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IntroductionThe arrhythmia potential has not been investigated adequately in psoriatic patients. In this study, we assessed the ventricular repolarization dispersion, using the Tp-e interval and the Tp-e/QT ratio, and investigated the association with inflammation.Material and methodsSeventy-one psoriasis vulgaris patients and 70 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. The severity of the disease was calculated using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scoring. The QTd was defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT intervals. The Tp-e interval was defined as the interval from the peak of the T wave to the end of the T wave. The Tp-e interval was corrected for heart rate. The Tp-e/QT ratio was calculated using these measurements.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the groups with respect to basal clinical and laboratory characteristics (p > 0.05). The Tp-e interval, the corrected Tp-e interval (cTp-e) and the Tp-e/QT ratio were also significantly higher in psoriasis patients compared to the control group (78.5 ±8.0 ms vs. 71.4 ±7.6 ms, p < 0.001, 86.3 ±13.2 ms vs. 77.6 ±9.0 ms, p < 0.001 and 0.21 ±0.02 vs. 0.19 ±0.02, p < 0.001 respectively). A significant correlation was detected between the cTp-e time and the Tp-e/QT ratio and the PASI score in the group of psoriatic patients (r = 0.51, p < 0.001; r = 0.59, p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsIn our study, we detected a significant increase in the Tp-e interval and the Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The Tp-e interval and the Tp-e/QT ratio may be predictors for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Background/aim: It is claimed that aberrant immune response has a more important role than the cytopathic effect of the virus in the morbidity and mortality of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to investigate the possible roles of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) / Fn14 pathway and leukotrienes (LT) in uncontrolled immune response that occurs in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Materials and methods: This study included 25 asymptomatic patients and 35 patients with lung involvement who were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as 22 healthy volunteer. Lung involvement was determined using computed-tomography. Serum TWEAK, LTE4, and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) levels were determined. Results: Compared with the healthy control group, TWEAK, LTE4, and PGF2α levels were higher in the group of SARS-CoV-2 infection without lung involvement. In the group of SARS-CoV-2 infection with lung involvement, age, fibrinogen, sedimentation, C-reactive protein and ferritin, TWEAK, LTE4, and PGF2α levels were higher, and lymphocyte levels were lower compared with the asymptomatic group. Conclusions: In the study, TWEAK and LTE4 levels increased in cases with COVID-19. These results support that TWEAK / Fn14 pathway and LT may involved in the pathology of aberrant immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Inhibition of each of these pathways may be a potential target in the treatment of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE:Considering that both hearing loss and Type 2 diabetes (DM2) are significant health issues, it is worthwhile to examine the relationship between the two. After evaluating the existing literature, it was evident that there have not been sufficient prospective studies about hearing loss and DM2 that include elderly participants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to focus on and evaluate the interaction between DM2 and hearing loss in an elderly population. MATERIALS and METHODS:The current study included 93 DM2 subjects, 65-89 years of age, as well as a control Group of 90 non-diabetic subjects, aged 65-85 years of aged, who were matched to the DM2 subjects by age and sex. RESULTS:The current investigation produced five major findings. The diabetics had higher thresholds for all frequencies, except 0.25 kHz, compared to the controls. Although there were significant differences at low frequencies, such as 0.5 and 1 kHz, the differences were most pronounced at 2, 4, and 8 kHz. The thresholds for speech reception were significantly higher in the diabetics than in the controls. Also, there were no side differences between the right and left ears in the diabetics or the controls, and the diabetics had lower speech discrimination scores than the controls. CONCLUSION:Diabetes is a complex, systemic disease that can affect multiple organs and physiological functions, on molecular and biochemical levels. The current investigation showed that elderly DM2 subjects had poorer hearing levels when compared with age and sex matched non-DM2 subjects.

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