Objective: The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread rapidly all over the world and caused anxiety disorders. Recent studies have also shown that the prevalence of depression and anxiety increased during the COVID-19 outbreak. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression levels during the pandemic and identify the effect of pandemic-related stress on blood pressure (BP) control in primary hypertensive patients.
Method: A total of 142 patients with primary hypertension (HT) who continued to use the same antihypertensive drugs before and during the pandemic were included in the study. Twenty-four -hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire were applied to patients. We retrospectively reviewed 24-h ABPM records of the same patients for the year before the pandemic.
Results: Daytime, nighttime and 24 -hour-systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels as well as daytime, nighttime, and 24- hour-diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, were significantly elevated during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to the pre-pandemic period (p<0.001). Higher HADS-A scores (HADS-A ≥7) were significantly associated with much greater increase in BP compared to the patients with lower HADS-A scores.
Conclusion: Psychological stress due to the COVID-19 outbreak led to worsening of the regulation of BP in controlled hypertensive patients whose antihypertensive treatments did not change.

Objective: In the present study, cardiac autonomic functions in CSA patients were evaluated before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using heart rate variability (HRV).
Methods: Thirty patients with CSA were recruited from cardiology outpatient clinics of VMMC and Safdarjung hospital, New Delhi, India. For each patient HRV parameters (LF, HF, LF: HF ratio, SDNN, RMSSD, total power, and pNN50) were gathered before and after PCI. Data were compiled and analyzed using licensed statistical software: SPSS version 21.0.
Results: Out of 30 subjects, SDNN (61.47±22.27 vs. 32.24±16.50ms, p<0.0001), RMSSD (53.86±31.41 vs. 28.81±23.80ms, p=0.001) and pNN50 (46.24±34.36 vs. 5.20±6.63, p<0.0001) in post-PCI were significantly higher as compared to the pre-PCI values. There were significant increases in both LF (1193ms2±302.04ms2vs. 1054.60ms2±208 ms2, p<0.001) and HF (991.57±872.40ms2vs. 466.72ms2±257.93ms2, p<0.0001), also in total power (3548.37ms2±807.73ms2vs. 2428 ms2±867.07 ms2, p<0.0001) in post-PCI as compared to pre-PCI. The LF: HF ratio in pre-PCI was higher as compared to post-PCI (1.467±1.639 vs. 1.143±0.852, p=0.805), but the difference was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: In this preliminary study, it is concluded that there is significant improvement in resting cardiovascular parameters, resting autonomic tone as measured by HRV which shows increase in both parasympathetic as well as sympathetic reactivity following revascularization by PCI in CSA patients. Hence, we also suggest that the use of noninvasive tests such as HRV should be done to stratify further risk of disease progression.

Objective: Spontaneous abortion is the most common complication of early pregnancy, affecting up to 20% of recognized pregnancies. Kisspeptin is predominantly released by placental syncytiotrophoblasts, and regulates their placental invasion into the uterine matrices. We aimed to establish an association of serum kisspeptin levels with pregnancy outcomes during the early gestational stage of the first trimester.
Method: In this prospective study, 90 pregnant women in their 7 to 8 6/7 gestational weeks were classified into three groups: (i) The control group, consisting of healthy pregnant women (n=30), (ii) the threatened abortion group (n=30), and (iii) the spontaneous abortion group (n=30). The maternal serum samples were analyzed for complete blood count parameters and kisspeptin levels.
Results: There was no statistical difference regarding body mass index (BMI) and gestational age (p=0.370). Regarding detailed obstetric notations, including gravida, parity, abortion, and living children, socioeconomic levels, and employment rates, all study groups were comparable (p>0.05, for all). No significant association was found regarding the biochemical parameters of complete blood count, including neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet concentrations, as well as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR) (p>0.05, for all). The median serum kisspeptin levels of the study groups did not differ between the groups (p=0.153). Correlation analysis revealed no significant relationship between serum kisspeptin levels and other study parameters in any study groups (p>0.05, for all)
Conclusions: We found no statistically significant relationship between serum kisspeptin concentrations and pregnancy outcomes in the early gestational stage of the first trimester, and serum kisspeptin concentrations did not seem to be a reliable marker to distinguish abortion status from viable pregnancy

Objective: To investigate whether partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) level in arterial blood gas analysis that was used to predict nocturnal hypoventilation (NH) is concordant with nocturnal end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2) measurement obtained by a noninvasive method of oxycapnography in children with neuromuscular disease (NMD).
Methods: Twenty-one patients aged 6-18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of NMD were enrolled. Each patient underwent a nocturnal oxycapnography study using an orinasal probe and a pulse oximetry finger probe to record PetCO2, oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse rate, and respiratory rate. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed to record PaCO2 levels on three occasions at night (23: 00 pm, 03: 00 am, 07: 00 am).
Results: The mean overnight PaCO2 level of the three blood gas analyses (mean PaCO2noct) was 41.78±4.69 mmHg. A significant change was observed between mean PaCO2 23: 00 and PaCO2 07: 00 levels (p=0.032). There was no significant difference between PaCO2, PetCO2, and SpO2 levels in the NMD group. The interclass correlation coefficient between PaCO2 07: 00 and PetCO2 levels was 0.791 (95% CI: 0.533-0.923); the interclass correlation coefficient between overnight mean PaCO2 and PetCO2 levels was 0.811 (95% CI: 0.533-0.923).
Conclusion: Our study indicates that nocturnal PetCO2 and PaCO2 levels were statistically comparable but the use of PaCO2 alone is not adequate to make an early diagnosis of NH in NMD. There is a need for making more restrictive definitions for NH, and conducting studies with larger study populations to reach an agreement on the best definition of hypoventilation, and updating consensus guidelines.

Objective: Obesity is one of the most common comorbidities of diabetes mellitus (DM) whose frequency is rapidly increasing nowadays. Although obesity caused by excessive and unbalanced nutrition often accompanies diabetes; malnutrition is another complication of diabetes. This study was conducted to investigate the frequency of malnutrition in individuals with diabetes.
Method: This study is a cross-sectional study. The patients with type 2 diabetes followed up in the diabetes outpatient clinic of a university hospital between February and March 2018 were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the patients and “Nutritional Risk Screening-2002” (NRS-2002) scores were recorded.
Results: A total of 222 (F: 132 59.4%) patients were included in the study. When two groups with higher NRS (≥3) and lower NRS (<3) scores less than 3 were compared, any significant difference was not detected between two groups in terms of age, waist circumference and HbA1c values. Only BMI was found to be lower in the group with malnutrition risk (p: 0.030). When the patients were evaluated in terms of diabetes treatments and risk of malnutrition, any significant intergroup difference was not found (p: 0.847).
Conclusion: It was found that there is a risk of malnutrition in one of every seven diabetics with a high body mass index who were being followed up in the diabetes outpatient clinic.

Objective: Non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium strains have been recognized as important pathogens after decades of confusion regarding their microbiological classification and clinical significance. The aim of this study was to identify non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium strains and the prevalence of biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance.
Method: In total, 126 non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium strains were isolated from blood cultures of inpatients with bacteremia in our hospital between January 2015 and January 2020. Blood cultures were analyzed with the Bactec-9120 system. Strains were identified using MALDI-TOF MS (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on a Mueller-Hinton agar and evaluated according to EUCAST standards. Biofilm formation was assessed with the Congo Red Agar method.
Results: Corynebacterium striatum and Corynebacterium matruchotii were the most prevalent with 29 and 26 isolates, respectively. Biofilm production was detected in 62.06% (18/29) of C. striatum, in 53.8% (14/26) of C. matruchotii, in 50% (9/18) of Corynebacterium afermentans, 50% (6/12) of Corynebacterium amycolatum, and in 46% (7/15) of Corynebacterium jeikeium strains. Among the five most prevalent strains, we found a high biofilm rate of 54%. The resistance rates to penicillin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, tetracycline, and gentamicin were 91.2%, 87.3%, 79.3%, 56.3%, 45.2%, and 39.6%, respectively. All 126 strains were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid.
Conclusion: Non-diphtheriae Corynebacterium strains isolated from blood cultures of hospitalized patients with bacteremia may have multidrug resistance and the ability to produce biofilm. These results emphasize the importance of identifying strains and determining their antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm production potential.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to reveal the level of predicting mortality of the Neutrophil/Lymphocyte (NLR) and Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratios (TLR) calculated in patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of pneumonia in the intensive care unit when compared with other prognostic scores.
Method: The hospital records of 112 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2015 and January 2018 and met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively reviewed. The patients’ demographic data, the NLR and PLR levels, and the APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) and SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) scores were calculated from the patient files.
Results: Of the 112 patients examined, 70 were males. The risk analysis showed that the male gender had 2.7 times higher risk of mortality. The NLR, PLR, APACHE II, and SOFA values were found statistically significant in predicting mortality (p<0.001). An evaluation of the risk ratios demonstrated that each one point increase in the NLR increased the mortality risk by 5%, and each one point increase in the SOFA score increased the mortality risk by 13% (p<0.05). In the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis, the NLR assessment proved to be the most powerful, most specific, and sensitive test. The cut-off values were 11.3 for the NLR, 227 for the PLR, 29.8 for the APACHE II scores, and 5.5 for the SOFA scores.
Conclusion: We believe that NLR and PLR are strong and independent predictors of mortality that can be easily and cost-effectively tested.

Objective: This study investigated the effectivity of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) value in evaluating parotid gland tumors (PGTs), and aimed to reduce the biopsy procedure before surgery.
Methods: This retrospective study included 54 PGTs of 42 patients’ (24 female, 18 male, mean age; 51.4±15.9). All of the patients had an MRI, and histopathologic diagnosis. The signal intensity [T1 and T2 Weighted (W), T1W after intravenous contrast agent injection] and mean ADC values of the PGTs were measured. Also contrast enhancement pattern (homogenous, heterogeneous, peripheral or none), margin features (well or ill-defined), sizes, location (superficial lobe/deeplobe/both), perineural spread, presence of lymphadenopathy, and extension to adjacent structures were noted.
Results: The distribution of PGTs was; 21 pleomorphic adenomas, 18 Warthin tumors, 2 lymph nodes, 2 mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 5 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 1 basal cell carcinoma,2 metastases and 2 lymphomas; (13 malignant and 41 benign lesions). Morphologic parameters; ill-defined margin, perineural spread, lymphadenopathy, and extension to adjacent structures were found to be significantly associated with malign lesions (p<0.01). There was a significant difference between ADC values of malignant and benign PGTs (p<0.05). Also ADC values and T2 signal intensity was significantly lower in Warthin tumors rather than pleomorphic adenomas (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Mean ADC values when considered with morphological features may be accessible methods to distinguish benign and malignant PGTs, also ADC values and T2 signal intensity may be useful for differentiating pleomorphic adenomas from Warthin tumors, thereby reducing the number of biopsies and thus complications.

Objective: Hypocholesterolemia is a metabolism disorder that may be seen in chronic diseases and malignancies. Various dyslipidemia profiles have been shown in adult and pediatric hematological malignancies. We aimed to evaluate the lipid profile properties in patients diagnosed with a hematological malignancy compared to a healthy control group.
Method: Out of 1213 patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancy, the data of 98 patients whose pretreatment lipid profiles had already been studied, were reviewed. Forty healthy individuals were selected as the control group. The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were compared.
Results: Triglyceride values were significantly higher (p=0.02), and the total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels were lower in the study group compared to the control group. Triglyceride values were higher (p=0.013), and HDL levels were lower (p=0.022) in parallel with increases in uric acid levels. There was a significant correlation between the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score and TG (p=0.003) in those diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Whereas no significant correlation was found between TG, total cholesterol, and LDL values in the limited (early) and advanced stage NHL, while a significant negative correlation was found with HDL (p=0.027).
Conclusion: Hypertriglyceridemia, as well as low LDL and HDL values may be seen in hematological malignancies. It should be kept in mind that there may be chronic diseases and malignancies in the etiology of incidental hypocholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Further studies are needed on this subject to determine the effects of dyslipidemia on the pathogenesis and prognosis of the disease in hematological malignancies.

Infants and other children can be affected by various acute, chronic and many of them rare illnesses. Developing drugs for children is very challenging since they cannot intake tablets or hard oral solid dosage forms. Besides, most of the prescribed pediatric medications are unlicensed. The biggest issue that clinicians have to solve is that dosing in children is not based on weight or surface area of the body, as it happened in adults but is related to age variations in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination. Thus, for pediatric patients, various therapeutic approaches have been proposed so as to develop suitable formulations such as liquid dosage forms, flexible capsules, milk-based products, etc. In addition, the administration of current pharmaceutical products to children might lead to some serious side effects which can also happen in adults but with a lower risk. Especially, infants are at high risk of getting poisoned by taking drugs used for adults. Moreover, children are very sensitive to the taste and smell of some pharmaceutical vehicles and can resist to intake them and this situation leads parents to search for tasteless and odorless medications. In this study, the current formulations for various diseases intended to be used in pediatric patients as well as various chronic and acute diseases of childhood are summarized. Authors believe that this review can help professionals who want to work with pediatric formulations to design more efficient and child-friendly drug delivery systems.

Pneumatosis cystoides-like pattern is a group of histopathological features occasionally found in ovarian teratomas. This is a case of laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy performed for incomplete adnexal torsion where histology reported mature ovarian teratoma with “pneumatosis cystoides-like appearance”. This term is used to describe the presence of multiple cystic spaces within the tumor wall. It has been reported also in other organs, such as gastrointestinal tract, urinary bladder and the vagina. It may be secondary to mechanical, bacterial or ischemic causes, with the pathogenesis remaining unclear. It is benign and may exist more often than reported.

Glioblastoma, also known as glioblastoma multiforme, is an aggressive type of cancer that is made up of abnormal astrocytic cells, but also contain a mixture of different cell types (including blood vessels) and areas of necrosis. It is often seen in the brain and spinal cord, but glioblastomas are rarely found in the third ventricle. In this case, it was diagnosed in a 22-year-old male patient and we intended to draw

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare occurrence, and primarily involves the proximal part of the Eustachian tube. Mechanical obstruction of the Eustachian tube will affect the pressure discrepancy between the middle ear and the external atmosphere, leading to aural fullness, unilateral hearing disturbance, and otitis media. These conditions can be overlooked or mistakenly diagnosed as ear pathology. We report a case of unilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in a 31-year-old healthy woman that was later confirmed to be tuberculosis of the Eustachian tube. In cases with indicators suggesting a high index of suspicion, a thorough examination of the head and neck regions is especially very important. Once it has been diagnosed, Eustachian tuberculosis can be successfully treated with anti-tuberculosis medications.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a progressive disease with an indolent course, and tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is rarely seen in CLL. Ibrutinib is a novel bruton kinase (BTK) inhibitor increasingly used in CLL treatment. Ibrutinib has significant side effects such as atrial fibrillation, bleeding, diarrhea, and infections. However, TLS is reported rarely with ibrutinib treatment. This report focuses on a 69-year-old female patient diagnosed with relapsed CLL who developed grade 4 TLS after ibrutinib monotherapy. The patient developed TLS on the third day of ibrutinib treatment necessitating discontinuation of the treatment and initiation of hemodialysis and supportive care. Ibrutinib treatment was re-initiated at a daily dose of 140 mg therapy after an interval of seven days, and then any additional side effect was not seen. Tumor lysis syndrome secondary to ibrutinib has been reported in an increasing number of cases. There is currently no information on managing adverse effects of TLS attributed to ibrutinib. Consequently, ibrutinib treatment of this patient was not terminated, and restarted after a short interval. It must not be forgotten that TLS secondary to ibrutinib treatment may be rarely seen, and can be life-threatening. Treatment with ibrutinib should be initiated in consideration of this side effect, and the development of complication of TLS may not necessitate discontinuation of ibrutinib treatment.

Weeks and even months after recovering from the SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinically more severe cases are being reported, which are suggestive of COVID-19- related multisystemic inflammatory syndromes (MIS). Firstly on March 2020, this condition was reported to be COVID-19 related to children (MIS-C). Since June 2020, a syndrome similar to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A) came to be noticed in adults as well. We reported here a case of 24-year-old young woman who had gone to a hospital with abdominal pain and later developed a severe cough, followed by development of subconjunctival bleeding, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, and intra-abdominal fluid that we deemed them to be acute multisystemic clinical symptoms, 47 days after she had undergone a COVID-19 infection of mild clinical severity. It should be kept in mind that a multisystemic inflammatory syndrome along with a delayed immune response during COVID-19 disease can be seen not only in children but also in young adults, and seemingly severe clinical and laboratory findings can improve by controlling the inflammatory process.