Background: Hearing loss and hypertension are leading causes of disability, affecting over 360 million people. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of factors such as vitamin D and sleep disorder on the risk of hearing loss among hypertensive patients. Material and methods:This prospective cohort study involved 885 patients aged between 25 and 65 years old who visited our ENT and Endocrinology departments. The study was based on biochemical tests, physical examination, hearing assessment, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index test. Statistical analysis used bivariate and multivariate stepwise regression.Results: Of 855 hypertensive patients, 184 (21.5%) had hearing loss. There were statistically significant differences between hypertensive patients with and without hearing loss in terms of BMI, smoking, family history of diabetes, tinnitus, vertigo, and headache. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences between hypertensive patients with hearing loss versus those with normal hearing in terms of vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, potassium, fasting glucose, HbA1C, HDL, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, microalbuminuria, and sleep quality. Among hypertensive patients, a multivariate regression analysis (stepwise method) indicated that vertigo, systolic blood pressure, vitamin D deficiency, numbness in the hand, tinnitus, vigorous activity, metabolic syndrome, sleep disturbance, and obesity were all risk predictors of hearing loss. Conclusions:Controlling hypertension, vitamin D level, sleep, and lifestyle might lower the risk of hearing loss among hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Despite significant advances in the management of patients with COVID-19, there is a need for markers to guide treatment and predict disease severity. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship of the ferritin/albumin (FAR) ratio with disease mortality. Methodology: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Assessment II scores and laboratory results of patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. Data for ferritin, albumin, and ferritin/albumin ratio among COVID-19 patients were analyzed and compared. Results: The mean age was higher in non-survivors (p = 0.778, p < 0.001, respectively). The ferritin/albumin ratio was significantly higher in the non-survival group (p < 0.05). Taking the cut-off value of the ferritin/albumin ratio of 128.71 in the ROC analysis, it predicted the critical clinical status of COVID-19 with 88.4% sensitivity and 88.4% specificity. Conclusions: ferritin/albumin ratio is a practical, inexpensive, and easily accessible test that can be used routinely. In our study, the ferritin/albumin ratio has been identified as a potential parameter in determining the mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care.

Aim: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is one of the important causes of mortality and morbidity for children worldwide, especially in developing countries. Rotavirus is transmitted by the feces of the people carrying it through food and hands. Additionally, door handles, telephones, sockets, and toys may play a role in spreading the infection. In addition to fecal-oral transmission, transmission via droplets has also been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of rotavirus in pediatric acute gastroenteritis cases in our institution and reveal the effect of the increased mask, social distancing and general hygiene recommendations with COVID-19 pandemic on rotavirus gastroenteritis. Methods: A total of 4781 patients aged 0-18 diagnosed with AGE between January 2019 and December 2020 were included in the study. The rotavirus positivity of patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis before and after the pandemic was statistically compared according to season, gender, and age variables. Results: Four hundred nine (8.6%) of 4781 patients were determined as rotavirus positive. The frequency of rotavirus in the age range of 0-2 was higher than that of in the other age ranges. Rotavirus is more common in the winter and spring seasons. In the modeling performed for patients with AGE in our hospital, provided that the other variables remained constant, the risk of rotavirus positivity increased by 1.14 times with the season variable while it decreased by 0.66 times with age. It was concluded that as the age increased, the odds value of being rotavirus positive decreased by 33.4%. While the prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis was 7.5% between March 2019 and December 2019, this frequency decreased to 4.7% with the pandemic (March 2020-December 2020), which was statistically significant (X 2 =8.620; p=0.003). Conclusion:Increasing masks, social distancing and general hygiene recommendations due to COVID 19 have led to a decrease in the frequency of rotavirus infections in children.

Background: Most of the documented literature to date has reported that the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with greater distress, anxiety, anger, stress, and agitation among the general public compared to before the onset of the pandemic. Method and study design:A review was done to now the evidence for the antiviral and immunemodulatory properties of micronutrients. A search was done in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the nutrients with proven effect against viral infection.

Objective: Our investigation aimed to determine the effect of vitamin D levels on the development of insulin resistance in obese adolescents and children and the influences of anthropometric measurements on predicting the development of insulin resistance. Materials and Methods: In this study, demographic data, laboratory findings, and anthropometric measurements of 150 adolescents and children that had obesity diagnoses between May 2021 and September 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. Those with and without insulin resistance were studied with regard to vitamin D levels, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric measurements. Three groups of patients were created: those with low levels of vitamin D (<20 ng/mL), those with insufficient levels (20–30 ng/mL), and those having normal levels (≥30 ng/mL). Groups were compared in terms of homeostatic model score (HOMA-IR) and anthropometric measurements. Correlation analysis was carried out to ascertain the correlation of anthropometric measurements with HOMA-IR. To ascertain the cutoff, specificity, and sensitivity values of anthropometric parameters in predicting insulin resistance in patients, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out. Results: Vitamin D levels of obese adolescents and children with insulin resistance were substantially lower than those without insulin resistance (p < 0.001). As the vitamin D level increased, all anthropometric measurements except for the body fat percentage decreased significantly with the HOMA-IR score (p < 0.05). HOMA-IR demonstrated a strong positive relation with waist circumference (rs = 0.726, p < 0.001). Waist circumference had high specificity and sensitivity in predicting insulin resistance (87.3% and 87.4%, respectively). Conclusions: A significant relationship was observed between insulin resistance development and low levels of vitamin D in obese children and adolescents. As vitamin D levels increase, anthropometric measurements are more stable and do not increase. Waist circumference is the most effective anthropometric measurement for predicting the development of insulin resistance in obese adolescents and children.