Northern Clinics of Istanbul最新文献

Objective: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading causes of mortality, globally. Atherosclerosis is an underlying factor in ACS process and coagulative cascade is activated secondary to atherosclerotic plaque rupture. Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) takes an active role in thrombus formation and is an indicator of coagulative process. We aimed to evaluate serum FPA level in patients with ACS.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with ACS and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), with non-obstructive coronary artery disease as a control group, were included in the study. Blood samples and demographic data of all patients were obtained at admission. Obtained data were compared between ACS and control groups.

Results: The study consisted of 107 patients with ACS and 69 patients with CCS. ACS group was older (p<0.001) with male preponderance (p<0.001), more likely to had hypertension (p<0.001), and had a higher smoking rate (p<0.001). Serum FPA level was highest in the ST elevated myocardial infarction group (p<0.001). FPA>3.38 ng/mL predicted ACS with 89.7% sensitivity and 78% specificity (AUC: 0.825, 95% CI 0.745-0.905; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Serum FPA may be used for the differential diagnosis of ACS. In addition, patients with increased FPA may be considered to be given more aggressive antithrombotic medication.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the costs and resources used for diabetes mellitus (DM) and macrovascular complications in Turkiye.

Methods: The "Cost of Illness" method and a bottom-up costing approach were used in this study. We used e-Nabiz to identify patients with DM and collected their data from 2016 to 2020. We also examined macrovascular complications such as acute coronary syndrome, unstable angina, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular events, transient ischemic attacks, carotid artery syndrome, intracranial hemorrhage, diabetic foot, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and peripheral vascular disease using relevant ICD codes. No sampling was done; costs were calculated based on the entire population. When calculating per patient costs, all outpatient/inpatient, medication, intervention, and laboratory/screening tests were considered.

Results: Between 2016 and 2020, the e-Nabiz database recorded 7,656,700 people diagnosed with diabetes, a prevalence of 10.4%. The total 2020 cost for treating diabetes was $4,526,212,569 (31,276,128,849 TL), with an average patient cost of $591.145. The health-care expense for 991,945 people diagnosed with major vascular complications due to diabetes was $1,013,004,565.0 (6,999,861,544.16 TL) in 2020, with a per patient average cost also of $591.145 (4048.81 TL). Breakdown of the total cost is 44% for healthcare, 34% for medication, 12% for insulin, 6% for oral antidiabetic drugs, and 1% for testing supplies. Women have a complication rate of 11.2%, while men have a higher rate of 20.8%.

Conclusion: DM is both a significant disease burden and an important economic burden. The findings will be a guide the development of effective strategies and sound health policies.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions associated with pediatric psoriasis (Pso) and to evaluate the thickness of Achilles tendon of children with Pso and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: Pso patients who were followed-up in dermatology outpatient clinic were referred to a pediatric rheumatology center. All patients and healthy peers were evaluated with standardized forms. Both patients and controls underwent ultrasonographic evaluation for Achilles tendon thickness.

Results: A total of 55 pediatric Pso and 46 healthy children were included in the study. Of patients with Pso 56.4% had arthralgia, 25.5% had lower back pain, 18.2% had heel pain, 12.7% had hip pain, and 10.9% described morning stiffness. Arthritis was detected in 7.3%, sacroiliac tenderness in 12.7%, and enthesitis in 9.1% of the patients. Arthralgia, lower back pain, and heel pain were significantly frequent in Pso group than healthy children median left and right Achilles tendon thicknesses of Pso patients who were significantly greater than that of HCs prevalence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) among Pso patients was 7.3%.

Conclusion: Evaluation of a child with Pso regularly for the MSK complaints is critical for the early recognition of PsA. Ultrasonography is a useful technique for screening Pso patients for early detection of enthesopaty.

The work aimed to explore the clinical hypothesis on the possible alternative to Opiorphin and its stable analogues for treating fibromyalgia pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by chronic pain triggered by an interplay of biological and psychosocial variables, although the exact pathogenesis is still controversial. Standard therapy for low threshold tender point pain includes NSAIDs and opioid analgesics, both of which have serious adverse profiles after long-term exposure, highlighting the need for an intermediate compound capable of bridging the gap between NSAIDs and opioid analgesics. Opiorphin is an anti-nociceptive modulator which inhibits the enzyme responsible for the degradation of natural endogenous opioid neuropeptides. This paper hypothesizes and concludes that Opiorphin and its stable analogues (Sialorphine, STR-324) can be an alternative for the treatment of chronic long-standing low-threshold tender point pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Objective: Some studies have reported that the systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) provide predictive data on prognosis in gastric cancer patients. In the present study, it was aimed to examine the diagnostic and prognostic values of SII and NLR in gastric cancer.

Methods: A total of 152 patients, operated with the diagnosis of gastric cancer and followed up in the General Surgery Department of our hospital between January 2012 and April 2018, and 152 healthy controls were included in the study.

Results: The mean SII (989±685) and the mean NLR (3.9±5.2) were significantly higher in gastric cancer patients than the healthy control group (433±203 and 1.9±0.8, respectively) (p<0.001 for both). In the receiver operating characteristic analyzes, a threshold value of 892 for SII had a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 62.7% in terms of predicting 5-year survival (AUC: 0.637; p=0.076; LB: 0.475; UB: 0.799; CI 95%). The 5-year survival rate was found to be significantly higher in those with a SII of above 892 than those with a SII of 892 and below (p=0.026). The 5-year mortality risk was 0.67-fold lower in those with SII above 892 (p=0.111; 95% CI 0.4-1.1).

Conclusion: The present study findings show that SII and NLR are far from providing reliable data on gastric cancer prognosis.

Objective: "Fear-avoidance behavior" means that the individual avoids a specific activity or movement due to the perception that it may cause injury. Fear of movement associated with pain can reduce individuals' adaptation to exercise programs. This situation may cause individuals to refrain from taking action and increase the existing limitation. Our aim is investigating of Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) in patients with neck pain and creating a questionnaire option for clinicians and researchers to evaluate the fear-avoidance behavior in neck pain in Turkish.

Methods: The sample of the research was comprised 175 patients between the ages of 18-65, who have a complaint of neck pain that lasted for at least 3 months. The test was applied on patients with neck pain and no treatment, with an interval of 2-7 days. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) were applied on the participants to evaluate the validity of the FABQ.

Results: Accordingly, between FABQ and NHP (r=0.227), pain (NHPP) (r=0.214), emotional reactions (r=0.220), and physical activity (NHPPA) (r=0.243), a weak relationship was observed. A weak correlation was observed between physical activity (FABQ-PA) which are subscales of the FABQ questionnaire and NDI (r=0.210), NHPP (r=0.205), and NHPPA (r=0.267).

Conclusion: FABQ is a valid and reliable tool for patients with neck pain. In our study, a weak relationship was detected between FABQ, NDI, and NHP, as like VAS.

New-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) is a rare entity referring refractory status epilepticus (SE) in a patient without a history of epilepsy or an apparent cause. Herein, we report on a 31-year-old young female of anti-N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis admitted with NORSE. Her complaints began a week ago with a fever, meaningless movements, restlessness, and talking to herself. She had a history of operation for ovarian teratoma 10 years ago. Electrocardiography, hemogram, biochemistry, and neuroimaging were normal. Due to recurrent seizures despite intravenous diazepam infusions, phenytoin infusion was introduced, reducing the duration and frequency of seizures. Electroencephalogram (EEG) revealed a generalized slow background activity with low voltage and delta waves in left hemisphere derivatives without any epileptiform discharge. Autoimmune encephalitis panel revealed a positive anti-NMDAR receptor antibody. Intravenous immunoglobulins were given for 5 days. She was improved clinically and did not have a recurrent seizure. The history of our case emphasizes the importance of EEG and CSF antibody tests to reach the underlying etiology in patients presenting with refractory SE and neuropsychiatric symptoms of an unknown cause. Application of a proper treatment promptly with this approach could prevent the potential morbidity and mortality in these patients.