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Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a common endocrine disease in children. Early recognition of complications of T1DM is important for preventing long-term morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether urinary haptoglobin level is a biomarker of diabetic nephropathy in children with T1DM. Methods: Ninety T1DM patients, aged between 2–18 years, and 60 healthy age-matched children were included in the study. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), spot urine creatinine, microalbumin, protein and haptoglobin levels of all cases were measured and compared. Correlations between HbA1c level, duration of diabetes, spot urine microalbumin/creatinine (uACR), protein/creatinine (uPCR), and haptoglobin/creatinine (uHCR) ratios in the T1DM group were evaluated. Results: T1DM and control groups were homogeneous in terms of age, sex, and anthropometric measurements. uACR was higher in the T1DM group than in the control group (14 mg/g vs. 6 mg/g) while uHCR was not elevated in T1DM patients. Nevertheless, uHCR was higher in the microalbuminuria group when compared to the normoalbuminuria group. In the T1DM group, moderate positive correlations between uPCR with uACR and uHCR, and weak correlation between uACR and uHCR were found (r = 0.60, p < 0.001; r = 0.55, p < 0.001; r = 0.24, p = 0.03, respectively). No significant relationship was found between diabetes duration, HbA1c levels and uACR, uPCR, and uHCR. Conclusions: Although uHCR in the T1DM group was similar to the control group, uHCR was higher in the microalbuminuria group than in the normoalbuminuria group. These results show that the uHg level could be a biomarker of diabetic nephropathy, but not earlier than albuminuria in the disease course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The perinatal and neonatal outcomes of Syrian refugees during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate these outcomes. Methods: Turkish (n = 303) and Syrian refugees (n = 303) who delivered in our hospital between June 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 were included in the study. Demographic, perinatal, and neonatal data were obtained by retrospectively evaluating hospital records. Results: Adolescent pregnancy was more common in Syrian refugees (p < 0.001). The rates of antenatal visits, performed combined test, triple test, quadruple test, fetal anatomy ultrasound, and glucose tolerance test were lower in all refugees (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was no difference in the mode of delivery, Hb after delivery, gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score, stillbirth, and fetal anomaly (p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Despite poorer antenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic, Syrian refugee pregnant women had similar perinatal and neonatal outcomes compared with the Turkish pregnant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous genetic evidence has pointed out that variations in cholesterol-related genes may be associated with an Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We aimed to investigate the association between polymorphisms in several cholesterol-related genes [APOA5 (rs662799), APOC1 (rs11568822), APOD (rs1568565), CH25H (rs13500), LDLR (rs5930), SORL1 (rs2282649)] and AD in a cohort of Turkish patients. The study group consisted of 257 AD patients (mean age: 75.9 years ± 10.4) and 414 controls (mean age: 62.2 years ± 13.1). Genotyping was performed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using hydrolysis probes. Our results showed that the 'TT' genotype of CH25H rs13500 polymorphism was significantly more frequent in the AD group (p < 0.001) and individuals carrying the CH25H 'T' allele had an increased risk for AD (OR 3.07, 95% CI 2.13–4.44, p = 2.20e−09) independently from age, gender and APOE ε4 allele. Moreover, this risk was excessively increased (OR 14.04, 95% CI 6.99–28.23, p = 9.78e−14) in the presence of APOE ε4 allele. The 'ins/ins' genotype of APOC1 rs11568822 was significantly more frequent in the AD group compared to controls (p = 1.95e−08). However, this increased AD risk in 'ins/ins' carriers was found to be dependent on their APOE ε4 carrier status. No significant associations were found in allele and genotype distributions of APOA5, APOD, LDLR and SORL1 gene polymorphisms. Our results suggest that the association between APOC1 'ins/ins' genotype and AD risk can be explained by linkage disequilibrium with the APOE locus. CH25H rs13500 polymorphism is associated with an AD risk in the Turkish population and CH25H might have a role in the pathogenesis of AD together with, and independently from APOE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]