Assessment of serum endocan levels in patients with beta-thalassemia minor

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Beta-thalassemia minor is a blood disease caused by a hereditary decrease in beta-globin synthesis, frequently leading to hypochromic microcytic anemia. Formerly called endothelial cell-specific molecule 1, endocan is a proteoglycan released by vascular endothelial cells in many organs. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between the beta-thalassemia minor patients and the healthy control group in terms of serum endocan level. METHODS: The study was performed in a total of 80 subjects. They were divided into two groups, the beta-thalassemia minor group (n=40) and the healthy control group (n=40). Serum endocan levels, age, sex, body mass index value, and tobacco use data of these groups were compared. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups in terms of age, sex, and body mass index values (p>0.05). Endocan levels were measured to be 206.85±88.1 pg/mL in the beta-thalassemia minor group and 236.1±162.8 pg/mL in the control group with no significant difference between the groups in terms of serum endocan levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, there was no change in endocan level in beta-thalassemia minor. This might be because serum endocan levels are affected by multi-factorial reasons. Serum endocan levels may be altered secondarily to decreased beta-globin chain, increased sympathetic activity due to anemia, or platelet dysfunction induced by oxidative stress in beta-thalassemia minor. Further multicenter studies involving more patients are necessary to demonstrate this.

Thorax computed tomography findings and anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G levels in polymerase chain reaction-negative probable COVID-19 cases

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after 6 months of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative but assumed to be COVID-19 positive cases to investigate the relationship between IgG levels and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: This was a single-center study that included patients whose PCR test results were negative at least three times using nasopharyngeal swabs but had clinical findings of COVID-19 and thoracic CT findings compatible with viral pneumonia. Six months after discharge, the IgG antibodies were analyzed. The cutoff value for negative and positive serology was defined as <1.4 (index S/C) and ≥1.4 (index S/C), respectively. In addition, the patients were categorized according to their thoracic CT findings as high (typical) and low (atypical). Also, the patients were grouped into classes as <5% lung involvement versus ≥5% lung involvement. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 49.78±12.96 years. PCR was negative, but patients with COVID-19 symptoms who had SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive were 81.9% (n=95). The antibody titer and lung involvement ≥5% were statistically significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive cases (p<0.001 and p=0.021). Age and chest CT findings were the risk factors for lung involvement (OR=1.08, p<0.001 and OR=2.19, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study is valuable because increasing severity (≥5%) of lung involvement appears to be associated with high and persistent IgG antibody titers. In probable cases of COVID-19, even if the PCR test is negative, high IgG titers 6 months after discharge can predict the rate of lung parenchymal involvement.

An evaluation of the relationship between vitamin D level and CTRP-9, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, thiol-disulfide hemostasis in women

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Many chronic diseases such as malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial dysfunction, and autoimmune diseases, which have been shown to be related to vitamin D in various studies; have similar relations with CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis. We aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the relationship between CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis and vitamin D levels, which we thought may have some effects on the pathogenesis of vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: In our study, 78 female volunteers older than 18 years were included. Volunteers were divided into three groups according to the reference values of vitamin D levels. Biochemical parameters, CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol/disulfide hemostasis tests taken from all volunteers were studied. RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant difference in CTRP-9, TNFα, total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), DIS (disulfide), TT/DIS, and NT/DIS levels in vitamin D groups (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and TNFα and DIS, while a significant positive correlation was found with CTRP-9, TT, NT, TT/DIS, and NT/DIS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was determined that vitamin D deficiency causes a significant decrease in CTRP-9 level and a significant increase in TNFα level, as well as an increase in thiol/disulfide hemostasis in favor of disulfide, which may be a risk factor for increased oxidative stress. We considered that these changes may play mediator roles for many chronic diseases and metabolic disorders that are increasing in frequency due to vitamin D deficiency.

Infecção por parvovírus B19 como causa de miosite aguda em um adulto / Parvovirus B19 infection as a cause of acute myositis in an adult

A infecção pelo Parvovírus B19 costuma ser assintomática, mas as expressões clínicas podem incluir crise aplástica transitória, eritema infeccioso, hidropisia fetal não imune e aplasia crônica da série vermelha. Esse vírus também se associa à artrite reumatoide e a outras doenças autoimunes do tecido conjuntivo; entretanto, não conseguimos identificar na literatura nenhum caso de miosite aguda em adulto desenvolvida depois de infecção pelo Parvovírus B19. Por essa razão, gostaríamos de apresentar um caso raro de miosite aguda desenvolvida depois de infecção pelo Parvovírus B19. Nos pacientes que apresentam sintomas de febre, rash nas pernas e miosite, devem ser consideradas as infecções virais, como a causada pelo Parvovírus B19.

Parvovirus B19 infection is often asymptomatic, but clinical expressions may include transient aplastic crisis, erythema infectiosum, non-immune hydrops fetalis, and chronic red cell aplasia. This virus has also been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune connective tissue diseases; however, we could not identify any acute adult myositis case developed after a Parvovirus B19 infection in the literature. For this reason, we would like to present a rare case of acute myositis developed after Parvovirus B19 infection. In patients presenting with symptoms of fever, rash on the legs and myositis, viral infections such as Parvovirus B19 should be kept in mind.