Prognostic value of neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels for geriatric patients with COVID-19.

AIM: In this study it was aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors for the geriatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 in a tertiary-care hospital at Kastamonu region of Turkey. METHOD: Patients (≥65-year-old) who had PCR positivity for COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2020 in our center were recorded retrospectively. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical committee approval was given from the Bolu University with decision number 2020/176. RESULTS: There were a total of 100 patients (44% female). In-hospital mortality was recorded as 7%. In univariate analysis for 1 month mortality, diabetes mellitus (p = 0.038), leucocyte count (p = 0.005), neutrophile count (p = 0.02), neutrophile-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (p < 0.001), thrombocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (TLR) (p = 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.002), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.001), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (p = 0.001) and qSOFA score (p = 0.002) were found as independent risk factors. On admission, one point increase of NLR (p = 0.014, odds ratio (OR) = 1.371, 95% CI = 1.067-1.761) and one point increase of LDH (p = 0.047, OR = 1.011, 95% CI = 1.001-1.023) were associated with mortality on day 30 according to logistic regression analysis. The cut-off values were found as > 7.8 for NLR (83.33% sensitivity, 97.7% specificity) and > 300 U/L for LDH (100% sensitivity, 79.31% specificity) regarding the prediction of 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: In order to improve clinical management and identify the geriatric patients with COVID-19 who have high risk for mortality, NLR and LDH levels on admission might be useful prognostic tools.

Genomic, transcriptomic and physiological analyses of silver-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae obtained by evolutionary engineering.

Silver is a non-essential metal used in medical applications as an antimicrobial agent, but it is also toxic for biological systems. To investigate the molecular basis of silver resistance in yeast, we employed evolutionary engineering using successive batch cultures at gradually increased silver stress levels up to 0.25-mM AgNO3 in 29 populations and obtained highly silver-resistant and genetically stable Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Cross-resistance analysis results indicated that the silver-resistant mutants also gained resistance against copper and oxidative stress. Growth physiological analysis results revealed that the highly silver-resistant evolved strain 2E was not significantly inhibited by silver stress, unlike the reference strain. Genomic and transcriptomic analysis results revealed that there were mutations and/or significant changes in the expression levels of the genes involved in cell wall integrity, cellular respiration, oxidative metabolism, copper homeostasis, endocytosis and vesicular transport activities. Particularly the missense mutation in the RLM1 gene encoding a transcription factor involved in the maintenance of cell wall integrity and with 707 potential gene targets might have a key role in the high silver resistance of 2E, along with its improved cell wall integrity, as confirmed by the lyticase sensitivity assay results. In conclusion, the comparative physiological, transcriptomic and genomic analysis results of the silver-resistant S. cerevisiae strain revealed potential key factors that will help understand the complex molecular mechanisms of silver resistance in yeast.

Transition Metal (II) Complexes with a Novel Azo-azomethine Schiff Base Ligand: Synthesis, Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization, Thermal Properties and Biological Applications.

The pyrimidine based azo-linked Schiff base ligand, 5-benzoyl-1-((E)-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-((E)phenyldiazenyl)benzylidene)amino)-4-phenylpyrimidin-2(1H)-one (HL), and its transition metal (II) complexes were synthesized and defined by using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, Elemental analysis, FT-IR, MS, UV-vis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility and thermal analysis techniques. According to the conductance data obtained indicate all of the metal complexes have non-electrolytic nature. Square pyramidal geometry for Pd(II) and octahedral geometry for all the other complexes synthesized was concluded from the electronic absorption spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements of the complexes. Investigation of the significant infrared bands of the active groups in the ligand and the solid complexes alludes that HL is coordinated to the metal ions ONO tridentate manner. Moreover, the absorption and emission properties of the azo-azomethine based ligand and its complexes were investigated. The results obtained show that fluorescence emissions of the ligand and its metal (II) complexes depend on the type of transition metal ions and the derivatives displayed moderate Stokes' shift values between 44 and 107 nm. All the compounds exhibited superb photostability. Further, antioxidant, antimicrobial and pBR322 plasmid DNA cleavage activities were investigated. All compounds showed good DPPH• (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and complexes of [MnL2]•H2O and [NiL2]•H2O exhibited excellent metal chelating activity. All the compounds tested demonstrated two strand DNA cleavage activities.

Transition metal(II) complexes of a novel symmetrical benzothiazole-based ligand: synthesis, spectral/structural characterization and fluorescence properties.

2,6-bis (benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-(tert-butyl) phenol ligand (HL) derived from o-aminothiophenol and 4-tert-butyl-2,6-diformylphenol was synthesized and characterized by using elemental analysis, FTIR, X-ray crystallographic analysis, (1)H and (13)C-NMR and UV-vis spectra. Its complexes with Cu (II), Ni (II) and Co (II) were prepared and isolated as solid products and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral techniques as well as magnetic susceptibility. The FTIR spectra showed that the benzothiazole-based ligand under investigation behaves as a bidentate ligand. The UV-vis spectra and magnetic moment data suggested an octahedral geometry around Ni (II) and Co (II) complexes, and tetragonal geometry for Cu (II) complex. Moreover, the evaluation of absorption and emission properties of the ligand and its complexes were carried out in different solvents. The ligand and its complexes showed absorption maxima in the range of 275 - 432 nm, and emission maxima from 367 to 581 nm in toluene, tetrahydrofuran and ethyl acetate.