Awareness of Vaccination and Attitudes Towards Vaccine Refusal Among Healthcare Workers at a University Hospital

Background/Objectives: Preoperative differentiation between benign thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains clinically challenging, particularly after indeterminate cytology. This study evaluated routinely available complete blood count (CBC)-derived indices, erythrocyte parameters, thyroid function tests, and arithmetic thyroid hormone ratios. Methods: This retrospective, single-center case–control study reviewed thyroidectomy records from July 2020 to November 2024. Histopathology was re-adjudicated from the source reports; 158 adults with clearly benign nodules (n = 93) or PTC (n = 65) formed the final analytic cohort. Missing laboratory values were handled by variable-specific complete-case analysis. Benjamini–Hochberg false-discovery-rate (FDR) correction and an exploratory multivariable logistic model were applied. Results: Preoperative TSH and the conventional platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were higher in PTC (p = 0.002, q = 0.013; and p = 0.004, q = 0.023), whereas the fT4/TSH and fT3/TSH ratios were lower (both q = 0.013). The fT3 difference was nominal (p = 0.018, q = 0.076), and MCV was not significant (p = 0.076). In 126 complete cases, each doubling of TSH was associated with higher odds of PTC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.08–2.13), whereas higher fT3 was associated with lower odds (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19–0.87). Conclusions: TSH and fT3 were independently associated with PTC in the exploratory model, while the PLR and TSH-normalized hormone ratios differed between groups but lacked validated diagnostic performance. These measures should not be used in isolation; prospective multicenter studies are needed to determine whether they add clinically meaningful information to ultrasonographic, cytological, and molecular assessments.

Sialorrhea, otherwise known as hypersalivation, is a symptom frequently observed in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and dementia. This condition can have a significant impact on the patient's social life and quality of life. Pharmacological treatments frequently prove to be either ineffective or intolerable for elderly patients. In this case report, the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin administration are presented in a 78-year-old male patient with diagnoses of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease who presented with complaints of profuse salivation from the mouth and nose.

Colonoscopy is a widely used tool for the diagnosis and treatment of colon disease [1]. It is the gold standart to visualize the large bowel [2]. Acute phosphate nephropathy (APhN) is a clinical entity which causes acute and subsequent chronic renal failure after exposure to oral sodium phosphate (OSP) bowel purgatives. APhN is seen as a result of oral sodium phosphate use in patients undergoing bowel cleansing before colonoscopy [3]. Generally, patients who will undergo colonoscopy are given 45 ml of OSP twice, starting 12-24 hours before the procedure. After intestinal absorption, elevated urea and creatinine, transient hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia and high anion gap metabolic acidosis may also be observed [4]. Advanced age, ACEi/ARB use, acute or chronic kidney disese or the presence of a kidney transplant, retention of OSP resulting from poor bowel motility or colitis, female gender, volume depletion, hypertension, diabetes, and diuretic, lithium, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use are considered as risk factors [5]. This case report describes a patient who developed nephropathy and required urgent observation and treatment after phosphate administration before colonoscopy.

Objective: Corrosive substances are chemicals with strong acidic or alkaline properties that can cause tissue damage. In children, the most common cause of corrosive exposure is accidental ingestion. Our study presents the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of pediatric patients admitted due to corrosive intake and investigates the prognostic relevance of these parameters. The primary objective is to highlight corrosive poisonings and emphasize predictive markers for risk and complications to guide emergency management. Methods: Data of patients admitted to the emergency department due to corrosive substance ingestion and subsequently hospitalized were retrospectively analyzed. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of demographic features, the agent’s chemical nature, and laboratory parameters. Results: The median age of the patients was 27 months, with seven being male. Sixteen patients were discharged within two days and no mortality was recorded. In this study, leukocyte counts were significantly elevated in patients who ingested acidic corrosive agents. No statistically significant relationship was found between gender and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Similarly, ICU admission did not differ significantly based on whether the agent was acidic or alkaline. Endoscopy rates showed no significant difference according to whether the substance was a household cleaning product. No association was found between product type and gender. Conclusion: Corrosive poisonings during infancy and early childhood generally result from accidental ingestion of small amounts. Inadequate or delayed intervention may lead to severe complications. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to prevent these outcomes and reduce morbidity.

Background: This study evaluated the relationship between inflammatory and hematological parameters and handgrip strength (HGS) in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: 227 patients were enrolled in the study. HGS was assessed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 criteria and analyzed against white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NC), lymphocyte count (LC), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), red cell distribution width (RDW), C-reactive protein (CRP), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Datawere analyzed with SPSS version 27.0. Results: The cohort included 85 women and 142 men (meanage 70.2±4.9 years). Low HGS was observed in 82 patients andwas strongly correlated with CRP (r=-0.504, p<0.001). WBC, NC,LC, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, RDW, and PDW were alsoassociated, while Mini-Mental Status Examination, Katz Indexof Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Lawton-BrodyInstrumental Activities of Daily Living, Geriatric Depression Scale,and HbA1c were not. Lower Tinetti scores and longer Timed Upand Go times correlated with reduced HGS. In logistic regressionanalysis, MPV (OR=2.956, 95% CI=1.630-5.350, p<0.001) andRDW (OR=0.549, 95% CI=0.360-0.850, p=0.007) emerged as thestrongest independent predictors of low HGS, while NC, LC, andCRP also reached statistical significance. Conclusions: HGS is closely associated with inflammatory andhematological markers, supporting its role as a simple indicator ofphysical function in older adults with T2DM.