The Prevalence of Protein S Variant in Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The rapid spread of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) facilitated the emergence of numerous variants. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and change of important "S" protein variants such as N501Y, DelH69/ 70, and E484K in SARS CoV-2 PCR positive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who have referred to a private hospital within the period that mutations were detected during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients who have been referred due to the suspicion of COVID-19 between December 2020 and April 2021 and in whom SARS-CoV-2 was detected positive in the PCR test were enrolled into the study. These patients were randomly selected among 285 patients detected in these months, among those with the most accurate graphics and data. The RNA material extracted from the nasopharyngeal swab samples taken from the patients was analyzed and specifically N501Y, del69-70, and E484K mutations were investigated through the Real-Time PCR method. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 37.5 ± 14.1 years. Mutations were detected in 84 (44.9%) samples in total (N501Y + DelH69/70 by 81%, DelH69/70 by 7.1%, E484K by 7.1% and N501Y + E484K by 4.8%). There was no sample detected with the N501Y mutation. The mutation rate between December - February was detected between 1% and 8%, and the mutation rate increased to 39% to 44% in April and March. While DelH69/70 mutation was detected in December 2020 only, it was observed that N501Y + DelH69/70 variants became dominant as of February 2021, and E484K and N501Y + E484K variants started to appear in March and April. It was observed that the variant rates included DelH69/70 (p < 0.001), N501Y (p < 0.001), N501Y + DelH69/70 (p < 0.001), and N501Y + E484K (p = 0.01) mutations increased significantly according to the months. The E484K mu-tation was significantly higher in males (p = 0.037). There was no differences between mutation rates between the age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the appearance of important SARS-CoV-2 variants gradually increases, that rates of mutation increase up to 40% within several months, that the N501Y + DelH69/70 variant gradually becomes to be dominant, and that different variations appear along with mutations.

C-reactive protein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of mortality in coronavirus disease 2019

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether C-reactive protein, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio could be useful to predict mortality in COVID-19. METHODS: Data of 635 patients with COVID-19 followed up in Sinop Ataturk State Hospital from February to May 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was made according to the interim guidance of the World Health Organization. Patients were grouped into two groups based on mortality as survived and non-survived patients. Age, gender, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein of the groups were investigated and compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 55.8±22.3 years. Among the patients, 584 survived and 51 patients died. Age was significantly different between the groups, 54.2±22.3 in the survived group and 75.6±11.1 in the dead group (p=0.000). In addition, neutrophil, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio values were significantly higher in the dead group (p=0.000). platelet-lymphocyte ratio was slightly higher in the dead group, but this difference was not significant (p=0.42). The area under the curve values for age, lymphocyte, platelet, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio are 0.797, 0.424, 0.485, 0.778, and 0.729, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein are significantly higher in patients leading to death and could be effective biomarkers in predicting COVID-19 fatality. Furthermore, C-reactive protein could be used as an independent biomarker to predict death in patients with COVID-19, regardless of gender and age (p=0.000).

C-reactive protein and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as predictors of mortality in coronavirus disease 2019.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates whether C-reactive protein, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio could be useful to predict mortality in COVID-19. METHODS: Data of 635 patients with COVID-19 followed up in Sinop Ataturk State Hospital from February to May 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Diagnosis of COVID-19 was made according to the interim guidance of the World Health Organization. Patients were grouped into two groups based on mortality as survived and non-survived patients. Age, gender, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, and C-reactive protein of the groups were investigated and compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 55.8±22.3 years. Among the patients, 584 survived and 51 patients died. Age was significantly different between the groups, 54.2±22.3 in the survived group and 75.6±11.1 in the dead group (p=0.000). In addition, neutrophil, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio values were significantly higher in the dead group (p=0.000). platelet-lymphocyte ratio was slightly higher in the dead group, but this difference was not significant (p=0.42). The area under the curve values for age, lymphocyte, platelet, C-reactive protein, and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio are 0.797, 0.424, 0.485, 0.778, and 0.729, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and C-reactive protein are significantly higher in patients leading to death and could be effective biomarkers in predicting COVID-19 fatality. Furthermore, C-reactive protein could be used as an independent biomarker to predict death in patients with COVID-19, regardless of gender and age (p=0.000).

Prognostic significance of antithrombin activity in patients with crimean-congo hemorrhagic Fever.

OBJECTIVE: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral hemorrhagic fever. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an important complication of this disease, especially in severe and fatal cases. Antithrombin (AT) acts as an anticoagulant by inactivating thrombin, Factor IX, Factor X and Factor XI. We conducted this study to investigate the AT levels and their prognostic value in CCHF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight confirmed CCHF patients were included in this study. Diagnosis of the disease was made by CCHF IgM and/or PCR positivity. Patients were grouped based on the severity criteria described previously. The patients with platelet counts <20 000×10(6) cell/L, white blood counts >10×10(9) cell/L, prothrombin times >60 seconds, aspartate aminotransferase levels >700 IU/L or alanine aminotransferase levels >900 IU/L were accepted as severe cases. Patients whose illnesses were self-limited and who did not require blood component replacement were accepted as mild cases, and patients who improved but required blood component replacement were accepted as moderate cases. Blood samples were obtained on the day that the patient had the lowest platelet count and before any thrombocyte replacement. The antithrombin activity was measured using a chromogenic substrate test (Diagnostica Stago STA Compact) at a research laboratory. RESULTS: Twenty-two (78.6%) of the cases were mild, 3 (10.7%) were moderate, and 3 were (10.7%) severe. The mean AT value was 101% for mild cases, 116.6 % for moderate cases, and 88% for severe cases (p>0.05). Although there were no statistically significant differences between the AT values, the mean AT activity was lower in severe CCHF cases. CONCLUSION: The AT activity may have been decreased in severe CCHF cases. Further studies with greater numbers of patients are required to determine the level of AT activity and its correlation with disease severity and the prognosis of CCHF.

Unbiased estimation of the eyeball volume using the Cavalieri principle on computed tomography images.

The size of the eyeball has been the subject of a few studies. None of them used stereological methods to estimate the volume. In the current study, we estimated the volume of eyeball in normal men and women using the stereological methods. Eyeball volume (EV) was estimated using the Cavalieri principle as a combination of point-counting and planimetry techniques. We used computed tomography scans taken from 36 participants (15 men and 21 women) to estimate the EV. The mean (SD) EV values obtained by planimetry method were 7.49 (0.79) and 7.06 (0.85) cm in men and women, respectively. By using point-counting method, the mean (SD) values were 7.48 (0.85) and 7.21 (0.84) cm in men and women, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the findings from the 2 methods (P > 0.05). A weak correlation was found between the axial length of eyeball and the EV estimated by point counting and planimetry (P < 0.05, r = 0.494 and r = 0.523, respectively). The findings of the current study using the stereological methods could provide data for the evaluation of normal and pathologic volumes of the eyeball.

Comparison of point counting and planimetry methods for the assessment of cerebellar volume in human using magnetic resonance imaging: a stereological study.

The cerebellum is involved in motor learning and cognitive function in human. Many studies have been conducted to assess the cerebellar volume. To the best of our knowledge, there is no cerebellar volume study evaluating the efficiency and the accuracy of point-counting and planimetry methods of the Cavalieri principle in the literature. In this study, the volume of cerebellum was estimated in 53 Turkish young volunteers (26 males and 27 females), aged between 20 and 25 who are free of any neurological symptoms and signs, using serial magnetic resonance (MR) images. The cerebellar volumes of subjects were determined on MR images using the point-counting and planimetry methods. The mean results of planimetry method were 116.69 +/- 10.1 and 114.41 +/- 9.3 cm(3 )in males and females, respectively. The mean results of point-counting method were 116.34 +/- 10.6 and 113.48 +/- 8.8 cm(3 )in males and females, respectively. Our results revealed that female subjects had less cerebellar volumes compared with males, although there was no statistical significant difference between genders (P > 0.05). Total cerebellar volumes obtained by two different methods were not statistically different (P = 0.189) and they were correlated well to each other (r = 0.935). We found that the point-counting method takes less time than the planimetric method (mean 8 +/- 3.6 vs. 15 +/- 5.5 min). Thus, while planimetric and stereological approaches yield very similar results, the stereological method has the advantage of greater speed and, therefore, efficiency.

Estimation of Cranial Capacity in 17-26 Years Old University Students / Estimación de la Capacidad Craneana en Estudiantes Universitarios entre 17 y 26 Años de Edad

It is natural that there is close relationship between cranial capacity, and the size of brain. Several studies have estimated the cranial capacity which indirectly reflects the brain volume. This study was carried out on 366 (226 male and 140 female) healthy university students aged between 17-26 years old at Mugla University, Mugla, Turkey. By using linear dimensions of the head the mean cranial capacity and SD in males and females were 1411.64+118.9 cm³ and 1306.95+162.9 cm³, respectively. There was a significant difference between genders (p<0.05). This investigation was showed the cranial capacity is larger in males than females. We also proposed a regression formula that could be used to predict the cranial capacity.

Es natural que exista una relación entre la capacidad craneana y el tamaño del cerebro. Numerosos estudios realizados, han estimado la capacidad craneana con lo cual han determinado indirectamente el volumen del cerebro. El estudio fue realizado en 366 individuos (226 hombres y 140 mujeres), normales, entre 17-26 de edad, pertenecientes a grupos del Mugía Universidad de Mugía, Turquía. Para la estimación de la capacidad craneana se utilizaron las dimensiones lineales de la cabeza. La media y SD de la capacidad craneana en hombres y mujeres, fue de 1411,64+118,9 cm³ y 1306,95+162,9 cm³, respectivamente. Las diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas (p<0.05). La investigación demostró que la capacidad craneana es mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres. También propusimos una fórmula de regresión que podría ser usada para predecir la capacidad craneana.

Comparison of three methods for the estimation of total intracranial volume: stereologic, planimetric, and anthropometric approaches.

There is a well-known close relationship between the total intracranial volume (TIV) and the brain size. Several studies in different countries have estimated the cranial capacity, which indirectly reflects the brain volume. However, we have not seen a study evaluating the results of the methodologies for the assessment of TIV. This study was carried out on 30 normal subjects whose ages ranged between 19 and 77 years old (males, 18; females, 12). Three different methods were used to assess the TIV. The mean (+/-SD) estimated TIV using linear dimensions method in males and females were 1416.8 +/- 64 cm and 1291.9 +/- 152 cm, respectively. The mean estimated TIV using point counting method in males and females was 1474 +/- 93 cm and 1252 +/- 72 cm, respectively. By using the planimetric method of the mean and SD of TIV, male and females were 1492.1 +/- 74 cm and 1319.6 +/- 100 cm, respectively. There were no statistical difference between TIV measurements obtained using the optimized stereologic technique and planimetry (P > 0.05). TIV between males and females was statistically significant (P < 0.001). This study showed that there are minor differences among the given 3 distinct methods. With the disadvantage of requiring more time to apply, the planimetry and point counting methods provide more assumption-free results than the anthropometric approach. However, the anthropometric method can be applied to assess TIV without needing sophisticated tools.