Biochemical predictors in presentations to the emergency department after a suicide attemp.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted with an aim to determine whether biochemical parameters could be used to identify the individuals at risk of suicide. METHODS: The experimental group consisted of a total of 46 patients that presented to the emergency department after a suicide attempt. 45 healthy individuals constituted the control group. All subjects were evaluated by using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). All subjects were evaluated for leukocyte count, mean platelet volume (MPV), C-reactive protein (CRP), cholesterol, triglyceride levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The Vitamin D levels of the subjects in the experimental group were also measured. RESULTS: The BAI (p < 0.01), BDI (p < 0.01), and BSSI (p < 0.01) scores of the two groups were significantly different. The two groups were also significantly different in terms of CRP (p < 0.01), cholesterol (p < 0.05), NLR (p < 0.01), MPV (p < 0.01), triglyceride (p < 0.01) and leukocyte (p < 0.01) results. The vitamin D levels of the experimental group were found to be below normal vitamin D levels. High CRP levels were found to be a predictor of anxiety symptoms, and MPV and triglyceride levels were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: We believe that biochemical parameters can be used to identify people with increased suicide risk, and suicide rates can be reduced by ensuring that these patients receive mental health care in the early period (Tab. 5, Ref. 42).

The Expression Levels of MicroRNAs Associated with T and B Cell Differentiation/stimulation in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Spondyloarthropathies (SpAs), are a group of chronic inflammatory diseases with a number of genetic, physiopathological, clinical and radiological features. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common type of spondylo-arthropathies, and >90.0% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis are human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B2 7)-positive. In recent years, non-HLA genetic factors have been reported to have an effect on ankylosing spondylitis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are endogenous non coding RNA molecules containing 18-23 nucleotides that play a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we aimed to determine the expression levels of miRNAs associated with T- and B-cell differentiation/stimulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their relationship with the etiology of the AS in patients and healthy controls. In a molecular study, peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation, and total RNA isolation were performed first. In the second step, cDNA synthesis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) expression analysis were completed. Ultimately, in the patient and control group, the expression levels of miR-142-5p and miR-143 were found to be significantly different (p <0.05). According to current knowledge, miR-142-5p andmiR-143 expressions were found to be important for those diseases that share similar etiology with AS. We suggest that miR-142-5p and miR-143 may play a role in the pathogenesis, especially miR- 142-5p may be a potential biomarker and a target molecule for the treatment.

Diagnostic accuracy of interlimb differences of ultrasonographic subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements in breast cancer-related arm lymphedema.

Use of ultrasound as an assessment technique for lymphedema has been increasing with measurement of subcutaneous tissue thickness used for both assessment and treatment outcome. Reliability of ultrasound examination of the thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue have been studied. However, interlimb differences of ultrasonographic subcutaneous tissue thickness have not been explored. This study aimed to establish diagnostic accuracy of interlimb differences of ultrasonographic subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements in breast cancer-related arm lymphedema. We compared the truncated cone method by using circumference measurements and interlimb differences of ultrasonographic subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of interlimb differences of ultrasonographic subcutaneous tissue thickness measurements. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under the curve (AUC) were used. Analysis of ROC curves yielded area under the curve (AUC) of 0.804 (p=0.002). ROC analysis identified 0.17cm as the cut-point for differentiating between tissue with and without lymphedema resulting in a sensitivity of 79.3% and specificity of 69.2%.

Does serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels always discriminate presence of the ovaries in adult bitches? Comparison of two ELISA kits.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced in the ovary, and thus, it is an excellent marker of follicle pool in females. Current interest is the clinical use of this parameter as a biomarker to assess presence or absence of an intact ovary and to diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) following incomplete ovariohysterectomy (OHE) in bitches. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum AMH concentrations in bitches (n = 34) before and after OHE using two different commercial ELISA kits, one of which is based on detecting human AMH and the other is based on detecting human AMH and the other specified for canine AMH. Furthermore, serum AMH levels were also measured in six ORS cases to compare the diagnostic utility of the two different ELISA kits. Serum AMH concentrations measured using the human and canine kit prior to and after OHE were 0.32 ± 0.24, 0.006 ± 0.22 ng/ml (p < .001) and 12.08 ± 22.81, 9.55 ± 15.42 ng/ml (p = .868), respectively. Thus, the canine-based kit was not able to reveal the significant drop in serum AMH levels. In conclusion, the human-based ELISA kits successfully detected the drop in serum AMH concentrations. Reliable results can only be achieved from well-designed ELISA kits, and AMH levels might be a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of presence or absence of ovaries as well as for the detection of ORS cases in bitches.

Sonographic Measurements Can Be Misleading for Diagnosing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the nerve cross sectional areas (CSA) of patients with RA without any sign of peripheral neuropathy to healthy controls. METHODS: Clinical, electrophysiological and sonographic assessments were done by three blinded researchers. The patients who had an electrodiagnostic or clinical of peripheral neuropathy were excluded from the study. Nerve CSA were measured in various levels; hamatum hook, pisiform bone, radio-ulnar joint, distal 1/3 of forearm, and elbow for median nerve; radio-ulnar joint, pisiform bone, distal 1/3 of forearm, and medial epicondyle for ulnar nerve. RESULTS: The study was completed with 30 women with RA and 30 healthy women. Despite both groups had neither clinical nor electrophysiological neuropathy, the sonographic measurements showed that median nerve CSA at radioulnar joint, pisiform and hamatum levels of patients with RA were larger in rheumatoid arthritis patients than healthy controls. Ulnar nerve CSA at radioulnar joint, pisiform and distal 1/3 forearm and medial epicondyle levels of patients with RA were also increased (p<0.05). If the pisiform level median nerve CSA>10 mm2 was used as sonographic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) criterion, 23/60 hands of 30 patients with RA and 5/60 hands of 30 healthy controls could be diagnosed as CTS. CONCLUSION: Median and ulnar nerve CSA were larger than healthy control in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without clinical and electrophysiological peripheral neuropathy. The rheumatologists should be careful to diagnose CTS in patients with RA while using US.