Search

Aim:There is limited literature on coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection, although high rates of coinfection between COVID-19 and other respiratory pathogens are expected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine COVID-19 infection in patients diagnosed with active or previously treated TB in Turkey. In this study, the aim was to examine the frequency of COVID-19 and the factors affecting the frequency of COVID-19 in patients with active or previously treated TB.Methods:The population of the retrospective cohort type study consisted of patients with TB enrolled in the Elazig Tuberculosis Dispensary between January 2015 and April 2021. The TB-related data of the patients was obtained from the Public Health Management System Tuberculosis System, and the COVID-19 information was obtained from the COVID-19 Case Tracking System. The status of being alive or dead and the date of death if they were dead were obtained from the Central Population Management System.Results:23.92% (n=105) of 439 patients with TB were COVID-19 cases. Advanced age, having at least one comorbid disease, and the presence of chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease increased the risk of developing COVID-19 in active or previously treated patients with TB.Conclusion:COVID-19 was detected more frequently in active or previously treated TB patients than in the general population. Within the scope of public health services implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection, priority should be given to the TB patient group and older people, especially those with comorbid chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease in this group.

Aim:To investigate if there is an association between the blood groups of convalescent plasma (CP) donors and Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 infection risk.Methods:Blood groups of 30605 CP donors were compared with 1316676 Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) whole blood donors. Software data of TRC for the period between 07 April 2020 and 11 December 2020 was analyzed as a retrospective cohort study.Results:Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection risks were higher in A (46.1% vs. 41.6%, p=0.001), AB (8.3% vs. 7.6%, p=0.001), Rh (+) (89.2% vs. 87.5%, p=0.001), A Rh (+) (41.1% vs. 36.6%, p=0.001) and AB Rh (+) (7.4% vs. 6.6%, p=0.001) groups; they were lower in O (29.8% vs. 34.4%, p=0.001), B (15.9% vs. 16.4%, p=0.008), Rh (-) (10.8% vs. 12.5%, p=0.001), B Rh (-) (1.7% vs. 2.0%, p=0.001), O Rh (+) (26.6% vs. 29.9%, p=0.001) and O Rh (-) (3.2% vs. 4.5%, p=0.001) groups.Conclusions:There might be an increased COVID-19 risk in A, AB, Rh (+) and A Rh (+) and AB Rh (+) groups as well as a decreased risk in O, B, Rh (-) and O Rh (+), O Rh (-) and B Rh (-) groups.

Objectives:The aim of the present study was to evaluate demographic and clinical findings of patients who underwent follow-up at the newly established epilepsy outpatient clinic of the Muğla University Faculty of Medicine.Methods:Included were 208 patients who underwent follow-up at the clinic between March 2014 and September 2015.Results:Mean age was 29.42±15.86, with a range of 5–84 years. Eighty-three patients were men (39.9%); 125 were women (60.1%). The most common risk factors included head trauma, febrile convulsion, and family history of epilepsy. Seizures of 155 patients (75.5%) were partialonset, those of 22 (10.6%) were generalized, and those of 9 (4.3%) were unclassified. Sixty-seven patients (37.2%) had normal electroencephalogram, 96 patients (53.3%) had partial, and 10 patients (5.6%) had generalized epileptiform abnormalities. Of the 172 patients (28.5%) to whom antiepileptic drugs had been administered, 49 were resistant to medical treatment. Of the patients with modified therapy, 22 (41.5%) were seizure-free, 7 (13.2%) experienced >50% reduction in seizure frequency, and 8 experienced

Aim:This study aimed to investigate the role of the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score in determining the prognosis of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).Materials and Methods:This study included patients aged >18 years who were admitted to the emergency department for complaints of shortness of breath and/or chest pain for 3 years and who were found to have acute PE on computed tomography pulmonary angiography. The qSOFA, pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI), and simplified PESI scores were calculated in patients with acute PE. During follow-up, the in-hospital mortality and requirement of intensive care continuation were determined.Results:In total, 166 patients with acute PE, of which 88 (53%) were female, were included. The mean age of the patients was 67.4±17.3 years, and 26 (15.7%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The mortality rate was 9% (n=15). The predictive value of qSOFA in predicting in-hospital mortality [area under the curve (AUC) 0.907, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.852-0.946] was similar to that of PESI (AUC: 0.846, 95% CI: 0.782-0.897) and sPESI (AUC: 0.796, 95% CI: 0.726–0.854) (p=0.23 and p=0.16, respectively). While it was superior to PESI (AUC: 0.794, 95% CI: 0.724-0.852) and sPESI (AUC: 0.721, 95% CI: 0.646-0.787) in determining the admission of patients in the ICU (AUC: 0.882, 95% CI: 0.823-0.927) (p=0.04 and p=0.01, respectively). A positive correlation was found between qSOFA and PESI (r=0.49, p=0.001) and sPESI (r=036, p=0.001).Conclusion:In this study, we found that the qSOFA score performed well in predicting in-hospital mortality and ICU admission in patients with acute PE admitted to the emergency department.

Objective:Scabies is caused by an ectoparasite called Sarcoptes scabiei (S. scabiei), which penetrates the epidermis through skin folds and burrows in the stratum corneum, following the development of tunnels (sillion). The disease is specifically characterised by keratosis, allergy and itching that increases at night-time. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of S. scabiei in patients with a pro-diagnosis of scabies.Methods:Between January 2012 and December 2019, a total of 746 [n=388 (52%), female; n=358 (48%) male] patients aged 0-80 years were admitted to Fırat University Hospital Parasitology-mycology Laboratory. Skin scrapings were taken from suspected lesions on anatomic regions such as the hands (wrist, interdigital skin, fingertip and palm), abdomen, penis and legs (thigh and bottom foot). They were examined under a light microscope after adding 15% potassium hydroxide solution.Results:S. scabiei was positive in 139 (18.63%) of 746 patients including a mother and her daughter and a married couple, where 68 (9.11%) were female and 71 (9.52%) were male.Conclusion:To our best knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study of scabies in Elazığ. Despite the recent socio-economic and cultural developments observed in our country, scabies and all other parasitic infestations still remain to be important problems. We believe that improvement of the public vigilance together with early diagnosis will improve sanitation and provide protection against scabies and parasitic infestations.

Introduction:The endothelial damage, changes in vascular permeability and plaque formation are caused by the effects of cytokines and chemokines that plays role in chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). It has been reported that arterial stiffness and the level of cell adhesion molecules are affected by inflammation. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-selectin, arterial stiffness and disease activity in patients with rheumatic diseases.Methods:Thirteen patients diagnosed with AS, 28 patients diagnosed with RA and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Arterial stiffness, VEGF, E-selectin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated in all patients and healthy controls. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) were calculated in patients with rheumatic diseases. The level of serum VEGF and E-selectin were determined by ELISA, and arterial stiffness was measured by oscillometric method. The data were statistically evaluated by using Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon test.Results:DAS-28, BASDAI, ESR and CRP levels were significantly decreased on the 3rd month of treatment in all patients (p

Typical features of Netherton syndrome are congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, atopic diathesis and trichorrhexis nodosa. Here in this report, we present a case with congenital ichthyosis with atopy presenting later. We wanted to discuss the importance of whole exome sequencing to diagnose the atypical presentations of common syndromes.

Objective: Periarticular and systemic osteoporosis are more common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than normal population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of ozone on bone strength in Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA) arthritis, which is considered as the animal model for RA. Materials and Methods: In this study, 28 male Wistar rats were used. Saline was injected into the hindpaws of 14 rats, and Freund’s complete adjuvant was injected into the hindpaws of the other 14 rats, subcutaneously. At the end of two weeks, 40 µg/ml ozone was administered intraperitoneally to 7 of the rats in each group for 6 times totally within duration of three weeks. At the 6th week, serum interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured. Right femurs were separated for 3-point flexure test. Results: TNF-α levels of FCA arthritis were significantly higher than that of the control group (p0.05). Serum levels of IL-1 and IL-6 were not statistically significant among all groups (p>0.05). Maximum force and moment of inertia tended to increase in FCA arthritis-ozone group compare to the FCA arthritis group (p>0.05). The stiffness and toughness were similar in the all groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in which the effects of ozone on bone strength of RA were investigated. It is determined that ozone is not effective enough, but not harmful on bone strength of FCA arthritis. It is clear that further studies are required with ozone treatment and its use in RA when administrated in different doses and time courses.

Aim: Toxicity findings affecting many systems, particularly the cardiovascular system, are observed in calcium channel blocker (CCB) overdose. Here, we aimed to present the incidence of CCB overdose patients with intraperitoneal and intrapleural free fluids detected by abdominal ultrasonography (USG).Materials and Methods: CCB overdose patients admitted to the emergency room in a 2-year period were prospectively included. All patients with CCB overdose were evaluated by bedside abdominal USG in terms of the presence of pleural and peritoneal fluid.Results: A total of 14 patients with CCB poisoning were included in our study. Six (42.8%) patients had taken verapamil, 7 (50%) patients amlodipine, and 1 (7.2%) patient nifedipine. The mean age of the patients was 27.2±15.9 years (range: 18–65 years). The median time from drug intake to arrival at the hospital was 3.0 h (IQR: 1.75–5). Nine (64.28%) of these patients were detected to have intraperitoneal and intrapleural free fluid by bedside USG. The mean arterial pressure of patients with intraabdominal and intrapleural fluid was lower than that of patients without the detected fluid, i.e., 56.8 (IQR: 54.8–61.8) vs. 65.6 (IQR: 64.2–66.8), respectively (p

OBJECTIVE: Methotrexate (MTX)-associated neurotoxicity is an important clinical problem in cancer patients, but the mechanisms of MTX-induced neurotoxicity are not yet known exactly. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate the possible role of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced neurotoxicity and (2) to determine whether there is a putative protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on MTX-induced neurotoxicity in the spinal cord, brainstem and sciatic nerve of rats. METHODS: A total of 19 adult Wistar male rats were divided into three experimental groups. Group I, control group; Group II, MTX-treated group; and Group III, MTX + CAPE-treated group. MTX was administered to the MTX and MTX + CAPE groups intraperitoneally (IP) with a single dose of 20 mg/kg on the second day of the experiment. CAPE was administered to the MTX + CAPE group IP with a dose of 10 μmol/kg for 7 days. RESULTS: In the sciatic nerve and spinal cord tissue, CAT and GSH-Px activities were increased in the MTX group in comparison with the control group. CAPE treatment with MTX significantly decreased CAT and GSH-Px activities in the neuronal tissues of rats in comparison with the MTX group. In the spinal cord and brainstem tissues, SOD activity in the MTX group was decreased in comparison with the control group, but in the sciatic nerve, there was no significant difference. In the spinal cord and brainstem of rats, SOD activity was increased in the CAPE + MTX group when compared with the MTX group. The level of MDA was higher in the MTX group than in the control group. CAPE administration with MTX injection caused a significant decrease in MDA level when compared with the MTX group. CONCLUSION: These results reveal that MTX increases oxidative stress in the sciatic nerve, spinal cord and brainstem of rats and that CAPE has a preventive effect on the oxidative stress via its antioxidant capacity

OBJECTIVE: The beneficial effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor drugs on migraine attack frequency have been shown. We aimed to study the relationship between the angiotensin converting enzyme gene and migraine pathophysiology. METHODS: In the present study, to assess whether the angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphisms have an effect on migraine attacks, we studied the angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes of 102 migraine patients (35 cases of migraine with aura and 67 of migraine without aura) and 75 age-and sex-matched normal volunteers. Frequency and age of onset of migraine attacks were also assessed according to angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes. RESULTS: Patients with migraine with and without aura were comparable with each other and the control group with respect to angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes (respectively; p= 0.88 and p= 0.76, p= 0.624). We could not determine a relationship between angiotensin converting enzyme genotypes and attack frequency (p= 0.125), but cases with angiotensin converting enzyme-II genotype showed a significantly younger age for onset of migraine attacks in comparison with the I/D genotype patients (p= 0.021). CONCLUSION: We believe that further angiotensin converting enzyme gene studies are warranted in younger age groups of patients with migraine and also in different populations

Scientific BACKGROUND: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is an uncommon disease and characterized by muscle weakness, hypokalaemia and high levels of thyroid hormones. Although it is frequently seen in Asian populations, it has also been reported in Caucasians. Ionic channel defects seen in hereditary periodic paralysis are not detected in TPP. Patients and METHODS: Clinical and laboratory findings of 4 TPP patients were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40.5 years. Three out of four patients were male and one was female. Three of them were presented with quadriparesis and one with paraparesis. One of the patients with quadriparesis was not diagnosed with TPP previously, although he had experienced 10 attacks in a year. A mean dose of 45 mEq KCl was applied intravenously to the patients and the symptoms began to resolve over 9.3 hour period. The patient who had 10 attacks showed 4/5 proximal muscle strength in all four extremities. CONCLUSION: Medical history and laboratory investigation is very important for diagnosis of thyrotoxic paralysis. The treatment of thyrotoxicosis prevents the attacks of TPP

The patient who had been treated symptomatically with the diagnosis of Huntington Disease was hospitalized in our clinic, got the diagnosis of neuroacanthocytosis with clinical findings and laboratory investigations was discussed in comparison with the literature. A 37-years-old male patient had speech disorder, gait disturbance and involuntary movements in face, neck, thrunk and extremities since 6 years duration. The patient has described an increment with all of his complaints over the last 2 years and neurological examination revealed facial tics, orofacial dyskinesia, choreiform movements in the distal parts of the extremities and dystonia in neck, thrunk and right leg. The patient had five generalized tonic clonic seizure at the last 2 years but he didn’t use any antiepileptic drugs. There was not any finding at cranial MRI. Presence of acanthocytosis at the peripheral blood, decrease of deep tendon reflexes, axonal peripheral neuropathy in electromyography, and increase in the levels of creatine phosphokinase in blood made us to leave the diagnosis of Huntington Disease. Neuroacanthocytosis must be remembered especially in the young adults with involuntary movements like chorea and dystonia in the differential diagnosis of Huntington Disease and must be investigated clinically and with laboratory in details