The Role of Serum Procalcitonin, Interleukin-6, and Fibrinogen Levels in Differential Diagnosis of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Infection

Aims. We aimed to evaluate the roles of interleukin-6 (IL-6), PCT, and fibrinogen levels in the differential diagnosis of the patients with infected diabetic foot ulcer (IDFU) and noninfected diabetic foot ulcer (NIDFU) and to compare those with C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell (WBC), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Methods. Patients over 18 years with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and DFU who were followed up in our hospital between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2017 were included in the study. In addition to this patient group, patients with diabetes but without DFU were determined as the control group. Results. Thirty-eight patients with IDFU, 38 patients with NIDFU, and 43 patients as the control group were included in the study. Fifty-six point three percent of the patients who participated in the study were males, and the mean age was 61.07 +/- 11.04 years. WBC, ESR, CRP, IL-6, and fibrinogen levels of the cases with IDFU were determined to be significantly higher compared to the cases in NIDFU (p < 0 01). The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) value was highest for CRP (0.998; p < 0 001), and the best cut-off value for CRP was 28 m/L. The best cut-off values for fibrinogen, IL-6, ESR, and WBC were 480 mg/dL, 105.8 pg/mL, 31 mm/h, and 11.6 (103 mu/L), respectively. Conclusion. Serum PCT levels were not found to be effective in the discrimination of IDFU and NIDFU. Serum IL-6 and fibrinogen levels seem to be two promising inflammatory markers in the discrimination of IDFU

PRELIMINARY SUBMICROSCOPY OF A VERTEBRAL BONE FRAGMENT FROM A BITINIAN TOMB OF 2ND CENTURY BC IN BURSA, WESTERN TURKEY

Despite the availability of large amount of information on human bones; little attention has been given to the environmental conditions of bone weathering and preservation. Secondary hydroxyapatite (carbonated hydroxyapatite for primary bone mineral) as the most well known but intriguing constituent of the bone was determined (SEM) in the pore spaces of a Bitinian (2nd century BC) mans vertebral bone fragment as aggregates together with probable amorphous compounds. Unweathered primary microcrystalline hydroxyapatites of the bone structure were also determined by EM indicating resistance to weathering. Organic bodies such as the True Slime Moulds of the Phylum Myxomycota were observed feeding on hydroxyapatite fragments, and secondary minute hydroxyapatite aggregates forming on unnamed elongated mycelia. All these features add up to manifest the alterations that primarily occur in post mortem soil-less environments of bones more independently and freely than in soil media, without being masked by the numerous processes the latter would shelter