Evaluation of Bone Turnover Markers Such as Osteoprotegerin, Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 in Subclinical Hyperthyroidism.

In this study, it was aimed to assess effects of subclinical hyperthyroidism (SH) on bone metabolism using osteoprotegerin (OPG), sclerostin, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) and biochemical parameters. This cross-sectional prospective study included 40 patients with SH and 40 euthyroid controls. Serum OPG, sclerostin, DKK-1, type-1 procollagen, C-terminal polypeptide (CTx) and 24-hours urine N-terminal telopeptide (NTx) were measures using ELISA kit. Bone mineral density measurements were performed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Risk for 10-years hip and major fracture was estimated by Turkish version of FRAX. No significant difference was detected in age, gender, body mass index, smoking and menopause rates between SH and control groups. The risk for 10-years hip fracture and major osteoporotic fracture were estimated as 4.45% and 0.55% in SH group, respectively. The OPG levels were significantly lower in patients with SH than controls (P = 0.017). No significant difference was detected in other bone formation and degradation parameters. No significant correlation was detected between OPG level and risk for major osteoporotic fracture (P > 0.05); however, a negative correlation was detected between OPG level and risk for hip fracture (rho = 0.233; P = 0.038). Serum OPG is markedly affected in patients with SH. In addition, OPG seemed to be associated with osteoporotic fracture risk. Available data show that SH is significantly associated with risk for fracture; thus, it is important to assess risk for fracture in patients with SH.

Evaluation of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels, and their relations with disease type and activity in inflammatory bowel diseases

Background/aim: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly encompass two entities called ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), both of which are chronic, progressive and, inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Various indicators and non-invasive markers have been sought and used in IBD patients to help assessing disease activity and treatment effectiveness although none of them are proven to yield definite results in full correlation with the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological examinations. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels with disease type and activity and to assess their potential use in establishing diagnosis and activity status of IBD, namely UC and CD. Materials and methods: A total of 111 IBD patients with determined active and inactive disease periods and 70 matched controls were recruited. Serum NGAL levels of the patients and the control group were measured using commercially available ELISA kits. ADMA and SMDA levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The IBD group had significantly higher serum levels of NGAL (p = 0.001), ADMA (p = 0.0001), and SDMA (p = 0.0001) in comparison to the control group. Likewise, serum NGAL, ADMA, and SDMA levels were significantly higher in the active IBD group compared to the inactive IBD group (p = 0.0001). Active UC and active CD patients similarly had significantly higher levels of serum NGAL, ADMA, and SDMA than the respective levels in inactive UK and inactive CD patients (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Serum NGAL, ADMA and SMDA levels are increased in patients with IBD, and serum NGAL, ADMA and SMDA concentrations are significantly higher in active IBD patients than inactive IBD patients. Our results suggest these biomarkers may serve in estimating IBD activity and severity.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis System for Detection of Stomach Cancer with Image Processing Techniques.

Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that is hard to detect at an early stage because it gives almost no symptoms at the beginning. Stomach cancer is an increasing incidence of cancer both in the World as well as in Turkey. The most common method used worldwide for gastric cancer diagnosis is endoscopy. However, definitive diagnosis is made with endoscopic biopsy results. Diagnosis with endoscopy is a very specific and sensitive method. With high-resolution endoscopy it is possible to detect mild discolorations, bulges and structural changes of the surface of the mucosa. However, because the procedures are performed with the eye of a doctor, it is possible that the cancerous areas may be missed and / or incompletely detected. Because of the fact that the cancerous area cannot be completely detected may cause the problem of cancer recurrence after a certain period of surgical intervention. In order to overcome this problem, a computerized decision support system (CDS) has been implemented with the help of specialist physicians and image processing techniques. The performed CDS system works as an assistant to doctors of gastroenterology, helping to identify the cancerous area in the endoscopic images of the scaffold, to take biopsies from these areas and to make a better diagnosis. We believe that gastric cancer will be helpful in determining the area and biopsy samples taken from the patient will be useful in determining the area. It is therefore considered a useful model.

Assessment of early atherosclerosis and left ventricular dysfunction in children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

AIM: We analysed 25 children with 21-hydroxylase deficiency who received glucocorticoid and/or mineralocorticoid treatment for at least 12 months to determine the effects of the disease and its treatment on vascular structures and ventricular function. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with 21-hydroxylase-deficient congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 25 control subjects were enrolled into this observational, cross-sectional study. The patients were investigated in terms of fasting blood glucose and insulin; fasting serum lipid profile; serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone; dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate; androstenedione; and adrenocorticotropic hormone. M-mode tracings of the wall motion of major arteries were obtained to measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as well as elasticity and distensibility of the aorta and carotid artery. Conventional and relatively new tissue Doppler imaging techniques were employed to assess ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. RESULTS: The median age and weight of patients were 9·4 years (1·5-16·75) and 35·5 kg (7·5-76·3), respectively. The median duration of treatment was 52·2 months. Tissue Doppler imaging measurements revealed left ventricular diastolic impairment in the patient group compared to the controls. Carotid intima-media thickness, stiffness index, elastic modulus of the aorta and carotid artery were significantly higher; meanwhile, aortic distensibility and carotid distensibility were lower in the patient group, all of which indicates the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis. BMI was found to be an independent variable for cIMT (ß: 0·5, P = 0·01) and aortic stiffness index (ß: 0·52, P < 0·001). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular function and the elastic properties of major arteries are disturbed in children and adolescents with 21-hydroxylase-deficient CAH.

Nutritional habits in functional dyspepsia and its subgroups: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: Research data demonstrating nutritional habits of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients are very limited. This is the first study to evaluate nutritional habits in FD subgroups according to Rome III criteria. Our aim was to evaluate nutritional habits of FD patients and determine the food items that may provoke a dyspepsia symptom. METHODS: A total of 168 adults with FD and 135 healthy control subjects participated in the study. FD subjects were divided into epigastric pain syndrome (EP-FD), postprandial distress syndrome (PS-FD), mixed (MX-FD) subgroups according to Rome Criteria III. Subjects completed a questionnaire that included a short-form food frequency questionnaire. Furthermore, subjects were asked to list the food items that were causing a dyspepsia symptom. RESULTS: Functional dyspepsia subjects had a slightly higher BMI (26.1 ± 4.97 kg/m(2)) than control subjects (24.6 ± 4.08 kg/m(2)). The most common symptom triggering foods among all the FD groups were fried and fatty foods (27.1%), hot spices (26.4%), and carbonated drinks (21.8%). In FD subgroups, carbonated drinks were more likely to cause a symptom in PS-FD group (37.3%) than MX-FD (25.7%) and EP-FD (22.1%) groups. There was no difference in frequency of main meals and snacks among any of the groups. CONCLUSION: Fatty and spicy foods and carbonated drinks were the most common symptom triggering food items in FD group. In subgroups, carbonated drinks and legumes were more likely to cause a symptom in PS-FD. Removing these food items during the course of treatment might help alleviate the symptoms.

Increased circulating urocortin-3 levels is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study was aimed to compare serum urocortin-3 (UCN3) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women, and establish what role UCN3 levels play in PCOS. Fifty-two patients with PCOS and 55 healthy women were included in the study, matched for age and body mass index. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, hs-CRP, UCN3 and free-testosterone levels of the all participants were measured. HOMA-IR was used to calculate the insulin resistance. Circulating UCN3 levels were significantly increased in women with PCOS than in control subjects (54.49 ± 5.77 versus 51.28 ± 5.86 pmol/l, p = 0.005). Serum insulin, hs-CRP and HOMA-IR levels were higher in women with PCOS than in control group. UCN3 levels positively correlated with hs-CRP in PCOS group (r = 0.391, p = 0.004). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curves were 0.732 (95% CI 0.634-0.830, p < 0.001) for UCN3 levels. The optimal cut-off value of UCN3 for detecting PCOS was ≥51.46 pmol/l, at which the sensitivity was 75% and specificity was 68%. Our results suggest that there is a potential link between PCOS and UCN3 levels. The results of this study support the presence of increased UCN3 levels for the association of inflammation with PCOS.

Can mean platelet volume be used as a biomarker for asthma?

INTRODUCTION: Platelets play important roles in airway inflammation and are activated in inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma. AIM: We evaluated the mean platelet volume (MPV), used as a marker of platelet activation, in asthmatic patients during asymptomatic periods and exacerbations compared to healthy controls to determine whether MPV can be used as an indicator of inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our patient group consisted of 95 children with exacerbation of asthma who were admitted to our allergy clinic. The control group consisted of 100 healthy children matched for age, gender, and ethnicity. Mean platelet volume values of the patient group obtained during exacerbation of asthma were compared to those of the same group during the asymptomatic period and with the control group. We investigated factors that can affect the MPV values of asthma patients, including infection, atopy, immunotherapy treatment, and severity of asthma exacerbation. RESULTS: The patient group consisted of 50 (52.6%) boys and 45 (47.4%) girls with a mean age of 125 ±38 months old. Mean MPV values in the exacerbation period, the healthy period, and in the control group were 8.1 ±0.8 fl, 8.1 ±1.06 fl, and 8.2 ±0.9 fl, respectively; there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). The severity of asthma, severity of asthma exacerbation, immunotherapy, coinfection, eosinophil count, and IgE level also had no effect on MPV (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although platelets play a role in the pathophysiology of asthma, MPV measurement is insufficient to detect inflammation through platelets.

Comparison of serum cystatin C and creatinine levels in determining glomerular filtration rate in children with stage I to III chronic renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric studies are relatively scarce on the superiority of cystatin C over creatinine in estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This study measured cystatin C and serum creatinine levels, and compared GFR estimated from these two parameters in patients with chronic renal disease. METHODS: This prospective, observational, controlled study included 166 patients aged 1-18 years diagnosed with stage I to III chronic renal disease, and 29 age- and sex-matched control subjects. In all patients, GFR was estimated via creatinine clearance, Schwartz formula, Zappitelli 1 and Zappitelli 2 formula and the results were compared using Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Patients and controls did not differ with regard to height, body weight, BMI, serum creatinine and serum cystatin levels, and Schwartz formula-based GFR (p > 0.05). There was a significant relationship between creatinine and cystatin C levels. However, although creatinine levels showed a significant association with age, height, and BMI, cystatin C levels showed no such association. ROC analysis showed that cystatin C performed better than creatinine in detecting low GFR. CONCLUSION: Cystatin C is a more sensitive and feasible indicator than creatinine for the diagnosis of stage I to III chronic renal disease.

DRESS syndrome associated with type 2 diabetes in a child.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is an uncommon, life-threatening drug reaction. The basic findings are skin rash, multiorgan involvement, and eosinophilia. Most of the aromatic anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin, phenobarbital and carbamazepine can induce DRESS. Herein we report a 14-year-old patient with DRESS syndrome related to carbamazepine use. The patient presented with signs of involvement of the skin, lungs, liver, and microscopic hematuria. Carbamazepine treatment was discontinued; antihistamines and steroids were started. Hyperglycemia, commencing on the first dose of the steroid given, persisted even after the discontinuation of steroids and improvement of other signs. There were no signs of pancreatitis or type 1 diabetes clinically in laboratory tests. Her blood glucose levels were regulated at first with insulin and later with metformin. Within 1 year of follow-up, still regulated with oral antidiabetics, she has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Formerly, long-term sequelae related to "drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome" such as hepatic and renal failure, type 1 diabetes mellitus, Grave's disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and lupus have also been reported. However, up to date, no cases with type 2 diabetes have been reported as long-term sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature presenting with type 2 diabetes as long-term sequelae.

The protective effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on endometrium and ovary in a rat model of diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on the endometrium and ovaries in an experimental diabetes mellitus (DM) rat model. METHODS: A total of 18 female Sprague-Dawley albino mature rats (8 weeks, 200-220 g) were used in this study. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozocin randomly in 12 rats. No drug was administered to the remainder of the rats (control group, group 1, n = 6). The other 12 rats were randomly divided into 2 groups; 1 ml/kg i.p. saline was given as vehicle to group 2 (diabetic nontreated control group, n = 6) and 100 µg/kg/day of i.p. G-CSF was given to group 3 (G-CSF-treated group, n = 6) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, blood samples were collected and hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy was performed for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The mean endometrial gland degeneration and stromal fibrosis scores were significantly higher in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3. Ovarian follicle degeneration, stromal degeneration and stromal fibrosis scores were significantly higher in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3. Plasma TGF-ß and malondialdehyde levels were significantly lower in groups 1 and 3 compared with group 2. Antimüllerian hormone levels were significantly lower in group 2 compared with groups 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: Glucose toxicity occurred severely in the ovaries and endometrium of the DM rats. After G-CSF treatment, ovarian and endometrial injury and fibrosis scores decreased significantly. The effects of G-CSF in rat models give hope to improved treatment of human DM complications such as premature ovarian failure and endometrial dysfunction.

Cornea in PCOS patients as a possible target of IGF-1 action and insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies suggest that serum IGF-1 is higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The ophthalmologic effects of IGF-1 excess have not yet been investigated in women with PCOS. The aim of the current study is to compare the corneal thickness of patients with PCOS and those of healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty three patients with PCOS and 30 age-matched and gender-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured in patients with PCOS and in healthy individuals with an ultrasound pachymeter. IGF-1 values were also determined in the study group. RESULTS: Women with PCOS had significantly higher levels of IGF-1 and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) levels than the control group. Right and left CCT measurements were higher in the PCOS group than in the control group. A positive correlation between IGF-1 and right and left CCT was identified in both groups. In multiple linear stepwise regression analyses, IGF-1 independently and positively associated with HOMA-IR in women with PCOS. A correlation between total testosterone and CCT was identified in the whole group. In multiple stepwise regression analyses, total testosterone independently and positively associated with left central corneal thickness in the whole group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that PCOS has target organ effects on the eye. Consequently, it can change central corneal thickness. Higher IGF-1 levels seem to be the main causes of increased corneal thickness. Insulin resistance in PCOS is one of the underlying causes and promotes increase in IGF-1. We suggest a careful and detailed corneal evaluation in PCOS patients to prevent the potential risk of increased CCT, in addition to the already-known complications.

Approach to Newborns with Elevated TSH: A Different Perspective from the International Guidelines for Iodine-Deficient Countries.

Lowering of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) cutoffs in newborn screening programs has created a management dilemma by leading to more frequent detection of neonates with elevated TSH concentrations due to false-positive results, transient neonatal hyperthyrotropinemia (NHT), and milder forms of congenital hypothyroidism. Current consensus guidelines recommend starting treatment if the venous TSH level is >20 mU/l in the face of a normal free thyroxin (FT4) level, which is an arbitrary threshold for treatment decisions. In countries such as Türkiye, where transient NHT may be more common due to iodine deficiency and/or overload, putting this recommendation into daily practice may lead to unnecessary and over treatments, long-term follow-ups, and increased workload and costs. In this review, we addressed alternative approaches for infants with elevated TSH concentrations detected at newborn screening. Our management approach can be summarized as follows: Infants with mild NHT (TSH<20 mU/l) should be followed without treatment. In moderate NHT (TSH 20-30 mU/l), treatment or monitoring decisions can be made according to age, TSH trend and absolute FT4 level. Moderate cases of NHT should be treated if age at confirmatory testing is >21 days or if there is no downward trend in TSH and FT4 level is in the lower half of age-specific reference range in the first 21 days. In in-between cases of moderate NHT, thyroid ultrasound can guide treatment decision by determining mild cases of thyroid dysgenesis that require life-long treatment. Otherwise, monitoring is a reasonable option. Infants with compensated hypothyroidism (TSH>30 mU/l) and persistent hyperthyrotropinemia (>6-10 mU/l after neonatal period) should receive L-thyroxine treatment. But all treated cases of isolated TSH elevation should be closely monitored to avoid overtreatment, and re-evaluated by a trial off therapy. This alternative approach will largely eliminate unnecessary treatment of infants with transient NHT, mostly caused by iodine deficiency or excess, and will reduce workload and costs by preventing unwarranted investigation and long-term follow-up.

De-embedding method for a sensing area characterization of planar microstrip sensors without evaluating error networks.

A de-embedding method for determining all scattering (S-) parameters (e.g., characterization) of a sensing area of planar microstrip sensors (two-port network or line) is proposed using measurements of S-parameters with no calibration. The method requires only (partially known) non-reflecting line and reflecting line standards to accomplish such a characterization. It utilizes uncalibrated S-parameter measurements of a reflecting line, direct and reversed configurations of a non-reflecting line, and direct and reversed configurations of the sensing area. As different from previous similar studies, it performs such a characterization without any sign ambiguity. The method is first validated by extracting the S-parameters of a bianisotropic metamaterial slab, as for a two-port network (line), constructed by split-ring-resonators (SRRs) from waveguide measurements. Then, it is applied for determining the S-parameters of a sensing area of a microstrip sensor involving double SRRs next to a microstrip line. The root-mean-square-error (RMSE) analysis was utilized to analyze the accuracy of our method in comparison with other techniques in the literature. It has been observed from such an analysis that our proposed de-embedding technique has the lowest RMSE values for the extracted S-parameters of the sensing area of the designed sensor in comparison with those of the compared other de-embedding techniques in the literature, and have similar RMSE values in reference to those of the thru-reflect-line calibration technique. For example, while RMSE values of real and imaginary parts of the forward reflection S-parameter of this sensing area are, respectively, around 0.0271 and 0.0279 for our de-embedding method, those of one of the compared de-embedding techniques approach as high as 0.0318 and 0.0324.

Kynurenine Pathway Dysregulation and Pain Perception in Acute Pancreatitis: Has the Connection Unraveled?

AIM: Tryptophan (TRP), an essential amino acid, undergoes catabolism through various pathways. Notably, the kynurenine pathway (KP), constituting one of these pathways, exhibits a unidirectional impact on immune response and energy metabolism. Nonetheless, its influence on pain sensation is characterized by biphasic dynamics. This study aims to scrutinize the influence of the KP pathway on pain sensation, particularly within the context of pancreatic inflammation. METHODS: Our prospective case-control study involved individuals diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and a control group matched for gender and age. The patient cohort was subsequently subdivided into severe and non-severe subgroups. To assess metabolites within KP, two blood samples were collected from the patient cohort, one at the time of diagnosis and another during the recovery phase. Furthermore, for pain quantification, daily pain scores utilizing the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were extracted from the patients' medical records. RESULTS: The study incorporated 30 patients along with an equivalent number of controls. A noticeable distinction was evident between the patient and control groups, characterized by an increase in kynurenine levels and a decrease in the tryptophan/kynurenine ratio. Throughout the process of disease recovery, a uniform decrease was observed in all KP metabolites, excluding 3-Hydroxykynurenine. Elevated levels of Kynurenic acid (KYNA) were correlated with increased pain scores. Critically, no apparent distinctions in KP metabolites were discerned concerning pain severity in patients with comorbidities characterized by neural involvement. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, the kynurenine pathway (KP) is activated in instances of acute pancreatitis. Elevated levels of KYNA were found to be associated with heightened pain scores. The operative stages within the KP responsible for pain modulation are impaired in cases characterized by neuropathy-induced pain sensation.

The association between plasma thyroxine levels and neurocognitive impairment in early-onset schizophrenia and other psychosis spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Limited studies have delved into the association between thyroid hormones and neurocognition in schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between thyroid hormone levels and neurocognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia and other psychosis spectrum disorders (SSD). METHOD: A total of 135 patients with early-onset SSD were included in the study. The participants underwent a cognitive assessment. Blood samples were collected to measure serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the severity of the psychosis. FINDINGS: The results revealed a significant association between fT4 levels and various cognitive domains, including processing speed, verbal fluency, working memory, verbal learning, verbal memory, and visual memory. However, serum TSH and fT3 levels exhibited no significant association with neurocognitive impairment in adjusted linear regression models. Specifically, the correlation between fT4 levels and global cognition was more pronounced in patients with higher scores. CONCLUSIONS: Serum fT4 levels were associated with the performance across various cognitive domains in cases of early-onset psychotic disorders. This correlation was accentuated among patients with higher illness severity. Future studies could focus on the effects of specific pathways that can affect the course and progression of psychosis.

Does an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis affect thyroid function tests in pediatric patients?

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to investigate the changes in thyroid hormone levels during and after acute metabolic disorder in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). METHODS: Eighty five patients diagnosed with DKA were included in the study. Patients with control thyroid function test (TFT) values at admission (the first blood sample) and 1 month later were included in the study. Thyroid function tests obtained during diabetic ketoacidosis and at the first month follow-up were compared. Euthyroidism and euthyroid sick syndrome were defined and grouped according to current guidelines. The mild and moderate groups, according to DKA classification, were combined and compared with the severe group. RESULTS: A significant increase was observed between the first admission and the control TFT values 1 month later. However, there was no significant difference found in TFT between mild/moderate and severe groups taken at the time of DKA. Difference between two groups, euthyroid sick syndrome and euthyroid, was examined and the result that was different from the literature was the difference between TSH levels. We found that low FT4 levels were associated with higher HgbA1c, although the correlation was weak. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid hormone levels may not reflect a thyroid disease during severe DKA attack. Therefore, it is unnecessary to check thyroid function tests.

Simple and inexpensive microwave setup for industrial based applications: Quantification of flower honey adulteration as a case study.

A simple and inexpensive microwave measurement setup based on measurements of magnitudes of transmission properties ( | S 21 | dB ) is proposed for industrial-based microwave aquametry (moisture or water content) applications. An easy-to-apply calibration procedure based on normalization is implemented to eliminate systematic errors in the measurement system. As a case study, we applied this setup for the quantification of water-adulteration in flower honey. After validating this system by distilled water and pure flower honey measurements, | S 21 | dB measurements of the pure flower honey with various adulteration percentages ( δ ) up to 9% are conducted to examine the performance of the measurement setup for quantification of water adulteration. A multi-dimensional fitting procedure is implemented to predict δ using the proposed inexpensive microwave measurement setup. It is shown that it is possible to quantify an adulteration level with an accuracy better than ∓ 1 % by the proposed measurement setup and the applied multi-dimensional fitting procedure.

Comprehensive Insights Into Pediatric Craniopharyngioma: Endocrine and Metabolic Profiles, Treatment Challenges, and Long-term Outcomes from a Multicenter Study

Objective: Craniopharyngiomas (CPG) have complex treatment challenges due to their proximity to vital structures, surgical and radiotherapeutic complexities, and the tendency for recurrence. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of endocrine and metabolic comorbidities observed during initial diagnosis and long-term follow-up in a nationwide cohort of pediatric CPG patients. A further aim was to highlight the difficulties associated with CPG management. Methods: Sixteen centers entered CPG patients into the ÇEDD NET data system. The clinical and laboratory characteristics at presentation, administered treatments, accompanying endocrine, metabolic, and other system involvements, and the patient's follow-up features were evaluated. Results: Of the 152 evaluated patients, 64 (42.1%) were female. At presentation, the mean age was 9.1±3.67, ranging from 1.46 to 16.92, years. The most common complaints at presentation were headache (68.4%), vision problems (42%), short stature (15%), and nausea and vomiting (7%). The surgical procedures were gross total resection (GTR) in 97 (63.8%) and subtotal resection in 55 (36.2%). Radiotherapy (RT) was initiated in 11.8% of the patients. Histopathological examination reported 92% were adamantinamatous type and 8% were papillary type. Postoperatively, hormone abnormalities consisted of thyroid-stimulating hormone (92.1%), adrenocorticotropic hormone (81%), antidiuretic hormone (79%), growth hormone (65.1%), and gonadotropin (43.4%) deficiencies. Recombinant growth hormone treatment (rhGH) was initiated in 27 (17.8%). The study showed hesitancy among physicians regarding rhGH. The median survival without relapse was 2.2 years. Median (range) time of relapse was 1.82 (0.13-10.35) years. Relapse was related to longer followups and reduced GTR rates. The median follow-up time was 3.13 years. Among the last follow-up visits, the prevalence of obesity was 38%, but of these, 46.5% were already obese at diagnosis. However, 20% who were not obese at baseline became obese on follow-up. Permanent visual impairment was observed in 26 (17.1%), neurological deficits in 13 (8.5%) and diabetes mellitus in 5 (3.3%) patients. Conclusion: Recurrence was predominantly due to incomplete resection and the low rate of postoperative RT. Challenges emerged for multidisciplinary regular follow ups. It is suggested that early interventions, such as dietary restrictions and increased exercise to prevent obesity, be implemented.

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of five different stool antigen tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Several noninvasive diagnostic tests based on the detection of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) have been developed. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 5 HpSA tests-2 monoclonal enzyme immunoassay tests (EIAs: the Premier Platinum HpSA Plus test and Helicobacter pylori Antigen (Hp Ag) test) and 3 rapid immunochromatographic assay (ICA) tests (the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA test, one step HpSA test, and H. pylori fecal antigen test)--for diagnosing H. pylori infection in adult patients with dyspeptic symptoms before eradication therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 198 patients with dyspeptic symptoms were included in the study. A gastric biopsy was collected for histopathology and rapid urease testing. Stool specimens for HpSA testing were also collected. Patients were considered H. pylori positive if two invasive tests (histological and rapid urease tests) were positive. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity were 92.2% and 94.4%, respectively, for the Premier Platinum HpSA Plus test; 48.9% and 88.9%, respectively, for the HP Ag test; 86.7% and 88.9, respectively, for the One Step HpSA test; 68.9% and 92.6%, respectively, for the ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA test; and 78.9% and 87%, respectively, for the H. Pylori fecal antigen test. CONCLUSIONS: The Premier Platinum HpSA Plus EIA test was determined to be the most accurate stool test for diagnosing H. pylori infections in adult dyspeptic patients. The currently available ICA-based tests are fast and easy to use but provide less reliable results.