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Background/aim: The present study aimed to assess erythrocyte morphology in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using scanning electron microscopy.Materials and methods: In total, 30 patients admitted to endocrine outpatient clinics were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their fasting blood glucose levels: type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 15, fasting blood glucose levels ≥ 126 mg/dL) and control (n = 15, fasting blood glucose levels < 99 mg/dL). The patient's demographic characteristics, haemoglobin A1c levels and scanning electron microscopy findings regarding erythrocyte morphology were recorded.Results: There was no significant difference between the control and type 2 diabetes mellitus group in terms of the participants'age (51.13 ± 8.53 vs. 50.33 ± 8.72 years, p = 0.8) and the male/female ratio (9/6 vs. 9/6) respectively. In the control group, discocytes were abundant, echinocytes were rare and spherocytes were absent. On the other hand, discocytes were less common and echinocyte-shaped erythrocytes were more common in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group. In addition, spherocytes were detected in this group. Moreover, the diameter of discocytes was significantly lower (p = 0.014) and blood glucose and haemoglobin A1c levels were significantly higher (p < 0.05 for both) in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group than in the control group. Conclusions:Our findings indicate that high glucose levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients lead to significant alterations in erythrocyte morphology, including decreased erythrocyte deformability and the formation of echinocytes and spherocytes due to eryptosis. The possibility of decreased erythrocyte deformability due to excessive 2 eryptosis may disturb microcirculation in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve type diabetes mellitus patients who do not have any complications.

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Purpose: How the immune response of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 develops against the virus and how long it is effective is one of the most important questions during the pandemic period. We aimed to examine the frequency of relapse and re-infection, examine the influencing factors, evaluate the cases' clinical conditions and symptoms, and examine the severity of subsequent infection. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and cross-sectional type study using the Public Health Management System (PHMS) records of the Turkish Ministry of Health. Clinical improvement and negative RT-PCR test results, and positive RT-PCR test results at least 45 days after the first infection were included in this study. The cases were divided into two groups: the relapse group, those positive for 45-89 days after the first infection, and the reinfection group after 90 days recommended by the CDC. Demographic characteristics, whether or not to be a health worker, accompanying chronic illness, and re-positivity periods were evaluated. Results: The total number of cases was 103,096. The number of cases with repeat positivity detected after 45 days was 78. In the study, the number of cases in the relapse group (45-89 days) was 49, while the number of cases in the reinfection group (over 90 days) was 29. Conclusions: The very low rate of reinfection and milder symptoms in the second infection are promising for vaccination studies. Understanding the COVID-19 reinfection could be the key to guiding government and public health decisions in the coming months.

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