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Background: Unsuitable samples are common problem for laboratories. The blood collection tubes need to be validated or verified prior to their being used in the routine laboratory for reducing this situation. Objective: We aim to compare the technical qualifications of routinely used BD Vacutainer® Serum Separator Tubes™ II Advance Plus with BD Vacutainer® Barricor™ LH Plasma Tubes for local technical validation. Materials and methods: Apparently healthy 150 voluntary subjects were enrolled in the study. Samples were collected in two separated tubes by a single phlebotomist. Twelve quality indicators were used to compare these two different types of tubes for local technical validation. Differences (%) between them were calculated with the formula proposed by EFLM. In case of any difference of less than 1% for each indicator, the evaluated tube was considered as non-inferior. Results: Indicators, such as tubes with physical defects, that fail to create vacuum, not properly fitting into the blood collection device, under filling (10%), cracked tubes, tubes exterior surface contaminated with blood, hemolysed specimens, including fibrin strand/mass in the sample, red blood cell adhesion, poor/incomplete barrier formation were found non-inferior in Barricor™ tubes. White particulate matter (WPM) was observed in 24.6% of Barricor™. Therefore, the last indicator (tubes including gel/foreign material/WPM in sample after centrifugation) was found inferior for Barricor™. Conclusion: Technical local validation studies should be encouraged in terms of quality management. It was thought that WPM would not cause any interference in a properly filled tube. In addition to, Barricor™ was also found to be technically acceptable when evaluated through using all other indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous studies have shown an association between thyroid function and insulin resistance and obesity. We compared insulin resistance and body mass index (BMI) in patients with normal TSH levels (2.5–4.2 µIU/mL), patients diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, and healthy control subjects. Methods: The study included 104 subjects and was conducted at the Taksim Education and Research Hospital. The subjects were divided into three groups according to TSH levels: Group 1 (high-normal), TSH levels were 2.5–4.2 µIU/mL (n=33); Group 2 (subclinical hypothyroidism), TSH levels were 4.2–10 µIU/ mL (n=42); and Group 3 (healthy control), TSH levels were 0.27–2.5 µIU/mL (n=29).The fT3 and fT4 levels were within normal limits in all groups. Insulin resistance and BMI were compared among groups. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to estimate insulin resistance. Results: HOMA-IR and BMI were not significantly different among groups (p>0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between BMI and HOMA-IR in the high-normal TSH (p>0.059) and subclinical hypothyroidism (p>0.05) groups. Conclusions: HOMA-IR and BMI are important for the assessment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. We found no significant difference in HOMA-IR and BMI values among the three TSH reference range groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common ulcerative disease of the oral mucosa that commonly affects the general population. The objective of this study was to conduct a research in assesing the relationship between psychological disorders including anxiety, depression and salivary cortisol levels in patients with RAS., Methods: Thirty-nine patients suffering from minor RAS were enrolled in the study after obtaining an informed consent. The control group consisted of 25 age and gender matched healthy individuals. All subjects were evaluated by using both psychological tests (Hamilton's anxiety rating scale [HARS] and Hamilton's depression rating scale [HDRS]) and physiological testing instrument (salivary cortisol level)., Results: While no statistical difference was found between the patients with RAS and controls for both salivary cortisol levels and anxiety, there was statisticaly significant difference between the groups for depression., Conclusion: There was no significant increase in salivary cortisol levels in patients with active disease when compared to the healthy subjects. But we found that depression scale values were significantly higher in patients with RAS., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.