Mehmet Aslan

Aims: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); It is an endocrine-gynecological disorder that affects many women of reproductive age, with chronic anovulation and androgen elevation. Although many pathophysiological processes have been discovered in the development of PCOS; The exact etiology and pathophysiology have not been fully elucidated. Vitamin D is synthesized differently from other vitamins and vitamin D has a hormonal function in the body. Vitamin D is known to have a role in many diseases, as well as its effects on bone metabolism in the body. We aimed to examine the relationship between PCOS and serum vitamin D, calcium and magnesium levels. Methods: A total of 80 cases, including 40 patients diagnosed with PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria and 40 cases in the normal population, were included in the study. The cases were examined retrospectively. Magnesium, calcium and vitamin D levels of all cases were compared. Additionally, the hemogram parameters, insulin, glucose, insulin resistance, HbA1c, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, parathormone and phosphorus levels of the cases were compared. Results: There was no difference in magnesium, calcium, vitamin D values between cases with and without polycystic ovary syndrome, and no difference in hemogram parameters, HbA1c, glucose, insulin, parathormone and phosphorus levels between the same groups (p>0.05). When lipid levels were compared, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were found to be significantly higher in those without PCOS (p = 0.042). The average age was found to be significantly lower in patients with PCOS (p<0.001). Conclusion: In our study, no significant difference was seen between the two groups in terms of magnesium, calcium and vitamin D levels. Prospective observational studies and randomized controlled studies are needed to more clearly explain the relationship between hormonal and metabolic irregularities and magnesium, calcium and vitamin D levels in PCOS.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the diagnosis and determine major and minor criteria of celiac disease (CD) with the malabsorption patterns (MABP) in the small intestine and colon on computed tomography (CT) and additional CT findings. Methods This retrospective study was conducted with 116 patients diagnosed with CD, 14 CD patients recovering with treatment, and 35 control patients with non-CD. All patients had CT examinations and histopathological diagnoses. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy values of each CT finding defined in the literature were statistically evaluated. According to the patient and control groups, the numerical values of the findings and the sensitivity and specificity values were measured according to this cut-off value. The distribution of CT findings according to pathological Marsh data was evaluated in CD patients. Results Sensitivity and specificity were found to be higher in small bowel MABP findings, mesenteric hypervascularity, and increased SMV/aorta diameter. There was a numerically significant difference in MDCT findings between the control and pathological Marsh groups. In the ROC analysis performed in terms of the total numerical values of each MDCT finding observed between the groups, it was found that there were more than 7 MDCT findings, 100% sensitivity, and 92% specificity. The presence of four major and three minor criteria or three major and four minor criteria were considered significant. Conclusions Being aware of CT findings below the iceberg that may suggest CD in abdominal CT examinations performed in patients with atypical clinical and malabsorption findings or other nonspecific findings may prevent diagnostic delay and unnecessary procedures. Graphical abstract

Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been documented as blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation. The aim of the current research was to examine these blood biomarkers in brucella knee arthritis. Methods: Fifty-three brucella knee arthritis subjects and 42 healthy subjects were included . The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP) levels were compared. White blood cells (WBC), MPV, platelet, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were determined from complete blood counts. The PLR and NLR were calculated. Results: We found that CRP, ESR, and MPV levels were considerably increased in brucella knee arthritis than control groups (p<0.001, p=0.024, p=0.024). Moreover, the brucella arthritis patients had lower NLR and neutrophil counts compared to the control participants (p=0.027, p=0.007). According to the Pearson’s correlation analysis, the serum agglutination tests with titers were positively related to the lymphocyte counts (p=0.009, r=0.355) in the patients. Conclusions: We observed statistically significant differences between the brucella knee arthritis patients and the healthy subjects with respect to MPV and NLR. These parameters may be beneficial markers in the assessment of systemic inflammation in patients with brucella arthritis.

Background: ABO blood groups have been suggested to have a high correlation with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It has also been postulated that platelet indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW), are very important in the development and progression of CVDs. However, despite these common associations with CVDs, as far as we know, there are no studies investigating platelet indices in ABO blood groups. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether platelet indices are associated with ABO blood groups.Methods: The study included 301 healthy volunteers (99 women and 202 men; mean age: 32.59 ± 7.52 years) whose blood groups were determined by the gel column method using agglutination techniques. Platelet indices were studied by an automated blood counter.Results: No considerable differences in age, gender, or Rh factors were observed among ABO blood groups. MPV was detected to be considerably lower in O and A blood group subjects than in AB and B blood group subjects. Similarly, PDW was significantly lower in O and A blood group subjects than in B blood group subjects. Additionally, MPV in the O blood group subjects was significantly lower than in the non‐O blood group subjects.Conclusions: Because MPV and PDW are used as markers of CVDs, individuals with O and A blood groups in this study may be considered to have a lower risk of CVDs than AB and B blood group subjects. However, prospective cohort studies involving a greater number of volunteers are needed to elucidate these relationships.

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by the aerobic sporeforming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It has been suggested that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of B. anthracis. The aim of this study was to investigate serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity, catalase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in patients with cutaneous anthrax. Fifteen patients with cutaneous anthrax and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The serum MDA levels, SOD levels, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and catalase activities were measured using a spectrophotometer. The serum SOD levels, paraoxonase, arylesterase, and catalase activities were significantly lower in patients with cutaneous anthrax than in controls (for all, p < 0.001), whereas MDA levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001). No significant correlation was found between serum paraoxonase activity, arylesterase activity, SOD levels, and MDA levels (all, p > 0.05) in patients with cutaneous anthrax. The current study was the first to show decreased antioxidant levels and increased oxidant levels in patients with cutaneous anthrax. Therefore, decreased PON1 activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous anthrax.

The mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) comprise laboratory markers in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). There is a controversy in the literature regarding which type of ear involvement is characteristic of AS. The aim of this study was to simultaneously investigate the MPV, RDW, platelet to lymphocyte (PLR) and NLR in patients with AS and their relationships with high-frequency hearing thresholds. Thirty patients with AS and 35 age-matched healthy subjects were included. Each subject was tested with low- (250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) and high- (4000, 8000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000 and 16,000 Hz) frequency audiometry. Additionally, the case and control groups were evaluated regarding the average hearing thresholds in bone conduction. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. The RDW, MPV, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet counts were evaluated with the complete blood count. Furthermore, the NLR and PLR were calculated. The complete blood count, platelet numbers, ESR, CRP and NLR levels were significantly increased in the AS patients compared with the healthy controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.047, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in the RDW, PLR or MPV levels (p > 0.05) in the AS patients compared with the healthy controls. The BASDAI score and disease duration were not correlated with the ESR, CRP levels, MPV, PLR, RDW or NLR in patients with AS (all; p > 0.05). The AS patients had increased average measurement values for the hearing threshold in both ears at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz; however, there was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The average values of the hearing threshold in both ears at the high frequencies of 4000, 6000, 8000, 10,000, 12,000 and 14,000 Hz were significantly increased in the case group; however, it was not significantly increased at 16,000 Hz. The current study is the first to investigate the PLR, NLR, MPV and RDW levels in acute AS. We identified a significantly increased NLR, leukocyte count, ESR and CRP in AS patients. Sensorineural hearing loss, especially at extended high frequencies, is common in patients with AS and may represent an extra-articular feature of the disease. The combined use of NLR with the leukocyte count and other clinical assessments may facilitate the diagnostic process of ankylosing spondylitis.