Changes of Procalcitonin Kinetics According to Renal Clearance in Critically Ill Patients with Primary Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) kinetic and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) in critically ill patients who had Gram-negative primary bloodstream infection (GN-BSI) and responded to the antimicrobial therapy.

Materials And Methods: This single-centered study was retrospective and observational. Critically ill GN-BSI patients over 18 years old who had clinical and microbiological responses to antibiotic treatment were included in the study.

The effect of follow-up blood cultures on mortality and antibiotic use in gram-negative bloodstream infections.

Background: Gram-negative bloodstream infections (GN-BSIs) are a significant clinical challenge. The utility of follow-up blood cultures (FUBCs) in GN-BSIs and their impact on mortality and antibiotic consumption are areas of debate. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of FUBCs on mortality and antibiotic consumption in patients with GN-BSIs.

Evaluation of midterm outcomes after Shone's complex surgery: Analysis of reoperation and mortality risk factors.

Objective: The midterm results of patients who underwent biventricular repair surgery for Shone's complex were examined, and mortality and reoperation risk factors were evaluated.

Methods: This retrospective study included 34 patients with Shone's complex who underwent mitral valve (MV) surgery between 2005 and 2020.

Results: A total of 19 patients (56%) had coarctation, 10 (29%) patients had subaortic stenosis, 9 (26.

Are elderly people exhibiting greater sensitivity to the nature of communication due to sneezing and nasal discharge?

Objective: Communication with elderly has always presented specific challenges which do not affect other groups. The aim of the study was to investigate how elderly patients perceive communication with doctors due to sneezing and nasal discharge, in particular during COVID-19 pandemic having personal protective equipment, including goggles, face shield, mask and hazard suits affects the quality of communication.

Subjects And Methods: 100 patients (50 male and 50 female), all over the age of 65 years, were enrolled as the study group.

Repair of a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve by extensive leaflet shaving and commissuroplasty.

The surgical repair of the bicuspid aortic valve in children has been shown to have good outcomes. The repair can be done by the delicate use of native valve tissue without using patch material. The patient is an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve and supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Comparison of cases with and without additional lower body perfusion in newborns undergoing aortic arch reconstruction with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion method.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of additional lower body perfusion, compared to antegrade selective cerebral perfusion, on early postoperative outcomes after aortic arch repair in neonates with biventricular morphology.

Methods: Between January 2017 and April 2020, a total of 46 neonates (34 males, 12 females; median age: 10 days; range, 7 to 14 days) with biventricular morphology underwent an aortic arch reconstruction were retrospectively analyzed. The effects of antegrade selective cerebral perfusion and additional lower body perfusion techniques on vital organ preservation and mortality were evaluated in these patients who underwent arch reconstruction.

Evaluation of long-term antibody kinetics in healthcare workers vaccinated with inactivated COVID-19 Vero cell vaccine (CoronaVac), a propensity score-matched observational study.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term antibody kinetics after vaccinating with an inactivated COVID-19 Vero cell vaccine (CoronaVac) in healthcare workers (HCWs) at a single center in Turkey.

Methods: For this prospective observational study, Chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used for the determination of binding antibodies (bAb) and neutralizing antibodies (nAb), respectively. Antibody kinetics were compared for the potential influencing factors, and propensity score analysis was performed to match the subcohort for age.

Systemic Venous Reconstructions During Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Background: Congenital heart disease continues to be an important indication for pediatric heart transplantation (HT) and is often complicated by systemic venous anomalies. The need for reconstruction, surgical technique used, as well as the outcomes of these have limited documentation.

Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study of patients transplanted at Emory University between 2006 and 2017.

The choice of palliative arterial switch operation as an alternative for selected cases in a single center: Experience and mid term results.

Introduction And Objective: There are various management options for newborns with single ventricle physiology, ventriculoarterial discordance and subaortic stenosis, classically involving the early pulmonary banding and aortic arch repair, the restricted bulboventriculer foramen enlargement or the Norwood and the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedures. The aim of this study is to evaluate our preferred technique and comment on the midterm results of our clinical experience with palliative arterial switch operation (pASO) for a certain subset of patients.

Method: We hereby retrospectively evaluate the charts of patients who went through pASO, as initial palliation through Fontan pathway, starting from 2014 till today.

Early outcomes of usage of cryoFORM® probe for cryomaze procedure in congenital heart surgery.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the early outcomes of patients who underwent a concomitant therapeutic maze procedure for congenital heart surgery.

Materials And Methods: Between 2019 and 2020, eight patients underwent surgical cryoablation by using the same type of cryoablation probe.

Results: Three patients had atrial flutter, two had Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, two intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia, and one had atrial fibrillation.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on congenital heart surgery practice: An alarming change in demographics.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 outbreak on congenital cardiac surgery practice in a single center.

Methods: The first case of COVID-19 in our country was seen on March 11th, 2020. The patients operated between March 11th, 2019-and March 10th, 2020 were taken as the pre-COVID group, and those operated between March 11th and May 11th, 2020 were taken as the COVID group.

Predicting the outcome after adenoidectomy-alone for adenoid hypertrophy causing sleep disordered breathing.

Purpose: By using preoperative parameters age, body mass index, nasopharyngeal obstruction as assessed using flexible videonasopharyngoscopy, and quality of life scores in patients undergoing adenoidectomy-alone because of adenoid hypertrophy causing sleep disordered breathing, we aimed to examine the relationship between the change in quality of life scores, and preoperative parameters and to develop a tool to predict the change.

Materials And Methods: Patients who were scheduled for adenoidectomy-alone in a 12-month period were included. Flexible videnonasopharyngoscopy of the nasopharynx was performed.

Early Infant Symptomatic Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot With Absent Pulmonary Valve: Pulmonary Artery Management and Airway Stabilization.

Background: Tracheobronchomalacia and airway obstruction from severely dilated pulmonary arteries in tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve (TOF-APV) has been associated with high rates of respiratory failure and mortality (15% to 25%). It is not known whether aggressive pulmonary artery (PA) or direct airway intervention during early definitive cardiac repair improves outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was made of all patients undergoing surgical repair for TOF-APV at our center between 2006 and 2018.

Olfactory and gustatory abnormalities in COVID-19 cases.

Purpose: At the time of writing, there is a pandemic affecting virtually every country on Earth. There is considerable discussion amongst clinicians as well as lay people about anosmia and ageusia in COVID-19 sufferers. We aimed to report the results from comprehensive olfactory and gustatory testing in a series of hospital in-patients.

Aortic translocation procedure: Early outcomes from a single center.

Background/aim: The data on the Nikaidoh procedure is limited in the literature. This study presents our experiential findings with aortic translocation (Nikaidoh) procedure and its modifications.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of all the patients who underwent aortic translocation in our institution.

Is septoplasty effective rhinogenic headache in patients with isolated contact point between inferior turbinate and septal spur?

Background: Rhinogenic headache is a painful sensation in the head and face due to intranasal contact point without any mass or inflammatory findings. Surgery is recommended in patients with nasal obstruction; however the approach in case of isolated mucosal contact point that does not cause obstruction is controversial. Our aim is to observe changes in the severity of headache in patients with isolated mucosal contact point and headache who do not complain of nasal obstruction.

Is there any effect of anxiety and depression scores on the improvement of tinnitus after surgery in chronic otitis patients with tinnitus.

Background: Tinnitus is a common disease in public. It is not only associated with neuronal, muscular, vascular pathologies, but also with related psychological parameters. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between tinnitus, anxiety and depression in patients undergoing tympanoplasty.

Two-Hour Follow-Up is Equivalent to One-Day Follow-Up of Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Objectives: To evaluate short-term outcome for posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (p-BPPV) after modified Epley's maneuver (mEM).

Materials And Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with p-BPPV between September 2017 and January 2018 in a tertiary care center were included. Patients were treated with mEM.

Role of Superantigens in Allergic Inflammation: Their Relationship to Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Asthma, and Atopic Dermatitis.

Objectives: Our intention was to review all material published to date regarding superantigens (SAgs) and allergy from an otorhinolaryngological viewpoint to understand this association more clearly.

Methods: We identified all materials published mentioning both SAg and allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic sinusitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis (AD) that are indexed on PubMed, Google, or the ProQuest Central databases.

Results: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant bacterial pathogen in humans and has the ability to produce enterotoxins with superantigenic features.

Is fine needle aspiration biopsy reliable in the diagnosis of parotid tumors? Comparison of preoperative and postoperative results and the factors affecting accuracy.

Introduction: Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a valuable tool in preoperative evaluation of head and neck tumors. However, its accuracy in management of salivary gland tumors is debatable.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the efficacy and the accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy in parotid gland tumors.

Outcomes and risk factors associated with tricuspid valve repair in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Objectives: Tricuspid valve (TV) competence is important for successful palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). We report our experience with TV repair in HLHS patients with a focus on TV and right ventricular (RV) function and associated clinical outcomes.

Methods: From 2002 to 2012, 219 neonates with HLHS underwent the Norwood operation.

Comparison of trace element levels after cardiopulmonary bypass between cyanotic and acyanotic patients.

Trace elements are essential micronutrients for the human body. In this study, we evaluated the alterations in copper, chromium, manganese, selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron, arsenic, boron, and silicon levels in children with cyanotic and acyanotic CHD who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Participants were divided into the following three groups: patients acyanotic CHDs (n=34), patients with cyanotic CHDs (n=30), and healthy controls (n=30).

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for refractory cardiac arrest in children after cardiac surgery.

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide cardiorespiratory support during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation; ECPR) unresponsive to conventional methods. In this study, the results of ECPR in a cardiac arrest setting after cardiac surgery in children were analyzed.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, between November 2010 and June 2014, 613 congenital heart operations were performed by the same surgical team.

Alterations in antioxidant and oxidant status of children after on-pump surgery for cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart diseases.

Objective: Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance between reactive oxidative species and antioxidants. In this case-controlled, prospective, observational study, we investigated the total oxidant status, total antioxidant status, oxidative stress index, and albumin and C-reactive protein levels of children with cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart diseases who had undergone on-pump cardiac surgery.

Method: The study groups consisted of 60 patients with congenital heart disease, who were operated under cardiopulmonary bypass, and a control group of 30 healthy individuals.

[The prevalence of low back pain in hospital staff and its relationship with chronic fatigue syndrome and occupational factors].

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of low back pain in hospital employees during the previous year and its correlation with demographic data, occupational factors and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Methods: All participants provided information on their socio-demographic background, occupational characteristics, their experience of low back pain during the previous year, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Results: The study included 365 volunteers (221 male and 144 female).