc Intervals as Electrocardiographic Arrhythmia Susceptibility Markers in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Arrhythmias are one of the most common causes of mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to investigate the relationships of arrhythmia susceptibility markers (QT, QTc, Tpe, Tpe-D, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc) with the localization and volume of the ischemic area, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and troponin levels in AIS. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with AIS in the emergency department in the period from 01 November 2016 to 31 March 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients admitted to the emergency department with no pathological ECG findings were included. The measurements of QT, QTc, Tpe, Tpe-D, Tpe/QTc, and Tpe/QT were performed under a digital microscope. The NIHSS scores, troponin values, and the ischemic area volume based on the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging findings at the time of admission were found. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients, comprising 70 AIS patients and 65 individuals as controls, were included in the study. The male/female ratio was 73/62 and the mean age was 68.51±10.80 years. All of the ECG parameters in the AIS group and the control group were statistically significantly different between the groups except Tpe-D (p=0.454) (For QT, QTc, Tpe, Tpe/QTc, and Tpe/QT; p=0.003, 0.022, <0.001, 0.001, 0.001; respectively). QT, QTc, Tpe, Tpe/QTc, and Tpe/QT values were not significantly different between the groups with a NIHSS score of ≤5 and >5 (p=0.480, 0.688, 0.663, 0.512, 0.333, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Arrhythmia susceptibility markers including QT, QTc, Tpe, the values of Tpe-D, Tpe/QT, and Tpe/QTc are different in AIS patients compared to the individuals in the control group; therefore, these parameters can be included among the other parameters of close cardiac monitoring.

A New Practical Intracerebral Hematoma Volume Calculation Method and Comparison to simple ABC/2.

AIM: To find a more practical and effective formula than simple ABC/2 (sABC/2) to calculate the hematoma volume in patients with subdural and parenchymal haemorrhage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 157 patients who underwent brain computed tomography examinations for stroke from January to October 2017. Our method, sABC/2 formula, and the planimetric method (the gold standard) were used for measuring the volumes of hematoma. RESULTS: The concordance in brain hematoma volumes calculated by sABC/2 and the proposed method as compared to planimetry were 0.92 and 0.93, respectively (p < 0.05). The proposed method calculates the subdural hematoma volumes much better than the conventional one, and the root mean square error (RMSE) values were 32.17 and 20.62 ml for sABC/2 and our new method, respectively, whereas the RMSE values for parenchymal hematomas were 25.01 and 20.46 ml for sABC/2 and our new method, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our new formula for calculating the volume of subdural and parenchymal hematomas is as practical as sABC/2 and allows the clinician to apply the method bedside.

Automated segmentation of the injured kidney due to abdominal trauma.

The objective of this study is to propose and validate a computer-aided segmentation system which performs the automated segmentation of injured kidney in the presence of contusion, peri-, intra-, sub-capsular hematoma, laceration, active extravasation and urine leak due to abdominal trauma. In the present study, total multi-phase CT scans of thirty-seven cases were used; seventeen of them for the development of the method and twenty of them for the validation of the method. The proposed algorithm contains three steps: determination of the kidney mask using Circular Hough Transform, segmentation of the renal parenchyma of the kidney applying the symmetry property to the histogram, and estimation of the kidney volume. The results of the proposed method were compared using various metrics. The kidney quantification led to 92.3 ± 4.2% Dice coefficient, 92.8 ± 7.4%/92.3 ± 5.1% precision/sensitivity, 1.4 ± 0.6 mm/2.0 ± 1.0 mm average surface distance/root-mean-squared error for intact and 87.3 ± 8.4% Dice coefficient, 84.3 ± 13.8%/92.2 ± 3.8% precision/sensitivity and 2.4 ± 2.2 mm/4.0 ± 4.2 mm average surface distance/root-mean-squared error for injured kidneys. The segmentation of the injured kidney was satisfactorily performed in all cases. This method may lead to the automated detection of renal lesions due to abdominal trauma and estimate the intraperitoneal blood amount, which is vital for trauma patients.

The investigation of the role of the facet joint angle in the development of L5-S1 spondylolysis in young men.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate facet tropism in younger patients with lumbar spondylolysis and to investigate the role of facet tropism in the development of spondylolysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2013 and December 2015, a total of 102 male patients with bilateral L5 pars defect including 53 with spondylolysis and 49 control subjects were included in this case-control study. The facet joint angles were measured bilaterally and axially at the level of L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 using computed tomography (CT). The classification was made as follows: A difference between two reciprocal facet joint angles of <6° indicated no tropism, 6°-12° indicated moderate tropism, and >12° indicated severe tropism. RESULTS: A total of 612 angles including 318 facet joint angles from 53 patients with spondylolysis and 294 facet joint angles from 49 control subjects were measured. L3-4 measurements in the control group showed no tropism in 87.8% (n=43), moderate tropism in 12.2% (n=6), and severe tropism in 0% (n=0). L4-5 measurements in control group showed no tropism in 79.6% (n=39), moderate tropism in 20.4% (n=10), and severe tropism in 0% (n=0). L5-S1 measurements in the control group showed no tropism in 69.4% (n=34), moderate tropism in 28.6% (n=14), and severe tropism in 2.0% (n=1). The mean facet joint angles in the spondylosis group were 32.9±5.1°, 37.5±5.4°, and 41.2±7.8° at the levels of L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, respectively. The mean facet joint angles of the control group were 33.2±5.7°, 39.7±4.9°, and 42.2±4.9° at the levels of L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, respectively, indicating no significant difference between the right and left mean facet joint angles between the groups (p>0.05). The frequency of facet tropism and the difference between right and left facet joint angles for all three levels were significantly higher in the spondylolysis group (p<0.05). Facet tropism at the level of L5-S1 was significantly more frequent than facet tropism at L3-4 level (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results show that the rate of facet joint tropism is higher in the patients with spondylolysis, suggesting that facet tropism seems to play a role in the etiology of spondylolysis as a predisposing factor.

Association Between Complete Blood Count Parameters and Urinary Stone Disease.

BACKGROUND: Complete blood count (CBC) parameters may associated with multiple diseases. Urinary stone disease is common public problem. Predictive value of CBC parameters may be associated with urinary stone disease. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between complete blood count (CBC) parameters and urinary stone disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective observational study of 3,099 patients who were admitted to the urology outpatient clinic or diagnosed with urinary stone disease in the emergency services department. There were 353 patients included in the study that had ultrasonography (USG) and/or non-contrast computerized tomography (NCCT) and a CBC. Patients who had non-urinary system inflammatory disease in USG or NCCT, had fever, non-urinary system infection, anemia or diagnosed hematologic malignancy were excluded (n = 27). Patients were divided into two groups: a stone group (n = 74) and a control group (n = 252). Data of patients were retrieved from the hospital database and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: An increase in RDW, MPV, PDW, WBC, granulocyte percentage and a decrease in lymphocyte percentage is statistically associated with urinary stone disease (P < 0,001, P < 0.001, P = 0.006, P < 0.001, P = 0.003, P = 0.034, respectively). Microscopic hematuria is associated with urinary stone disease and the odds ratio for urinary stone prediction is 67.7 (P < 0.001). In addition, none of the CBC parameters were associated with stone burden. CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating flank pain in patients, it is important to remember that CBC parameters may support urinary stone disease, and considering CBC results may be useful in the diagnosis of urinary stone disease.

The effects of light sources with different spectral structures on ocular axial length in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Every day, we are acquiring more and more clues regarding the effects of different spectral structures (SS) of light on ocular axial length (OAL). As a step towards understanding this association, this study sought to characterise the effects of light sources of different SS on OAL in fish through comparisons with indoor daylight. The experimental design was completely randomised with 4 treatments and 2 replications. Three hundred and fifty two rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were housed in 8 tanks and fed for 71 days. Differences in the mean values of ocular elongation were determined at the end of the experiment. The daylight group was exposed to indoor daylight in the hatchery environment, the red group was exposed to long wavelength light (600-650 nm), the green group was exposed to mid-wavelength light (495-570 nm) and the blue group was exposed to short wavelength light (420-495 nm). The values of the OALs in fish grown under the same light intensity, but with light of different spectral characteristics, demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05). The mean OAL in the daylight group was determined as 3.64 ± 0.40 mm, as 3.70 ± 0.35 mm in the red group, as 3.53 ± 0.34 mm in the green group and as 3.42 ± 0.29 mm in the blue group. The mean OAL in the blue group was significantly shorter compared to the red (p = 0.003) and the daylight groups (p = 0.02). When compared with the long wavelength light and indoor daylight, the effect of short wavelength light on OAL in fish was observed to be negative. Exposure to light with modified SS of in indoor environments may be effective in stopping ocular elongation.

Relationship Between Neck Circumference and Epicardial Fat Thickness in a Healthy Male Population / Relação Entre Circunferência do Pescoço e Espessura da Gordura Epicárdica em Uma População de Homens Saudáveis

Abstract Background: Epicardial fat is an upper body visceral fat depot that may play a significant role in the development of adverse metabolic and cardiovascular risk profiles. There is a significant direct relationship between the amount of epicardial fat and general body adiposity (body mass index, BMI), but data regarding subcutaneous adiposity is limited. Objective: We conducted a study to determine the association between neck circumference and epicardial fat thickness in healthy young male individuals, and assess their individual correlations with general body adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: One hundred consecutive male patients aged 18 years or older with no known major medical conditions were included in the study. All participants underwent detailed physical examination including measurement of blood pressure, weight, height, waist/hip ratio, and neck circumference. Blood was collected to determine fasting glucose and lipid parameters. A standard echocardiographic examination was performed with additional epicardial fat thickness determination. Results: Among 100 study participants, neck circumference correlated significantly with weight, waist circumference, BMI, blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, low-density (LDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides levels. No significant correlation was found between neck circumference and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. Neck circumference correlated moderately and positively with echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness. Conclusion: Among patients with low cardiometabolic risk, increased neck circumference was associated with increased epicardial fat thickness.

Resumo Fundamentos: A gordura epicárdica é um depósito de gordura visceral na parte superior do organismo que pode desempenhar um papel importante no desenvolvimento de perfis cardiovasculares e metabólicos adversos. Há uma relação direta significativa entre a quantidade de gordura epicárdica e a adiposidade corporal geral (índice de massa corporal, IMC), mas dados sobre a adiposidade subcutânea são limitados. Objetivos: Realizamos um estudo para determinar a associação entre a circunferência do pescoço e a espessura da gordura epicárdica em jovens saudáveis do sexo masculino, além de avaliar as suas correlações individuais com a adiposidade corporal geral e fatores de risco cardiometabólicos. Métodos: Cem pacientes consecutivos do sexo masculino com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos e sem nenhuma condição médica importante e conhecida foram incluídos no estudo. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a um exame físico detalhado que incluiu medida da pressão arterial, peso, altura, razão cintura/quadril e circunferência do pescoço. Sangue foi coletado para determinação da glicemia de jejum e parâmetros lipídicos. Um exame ecocardiográfico padrão foi realizado com determinação adicional da espessura da gordura epicárdica. Resultados: Entre os 100 participantes do estudo, a circunferência do pescoço mostrou correlação significativa com o peso, circunferência de cintura, IMC, glicemia e níveis séricos de colesterol total, lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-colesterol) e triglicerídeos. Não foi observada correlação significativa entre a circunferência do pescoço e níveis de colesterol de alta densidade (HDL-colesterol). A circunferência do pescoço correlacionou moderadamente e positivamente com a espessura da gordura epicárdica à ecocardiografia. Conclusão: Entre pacientes com baixo risco cardiometabólico, o aumento da circunferência do pescoço foi associado a um aumento da espessura da gordura epicárdica.

Varicocele: tissue stress in the etiology.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It is accepted that red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is a novel prognostic marker that reflects oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation between RDW and varicocele, the etiology of which has not fully elucidated yet. This study also aimed to study the mean platelet volume (MPV) values of the patient and control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RDW and MPV levels were measured in 50 varicocele subjects (group 1) and 48 healthy controls (group 2) from January 2012 to January 2014, retrospectively. RESULTS: MPV levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P < 0.001). Although the relationship was weak, the patients with varicocele had significantly lower RDW values than did the controls (r: 0.24 P = 0.026). Positive correlations were not found between varicocele grade and MPV and RDW values (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher MPV values are associated with increased odds of developing varicocele.

Relationship Between Neck Circumference and Epicardial Fat Thickness in a Healthy Male Population.

BACKGROUND:: Epicardial fat is an upper body visceral fat depot that may play a significant role in the development of adverse metabolic and cardiovascular risk profiles. There is a significant direct relationship between the amount of epicardial fat and general body adiposity (body mass index, BMI), but data regarding subcutaneous adiposity is limited. OBJECTIVE:: We conducted a study to determine the association between neck circumference and epicardial fat thickness in healthy young male individuals, and assess their individual correlations with general body adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS:: One hundred consecutive male patients aged 18 years or older with no known major medical conditions were included in the study. All participants underwent detailed physical examination including measurement of blood pressure, weight, height, waist/hip ratio, and neck circumference. Blood was collected to determine fasting glucose and lipid parameters. A standard echocardiographic examination was performed with additional epicardial fat thickness determination. RESULTS:: Among 100 study participants, neck circumference correlated significantly with weight, waist circumference, BMI, blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, low-density (LDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides levels. No significant correlation was found between neck circumference and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. Neck circumference correlated moderately and positively with echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness. CONCLUSION:: Among patients with low cardiometabolic risk, increased neck circumference was associated with increased epicardial fat thickness. FUNDAMENTOS:: A gordura epicárdica é um depósito de gordura visceral na parte superior do organismo que pode desempenhar um papel importante no desenvolvimento de perfis cardiovasculares e metabólicos adversos. Há uma relação direta significativa entre a quantidade de gordura epicárdica e a adiposidade corporal geral (índice de massa corporal, IMC), mas dados sobre a adiposidade subcutânea são limitados. OBJETIVOS:: Realizamos um estudo para determinar a associação entre a circunferência do pescoço e a espessura da gordura epicárdica em jovens saudáveis do sexo masculino, além de avaliar as suas correlações individuais com a adiposidade corporal geral e fatores de risco cardiometabólicos. MÉTODOS:: Cem pacientes consecutivos do sexo masculino com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos e sem nenhuma condição médica importante e conhecida foram incluídos no estudo. Todos os participantes foram submetidos a um exame físico detalhado que incluiu medida da pressão arterial, peso, altura, razão cintura/quadril e circunferência do pescoço. Sangue foi coletado para determinação da glicemia de jejum e parâmetros lipídicos. Um exame ecocardiográfico padrão foi realizado com determinação adicional da espessura da gordura epicárdica. RESULTADOS:: Entre os 100 participantes do estudo, a circunferência do pescoço mostrou correlação significativa com o peso, circunferência de cintura, IMC, glicemia e níveis séricos de colesterol total, lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-colesterol) e triglicerídeos. Não foi observada correlação significativa entre a circunferência do pescoço e níveis de colesterol de alta densidade (HDL-colesterol). A circunferência do pescoço correlacionou moderadamente e positivamente com a espessura da gordura epicárdica à ecocardiografia. CONCLUSÃO:: Entre pacientes com baixo risco cardiometabólico, o aumento da circunferência do pescoço foi associado a um aumento da espessura da gordura epicárdica.

Could spot urine analysis of calcium and uric acid help predict density of urinary stone in computerized tomography? A preliminary study.

BACKGROUD: This research studies if Hounsfield density of urinary stone can be predicted without computerized tomography (CT) caused by because increased radiation exposure in follow-up of patients. METHODS: The records of patients with renal or ureteral stone were analyzed retrospectively for the time period between November 2013 and April 2014. The inclusion criteria defined were: no multiple stones; stone size ≥3 mm; presence of renal and ureteral stones; absence of staghorn stone. All CT images were assessed in abdominal windows by a single radiologist. Hounsfield Unit (HU) value of CT was used to interpret the density of the stone. The density of the stone was measured in the longest axis of the stone center (core) and the edges (periphery) of each stone. Biochemical analysis of spot urine calcium (Ca) and uric acid (UA) was done at the time of diagnosis. Correlation and linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Forty patients were included the study and median age of patients is 22 (IQR 21-28). Since the unit was a military hospital, most patients admitted to hospital were young male conscripts with low median age. It has been found that spot urine uric acid and uric acid/Ca ratio is associated with stone density as HU (P=0.004, P<0.001). Although predictive value appeared low, linear regression model statistically predicted stone density as HU (P<0.001 R2=0.32). Stone size has proved to be positively correlated with stone density (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the predictive value of urine analysis model is low, it may be considered to predict HU attenuation of stone. Spot urine analysis of calcium and uric acid may be helpful for both diagnosis and follow-up. We believe that controlled studies with larger patient populations will provide further insights into this issue.