Autoimmune gastritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disorder. The aim of this study is to examine dynamic thiol/disulfide homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin levels, and to analyze the association between thiol/disulfide homeostasis and gastric emptying time in autoimmune gastritis. Thiol/disulfide homeostasis tests and ischemia modified albumin levels were determined in 50 autoimmune gastritis patients and 53 healthy subjects. Patients with delayed and normal gastric emptying were compared by thiol/disulfide homeostasis tests. The results showed that native thiol (μmol/L), total thiol (μmol/L), and native thiol/total thiol ratio (%) of the patients with autoimmune gastritis decreased compared to the control group (177.7 ± 34.18 vs. 245.25 ± 33.83, P = 0.001, 227.25 ± 36.78 vs. 284.20 ± 27.19, P = 0.03, and 8.84 ± 1.1 vs. 7.74% ± 1.3%, P = 0.001). In addition, native thiol (μmol/L), total thiol (μmol/L), and native thiol/ total thiol ratio (%) were found to be lower in patients with delayed gastric emptying (198.65 ± 24.27 vs. 167.12 ± 20.51, 241.81 ± 27.14 vs. 213.92 ± 26.35, 8.34 ± 1.29 vs. 7.20 ± 1.83, P = 0.001). Disulfide level, disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol (P = 0.001) ratios, and ischemia modified albumin levels (ABSU, 0.71 ± 0.08 vs. 0.83 ± 0.07) were found to be higher in autoimmune gastritis patients with delayed gastric emptying (P = 0.001). The results showed that thiol/disulfide homeostasis in patients with autoimmune gastritis caused an increase in ischemia modified albumin and disulfide whereas a decrease in thiols. An altered thiol/disulfide balance was also observed in patients with delayed gastric emptying. These results suggest that the oxidative process is involved in patients with autoimmune gastritis.

Background: Behcet’s syndrome (BS) was first described in 1937 as a triad of oral aphthae, genital ulceration, and ocular involvement. It is now recognized as a multisystemic vasculitis that can affect central nervous, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. Despite extensive research, the etiology of BS remains unclear, and genetic, viral, and environmental factors are thought to contribute to its pathogenesis. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) gene polymorphisms in the etiology of BS and to evaluate their associations with disease activity and clinical features. The IL-23/IL-17 axis was selected due to its pivotal role in T cell–mediated inflammation and vasculitis, which are key pathogenic mechanisms in BS. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine over a 1-year period. A total of 142 patients with BS aged ≥18 years and 140 healthy controls without known rheumatologic or immunological diseases were included. BS was diagnosed according to the International Study Group criteria for Behçet’s disease. Disease activity was assessed using the BS Activity Scale, and patients were classified as having active or inactive disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. IL-17 and IL-23R gene polymorphisms were analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The IL-17 rs2275913 and rs763780 polymorphisms and the IL-23R rs11209032 polymorphism were evaluated. The frequency of the homozygous AA genotype of the rs11209032 was significantly higher in the BS group than in healthy controls (85.9% vs. 17.4%, p < 0.001). Carriage of the A allele was associated with a markedly increased risk of BS; after adjustment for age and sex, carriers had approximately 16-fold higher odds of disease (adjusted odds ratios [OR] = 16.32, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 9.76–27.12, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between BS patients and controls for the IL-17 polymorphisms. Gene polymorphisms were not associated with specific clinical manifestations. However, in the IL-17 rs763780 polymorphism, inactive patients had a higher frequency of the TT genotype compared with the TC genotype ( p = 0.03), suggesting a potential role in disease activity rather than susceptibility. Conclusion: These findings suggest that IL-17 and IL-23R–related pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of BS. While the IL-17 variant may be associated with disease activity, the IL-23R rs11209032 polymorphisms show a strong association with disease susceptibility. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their clinical relevance.

Spiritual well-being is a vital component of aging, yet its relationship with standard geriatric markers remains unclear. This study aimed to identify determinants of spiritual well-being among older outpatients by examining its association with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) parameters. In this cross-sectional study, we included 199 patients aged ≥ 65 years admitted to a geriatrics clinic between January 2022 and December 2023. The FACIT-Sp-12 measured spiritual well-being. Comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters included functional status, cognitive function, nutritional status, depressive symptoms, urinary incontinence, falls, polypharmacy and subjective sleep complaints. Religious coping was evaluated using the Religious Coping Scale for Muslims. Data were analyzed using robust multiple linear regression and cross-sectional mediation analysis to identify independent correlates and to assess whether depressive symptoms statistically accounted for part of the urinary incontinence-spiritual well-being association. Participants averaged 76.5 ± 6.6 years; 66.3% were women. Depressive symptom scores correlated most strongly with lower spiritual well-being (rho = -0.40, p < 0.001). Better daily function (Lawton rho = 0.26; Katz rho = 0.23) and greater religious coping (rho = 0.29) accompanied higher scores. When we controlled for confounders, only depressive symptoms (β = -0.38) and religious coping (β = 0.26) remained significant (model R² = 0.36). Physical function did not remain independently associated once depressive symptoms entered the model. In mediation testing, 41% of the association between urinary incontinence and spiritual well-being was statistically accounted for by depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms appear to be the dominant negative correlate of spiritual well-being in geriatric outpatients, while religious coping shows an independent positive link. The attenuation of functional measures after accounting for depressive symptoms may align with gerotranscendence theory or simply reflect ceiling effects in this functionally well-preserved outpatient sample. Either way, these data underscore the relevance of addressing depressive symptoms and acknowledging religious resources when caring for older adults.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the Pictorial Fit–Frail Scale (PFFS) into Turkish and to evaluate its validity and reliability in older adults. Materials and Methods: The study included 156 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years. Frailty status was determined using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), and participants with a CFS ≥ 4 were classified as frail. All participants underwent the PFFS, Katz ADL, Lawton–Brody IADL, Short-Form Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Mini Nutritional Assessment—Short Form (MNA-SF), Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). The reliability of the PFFS was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach α), inter-rater reliability, and test–retest reliability (ICC); its construct validity was assessed using correlation analysis with the CFS. Furthermore, the diagnostic performance of PFFS in identifying frailty was analyzed using the ROC curve. Results: Of the 156 individuals participating in the study, 63.5% were women, and 89 individuals (57.1%) were frail. The Turkish version of PFFS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.838). Inter-rater and test–retest reliability were found to be ICC = 0.995 and 0.996, respectively. A strong and positive correlation was found between PFFS and CFS scores (Spearman r = 0.760, p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that PFFS had good performance in distinguishing frailty (AUC = 0.851, optimal cut-off ≥ 14; sensitivity = 69.7%, specificity = 83.6%). Frail individuals were older, had higher comorbidities, and showed greater dependence in activities of daily living. Conclusions: The Turkish version of the PFFS appears to be a reliable, valid, rapid, and multidimensional tool for assessing frailty in older adults. The PFFS can contribute to the effective assessment of frailty in clinical practice and research.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an unclear etiology, in which inflammation and impaired resolution pathways may play a role. This study investigated the relationship between serum Resolvin D2 levels and cognitive status in individuals with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. In this cross-sectional study, 165 adults aged ≥ 65 years who attended a tertiary geriatric clinic between 2022 and 2025 were classified as cognitively normal, mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer's disease. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and comprehensive geriatric assessment data were collected. Serum Resolvin D2 levels were measured using ELISA and analyzed in relation to cognitive status. Logistic regression and ROC curve analyses were performed to evaluate the potential diagnostic value of Resolvin D2. Resolvin D2 levels did not differ significantly among cognitive status groups. In multivariate analyses, Resolvin D2 was not an independent predictor of dementia or cognitive impairment. ROC curve analyses demonstrated limited diagnostic performance of Resolvin D2 compared with established clinical and laboratory indicators. These findings suggest that serum Resolvin D2 levels may have limited utility as a standalone biomarker, although their role within neuroinflammatory and resolution pathways warrants further investigation. Serum Resolvin D2 levels have limited ability to distinguish older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia from cognitively normal individuals. In contrast, S-MMSE, Lawton IADL scores, and comorbidity burden remain independent predictors of cognitive status. While Resolvin D2 shows anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving effects in experimental models, its value as a standalone biomarker for cognitive decline appears limited. Larger, prospective, multi-biomarker studies are needed to clarify its role.

Background: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The finger-ring (Yubi-wakka) test is a simple anthropometric screening tool based on calf circumference; however, its performance in older adults with CKD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of the finger-ring test with low muscle mass, sarcopenia, and comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters and to evaluate its diagnostic performance for identifying low muscle mass in older adults with CKD. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 115 patients aged ≥65 years with CKD who were evaluated in geriatric and nephrology inpatient services. After excluding two participants with missing finger-ring measurements, 113 individuals were analyzed. Muscle mass was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis and low muscle mass was defined according to EWGSOP2-based Turkish cut-off values. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, laboratory findings, and comprehensive geriatric assessment parameters were recorded. Correlation analyses, logistic regression models, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and likelihood-ratio tests were performed. Results: Among 113 participants, 62 were classified as finger-ring positive (FR=0) and 51 as finger-ring negative (FR=1). Low muscle mass was significantly more frequent in the FR=0 group than in the FR=1 group (51.6% vs. 24.0%, p=0.005). Finger-ring test results showed strong correlations with calf circumference (rho=0.689, p< 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (rho=0.631, p< 0.001), whereas the correlation with muscle mass was modest (rho=0.250, p=0.008). For detecting low muscle mass, the finger-ring test demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.643 (95% CI 0.554–0.732), sensitivity of 72.7%, specificity of 55.9%, positive predictive value of 51.6%, and negative predictive value of 76.0%. In multivariable analyses, BMI remained the strongest independent determinant of finger-ring test results, whereas the association with muscle mass lost statistical significance after BMI adjustment. Adding age and sex significantly improved discrimination, while the contribution of nutritional status was limited. Conclusions: The finger-ring test is associated with low muscle mass in older adults with CKD; however, its diagnostic performance is modest and appears to be substantially influenced by body size and calf circumference. Therefore, the finger-ring test should be considered a simple adjunctive screening tool rather than a stand-alone method for identifying low muscle mass in this population.