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Background/Aim: Cardiovascular involvement in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is closely related to the course of the disease; however, this issue has not been adequately studied in Turkey. Thus, we aimed to investigate the electrocardiography (ECG) findings in noncritical patients with COVID-19 in Turkey. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on non-critical patients with COVID-19 with no history of any cardiac disease. The laboratory parameters and ECG findings of the patients at the time of admission were analyzed. Results: In total, 100 patients with a mean age of 56.8 (16.7) years were included in the study, among which 54 were males. The rate of patients having at least one abnormal ECG finding, ST segment pathology, and elevated troponin level were 58%, 26%, and 48%, respectively. The respiratory rate and mean troponin level were higher and the mean lymphocyte count was lower in patients with ST segment pathology than in patients without. The respiratory rate, fibrinogen level, and incidence of T negativity and abnormal ECG findings were higher, and the lymphocyte count was lower in patients with elevated troponin levels than in patients with normal troponin levels (P 0.03 mg/mL (P

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the circulating thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in order to integrate these signaling pathways in the inflammatory and fibrogenic processes of this liver disorder. Methods: Ninety-five NAFLD patients were recruited in the study. The study also included 83 age-sex matched healthy controls. Results: The number of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria was 57 (60%). TSP-1 level was found to be statistically significantly lower in the NAFLD group compared to the control group (p=0.037). However, NF-κB level was found to be significantly higher in the NAFLD group compared to the control group (p=0.004). There was a significant negative correlation between plasma TSP-1 levels with glucose (r=-0.235, p=0.022), alanine aminotransferase (r=-0.261, p=0.011) and aspartate transaminase (r=-0.328, p=0.001) levels. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between plasma TSP-1 and NF-κB levels (r=-0.729, p

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate whether low serum calcium (Ca) and corrected calcium (cCa) levels could predict disease prognosis and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively enrolled 206 eligible patients with COVID-19, diagnosed at Turkey Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital between March 12, 2020 and June 15, 2020. Results: Serum Ca level was 8.8 ± 0.57 mg/dL and the serum cCa level was 8.99 ± 0.53 in all patients. The patients were divided into two groups, such as hypocalcemic and non-hypocalcemic patients. We observed that serum Ca levels of patients who died were significantly lower than that of surviving patients. A significant negative correlation was found between serum cCa level and albumin level. A significant positive correlation was found between serum cCa level and C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, procalcitonin, troponin, CURB-65 score, and quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (q-SOFA) score. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, respiratory rate, saturation, heart rate, lymphocyte, serum calcium, D-dimer, CURB-65 score, and q-SOFA score were independent predictors of high-risk group of mortality. Conclusions: This study confirms that the severity of COVID-19 is associated with lower concentrations of serum Ca. The cCa levels were associated with certain prognostic factors. Serum Ca and cCa levels could be an early and helpful marker to improve management of patients with COVID-19. We recommend evaluation of calcium in patients on initial presentation and serial monitoring during hospitalization in order to perform timely and appropriate corrective actions.

Background Cognitive functions are affected by thyroid hormones. In this study, we aimed to investigate the selective attention and information processing speed in thyrotoxic Graves’ disease. Methodology This study was conducted among 40 patients with thyrotoxic Graves’ disease and age and gender-matched 40 healthy controls. Stroop Color and Word test were applied to healthy controls once and to patients with Graves’ disease during thyrotoxic and euthyroid periods. Stroop interference effect was calculated. Results The mean age was 34.67 ± 11 in the Graves’ group and 34.72 ± 9.16 in the control group (p > 0.05). The number of errors and self-corrections in Stroop Color and Word test was higher in patients with thyrotoxic Graves’ disease than both patients with euthyroid Graves’ disease and healthy controls (p < 0.05). Stroop interference effect was significantly longer in patients with thyrotoxic Graves’ disease than both patients with euthyroid Graves’ disease and healthy controls (p < 0.05). All parameters obtained from the Stroop Color and Word test including errors, self-corrections, and Stroop interference effect were similar in patients with euthyroid Graves’ disease and healthy controls. Conclusions Selective attention was impaired and information processing speed was slow in patients with thyrotoxic Graves’ disease, and these findings were associated with age and educational level. After becoming euthyroid through antithyroid medication, these pathological findings returned to normal levels. Additionally, Stroop interference effect was significantly decreased when patients with Graves’ disease became euthyroid.

Background Both the extracellular matrix molecule tenascin-C (Tn-C) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have a role in tissue injury, inflammation, and remodeling. In this pilot study, we tried to evaluate the role of these markers in acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods A total of 52 subjects were enrolled in this study. Group 1 consisted of 27 patients with AKI (stage 1, 2, and 3), and Group 2 consisted of 25 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Serum and urine samples (to determine Tn-C and TIMP-1) were obtained from the participants at the beginning of the study. Second samples were obtained from Group 1 patients when renal function improved (at discharge). Results Serum TIMP-1 concentrations (admission and discharge) were higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p = 0.0001 for both comparisons). Tn-C excretion in spot urine was significantly higher in healthy controls than at the admission levels of the patient group (p = 0.036). However, TIMP-1 excretion in spot urine was lower in healthy controls than in admission and discharge levels of the patient group (p = 0.0001 for both comparisons). Conclusions Our results show that these biomarkers (especially TIMP-1) may have a role in the pathophysiology of AKI. Further studies are needed in this field.

The risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increases in the patient population with metabolic syndrome (MeS). The present study aimed to investigate the association between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and the oxidative stress parameters in MeS patients. The study included 181 patients as a patient group of 92 consecutive patients with MeS and a control group of 89 consecutive patients with similar age and gender. EATT was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. Serum levels of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidative capacity (TAS), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and arylesterase activities were measured. EATT was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (6.0 ± 2.0 mm and4.0 ± 1.0 mm, resp.;P<0.001). The level of TOS was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Additionally, the TAS level was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the serum levels of PON-1 and arylesterase were lower in the MeS group compared to the control group (P<0.001). EAT may cause an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases by leading to increased oxidative stress in patients with MeS.

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a systemic inflammatory disease. We aimed to detect whether there was a change of mean platelet volume (MPV) level on onset and remission patients with biliary and non-biliary acute pancreatitis. Materials and methods: In our emergency service patients diagnosed with biliary and nonbiliary AP were analyzed retrospectively. Laboratory results measured in onset and remission were recorded and compared. Results: Total number of patients enrolled in our study was 331 (177 female). 194 cases were classified as biliary and 137 were as non-biliary AP. Average age and numbers of female patients of biliary cases were higher than that of nonbiliary cases. Initial MPV values were lower than remission values in all patients with AP. In biliary group initial MPV was 8.42 ± 1.04 and remission value was 8.71 ± 1.12. In nonbiliary group initial MPV was 8.07 ± 1.02 and remission value was 8.4 ± 1.06. In both groups on onset had lower mean MPV levels than those in remission (P = 0.0001 both of them). Conclusions: MPV values were higher than initial values in remission period in patients both of groups. MPV was lower in non-biliary AP group than biliary AP group that can be an indicator of early-onset infection.