Development of pseudotyped VSV-SARS-CoV-2 spike variants for the assessment of neutralizing antibodies.

Serological studies with pseudotyped viruses offer a safer alternative to live SARS-CoV-2 in evaluating neutralizing antibodies, enabling research in standard labs. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudoviruses were generated using Spike of Wuhan strain and two variants (B.1.

Effective use of skin microbiome signatures for fingerprint identification.

Background: Recent advances have increased the importance of the human microbiome, including the skin microbiome. Despite the hand microbiome research, the factors affecting the composition of the hand microbiome and their personal characteristics are incompletely known.

Objectives: Despite changing environmental factors and personal variation, we aimed to indicate the interpersonal distinction between skin microbiota using simple and rapid molecular methods.

Resistance Genes and Mortality in Carbapenem-resistant Bacteremias: Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Emerging carbapenem-resistant () (CRKP) bacteremias are presenting significant public health risks due to limited treatment options and increased mortality. isolates exhibit carbapenem resistance rates that vary from 25% to 50% throughout the European continent, including our country.

Aims: To assess the characteristics of CRKP bacteremia, a condition that has recently demonstrated an increasing prevalence in our center.

Emerging trends in pediatric candidemia: mapping the rise in Candida parapsilosis incidence and antifungal resistance in Turkey.

Candidemia is emerging as a significant concern in children, particularly among those with underlying conditions like malignancies or prematurity. The interpretation of epidemiological data on candidemias and their antifungal resistance plays a vital role in aiding diagnosis and guiding clinicians in treatment decisions. From 2014 to 2021, a retrospective analysis was conducted in İstanbul, Turkey; comparing Candida albicans and non-albicans (NAC) spp in both surviving and deceased groups.

Predictors of 2-year mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Türkiye: a retrospective cohort study.

To reveal factors affecting 2-year mortality in geriatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory data, thorax computed tomography (CT) images, second-year survival status, and causes of death were analyzed. The 2-year post-discharge mortality rate of 605 patients was 21.

Cell free DNA as a new prognostic biomarker for COVID-19, A prospective cohort study.

Predicting the need of hospitalization and intensive care in COVID-19 patients has been challenging with current diagnostic tests since the beginning of the pandemic. We aimed to test cell free DNA (cfDNA) as a novel biomarker for COVID-19 disease severity and mortality. cfDNA concentration was quantified by RT-PCR based test.

Urinary tract infections in older adults: associated factors for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production.

Objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing and are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults. Identifying associated factors for ESBL production may contribute to more appropriate empirical treatment.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective observational study.

Diagnostic Role of Opsonic Activity in Acinetobacter baumannii Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia.

In this study, we investigated the diagnostic value of opsonic activity against Acinetobacter baumannii in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) among 50 patients, compared to 102 negative and positive controls. Out of the 50 patients, only 33 (66 %) were diagnosed with VAP using the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS). The opsonic activity assay demonstrated three key findings: (i) 95 % sensitivity and 91.

Bone Metabolism in Men who Live with HIV Aged 50 years and Over: Impact of Infection Duration.

Background: Early diagnosis and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) lead to similar life expectancy in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to the general population. This population faces problems such as decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of osteoporosis in men aged 50 years and over who were PLWH and to determine risk factors and changes in bone metabolism with bone turnover markers.

Performance of noninvasive fibrosis indices in chronic hepatitis B during pretreatment and post-treatment periods.

Pretreatment and post-treatment performances of noninvasive fibrosis indices were determined in patients with chronic hepatitis B. This was a retrospective, single-center study. The best area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values were detected for aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (0.

Phenotypic Investigation of Virulence Factors, Susceptibility to Ceragenins, and the Impact of Biofilm Formation on Drug Efficacy in Isolates from Türkiye.

has emerged as a significant fungal threat due to its rapid worldwide spread since its first appearance, along with its potential for antimicrobial resistance and virulence properties. This study was designed to examine virulence characteristics, the efficacy of ceragenins, and biofilm-derived drug resistance in seven strains isolated from Turkish intensive care patients. It was observed that none of the tested strains exhibited proteinase or hemolysis activity; however, they demonstrated weak phospholipase and esterase activity.

Talaromyces marneffei infection in an HIV infected patient with hematological malignancy - first report from Turkey.

T.marneffei, encountered mostly in Southeast Asia, leads to a systemic infection, especially in immunocompromised individuals such as HIV-infected patients with low CD4 level. A 32-year-old male patient, residing in Hong Kong for the last two years, admitted with fever, cough, weakness, and weight loss.

Prevalence of carbapenemases in Enterobacterales from urine specimens in an university hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of carbapenemases in Enterobacterales strains isolated from urine specimens between July 2019 and July 2020.CIM and modified CIM tests were applied as well as detection of blaOXA-48, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaKPC and blaIMP genes was performed by multiplex PCR.One hundred fifty of 3,242 Enterobacterales strains were found to be carbapenem resistant and 46 were included in the study.

Development of a new multiplex real-time PCR assay for rapid screening of hospital-acquired infection agents.

Aims: A new multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to detect antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infectious agents in nasal and rectal swab samples in 1.5 h without the need for nucleic acid extraction.

Methods: Spiked negative clinical specimens were used for the analytical performance evaluation.

Association of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Levels with Clinical/Laboratory Characteristics in COVID-19 Patients: Data from a Turkish Study.

Background: COVID-19 causes clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to multi-organ failure. It is reported that those with severe disease have higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers compared to asymptomatic or mild cases. We evaluated the correlation of antibody responses with laboratory and clinical indicators in COVID-19 patients.

Incidence, Risk Factors, and Prognosis of Bloodstream Infections in COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care: A Single-Center Observational Study.

Background: Critically ill COVID-19 patients are prone to bloodstream infections (BSIs).

Aim: To evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of BSIs developing in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Patients staying at least 48 h in ICU from 22 March 2020 to 25 May 2021 were included.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and Neutralizing Antibody Levels in Patients with Past COVID-19 Infection: A Longitudinal Study.

Background: Monitoring the longevity of immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections is vital to understanding the role of antibodies in preventing infection.

Aims: To determine the quantitative IgG responses specific to the Spike-S1 (S1) receptor-binding domain (S1/RBD) region of the virus in serum samples taken between 4 weeks and 7 months after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity in patients who are diagnosed with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

Study Design: A longitudinal study.

A pan-resistant Myroides odoratimimus catheter-related bacteremia in a COVID-19 patient and review of the literature.

Myroides spp. are opportunistic environmental Gram-negative bacteria. These affect mostly immunocompromised hosts and generally lead to soft tissue, and urinary tract infections.

Clinical outcomes of geriatric patients with COVID-19: review of one-year data.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to reveal mortality rates and factors affecting survival in geriatric patients infected with COVID-19.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 873 geriatric patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized between March 11, 2020 and March 11, 2021. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data, and treatment options were obtained from electronic medical records.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Upper Respiratory Swap Samples by Pooling Method.

Background: Widespread and effective use of molecular diagnostic tests is indispensable for protecting public health and containing the severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. More than 1 year into the pandemic, as resources have reached a point of depletion, grouping samples in pools of certain sizes appears to be a reasonable method to reduce both the costs and the processing time without necessitating additional training, equipment, or materials.

Aims: To assess whether the pooling strategy that was used in past outbreaks and is used in blood tests prior to transfusion for screening large populations can also be used in SARS CoV-2 tests.

Real-life experience: sensitivity and specificity of nasal and saliva samples for COVID-19 diagnosis.

Background: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak has spread rapidly around the world, continues to show its effect, and it is not clear how long it will continue. For the diagnosis of COVID-19, it is important to ensure the comfort of the patients and to protect the healthcare workers (HCWs) by reducing the use of protective equipment.

Aims: To evaluate or assess whether the samples taken by the patient for COVID-19 testing during this pandemic period can be used in real-life experience.

COVID-19 and Plasmodium ovale Malaria: A Rare Case of Co-Infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major health problem worldwide. Timely diagnosis of co-infections mimicking COVID-19, such as malaria, might be challenging particularly in non-endemic areas. We report the first case of COVID-19 and Plasmodium ovale malaria co-infection from our region aiming to highligt the importance of travel history and prophylaxis in malaria management in the context of pandemic.

[Clinical Characteristics of Mild-Moderate COVID-19 Patients and Risk Factors for the Development of Pneumonia].

Limited data exists to date on the predictors for the development of pneumonia in patients with mild and moderate coronavirus (COVID-19). In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics and clinical findings of mild and moderate COVID-19 and to determine the risk factors for the development of COVID-19 pneumonia in patients admitted to the pandemic outpatient clinic of a university hospital. A total of 414 patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were included.