The Impact of CoronaVac Vaccination on 28-day Mortality Rate of Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 in Türkiye.

Background: Vaccines against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been effective in preventing symptomatic diseases, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. However, data regarding the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unclear.

Aims: To determine the vaccination status and investigate the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on the 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Nosocomial infection of C. auris in COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit in Türkiye and Phylogenetic Analysis of Isolates.

Background: The difficulties in the identification of C. auris and the delays in the implementation of infection control precautions contribute to outbreaks. This study analyzed 10 patients with COVID-19 and C.

A pilot study for treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia by aerosolized formulation of convalescent human immune plasma exosomes (ChipEXO™).

This is a single-center prospective, open-label, single arm interventional study to test the safety and efficacy of recently described ChipEXO™ for severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The ChipEXO™ is a natural product derived from convalescent human immune plasma of patients recovered from moderate COVID-19 infection. In September 2021, 13 patients with pending respiratory failure were treated with ChipEXO™ adapted for aerosolized formulation delivered jet nebulizer.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Value of Cell Population Data in Sepsis in Comparison to Localized Infection, Chronic Inflammation, and Noninfectious Inflammation Cases.

Introduction: Sepsis, defined as an increase of 2 points or more in the sequential organ failure assessment score, is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the dysregulated host response to infection. Volume-conductivity-scatter (VCS) parameters of cell counters which are known as cell population data (CPD) have been suggested to be beneficial in diagnosing sepsis. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of CPD parameters in sepsis in comparison to nonsystemic infection cases (NSI) and non-infectious acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.

Cytokine Adsorption in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients, a Case-Control Study.

New coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become an international emergency. As many of the intensive care unit (ICU) patients with the disease also present multiple organ failure, blood purification techniques might be a good choice in their treatment. In this study we aimed to investigate the role of cytokine removal in COVID-19 patients managed in ICUs.

Reduction of nosocomial infections in the intensive care unit using an electronic hand hygiene compliance monitoring system.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infection is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Well-regulated infection control and hand hygiene are the most effective methods for preventing healthcare-associated infections. This study evaluated and compared conventional hand hygiene observation and an electronic hand-hygiene recording and reminder system for preventing healthcare-associated infections.

An outbreak investigation of Burkholderia cepacia infections related with contaminated chlorhexidine mouthwash solution in a tertiary care center in Turkey.

Background: We report a nosocomial outbreak caused by Burkholderia cepacia that occurred among six patients admitted in the medical and surgical intensive care unit between 04 March 2019 and 02 April 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Methods: The outbreak investigation was launched on 11 March 2019 five days after the detection of B. cepacia in four different patients.

Sarcopenic dysphagia following COVID-19 infection: A new danger.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is one of the complications of endotracheal intubation. As expected, cases of dysphagia following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported to date have all been intubated. We here report a case of sarcopenic dysphagia following severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a nonintubated older adult.

Liver stiffness is associated with disease severity and worse clinical scenarios in coronavirus disease 2019: A prospective transient elastography study.

Background: Pre-existing chronic liver disease is currently considered a poor prognostic factor for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present study aimed to investigate the association of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with disease severity and clinical course of COVID-19.

Methods: We prospectively recruited consecutive hospitalised adult patients with COVID-19 in a 3-month period.

A new scoring system for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: LUPPIS.

Introduction: The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS) based on chest X-ray has been developed to facilitate clinical diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); however, this scoring system has a low diagnostic performance. We developed the Lung Ultrasound and Pentraxin-3 Pulmonary Infection Score (LUPPIS) for early diagnosis of VAP and evaluated the performance of this new scoring system.

Material And Methods: In a prospective study of 78 patients with suspected VAP, we assessed the detection accuracy of LUPPIS for pneumonia in adult patients.

Consideration of Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 As Viral Sepsis and Potential Use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Taking into consideration the multisystemic clinical and autopsy findings in "severe" coronavirus disease 2019 patients, viral sepsis would be a more accurate term to describe the whole clinical picture. The most significant pathophysiological components of this picture are intense cytokine release, prolonged inflammation, immunosuppression with T cell exhaustion, and the development of organ dysfunctions. Currently, the optimal treatment for severe coronavirus disease 2019 is uncertain.

Immunomodulatory and Tissue-preserving Effects of Human Dental Follicle Stem Cells in a Rat Cecal Ligation and Perforation Sepsis Model.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells may be used for the treatment of sepsis. Dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) are easily accessible but have not been studied in vivo or in clinical trials in sepsis models.

Aim Of The Study: We aim to elucidate DFSC effects on host immunological functions in a rat cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) sepsis model.

Evaluation of Cytotoxicity and Mutagenicity of Wastewater from Istanbul: Data from Hospitals and Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Wastewater (WW) carry considerable amount of chemicals that could have mutagenic or cytotoxic effect from hospital discharges to aquatic environment. Our objective was to determinate the possible mutagenic and toxic effects of hospital originated WWs and effectiveness of the wastewater treatment plants (WTP) functions. In the study the mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of three hospitals and influent/effluent of a treatment plant WW collected in Istanbul and was examined using AMES, XTT, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays.

The initial resuscitation of septic shock.

Septic shock is the most severe form of sepsis, characterized by (a) persistent hypotension despite fluid resuscitation and (b) the presence of tissue hypoperfusion. Delays in the diagnosis and initiation of treatment of septic shock is associated with increasing risk for mortality. Early and effective fluid resuscitation and vasopressor administration play a crucial role in maintaining tissue perfusion in septic shock patients.

The Role of Transocular Ultrasound in the Assessment of Neurotoxicity-Related Encephalopathy in Mushroom Poisoning.

Objective: Mushroom poisonings can lead to life-threatening organ dysfunctions and neurotoxicity-related encephalopathy. This study aimed to detect increased intracranial pressure by measuring optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) ultrasonographically and to determine its association with clinical and laboratory parameters.

Methods: In this prospective case-control study, we evaluated the patients aged above 18 years who presented to the emergency department with mushroom poisoning.

Evaluation of acute kidney injury with oxidative stress biomarkers and Renal Resistive Index after cardiac surgery.

Background: We investigated whether cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) related oxidative stress mediated glycocalyx degradation can cause an increase in renal resistive index (RRI) or postoperative AKI. Additionally, to evaluate whether RRI and early postoperative serum cystatin C levels could improve the prediction sensitivity of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: Forty-two patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included in this prospective observational study.

Abdominal perfusion pressure is superior from intra-abdominal pressure to detect deterioration of renal perfusion in critically Ill patients.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a frequent cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) among critically ill patients who have risk factors. This study aimed to determine the relation between Abdominal Perfusion Pressure (APP) and AKI showed by the Doppler-based renal resistive index (RRI).

Methods: In this study, 38 patients older than 18 years old who received mechanical ventilation and had risk factors for the development of IAH were prospectively studied.

The Role of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Brain Death.

Ancillary tests can be used for the diagnosis of brain death in cases wherein uncertainty exists regarding the neurological examination and apnoea test cannot be performed. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) is a useful, valid, non-invasive, portable, and repeatable ancillary test for the confirmation of brain death. Despite its varying sensitivity and specificity rates with regard to the diagnosis of the brain death, its clinical use has steadily increased in the intensive care unit because of its numerous superior properties.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin for Differentiating Bacteraemic Gram-Negative Sepsis from Gram-Positive Sepsis.

Objective: The identification of bacteraemia in patients with suspected sepsis is crucial for survival. A cheap, fast and reliable biomarker, which can predict the causative pathogen group, may be useful to confirm or exclude the presence of bacteraemia. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between procalcitonin (PCT) and the causative pathogen in intensive care patients with sepsis and bacteraemia.

Sequential Measurements of Pentraxin 3 Serum Levels in Patients with Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) compared with procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with suspicion of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Materials And Methods: We designed a nested case-control study. This study was performed in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care academic university and teaching hospital.

The value of internal jugular vein collapsibility index in sepsis.

Background: Rapid, accurate, and reproducible assessment of intravascular volume status is crucial in order to predict the efficacy of volume expansion in septic patients. The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility and usefulness of the internal jugular vein collapsibility index (IJV-CI) as an adjunct to the inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) to predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously-breathing patients with sepsis.

Methods: Three stages of sonographic scanning were performed.

Changing Definitions of Sepsis.

Sepsis is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients despite the use of modern antibiotics and resuscitation therapies. Outcomes in sepsis have improved overall, probably because of an enhanced focus on early diagnosis and other improvements in supportive care, but mortality rates still remain unacceptably high. The diagnosis and definition of sepsis is a critical problem due to the heterogeneity of this disease process.

The diagnostic value of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) compared to C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the diagnostic and prognostic values of suPAR and to compare them to CRP and PCT in pediatric patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

Material-methods: A prospective case-control study was performed.The study was performed in a tertiary university hospital which has a 649-bed capacity.