OBJECTIVE:The relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy has been shown in a number of previous studies. Metformin is the indispensable first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) worldwide. One of the adverse effects of the use of metformin is vitamin B12 deficiency. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and peripheral neuropathy due to the use of metformin.METHODS:Patient’s laboratory and electromyography (EMG) data were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with no EMG report and other necessary information were excluded from the study.RESULTS:Eighty-six patients with type 2 DM using metformin were included in the study. Of these patients, 26 were males and 60 were females. The mean age of the patients was 55.1±7.7 years. The mean body mass index of the patients was 29.1±9.01 kg/m2. The mean HbA1c level of the patients was 8.6%±2.1%. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.02±5.4 years. The incidence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 38.4%. Peripheral neuropathy was detected in 33.7% patients. There was no statistically significant difference in vitamin B12 levels between patients with peripheral neuropathy and those without peripheral neuropathy (p=0.64).CONCLUSION:Therefore, it can be concluded that the lack of vitamin B12 secondary to the use of metformin did not significantly increase the frequency of peripheral neuropathy.

Background: Previous studies have shown that chemerin has important roles in the development of obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and T2DM. The main goal of our study was to investigate the role of Chemerin rs17173608 gene polymorphism in T2DM (type 2 diabetes mellitus). Materials and methods: 100 patients with T2DM and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the present study. DNA isolation from blood samples was performed with K1820-02 DNA Mini Kit. Chemerin gene polymorphism was detected by Tetra- Amplification Refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR). At the end of T-ARMS-PCR, samples were run using gel electrophoresis. Some samples were validated by sequence analysis. Results: In the genotype analysis, 18.0% of patients had TT genotype and 81.0% of TG genotype was detected. GG genotype was not detected in any patient. Genotype of 1 patient was unidentified. Genotype distribution of healthy control group was 12.0% TT genotype and 88.0% TG genotype. Similar to the T2DM group, the GG genotype was not detected in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between T2DM group and healthy control group for TG and TT genotypes. Conclusion: To our knowledge, chemerin rs17173608 gene polymorphism has been investigated in T2DM for the first time herein. In the present study, the TT genotype ratios were higher in the T2DM subjects than in healthy subjects. G allele frequency in the T2DM group was lower than that in the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups.

Aim: To investigate impact of the hypothyroidism on hematological parameters.Material and Method: Twenty patients with hypothyroidism and twenty two healthy subjects were enrolled in this study between February 2015 and July 2015. We collected clinical and laboratory data of patients with hypothyroidism and randomized healthy subject's from the Adıyaman University Medical Faculty Hospital records retrospectively. The patients with anemia, rheumatic diseases, chronic kidney diseases, chronic liver diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, malignancy and acute infections were excluded from the study. Patients were divided into two groups; hypothyroid group and healthy group. TSH values were increased in all of the hypothyroid patients. We compared hematological parameters consist of hemoglobin, platelet count, white blood cell (WBC), red cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) between the two groups.Results: 70% of patients with hypothyroidism were female and 30% of patients were male. Mean age of patients with hypothyroidism were 44,8±13,4. 72,7% of healthy subjects were female and 27,3% of healthy subjects were male. Mean age of healthy subjects was 31±14,6. In the result with Independent sample T test increased RDW-CV values was significantly associated with hypothyroidism (P value =0.01). The other hematological parameters weren't different between the groups (P value >0.05). Conclusion:The present study demonstrated that increased RDW values was associated with hypothyroidism.

Objective: We aimed to draw attention for the first time to patients with Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) who lived in rural Adıyaman with no travel history to endemic areas. Methods: Five cases with fever living in rural areas and diagnosed as CCHF in Emergency Department, Training and Research Hospital, Adıyaman University between May 2014 and June 2015 were evaluated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used in Microbiology Reference Laboratory of Public Health Institute of Turkey to detect CCHF virus RNA and IgM antibodies, respectively. Results: A tick was found in the inguinal region of one patient during physical examination after admission. Three patients had a history of tick bite, while there was no history of tick contact in one patient. All patients received supportive treatment. Two patients were given fresh frozen plasma and platelet suspension because of bleeding and thrombocytopenia. All patients were discharged with full recovery. Conclusions: More attention should be given to detailed medical history and physical examination if there is no explanation for clinical picture in patients with fever living in rural areas and admitted to emergency department during months when the CCHF cases are common in Turkey. Scalp, inguinal and axillary regions of patients should be carefully checked for tick attachment.