Adherence to systemic therapy in patients with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter study

Background: Adherence to treatment is important in chronic dermatological diseases. There are limited data regarding the adherence to treatment in patients with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: We aimed to determine the rates of adherence to systemic treatments in patients with psoriasis and to identify the causes of non-adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional multicenter study from May 2021 to August 2021. A questionnaire including items regarding sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, disease-related characteristics, and treatment-related characteristics were filled out by the physicians. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index were calculated. The rate of adherence and non-adherence to treatment and reasons for non-adherence to treatment were examined. Results: A total of 342 patients with psoriasis were included (182 male/160 female) in the study. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 14.2 years. The average duration of psoriasis was 192 ± 134.7 months. While the rate of adherence to treatment was 57.6%, the rate of non-adherence to treatment was 42.4%. There were no significant differences with respect to adherence to treatment in comparison with oral and injection-therapy groups. The most frequent reasons for non-adherence to treatment were inability to go to the hospital (19.2%), concern about the COVID-19 infection (16.3%), discontinuation of the treatment by the doctor (13.7%), inability to reach the doctor (7.3%), and inability to have access to the medication (7.3%). Conclusion: Adherence to oral and injection therapies was fairly high among our patients with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psoriasis severity and duration of medication use had a negative impact on adherence to treatment

Evaluation of the efficacy, safety, and side effects of secukinumab in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis: Real-world data from a retrospective multicenter study

Background: Clinical studies have demonstrated that IL-17A inhibition with secukinumab is effective for clearing the skin of patients with psoriasis and has a favorable safety profile. Objective: The authors aim to determine whether secukinumab is effective and safe for the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic psoriasis based on clinical experience with this drug. Method: The authors conducted a multicenter retrospective study in nine referral centers and included patients with psoriasis who had received secukinumab between March 2018 to November 2020. Data on demographic characteristics, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, and previous treatments were collected from medical records. Patients were evaluated at 12, 24, and 52 weeks with respect to response to treatment and side effects. Results: In total, 229 patients were recruited for the study. A PASI score improvement of ≥90 points over the baseline was achieved by 79%, 69.8%, and 49.3% of patients at weeks 12, 24, and 52, respectively. The most common adverse events wereCandida infections and fatigue. In total, 74 (32%) patients discontinued treatment by week 52, including due to adverse events, or secondary ineffectiveness. Study limitations: Retrospective design. Conclusions: These findings suggest that secukinumab therapy is reasonably effective in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Comorbidities and time length of the disease can affect the response to treatment. The rates of adverse events were high in this patient population

Kan Transfüzyonu ve Reaksiyonları İle İlgili Sağlık Çalışanlarının Bilgi Düzeylerinin Araştırılması

Amaç: Kan transfüzyonu, organ nakli gibi önemli bir girişim olarak düşünülmektedir. Kan ve kan ürünleri transfüzyonuhayat kurtarıcı olduğu gibi hata ve ihmal yapılması durumunda ciddi sorunlara, hatta hayatı tehdit edebilecek kayıplaraneden olmaktadır. Günümüz modern kan bankacılığında temel kurallardan biri hastaya gereken kan bileşenleriningüvenli bir şekilde transfüze edilmesinin sağlanmasıdır. Bu çalışma, kan ve kan ürünleri transfüzyonu konusundahemşirelerin bilgi düzeylerinin belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmamızda, Düzce Üniversitesi Araştırma ve Uygulama Merkezi’nde kan transfüzyonuyapılan kliniklerinde çalışan 100 sağlık personeline 30 sorudan hazırlanmış olan anket uygulaması yapılmıştır. Anketformunda yaş, eğitim durumu, cinsiyet, çalışma süresi, kan transfüzyonuna yönelik hizmet içi eğitim programlarınakatılıp katılmadığı gibi kişisel bilgileri içeren altı soru bulunmaktadır. Diğer sorular kan ve kan ürünleri transfüzyonusonrası bakıma ve komplikasyonlara yönelik bilgileri saptamak amacıyla oluşturulmuştur. Verilerin istatistikseldeğerlendirmesinde Ki-kare testi kullanılmıştır.Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılanların tümü transfüzyon öncesi hasta kan grubu ile ürün kan grubunu ve hasta ismi iletransfüzyon takip formundaki ismin aynı olup olmadığını kontrol ettiğini belirtmiştir. Ayrıca cross-match yapıldığına veuygunluğuna dikkat ettiğini; transfüzyon öncesi ve sonrasında hastanın vital bulgularına baktığını bildirmiştir. Anketekatılanların %46’sı kanın koltuk altında ısıtılarak uygulanması gerektiği bilgisine sahiptir. Meslekte 11 yıldan uzunsüredir çalışanların transfüzyonla bulaşan enfeksiyonlar konusundaki bilgi düzeyinin, daha kısa süredir çalışanlardandaha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür.Sonuç: Meslekte daha uzun süredir çalışanların anket sorularına doğru cevap verme oranlarının yüksek olduğugörüldüğü için eğitimlerin sık aralıklarla tekrarlanması gerektiği düşünülmüştür.Aim: Blood transfusion is considered to be an important intervention such as organ transplantation. Blood and blood components transfusion is lifesaving; but if mistakes and negligence are made, it causes serious problems and even loss of life threatening. One of the main principles in modern day blood banking is ensuring that blood components that are needed for the patient are safely transfused. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels of nurses about blood and blood products transfusion. Material and Methods: In our study, a questionnaire of 30 questions was made on 100 health personnel working in blood transfusion-applied clinics of Duzce University Research and Application Center. There were six questions including personal information such as age, education level, gender, duration of work, participation in in-service training programs for blood transfusion, in the questionnaire. Other questions were established to determine the information related to care and complications after transfusion of blood and blood components. Chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation of the data. Results: All of the participants stated that they checked the patient blood group and component blood group and the name of the patient and the name in the transfusion follow-up form before transfusion. Participants also noted that cross-match was made and paid attention to its suitability; reported that looked at the vital signs of the patients before and after transfusion. Forty-six percent of participants stated that the blood had to be heated underarm. Employees who have been in employment for more than 11 years have been found to be aware of transfusion-transmitted infections at a higher rate than those who work shorter periods. Conclusion: Since it is seen that those who work longer in the profession have a higher rate of responding correctly to the questionnaire questions; it is thought that the training should be repeated at frequent intervals

Hyperporphyrin effect on oxygen sensitivity of free meso-tetraphenylporphyrins

A series of dyes; three symmetric free meso-tetraphenylporphyrins, bearing phenylacetylide (H2-TPA), hexyloxy (H2-OHex) or without peripheral substituent (H2-TPP) were chosen as luminophore to explore the effect of meso-substitution on the oxygen sensing ability. These dyes were incorporated into poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) [poly(TMSP)], polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and silicone matrices along with additives such as perfluorododecanoic acid (PFC) to improve the oxygen sensitivity as well as ionic liquid to favor the microfiber preparation by electrospinning. The pH of the medium is affected by the composition of the cocktail, a non-trivial effect which induce protonation of the free meso-tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives bearing electron donor (H2-OHex) and withdrawing substituents (H2-TPA), which results in absorbance and emission spectroscopic modifications called elsewhere hyperporphyrin effect. Spectrophotometric titrations were carried out by using HClO4 in THE solution and PFC in [poly(TMSP)]-based thin film to study the hyperporphyrin effect of H2-TPA, H2-OHex and H2-TPP showing the influence of the substituent bn the pKa of the inner nitrogen's. The ratio of PFC/dyes optimization was prospected and the influence of the pH/protonation on the steady-state oxygen sensitivity was studied. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Exploring different strategies to express Dengue virus envelope protein in a plant system

Dengue virus envelope glycoprotein (E-protein) is the main protein associated with immunity induction. To produce a candidate for subunit vaccines and to provide an antigen for diagnostic kits, it was expressed in a novel plant system using deconstructed viral modules. A truncated version of the E-protein was designed to be expressed alone and co-expressed with Dengue virus structural proteins. As well, the critical domain III of E-protein was fused to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcore). The recombinant proteins were produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants and were reactive with the anti-E antibody. The fusion was reactive with both anti-E and anti-HBcore antibodies.Fil: Martinez, Carolina Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Topal, Emel. Arizona State University; Estados UnidosFil: Giulietti, Ana Maria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Talou, Julian. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Microbiología Industrial y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mason, Hugh. Arizona State University; Estados Unido

Significant sensitivity and stability enhancement of tetraphenylporphyrin-based optical oxygen sensing material in presence of perfluorochemicals

Emission-based oxygen sensing properties of highly luminescent tetraphenylporphyrin molecules were investigated in polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) and poly(isobutylmethacrylate) matrices. The effect of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) on oxygen sensitivity and stability of the sensor materials was also examined. Fluorescence intensity and lifetime measurements of meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato Zn(II) (ZnTPP) and meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) materials were performed in the concentration range of 0-100% pO(2). The fluorescence intensity variation of H2TPP vs. oxygen was 86%. H2TPP-based composite also yielded higher Stern-Volmer constant, faster response and regeneration time, excellent long term photostability and larger linear response range with respect to ZnTPP. The detection limit of oxygen for H2TPP was less than 0.5%. When stored in sealed bags protected from sunlight, no decrease in oxygen sensitivity was observed during approximately five months. As far as we know, the gathered utilization of PFCs and H2TPP embedded in polymer matrices was not previously described in literature, and has present amelioration compared to materials already existing