Evaluation of the Prevalence of Barotrauma and Affecting Factors in Patients with COVID-19 during Follow-Up in the Intermediate Care Unit

It is known that pneumothorax (PX) and pneumomediastinum (PM) develop due to COVID-19 disease. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of PX/PM due to COVID-19 in the intermediate intensive care unit (IMCU) and to evaluate the factors causing barotrauma and also the clinical outcomes of these patients. A total of 283 non-intubated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia followed up in the IMCU in a 1-year period were included in the study. The patients were classified as group 1 (having barotrauma) and group 2 (without barotrauma). The rate of barotrauma was 8.1% (n = 23, group 1). PX developed on the right hemithorax in 12 (70.6%) patients. Group 1 had statistically significantly higher 28-day mortality rates compared with group 2 (p = 0.014). The eosinophil and d-dimer levels of the patients in group 1 were higher, while C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and albumin levels were lower than Group 2 (p p = 0.017, p = 0.001, p p < 0.001, respectively). The similar rates of NIMV administration in our study groups support that barotrauma is not the only mechanism in the development of PX/PM. The findings of high blood eosinophil count and low blood levels of CRP, albumin, and fibrinogen in the barotrauma group of our study might be a pathfinder for future studies

Investigation of Vipera Anatolica Venom Disintegrin via Intracellular Uptake with Radiolabeling Study and Cell-Based Electrochemical Biosensing Assay

WOS: 000464733200028PubMed ID: 30276529Snake venoms are a natural biological source that has potential therapeutic value with various protein compounds. Disintegrins originally were discovered as a family of proteins from snake venoms composed of cysteine rich low molecular weight polypeptides. Disintegrins exhibit specific binding and higher affinity toward integrin with potential inhibition of function. Trans-membrane receptors of the integrin family may involve in many pathological conditions such as inflammation and tumor progression with important processes related to invasion and migration. Since disintegrins have the ability to bind to integrins, they could be used for cancer detection and treatment, and in monitoring of therapy in select cancer types. The main purpose of the study is to investigate disintegrin containing Vipera anatolica (VAT) crude venom potential for radiolabeling and intracellular uptake as well as electrochemical biosensing assay against U87MG human brain glioblastoma cells. For this purpose, VAT crude venom containing U87MG cell-specific disintegrin was investigated in terms of radiolabeling and intracellular uptake as well as electrochemical biosensing assay in comparison with echistatin (ECT) disintegrin in cells. The interaction between VAT crude venom and ECT with HEK293 human non-tumorigenic embryonic kidney cells and glioblastoma U87MG cells was electrochemically investigated using pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs). The interaction of the VAT crude venom and ECT with HEK293 and U87MG cells was detected according to the changes in oxidation signals. Then, VAT crude venom and echistatin were labeled with I-131 via iodogen method. Intracellular uptakes of radiolabeled molecules were investigated in U87MG cell line. I-131-VAT can be an agent for imaging of glioblastoma cancer. Further work will focus on the production of large quantities of pure VAT disintegrin with a biotechnological approach to improving imaging agent

A child with primary Sjogren syndrome and a review of the literature

Primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) is an uncommon disease in childhood. Childhood pSS might have different clinical manifestations than adult pSS. We describe a 13-year-old girl with multiple episodes of bilateral parotid swelling lasting 2 years. Her history included severe arthralgia, local edema, and purpura episodes since 9 years of age. During her 3-week hospitalization, 2 episodes of parotid swelling occurred, which both resolved in 48 hours. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance images of parotid glands showed parenchymal inhomogeneity related to adipose degeneration and nodular pattern. Investigations showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia, positive antinuclear antibody, and elevated rheumatoid factor, anti-Sjogren syndrome antigen A, and anti-Sjogren syndrome antigen B. Histopathologic examination of labial minor salivary glands revealed focal periductal lymphocytic infiltrate and sialoduct ectasia. She was diagnosed as having pSS. Recurrent parotid swelling is a more characteristic feature of disease in children, and this finding should alert the clinician to the possible diagnosis of PSS

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children Aged < 2 Years

Background: There are limited data on infants with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory features, and to evaluate treatment modalities and outcomes in infants with aHUS. Materials and Methods: Relevant data on patients with onset of aHUS at age <2 years were obtained from the Turkish Pediatric aHUS Registry. Results: Among the 146 patients included in the Registry, 53 (36%) (23 male and 30 female) were enrolled for the study. Age at disease onset was <= 1 year in 29 of the patients. In all, 21 (40%) of the patients developed neurological symptoms. Disease-causing muta tions were noted in 14 (36%) of the 39 patients in which genetic analysis was performed. Plasma therapy was performed in 42 (79%) patients; eculizumab therapy was administered to treat the first episode of aHUS in 33 (62%) patients and in 5 patients as the first- line therapy. In total, 38 (72%) patients received renal replacement therapy (RRT), 3 (6%) died due to acute illness, and 4 (8%) were discharged from hospital with RRT. Follow-up visit data were available for 46 patients and the median duration was 23 months (range 3-129 months). End-stage renal disease developed only in 1 patient. Proteinuria and hypertension persisted in 17 (37%) and 20 patients (44%) respectively. Eculizumab treatment was continued in 25 of the 39 patients during the follow-up period. Conclusion:One-third of the aHUS patients had disease onset during infancy. The prognosis of this life-threatening disease seems to get better with improved treatment modalities. (C) 2018 S. Karger AG, Base

Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene Exon III VNTR Variant Influences Smoking Status in Turkish Population

Introduction: Dopaminergic gene variants may affect nicotine dependence through their possible impact on the dopamine reward pathway. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) variant in exon III of the Dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene and genetic predisposition of smoking status in a Turkish population