Changes in mean platelet volume in the course of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

In this study, we retrospectively evaluated patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB) who were followed up at our center over a 3 year period and aimed to determine the factors affecting mean platelet volume (MPV) in patients with UGB, temporal changes in MPV during UGB, and the relationship between MPV values and the severity of UGB. Patients and methods: A total of 170 patients who were hospitalized between January 2010 and December 2013 with a diagnosis of UGB, completed a 72-hour follow up, and had a baseline blood count performed within 6 months were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, along with MPV values at baseline, on admission, and at 4 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, and discharge, were evaluated. Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 2007 was used for statistical analyses. Results: Women and patients with comorbid diseases had higher baseline MPV values; this effect disappeared after admission for UGB and reappeared at discharge. MPV values were lowest at the start of the bleeding and significantly increased during the course of UGB. Baseline MPV and MPV at discharge values were similar. There was no statistically significant relationship between any MPV measurement and transfusion amount. Conclusion: The effects of gender and comorbid diseases were negated by the presence of UGB and returned after UGB was controlled. MPV levels exhibited temporal changes during the course of UGB, indicating that MPV can be used as a marker; however, no statistical relationship was found between temporal MPV values and transfusion amount, a marker for UGB severity. [Med-Science 2020; 9(4.000): 1036-40

Factors affecting the journal choice for manuscript submission: A qualitative study on Turkish medical researchers

© The Author(s) 2022.The factors that affect journal choice for manuscript submission vary, depending on the researcher’s career and field. Although several guidelines are available, information is limited on which criteria are used by Turkish authors. We aimed to evaluate the factors that affect Turkish medical researchers’ journal choice decisions using semi-structured in-depth video conference interviews. The participants identified journal prestige as the major factor, mainly Science Citation Index-Expanded (SCIE) indexing and journal impact factor (JIF), along with acceptance and rejection rates, the age of the journal, and journal audience. Participants identified high publishing costs and mandatory paid open access policy as negative factors. Future policies on covering publishing costs institutionally would be helpful to remove obstacles during journal choice. Turkish medical researchers should be informed on using various indexes and scientometric data to better understand journal performance, rather than only SCIE and JIF

Can MRI related patient anxiety be prevented?

Purpose: To evaluate the effectivity of a combined intervention of information and communication to reduce magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anxiety using prolactin and cortisol as biochemical markers and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

Incidental Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning: Case Report and Current Management

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a commonly used cheap rodenticide, insecticide, and fumigant. Most intoxications in the literature are suicidal ingestions, however, AlP may cause incidental inhalational toxicities as well. After ingestion or inhalation, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea and abdominal pain develops within minutes. Hallmark of toxicity is refractory hypotension, cardiac failure and severe metabolic acidosis developing within a matter of hours are the major cause of mortality. In Turkey, AlP tablets are widely accessible and are sold without any restrictions. However, there are few local case reports in the literature. Additionally, incidental AlP intoxications are rarely reported

Profound loss of neprilysin accompanied by decreased levels of neuropeptides and increased CRP in ulcerative colitis

<div><p>Neprilysin (NEP, CD10) acts to limit excessive inflammation partly by hydrolyzing neuropeptides. Although deletion of NEP exacerbates intestinal inflammation in animal models, its role in ulcerative colitis (UC) is not well explored. Herein, we aimed to demonstrate changes in NEP and associated neuropeptides at the same time in colonic tissue. 72 patients with UC and 27 control patients were included. Patients’ demographic data and laboratory findings, five biopsy samples from active colitis sites and five samples from uninvolved mucosa were collected. Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were extracted from freshly frozen tissues and measured using ELISA. Levels of NEP expression were determined using immunohistochemistry and immunoreactivity scores were calculated. GEBOES grading system was also used. We demonstrated a profound loss (69.4%) of NEP expression in UC, whereas all healthy controls had NEP expression. Patients with UC had lower neuronal SP; however non-neuronal SP remained similar. UC patients had also lower neuronal and non-neuronal VIP levels. CGRP were low in general and no significant changes were observed. Additionally, CRP positive patients with UC had higher rates of NEP loss (80% vs 51.9%) and lower SP levels when compared with CRP negative patients with UC. Concurrent decreases in SP and VIP with profound loss of NEP expression observed in UC is likely to be one of the factors in pathogenesis. Further studies are required to define the role of neuropeptides and NEP in UC.</p></div

Distribution of NEP positivity of patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy controls.

<p>Distribution of NEP positivity of patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy controls.</p