Clinical significance of NCOA5 gene rs2903908 polymorphism in Behçet`s disease

Behçet’s disease (BD) is an autoimmune multisystemic disease. The precise etiology of BD is not fully understood; however, it is thought that interactions between genetic and environmental factors play an essential role in its pathogenesis. The nuclear receptor coactivator-5 (NCOA5) gene encodes a coregulator for nuclear receptor sub- family 1 group D member 2 (NR1D2) and estrogen receptor 1 and 2 (ESR1 and ESR2). Also, the NCOA5 gene insufficiency leads to an elevated expression of IL-6, and increased levels of IL-6 were found to be related to the pathogenesis of BD. In this study, we aimed to clarify the impact of the NCOA5 rs2903908 polymorphism on susceptibility and clinical findings of BD. This study included 671 participants (300 BD patients and 371 healthy controls). The analyses of NCOA5 rs2903908 polymorphism was performed by using the TaqMan allelic discrim- ination assay. The frequency of TT genotype of the NCOA5 rs2903908 polymorphism was found significantly higher in BD patients compared to those in healthy controls (p=0.016, OR=1.46, 95 % CI=1.08–1.99). Also, the frequencies of CT genotype was observed significantly higher in BD patients with genital ulceration and uveitis than without genital ulceration and uveitis (p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively). The most significant association was found between C allele frequencies of BD patients with and without uveitis (p=0.0001). Our study represents e first time that the NCOA5 rs2903908 polymorphism seemed to be linked to BD susceptibility and clinical findings

Comparison of IMA, YKL-40, EN-RAGE, and AIM levels in maternal blood and cord blood in patients with preeclampsia

Aim: Preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia are among the most significant causes of maternal mortality. Preeclampsia’s pathogenesis is not fully understood, and it is a disease with early diagnosis and treatment possibilities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the levels of IMA, YKL-40, EN-RAGE, and AIM in maternal and cord blood. The results will ideally shed light on preeclampsia’s pathogenesis and early diagnosis. Methods: The study was conducted with the following three groups: a severe preeclampsia group (group 1), a preeclampsia group (group 2), and a control group (group 3). IMA, YKL-40, EN-RAGE, and AIM levels were measured in all patients across the groups using blood taken from the mothers before delivery and from the cords during delivery. Statistically descriptive analyses were performed. Specifically, a one-way analysis of variance was performed on group variables, and a Tukey test was used to determine the differences between the groups. Results: The mean age was similar across all groups. The gestational week at delivery was low for the severe preeclampsia group (p=0.001). The IMA and YKL-40 levels in the maternal and cord blood were the same between the groups. The EN-RAGE levels in the maternal blood were found to be significantly higher in the control group (p=0.000). While the AIM levels in the maternal blood were high in the control group (p=0.001), they were significantly lower in the cord blood in the control group (p=0.029). Conclusion: EN-RAGE and AIM levels are parameters that can be used in the early diagnosis of preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia

Analysis of intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota of children with meningococcemia in pediatric intensive care unit: INMACS-PICU study

This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Diagnostic Microbiology.Microbiota composition might play a role in the pathophysiology and course of sepsis, and understanding its dynamics is of clinical interest. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an important cause of community-acquired serious infection, and there is no information regarding microbiota composition in children with meningococcemia. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition of children with IMD.[Materials and Methods]: In this prospective, multi-center study, 10 children with meningococcemia and 10 age-matched healthy controls were included. Nasopharyngeal and fecal samples were obtained at admission to the intensive care unit and on the tenth day of their hospital stay. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified following the 16S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation.[Results]: Regarding the alpha diversity on the day of admission and on the tenth day at the PICU, the Shannon index was significantly lower in the IMD group compared to the control group (p = 0.002 at admission and p = 0.001, on the tenth day of PICU). A statistical difference in the stool samples was found between the IMD group at Day 0 vs. the controls in the results of the Bray–Curtis and Jaccard analyses (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001, respectively). There were differences in the intestinal microbiota composition between the children with IMD at admission and Day 10 and the healthy controls. Regarding the nasopharyngeal microbiota analysis, in the children with IMD at admission, at the genus level, Neisseria was significantly more abundant compared to the healthy children (p < 0.001). In the children with IMD at Day 10, genera Moraxella and Neisseria were decreased compared to the healthy children. In the children with IMD on Day 0, for paired samples, Moraxella, Neisseria, and Haemophilus were significantly more abundant compared to the children with IMD at Day 10. In the children with IMD at Day 10, the Moraxella and Neisseria genera were decreased, and 20 different genera were more abundant compared to Day 0.[Conclusions]: We first found alterations in the intestinal and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition in the children with IMD. The infection itself or the other care interventions also caused changes to the microbiota composition during the follow-up period. Understanding the interaction of microbiota with pathogens, e.g., N. meningitidis, could give us the opportunity to understand the disease’s dynamics.This study was supported by the Eskisehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Grant (2018/11046).Peer reviewe

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Scoliosis is called idiopathic when no other underlying disease can be identified. The etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is still unknown despite many years of research effort. Theories on AIS's etiology have included mechanical, hormonal, metabolic, neuromuscular, growth, and genetic abnormalities. Skeletally immature patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are at risk of curve progression. The adolescent onset of severe idiopathic scoliosis has traditionally been evaluated using standing posteroanterior radiographs of the full spine to assess lateral curvature with the Cobb method. Scoliosis in children of school age and above primarily occurs in girls. The therapeutic goal in children is to prevent progression. In children, scoliosis of 20 and deg; or more should be treated with a brace, and scoliosis of 45 and deg; or more with surgery. [Arch Clin Exp Surg 2014; 3(3.000): 174-182

Experimental study of vertical ground-source heat pump performance evaluation for cold climate in Turkey

Heat pump systems are recognized to be outstanding heating, cooling and water heating systems. They provide high levels of comfort as well as offering significant reductions in electrical energy use. In addition, they have very low levels of maintenance requirements and are environmentally attractive. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the experimentally performance and energy analysis of vertical ground-source heat pump (GSHP) for winter climatic condition of Erzurum, Turkey. For this aim, an experimental analysis was performed on GSHP system made up in the Energy Laboratory in the campus of Ataturk University. The experimental apparatus consisted of a ground heat exchanger, the depth of which was 53 m, a liquid-to-liquid vapor compression heat pump, water circulating pumps and other measurement and control equipments. Tests were performed under laboratory conditions for space heating, in which experimental results were obtained during January-May within the heating season of 2007. The experimentally obtained results were used to calculate the heat pump coefficient of performance (COP) and the system performance (COPs). The COP and COPs were found to be in the range of 2.43-3.55 and 2.07-3.04, respectively. This study also shows that the system proposed could be used for residential heating in the province of Erzurum which is one of the coldest climate region of Turkey.Ground-source heat pump COP Energy analyses Cold climate region