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Background: Neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages activations are associated with a gout attack. Monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV) are well-known inflammation markers. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether they could be a predictive marker to the gout attack. Material and Methods: A hundred and ten gout patients (male/female, 86/24) and 90 (male/female, 64/26) age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched volunteer controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained in the intercritical and attack period of the patients. Hemogram, serum uric acid (SUA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values were studied. Results: In the attack period NLR (p < 0.001), PLR (p < 0.05), MLR (p < 0.001), RDW (p < 0.05), MPV (p < 0.05), ESR (p < 0.001), CRP (p < 0.001) and SUA (p < 0.001) values were significantly higher than intercritical period values. According to the results of regression analysis; There was an independent strong relationship between the gout attack and SUA, (Beta [β] = 0.352, p < 0.001), ESR (β = 0.329, p < 0.001), CRP (β = 0.286, p < 0.001), MLR (β = 0.126, p < 0.001), RDW (β = 0.100, p = 0.003) and NLR (β = 0.082, p = 0.014). Conclusions: MLR, RDW, and NLR may be a strong predictive marker for a gout attack. MPV and PLR values in the gout attack may be associated with systemic inflammation.

Background/Aims: An impaired immune response affects Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease progression. Immunities of both hemodialysis (HD) and Kidney Transplant (KTx) patients have already been suppressed. This study evaluated the prognostic laboratory results in HD and KTx patients with COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective, case-control study was conducted with PCR (+) COVID-19 HD and KTx patients and a control group. All patients were divided into two subgroups according to disease severity. Patients' demographic records and laboratory results were obtained from the follow-up files. Results: A total of 30 HD, 20 KTx patients, and 40 control groups were involved in the study. Gender and hospitalization duration did not differ between the groups. There was a 10% mortality rate in the KTx group and 27% in the HD group. Lung involvement in Computed Tomography (CT) was higher in HD patients (47%) than in KTx (25%). In subgroup evaluations, the most prominent laboratory values were fibrinogen in HD patients and LDH and Ferritin in KTx patients in determining disease severity. Conclusions: Early hospitalization and treatment implementations will be associated with a good prognosis in HD and KTx patients since CT and laboratory results are not predictive in these groups of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: Many treatment methods have endeavored during the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Particularly before the vaccines came into use, the medical world gained adequate experience with convalescent plasma (CP) administration, which was ignored after preventive remedies. In this study, we compared the clinical conditions and treatments during the infection with pulmonary fibrosis after recovery. Material and Method: This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted with COVID-19 patients. The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of the disease. Sixty of them were reevaluated regarding pulmonary fibrosis via high-resolution computed tomography performed in the 6th month after recovery. Results: A total of 60 patients (mean age=54.05±9.16) participated in this study. Both severe and non-severe groups were equal in the number of patients. There was no difference between the groups in the evaluation of fibrosis scores. However, in those with pulmonary fibrosis, age, CURB-65 scores, and D-dimer levels were found to be higher, whereas hematocrit levels were lower. In lymphopenic patients, almost 95% of those who underwent CP treatment had fibrosis (p=0.013). This fibrosis formation was more prominent in the non-severe group (p=0.028). Comparable fibrosis increation persisted in diabetics. Conclusion: Based on the results, the pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 may form persistent fibrosis after recovery. The accuracy of administering CP treatment in non-severe patients with lymphopenia should be reviewed, as it might increase pulmonary fibrosis.

Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disease in which frequent cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities. High uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio (UHR) results were quite notable in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the UHR results in dialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted with CKD patients, and the control group consisted of hypertensive patients with a normal glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Patients’ laboratory, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and demographic records were obtained from the follow-up cases of two university hospitals’ internal medicine and nephrology departments. The patients' group then were divided into five subsets according to GFR. Results: A total of 124 CKD patients and 127 control participated in this study. All CKD patients were also identified as pre-dialysis and dialysis. The cases of UHR, non-dipper blood pressure pattern, and nocturnal heart rate (HR) were increased in CKD compared to the control group. Per disease progression, the non-dipper HR and nocturnal HR were more significant in patients receiving dialysis with high UHR than in the pre-dialysis subset. In diabetic patients with an on-targeted HbA1c, those with high UHRs still had nocturnal diastolic BP elevations. Finally, there was not an exact stage-specific result for pulse wave velocity. Conclusions: Based on our results, dialysis patients with high UHRs have higher non-dipper PR, nocturnal heart rate, and nocturnal diastole blood pressure, associated with CV risk. Moreover, effective diabetic management might not prevent CV risk in dialysis patients with high UHRs.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a notable marker of many diseases. Accordingly, in most cases, the clinical management of infectious diseases is revised based on CRP alterations. This study thus attempted to predict CRP alterations via immature granulocyte count (IGC) and nucleated red blood cell count (NRBC) in a geriatric population with pneumonia. Methods: We carried out our study in the intensive care unit of a private hospital by retrospectively reviewing the laboratory findings of geriatric patients with pneumonia and an age-matched control group in the same ICU. Results: In total, we reviewed 495 hospitalization days (the summed amount of days for all 43 patients) and 221 hospitalization days (the summed amount of days for all 20 controls) records. In the group comparisons, we found a statistical significance in the patient group for both IGC (p = 0.001) and NRBC (p = 0.002). Comparing IGC to CRP measures from the following day and the day after that, there was a statistical significance in IGC (p = 0.001) but not in NRBC (p = 0.156). Further, IGCs below 0.3 x 103 and above 0.5 x 103 were better able to predict CRP alterations. Conclusion: In geriatric patients with pneumonia, IGC is more effective than NRBC in predicting CRP variations before their actual occurrence, with the mean estimation time at least 2 days prior.