Serum netrin-1 and netrin receptor levels in fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.

Objectives: This study aims to define serum levels of netrin-1 and netrin receptors in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and osteoarthritis (OA). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 150 female participants (mean age: 47.2±16.1 years; range, 18 to 89 years) at Firat University between June 2016 and December 2016. The participants were evaluated in three groups: the FM group with 50 patients, the OA group with 50 patients, and the control group, which included 50 healthy volunteers. Netrin-1, netrin receptors (DCC, UNC5B, and UNC5D), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay from the serum samples of the participants. Results: The level of serum netrin-1 was significantly lower in the FM group than in the control and OA groups (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). However, the difference between patients with OA and healthy controls in terms of netrin-1 was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In addition, serum levels of netrin receptors and cytokines in the FM group were similar to the control group (p>0.05). However, serum DCC, UNC5D, IL-6, and IL-10 levels were higher in the OA group compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Serum netrin-1 level is suppressed in FM, which suggests that netrin-1 is influential in FM pathogenesis.

Determination of nasal mucociliary clearance time and nasal symptom in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important health problem in Turkey. Number of studies on symptoms of ear nose throat system and indicating whether or not the organs are affected in patients with CCHF is limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CCHF infections caused any change in nasal physiology in adult patients or not by using saccharin transit time (STT) and nasal symptom scoring. Twenty subjects with laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of CCHF and 28 healthy control subjects were included in the present study. A saccharin test was used to evaluate nasal mucociliary clearance time (NMCT) and the nasal symptom scoring used in allergic rhinitis was modified and used to examine the symptoms of the patients. The average STT of CCHF and control groups were 472.70 ± 151.58 and 276.07 ± 89.65 sec, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (P = 0.00, P < 0.05). When those in CCHF group were classified according to timing of the test, STT average of those undergoing the test on the 1st-3rd days (n = 10) and 4th-6th (n = 10) days was 547.00 ± 154.37 and 398.40 ± 111.39 sec, respectively. The difference between them was statistically significant (P = 0.024; P < 0.05). The results of the present study showed that NMCT prolonged in adult patients with CCHF compared to those in the control group despite the fact that it was within normal limits. For these reasons, clinicians should follow-up CCHF patients more closely for respiratory tract diseases and sinonasal and middle ear infections. J. Med. Virol. 89:960-965, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Assessment of Hematological Factors Involved in Development and Prognosis of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of routine hematological parameters on the development and prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in patients applying to our clinic. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical study. SETTING: One academic health center from 2008 to 2014. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION: One hundred forty patients with sudden hearing loss and 132 healthy controls were included in the present study. RESULTS: Patients having idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were divided into 2 subgroups based on whether they recovered (complete, partial, and slight recovery) (Group 1; n = 83, 59.3%) or not (Group 2; n = 57, 40.7%) during the follow-up term. Group 1, Group 2, and the controls differed statistically significantly in terms of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.001), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.001), lymphocytes % (P = 0.001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (P = 0.019), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (P = 0.015), platelet (P  = 0.001), mean platelet volume (P = 0.001), platelet distribution width (P = 0.009), and glucose (P = 0.001). The study groups and the controls did not have any significant difference in terms of other laboratory parameters affecting the prognosis of Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: The results the authors obtained showed that laboratory parameters such as lymphocyte, lymphocyte%, platelet, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration may be indicative for prognosis and treatment success in groups of patients suffering idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss in whose etiology many factors play a role.

Parainfluenza type 3 outbreaks in Izmir children, Turkey.

The present study was aimed to investigate characteristics of lower respiratory tract infections caused by parainfluenza type 3 viruses. Nasopharyngeal smears were taken from 178 patients with lower respiratory infections for the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses between December 2004 and April 2005. Parainfluenza type 3 was isolated from the viral specimens of 96 (53.9%) patients and it was noticeable that the parainfluenza type 3 outbreak occurs during winter. Obviously, improving the aetiological diagnosis of viral infections might avoid unnecessary therapy, antibiotics in particular, and would allow for preventive isolation of infected patients.

Comparison of ELISA with shell vial cell culture method for the detection of human rotavirus in fecal specimens.

The aim of the study was to compare an enzyme immunoassay method with shell vial cell culture method for detection of rotavirus in fecal specimens. In addition, the correlation between laboratory results and clinical scores of patients with gastroenteritis was evaluated. A total of 219 fecal specimens from children (ages 3 weeks to 5 years) with acute gastroenteritis submitted to pediatric emergency room were evaluated by both ELISA and shell vial cell culture. A Vesikari score was used for assessing the severity of the illness. Among 219 stool samples tested, 107 (48.9%) were determined to be positive. Two specimens were positive by shell vial cell culture method while they were ELISA negative. According to these results the calculated sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of ELISA were 98.1%, 100%, 100%, and 98.2%, respectively. The mean severity score for the 107 episodes of rotavirus diarrhoea was 11.0 +/- 3.6 compared to 4.5 +/- 1.9 for the 112 episodes of non-rotavirus diarrhea in the same population. Our study indicates that ELISA, which is easier to perform, faster and cheaper than cell culture methods may be suitable for routine diagnosis of rotavirus infections. The severity of rotavirus positive gastroenteritis was significantly higher than that of rotavirus negative patients.