INTRODUCTION Diabetes and its complications are the significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Advanced glycation end products play a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetes complications. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate the possible use of a biomicroscope (ClearPath DS-120), which shows the age-adjusted lens fluorescence ratio (LFR), for the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 160 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent an LFR measurement were recruited to this study. DPN was defined as the presence of neuropathic pain or feet sensory loss (or both). Neurothesiometer, monofilament test, and DN4 test results were used for the diagnosis of DPN. RESULTS The LFR of 43 patients (27%) was higher than the expected levels. According to the DN4 questionnaire, 35 of 160 patients (21%) had neuropathic pain. Thirty-seven patients (23%) had higher vibration perception thresholds than expected (>25 V). The monofilament test showed that 42 patients (26%) seemed to be affected by DPN. All of the tests, when considered individually, revealed that patients with higher LFR had more problems related to DPN (P <0.05). High LFR had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 81% in the diagnosis of DPN. Although there was no significant difference in fasting blood glucose levels, we observed that HbA 1c levels were higher and diabetes duration was longer in patients with higher LFR (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The measurement of LFR may have clinical utility for a noninvasive detection of DPN.

The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Mumps, Measles and Chickenpox for all staff and trainee students working under SBU Fatih Sultan Mehmet EAH in 2018. Methods: A total of 1674 medical staff and trainee students' serum samples were screened retrospectively for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, Mumps, Measles and Chickenpox. The findings were analyzed by using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 (IBM SPSS, Turkey) program. Descriptive statistical methods, Chi Square and Fisher Freeman Halton tests were used in order to analyze of the data. Results: A total of 1674 people, 636 (38%) males and 1038 (62%) females were included in the study. Of these, 502 (30%) were internships in the health school. When examined in terms of total staff; AntiHBs (86%), Mumps IgG (97%), Measles IgG (94%) and VZV IgG (97%) were found to be highly positive. There were no health workers who were positive for anti HIV and measles IgM. There were 4 anti-HCV positive, 2 mumps IgM positive and 1 VZV IgM positive people. Conclusion: It is important to take preventive measures against vaccination preventable diseases and immunization of the personnel working in hospitals. The results obtained in our study were found to be consistent with similar studies conducted in our country.

All procedures in this study involving human participants were performed in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

Objectives: COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease characterized by different symptoms and varying severity from person to person. The aim of this study is to identify the clinical characteristics of healthcare workers (HCWs) who have been infected with coronavirus and investigate which factors affect the disease's severity. Materials and Methods: In our study we have recruited 79 healthcare workers (HCWs). who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and working in a training and research hospital. We have examined their data in two groups as uncomplicated (without a computed tomography sign of pneumonia and respiratory rate <24 per minute, SpO2>93% at room air) and pneumonia group in terms of the severity of the disease. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS v.22.0 with a statistical significance of 0.05. Results: A total of 79 HCWs with a mean age of 33.37±8.44 years were enrolled in the study. They consisted of 47 female and 32 male participant. There were 50 patients in uncomplicated and 29 patients in the pneumonia group. A total of 14 HCWs have been hospitalized with an average stay of 5.43 ± 1,5 days. The number of hospitalization between the groups was higher in the pneumonia group (n:11) than in the uncomplicated group (n:3) (% 38 vs. % 6; p<0.001). HCWs who work in areas in close contact with the patient (high risk units) were more prone to be in the pneumonia group than those working in the other areas of the hospital (22/45 (%48) vs. 7/27 (%25); p=0.019). There wasn't any significant difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, occupation, and the presence of chronic illness of workers (p>0.05). Sore throat, and coughs were the most common onset symptoms of the disease (%34.2 and %31.6, respectively). There was no difference between the groups in terms of biochemical parameters. (p>0.05). Conclusion: Healthcare workers are in the risk group for COVID-19 disease. HCWs working in high-risk units are more vulnerable.