ObjectiveAppendicitis is very commonly encountered in emergency clinics. There is an urgent need for early and accurate predictive biomarkers of appendicitis in order to save lives, because currently-available biomarkers are imprecise and their delayed response impairs the ability of emergency doctors and pediatric surgeons to provide timely and potentially effective therapies. This study was performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.MethodsSixty children were enrolled and divided into three groups, with 20 patients per group: Group 1 (patients with appendicitis), Group 2 (patients with abdominal pain) and Group 3 (control). Blood NGAL levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsThe basal average serum NGAL levels were 8.2 ng/ml for Group 1, 3.9 ng/ml for Group 2, and 3.3 ng/ml for Group 3. Twenty-four and 72 h after surgery the levels were 5.1 and 2.8 ng/ml, respectively, in Group 1, 2.9 and 2.8 ng/ml in Group 2, and 2.6, 2.7 ng/ml in Group 3. Setting the cut-off point to 7 generated an area under the receiving operating curve (ROC) curve at 95 % confidence interval with 77.3 % sensitivity and 97.4 % specificity.ConclusionThese data indicate a significant difference in NGAL values between basal and postoperative measurements in appendicitis patients (p < 0.05). The ROC curve results showed that NGAL is a promising novel biomarker for the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.

Summary Background Schizophrenia, particularly the form related to excessive dopamine (DA), is a chronic psychotic disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Renalase metabolizes its catecholamine (CA) substrates, including DA, suggesting that there might be an association between renalase levels and schizophrenia occurrence. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the renalase and CA levels in the serum of patients with schizophrenia. Methods The study was conducted with thirty-three schizophrenia patients and an age- and gender-matched group of thirty-one controls. Renalase and CA levels were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Renalase levels were significantly lower in the schizophrenia patients than in the control group (p<0.05), whereas DA levels were significantly higher (p<0.05). The epinephrine (Epi) levels of both groups were similar (p=0.186), while the norepinephrine levels in patients with schizophrenia were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). The areas under the curves for the renalase-dopamine, renalase-norepinephrine and renalase-epinephrine ratios were 0.805, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.699–0.912 (p<0.001); 0.726, 95% CI: 0.594–0.859 (p=0.032); and 0.656, 95% CI: 0.520–0.791 (p=0.02). Conclusions The high DA levels in patients with schizophrenia might be due to low renalase levels. Renalase enzyme levels may play a substantial role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Thus, this enzyme might be a new future target for the treatment and diagnosis of schizophrenia after intrabrain renalase and DA dynamics have been further evaluated.

Summary BackgroundApelin (APLN), elabela (ELA), and nitric oxide (NO) have effects on physiological and behavioural properties in biological systems. This study was designed to determine APLN, ELA and NO levels in schizophrenia patients and assess whether these molecules are of diagnostic value. Methods A total of 33 schizophrenic patients and 32 age- and sex-adjusted healthy participants were included in the study. ELA, APLN and NO levels were measured using ELISA methods. Results Although the ELA and NO levels of the patients were lower than the control group, APLN levels were higher (p = 0.039, p = 0.019, p = 0.048, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between APLN levels and triglyceride (TG) and body mass index (BMI) levels (r = -0.426, p = < 0.001 and r = -0.330, p = 0.007, respectively). Respectively, the areas under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the ELA/APLN, ELA/NO and APLN/NO ratios were 0.628, 0.590 and 0.709, 95% confident intervals (CI): 0.491–0.764, 0.450–0.730 and 0.579–0.840. Conclusions Decreased levels of ELA and NO and increased APLN levels in schizophrenia suggest that these molecules may be involved in its etiopathology. The APLN/NO ratio also seems to show promise in the diagnosis of the disease and may be used in future.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the association between HBV-DNA levels and biochemical parameters, age, gender, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic markers. Materials and Methods: A total of 124 HBsAg (+) serum samples of the patients with chronic hepatitis B, were included in the study. HBV-DNA level, HBV serological markers, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartat transaminase, gama-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lipase, bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase, and C-reactive protein levels in the samples were evaluated. HBV-DNA levels were quantitatively evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological markers were evaluated by ELISA. Results: With molecular testing, 116 samples were positive for HBV-DNA, of them 36.2% had an HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/mL. The number of samples with HBV-DNA levels >2000 IU/mL were higher in females than those of males. 44.4% of all HBeAg (+) patients with elevated ALT levels had an HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/ mL. All HBeAg (+) patients, 24.4% of HBeAg (-) patients, and 25.5% of anti-HBe (+) patients had elevated ALT levels. 99 of the 106 anti-HBe (+) carriers, of whom 27 had elevated ALT levels, were PCR positive. All HBeAg-positive samples were HBV-DNA positive. The rate of samples with elevated biochemical parameters except GGT levels were higher serian patients with HBV-DNA level >2000 IU/mL than in patients with HBV-DNA level <2000 IU/mL. A statistically significant relationship was detected only between lipase and HBV-DNA levels. Conclusion: It is clear that HBeAg seroconversion is not sufficiently definitive to determine the infectivity and it is crucial to evaluate HBV serological tests, HBV-DNA levels, transaminases levels besides the clinical picture of the patient in the diagnosis of the infection.