The lack of a specific biomarker that can be used in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, a common cause of admission to the emergency department, delays physician efforts to diagnose and treat these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure plasma YKL-40 levels and investigate their diagnostic value in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). This study was carried out between February 2020 and September 2020 in the adult emergency department of a tertiary university hospital. Permission was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Scientific Research on 03/02/2020 with Decision No. 03/16. The study included 80 patients who were diagnosed with acute cholecystitis and 80 healthy volunteers without known chronic diseases. The median YKL-40 protein level was 798.66 pq/mL in the patient group and 392.45 pq/mL in the control group. A statistically significant difference in YKL-40 protein levels was found between the two groups. YKL-40 protein levels were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis than in healthy individuals (p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between YKL-40 protein levels and ALT, AST, LDH, and GGT levels (r = 0.272, p = 0.015; r = 0.397, p < 0.001; r = 0.386, p < 0.001; and r = 0.264, p = 0.018; respectively). When evaluated together with physical examination, radiological imaging and other laboratory parameters, we think that plasma YKL-40 levels can be used effectively in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

Objective: Rabies is a zoonotic disease with acute, progressive viral encephalitis that affects both human and animal health. In our study, it was aimed to measure the level of knowledge about rabies and prophylaxis of senior students of the faculty of medicine. Methods: The study population was 163 students in their final year during the academic year 2019–2020. The participants were interviewed face to face and filled the required questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on the Guide for Rabies Prophylaxis published in 2019 by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health. Results: In our study, 88.34% (n=114) of the participants did not have sufficient knowledge about rabies pre-contact indications. It was determined that 64.4% (n= 105) of the participants had insufficient knowledge about the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis. In addition, it was determined that indications for starting antibiotics after rabies exposure of 66.24% (n=108) of the participants and 29% (n=) rabies vaccine/ human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) application indications and 46% (n=75) did not know the method of application and the area where it was applied. Conclusion: It was determined that the senior students of the faculty of medicine did not have sufficient information about rabies and prophylaxis.