Several studies demonstrate the relationship between coronary artery disease and inflammatory parameters. Nevertheless, there is paucity of data regarding the role of high sensitivity (hs)-C-reactive protein (CRP) to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with ischemia on gated single photon emission tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). This study was aimed at demonstrating the relationship between CAR and the occurrence of ischemia on gated SPECT MPI. We retrospectively evaluated 2.048 referred patients for gated SPECT MPI from a cardiology outpatient clinic between October 2017 and June 2019. After applying exclusion criteria and measuring serum CRP and albumin levels, we included 126 patients in the study. We then classified subjects into different groups according to the absence or presence of ischemia on gated SPECT MPI. According to laboratory findings, hs-CRP and CAR were significantly higher in the ischemia group, while the serum albumin was significantly lower in ischemia group (p<0.05 for each). The independent predictors of presence of ischemia in multivariate analysis were hypertension and CAR (CAR; odds ratio: 5.720, 95% confidence interval: 2.697-12.133, p<0.001). The optimal value of CAR for presence of ischemia was 0.96 with 76% sensitivity and 71% specificity. We found CAR values as a predictor for ischemia before MPI.

Among hypertensive subjects, the lack of physiological blood pressure drop as part of diurnal blood pressure variations is termed as non‐dipper blood pressure. Herein, we investigated the relationship between hypertension character and body composition indices. This study included a total of 104 patients (54 M, mean age: 47.6 ± 12.1 years). Patients' heights, weights, and waist and hip circumferences were measured, and body composition indices were calculated. All patients' office blood pressure measurements and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure readings were recorded. A blood pressure drop of at least 10% compared with daytime blood pressure readings is called dipper blood pressure, while a drop of less than 10% is termed as non‐dipper blood pressure. Based on ambulatory blood pressure readings, the patients were grouped into Group 1 (dipper pattern; 51 pts, 34 M, mean age 45.6 ± 12.3) and Group 2 (non‐dipper pattern, 53 pts; 20 M, mean age 49.6 ± 11.6). The proportion of females and smokers were significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2. BRI, BAI, waist‐to‐height ratio, and waist circumference were significantly higher in Group 2 than Group 1. There were significant positive correlations between body roundness index (BRI), body adiposity index (BAI), waist‐to‐weight ratio, and WC and nocturnal mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Percent systolic nocturnal drop was significantly correlated with waist‐to‐height ratio, BAI, and BRI. Similarly, percent diastolic nocturnal drop and waist‐to‐height ratio, BAI, and BRI were correlated. In conclusion, the relatively new body composition indices, namely BRI and BAI, are more closely related to nocturnal blood pressure readings among non‐dipper subjects.

Background: Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients are at increased risk of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) due to intensive therapy and prolonged neutropenia. While pediatric guidelines support administering fluconazole or mold-active agents, the evidence in adults is limited. This study presents the first multicenter retrospective comparison of fluconazole and micafungin use in this setting. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 336 adult ALL patients from 11 centers in Türkiye (2010–2024) who received fluconazole (n = 230) or micafungin (n = 106) during induction chemotherapy. IFIs were classified according to the EORTC/MSG criteria. Results: The median age was 38.5 years, and 38.7% were female. Proven/probable IFIs occurred in 8.9% of patients, with similar rates between the fluconazole and micafungin groups (8.7% vs. 9.4%; p = 0.82). Multivariate analysis confirmed no significant association between the prophylactic antifungal type and IFI incidence, indicating comparable outcomes across groups. The median prophylaxis duration was longer with fluconazole, while the discontinuation rates, switch patterns, and subsequent antifungal use were comparable. The overall infection rates (~60%) and distribution of bacterial, viral, and polymicrobial infections were similar between the two groups. Prior bacterial infection increased the risk of IFI by 2.7-fold, and IFI-positive patients had longer neutropenia. At the end of induction, the remission, refractory, and mortality rates were similar between groups. The median overall survival was 24 months. Conclusions: Fluconazole and micafungin showed similar efficacy as the primary antifungal prophylaxis treatment in adult ALL patients. Given the limited evidence in adults and the ongoing need to optimize antifungal strategies, prospective randomized trials directly comparing these agents in this population are needed to confirm and expand upon our findings.

Backround: Endotoxin, in lipopolysaccharide structure (LPS), is the main component of the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria. LPS levels were associated with inflammatory disease. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease involving many different cell types and cellular elements. The association between LPS serum levels and the asthma is not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the LPS serum levels and the severity of asthma, demographic data and laboratory parameters. Methodology: The study included 67 patients aged >18 years with a diagnosis of asthma, and 15 healthy volunteers with no history of chronic disease as a control group. The Asthma Control Test (ACT), Respiratory Function Tests (RFTs), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and endotoxin levels were measured and compared between the groups. The endotoxin measurements were performed using the ELISA method. Results: The mild-moderate asthma group included 33 patients and the severe asthma group, 34 patients. The endotoxin level was measured as 17.78 (range 3.59 to 304.55) EU/ml in the patient group and 15 (range 4.01 to 74.06) EU/ml in the control group with no statistically significant difference determined between the groups. In the subgroups, the endotoxin level was measured as 15.21 (range 3.69 to 304.55) EU/ml in the mild-moderate group and 14.46 (range 3.59 to 278.86) EU/ml in the severe asthma group with no statistically significant difference determined between the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed no relationship between serum endotoxin level and asthma or asthma severity.