Independent risk factors for COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.

OBJECTIVE: Past three years since the beginning of the outbreak, we have obtained satisfactory data on COVID-19. However, data on risk factors of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC) are extremely limited. Prediction of CAC might be a game changer since it is related to poor prognosis. Seeking independent risk factors for CAC was the main aim of the study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 510 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were retrospectively screened. Forty-eight of them were excluded due to irrelevant D-dimer or ferritin elevation. The remaining patients were stratified into three groups as overt coagulopathy, significant pulmonary microthrombosis, and patients without coagulopathy. The overt coagulopathy group included cases with macrothrombosis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The significant pulmonary microthrombosis group covered the cases that had clinical deterioration with simultaneous marked D-dimer elevation. The group of patients without coagulopathy included the asymptomatic patients with normal or elevated D-dimer levels. RESULTS: Overt coagulopathy developed in 3.2% and significant pulmonary microthrombosis in 10.1% of the patients. In the multivariate analysis, not receiving low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (p=0.002), a level of D-dimer >15,000 U/ml (p=0.013) were associated with overt coagulopathy. In addition, levels of initial LDH >480 IU/L (p=0.022) and initial ferritin >1,000 ng/ml (p=0.036) were associated with significant pulmonary microthrombosis. Not receiving LMWH (p=0.001) was also associated with significant pulmonary microthrombosis, when multivariate analysis was performed by the parameters with a p-value <0.1 in the univariate analysis. Furthermore, all cases with DIC had Gram-negative bacterial sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Not receiving LMWH, high levels of D-dimer, initial LDH, and initial ferritin are independent risk factors for CAC. DIC does not appear to develop based on COVID-19.

Spatial distribution of pyrogenic carbon in Iberian topsoils estimated by chemometric analysis of infrared spectra.

Understanding the global carbon (C) cycle is critical to accurately model feedbacks between climate and soil. Thus, many climate change studies focused on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes. Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) is one of the most stable fractions of soil organic matter (SOM). Accurate maps based on measured PyC contents are required to facilitate future soil management decisions and soil-climate feedback modelling. However, consistent measurements that cover large areas are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to map the PyC content and stock of the Iberian Peninsula, which covers contrasting climatic zones and has long-term data on wildfire occurrence. A partial least square (PLS) regression using the mid-infrared spectra (1800-400 cm-1) was applied to a dataset composed of 2961 soil samples from the Iberian component of the LUCAS 2009 database. The values of PyC for LUCAS points were modelled to obtain a map of topsoil PyC by a random forest (RF) approach using 36 auxiliary variables. The results were validated through comparison with documented historical wildfire activity and anthropogenic energy production. A strong relationship was found between these sources and the distribution of PyC. Our study estimates that the accumulated PyC in Iberian Peninsula soils comprises between 3.09 and 20.39% of total organic carbon (TOC) in the topsoil. Forests have higher PyC contents than grasslands, followed by agricultural soils. The incidence of recurrent wildfires also has a notable influence on PyC contents. This study shows the potential of estimating PyC with a single, rapid, low cost, chemometric method using new or archived soil spectra, and has the ability to improve soil-climate feedback modelling. It also offers a possible tool for measuring, reporting and verifying soil C stocks, which is likely to be important moving forward if soils are used as sinks for C sequestration.

X-Ray microtomography imaging of red lentil puffed snacks: Processing conditions, microstructure and texture.

Red lentils have a great potential to be used as healthy ingredients in puffed snacks due to their excellent nutritional qualities. However, these types of ingredients with relatively higher protein and fiber content when compared to ingredients that are typically used for the manufacture of puffed foods (e.g., refined cereal flours/starches) result in inferior textural quality. Extrusion processing parameters such as screw speed, moisture content and injection pressure of a blowing agent can be manipulated to optimize the microstructure of an extrudate, and as a consequence the texture of the final puffed product. In this study, X-Ray microtomography imaging is used to characterize and quantify the detailed microstructure of red lentil extrudates. The results indicate that an increase in the injected pressure of the physical blowing agent could be correlated with a decrease in mean cell size and wall thickness, as well as an increase in the number of cells. Evidence of wall rupture with an increased screw speed is also visible, and that effect can be counterbalanced by a higher moisture content during processing. A large variation of the cell wall thickness inside an extrudate (which can induce a weaker cellular structure) as well as a larger cell size and higher amount of wall rupture, significantly reduce the hardness of extrudates. This novel effort to quantitatively characterize the microstructure of red lentil extrudates using X-Ray microtomography establishes that an optimal product texture could, in principle, be achieved by manipulating extrusion parameters to achieve the perfect snack texture.

Schmallenberg virus affects T-bet, Gata3, RoRrγt, Foxp3 and Eomes in mice brain.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a neurotropic member of the genus Orthobunyavirus, infects ruminants and causes neurological lesions and fetal malformations including cerebellar hypoplasia, hydranencephaly, and porencephaly. The aim of this study is to establish intracerebral (i.c.) infection of SBV in newborn BALB/c mice and to investigate some of the transcription factors in brain. For this aim, brain samples of newborn BALB/c mice which were infected with SBV i.c. were analyzed by plaque titration and real-time RT-PCR for T-bet, Gata3, RoRγt, Foxp3 and Eomes mRNA levels. Study results showed that SBV can replicate in BALB/c mice brain and cause death of newborn mice with generation of infectious viral particles. Analyses of transcription factor mRNA levels indicated up-regulation of T-bet, Gata3, RoRγt, Foxp3 and down-regulation of Eomes. In this report, we introduce preliminary data of T cell transcription factors affected by SBV infection of BALB/c mice. Keywords: Eomes; Foxp3; Gata3; RoRγt; Schmallenberg virus; T-bet.

Results of the simultaneous measurements of radon around the Black Sea for seismological applications.

Results of measurements of radon around of the Black Sea are shown. Radon stations in zones of active faults were placed. Simultaneous hourly measurements of soil radon in 2005 were carried out in the Sivrice Fault Zone that is a segment of East Anatolian Fault System, in the town of Tbilisi (Georgia) and in the South Russia. In 2008 simultaneously hourly measurements of soil radon were carried out in the Western Caucasus (Russia) and in the Mytilene Island (Greece). In 2013 radon in underground waters simultaneously in midday was measuring in Crete (Greece), in the Pamukkale geothermal region (Southwest Turkey) and in the Western Caucasus. Measurements of radon concentration in the points located around of the Black Sea have shown identical regularities in changes of the data. Influence of meteorological, tidal and solar factors on changes of water radon concentrations and soil radon concentrations was observed in all researches points. But this influence was insignificant. Seismological application of observed results also was considered. Various mathematical methods of definition of anomaly in the radon data during earthquakes were considered. During researches in the Black Sea region basically earthquakes with M from 2.0 up to 5.0 and in a depth about 10 km were occurred. For these earthquakes method of daily subtraction of the data of the next and previous day was used. This method has allowed solving a problem with a choice of average value. Probability up to 0.69 (number of earthquakes with radon anomalies/total number of earthquakes) of detection of radon anomalies before earthquakes was achieved applying this method. Changes of radon maps before regional earthquakes were also observed. The frequency analysis of variations of the radon data on the basis of the Wavelet analysis was carried out. Occurrence of the short periods (about 2 days) was observed during regional earthquakes.

Diverticular disease and posture during defecation : a prospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Although several factors are thought to be responsible for the development of colonic diverticulosis (CD), the underlying pathogenesis is still obscure and needs clarification. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, location and clinical features of CD and especially to detect whether there is an association between CD and postures during defecation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 757 patients. The subjects were divided into two groups as a diverticulosis group (D group, n:95) and non-diverticulosis group (non-D group, n:662). RESULTS: The median patient age was 54.9±13.2 years. CD frequency was 12.5% (n:95). The most commonly involved part of the colon was the sigmoid colon (56.8%). Diverticula location was on the left in 45.3% (n:43), on the right in 24.2% (n:23) and on both sides of the colon in 30.5% (n:29). Patients in the D group were older (p<0.001) and were predominantly female (p:0.04). The frequency of sitting during defecation (Western type toilet) was higher in the D group compared to the non-D group (72.2% vs 53.5%; p:0.007). The use-time of a Western-type toilet was longer in the D group compared to the non-D group (p:0.04). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age and toilet type were independent risk factors for the development of diverticulosis. CONCLUSION: Sitting during defecation seems to increase the risk of CD.

Roles of adiponectin and leptin as diagnostic markers in pancreatic cancer.

NTRODUCTION: Obesity is one of the most serious public health problem worldwide. Adipose tissue synthetize and secrete many growth factors and several cytokines known as adipokines. Studies demonstrated changes in the levels of these adipokines in many types of cancer associated with obesity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possible relationship between adiponectin and leptin levels with pancreas cancer and disease stage, representative of Turkish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted between April 2012 - November 2013. Study included 46 patients - 46 control subjects, who had pancreatic carcinoma. Results between the patients and the control group and relationship between the disease stage and results were evaluated. RESULTS: The comparison of preoperative adiponectin and leptin levels of the study group with the levels of the control group showed that there was no correlation with adiponectin and pancreas cancer. In contrast, leptin levels in the study group were significantly lower than in the control group. There was no correlation between the disease stage and adiponectin and leptin levels. CONCLUSION: There was a significant correlation between low leptin levels and pancreatic cancer, while adiponectin had no correlation. Differential diagnosis of pancreas cancer can be made by evaluating low leptin levels with elevated tumor markers (Tab. 3, Ref. 17).

Can N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein help to predict short and long term mortality?

BACKGROUND: There is limited data about ICU, short and long-term mortality prediction of severe CAP with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): N-terminal proB- type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP): C-reactive protein (CRP). AIM: Besides the known severity indexes of ICU, can NLR, NT-proBNP, CRP predict ICU, short and long term mortality? METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a level III ICU of a tertiary training hospital for chest diseases and thoracic surgery. RESULTS: Over the study period, a total of 143 patients were enrolled in the study. The APACHE II scoring showed a significantly higher predicting performance for ICU mortality (p = 0.002). The performance for predicting short term mortality NLR (p = 0.039) and long term mortality NTproBNP (p = 0.002) had a significantly higher performance. The survival analysis revealed that mortality was significantly higher in patients with CURB65 score ≥ 4 (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: NLR, NTproBNP > 2000pg/mL can be used to predict pneumonia severity in ICU alike CURB65 and PSI. Higher NLR, APACHE II and atrial fibrillation can cause an important mortality factor in long term. Consequently, clinicians should take an attention for good cardiac evaluation and cardiac follow-up of patients with CAP (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 36).

High hemodialysis vascular access flow and impaired right ventricular function in chronic hemodialysis patients.

There are limited data showing right ventricular preload increase due to high-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). This cross-sectional study investigated whether high AVF flow had an impact on right ventricular function in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Sixty-four patients aged between 18 and 85 years who were on routine hemodialysis with >2 hemodialysis sessions per week for at least 3 months via an AVF were studied. Patients with inadequate flow fistulas, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, history of pulmonary embolism, primary pulmonary hypertension, severe mitral, aortic or pulmonary regurgitation, and/or stenosis were excluded. After an initial evaluation, 44 patients (mean age: 58.50 ± 16.84, male:female = 23:21) were considered eligible. Right ventricular function was assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). AVF blood flow was measured with duplex ultrasound. There were 15 patients (34.1%) with a TAPSE of <16 mm. AVF blood flow was significantly higher in patients with impaired versus normal right ventricular function (1631.53 ± 738.17 vs. 1060.55 ± 539.92 min/ml, respectively, P = 0.003). Low left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio [OR]: 1.15, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.007-1.334, P = 0.04), high interventricular septum thickness (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.104-2.464, P = 0.01), and high AVF blood flow (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.000-1.003, P = 0.03) were independent predictors of impaired right ventricular function. In addition to known risk factors that predominantly increase right ventricular afterload, excessive AVF blood flow was found to be independently associated with impaired right ventricular function, possibly by increasing right ventricular preload.

What is the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in sarcoidosis?

AIM: Information regarding the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in sarcoidosis and the data from studies recommending its use as an indicator of inflammation and in the differential diagnosis and prognosis, are limited. With this study, it was aimed to obtain data regarding the NLR level in the patients at the time of presentation to the hospital and to determine the characteristics of patients in whom the NLR value was > 2. RESULTS: During the study period, of the 3434 patients with the sub-diagnosis of D86, 1300 cases whose complete blood count values had been recorded at the time of presentation were included in the study. Of the cases, 40 % were pulmonary sarcoidosis, 7 % were pulmonary sarcoidosis with sarcoidosis of the lymph nodes, 8 % were lymph node sarcoidosis, 1 % were sarcoidosis, of other combined areas, and 40 % of the cases were sarcoidosis that were unspecified. The F/M of the cases were 947/353, and the average age of the cases was 44. When the sarcoidosis groups were grouped into NLR < 2 (Group 1) and NLR ≥ 2 (Gorup 2), 27 % were Group 1, 73 % were Group 2, and a significant correlation was found between the two groups. When the inflammatory indicators were compared with NLR, the PLT/MPV was found to be statistically insignificant, and the ACE, ESR and CRP were found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio in the complete blood count, which is an easy and cheap test, can be used as an indicator of inflammation in Sarcoidosis. In clinical practice, wide-based studies comprising the activity and the staging in the prognosis of sarcoidosis are required (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 26).

Prevalence, presentation and occupational risk factors of chronic venous disease in nurses.

OBJECTIVE: In this study involving a group of nurses employed in a number of different medical services with relatively well-defined working conditions, the presence and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency were screened and their association with work burden and physical working conditions was explored. METHODS: Of the 294 actively employed nurses during the study period, 232 (79%) were recruited on the basis of their willingness for participation and fulfilment of the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Among the study subjects, 62.9% had at least one symptom of chronic venous insufficiency, and 50.4% were found to have chronic venous insufficiency according to Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology classification criteria. A significant association was found between the diurnal ankle circumference difference in the left-right ankles and the mean duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have shown that the average duration of hospital stay, which is among the variables used to estimate the work burden of nurses, is associated with an increased frequency of the signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency.

Saphenous nerve injury after endovenous laser ablation of incompetent greater saphenous vein: An electroneuromyography study.

AIM: To determine whether endovenous laser ablation of incompetent greater saphenous vein causes a detectable impairment in saphenous nerve conduction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients (mean age: 44.78 ± 8.6, male/female ratio: 16/19) who were operated on for incompetent greater saphenous veins, underwent electroneuromyography before and two weeks after the operation. Dysesthesia was questioned as to whether having unpleasant abnormal sensation after the operation. Positive electroneuromyography findings for saphenous nerve injury included a sensory nerve action potential amplitude <2 µV or a nerve conduction velocity <48.0 m/s or a latency onset >5.0 ms. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were available at two-week follow-up. All patients achieved complete proximal closure. Three patients (8.8%) had dysesthesia at two weeks. Mean electroneuromyography values were not significantly different between preoperative and postoperative period. Postoperatively, none of the patients had abnormal sensory nerve action potential or latency onset, whereas nerve conduction velocity decreased below the lower limit in two patients. These two patients were not among those having dysesthesia and they had no other complaints. CONCLUSION: Injury to saphenous nerve seems not likely during endovenous laser ablation of incompetent greater saphenous veins, as evidenced by normal electroneuromyography values found after the operation.

Effect of hypothermia in patients undergoing simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

PURPOSE: We sought to determine whether hypothermia provided any benefit in patients undergoing simultaneous coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) using one of two different surgical strategies. METHODS: Group 1 patients (n = 34, 88.2% male, mean age 65.94 ± 6.67 years) underwent CEA under moderate hypothermia before cross clamping the aorta, whereas group 2 patients (n = 23, 69.6% male, mean age 65.78 ± 9.29 years) underwent CEA under normothermic conditions before initiating cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Primary outcome of interest was the occurrence of any new neurological event. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. Permanent impairment occurred in one patient (2.9%) in group 1. One patient from each group (2.9 and 4.37%) had transient neurological events and they recovered completely on the sixth and 11th postoperative days, respectively. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with regard to occurrence of early neurological outcomes (n = 2, 5.8 % vs n = 1, 4.3 %, p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: This study could not provide evidence regarding benefit of hypothermia in simultaneous operations for carotid and coronary artery disease because of the low occurrence rate of adverse outcomes. The single-stage operation is safe and completion of the CEA before CPB may be considered when short duration of CPB is required.

Management of hepatic artery aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic artery aneurysm (HAA) is a rare clinical entity that can lead to potentially life threatening complications. We reported our personal experience of 4 cases, in which we used different procedures. METHODS: The first case had a pseudo-aneurysm involving the right hepatic artery. The second case had a pseudo-aneurysm, which was localized distal to the accidentally ligated right hepatic artery from the previous cholecystectomy operation. The third case had multiple aneurysms with accompanying dissecting abdominal aortic aneurysm. The fourth case had a pseudo-aneurysm originating from the proper hepatic artery. A covered stent was successfully placed in the case 1. In the second case, the right hepatic artery was ligated distal to the aneurysm. In the third case, vascular structures were not appropriate for vascular reconstruction, and a covered stent placement and embolization were unsuccessful. In the fourth case, ligation of the proper hepatic artery and cholecystectomy was performed. RESULTS: The third case with multiple aneurysms died from multi-organ failure due to sepsis. The remaining cases (case 1, 2, and 4) are disease free and alive. CONCLUSION: HAAs are more commonly observed clinical entities, and their treatment should be handled for each patient separately. Computerized tomography-Angiography and intraoperative Doppler ultrasound are useful radio-diagnostics for determination of aneurysm and planning the operative procedure (Fig. 5, Ref. 15).

Evaluation of surface contamination with staphylococci in a veterinary hospital using a quantitative microbiological method.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate microbial contamination of the environment in a veterinary hospital using standards recommended for human hospitals and to provide a baseline against which further investigations can be compared. METHODS: Surfaces were sampled twice daily for five consecutive days using a contact-based counting method to measure the levels of staphylococci in colony forming units (cfu) per cm². RESULTS: Current recommendations for human hospitals were applied in this study; all samples with <2.5 cfu/cm² staphylococci were considered to have passed and those with ≥2.5 cfu/cm² to have failed. Of all the samples, 55.9% failed. The ICU did not have significantly higher failure rates than other areas of the hospital. The floor as a surface was associated with greater than a threefold increase in odds of elevated cfu concentrations relative to the door handle. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides information on the microbiological cleanliness of a veterinary teaching hospital using techniques and standards adopted by the food industry and recommended for human hospitals. This data can be used as a baseline for other hospitals, to evaluate the effectiveness in improvements in hygiene and cleaning measures and to design effective hospital cleaning protocols and assess ongoing hygiene standards.

A new oxidative stress marker in patients with nasal polyposis: advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) can be used a marker of oxidative stress in the etiology of nasal polyposis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients diagnosed with nasal polyposis in Haseki Education and Research Hospital ENT Department between March and June 2008 were included in the study. The AOPP serum levels in NP patients and 24 healthy controls were measured with spectrophotometry and the results were compared statistically. RESULTS: AOPP levels were significantly higher in the study group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that AOPP levels can be used as a marker of oxidative stress in patients with nasal polyposis. Future studies are neccessary to evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant therapy.

Treatment challenges in pediatric stroke patients.

Aim. In this study we presented our experience of 18 years on the etiology, risk factors, prophylactic and acute treatment, the effect of treatment to recurrence rate of patients with stroke. Methods. The population included 108 patients who had been treated for stroke at Pediatric Neurology Department of Ankara University with the diagnosis of arterial ischemic stroke and sinovenous thrombosis between January 1992 and August 2010. Forty-one girls (38%) and 67 boys (62%) with mean symptom age 3.1 ± 4.04 years, (0-18 years old) were followed up with a mean period of 4.9 ± 3.78 years (0-17 years). Results. 30 patients had no risk factors, 34 patients had only one risk factor and 44 patients had multiple risk factors. Recurrence was seen in three patients. There was no any statistical correlation between the recurrence of stroke and the existence of risk factors (P = .961). Seventeen patients received prophylactic treatment; 2 of them without any risk factors, 3 had one risk factor, 12 patients, who constituted the majority of our patients, had multiple risk factors (P = .024). Conclusion. With this study we showed that the right prophylaxis for right patients reduces the rate of recurrence.