Objectives: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are an alternative to traditional cigarettes. Although numerous studies
have been conducted regarding the effects of traditional cigarettes on oxidative stress biomarkers in the kidney, there are
only a few studies on the effects of e-cigarettes.
Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar albino rats were separated into three groups: Group 1 was treated with traditional
cigarettes, Group 2 with e-cigarettes, and Group 3 formed the control group. Kidney homogenates and plasma samples
were obtained, and the glutathione peroxidase, protein carbonyl, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid
hydroperoxide (LPO), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels were examined.
Results: Higher plasma SDMA levels were determined in Group 1 and Group 2 compared with Group 3 (<0.0001).
Higher SOD activity was found in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (p=0.0094). Lower CAT activity was found in Group 1
compared with both Group 2 (p=0.0035) and Group 3 (p<0.0001). Higher LPO levels were determined in the traditional
cigarette smoking group compared with the control group (p=0.028), and no statistically significant difference was
found between the e-cigarette and the control groups.
Conclusion: E-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes are associated with the dysregulation of particular oxidative stress
markers in the kidney. However, e-cigarettes have less effect on some oxidative stress markers than traditional cigarettes.
Long-term use of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes causes oxidative stress, which may lead to renal tissue
damage and diminished kidney function.
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Objectives: We compared prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, and Ddimer
test results measured using the Diagon Coag XL coagulation analyzer with Cobas t 511 analyzer.
Methods: Imprecision studies were performed for the PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer tests used by the Diagon Coag
XL analyzer. For the comparison study, we used the leftover citrated plasma from patient samples after routine analysis
with Cobas t 511. All of the results were analyzed using the correlation coefficient and Passing–Bablok regression analysis.
Results: Total coefficient of variation obtained for all tests were within the criteria for acceptance. The method comparison
study showed a good correlation between the results obtained on Diagon Coag XL and Cobas t 511 analyzers, except for
aPTT test. The correlation coefficients obtained were 0.98 for PT, INR, and D-dimer, 0.95 for fibrinogen, and 0.80 for aPTT.
Conclusion: For PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, and D-dimer tests, Diagon Coag XL analyzer is suitable for monitoring the coagulation
system, and it can be used in clinical laboratories. However, the precision values of tests stated by the manufacturer
must be verified.
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Objectives: We aimed to compare the severity of the disease with derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (DNLR) and
monocyte to high-density lipoprotein ratio (MHR) in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).
Methods: This retrospective study included 52 patients with Ranson 0, 57 patients with Ranson I, 39 patients with
Ranson II, 36 patients with Ranson III–IV, and 20 healthy controls as the control group with similar demographic characteristics
to the patient groups. Demographic characteristics, mortality, etiology, and laboratory data of the patients
were evaluated from their previous records.
Results: The study data were compared in five groups as control and Ranson 0, I, II, III–IV according to their AP stage.
MHR values were 9.62±4.25 in the control group and 13.4±5.18, 14.2±4.22, 19.4±10.5, 31.7±26.3 in Ranson 0, I, II, III–IV,
respectively (p<0.001). DNLR was 1.33±0.45 in the control group and 3.48±2.68, 3.71±2.31, 4.43±2.84, 4.62±3.46 in
Ranson 0, I, II, III–IV, respectively (p<0.001). MHR and DNLR values were significantly different in patients with AP.
Conclusion: The levels of MHR and DNLR evaluated during the follow-up of patients with AP are low-cost and easy to
access parameters that may help the clinician in determining the severity of the disease.
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Objectives: Urinalysis by automated urine analyzer, including microscopy and dipstick test, is easy, rapid, and inexpensive.
Among these parameters, leukocyte count (WBC) or leukocyte esterase (LE) has relatively sufficient sensitivity in
urinary tract infection (UTI) detection. Urine culture is accepted as the gold standard for the diagnosis of UTI. Unnecessary
culture requests constitute the majority of the microbiology laboratory workload. This study aimed to evaluate the performance
of a multi-criteria algorithm by using urinalysis in predicting negative urine cultures.
Methods: During a 2-week period, randomly selected 600 urine samples that reached the microbiology laboratory
for urine culture were subjected to chemical and microscopic urinalysis without waiting. Urinalysis was performed
using Iris iQ200 (Iris Diagnostics, Chatsworth, USA). LE >25 μL-1, nitrite positive, and WBC >5 per HPF were accepted
as abnormal/positive. The sensitivity and specificity were also calculated by Receiver operating characteristic analysis
at alternative threshold values for all small particles. A multi-criteria algorithm based on these urine parameters was
developed, and its performance was evaluated by determining specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV),
and positive predictive value.
Results: Multi-criteria algorithm based on urinalysis gave false-negative results for only 3 (0.5%) samples. This algorithm
had 98.9% NPV and eliminated 47.4% of urine samples from the culture workflow.
Conclusion: This algorithm may reduce unnecessary culture requests and more effective use of time and resources.
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Objectives: Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disorder and is associated with many inflammatory
processes. The present study aimed to examine the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine soluble tumor necrosis
factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK) and its scavenger receptor soluble cluster of differentiation 163 (sCD163)
simultaneously in patients with BD by considering their relationships with disease activity.
Methods: The study group included 53 patients with BD (29 females and 24 males) and 30 healthy individuals. Patients
with a lesion or active organ involvement were defined as active (n=39) and those without were identified as inactive
(n=14). Serum sTWEAK and sCD163 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Serum sTWEAK and sCD163 levels were significantly increased in patients with BD compared with the healthy
group (p=0.016 and p=0.003, respectively). Concentrations of these two molecules were also higher in active and inactive
BD than the healthy individuals (p=0.043 for sTWEAK and p=0.010 for sCD163). Receiver operating characteristic
curve analysis revealed that serum sCD163 and sTWEAK levels had a discriminating ability between patients with BD
and healthy controls with area under the curve values of 0.706 and 0.661, respectively.
Conclusion: It was concluded that circulating sTWEAK and its scavenger receptor sCD163 levels were increased in BD,
significantly predicted the disease, and might be significant molecules to assess inflammation.
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Objectives: People mostly live in the nonfasting state during a normal 24-h cycle. This study aims to compare the levels of
18 biochemical parameters during different hours of the day.
Methods: A total of 18 biochemical tests of patients who visited outpatient clinics only once between January 1, 2010,
and December 31, 2019, were evaluated at the Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (HMKU) Central Laboratory by using
hospital database information. The tests are albumin (Alb), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), alanine aminotransaminase
(ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), amylase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), calcium (Ca), total cholesterol (TC), creatine
kinase (CK), creatinine (Cr), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(HDL-C), inorganic phosphorus (Pi), iron (Fe), total protein (TP), triglyceride (TG), and lipase. The blood samples of the
patient were divided into eight groups according to their collection time as follows: (a) 07:00-07:59, (b) 08:00-08:59, (c)
09:00-09:59, (d) 10:00-10:59, (e) 11:00-11:59, (f ) 12:00-13:59, (g) 14:00-14:59, and (h) 15:00-17:00.
Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of all parameters except amylase,
GGT, and TP (p<0.05). The effect size refers to the minimum amount of difference that is clinically significant. According
to the effect size values, there was no significant difference between time groups in the following parameters: Alb, ALT,
AST, Pi, Ca, TC, Cr, Fe, glucose, BUN, lipase, TG, ALP, HDL-C, and CK (ʈ<0.30).
Conclusion: When considering all of the results, nonfasting screening would not only be acceptable but also make
physiologic sense.
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Objectives: Gout is a common and easily treated disease characterized by the accumulation of monosodium urate crystals
in both joints and other tissues. Monosodium urate crystals are the main stimulants for initiating and maintaining an
inflammatory response. Oxidative stress is also an early change in gout pathogenesis together with inflammation. This
study aimed to investigate the presence of oxidative stress in gout together with thiol–disulfide homeostasis and ischemia-
modified albumin (IMA) levels. We aimed to compare these parameters with inflammation marker C-reactive protein
(CRP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).
Methods: Levels of native thiol, total thiol, disulfide, IMA, CRP, and hsCRP were detected in patients with gout (n=50)
and healthy subjects (n=50). Student’s t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for istatistical analysis.
Results: Native thiol, total thiol, and index 3 (native thiol/total thiol×100) were significantly lower in the patient
group, while disulfide, index 1 (disulfide/native thiol×100), index 2 disulfide/total thiol×100), IMA, CRP, and hsCRP
were significantly higher. In addition, elevation in native thiol, total thiol, and disulfide levels was detected as disease
duration increased.
Conclusion: The present study has shown the role of oxidant damage in gout disease. Additional studies are needed
to identify sources of oxidative stress in gout.
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Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analytical performances of various clinical biochemistry analytes by
the sigma metrics method according to different total allowable error (TEa) targets and to determine the causes of errors
that lead to low sigma score by using Quality Goal Index (QGI).
Methods: The study was carried out in the Central Laboratory of Bursa Karacabey State Hospital. Twelve analytes that
were studied on the Roche Cobas c 501 autoanalyzer were included in the study. Internal (level 1 and 2) and external
quality control data for the period March–August 2020 were obtained retrospectively. The TEa targets were obtained
from the Clinical Laboratory Improvement of 2019 (CLIA 2019), biological variation database (BVD), Rili-BAEK, and Turkish
data. QGI was calculated for analytes with sigma score <3 according to CLIA.
Results: According to the TEa goals of four different guides, different sigma scores were obtained. Three parameters
with sigma scores <3 were determined according to TEa targets of CLIA, 8 according to BVD, and 6 according to Rili-
BAEK, while there were no parameters with sigma score <3 according to the TEa targets of Turkey. Number of parameters
with sigma scores >6 were 7, 10, 6, and 18 according to TEa targets of CLIA, BVD, Rili-BAEK, and Turkey, respectively.
When QGI was calculated, it was found that there was inaccuracy problem for albumin and chlorine L1 and imprecision
for chlorine L2.
Conclusion: Laboratories should determine the appropriate TEa targets and use the sigma metrics method and QGI as
a quality improvement tool. In the light of the obtained data, necessary quality improvements should be made, and the
reliability of the results should be increased.
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Objectives: Hypercholesterolemia is a serious health concern throughout the world. It is the key risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypercholesterolemic potential of fraxetin onhypercholesterolemic rats given a high-fat diet (HFD).Methods: A total of 24 male albino Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were used in this study and were divided into 4groups: Control (Group 1), hypercholesterolemia-induced (Group 2), hypercholesterolemia-induced and treated withfraxetin (75 mg/kg) (Group 3), and hypercholesterolemia-induced and treated with simvastatin (10 mg/kg) (Group 4).The plasma lipid profile, status of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and the levels of oxidative stress markersof all groups were analyzed.Results: The plasma level of total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoproteincholesterol were significantly increased, and the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly decreased in the hypercholesterolemic rats in comparison with the normal, control rats. Oral administration of fraxetinsignificantly (p<0.05) reversed these altered parameters to near-normal levels. In addition, fraxetin treatment significantly (p<0.05) increased the status of antioxidants with a concomitant reduction in oxidative stress markers. Oil red Ostaining of the thoracic aorta revealed widespread deposition of lipid droplets in the hypercholesterolemic rats (Group2), whereas the hypercholesterolemic rats treated with fraxetin or simvastatin showed only scattered droplets of fat.The effect of fraxetin on various biochemical parameters was comparable to that of simvastatin.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the lipid-lowering potential of fraxetin at the dosage of 75 mg/kg was comparable to that of the antihypercholesterolemic drug simvastatin. Further studies on the molecularmechanism of action of fraxetin are warranted and in progress in our laboratory at the time of writing.
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Objectives: Early diagnosis and treatment of oncological disease is extremely important and tumor marker tests area valuable tool; however, requests for testing should not be used in excess or without sufficient cause. The aim of thisstudy was to analyze and evaluate the appropriateness of requests for tumor marker tests at a single hospital.Methods: Tumor marker tests for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA) 15-3, CA 19-9, and CA 125 performed by a single biochemistry laboratory between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 were assessed retrospectively. These tumor markers can be used for screening, diagnostic confirmation, estimating prognosis, and monitoringfor recurrence. The departments of internal medicine, gastroenterology, endocrine diseases, chest diseases, generalsurgery, gynecology and obstetrics, and medical oncology were the most common sources of the requests.Results: There were 1420 (40%) requests for CEA, 671 (19%) for CA15-3, 868 (25%) for CA 19-9, and 585 (16%) for CA125 during the study period. A significant difference based on gender was determined in requests for CEA and CA 125(p<0.001 and p=0.033, respectively). In all, 312 (22%) of requests for CEA markers, 202 (30.1%) for CA 15-3, 204 (23.5%)for CA 19-9, and 113 (19.3%) for CA 125 requests were above the reference range. Significant positive correlations weredetermined between age and CEA, CA 15-3, and CA 19-9 tumor markers (r=0.262, p<0.001; r=0.096, p=0.013; r=0.090,p=0.008, respectively). The preliminary diagnoses supporting the requests included non-specific pain, acute vaginitis,anemia, anxiety disorder, dyspepsia, neoplasia, and thyroid disorder.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that outpatient clinics made an excessive number of tumor markerrequests inconsistent with the preliminary diagnosis. Overutilization of laboratory testing incurs significant costsand affects workload, and may also have other potentially adverse effects on patient care.
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