Background and Objectives: Toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening zoonotic infection in immunosuppressive individuals. Determining the prevalence and seropositivity rates of toxoplasmosis in asymptomatic blood donors is crucial in terms of the risk status of the transmission of this infection to the blood recipients. Materials and Methods: In this study, the presence and level of the specific Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in blood donors was investigated by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The statistical significance levels between Toxoplasma seropositivity and demographic characteristics of the donors such as age, educational status, raw meat consumption, drinking water supply were examined. Results: Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity was found among the 225 (25.6%) of the donors present in the study group, while IgM seropositivity was detected in 20 donors (2.3%). The number of donors with only IgM (+) was 8 (0.9%). Both IgG and IgM seropositivities were found in 12 donors (1.4%). Conclusion: Our study provides information about Toxoplasma seropositivity based on the samples collected from the donors who were admitted to the blood center of a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. This study demonstrates that Toxoplasma seropositivity is high in the rural areas and the regions where the education level is low.

Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19), şiddetli akut solunum sendromu koronavirüs 2'nin (SARS-CoV-2) neden olduğu özellikle akciğerde şiddetli doku hasarına neden olan, yoğun inflamatuvar yanıt oluşturan bulaşıcı bir hastalıktır. Yapılan çalışmalar, COVID-19 enfeksiyonu olan erkeklerin kadınlara göre daha şiddetli semptomlar gösterdiği, yaşlı popülasyonunda COVID-19'dan ölüm riskinin gençlere göre daha yüksek olduğu bildirilmiştir. Erkeklerde COVID-19’un kadınlara göre daha ciddi seyretmesi, cinsiyet hormonlarının bu duruma etkisinin olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Kadın ve erkeklerde cinsiyet hormon seviyelerindeki farklılık immün yanıtları önemli derecede etkilemektedir. COVID-19 pandemisinin sağlık sistemleri ve küresel ekonomi üzerindeki etkileri göz önüne alındığında, yenilikçi tedavi stratejilerine ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda, cinsiyet hormon terapileri COVID-19 hastaları için umut verici terapötik stratejiler sağlayabilir. Bu derlemede, COVID-19 enfeksiyonu prognozunda etkili olabilecek cinsiyet hormonlarının immün sistemdeki etkileri ve tedavi stratejileri üzerine yapılan çalışmalar incelenmiştir. Cinsiyet hormonlarının immün sistem üzerindeki etkileri dikkate alınarak uygulanan hormon tedavilerinin klinisyenlere yol göstereceğini ve COVID-19 tedavi protokollerine katkı sağlayacağını düşünmekteyiz.

Background/aim: The clinical presentation of pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a milder disease course than the adult COVID-19 syndrome. The disease course of COVID-19 has three clinicobiological phases: initiation, propagation, and complication. This study aimed to assess the pathobiological alterations affecting the distinct clinical courses of COVID-19 in pediatric age groups versus the adult population. We hypothesized that critical biogenomic marker expressions drive the mild clinical presentations of pediatric COVID-19. Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 72 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized at Ankara City Hospital between March and July 2021. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated using Ficoll-Paque and density-gradient sedimentation. The groups were compared using a t-test and limma analyses. Mean standardized gene expression levels were used to hierarchically cluster genes employing Euclidean Gene Cluster 3.0. The expression levels of identified genes were determined using reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction. Results: This study found that ANPEP gene expression was significantly downregulated in the pediatric group (p < 0.05, FC: 1.57) and IGF2R gene expression was significantly upregulated in the adult group (p < 0.05, FC: 2.98). The study results indicated that the expression of critical biogenomic markers, such as the first-phase (ACE2 and ANPEP) and second-phase (EGFR and IGF2R) receptor genes, was crucial in the genesis of mild clinical presentations of pediatric COVID-19. ANPEP gene expression was lower in pediatric COVID-19. Conclusion: The interrelationship between the ANPEP and ACE2 genes may prevent the progression of COVID-19 from initiation to the propagating phase in pediatric patients. High IGF2R gene expression could potentially contribute to a protective effect and may be a contributing factor for the mild clinical course observed in pediatric patients.

AMAÇ: COVID-19 enfeksiyonu olan bireylerde, hastalığın şiddetini belirlemek, risk faktörlerini analiz etmek ve hastalığın prognozunu takip etmek için hematolojik ve enflamatuvar parametreler önemlidir. Bu parametreler yaş ve cinsiyete bağlı olarak değişim gösterebilir. Çalışmamızda COVID-19 enfeksiyonu olan hastaların Nötrofil/Lenfosit oranı (NLO), C-Reaktif Protein (CRP), Ferritin, Laktat Dehidrogenaz (LDH), D-Dimer ve Sistemik immün enflamasyon indeksi (Sİİ) parametrelerinin yaş ve cinsiyete göre değişimini incelemeyi amaçladık. YÖNTEM: Mart 2019 ve Ağustos 2021 tarihleri arasında Lokman Hekim Üniversitesi Ankara Hastanesi'ne başvuran ve PCR testi pozitif olan toplam 322 servis hastası (Kadın: 180, Erkek: 142) çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastalar yaşlarına göre beş gruba ayrıldı (1.grup: 1-17 yaş; 2.grup: 18-30 yaş; 3.grup: 31-45 yaş; 4.grup: 46-60 yaş; 5.grup: 61-92 yaş). Hastaların laboratuvar sonuçları ve demografik bulguları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Gruplarda WBC, NLO, CRP, Ferritin, LDH, D-Dimer, Sİİ değerleri incelendi. BULGULAR: Yaş grupları arasında NLO, CRP, Ferritin, LDH, D-Dimer parametreleri değerlendirildiğinde; 1. ve 2. grup karşılaştırıldığında D-dimer seviyesinde, 1. ve 3. grup karşılaştırıldığında LDH, WBC, CRP seviyelerinde, 1. ve 4. grup karşılaştırıldığında CRP seviyesinde, 1. ve 5. grup değerlendirildiğinde Ferritin, NLO, CRP seviyelerinde anlamlı fark görüldü (p<0.05). NLO, CRP, Ferritin, LDH, D-Dimer değerlerinin yaş ile korelasyonları incelendiğinde CRP, LDH ve Ferritin düzeyleri orta düzeyde korelasyon gösterirken (sırasıyla r=0.557, r=0.408, r=0.400); NLO, D-Dimer ve WBC değerlerinde korelasyon görülmedi. Cinsiyete göre değerlendirildiğinde enfeksiyonla ilişkili parametrelerin (CRP, NLO, WBC ve Ferritin) erkek hastalarda daha yüksek olduğu görüldü (p0.05). SONUÇ: Enflamatuvar ve hematolojik belirteçler COVID-19 enfeksiyonlu hastalarda değişiklik gösterdiğinden enfeksiyonun takibinde WBC, NLO, CRP, Ferritin, LDH, D-Dimer parametreleri ile demografik verilerin birlikte değerlendirilmesinin faydalı olacağını düşünmekteyiz.

Background/aim: Early detection and treatment are crucial in combating malignant melanoma. Src is an important therapeutic target in melanoma due to its association with cancer progression. However, developing effective Src-targeting drugs remains challenging and personalized medicine relies on biomarkers and targeted therapies for precise and effective treatment. This study focuses on Si162, a newly synthesized c-Src inhibitor, to identify reliable biomarkers for predicting Si162 sensitivity and explore associated biological characteristics and pathways in melanoma cells. Materials and methods: Primary melanoma cells (M1, M21, M24, M84, M133, M307, and M2025) were obtained from patients diagnosed with melanoma. Si162 cytotoxicity tests were performed using luminescent adenosine triphosphate detection and the halfmaximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were calculated. Gene expression profiles were analyzed using microarray-based gene expression data. Differentially expressed genes between the resistant and sensitive groups were identified using Pearson correlation analysis. Gene coexpression, interactions, and pathways were investigated through clustering, network, and pathway analyses. Biological functions were examined using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. Molecular pathways associated with different responses to Si162 were identified using gene set enrichment analysis. The gene expressions were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The cells revealed significant differences in response to Si162 based on the IC50 values (p < 0.05). A total of 36 differentially expressed genes associated with Si162 susceptibility were identified. Distinct expression patterns between the sensitive and resistant groups were observed in 9 genes (LRBA, MGMT, CAND1, ADD1, SETD2, CNTN6, FGF18, C18orf25, and RPL13). Coexpression among the differentially expressed genes was highlighted, and 9 genes associated with molecular pathways, including EMT, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling, and ribosomal protein synthesis, between groups. Genes involved in dysregulated immune response were observed in the resistant group. The involvement of 5 genes (ADD1, CNTN6, FGF18, C18orf25, and RPL13) in Si162 resistance was confirmed through qRT-PCR validation. Conclusion: These findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying biological differences among melanoma cells and suggest potential biomarkers and pathways associated with Si162 response and resistance.