SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Fetal vascular malperfusion is associated with poor perinatal outcomes in women with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine the association between fetal vascular malperfusion score and syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness and clinicopathological variables, such as developing preeclampsia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 65 pregnant participants (34 with gestational diabetes mellitus and 31 controls) between January 2019 and January 2022. Gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed as ≥2 of 4 elevated values on a 3-h, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test. The fetal vascular malperfusion score was evaluated by endothelial CD34 positivity in the villous stroma of the placenta. The association between fetal vascular malperfusion score and syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness with clinicopathological variables in women with gestational diabetes mellitus was evaluated. RESULTS: It was revealed that the gestational diabetes mellitus group had greater fetal vascular malperfusion scores than the control group (gestational diabetes mellitus group fetal vascular malperfusion score: 34.2±9.1 and control group fetal vascular malperfusion score: 26.5±8.7, respectively, p=0.0009). Syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness was correlated with the development of preeclampsia, trophoblast proliferation, and fetal vascular malperfusions (0.3952, p=0.0129; 0.3487, p=0.0211; and 0.4331, p=0.0082, respectively). On the contrary, fetal vascular malperfusions were correlated with the development of preeclampsia, villous edema, and trophoblast proliferation (0.3154, p=0.0343; 0.2922, p=0.4123; and 0.3142, p=0.0355, respectively). CONCLUSION: The gestational diabetes mellitus group displayed significantly higher fetal vascular malperfusion scores and thickening of the syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane than the control group. There is a correlation between developing preeclampsia and the fetal vascular malperfusion scores and the syncytiotrophoblast basement membrane thickness.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess serum Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) concentrations to determine whether changes in patients with schizophrenia could have etiopathogenetic importance. Since very little research has addressed the connection between the inflammatory marker TWEAK and schizophrenia, we wanted to examine alterations of TWEAK and investigate the possible correlation between clinical symptomatology and serum concentrations. Methods: A total of 45 schizophrenia patients and 40 healthy controls were included in this study. The Positive Symptom Assessment scale and the Negative Symptom Assessment scale were administered to determine symptom severity. Venous blood samples were collected and serum TWEAK levels were measured. Results: Serum TWEAK levels were significantly higher in the schizophrenia group than the control group, independently of potential confounders, including sex, age, body mass index and smoking status. Conclusion: The results indicate that TWEAK is elevated in schizophrenia patients, which could deepen our understanding of the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

ABSTRACT Objectives: Liver biopsy is the gold standard for assessing liver inflammation, necrosis and fibrosis. The aim of the study is to evaluate clinical indications and histopathological results of percutaneus liver biopsy. Materials and methods: A total of 516 children who underwent blind liver biopsy were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Blind liver biopsy was performed for chronic active hepatitis B in 50% of the cases (n=260), neonatal cholestasis in 14% (n=68), autoimmune hepatitis in 7.7% (n=40), Wilson disease in 7.3% (n=38), isolated elevation of the liver enzymes in 5% (n=26), chronic active hepatitis C in 4.2% (n=22), metabolic disease in 3.4% (n=17), malignancies in 2.2% (n=11) and the others in 3.4% (n=17). Major complications were observed in 0.19% of the cases (n=1) and minor complications such as pain at the biopsy site in 13.5% of the cases (n=70), hypotension and tachycardia in 1.9% (n=10). Conclusions: Blind liver biopsy is a safe method in diagnosing liver diseases in childhood.

RESUMEN Objetivos: La biopsia de hígado es el estándar de oro para evaluar la inflamación, necrosis y fibrosis del hígado. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar las indicaciones clínicas y los resultados histopatológicos de la biopsia hepática percutánea. Materiales y métodos: Se evaluó retrospectivamente a un total de 516 niños a los que se les realizó una biopsia hepática a ciegas. Resultados: Se realizó biopsia hepática a ciegas por hepatitis B crónica activa en el 50% de los casos (n = 260), colestasis neonatal en el 14% (n = 68), hepatitis autoinmune en el 7,7% (n = 40), enfermedad de Wilson en el 7,3%. % (n = 38), elevación aislada de las enzimas hepáticas en el 5% (n = 26), hepatitis C crónica activa en el 4,2% (n = 22), enfermedad metabólica en el 3,4% (n = 17), neoplasias en el 2,2% (n = 11) y los demás en un 3,4% (n = 17). Se observaron complicaciones mayores en el 0,19% de los casos (n = 1) y complicaciones menores como dolor en el sitio de la biopsia en el 13,5% de los casos (n = 70), hipotensión y taquicardia en el 1,9% (n = 10). Conclusiones: La biopsia hepática a ciegas es un método seguro en el diagnóstico de enfermedades hepáticas en la infancia.

Objective: To determine whether changes in serum galectin-3 (gal-3) concentrations in schizophrenia patients have etiopathogenetic importance. Since very little research has assessed the connection between galectins and schizophrenia, we wanted to examine alterations in the inflammatory marker gal-3 in schizophrenia and investigate possible correlations between clinical symptomatology and serum concentrations. Methods: Forty-eight schizophrenia patients and 44 healthy controls were included in this study. The Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were administered to determine symptom severity. Venous blood samples were collected, and serum gal-3 levels were measured. Results: Mean serum gal-3 levels were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients, and there were no significant differences in age or sex with the control group. There was also a significant positive correlation between serum gal-3 concentrations and negative schizophrenia symptoms according to the SANS. Conclusion: The results indicate that gal-3 is decreased in schizophrenia patients, which could contribute to inflammation in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.