The epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, radiology, microbiology, treatment, and prognosis of echinococcosis: Results of NENEHATUN study

Aim: Echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus species, is an important zoonotic disease causing major health problems in humans and animals. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical and laboratory parameters, radiological, serological, pathological, and treatment protocols of followed-up cases of hydatidosis. Methods: A total of 550 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst disease were included in this study. Patients who were positive for one or more of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or indirect hemagglutination test, pathological results, or radiological findings were examined. The data analyzed were collected from nine centers between 2008 and 2020. Records were examined retrospectively. Results: Among the patients, 292 (53.1%) were women and 258 (46.9%) were men. The patients' mean age was 44.4 +/- 17.4 years. A history of living in rural areas was recorded in 57.4% of the patients. A total of 435 (79.1%) patients were symptomatic. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain in 277 (50.4%), listlessness in 244 (44.4%), and cough in 140 (25.5%) patients. Hepatomegaly was found in 147 (26.7%), and decreased breath sounds were observed in 124 (22.5%) patients. Radiological examination was performed in all cases and serological methods were also applied to 428 (77.8%) patients. The most frequently applied serological test was IHA (37.8%). A single cyst has been found in 66% patients. Hepatic involvement occurred in 327 (59.4%), pulmonary involvement was found in 128 (23.3%), whereas both of them were recorded in 43 (7.8%) patients. Splenic involvement was only detected in nine (1.6%) patients. Echinococcus granulosus (72.5%) was most frequently detected. Cyst diameters of 56.9% of the patients were in the range of 5-10 cm. A total of 414 (75.2%) patients received albendazole as an antiparasitic. Mortality was noted in nine (1.6%) patients. Conclusion: Echinococcosis is an important public health problem in Turkey. It can affect the social, economic, and political structures of the community. Public education and awareness are extremely important

Interview with Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit

In this interview with Julia Stringfellow, Marjorie Harkins Buchanan Kiewit, LU class of 1943, discusses her time as a student as well as her time on the Board of Trustees.https://lux.lawrence.edu/oralhistories/1036/thumbnail.jp

Four malaria-import patterns: Sporadic region

Sıtma tarihte olduğu gibi günümüzde de önemli bir sağlık sorunu oluşturan paraziter bir infeksiyon hastalığıdır. Ülkemizde en fazla görülen tür Plasmodium vivax’dır, nadiren import vakalarda P. falciparum’da görülmektedir. 1926 yılında başlayan eradikasyon çalışmaları ile vaka sayıları oldukça azalmıştır. Ancak, seyahat, göçler ve programdaki aksaklıklar dolayısıyla import vaka sayıları artmaktadır. Sıtma açısından dünyada tropical, subtropical ülkelere, ülkemiz için Güneydoğu Anadolu ve Çukurova gibi endemik bölgelere seyahat öyküsü olan her ateşli olguda önce sıtma düşünülmelidir. Bu çalışmada yurt dışında çalışma öyküsü olan dört import olgunun epidemiyolojik ve klinik özelliklerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır.Malaria, as it has been during history, is an important parasitic infectious health problem nowadays. In Turkey, the most common kind of malaria is Plasmodium vivax, and P. falciparum is rarely observed in import events. After eradication activities started in 1926, the number of cases dramatically decreased in our country. However, the number of import cases is increasing as a result of tourism, migration, and deficiency in the eradication program. In tropical and sub-tropical regions and in endemic regions of Turkey such as South-Eastern Anatolia and Çukurova, in every feverish phenomenon, malaria is the first disease to be considered. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate clinical epidemiological characteristics of the four import patterns in foreign studies

Comparison of the number and content of pathology laboratory samples before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused respiratory system diseases and affected people’s access to healthcare services for diseases other than COVID-19. After the COVID-19 pandemic, changes occurred in the number and content of pathology laboratory samples, related to measures such as reducing the number of outpatient clinics in hospitals, postponing elective surgery, and restricting cancer screening. All samples sent to the pathology laboratory between 2019 and 2020 were included in our study. Biopsy, cytology, histochemical, and immunohistochemical staining and biopsies for malignant cases were evaluated. Changes in sample number and content caused by the pandemic were examined. The number of biopsies was 24 312 in 2019 and 13 208 in 2020. On comparison, a decrease was observed in all parameters. The largest (78.5%) and smallest (11.02%) decreases were observed in examinations of the incoming preparations for consultation (214–46) and Trucut needle biopsies (726–646), respectively. Cases such as appendectomies that require urgent intervention and malignancies that require further examination and diagnosis are the least affected. However, whether the decrease in cancer screening will affect the early diagnosis and treatment of malignancies and create a public health problem in the future remains to be established