Muhittin A. Serdar

Comparison of plasma and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid compositions in patients with end-stage renal disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to compare the serum lipid profile and fatty acid (FA) compositions of erythrocyte membrane (EM) and plasma in three different patient groups (group 1: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)+end-stage renal disease (ESRD), group 2: ESRD, group 4: T2DM) and healthy controls (group 3) simultaneously. METHODS 40 ESRD patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) in Gulhane School of Medicine (20 with T2DM) and 32 controls (17 with T2DM, 15 healthy controls) were included in the study. Plasma and EM FA concentrations were measured by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). RESULTS Plasma and EM palmitic acid (PA) and stearic acid (SA) levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients compared to controls (p=0.040 and p=0.002 for plasma, p=0.001 and p=0.010 for EM, respectively). EM docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels were also significantly lower in patients with ESRD+T2DM and ESRD compared to controls (p=0.004 and p=0.037, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Patients with insulin resistance display a pattern of high long chain saturated FAs (PA, SA and arachidic acids). However, while there are no recognized standards for normal EM DHA content, decreased levels of EM DHA in ESRD patient groups (groups 1 and 2) suggest that there may be reduced endogenous synthesis of DHA in HD subjects, due to the decreased functionality of desaturase and elongase enzymes. Because membrane PUFA content affects membrane fluidity and cell signaling, these findings are worthy of further investigation.

Comparison of LabUMat-with-UriSed and iQ®200 fully automatic urine sediment analysers with manual urine analysis

Urine analysis is one of the most common tests for assessing urinary‐tract and kidney diseases. In recent years there have been new developments in the automation of this test. The objective of the present study was to compare the performances of two urine sediment analysers, namely LabUMat with UriSed (77 Elektronika Kft, Budapest, Hungary) and iQ®200 (Iris Diagnostics, Chatsworth, CA, U.S.A.), with the KOVA® method for manual urine measurement by evaluating the results in terms of similar parameters (cells or particles per lower‐power field or high‐power field). The results obtained using the UriSed and iQ®200 analysers were more reproducible (7.1–30.2 and 14.9–35.4% respectively) than those obtained using the manual technique (17.9–44.4%). Significant correlations were established among the three techniques in the evaluation of leucocytes, erythrocytes and epithelial cells. Although the UriSed, iQ®200 and visual‐microscopic measurements were in agreement, confirmation of the results from automated methods by manual urine analyses is significantly useful, especially for pathological cases that were close to the limits of the techniques.

Evaluation of the salivary levels of visfatin, chemerin, and progranulin in periodontal inflammation

ObjectivesIn recent years, adipokines have been reported to play an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, our aim was to investigate the salivary levels of visfatin, chemerin, and progranulin and their relationship with periodontal health and disease.Materials and methodsA total of 72 patients were included in the study, 23 of which were periodontally healthy, 24 had gingivitis, and 25 had periodontitis. The clinical periodontal parameters including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment levels (CAL) were recorded. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected, and the concentration of adipokines was evaluated using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsSalivary visfatin levels were higher in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis compared to those of healthy subjects, while there was no difference between the mean values of gingivitis and periodontitis groups (P > 0.05). There was no difference between the mean values of gingivitis and healthy groups regarding salivary chemerin (P > 0.05), whereas it was detected at higher levels in the periodontitis group compared to the gingivitis and the healthy groups (P < 0.01). Salivary progranulin levels were similar in all groups (P > 0.05). The salivary visfatin level was positively related to PI and GI. The salivary chemerin level was positively related to GI, PD, and CAL.ConclusionsThese results demonstrated that the higher levels of chemerin in the saliva of patients with periodontitis were correlated with the degree of tissue destruction.Clinical relevanceChemerin may be a novel biomarker in saliva to determine the severity of periodontal disease.

High sensitivity detection of salivary 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine levels in patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND Inflammation is associated with hydroxyl radical damage to DNA as a result of oxidative stress. 8-Hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a marker of this process and its levels in saliva could be linked to the severity of periodontal inflammation. The aim of this study was to test the sensitivity of liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in comparison to enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of 8-OHdG in saliva in patients with chronic periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment. METHODS Saliva samples were collected from 23 patients (eight females and 15 males; 46.1 ± 5.1 years of age) with generalized chronic periodontitis and 25 (15 females and 10 males; 44.9 ± 6.8 years of age) periodontally healthy individuals. Patients received initial periodontal treatment consisting of scaling and root planing and were evaluated at baseline and after 6 wk of completion of non-surgical therapy. Salivary 8-OHdG levels were measured using ELISA and LC-MS/MS before and after the treatment. Clinically, plaque index, gingival index, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, gingival recession and probing pocket depth were measured at baseline and after 6 wk. RESULTS Salivary levels of 8-OHdG decreased significantly after the non-surgical periodontal treatment (p < 0.001). Statistically significant positive correlations were observed between plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing values and LC-MS/MS and ELISA levels of 8-OHdG (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION LC-MS/MS is a reliable and sensitive method for evaluating salivary 8-OHdG levels to monitor the treatment response of periodontitis.

Comparison of blood gas, electrolyte and metabolite results measured with two different blood gas analyzers and a core laboratory analyzer

Abstract Background. Blood gas analyzers (BGAs) are important in assessing and monitoring critically ill patients. However, the random use of BGAs to measure blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites increases the variability in test results. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation of blood gas, electrolyte and metabolite results measured with two BGAs and a core laboratory analyzer. Methods. A total of 40 arterial blood gas samples were analyzed with two BGAs [(Nova Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) and Siemens Rapidlab 1265 (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA)) and a core laboratory analyzer [Olympus AU 2700 autoanalyzer (Beckman-Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, CA, USA)]. The results of pH, pCO2, pO2, SO2, sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca+ 2), chloride (Cl−), glucose, and lactate were compared by Passing-Bablok regression analysis and Bland-Altman plots. Results. The present study showed that there was negligible variability of blood gases (pCO2, pO2, SO2), K+ and lactate values between the blood gas and core laboratory analyzers. However, the differences in pH were modest, while Na+, Cl−, Ca2+ and glucose showed poor correlation according to the concordance correlation coefficient. Conclusions. BGAs and core laboratory autoanalyzer demonstrated variable performances and not all tests met minimum performance goals. It is important that clinicians and laboratories are aware of the limitations of their assays.

Associations between erythrocyte membrane fatty acid compositions and insulin resistance in obese adolescents

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Cytokines released from the adipose tissue and fatty acids (FAs) derived from lipolysis or uptake of fats go in to competition with glucose to be uptaken from the liver leads to insulin resistance (IR). We aimed to show the associations among serum lipid profile, FA compositions and IR. METHODS Anthropometrical measurements, biochemical parameters and erythrocyte membrane (EM) FA levels of 95 obese adolescents (41 with IR) and 40 healthy controls were compared. RESULTS LDL-C, fasting insulin levels, HOMA-IR were significantly higher and HDL-C levels were significantly lower in obese patients than in controls (p=0.013, p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). EM C 24:0, C 16:1 ω7 and C 22:1 ω9 FA levels were significantly higher, while C 20:5 ω3 (EPA) levels were significantly lower in obese subjects than in controls (p<0.001, p=0.018, p<0.001, p=0.043 and p<0.001, respectively). Moreover, when obese subjects divided into two groups according to the presence of IR; EM C 16:1 ω7 levels were still significantly higher and EPA levels were still significantly lower in both obese subjects with and without IR compared to controls (p<0.001 for both). CONCLUSION Saturated FA intake should be decreased because of its role in the development of obesity and IR, and ω-3 group FA intake should be increased.

Evaluation of specimens in which the urine sediment analysis was conducted by full-automatic systems and a manual method together with urine culture results

The aim of the present study is to assess leukocyte and bacterial counts, and urine strip leukocyte esterase and as well as nitrite results from IQ200 and UriSed full-automatic urine sediment analyzers, with urine culture results. Six hundred urine cultures were performed in accordance with the routine laboratory procedures of the hospital. A growth 10); however, negative likelihood ratios (NLR) were inadequate for both devices and the manual method (NLR >0.3 for all). However, when the utilization of two tests in combination was analyzed, the diagnostic odds ratio was 48 for the IQ200 (95% confidence interval CI, 12.1-190) and 168 for the UriSed (95% CI, 20.6-1369) in cases in which leukocyte, bacteria, and nitrite measurements were high together. The results of the IQ200, UriSed, and urine strip test do not accurately reflect the urine culture results. Nevertheless, it was concluded that negative nitrite and leukocyte results of both automated and manual tests could be utilized in ruling out a urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis.

Gingival crevicular fluid tissue/blood vessel‐type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐2 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid levels of tissue/blood vessel-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) in patients with periodontitis, with or without rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen patients with RA and chronic periodontitis (RA-P), 15 systemically healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (H-P) and 15 periodontally and systemically healthy volunteers (C) were included in the study. Plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, gingival crevicular fluid t-PA and PAI-2 levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein and disease activity score were evaluated at baseline and 3 mo after mechanical nonsurgical periodontal therapy. RESULTS All periodontal clinical parameters were significantly higher in the RA-P and H-P groups compared with the C group (p < 0.001) and decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.001). Pretreatment t-PA levels were highest in the RA-P group and significantly decreased post-treatment (p = 0.047). Pre- and post-treatment PAI-2 levels were significantly lower in controls compared with both periodontitis groups (p < 0.05). Gingival crevicular fluid volume and the levels of t-PA and PAI-2 were significantly correlated. CONCLUSION In patients with periodontitis and RA, nonsurgical periodontal therapy reduced the pretreatment gingival crevicular fluid t-PA levels, which were significantly correlated with gingival crevicular fluid PAI-2 levels. The significantly higher t-PA and PAI-2 gingival crevicular fluid levels in periodontal patients, regardless of systemic status, suggest that the plasminogen activating system plays a role in the disease process of periodontitis.

A meta‐analysis of surgical success rates in Congenital stapes fixation and juvenile otosclerosis

To assess published reports in the literature on surgical success rates in patients with congenital stapes fixation (CSF) and juvenile otosclerosis (JO).

A Simple and Easy Process for the Determination of Estimated Plasma Glucose Level in Patients Presenting to Hospital: An Example of Multicentric Data Mining.

The aim of the present study was to determine the relation between the simultaneous fasting plasma glucose level and HbA1c in a large population of patients presenting to the hospital, based on various measurement methods available for HbA1c. HbA1c levels of 162,210 patients presenting to various hospitals and laboratories were measured based on seven different systems, and at the same time, eAG levels were calculated based on HbA1c levels. The correlation coefficients (r) between serum plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were found to be 0.809, 0.774, 0.779, 0.817, 0.704, 0.796, and 0.747 in Bio-Rad Variant II, Tosoh G8, ADAMS A1c, Trinity Boronate Affinity, Chromsystems HPLC, Roche Tina-quant, and Abbott Architect, respectively. The concordance correlation coefficients between the eAG levels as calculated with the formulas provided in the text and the eAG levels as calculated according to NGSP directions (where eAG = (28.7*HbA1c) – 46.7) were found to be between 0.9339 and 0.9866. Despite the progress made for the standardization of HbA1c measurements, the relation between serum glucose and HbA1c still demonstrated certain discrepancies pertaining to the differences in measurement methodologies. As a conclusion, each laboratory could determine different eAG levels depending on the data originated by their individual analyzer.