Background/aim: Crohn's disease (CD) is a kind of inflammatory bowel disease. Midkine (MDK) is an endogenous inflammatory marker. We aimed to investigate the relationship between MDK levels and inflammation and hence determine whether MDK can be used as a noninvasive biomarker in active CD. Materials and methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients over the age of 18 with CD and 36 healthy controls were included in this study. CD patients' venous blood samples were taken before treatment. Serum MDK levels were determined in human plasma samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: The mean age of the study patients was 44.8 +/- 12.5 years, 35 patients were female, and 30 were male. Of these 65 patients, 37 had active CD and 28 were in the remission phase. MDK levels were significantly higher in active and remission CD than in healthy controls (P = 0.01, P = 0.038, respectively). Conclusion: We report that there is an association between MDK levels and CD activation, and therefore with enhanced inflammation. MDK levels were significantly correlated with inflammatory indices. In line with our findings, we suggest the theory that MDK inhibitors may be useful in treating Crohn's disease.

Background and Aims: Hepatitis A virus is a cause of acute viral hepatitis that infects millions of people worldwide each year and maintains its prominence in both adults and in childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the hepatitis A seroprevalence in different age groups in Çorum which is the reference center for northern part of central Anatolia and to make recommendations for hepatitis A vaccine according to age groups. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2017 and January 2020. Patients tested for anti-hepatitis A virus for any reasons were enrolled from the data of all patients admitted to our hospital which is the reference center of the region. Serum samples were analyzed by ELISA. S/CO values of ≥ 1.00 were considered positive for anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M, respectively; results below this value were considered negative. Anti hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G and anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M results of patients were analyzed according to age groups. Results: A total of 18817 anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M assays were screened from the computerized database. 4244 assays were excluded for repeated tests from the same patients and inconclusive data. The study included 4115 patients with anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M and 10458 patients with anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G. Total anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G and M positivities were 84.4% and 0.7%. Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G prevalence was – 85.8% and 83%, and anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M positivity was – 0.98% and 0.38% in men and women. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M according to age groups in Çorum (p < 0.001, p = 0.035). Anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G seronegativity for 11 - 20 years of age was 28.4% and for 21 - 30 years of age was 24.2%. Conclusion: This study suggests that 11 - 20 and 21 - 30 years of age groups may be in the highest risk group for hepatitis A virus infection with possible complications increasing with age, and this patient group constitutes the target population for vaccination.

While several inflammatory markers are known to increase in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) disease cases, the need remains for diagnostic tests specific for FMF that monitor inflammatory activity. We aimed to investigate resistin and calprotectin levels during both attack and attack-free periods of FMF disease and evaluate their use as novel biomarkers of inflammation in patients with FMF. This cross-sectional study included 68 male patients diagnosed with FMF and 20 healthy individuals as controls. Blood samples were obtained from the patients in attack-free periods (at least 15 days after the last attack) and attack periods (in the first 24 hours). Serum resistin and plasma calprotectin levels was measured by ELISA method. Resistin and calprotectin levels were significantly higher in patients during both attack (p =0.001, p <0.001) and attack-free periods (p =0.017, p =0.01) compared to the control group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that resistin levels were predictive for the diagnosis of FMF disease (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04–1.42; p =0.016). Resistin and calprotectin levels significantly correlated with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, and white blood cells (0.301≤ r ≤ 0.505, p <0.05). Resistin and calprotectin levels were significantly higher in patients than controls, and resistin was predictive for monitoring inflammatory activity in patients with FMF.