Predicting hospital mortality in COVID-19 hemodialysis patients with developed scores

Various risk scores such as COVID-GRAM Critical Illness Risk Score (COVID-GRAM), quick COVID-19 Severity Index (qCSI), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been developed to determine critical illness in hospitalized patients. None of these risk scoring systems was evaluated in HD patients who indeed carry the highest risk of developing critical illnesses. We aimed to evaluate, in hemodialysis (HD) patients with COVID-19, the performance of these scoring systems for the need of intensive care unit (ICU) and mortality. The qCSI, COVID-GRAM, and SII scores of the patients at admission to hospital were calculated and grouped according to the scoring results. The primary outcome of the study was mortality and need of ICU. Critical illness was described as a composition of admission to the ICU, invasive ventilation, or death. It was determined that when the qCSI is over 6.5, the need for ICU increased 13.8 times and mortality increased 21.3 times. When the COVID-GRAM score is >157, the ICU need increased 14.7 times and the mortality increased 33.7 times. We found that the need for ICU increased 4.2 times and mortality increased 3.1 times when the SII score was >1145. These tests, which can be easily calculated, could be used to estimate the risk of developing critical illness among COVID-19 HD patients. Estimating the risk of critical illness could help to reduce mortality in HD patients

A novel theranostic nanobioconjugate: I-125/131 labeled phenylalanine conjugated boron nitride nanotubes

WOS: 000398027800022Here we report the synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) via a chemical vapor deposition method, as potential agents for boron neutron capture therapy. BNNTs were functionalized with PAMAM[G-2] dendrimer and then, conjugated with L-Phe using EDC/NHS. After that, BNNTs were radiolabeled with I-125/131, which are commonly used for both therapy and diagnosis in clinical and pre-clinical studies. BNNTs were radiolabeled with a maximum yield with I-125/131 in compared with 4-borono-L-phenyalanine which is currently used as a commercial drug. Radiolabeling parameters were optimized with thin layer radiochromatography and high performance liquid radiochromatography. BNNTs are promising nanobioconjugates as new theranostic agents.Ege University Scientific Research FundEge University [2015 NBE 002]The authors thank to the Ege University Scientific Research Fund for the financial support through the project number 2015 NBE 002. Associate Professor Arzu Turkler Ege and Associate Professor Mehmet Ayvacikli from Celal Bayar University are acknowledged for their valuable helps during the synthesis step of BNNTs. Dr Hasan Demiroglu from Celal Bayar University is acknowledged for his helps during FTIR measurements

The mean platelet volume, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio, platelet lymphocyte ratio and red cell distribution width in panic disorder

Objective: Assessment of the systemic inflammatory response of the neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is shown as a new biomarker. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is the size of red blood cells and have been found related to adverse events in many diseases. Mean platelet volume (MPV) indicates platelet volume and platelet volume is a potential indication of platelet activity. The aim of our study is to investigate hematological changes in patients with panic disorder (PD) through readily available markers such as NLR, PLR, RDW and MPV. Methods: Thirty-nine patients between the ages of 18 and 75 who were diagnosed with PD according to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) and forty healthy control subjects were included in the study. MPV, NLR, PLR and RDW were measured and recorded for groups. Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI-S) and Panic Disorder Severity Scale were applied to the patients. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics. No significant correlation was found between NLR, PLR and RDW values and clinical scales. MPV was negatively correlated with the severity of panic disorder. There was no correlation between MPV and other variables. Conclusion: Our study is the first study to examine NLR, PLR and RDW associations in PD patients. There are studies showing that increased sympathetic activity leads to increased MPV. In our study, the MPV value did not differ between PD and control group. However, there was a negative correlation between the severity of panic disorder and MPV

Structural variations of MCF and SBA-15-like mesoporous materials as a result of differences in synthesis solution pH

This work illustrated the significance of synthesis solution pH on the structural characteristics of MCF and SBA-15-like mesoporous materials. SBA-15 and MCF-like materials synthesized at pH << 1.0 and pH values higher than 1.0 showed highly different structural and morphological properties. XRD, TEM and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms of the synthesized materials showed that the long range order of mesopores of SBA-15 and the cage-window structure of MCF were significantly distorted at higher synthesis solution pH values (all acidic). A totally amorphous material with no ordered pores was obtained at a pH value of 2.0. Surface area and micropore contribution to the total pore volume significantly increased, while average mesopore diameter was decreased by increasing the synthesis pH value to 1.5. This was considered to be due to the increased contribution of corona region and bridging of the mesopores by secondary pores at higher pH. Pore structures of the MCF and SBA-15-like materials prepared at pH 1.5 were rather complex and interconnected. SEM, FT-IR and pyridine adsorbed FT-IR analysis of the materials also showed the importance of synthesis solution pH on the morphology, structure and acidic characteristics of the synthesized materials

Effect of Synthesis Conditions on the Structure and Catalytic Performance of V- and Ce-Incorporated SBA-15-like Materials in Propane Selective Oxidation

Vanadia- and/or ceria-incorporated SBA-15-like materials were prepared by impregnation and one-pot hydrothermal synthesis procedures at different solution pH values. The pH of the synthesis solution was found to have a very strong effect on the pore structure, chemical composition, and morphology of the synthesized materials. Materials synthesized by impregnation of V and/or Ce and by the one-pot hydrothermal route at pH << 1.0 showed the characteristic ordered pore structure of SBA-15. However, the materials prepared by the one-pot synthesis route at pH 1.5 gave complex pore structures with bottleneck-shaped and/or slit-like interconnected pores. Activity tests in the selective oxidation of propane showed higher activities for the V-incorporated materials than for the materials containing Ce and V-Ce. Catalysts synthesized by impregnation gave higher propane conversions. However, the propylene selectivity values were higher with the catalysts prepared by the one-pot route. An increase in the temperature from 550 to 600 degrees C led to increases in both the conversion and the propylene selectivity with the V- and V-Ce-incorporated materials prepared by the one-pot procedure at pH 1.5. For the V-incorporated catalyst prepared by this route, the propane conversion and propylene selectivity were obtained as 40% and 62%, respectively, at a space time of 0.4 s.g.cm(-3) and a temperature of 600 degrees C

Management of COVID-19 in 55 hemodialysis patients: Experience from Eastern Turkey

Aim: The novel coronavirus causes acute severe respiratory syndrome (SARS COV 2), and the disease is named COVID-19. The virus spreads easily, and COVID-19 may be asymptomatic or cause severe pneumonia and ARDS. Hemodialysis patients are affected by COVID-19 because of the immunosuppression caused by uremia, comorbid diseases and the risk of cross-contamination during dialysis. In this study, we aimed to examine the clinical features and outcomes of 55 hemodialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19

Author's reply: 'Many confounding factors can affect mean platelet volume in euthyroid Hashimoto's thyroiditis patients'

WOS: 000417404200014PubMed: 27755020

Factors Associated with Mortality in Patients with Decubitus Ulcers Treated with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

timur, ozge/0000-0002-7296-5536; tosun, pinar/0000-0002-2617-4610; sevinc, can/0000-0002-4069-9181WOS: 000512305000016Introduction: Decubitus ulcer is a common geriatric syndrome encountered in patients receiving palliative care support. Negative pressure wound therapy is one of the methods used to promote wound healing. the aim of this study was to determine factors associated with mortality in patients with decubitus ulcer treated with negative pressure wound therapy in our palliative care unit. Materials and Methods: Data from patients who were admitted to the palliative care unit for follow-up and who underwent negative pressure wound therapy due to decubitus ulcer were retrospectively evaluated. Categorical data were compared using chi-square test, and continuous data were compared using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. A Cox regression model was created including presence of microbiological response, presence of polymicrobial agent, presence of agent in initial wound culture, concurrent bacteremia, final C-reactive protein (CRP), final albumin, and final leukocyte counts. Results: the study included 53 palliative care patients. Their mean age was 73.6 +/- 17.3 years and 33 (62.3%) were females. Bacterial growth was detected in 39 (73.6%) of the wound site cultures obtained before treating decubitus ulcers with negative-pressure wound dressing. Multiple microorganisms were isolated in 17 (47.2%) of the positive cultures. Escherichia coli was the most common isolate (39.2%). Twenty-five (47.2%) patients died and 28 (52.8%) could be discharged. Positive culture before negative pressure wound therapy was associated with statistically higher mortality rate. A Cox regression model using the variables that differed significantly between the deceased and surviving patients (microbiological response, polymicrobial infection, agent detected in initial wound culture, concurrent bacteremia, and final CRP, albumin, and leukocyte counts) showed that the presence of multiple microorganisms in decubitis ulcer increased mortality by 3.793 fold and was an independent risk factor for mortality. Conclusion: in patients with decubitus ulcer treated with negative pressure wound therapy, the presence of pre-negative pressure wound therapy hypoalbuminemia, positive wound culture, and isolation of multiple agents are independent risk factors associated with higher mortality