Correlation between 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and COVID-19 severity in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and disease severity in hospitalized COVID-19 positive pregnant women. METHODS: The COVID-19 (+) pregnant women (confirmed by PCR test) were classified as asymptomatic, mild symptomatic, and severe disease according to their symptoms and laboratory results. Severe COVID-19 criteria were respiratory symptoms and/or findings. The following laboratory results were considered as poor prognostic factors: the number of lymphocytes <800/µl and/or CRP value >10 times the upper limit of the normal range and/or ferritin value >500 ng/ml and/or D-Dimer value >1000 µg/l. The patients were divided into two groups; asymptomatic or mild symptomatic group (Group 1), and severe disease and/or poor prognostic factor group (Group 2). The 25(OH)D levels were compared between groups. ROC curve analysis was used to analyze the cutoff value for vitamin D to predict the severity of COVID-19. RESULTS: 25(OH)D levels were found to be statistically significantly lower in group 2 (15.5 (10.25) ng/ml in Group 1, 13 (12) ng/ml in Group 2, p = .010). The 25(OH)D level under 14.5 ng/ml was associated with severe COVID-19 and/or poor prognostic factors (p = .010). The risk of severe COVID-19 and/or having poor prognostic factors was 1.87 times higher among pregnant women who had 25(OH)D levels below 14.5 ng/ml. This value was found to have 54.1% sensitivity and 61.3% specificity in predicting severe COVID-19 and/or poor prognostic laboratory findings in pregnant women. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between vitamin D status and the severity of COVID-19 in pregnant women. During the pandemic period, vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women should gain more importance.

Is there any correlation between levels of serum ostepontin, CEA, and FDG uptake in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis? / ¿Existe correlación entre los niveles de osteopontina en suero sanguíneo, CEA y captación de 18F-FDG en pacientes con metástasis óseas por cáncer de pulmón?

Objective. In this study, an evaluation was made of the relationship between the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), osteopontin (OPN), and the semi-quantitative parameters of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis. Material and methods. The evaluation included 42 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 31 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who were referred to our institution for staging by 18F-FDG PET/CT. The biochemical parameters measured included CEA and OPN serum levels. Results. Serum levels of OPN in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 21.20 ± 4.97 ng/ml and 13.33 ± 4.53 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum OPN levels were 23.95 ± 4.78 ng/ml and 17.30 ± 3.09 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). Serum levels of CEA in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 33.79 ± 6.49 ng/ml and 11.74 ± 2.96 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum levels of CEA were 28.93 ± 4.59 ng/ml and 13.88 ± 4.47 ng/ml, respectively (p < 0.05). There were no correlations between primary tumor SUVmax, and serum levels of CEA and OPN. Conclusions. Bone metastasis can be detected in patients with lung cancer by measuring CEA and OPN levels. Increased levels of CEA and OPN levels may be considered an early warning sign in patients needing accurate imaging, as they are at higher risk of bone metastasis (AU)

Objetivo. Evaluar la relación entre los niveles de antígeno carcinoembriionario (CEA), osteopontina (OPN) y los valores semicuantitativos (SUV) de la PET/TC con 18F-FDG en pacientes con metástasis óseas por cáncer de pulmón. Material y método. Se incluyeron 40 pacientes con cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas (NSCLC) y 31 pacientes con cáncer de pulmón de células pequeñas (SCLC) referidos a nuestro centro para la realización de un estudio PET/TC con 18F-FDG de estadificación. Se analizarón los niveles sanguíneos de OPN y CEA. Resultados. Los niveles de OPN en pacientes con NSCLC con y sin metástasis óseas fueron de 21.20 ± 4.97 ng/ml y 13.33 ± 4.53 ng/ml, respectivamente (p < 0.05). En pacientes con SCLC con y sin metástasis óseas fueron de 23.95 ± 4.78 ng/ml y 17.30 ± 3.09 ng/ml, respectivamente (p < 0.05). Los niveles sanguíneos de CEA en pacientes de NSCLC con y sin metástasis óseas fueron de 33.79 ± 6.49 ng/ml y 11.74 ± 2.96 ng/ml, respectivamente (p < 0.05). En pacientes con SCLC con y sin metástasis óseas fueron de 28.93 ± 4.59 ng/ml y 13.88 ± 4.47 ng/ml, respectivamente (p < 0.05). No hubo correlación entre el SUV máximo del tumor primario, los niveles OPN ni de CEA. Conclusiones. La metástasis ósea puede ser detectada en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón con la determinación de los niveles de OPN y CEA. Los niveles incrementados de CEA y OPN pueden ser considerados como una señal de advertencia temprana en pacientes que necesiten imágenes precisas, porque ellos están en mayor riesgo de metástasis en el hueso (AU)

Is there any correlation between levels of serum ostepontin, CEA, and FDG uptake in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis?

OBJECTIVE: In this study, an evaluation was made of the relationship between the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), osteopontin (OPN), and the semi-quantitative parameters of 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) in lung cancer patients with bone metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation included 42 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 31 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients who were referred to our institution for staging by (18)F-FDG PET/CT. The biochemical parameters measured included CEA and OPN serum levels. RESULTS: Serum levels of OPN in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 21.20±4.97 ng/ml and 13.33±4.53 ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum OPN levels were 23.95±4.78 ng/ml and 17.30±3.09 ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). Serum levels of CEA in NSCLC patients with and without bone metastasis were 33.79±6.49 ng/ml and 11.74±2.96 ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). In SCLC patients with and without bone metastasis serum levels of CEA were 28.93±4.59 ng/ml and 13.88±4.47 ng/ml, respectively (p<0.05). There were no correlations between primary tumor SUVmax, and serum levels of CEA and OPN. CONCLUSIONS: Bone metastasis can be detected in patients with lung cancer by measuring CEA and OPN levels. Increased levels of CEA and OPN levels may be considered an early warning sign in patients needing accurate imaging, as they are at higher risk of bone metastasis.

Effects of septoplasty and septal deviation on nasal mucociliary clearance.

To evaluate the effect of septal pathology and surgery on nasal mucociliary clearance. A radioisotope method was used to measure the velocity of nasal mucociliary transport. Nasal mucociliary clearance was measured before and after septal surgery using technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin. Fifteen patients (mean age: 20 +/- 8 years; 11 males, four females) were studied pre-operatively, but scintigraphy could be repeated only in 10 patients, 2 months after surgery. A group of 10 healthy volunteers were also studied. The clearance values obtained from the preoperative period (26.25 +/- 9.45 min) were significantly higher than those of the post-operative period (15.05 +/- 6.35 min). The values obtained of control group (13.30 +/- 3.15 min) were not significantly different from the post-operative values of the patient group. Septal deviation affects the mucociliary activity. It is improved by surgery. This study showed that nasal septal deviation reduced the nasal mucociliary activity, and this can easily evaluated with scintigraphy.