Meta-analysis of COMT Gene rs737865 SNP odds ratios for schizophrenia Background: The collection of methods that enable combining the findings of several independent studies on the topic of interest with appropriate statistical methods is called meta-analysis. Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disease linked to many environmental and genetic factors and affects up to 1% of the world's population. A candidate gene for schizophrenia susceptibility is the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene. This study aimed to combine the odds ratios obtained from different studies according to the rs737865 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) of the COMT gene for schizophrenia by meta-analysis. Material and Method: Publications written in English were scanned with the keywords "COMT and schizophrenia" in Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases until October 2024. Common odds ratio estimates were obtained with the help of appropriate meta-analytic methods under different genetic models for 17 studies that met the inclusion criteria, as well as 8 and 4 studies for Asians and Caucasians, respectively, by race. STATA 14 program was used for all analyses. Results: Under different genetic models applied to seventeen studies, only carriers of the CC genotype were found to have a higher risk for schizophrenia than carriers of the T (TT+CT) allele [OR=1.133 (95% CI=1.008 - 1.273)]. In subgroup analyses according to race, no risk was found for Asians. In contrast, for Caucasians, it was found that carriers of the C (CC+CT) allele had an increased risk of schizophrenia compared to those with TT genotype [OR=1.586 (95% CI=1.349 - 1.865)]. Conclusion: With the help of applied meta-analytic methods, overall estimates were obtained for odds ratios (OR) obtained from independent studies under different genetic models. However, it is thought that the association between COMT gene rs737865 SNP and schizophrenia should be examined with studies conducted in larger groups homogeneous in terms of ethnicity. Keywords: Meta-analysis, COMT, odds ratio, schizophrenia.

Background and objective: With the widespread use of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), long-term complications have come to the fore. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) developing in the long term in patients who underwent allo-HSCT in childhood and also to investigate the superiority of eGFR formulas. Methods: The present study evaluated CKD in patients who underwent allo-HSCT. We analyzed the 94 children who received allo-HSCT at the Ege University in İzmir between August and November, 2019. The patients were evaluated at 2 years after transplantation. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 120 months during transplantation were found to be associated with the development of CKD. Conclusion: We may be delayed in detecting CKD by calculating SCr-based formulas in allo-HSCT cases, which is a patient group where early diagnosis and treatment of CKD is very important.

Background: IgA vasculitis (IgAV) represents the most frequently seen form of vasculitis among children. Although it often resolves without intervention, renal involvement (IgAV nephritis) poses a risk for long-term complications. Although the lectin and alternative complement pathways are possible causes in its development, dependable serum biomarkers for the early identification of nephritis remain unavailable. Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we examined how the serum levels of a membrane attack complex (sC5b-9), complement factor H (CFH), mannose-binding lectin (MBL), and mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 (MASP-1) relate to renal involvement in IgAV. These complement proteins were measured in children diagnosed with IgAV and compared to levels in healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and sex. Results: The study cohort comprised 44 IgAV patients with a median age of 8 years and 34 HCs. The CFH levels were reduced significantly in the patient group (median: 357.31 ng/mL; IQR: 228.32) relative to the controls (median: 543.08 ng/mL; IQR: 504.05) (p < 0.001). This decrease was observed irrespective of the presence of nephritis. There were no significant differences in serum sC5b-9, MBL, or MASP-1 levels between the patients and controls. Furthermore, no correlation emerged between these complement components and renal involvement. Conclusion: The data suggest that lower CFH levels may signal systemic dysregulation of the alternative pathway in IgAV. In contrast, the serum levels of sC5b-9, MBL, and MASP-1 appear inadequate as markers for predicting renal involvement. Further research with larger cohorts that includes genetic analyses and examination of kidney tissue is needed to better define the contribution of complement activation in IgAV-related nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: Workplace violence (WPV) is a critical issue affecting healthcare professionals, posing significant risks to their safety and well-being. This study investigates WPV among emergency physicians in Türkiye, examining the relationship between WPV and physicians’ communication skills. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2023, involving 63 emergency physicians recruited through a convenience sampling method. Participants completed an online survey that included demographic questions, the Turkish version of the Health Professionals Communication Skills Scale (HP-CSS-TR), and self-evaluation items on communication skills. RESULTS: The findings revealed high WPV prevalence, with 85.7% of participants reporting verbal aggression during their residency and 90.5% during their specialty period. Physical violence was reported by 31.7% of participants during residency and 27.0% during their specialty period. Participants’ HP-CSS-TR scores averaged 86.08, indicating relatively high communication skills. No significant relationships were found between HP-CSS-TR scores and demographic characteristics such as gender, age, or years of experience. A moderate positive correlation was observed between participants’ self-evaluations and their HP-CSS-TR scores in the dimensions of empathy and respect, suggesting alignment between perceived and actual communication skills in these areas. Weak correlations were found in informative communication and social skills, highlighting areas for improvement in communication training programs. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the critical issue of WPV against emergency physicians and its association with communication skills, emphasizing the complexities of high-stress environments such as emergency departments. It underscores the need for continued research and systemic interventions to enhance workplace safety and the well-being of healthcare professionals.