Vitamin D status in the adult population of Bursa-Turkey

Background Vitamin D, along with parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin, is an important hormone that affects bone and calcium metabolism. Objectives To evaluate the vitamin D status and its seasonal variation in the adult population of Bursa. Methods Since there is not enough information about vitamin D levels, 25 OH vitamin D levels were analysed retrospectively from the records of 11,734 adult subjects (9142 women, 2592 men) admitted to 24 family health centres located in different districts of Bursa between 1 December 2017 and 30 November 2018. Some tests that can affect vitamin D levels, demographic features, and accompanying comorbidities were also evaluated. A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to subjects who were willing to answer (n = 2965). Results The mean serum vitamin D level was 16.6 +/- 11.5 ng/mL in the entire population, 15.8 +/- 11.7 ng/mL in women and 19.5 +/- 9.9 ng/mL in men. The percentage of subjects with a vitamin D level <20 ng/mL was highest in March-May and lowest in the September-November period (80.7% and 69.9% for women, 77.5% and 32.9% for men, respectively). Conclusion Vitamin D levels <20 ng/mL are more prominent in women, and decline in spring, in the adult population of Bursa. These results are meaningful for the population living in Bursa, Turkey and the northern European region

Evaluation of methodological and reporting quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in veterinary journals with amstar

The complete and transparent reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses increases the quality of such studies. Although there are different tools to examine methodological quality, little research has been conducted on the quality of these studies in animal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the complete reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in veterinary journals with "A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews" (AMSTAR). The journal"s impact factor, the number of authors, the number of studies included, and the research period were extracted as article characteristics. Total quality scores were calculated according to the AMSTAR tool, and scores were compared using the aspects of the articles. This study assessed 207 systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in 130 veterinary journals. AMSTAR quality scores were higher for meta-analyses with fewer than five authors compared to studies with five or more authors (P=0.009). Our findings indicate that about half of all studies (51.2%) were of moderate quality regarding methodology and reporting. According to the evaluation with AMSTAR, 64.6% of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were of high quality. In conclusion, the reporting quality of the studies was good, but generally, there was insufficient information on assessing publication bias

Evaluation of the prognostic role of NLR, LMR, PLR, and LCR ratio in COVID-19 patients

We aimed to find the most useful biomarker by examining the prognostic effect of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-C reactive protein ratio (LCR) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Three hundred and four patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection in our hospital within 5 months (April-August 2020) were examined. Laboratory values and demographic findings of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty-six patients were diagnosed with severe cases. The ratio of NLR, LMR, PLR, and LCR of patients with severe and those with nonsevere clinical symptoms were statistically analyzed. The NLR and PLR ratios of those with severe clinical symptoms were significantly higher (p < 0.001), the LCR rate was significantly lower (p < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in the LMR rate (p = 0.199). When we examined other peripheral blood parameters, we found that CRP was high, lymphocyte and monocyte were low (p < 0.001), but neutrophil (p = 0.416) and platelet (p = 0.998) were not statistically different between the groups. According to the results, routine blood values are abnormal in patients with COVID-19. NLR, PLR, and LCR ratios can be used as more significant biomarkers than other values in predicting the prognosis of patients

Investigation of the Relationship Between Maxillary Growth Direction and Anatomical Variations of the Sinonasal Region Case-Control Research Maxillary Growth Direction and Sinonasal Anatomic Variations

Objective: This study investigated the frequency of anatomic variations in the sinonasal region with septal deviation and the relationship of these anatomic variations with the developmental direction of the maxilla in cone-beam computed tomography images. Material and Methods: Forty-eight patients who underwent orthognathic surgery were included in this study. These patients were divided into 3 groups: normal maxilla (n=16), prognathic maxilla (n=16), and retrognathic maxilla (n=16) by determining the position of the maxillae in relation to the skull base on lateral cephalometric radiographs. The anatomic variations of the sinonasal region and the presence of maxillary sinus ostium (MSO) obstruction were studied in all groups. The relationship between the anatomical variations and the different developmental aspects of the maxilla was analyzed. Results: The most common anatomical changes in all patients were: hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate (68.8%), deviation of the nasal septum (66.7%), and concha bullosa (62.5%). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups with different skeletal deformities based on the position of the maxilla in relation to the skull base (p>0.05). While there was a statistically significant difference between gender distribution and hypertrophy of the middle concha (p=0.016), no statistically significant difference was found between other anatomical variations and gender distribution (p>0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, in this study, we investigated the relationship between the anatomical variations of the sinonasal region and the direction of maxillary growth. There was no significant relationship between the above anatomical variations and MSO obstruction between the groups

Does vitamin D level have an effect on COVID-19 positivity and COVID-19 related mortality? A retrospective study

Objective: To explore the possible relationship between vitamin D and coronavirus disease-2019 in an urban population known to have relatively low vitamin D levels. Method: The retrospective study was conducted in Bursa, Turkey, and comprised data of 30 family health centers from March 1 to December 15, 2020, related to diagnosed inpatients of coronovairus disease-2019. The diagnosis was based on polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection. Vitamin D levels of these patients were obtained from previous records and compared with those without polymerase chain reaction positivity. Vitamin D levels of positive patients who survived were compared with those who died of coronavirus disease-2019. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. Result: Of the 2,105 patients whose data was retrived, 212(10%) were positive for coronavirus disease-2019, while 1,893(90%) were negative. Among the positive patients, 89(42%) were men and 123(58%) were women. The overall median age was 45 years (Q1-Q3(Q1: first quartile, Q3: third quartile): 35-56 years). Vitamin D level was not significantly different between the positive and negative patients (p>0.05). Among the positive patients, 2(0.9%) patients did not have new admissions to the designated centers and their data was excluded, 206(97.2%) survived and 4(1.9%) died. There was no significant difference in vitamin D levels between those who survived and those who died (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant relationship found between vitamin D levels and coronavirus disease-2019 infection and related deaths. Key Words: COVID-19, PCR positivity, SARS-CoV-2 infection, Vitamin D

Statistical errors in articles published in radiology journals

Secil, Mustafa/0000-0001-7350-2202WOS: 000462163800002PubMed: 30582574PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate articles in radiology journals indexed in the Science Citation Index or Science Citation Index Expanded in terms of statistical errors. By this means, we aim to contribute to the production of high quality scientific publications. METHODS In this study, a total of 157 articles published in 2016-2017 in 20 radiology journals were reviewed randomly. Selected articles were evaluated for statistical errors regarding P values and statistical tests, and for errors in terminology and other errors related to interpretation. In addition, in order to examine whether the error rates of the articles published in the radiology journals differed according to the impact factor, the statistical errors were compared according to the impact factors of the journals. RESULTS Of the 157 articles published in radiology journals, 10 had no statistical errors, while 147 had at least one statistical error. The most frequently encountered error was "errors in summarizing data" with a rate of 66%. This was followed by "incorrect representation of P values" with a rate of 42%. The least frequently encountered error was "statistical symbol errors" with a rate of 3%. There was no statistically significant difference according to impact factors. CONCLUSION In conclusion, radiology journals, as do journals in different fields, include articles containing statistical errors. Even when the quality of the journal increases, there is no difference in these statistical error rates. In order to prevent statistical errors in manuscripts, there are responsibilities for both the researchers who conduct scientific studies and the editors who publish these studies in their journals. Researchers should have a basic statistical knowledge, and the editor must submit all manuscripts for a statistical review