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BackgroundVitamin D deficiency and a high mean platelet volume (MPV) are related to cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with high MPV.MethodsThis study included 434 patients without chronic disease who were not taking vitamin D or calcium supplements. Vitamin D was measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay on the Architect-I2000 system (Abbott Diagnostics, USA), and MPV was measured on the Cell-Dyn Ruby analyzer (Abbott Diagnostics). Patients were divided into Groups 1 (138 [men/women, 46/92]), 2 (148 [men/women, 54/94]), and 3 (148 [men/women, 50/98]) according to vitamin D levels of <10 ng/mL, 10-20 ng/mL, and >20 ng/mL, respectively.ResultsThe vitamin D level in Group 1 (7.7±1.9 ng/mL) was lower than that in Group 2 (15.1±1.6 ng/mL, P<0.001) and Group 3 (25.6±6.3 ng/mL, P<0.001). The MPV in Group 3 (7.5±1.0 fL) was lower than that in Group 1 (8.1±1.1 fL, P<0.001) and Group 2 (7.9±1.0 fL, P=0.009). Linear regression analysis showed that low levels of vitamin D (β=-0.109, P=0.019) was independently associated with increased MPV.ConclusionsThere was a strong association between a low vitamin D level and a high MPV; therefore, vitamin D deficiency may be associated with increased MPV.

IntroductionAlthough serum-providing blood tubes with a barrier are still widely used due to their significant advantages, the use of blood tubes with a barrier to provide plasma is becoming widespread. We compared 22 analytes in a BD Vacutainer® Barricor LH Plasma tube for local clinical validation of this new lithium heparin tube with a barrier.Materials and methodsSamples from 44 volunteers were collected in different tubes (Becton Dickinson and Company): Z tube without additive (reference), clot-activator tube with gel (SST), lithium heparin tube without gel (LiH), and lithium heparin tube with barrier (Barricor). Analyte concentrations in different tubes were compared with the reference tube. All tubes were also evaluated according to additional testing (different centrifugation durations, blood-sampling techniques and individual differences).ResultsAspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose (Glc), potassium (K), lactate dehydrogenase (LD), sodium (Na), and total protein (TP) had a significant bias in Barricor (9.19%, - 3.24%, - 4.88%, 21.60%, - 0.40%, 5.03%, respectively) relative to the reference tube. There was no statistical difference between different centrifugation durations and individual differences for AST, K and LD in LiH and/or Barricor (P > 0.05). There was a significant bias for LD between LiH and Barricor in terms of blood-sampling techniques (21.2% and 12.4%, respectively).ConclusionsRecently, the use of plasma has become prominent due to some of its advantages. In this study, plasma AST, K, LD, Glc and TP levels in Barricor were clinically different in comparison to serum. The results of additional tests showed that higher levels of LD in Barricor did not result from haemolysis, and they might be related to other factors including number of platelets, cellular fragility, or functional environment.

This experiment was designed to investigate the lipid peroxidation and histological effects of chronic fluorosis on first and second generation rat lung tissues. Sixteen, virgin, female Wistar rats were mated with eight males (2:1) for approximately 12 h to obtain first-generation rats. Pregnant rats were divided into two experimental groups (control and fluoride supplemented). The pregnant rats in the fluoride-supplemented group were exposed to 30 mg/L sodium fluoride (NaF) in commercial drinking water containing 0.07 mg/L NaF throughout the gestation and lactation periods. After the lactation period, young animals (first generation; F1) were exposed to the same amount of NaF in drinking water for four months. At the end of the four-month experimental period, nine randomly-chosen male rats (F1) were sacrificed and lung tissues were removed for histopathological and enzymatic lipid peroxidation examination. The second generation rats were obtained from the remaining rats by the same method. They were also treated similarly. At the end of the four-month experimental period, nine randomly-chosen male rats (F2) were sacrificed, and the lungs were removed for histological and lipid peroxidation examination. The rats in the control groups underwent the same procedure without NaF supplementation. It was found that the plasma fluoride and the lung TBARS levels of fluoride supplemented F1 and F2 rats were higher than controls. There were marked histological changes in the lung tissues of fluoride supplemented F1 and F2 rats, as follows: in F1 rats; loss of alveolar architecture, emphysematous areas, descuamation of alveolar epithelium and alveolar congestion were observed. There were thickened interalveolar septae and congestion of alveolar septal vessels. Intraparenchymal thick-walled vessels were also observed. There were markedly perivascular and intraparenchymal focal mononuclear cell infiltrations. In F2 rats, in addition to these changes, there were lipid cell hyperplasia and increased connective tissue mass in the parenchymal areas. It is concluded that chronic fluorosis causes a marked destruction in lung tissues of F1 and F2 rats by causing lipid peroxidation.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major cause of chronic renal failure, and proteinuria is an independent risk factor for the end stage renal disease. The random urine protein: creatinine ratio (P:C ratio) can accurately predict the amount of 24-hour urinary protein excretion. Apelin is thought to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis, and inflammation. This study investigated the apelin concentration and its association with the urine P:C ratio, and metabolic parameters in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). METHODS: This study involved 86 subjects: 56 with newly diagnosed and untreated T2D and 30 non-diabetic controls. All subjects underwent a complete clinical examination that included anthropometric and laboratory measurements. RESULTS: Twenty-four males and sixty-two females participated in this study, and their mean age was 52.27±11.34 years. There were no differences in age, thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH), creatinine clearance, and apelin levels between groups. As expected, fasting plasma glucose, weight, body mass index, and HbA1C were higher in T2D subjects (p=0.001, p=0.02, p=0.03, and p=0.001, respectively). Although apelin levels were higher in the control group, the differences were not statistically significant (p=0.93). The P:C ratio levels were lower in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (p=0.006). A Spearman correlation analysis revealed that serum apelin levels were not correlated with the urine P:C ratio. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that T2D is associated with decreased serum apelin levels and increased urine P:C ratios compared to those in non-diabetic subjects. This association may depend on impaired glucose homeostasis. Our results show that the serum apelin levels were not correlated with the urine protein: creatinine ratio and provide further evidence regarding the relationship between apelin and DN.

The present study investigated the effect of chlorpyrifos on NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in juvenile and adult rats. Chlorpyrifos was administered with the dose of 40 and 70 mg/kg to juvenile and adult rats, respectively. Chlorpyrifos significantly inhibited the AChE activity in juvenile and adult rats (p < .05). NR2A and NR2B levels significantly increased in juvenile and adult rats by chlorpyrifos application (p < .05). Increased NR2A and NR2B levels may reflect increased glutaminergic activity, consequently neuronal damage. In the case of neuronal damage, learning and memory could be affected negatively even though NR2A and NR2B increased.

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Objective: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), associated with Coronavirus disease-2019, is defined as the presence of documented fever, inflammation, and at least two signs of multisystem involvement and lack of an alternative microbial diagnosis in children who have recent or current Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 infection or exposure. In this study, we evaluated thyroid function tests in pediatric cases with MIS-C in order to understand how the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis was affected and to examine the relationship between disease severity and thyroid function. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between January 2021 and September 2021. The patient group consisted of 36 MIS-C cases, the control group included 72 healthy children. Demographic features, clinical findings, inflammatory markers, thyroid function tests, and thyroid antibody levels in cases of MIS-C were recorded. Thyroid function tests were recorded in the healthy control group. Results: When MIS-C and healthy control groups were compared, free triiodothyronine (fT3) level was lower in MIS-C cases, while free thyroxine (fT4) level was found to be lower in the healthy group (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Although the fT4 level was significantly lower in controls, no significant difference was found compared with the age-appropriate reference intervals (p=0.318). When MIS-C cases were stratified by intensive care requirement, fT3 levels were also lower in those admitted to intensive care and also in those who received steroid treatment (p=0.043, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Since the endocrine system critically coordinates and regulates important metabolic and biochemical pathways, investigation of endocrine function in MIS-C may be beneficial. These results show an association between low fT3 levels and both diagnosis of MIS-C and requirement for intensive care. Further studies are needed to predict the prognosis and develop a long-term follow-up management plan.