Oil price shocks and stock return volatility: new evidence based on volatility impulse response analysis

We use volatility impulse response analysis to quantify the size and the persistence of different types of oil price shocks on oil and stock return volatility dynamics. Our results show that precautionary demand followed by aggregate demand-side shocks, compared to supply-side ones, have higher positive and persistent effects on stock return volatility whereas the correlations between the two variables are mostly affected by the former shocks

Procalcitonin Levels in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare procalcitonin levels of patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) along with healthy controls. Methods: A total of 67 subjects were included. Twenty-two CRSwNP patients were included in group A, 25 CRSsNP patients in group B, and the control group (group C) consisted of 20 healthy subjects. Procalcitonin level was assessed after CRSwNP or CRSsNP diagnosis. Healthy individuals scheduled for septorhinoplasty constituted the control group. Nasal polyposis was graded according to the Meltzer Clinical Scoring System. Results: the mean procalcitonin levels of patients of groups A, B and C were 0.042±0.020 µg/L, 0.031±0.016 µg/L and 0.031±0.010 µg/L, respectively. Mean procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C (p=0.05 and p=0.032). However, mean procalcitonin levels were not significantly different between group B and group C (p=0.962). Four patients (18%) had grade 1, three had (13.6%) grade 2, eight had (36.4%) grade 3, and seven had (31.8%) grade 4 polyposis. Mean procalcitonin levels for grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 polyposis were 0.045±0.030 µg/L, 0.037±0.006 µg/L, 0.041±0.021 µg/L and 0.043±0.019 µg/L, respectively. No statistical significance was present regarding the mean procalcitonin levels of polyposis grades (p>0.05). Conclusion: Procalcitonin, which is an important inflammatory marker especially in sepsis and systemic inflammation, was significantly elevated in CRSwNP patients compared to CRSsNP patients and healthy controls. This may support the presence of chronic mucosal inflammation in CRSwNP patients. However, procalcitonin is an indirect marker of inflammation and further studies with larger patient groups are warranted

Malignant Otitis Externa: A Retrospective Analysis and Treatment Outcomes

WOS: 000443089700010PubMed ID: 30197809Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze previous treatments and outcomes in patients with malignant otitis externa (MOE) retrospectively. The efficacy of medical and surgical treatments was also evaluated. Methods: This study included 25 patients diagnosed with MOE and treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ege University School of Medicine between 2006 and 2017. The duration of hospitalization, Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of the patients, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), source of the infection, complications, and previous medical and surgical treatments were also retrospectively assessed. Results: The mean age of the patients (7 females and 18 males) was 69.68 +/- 11.29 years. The mean length of hospital stay in patients with HbA1c levels 6 was 26.86 and 33.39 days, respectively. The mean hospitalization time was significantly longer in patients with HbA1c levels >6 (p65 years) had a significantly longer hospital stay in our study (p<0.05). ESR was found to be 52.76 +/- 32.49 (9-108) mm/h at the first examination and 14.92 +/- 1.22 (4-32) mm/h at the time of discharge. Conclusion: MOE is an aggressive disease that requires conservative management, and ESR proved to be a good indicator of treatment response. Long-term antibiotherapy are recommended for treatment

Clinical and molecular evaluation of MEFV gene variants in the Turkish population: a study by the National Genetics Consortium

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a monogenic autoinflammatory disorder with recurrent fever, abdominal pain, serositis, articular manifestations, erysipelas-like erythema, and renal complications as its main features. Caused by the mutations in the MEditerranean FeVer (MEFV) gene, it mainly affects people of Mediterranean descent with a higher incidence in the Turkish, Jewish, Arabic, and Armenian populations. As our understanding of FMF improves, it becomes clearer that we are facing with a more complex picture of FMF with respect to its pathogenesis, penetrance, variant type (gain-of-function vs. loss-of-function), and inheritance. In this study, MEFV gene analysis results and clinical findings of 27,504 patients from 35 universities and institutions in Turkey and Northern Cyprus are combined in an effort to provide a better insight into the genotype-phenotype correlation and how a specific variant contributes to certain clinical findings in FMF patients. Our results may help better understand this complex disease and how the genotype may sometimes contribute to phenotype. Unlike many studies in the literature, our study investigated a broader symptomatic spectrum and the relationship between the genotype and phenotype data. In this sense, we aimed to guide all clinicians and academicians who work in this field to better establish a comprehensive data set for the patients. One of the biggest messages of our study is that lack of uniformity in some clinical and demographic data of participants may become an obstacle in approaching FMF patients and understanding this complex disease