Within- and between-subject biological variation data for serum zinc, copper and selenium obtained from 68 apparently healthy Turkish subjects

Postponed access: the file will be available after 2022-10-22Objectives: Trace elements (TrEL) are nutritionally essential components in maintaining health and preventing diseases. There is a lack of reliable biological variation (BV) data for TrELs, required for the diagnosis and monitoring of TrEL disturbances. In this study, we aimed to provide updated within- and between-subject BV estimates for zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se). Methods: Weekly serum samples were drawn from 68 healthy subjects (36 females and 32 males) for 10 weeks and stored at −80 °C prior to analysis. Serum Zn, Cu and Se levels were measured using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Outlier and variance homogeneity analyses were performed followed by CV-ANOVA (Røraas method) to determine BV and analytical variation estimates with 95% CI and the associated reference change values (RCV) for all subjects, males and females. Results: Significant differences in mean concentrations between males and females were observed, with absolute and relative (%) differences for Zn at 0.5 μmol/L (3.5%), Cu 2.0 μmol/L (14.1%) and Se 0.06 μmol/L (6.0%). The within-subject BV (CVI [95% CI]) estimates were 8.8% (8.2–9.3), 7.8% (7.3–8.3) and 7.7% (7.2–8.2) for Zn, Cu and Se, respectively. Within-subject biological variation (CVI) estimates derived for male and female subgroups were similar for all three TrELs. Marked individuality was observed for Cu and Se. Conclusions: The data of this study provides updated BV estimates for serum Zn, Cu and Se derived from a stringent protocol and state of the art methodologies. Furthermore, Cu and Se display marked individuality, highlighting that population based reference limits should not be used in the monitoring of patients.publishedVersio

Knowledge, preventive behaviors and risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Turkish health care workers

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak spread to over 100 countries with a total of 100,000 cases during the first week of March 2020. Health care workers, as those on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, are more susceptible to infection. Inadequate related knowledge and preventive behaviors among health care workers might lead to delayed treatment and result in the rapid spread of the infection. Therefore, this study evaluated the knowledge of health care workers with regard to COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 10-18, 2020. Participants were general practitioners, specialists, and nurses working at the forefront of the pandemic. Their knowledge, preventive behaviors, and risk perceptions concerning COVID-19 were evaluated using an online questionnaire created by our medical specialists. The questionnaire consisted of 29, 5, and 4 items about COVID-19 knowledge, preventive behaviors, and risk perceptions, respectively. A total of 251 health care workers completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 33.88 +/- 8.72 years old, and the sample consisted of 68 males (27.08%) and 183 females (72.91%). While there was no difference between the percentage of correct answers given by female and male participants to knowledge-based questions (p>0.05), the percentage of correct answers to the questions on preventive behaviors was significantly higher in female participants than in males (p<0.001). The overall average percentages of correct responses were 91.66% for knowledge-based questions and 85.96% for preventive behavior questions. The scores for knowledge-based questions were higher for medical specialists, whereas nurses scored higher on preventive behavior questions. Government hospital staff showed a significant difference in preventive behaviors compared to that of university hospitals (p<0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between knowledge scores and preventive behaviors. Although all the participants (100%) knew that contracting COVID-19 can lead to death, only 66.93% of them were willing to get vaccinated themselves. The knowledge level of health care workers concerning COVID-19 was above 90%, but the level of competence in terms of preventive behaviors was found to be low, especially in males

The activities of GST isozymes in stomach tissues of female obese patients

Objectives: Obesity has become an important public health problem because of its increasing prevalence and relation with many diseases and mortality. Studies have shown its association with oxidative stress. In this study, the effect of obesity on total amount of thiol and some glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes were investigated which could serve as an important criteria in dose adjustment of some certain drugs in obese. Methods: The gastric tissues removed by gastrectomy operation from 29 morbid obese female patients were analysed for thiol levels and activities of total GST, GSTT1-1 and GSTM1-1. Patients were grouped according to age, presence of hypertension and/or diabetes, and family history. Results: The average total thiol was 131.22 (±7.74) nmol/ mg protein with no significant differences in between the groups. GSTT1 specific activities were about 20% higher in four groups: with ages over 35 years old, with hypertension, without diabetes and finally without family history, with respect to other groups. The differences between total GST and GSTM1 activity levels of experimental groups were not significant. Conclusions: This is the first study to compare activities of GST isozymes and total thiol content in the stomach tissues of obese female patients accompanying some common metabolic disorders, age and family history. © 2020 De Gruyter. All rights reserved

Lack of Relationships Between Fgf19 Staining Pattern, Lymph Node Metastasis and Locally Invasive Characteristics of the Tumor in Colorectal Cancers

Introduction: Colorectal cancers are in the top of the cancer-related causes of death in the world and lymph node metastasis is accepted as the primary prognostic factor. In this study, correlations of FGF19 staining pattern with local invasion and lymph node metastasis in a series of colorectal cancers were investigated. Methods: This studyincluded 81 colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgery in our hospital with no evidence of preoperative radiological distant metastasis. Routine pathological examination of the resection material was performed in order to identify vascular, perineural and serosal infiltration, regional lymph node metastasis and the degree of differentiation. Tumor tissue samples were stained with an immunohistochemistry method for FGF 19 evaluation and the staining pattern was statistically compared with the above mentioned characteristics of the tumors. Results: The patient population consisted of 47 females and 34 males with a median age of 70 years. In 40 patients regional lymph nodes were positive and 51%, 32% and 38% had serosal, perineural and vascular invasion. While 64 cases were moderately-differentiated, 11 cases were well-differentiated and 6 poorly-differentiated, there was no association with FGF 19 staining, including intensity. Conclusion: No evidence of significant statistically correlation was found between FGF 19 staining pattern and serosal, perineural, vascular invasion, lymph node involvement and degree of differentiation.WoSScopu

Duodenal pathologies in children: a single-center experience

WOS: 000435108200008PubMed ID: 28888898Objective: Several studies have been performed concerning pathologies of the stomach and esophagus in the pediatric age group. However, there have been very few studies of duodenal pathologies in children. The authors aimed to examine the clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological characteristics, as well as the etiology of duodenal pathologies in children. Method: Patients aged between 1 and 17 years undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy during two years at this unit, were investigated retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic data, and the presence of duodenal pathologies, gastritis, and esophagitis were recorded in all of the children. Results: Out of 747 children who underwent endoscopy, duodenal pathology was observed in 226 (30.3%) patients. Pathology was also present in the esophagus in 31.6% of patients and in the stomach in 58.4%. The level of chronic diarrhea was higher in patients with duodenal pathology when compared with those without duodenal pathology (p= 0.002, OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.59-9.57). Helicobacter pylori infection was more common in patients with pathology in the duodenum (59.3%). Conclusion: Duodenal pathology was detected in 30.3% of the present patients. A significantly higher level of chronic diarrhea was observed in subjects with duodenal pathologies compared to those with no such pathology. The rate of Helicobacter pylori infection was considerably higher than that in previous studies. In addition, there is a weak correlation between endoscopic appearance and histology of duodenitis. (C) 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda

Assessment of cardiac functions using tissue Doppler imaging in children with familial Mediterranean fever

Objective: Familial Mediterranean fever may carry a potential for cardiovascular disorders because of sustained inflammation during its course; however, there has been a limited number of studies investigating the cardiac functions in children. The aim of this study was to assess both ventricular diastolic functions using conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging in children with familial Mediterranean fever. Patients and methods: The study population included 25 patients with familial Mediterranean fever - mean age was 11.8 plus or minus 5.30 years - and 23 healthy patients as controls - mean age was 9.88 plus or minus 3.69 years. Both ventricular functions were measured using echocardiography comprising standard M-mode and conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging during an attack-free period. Results: The conventional echocardiographic parameters with myocardial performance index were in normal ranges and similar in patients with familial Mediterranean fever and controls, with a p-value more than 0.05. However, right ventricular diastolic dysfunction was observed in patients with familial Mediterranean fever documented by tissue Doppler imaging, with a p-value less than 0.05 for E't and A't wave ratio. Conclusion: Using tissue Doppler imaging, we have demonstrated that although left ventricular functions were comparable in the patients and healthy children, right ventricular diastolic function indices were impaired in patients with familial Mediterranean fever during childhood. Impaired right ventricular diastolic function may be an early manifestation of cardiac involvement in children with familial Mediterranean fever

Impact of pre-operative walking on post-operative bowel function in patients with gynecologic cancer

Background There is a paucity of data on whether pre-operative walking and functional capacity has a direct association with post-operative gastrointestinal function in patients who have undergone surgery to treat gynecologic cancers. Objective To explore the relationship between pre-operative walking and post-operative recovery of bowel function. Methods This randomized trial was performed from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018. All patients had a diagnosis of endometrial or ovarian cancer and were scheduled for comprehensive staging. Group A served as the control group who did not walk regularly on the last night before surgery. Patients in group B walked for 30 min at an average speed of 3 km/h from 20.00 to 20.30 and 21.30. to 22.00 on the last night before surgery under the supervision of a nurse or doctor. The study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (no: ). Results A total of 85 patients were enrolled: 43 patients were assigned to the walking group and 42 to the control group. There were no significant differences in demographics between the groups. Median age was 57.3 +/- 8.5 in the control and 59.9 +/- 9.1 in the walking group. In addition, 28 patients had endometrial cancer and 14 had ovarian cancer in the control group. 33 patients and 10 patients in the walking group had endometrial and ovarian cancer, respectively. The mean time to first flatus was shorter in the walking group than in the control group (32.5 +/- 10.4 vs 40.6 +/- 16.9 hours, respectively; p=0.010). In addition, the time to first defecation was significantly shorter in the walking group (62.8 +/- 26.7 vs 91.4 +/- 51.8 hours; p=0.002). Patients who walked before surgery were less likely to have post-operative paralytic ileus (25.0% vs 60.7%; p=0.003). Walking before the operative period and laparoscopic surgery independently protected against the development of post-operative paralytic ileus. Conclusion Walking before surgery expedited time to bowel motility and ability to tolerate food. In addition, this method significantly decreased the risk of post-operative paralytic ileus. We consider that walking before surgery may be integrated into the pre-operative management of patients under going surgery for gynecologic cancers