The importance of serum biglycan levels as a fibrosis marker in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Liver biopsy is recommended in the majority of patients with chronic viral hepatitis for fibrosis evaluation. Because of the potential risks of liver biopsy, many studies related to non-invasive biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis have been performed. We aimed to assess the diagnostic value of serum biglycan as a non-invasive fibrosis marker in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS: This study included 120 patients with biopsy-proven hepatitis B patients and 60 healthy controls. Fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory activity were assessed in liver biopsy specimens. Biglycan level was measured using an ELISA assay. RESULTS: Serum biglycan levels of chronic hepatitis B patients were found to be significantly higher than those of healthy controls (337.3±363.0 pg/mL vs 189.1±61.9 pg/mL, respectively, P<.001). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum biglycan level and fibrosis stage (P=.004; r=.213). Besides, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum biglycan level and necroinflammatory activity (P<.001; r=.271). The AUROC of BGN levels was 0.702 for fibrosis stage, differentiating patients from healthy controls with statistical significance (P<.001). The AUROC of BGN levels was 0.632 for necroinflammatory activity score, differentiating patients from healthy controls with statistical significance (P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: Serum biglycan might be used as a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of this marker.

Assessment of Sonographic Carotid Parameters in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Case Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), systolic and diastolic diameters (D), intima-media thickness/diameter ratio (IDR) values in children with ASD, and control groups, and to analyze the correlation of these parameters with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. METHODS: This prospective case-control study included 37 children diagnosed with ASD and 38 individuals without ASD in the control group. Correlation assessments of sonographic measurements with CARS scores in the ASD group were also performed. RESULTS: Diastolic diameters of the right (median of ASD group:5.5 mm, control group:5.1 mm) and left (median of ASD group: 5.5 mm, in control group: 5.1 mm) side were higher in the ASD group (p = .015 and p = .032 respectively). A statistically significant correlation was detected between CARS score and left cIMT, right cIMT, right cIMT/systolic D, right cIMT/diastolic D, left cIMT/systolic D, and left cIMT/diastolic D (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Vascular diameters, cIMT, and IDR values of children with ASD positively correlated with CARS scores, and these findings could be interpreted as a marker of early atherosclerosis in children with ASD.

Clinical outcomes of tumors and tumor-like lesions located in the clavicle.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the characterization of tumors and tumor-like lesions located in the clavicle and to present their clinical results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2018, a total of 44 patients (25 males, 19 females; mean age: 36.2±21.8 years; range, 2 to 87 years) who were operated in our clinic for a clavicular lesion were included. Among 4,856 extremity tumors operated in our clinic between these years, 44 cases (0.9%) located in the clavicle were eligible. Demographic data, tumor types, location, surgical method, metastasis, survival analyzes and clinical results of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. According to the clavicle location, the patients were divided into groups according to their involvement in proximal, middle, lateral and more than one region. RESULTS: The most frequently involved site was the lateral edge of the clavicle, and the most common tumor was aneurysmal bone cyst. The most common malignant tumor was Ewing sarcoma and plasmacytoma (13.6%) and the most common surgical method in the clavicle was wide resection with 34.1%. Of the 38 primary clavicle tumors remaining after the metastatic lesions were removed, 21 (55%) were benign, while 17 (45%) were malignant. Aneurysmal bone cyst was most common in the group under 30 years of age, osteochondroma was most common in the 30-50 age group, and plasmacytoma was most common in those over 50 years of age. The mean musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) score of 15 patients (34.1%) who underwent clavicle resection was 79.4±6. CONCLUSION: We believe that a wide spectrum should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors located in the clavicle. Age is an important predictive factor for malignancy. We believe that resection should be applied without fear considering its effects on function and recurrence.