Two new species of Phalangium (Opiliones: Phalangiidae) from Turkey.

Two newharvestmenspecies,Phalangium nalanae sp. n. and Phalangium taylani sp. n., are described, diagnosed and illustrated based on male material from Hakkari Province, Turkey. Also, the differences between two new species and similar species of the genus Phalangium are discussed.

Evaluation of the Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients in First 3 Months of the Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: Data about Turkish coronavirus disease 2019 patients are limited. We evaluated hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients who were followed up in the first 3 months of the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, observational study included 415 confirmed hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The patients were divided into groups, namely, mild, moderate, and critically ill patients. Symptoms at the time of admission, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings were examined. RESULTS: In our study, 6.74% of coronavirus disease 2019 patients had severe disease, 59.5% were male, and the mortality rate was 11.3%. Diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were more frequently seen in critically ill patient groups and hypertension in moderate patient groups. Anemia and aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher in non-survivors among mild coronavirus disease 2019 patients. In the moderate patients' group, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, international normalized ratio, ferritin, and D-dimer levels were higher and lymphocyte, hemoglobin levels were lower; in the critically ill patients' group, platelets were lower and uric acid levels were higher in non-survivor patients. CONCLUSION: In mild patients, anemia, lymphopenia, and increased aspartate aminotransferase levels; in moderate patients, leukopenia, anemia, and increased aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, international normalized ratio, ferritin, and D-dimer levels; in the critically ill patient group, lower platelet and increased uric acid levels should be followed closely as they are mortality predictors.

Presence of Peripheral Neuropathy Does Not Affect Urine 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin Levels in Type 2 Diabetics.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Melatonin is one of the most powerful antioxidant substances and its role in the pathogenesis of diabetes has been the focus of much research. However, no data exist on melatonin levels in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. We investigated how levels of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, the main metabolite of melatonin, differed in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: A total of 127 participants were enrolled into 3 groups: diabetic neuropathy (n=43), diabetes but no neuropathy (n=44), and controls (n=40). Neuropathy was diagnosed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Melatonin level was evaluated by measuring 24-hour urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels. RESULTS: We found significant differences in urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels between the 3 groups (p=0.023). The distribution of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin among all diabetic participants was significantly lower than in the control group (p=0.006). However, there was no difference in diabetics with and without neuropathy (p=0.792). 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels were negatively and weakly correlated with plasma glucose(r = -0.211, p=0.017) and positively and weakly correlated with microalbuminuria (r= 0.209, p=0.023). Regression analysis was found a significant relationship between age (B = 0.826, 95% Cl=0.227 to 1.426), insulin use (B = 14.584, 95% CI= 3.857 to 25.311), glomerular filtration rate (B = 0.248, 95% CI= 0.018 to 0.478) and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels. 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels in insulin users were significantly higher than they were in nonuser diabetics (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels were lower in diabetics but the presence of neuropathy did not affect 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels. Insulin may improve melatonin levels in diabetics.

A new species of Zachaeus C.L. Koch from Turkey (Opiliones, Phalangiidae).

A new species of harvestmen, Zachaeusseyyari sp. n. (Opiliones, Phalangiidae), is described and illustrated on the basis of both sexes from Sirnak Province in Turkey. Differences between the new species and related species are indicated. Photographs of its characteristic structures are also provided.