Background and aim: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is an innovative method used in order to diagnose esophagus, stomach, and duodenum diseases. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is fundamental for the prognosis of various benign and malign upper gastrointestinal diseases, as well as for therapy or disease follow-up. The aim of the present study is to classify endoscopy results according to indications and to reveal which indications and results are most commonly seen. Materials and methods: The Esophagogastroduodenoscopy results of 6243 patients were evaluated retrospectively; all patients had applied to the Gaziosmanpaşa Taksim Education and Research Hospital Department of Internal Medicine from 2010 to 2015 on either an outpatient or inpatient basis. Results: In our study, 2548 of the patients were male and 3695 were female. The mean age of the patients was 49.37 ± 16.90 years. The indications for Esophagogastroduodenoscopy were dyspeptic symptoms for 72.8% of females and 70.4% of males. Anemia was the indication for 12.1% of females and 11.8% of males. Other indications included gastrointestinal bleeding, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms and weight loss. Peptic ulcer disease was the result of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy for 55.7% of females and 50.6% of males. Gastric ulcer (15.2% of females and 16% of males), reflux esophagitis (8.1% of females and 10.1% of males), and duodenal ulcer (6.8% of females and 10.1% of males) were the other results. Malignancy was mostly observed in patients whose indications were anemia. Conclusion: The upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy continues to be an up-to-date method of displaying the effectiveness of diseases to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of the symptoms and complaints of the gastrointestinal system, particularly in the evaluation of patients having persistent symptoms. M. Tunc et al.

In this study, we aimed to determine the endothelial dysfunction (ED) and atherosclerosis in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Materials and methods This study was conducted with 83 subjects (26 male, mean age: 46±11 years) consisted of three groups including ADPKD, hypertension (HT) and healthy control groups. The groups were evaluated in terms of serum endocan and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Results Serum endocan and ADMA levels and CIMT were significantly higher while NMD was significantly lower in ADPKD group than control group. FMD and NMD were lower but serum ADMA level was higher in the ADPKD group than HT group; while serum endocan level and CIMT were not significantly different in ADPKD and HT groups. In ADPKD patients, CIMT value and serum endocan and ADMA levels were higher while NMD was lower in patients with eGFR≤60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 than patients with eGFR>60 mL/min/1.73 m 2. Serum ADMA level was higher and NMD was lower in hypertensive ADPKD patients than nonhypertensive ones. Serum endocan level was higher in ADPKD patients with nephrolithiasis and a negative correlation was detected between serum endocan level and 24-hour urine volume. Conclusions Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis are common conditions in ADPKD patients and it was further reinforced in our study. In order to clarify the relationship between serum endocan level and 24-hour urine volume, which is a remarkable finding in our study, larger studies that including the measurement of urine endocan may be useful.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after 6 months of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative but assumed to be COVID-19 positive cases to investigate the relationship between IgG levels and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: This was a single-center study that included patients whose PCR test results were negative at least three times using nasopharyngeal swabs but had clinical findings of COVID-19 and thoracic CT findings compatible with viral pneumonia. Six months after discharge, the IgG antibodies were analyzed. The cutoff value for negative and positive serology was defined as <1.4 (index S/C) and ≥1.4 (index S/C), respectively. In addition, the patients were categorized according to their thoracic CT findings as high (typical) and low (atypical). Also, the patients were grouped into classes as <5% lung involvement versus ≥5% lung involvement. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 49.78±12.96 years. PCR was negative, but patients with COVID-19 symptoms who had SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive were 81.9% (n=95). The antibody titer and lung involvement ≥5% were statistically significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive cases (p<0.001 and p=0.021). Age and chest CT findings were the risk factors for lung involvement (OR=1. 08, p<0.001 and OR=2.19, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study is valuable because increasing severity (≥5%) of lung involvement appears to be associated with high and persistent IgG antibody titers. In probable cases of COVID-19, even if the PCR test is negative, high IgG titers 6 months after discharge can predict the rate of lung parenchymal involvement.

OBJECTIVE: Many chronic diseases such as malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, endothelial dysfunction, and autoimmune diseases, which have been shown to be related to vitamin D in various studies; have similar relations with CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis.We aimed to contribute to the literature by evaluating the relationship between CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol-disulfide hemostasis and vitamin D levels, which we thought may have some effects on the pathogenesis of vitamin D deficiency.METHODS: In our study, 78 female volunteers older than 18 years were included. Volunteers were divided into three groups according to the reference values of vitamin D levels. Biochemical parameters, CTRP-9, TNFα, and thiol/disulfide hemostasis tests taken from all volunteers were studied.RESULTS: In this study, there was a significant difference in CTRP-9, TNFα, total thiol (TT), native thiol (NT), DIS (disulfide), TT/DIS, and NT/DIS levels in vitamin D groups (p<0.05). There was a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and TNFα and DIS, while a significant positive correlation was found with CTRP-9, TT, NT, TT/DIS, and NT/DIS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:It was determined that vitamin D deficiency causes a significant decrease in CTRP-9 level and a significant increase in TNFα level, as well as an increase in thiol/disulfide hemostasis in favor of disulfide, which may be a risk factor for increased oxidative stress. We considered that these changes may play mediator roles for many chronic diseases and metabolic disorders that are increasing in frequency due to vitamin D deficiency.