Diabetic food ulcers (DFU) are a significant complication for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Presepsin is a new biomarker that can offer greater specificity in detecting bacterial infection. So, the study assessed its use in predicting amputation risk in patients with DFU at admission. This prospective study had 2 groups: DFU patients and a control group of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. DFU patients were staged using the Wagner classification. A presepsin test and review of clinical records were conducted at admission. Seventy-eight patients were included, 49 of whom were male (62.8%). Median age was 70. Sixty-three were in the DFU group, 15 in the control group (no DFU). Increased presepsin levels were observed in patients with DFU, along with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (P < .001). Patients who underwent amputation procedures had elevated levels of several inflammatory parameters, including procalcitonin, fibrinogen, white blood cell and presepsin, while CRP levels remained unchanged. In regression analysis, the only significant risk factor for severe infection that required amputation was higher Wagner stage. The optimum presepsin cutoff point of ≥ 1020 pg/mL had the highest sensitivity (100%) and specificity (57.1%) for identifying amputation, with an area under the curve of 0.829 (P = .003). In contrast, CRP, procalcitonin and fibrinogen had unsatisfactory diagnostic capability for amputation, with area under the curve values of 0.674, 0.600, and 0.714 (P = .111, P = .359, and P = .050, respectively). Presepsin may serve as an effective marker for severe infection in patients with DFU. Integrating presepsin and clinical score interpretations can predict severe infections requiring amputation.

Aims: Prolidase is a marker that plays a role in inflammation, collagen turnover, tissue damage, wound healing and many similar conditions. Pressure ulcers (PU) are common among palliative care patients and increase morbidity and mortality. Predicting the severity of PU is very important for follow-up and treatment. It is possible that the association of prolidase with such wounds will provide clinical benefit. Methods: The prospective cross-sectional study included 76 hospitalized patients in a palliative care unit between 2019 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: with PU and without PU (controls). PU patients were classified into mild (stages I–II) and severe (stages III–IV). Serum prolidase level, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin were measured. Results: Patients with PU had significantly higher prolidase and CRP levels compared with controls. Severe PU patients had higher prolidase and CRP than mild PU patients. Procalcitonin levels were low and similar across groups. A positive correlation was found between prolidase, CRP, and PU severity. Conclusion: Serum prolidase level may be a useful biomarker reflecting PU severity in palliative care patients. Further largescale prospective studies are needed.

Introduction: Sestrin 2 is considered a stress-inducible antioxidant protein. This study was aimed to evaluate sestrin 2 in subjects with sepsis, and its correlation with clinical severity and mortality. Methods: Sepsis and control group patients were followed from admission to discharge. A blood sample was taken at admission for determination of serum sestrin 2 level. Results: Of the total 42 patients with sepsis, there were 25 females and the mean age was 74.9 years. The sestrin 2 levels were significantly higher in the sepsis group. The optimum sestrin 2 cut-off point of >= 3.13 ng/mL had 95.2% sensitivity and 71.4% specificity for sepsis (p < .001). Sestrin 2 levels were higher in patients who needed renal replacement therapy (p = .018), patients who needed vasopressor therapy (p = .001) and patients with organ dysfunction (p = .002). The sestrin 2 level was significantly correlated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (NUTRIC) Score, C-reactive protein and albumin. Sestrin 2 levels were not associated with 30 d mortality in sepsis patients. Conclusions: Sestrin 2 was significantly higher in the sepsis patients and associated with sepsis related adverse clinical outcomes. These results provided information concerning the clinical utility of sestrin 2.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate presence of subclinical atherosclerosis by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with Helicobacter pylori (HP) and to assess effects of HP on atherosclerosis by evaluating markers of atherosclerosis and blood growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) levels.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study included 59 patients without comorbid disease who had HP and 30 healthy controls without HP in upper endoscopic biopsy. In order to assess atherosclerosis, the CIMT measurement was performed by sonography. Serum GDF-15 level was measured by ELISA method. In all patients, atherosclerosis markers were recorded. Atherogenic indices were calculated, including Castelli risk index I and II (TG/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c, respectively), plasma atherogenic index (PAI; log TG/HDL-c), non-HDL-c (TH-HDL-c) and atherogenic coefficient (AC; non-HDL-HDL-c).ResultsThe GDF-15 level and CIMT were significantly higher in HP-positive group when compared to HP-negative group (p≤0.001). There was a significant correlation between serum GDF-15 level and CIMT (r=0.445; p≤0.001). There was no correlation between other atherosclerosis markers and serum GDF-15 level or CIMT. The bacterial intensity on endoscopic specimen was only correlated with CIMT (p<0.001). Vitamin B12 and D levels were comparable among groups.ConclusionThis study suggested that there was a correlation between GDF-15 level and subclinical atherosclerosis development in patients with HP. However, GDF-15 level, which was found to be elevated while atherogenic indices were normal, can be an earlier marker for subclinical atherosclerosis.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease that is associated with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Osteopontin which is a multifunctional protein involved in the modulation of inflammatory processes may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis in FMF patients. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship of osteopontin with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and atherogenic indices in patients with FMF. Serum osteopontin levels, CIMT, Castelli risk index I and II, plasma atherogenic index (PAI), non - high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and atherogenic coefficient (AC) in 64 attack-free FMF patients were compared with levels in 23 healthy control subjects. The serum osteopontin level, CIMT, Castelli risk index I, AC and PAI were significantly higher, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower in FMF patients (P < .001, P < .001, P = .045, P = .016, P = .045, and P = .024; respectively). There were significant positive correlations between osteopontin and CIMT, PAI, AC, and Castelli risk index I (R = 0.580, R = 0.259, R = 0.233, R = 0.277; respectively) and there was significant negative correlation between osteopontin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r= -0.309). Patients who had homozygote mutations had significantly higher osteopontin, PAI, Castelli risk index I and II level. The current study is the first to demonstrate significantly increased serum osteopontin levels in attack-free FMF patients compared with healthy controls. It was also associated with CIMT and many atherogenic indices. This finding provides a new experimental basis to understand the pathogenesis of inflammation-induced atherosclerosis in FMF patients. Furthermore, patients who had homozygote mutations had worse atherogenic indices than those with heterozygote mutations.

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant public health concern despite the new vaccines and therapeutics. The clinical course of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is highly variable and influenced by several factors related to the virus and the host. Numerous genetic studies, including candidate gene, exome, and genome sequencing studies, genome-wide association studies, and other omics efforts, have proposed various Mendelian and non-Mendelian associations with COVID-19 course. In this study, we conducted whole-exome sequencing on 90 unvaccinated patients from Turkey with no known comorbidities associated with severe COVID-19. Of these patients, 30 had severe, 30 had moderate, and 30 had mild/asymptomatic disease. We identified rare variants in genes associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and pathogenesis, with an emphasis on genes related to the regulation of inflammation, and discussed these in the context of the clinical course of the patients. In addition, we compared the frequencies of common variants between each group. Even though no variant remained statistically significant after correction for multiple testing, we observed that certain previously associated genes and variants showed significant associations before correction. Our study contributes to the existing literature regarding the genetic susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Future studies would be beneficial characterizing the host genetic properties in different populations.

Amaç: İdiyopatik Hipogonadotropik Hipogonadizm (İHH) hastalarında kardiyovasküler riski artıran oksidatif stres ve dislipidemi varlığını ve gonadotropin replasman tedavisinin bu parametreler üzerindeki etkisini araştırmak. Materyal ve Metod: Çalışmamız faz IV, randomize olmayan, vaka kontrollü bir çalışmaydı. Çalışmaya, İHH tanılı erkek hastalar (n=30) ile benzer yaş ve vücut kitle indeksine (VKİ) sahip sağlıklı kontrol grubu (n=20) dahil edildi. Oksidatif stres belirteçleri, lipidler ve apolipoprotein seviyeleri, gonadotropin tedavisinden önce ve sonra ölçüldü ve sağlıklı kontrollerle karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: Tedavi sonrası yüksek dansiteli lipoprotein (HDL), düşük dansiteli lipoprotein (LDL), ileri oksidasyon protein ürünleri (AOPP), malondialdehit (MDA) ve nitrik oksit (NO) seviyelerinde dramatik bir düşüş görülürken tiyol seviyesinde önemli bir artış tespit edildi (p<0.05). Sonuç: Elde edilen veriler hipogonadizm olgularında dislipidemi varlığına ve oksidatif stres artışına işaret etmiştir ve gonadotropin tedavisinin bu hastaların oksidatif stresini azalttığını ve lipid profilini olumlu yönde etkilediğini göstermiştir.

Objective: Many new inflammatory and metabolic markers are considered to be involved in etiology of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). R-spondin-1 (Rspo1) is a member of the roof plate-specific spondin protein family. Rspo1 levels have been associated with obesity and insulin resistance. We aimed to investigate whether Rspo1 has a role in the pathophysiology of PCOS. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was planned with newly diagnosed and untreated PCOS cases and a control group without PCOS. Patients with PCOS and healty participants were compared for Rspo1 levels. In addition, the PCOS group was also grouped according to body mass index (BMI) and Ferriman Gallwey scores (FGS) and compared in terms of Rsop1 levels. Results: A total of 47 patients in the PCOS group and 36 participants in the control group, as total 83 participants were included in the study. PCOS and control groups had similar age and BMI. As compared to the control group, PCOS patients had significantly higher FGS, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores, Rspo1, and total testosterone levels (p

Introduction: Palliative care centers (PC centers) provide multidisciplinary care for patients with multiple comorbid conditions. This study aimed to assess and compare patients’ diagnoses, length of hospital stays, and demographic data and coordination with home health care services. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study. Patients who were hospitalized in PC centers of secondary and tertiary care hospitals between 01.08.2018 and 01.08.2018 were retrospectively assessed. Patients’ demographic characteristics diagnoses of hospitalization, and length of hospital stays and centers where they received treatment were recorded. Results: Median age of 830 patients included in the study was 79 (24-102). Out of 830 patients, 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. Mean length of hospital stay was 14 days and median length was 8.7 (0.6-112) days. The three most common comorbid diseases followed up were malignancy (21.8%), cerebrovascular disease (15.2%) and malaise-fatigue-senility (10.7%). The group with Alzheimer's disease was the oldest patient group. The group with nutritional deficiency-malnutrition was the patient group with the longest hospital stay (p=0.030). The number of patients who were hospitalized for cerebrovascular diseases was the highest in secondary care centers and the number of patients who were hospitalized for malignancy was the highest in tertiary care centers. Patients hospitalized in secondary PC center were older. The hospital stays were longer in tertiary PC center. Patients receiving treatment at a tertiary PC center had a significantly higher rate of mortality. The number of patients who were discharged was lower in the tertiary PC centers. Hospitalization to a secondary PC center through home care units was significantly higher. Conclusion: In this study, the rate and diagnoses of hospitalization and length of hospital stays were different in secondary and tertiary PC centers. Our study has made an assessment about palliative care centers at various levels of health care and can be considered as prior knowledge for other studies.

Background/aim: Changes in collagen metabolism and fibroblastic activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of brucellosis. The prolidase enzyme plays an important role in collagen synthesis. We aimed to investigate the association of prolidase levels with brucellosis. Materials and methods: Serum prolidase levels in 20 patients newly diagnosed with brucellosis were compared with levels in 30 healthy control subjects. Patients with brucellosis were reassessed 3 months later for prolidase, other laboratory measurements, and response to treatment. Results: The levels of serum prolidase were significantly higher in brucellosis patients compared with those of healthy controls. Prolidase, sedimentation, and C-reactive protein levels were significantly lower after antibrucellosis treatment than before treatment. Conclusion: The current study is the first to demonstrate significantly increased serum prolidase levels in patients with brucellosis compared with healthy controls. Prolidase levels also significantly decreased with antibrucellosis treatment. This finding provides a new experimental basis to understand the pathogenesis of brucellosis in relation to collagen metabolism. The increase in serum prolidase levels might be related to several factors such as tissue destruction, increased fibroblastic activity, and granuloma formation, all of which are involved in the natural history of brucellosis.

Statins are a group of cholesterol lowering drugs and frequently used in the therapy of dyslipidemia. Our knowledge of the impact of statin therapy on DNA damage is as yet rudimentary. In this study, we aimed to assess the possible (1) genotoxic, cytostatic, and cytotoxic effects of statins in peripheral blood lymphocytes by using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-cyt) assay, and (2) oxidative DNA damage by measuring plasma 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in response to statin therapy. Thirty patients with dyslipidemia who had no chronic diseases and did not use any medicines that interfere lipid values and twenty control subjects were included in the study. Statin therapy was initiated at risk-stratified doses. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment with statins and from control subjects, and CBMN-cyt assay parameters and 8-OHdG levels were evaluated. The chromosomal DNA damage (micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges [NPBs]), cytostasis (nuclear division index [NDI]), and cytotoxicity (apoptotic and necrotic cell frequencies) were decreased in patients with dyslipidemia after statin treatment. No significant differences were found for 8-OHdG levels between patients with dyslipidemia before or after statin therapy. The total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels showed positive correlations with NPB frequency in patients with dyslipidemia prior to statin treatment. The present study is the first to evaluate CBMN-cyt assay biomarkers and 8-OHdG levels in patients with dyslipidemia before and after treatment with statins. The observed reductions of chromosomal DNA damage and NDI values with statin treatment could represent an important and under-appreciated pleiotropic effect of these agents. Impact statement In literature, it is possible to find some in vitro cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay studies about human lymphocytes and statins. But, there are no data on CBMN-cytome (CBMN-cyt) assay parameters related to statin therapy in patients with dyslipidemia. The present study is the first to evaluate CBMN-cyt assay biomarkers and 8-OHdG levels in patients with dyslipidemia before treatment and after treatment with statins (5–10 mg/day rosuvastatin or 10–20 mg/day atorvastatin). In this study we show that statin therapy decreased chromosomal DNA damage (micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges) and nuclear division index (NDI) values in patients with dyslipidemia by possible molecular reasons independent of oxidative DNA damage. In addition, the decrease of chromosomal DNA damage and NDI values with statin treatment could be indicated by the association between statin use and reduced risk of cancer.

Atypical clinical forms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) can be misdiagnosed as therapy-resistant epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) for they share many of the same clinical features, such as abdominal pain. Thus, we aimed to determined the frequency of FMF in patients who were followed with a diagnosis of therapy-resistant EPS. Seventy-five patients with therapy-resistant EPS and 20 controls were involved in the study. To detect the FMF in patients with therapy-resistant EPS, Tel-Hashomer criteria, family history of FMF were researched and recorded. We performed performed MEFV gene analysis on all patients. Forty-three patients with EPS (57.3%) had MEFV gene mutations and the carrier rate was 30.0%. The most common MEFV gene alteration was R202Q (55.8%), followed by E148Q (16.2%), R761H (16.2%), V726A (9.3%), M680I (9.3%) and M694V (4.6%). Rarely seen mutations in the Turkish population were also identified: K695R (2.3%), L110P (2.3%) and G304R (2.3%). Eight patients with EPS were diagnosed with FMF and started on colchicine therapy. Three patients with compound heterozygosities for three mutations, two patients with compound heterozygosities for two mutations (K695R/ V726A and R202Q/ R761H), one patient with homozygous R202Q, one patient with heterozygous R202Q mutation and one patient with non- R202Q heterozygous mutation (G304R/-) had clinical FMF symptoms and were started on colchicine therapy. Patients who have therapy-resistant EPS should also be questioned about FMF, especially in high risk populations.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the sacroiliac joints and axial skeleton. The aim of this study was to assess serum prolidase level (SPL) and its association with disease activity in patients with AS. This prospective study included 75 AS patients. Thirty age- and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled. AS patients were considered as active if BASDAI score was ≥4 or inactive if BASDAI score was <4. There were 34 AS patients in the active group and 41 AS patients in the inactive group. Anti-TNF-monoclonal antibody treatment was started in patients in the active group. These active patients were reassessed 6 months later. BASDAI, ASDAS, visual analogue scale, short-form-general health survey questionnaire, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and SPL were measured in all AS patients before and after treatment. The SPL was significantly lower in inactive AS patients than in control group, and also, SPL was significantly lower in active AS patients than in inactive patients. All activity parameters were successful in separating active and inactive AS patients. However, the only parameter that could distinguish active patients from inactive patients was prolidase. The optimum cutoff point of SPL to identify patients with active AS was 23.13 ng/mL with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 100 %. Serum prolidase level was successful in measuring disease activity and had as high sensitivity and specificity as BASDAI and was superior to other activity parameters.

BACKGROUNDChronic hepatitis C (CHC) can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. The current gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of hepatic fibrosis is liver biopsy, but liver biopsies have various limitations. We evaluated the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet morphologic parameters to determine fibrosis in CHC patients.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 144 patients who were diagnosed with CHC by percutaneous liver biopsy. Patients' fibrosis scores and histological activity indices were calculated according to the Ishak scoring system.RESULTSEighty-six patients (60%) were female, and the mean age of the whole group was 53.7 years. The low fibrosis (F1-2) group included 56 patients, the high fibrosis group (F3-6) included 88 patients, and the cirrhosis group (F5-6) included 38 patients. There was no statistically significant difference between low and high fibrosis groups or cirrhotic and noncirrhotic groups in terms of NLR. However, plateletcrit (PCT) was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis and high fibrosis.CONCLUSIONSNLR is not associated with histological severity and is not an adequate test to determine either significant fibrosis or cirrhosis. For the first time in the literature, this study showed that PCT was significantly lower in patients with significant fibrosis and that NLR was positively correlated with cholestatic liver enzyme leves.

BACKGROUND/AIMS:Currently, there is no definite consensus about the prognostic factors of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We evaluate epidemiology, survival and especially prognostic factors in NETs. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Patients who had a NET and were diagnosed between 2000 and 2014 at a tertiary care center were included. Demographic data, tumor characteristics and survival rates were evaluated, retrospectively. RESULTS:Two-hundred and thirty-three patients (123 male, 110 female; median age, 55 years [16-92 years]) took part in the study. Primary NET sites were the lung (n=56), stomach (n=50), pancreas (n=39), colorectal (n=21), small intestine (n=19), and appendix (n=19). According to the NET classification by the WHO in 2010, 60% (n=140) of patients were grade-1, 15% (n=35) were grade-2, and 25% (n=58) were grade-3. According to TNM staging, 88 patients (37.8%) were stage I, 30 patients (12.8%) were stage II, 22 patients (9.5%) were stage III, and 93 patients (39.9%) were stage IV. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between gender, age, grade, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, stage, and the number of organs impacted by metastases and overall survival. However, with multivariate analysis only age greater than 55 years, advancing grade, and inoperable tumors were significantly associated with shortened survival. Five-year survival was 81% in grade-1, 34% in grade-2, and 9% in grade-3 NETs. CONCLUSION:This study is the most comprehensive study in Turkey that has evaluated NETs using a multidisciplinary approach. Also, we suggest that age, operability and especially grade rather than stage are the most important prognostic factors in NETs.

Malnutrition has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional status and micronutrient levels of hospitalized patients in an infectious disease clinic and investigate their association with adverse clinical outcomes. The nutritional status of the study participants was assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and micronutrient levels and routine biochemical parameters were tested within the first 24 h of the patient's admission. The incidence of zinc, selenium, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 deficiency were 66.7% (n = 40), 46.6% (n = 29), 39.7% (n = 27), 35.3% (n = 24), 14.1% (n = 9), respectively. Selenium levels were significantly higher in patients with urinary tract infections, but lower in soft tissue infections. Copper levels were significantly higher in patients with soft tissue infections. In the Cox regression models, lower albumin, higher serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and higher NRS-2002 scores were associated with increased death. Thiamine, selenium, zinc and vitamin B6 deficiencies but not chromium deficiencies are common in infectious disease clinics. New associations were found between micronutrient levels and infection type and their adverse clinical outcomes. Hypoalbuminemia and a high NRS-2002 score had the greatest accuracy in predicting death, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis on admission.

BACKGROUND:Vitamin D was shown to be related to autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) in the previous studies. We aimed to investigate the relationship between Vitamin D and thyroid autoimmunity. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Eighty-two patients, diagnosed with AITD by the endocrinology outpatient clinic, were included in this prospective study. All of the patients had both AITD and Vitamin D deficiency, defined as serum values <20 ng/mL. They were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group included 46 patients and the second one included 36 patients. The first group was treated with Vitamin D for 1 month at 1000 IU/day. The second group served as the control group and was not treated with Vitamin D replacement. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4 (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), and Vitamin D levels were measured at the initiation of the study and again at 1 month in all patients. RESULTS:Two groups were similar with regard to age, sex, and type of thyroid disease. Whereas TPO-Ab (before; 278.3 ± 218.4 IU/ml and after; 267.9 ± 200.7 IU/ml) and TgAb (before; 331.9 ± 268.1 IU/ml and after; 275.4 ± 187.3 IU/ml) levels were significantly decreased by the Vitamin D replacement therapy in group 1 (P = 0.02, P = 0.03, respectively), the evaluated parameters in the control group did not significantly change (P = 0.869, P = 0.530, respectively). In addition, thyroid function tests did not significantly change with Vitamin D replacement in two groups. CONCLUSION:Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of AITDs. Since supplementation of the Vitamin D decreased thyroid antibody titers in this study in Vitamin D deficient subjects, in the future Vitamin D may become a part of AITDs' treatment, especially in those with Vitamin D insufficiency. Further clinical and experimental studies are required to understand the effect of Vitamin D on AITD.

Iron overload (IO) is one of the most important complications of chronic red blood cell transfusions in patients that receive chemotherapy or undergo hematopoieteic stem cell transplantation. Bone marrow is among the major sites of IO. This study showed that increased bone marrow iron content might predict poor survival in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients and that bone marrow evaluations prior to transplantation would be a valuable method to diagnose IO.Background: Iron overload is one of the most significant problems as a leading cause of death in patients with leukemia and those who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Methods: In the current study, we retrospectively evaluated the bone marrow iron scores (BMIS) in patients who underwent alloHSCT (n = 125). The first available bone marrow biopsy specimens prior to the alloHSCT procedure or date of hospitalization (control group) were assessed in a blinded fashion using a standardized scoring system. Results: A total of 125 patients were enrolled in the study. Seventy-six (60.8%) of the patients were male, and 49 (39.2%) were female. The median level of pre-transplant serum ferritin was 1023.00 ng/mL (range, 393.80-1627.50 ng/mL). The majority of the patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia (83; 66.4%) and lymphomas (20; 16.0%). The median time for neutrophil engraftment was 14.00 days (range, 13.00-16.00 days) and 11.00 days (range, 10.00-14.00 days) for platelet engraftment. The peri-transplant mortality was similar to international mortality rates (3; 2.4%). The overall survival and disease-free survival were strongly correlated with the degree of BMIS, and both were significantly poorer in patients with high bone marrow iron content (P < .001 and P = .012, respectively). Conclusion: The validation of BMIS for risk stratification in patients who undergo alloHSCT may predict posttransplant outcomes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Hypertension is a very important cause of morbidity and mortality. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is a biomarker of oxidative stress and associated with increased risk of hypertension and diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum GGT level, which is an early marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, with the deterioration of the diurnal rhythm of the blood pressure.Methods: A total of 171 patients with hypertension were included in this study. Patients whose nighttime mean blood pressure, measured via ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, decreased between 10% and 20% compared with the daytime mean blood pressure were defined as "dippers", whereas patients with a nighttime blood pressure decrease lower than 10% were defined as "non-dippers".Results: A total of 99 hypertensive patients (65 females/34 males) were classified as dippers and 72 patients (48 females/24 males) as non-dippers. The mean age of the non-dipper group was significantly greater than the dipper group. Serum GGT, C-reactive protein and uric acid levels were significantly higher among patients in the non-dipper group. Negative correlations were detected between GGT levels and diurnal systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreases.Conclusion: Our findings revealed that GGT level was higher in the non-dipper group, and was negatively correlated with the nighttime decrease of diurnal blood pressure. C-reactive protein and uric acid levels were also higher in the non-dipper group. However, future randomized controlled prospective studies with larger patient populations are necessary to confirm our findings.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing particularly in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and self-care practices of diabetes patients and to assess the contribution of the education to this knowledge level and glycemic control.