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Dental caries is a multifactorial infectious disease caused by the colonization and proliferation of bacteria in the mouth. Recently, it has been reported that local antioxidant and oxidant status may play an important role in the pathogenesis of dental caries. Visfatin is an adipocytokine that enhances leukocyte activation and release of proinflammatory cytokines. In this study, our aim was to investigate the salivary visfatin levels, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) in patients with and without dental caries.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the serological response to SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers at a hospital in Turkey using kits from four different companies. Methods: The study included 120 healthcare workers who received the Sinovac vaccine at a Turkish hospital. Serum samples were collected from these participants who had received the Sinovac vaccine at a median of 1 month after administration of the second dose. Samples were tested using the Abbott SARSCoV-2 IgG II Quant, Beckman Coulter Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Maglumi 2019-nCoV IgG, and Siemens Advia Centaur SARS-CoV-2 IgG test kits. In the presented comparative study, the results of the different immunoassay analyzers were compared. Relationships among the results were evaluated by comparing the levels of antibodies against spike proteins. Results: The results of the antibody analyses differed according to the kits that were used. The Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant test was positive for 44.17% and negative for 55.83% of the participants, the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG test was positive for 80.83% and negative for 19.17%, the Maglumi 2019-nCoV IgG test was negative for 55% and positive for 45%, and the Advia Centaur SARS-CoV-2 IgG test was positive for 88.83% and negative for 11.67%. The number of participants who tested positive when the Abbott kit was used differed significantly compared to other analysis kits (p<0.0001). The difference between the Beckman Coulter and Maglumi kits was not significant (p>0.37), but the difference between the Maglumi and Siemens kits was significant, with the positivity rate of the Siemens kit being significantly higher (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study has confirmed that serological tests produced by different manufacturers can be used to identify individuals exposed to the COVID-19 virus and to assess the exposure rate of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is strongly associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, contributing to a high risk of mortality and morbidity. Diagnostic tests that can predict the development of diabetic PAD in the asymptomatic period are inadequate, and new potential biomarkers are needed. This study was conducted to investigate the diagnostic values of serum netrin-1, endothelin-1, oxidative stress parameters, and L-arginine/methylarginine derivatives for diabetic asymptomatic PAD. Three hundred and eighty-six type-2 diabetes mellitus patients who were clinically asymptomatic for PAD were screened for PAD by ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement. At the same time, forty patients with PAD were included in the study group, and forty-one patients without PAD were included in the control group. Ready-to-use commercial kits were used to measure serum netrin-1, endothelin-1, and oxidative stress markers. Serum netrin-1 median values were found to be significantly higher in the group with diabetic PAD than in the group without (OR [CI 95%]: 1.434 [1.136-1.964], p: 0.036). While a significant positive correlation relationship was detected between total oxidative status and netrin-1 and LDL, a negative significant correlation relationship was detected between ADMA and eGFR. No significant difference was detected between the groups regarding serum endothelin-1, oxidative stress parameters, and L-arginine/methylarginine derivatives. As a result, this study showed that serum netrin-1 levels are high in asymptomatic diabetic PAD patients and can be a possible biomarker in the detection of asymptomatic PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are well-known biomarkers of systemic inflammation that have been associated with many diseases in the past. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between impaired lung functions and the levels of these biomarkers in DMAc exposed people. Methods: 101 non-exposed control subjects (Group 1) and 109 DMAc-exposed workers from the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry were included in the study. In the next step, the exposed group was divided into two groups according to the level of exposure (Group 2 and 3). DMAc, TNF-α, IL-6, creatinine, ALT, AST, GFR and standard spirometry measurements were carried out in all subjects. Results: When compared to the control group, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly high compatible with the increase of DMAc levels, in the exposed groups. Urinary DMAc Levels were 0.06 mg/L in the control group. This level is significantly low when compared to exposed and severely exposed group (2.43 mg/L and 3.17 mg/L). TNF-α levels were 56.86 pg/mL, 145.52 pg/mL and 230.52 pg/mL in control, exposed and severely exposed groups. IL-6 levels were found to be 38.08 pg/mL, 89.19 pg/mL and 116 pg/mL for control, exposed and severely exposed groups, respectively. Similarly, the FEV1/FVC ratio decreased especially in the severely exposed group (p 0.001). Conclusions: In our study, results have revealed that TNF and IL-6 levels are promising biomarkers in the early diagnosis of lung function impairment in inhalational DMAc exposure.