Role of Vitamin D, ACE2 and the Proteases as TMPRSS2 and Furin on SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis and COVID-19 Severity.

Background: COVID-19, the 21 century pandemic disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has shown a wide clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to deadly serious pneumonia.

Objective: In our study, the relationship between the pathogenesis and clinical severity of COVID-19 and vitamin D, ACE2, Furin and TMPRSS2 was investigated.

Methods: Serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)D and ACE2 protein were measured in 85 COVID-19 cases, divided into 5 groups, according to disease severity, from asymptomatic to severe and including a healthy control group.

Myelosuppression and acute hematological complications of sulfur mustard exposure in victims of chemical terrorism.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a vesicant chemical warfare agent. Recent studies reported alleged use of SM by non-state actors in Syria and Iraq. It has been shown that SM induced immunological and hematological complications.

Optimized Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry for 1,1'-sulfonylbis[2-(methylthio) ethane] Quantification in Human Urine.

Sulfur mustard (SM) which is a bifunctional alkylating vesicant is one of the mostly used chemical warfare agent in First World War and the Iran-Iraq War. β-Lyase metabolites of SM especially 1,1'-sulfonylbis[2-(methylthio)ethane] (SBMTE) is an unequivocal biomarker of the exposure. An optimized gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the retrospective detection of SBMTE in human urine.

Acute intensive care unit management of mustard gas victims: the Turkish experience.

Purpose: Sulphur mustard (SM) is an highly toxic and vesicant chemical weapon that was used in various military conflicts several times in the history. The severity of ocular, dermal, and pulmonary symptoms that may appear following a characteristic asymptomatic period are depending on the SM concentration and exposure duration. The aim of this study is to present the clinical features and share the intensive care unit (ICU) experiences for the medical management of mustard gas victims.

Evaluation of Gamma-Radiation Inactivation of a Bioterrorism Agent, Spores, on Different Materials.

Decontamination of suspected packages, such as sealed envelopes, liquids and tools that are likely contaminated with biological agents is of great importance. In this study, we aimed to determine the gamma radiation dose required for the decontamination of paper, fabric and liquid materials without causing any damage to the structure of these materials. Each study group included 11 pieces of paper, fabric and sterile saline contaminated with 0.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular subtyping of 55 Turkish Bacillus anthracis strains using 25-loci multiple-locus VNTR analysis.

Anthrax, which is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is one of the oldest documented infectious diseases in both livestock and humans. The differentiation of B. anthracis strains is difficult because of their highly homogeneous genomes.

Comparison of real-time polymerase chain reaction and conventional polymerase chain reaction methods for the rapid identification of Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis spores have been shown to be one of the most effective biological weapons. For the rapid detection of B. anthracis spores, several genetic markers, including chromosomal and plasmid-based sequences, were studied with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.

Comparative sporicidal effects of disinfectants after release of a biological agent.

Because of spore formation, Bacillus anthracis is considered the most resistant biological warfare agent known. The present study aimed to assess and compare well-known decontamination routes to inactivate the spores on daily-use environmental tools contaminated previously. To simulate the agent, Bacillus atrophaeus was used.

Chemical release at the airport and lessons learned from the medical perspective.

The risk of massive exposure to toxic chemical substances including chemical weapons or industrial chemicals has increased especially during the last century due to the development in industry and chemistry science. This paper aims to describe a real chemical release event and further exposures to personnel working at the Esenboğa Airport, Ankara, Turkey, and to give lessons learned. This chemical release was noticed firstly by airport staff giving symptoms including nausea, vomiting, irritation of eyes, itching and rinorrhea.

Minimal change disease in a patient receiving IFN-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with several extrahepatic syndromes. The principal types of renal disorders associated with chronic HCV infection are cryoglobulinemia or noncryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) may precipitate or exacerbate the occurrence of MPGN.