Publications by authors named "Agacfidan A"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to explore the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and two conditions: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP), an immune system disease, and Oral Lichenoid Contact Lesions (OLCL), an allergic reaction to dental materials.
  • A total of 60 participants, including 20 with OLCL, 23 with OLP, and 20 healthy controls, underwent biopsies, saliva, and blood tests to detect the presence of EBV DNA using Real-time PCR.
  • Results revealed that EBV DNA was somewhat present in both OLP and OLCL patients, with no significant difference noted compared to the control group, suggesting more research is needed to clarify EBV's role in these conditions
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Article Synopsis
  • - Respiratory viruses are a major public health concern, causing significant illness and death in both kids and adults; this study focused on their incidence from 2019 to 2022, especially post-COVID-19.
  • - Over the study period, researchers analyzed nearly 2,500 samples and found that 47.6% tested positive for viruses, with detection rates fluctuating annually, notably high for rhinovirus and significant changes in other viruses.
  • - The study used advanced diagnostic kits, revealing a high effectiveness in identifying respiratory viruses, and calls for continuous monitoring to adapt public health strategies to the changing virus landscape.
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Neutralizing antibodies plays a primary role in protective immunity by preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from entering the cells. Therefore, characterization of antiviral immunity is important for protection against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, the neutralizing effect of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein IgG, which was detected using the chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA)-based SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant (Abbott, Waukegan, IL, USA) test in SARS-CoV-2 infected and/or vaccinated individuals, was investigated with a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT).

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Background: Parvovirus B19(B19) is a DNA virus. The most common B19 disease is erythema infectiosum (fifth-disease). PCR and ELISA are sensitive for detecting of acute disease.

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Candida species are the primary cause of fungal infections in intensive care units (ICUs). Despite the increasing prevalence of Candida-related infections, monitoring the progression of these infections from colonization in COVID-19 ICU patients lacks sufficient information. This study aims prospectively to compare 62 COVID-19 and 60 non-COVID-19 ICU patients from admission to discharge in terms of colonization development, rates, isolated Candida species, risk factors, and Candida infections during hospitalization.

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause serious complications in immunocompromised individuals and fetuses with congenital infections. These can include neurodevelopmental impairments and congenital abnormalities in newborns. This paper emphasizes the importance of concurrently evaluating ultrasonography findings and laboratory parameters in diagnosing congenital CMV infection.

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Human pegivirus (HPgV) is transmitted through sexual or parenteral exposure and is common among patients receiving blood products. HPgV is associated with lower levels of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA and better survival among HIV-infected patients. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HPgV and determine its subtypes in HIV-infected individuals living in Istanbul, which has the highest rate of HIV infection in Türkiye.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the reinfection rates and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 RNA present in their clinical specimens for COVID-19. Our data from the COVID-19 Laboratory of Istanbul University were analyzed for 27,240 cases between 27 March 2020 to 8 February 2022. Demographic characteristics, vaccination statuses, comorbidities, and laboratory findings were evaluated in cases with suspected reinfection, as determined by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA at a rate of 0.

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Among sexually transmitted diseases, HIV causes very serious clinical manifestations that can lead to death. As a result, millions of people have to live with this problem that threatens their health. The virus attacks the immune system of the host, especially CD4+ T lymphocytes, causing the suppression of the immune system.

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Adenoviruses are naked viruses with an icosahedral nucleocapsid containing a 36 kb linear double-stranded DNA genome that encodes 30-40 proteins. The word "obesity" in Latin means "because of feeding". Obesity is an energy metabolism pathology that paves the way for physical and psychological problems with excessive fat accumulation that can impair health.

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Bacteremia and fungemia are significant causes of morbidity and mortality that frequently occur as co-infections with viral respiratory infections, including SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microorganisms that were isolated from the blood cultures of SARS-CoV-2-positive and negative patients and investigate their antimicrobial resistance patterns. A retrospective analysis was performed of 22,944 blood cultures sent to the laboratory between November 2020 and December 2021.

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Background: There are limited data regarding short- and medium-term IgG antibody levels after the CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines. This study aimed to investigate the antibody responses of health workers who initially received two doses of CoronaVac one month apart followed by a booster dose of either CoronaVac or BNT162b2, as well as determine whether either vaccine provided superior results.

Methods: This research represents the second phase of a mixed-methods vaccine cohort study and was conducted between July 2021 and February 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Using multiple real-time PCR methods to analyze DNA, the researchers identified infections in 68 patients, with Chlamydia trachomatis being the most prevalent (11.1%), followed by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (3.9%) and Mycoplasma genitalium (7.8%).
  • * The findings highlighted that co-infections occurred in more than 20% of the cases, emphasizing the need for regular screening and advanced diagnostic techniques to improve treatment and prevention strategies for STDs.
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This study aimed to evaluate the performance characteristics of a rapid antigen test developed to detect SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza A virus (IAV), and influenza B virus (IBV) (flu) compared with those of the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) method. One hundred SARS-CoV-2, one hundred IAV, and twenty-four IBV patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by clinical and laboratory methods were included in the patient group. Seventy-six patients, who were negative for all respiratory tract viruses, were included as the control group.

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Objective: Hyperinflammation (HI) that develops in week 2 of COVID-19 contributes to a worse outcome. Because week 2 laboratory findings can be relatively mild, the available criteria for classification of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis or macrophage activation syndrome are not helpful.

Methods: Our study included a discovery cohort of patients from Turkey with symptomatic COVID-19 who were followed up while hospitalized during the initial wave and a replication cohort of hospitalized patients from a later period, all of whom required oxygen support and received glucocorticoids.

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Objective: Viral load varies during infection and is higher during the initial stages of disease. Given the importance of the intensive care unit (ICU) in the late stages of COVID-19 infection, analyzing cycle threshold values to detect viral load upon ICU admission can be a clinically valuable tool for identifying patients with the highest mortality risk.

Methods: This was a retrospectively designed study.

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Background: The COVID-19 is an ongoing health problem with millions of cases and deaths worldwide. Although the virus is transmitted with droplets through the respiratory system, the involvement of different organs has been reported.

Objectives: The pandemic caused urological procedures to be postponed when patient is infected with SARS-CoV-2.

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Background: Thorax computed tomography (CT) imaging is widely used as a diagnostic method in the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related pneumonia. Radiological differential diagnosis and isolation of other viral agents causing pneumonia in patients have gained importance, particularly during the pandemic.

Aims: We aimed to investigate whether there is a difference between CT images from patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia compared to CT images of patients with pneumonia due to other viral agents and which finding may be more effective in diagnosis.

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This study aims to evaluate the probable association between CMV infection and bacterial or fungalinfections in 91 consecutive adult patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic HSCT within aperiod of two years.The medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed. Blood cultures were evaluatedby an automated blood culture system.

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Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine represents a cornerstone in tackling the pandemic and with the approval of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in December 2020, it has become a beacon of hope for people around the world, including children. This study aimed to present the data on the humoral response and safety of vaccine in a cohort of patients with paediatric rheumatic diseases receiving immunomodulatory treatments.

Methods: Forty-one children with paediatric rheumatic diseases were included and were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (two doses of 30 µg administered 3-4 weeks apart).

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Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated tumors account for a significant proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) in developed countries. In recent years, there has been a rise of HPV infections associated with HNSCC, especially HPV16, which is the most commonly detected type in oral and oropharyngeal cancers. To investigate the frequency of HPV-driven HNSCC among patients living in Turkey, HPV DNA positivity and p16INK4A expression were assessed in primary tumor biopsies (n = 106).

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Article Synopsis
  • Candida auris is a significant fungal pathogen causing hospital infections, known for its antifungal resistance and misidentification by commercial testing systems.
  • It has been associated with higher mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised patients, despite having lower virulence than Candida albicans.
  • The text presents Turkey's first case of COVID-19 related C. auris infection in a 71-year-old male with multiple health issues, emphasizing the increased occurrence of this fungus in COVID-19 patients.
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Background: Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) has high mortality in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), and vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is vital for this population. Although the humoral response to messenger RNA vaccines was shown to be impaired in KTR, there is a lack of data regarding the antibody response to inactivated vaccines. We investigated the antibody response to two consequent doses of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac; Sinovac Biotech, China).

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Article Synopsis
  • - This study investigates the role of the Circadian Clock Protein PERIOD 3 (PER3) in COVID-19 patients, examining how its gene polymorphisms relate to immune response and circadian rhythm disturbances.
  • - Researchers analyzed 200 COVID-19 patients and 100 healthy controls, finding no significant differences in gene polymorphisms overall, but noted a higher prevalence of the 4R/5R genotype among patients who experienced worse outcomes.
  • - The results suggest that the 4R/5R genotype may be linked to increased risk of severe illness and mortality in COVID-19, paving the way for further research in this area.
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