Search

Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy and intensive medical support, the mortality rate of postsplenectomy sepsis (PSS) ranges between 50% t070%. Although the risk of sepsis after splenectomy is highest in the first few years, this can be a lifelong risk. Early diagnosis, prompt treatment, vaccination, informing the patients beforehand about their condition and increasing awareness of this issue among clinicians are necessary in order to decrease the rate of high mortality due to PSS. In this report, we aimed to review the approach to splenectomized patients in view of a fatal case of sepsis occurring 19 years after splenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The most prominent characteristic of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is impulsive behavior and deficits in executive functions, which require long-term organization and discipline. This may have serious implications in terms of adherence to treatment among adults living with HIV (PLWH). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADHD among non-perinatally infected PLWH and its effect on adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and scheduled appointments., Methodology: The PLWH admitted to our centers between January 2012 and February 2016 were invited to the study. ADHD diagnosis was made according to the novel criteria guided interviews. The first ART interruption for ≥ 6 days per month (≤ 80%) was defined as ''ART-event'' and the first non-attendance of any scheduled appointment was defined as ''appointment-event''. Kaplan-Meier plot with a Log-rank test was used for event-free adherence (EFA)., Results: Twenty-five patients out of 85 were diagnosed with ADHD (29.4 %) which was significantly higher than the highest percentage reported (7.3 %) for the general population (p < 0.0001). Both ART-event (p = 0.0002) and appointment-event (p = 0.02) were significantly higher among ADHD participants compared to those without. Additionally, both ART-EFA (p = 0.00014) and appointment-EFA (p = 0.023) were significantly shorter among ADHD participants compared to those without., Conclusion: ADHD is significantly higher in adult PLWH and people with ADHD had a significant tendency for non-adherence to ART and follow-up. Screening for ADHD as well as providing treatment when required would be beneficial to achieve and maintain virologic success., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2020 Serhat Uysal, Hayriye Elbi, Gulsen Mermut, Ozen Onen Sertoz, Figen Kaptan, Demet Gulpek, Deniz Gokengin.)

Aim: Zygomycosis is a severe angioinvasive infection caused by Zygomycetes. We retrospectively investigated 16 cases of zygomycosis., Materials and Methods: The data of patients, who had been followed between 2004 and 2010 in 8 tertiary-care teaching hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and clinical signs and symptoms of the patients, as well as diagnostic methods, data obtained by radiological imaging methods, and the therapies, were recorded. Therapeutic approaches, antifungal agents and duration of use, and the characteristics of the cases were identified., Results: The study included 11 female and 5 male subjects. The most common symptoms and clinical signs were fever (n = 9) and retro- orbital pain (n = 7). Rhinocerebral zygomycosis was the most common form. The mean time elapsed for diagnosis was 14.26 + 13.96 (range: 2-52) days. Antifungal therapy was given to 15 patients (94%). In addition to antifungal therapy, 12 patients underwent surgical intervention 1 to 4 times. The mean duration of receiving antifungal therapy was 61.4 + 58.02 (range: 1-180) days. The median duration of treatment was 62.5 (range: 42-180) days in survivors., Conclusion: Zygomycosis is an infectious disease with high mortality despite antifungal therapy and surgical interventions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe how AIDS, as well as the stigma associated with it, affects the lives of HIV positive patients and their family members., Materials and Methods: Three large state hospitals in the metropolitan area of Izmir participated in the study. Six focus groups were conducted with people infected with HIV (n=32) and their family members (n=11). Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire to assess their HIV/AIDS knowledge and to convey how the stigma had affected them., Results: The most important problems identified were society and work-related social problems and access to health services. The patients and their family members stated that education was needed to correct misconceptions about HIV and to help them cope with related problems. We found that patients and their family members were sensitive about disclosure., Conclusion: We determined the education, counseling and support needs of HIV-infected patients and their families. Additionally, we found that health personnel who monitor the patients should make more efforts on patients' education and counselling.

Objective: To describe the clinical presentations, laboratory findings, prevalence and pattern of complications and the response to treatment of brucellosis in a 12-year period in a Turkish research hospital., Materials and Methods: Between 1996 and 2008, 231 patients were diagnosed with brucellosis and treated in our clinic. Medical records of 189 of the 231 patients with at least one demonstrable complication of the disease were reviewed for anamnesis, diagnosis, complications, treatment and clinical outcomes., Results: The decreasing order of the complications was: hematological, 104 (55%); osteoarticular, 70 (37%); hepatobiliary, 59 (31%), and gastrointestinal, 23 (12%). The most common laboratory findings were anemia, lymphomonocytosis, elevated sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, and elevated aminotransaminases., Conclusion: The hematological, osteoarticular and hepatobiliary manifestations were predominant. Bursitis, synovitis, glomerulonephritis, cutaneous lesion and deep vein thrombosis were the rare complications observed in our study. In clinical practice, brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the presence of infrequent complications., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)