The relationship between Salusin-α, Salusin-ß, and Klotho levels with subclinical atherosclerosis in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Subclinical atherosclerosis (SA) is often observed in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients; Salusin-α (Sal-α), Salusin-ß (Sal-ß), and Klotho hormones are thought to be associated with atherosclerosis. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between Sal-α, Sal-ß, and Klotho levels with SA in AS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients older than 18 years who applied between August 1, 2019, and September 1, 2019. Patients with AS were included in the AS group, and patients without a known disease were included in the healthy group. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements were used to assess SA. RESULTS: The study group included 38 (40.9%) patients diagnosed with AS, and the control group included 55 (59.1%) participants. CIMT and EATT levels were higher in the AS group than in the healthy group [0.37 (0.17) vs. 0.54±0.18, p<0.001; 0.44±0.11 vs. 0.54 (0.18), p=0.004, respectively]. There was no significant difference in Sal-α, Sal-ß, and Klotho levels between the AS and healthy groups (p>0.05). Furthermore, there was no observed relationship between EATT or CIMT and Klotho, Sal-α, or Sal-ß in either group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although SA level was higher in AS patients, there was no relationship between SA and Sal-α, Sal-ß, and Klotho levels.

Can artificial intelligence predict COVID-19 mortality?

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 infection rapidly spread across the globe and evolved into a pandemic. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been used to predict the spread of the virus and diagnose and treat the disease. In this study, we aimed to predict whether patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 infection will result in mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety parameters were used for each 589 ICU patient. The nine parameters with the highest effect on mortality were determined. Four hundred seventy-one patients were used to train the AI with these nine parameters. AI was tested with 118 patient data. RESULTS: AI estimated mortality with 83% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 84% accuracy, and 0.81 F1 score. Therefore, the area under the curve was calculated as 0.91. The results indicate that mortality among COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU can be predicted based on their laboratory parameters on the first day. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the potential benefits of utilizing AI in managing pandemics.

Assessment of the clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung diseases: a retrospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) stands as the most prevalent form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting approximately 1% of the population. Among individuals diagnosed with RA, a notable proportion, ranging from 10% to 40%, also experience Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease (RA-ILD). This coexistence of RA and ILD has been identified as a detrimental factor contributing to increased mortality rates. Furthermore, RA-ILD often exhibits an insidious nature, posing challenges in its timely detection and management. Hence, our objective was to conduct a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics observed in patients who underwent evaluation for RA-ILD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 87 patients who were evaluated for RA-ILD within one year were included in the study. This study was conducted retrospectively using a cross-sectional and descriptive approach to analyze the demographic and clinical data of the included patients. RESULTS: Among the 87 patients, eight were diagnosed with RA-ILD, with four being male and four being female. Of the eight patients, two had non-specific interstitial pneumonia, five had usual interstitial pneumonia, and one had nodules consistent with RA. Subpleural fibrosis increased the likelihood of RA-ILD by 6.9 times. In the group with ILD, the residual volume and total capacity were found to be lower compared to the other group. Among the eight patients diagnosed with RA-ILD, five had used methotrexate before the diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: In order to mitigate the risk of delayed diagnosis of RA-ILD, which can lead to increased mortality and has a subtle onset, it is recommended that patients with RA who possess certain risk factors undergo regular monitoring. It is advisable for RA patients to undergo annual assessments involving carbon monoxide diffusion capacity and spirometry function tests. In cases, where deemed necessary, more advanced investigations such as high-resolution computed tomography should be conducted.