COVID-19 vaccine immunity in oncology patients

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of vaccine types applied in our country against 2019 coronavirus disease on the formation of protective antibodies in oncology patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of 81 cancer patients who received at least one dose of vaccine for COVID-19 and radiotherapy were analyzed retrospectively. At any time after the vaccination, blood samples were taken and the antibody titers against the vaccine were measured. RESULTS: There were 28 (34.6 %) patients who received two doses of vaccine and 48 patients (59.3 %) who received 3 doses of vaccine (Sinovac only), while 26 patients (32.1 %) were given both vaccines. The mean time for antibody measurement was 62 days after the last vaccination. IgG levels were significantly higher in patients who received Biontech vaccine than in those who received Sinovac (r = 0.525; p < 0.001). While chemotherapy was the factor that decreased the mean IgM level (p = 0.044), advanced disease (stages 3 and 4) was a significant factor that increased the mean IgG level (p = 0.047). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between IgM antibody level and WBC count after first vaccination (r = ‒0.251; p = 0.024). For every WBC count unit increase in the first vaccination period, there was a 1.333-fold increase in the risk of IgM negativity. CONCLUSION: The Biontech vaccine produced higher antibody levels in advanced oncology patients. While the application of radiotherapy in cancer patients was not found to be an effective factor in the vaccination status, it was determined that the application of chemotherapy significantly reduced IgM levels (Tab. 5, Ref. 28). Text in PDF www.elis.skRecep Tayyip Erdogan University ; Coordination Unit for Projects of Scientific Researc

Three seasonal comprehensive evaluation process of Digitalis trojana Ivan's phenolics

Sahin, Huseyin/0000-0002-6018-1494; Yazici, Zihni Acar/0000-0003-1603-6545; SANDALLI, Cemal/0000-0002-1298-3687WOS: 000387298100016Digitalis trojana Ivan, a member of Digitalis genus, has highly bioactive properties due to, efficient phenolics. These compounds have shown to convert into each other in a limited time. Seasonal fluctuations of this plant leaves have been studied during the summer season using the high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Caffeic acid in June (2.48 mg/g extract), p-coumaric acid in August (6.69 mg/g extract) and trans-ferulic acid in July (4.85 mg/g extract) were the main compounds in the non-hydrolysed extracts. These compounds were heavily found in the hydrolysed extracts in August (14.63, 18.29 and 5.70 mg/g extracts, respectively). In addition, analysed flavonoids were found to be highest in July. Total phenolic contents were measured spectrophotometrically by using Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent. The spectrophotometrically results were lowest (e.g. 43.50 mg GAE/g extract) in July while those of the hydrolysed extracts were highest (e.g. 167.19 mg GAE/g extract) in June. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with unresectable gastric carcinoma and literature review

Rakici, Sema Yilmaz/0000-0002-5543-9761; Yazici, Zihni Acar/0000-0003-1603-6545WOS: 000349897200187PubMed: 25785154Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a disease classically associated with nutrition deficiency. It is characterized by typical symptoms like confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoparesis, and developes due to thiamine deficieny in alcoholic patients. Recently, it has been shown that WE could ocur in patients with gastric carcinoma without a history of alcohol use. in this paper, we have made some suggestions about early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of WE by discussing the development of WE in a patient with unresectable gastric carcinoma, who had been inpatient for a long time and given radiotherapy and chemotherapy

Evaluation of the effects of fasting associated dehydration on maternal NGAL levels and fetal renal artery Doppler parameters

Yazici, Zihni Acar/0000-0003-1603-6545WOS: 000366743600022PubMed: 25708489Objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate maternal neutrophil gelatinase-asssociated lipocalin (NGAL) levels and fetal renal artery (fRA) Doppler flow indices in pregnant women fasting in Ramadan in respect of dehydration in long hot summer days as a marker of hypoperfusion and early renal injury.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at a University Hospital. Fasting pregnant women and non-fasting age, gravidity and gestational age-matched women were evaluated for hematologic, blood biochemistry and urine parameters in the first and fourth weeks of the Ramadan. Umbilical artery and fRA Doppler flows were studied in each evaluation.Results: Blood urea nitrogen, potassium and hematocrit levels, blood and urine NGAL levels were significantly higher, and fRA Doppler indices increased in fasting women (p0.05).Conclusions: Adequate maternal vascular volume is essential for the maintenance of healthy pregnancy. Fasting during the long and hot summer days leads to fluid deprivation and dehydration which was found to be related to subclinical maternal renal dysfunction and increased fRA Doppler indices