Effect of pulse methylprednisolone on prognosis in SARS-CoV-2 patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pulse methylprednisolone treatment on prognosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 128 patients hospitalized in our clinic for severe COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021. Standard treatment (plaquenil, favipravir, low molecular weight heparin, and antibiotics when necessary) was given to the patients in accordance with the Turkish Ministry of Health guidelines.

Surveillance of hemodialysis related infections: a prospective multicenter study.

As in many countries, there is neither a surveillance system nor a study to reveal the hemodialysis (HD) related infection rates in Turkey. We aimed to investigate the infection rate among HD outpatients and implement CDC's surveillance system. A multicenter prospective surveillance study is performed to investigate the infection rate among HD patients.

Uric acid as a prognostic predictor in COVID-19.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence and prognostic significance of baseline and control uric acid values in COVID-19.

Methods: The study population included patients admitted with the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and March 2021. The demographic data, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings were recorded.

Renin-angiotensin system activation: may it increase frequency of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease?

Purpose: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) hyperactivity is a common entity in both autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aimed to investigate the frequency of OSA in adults with ADPKD either with stages 3-4 or stages 1-2 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and evaluate the effect of RAS blockade on OSA in these patients.

Methods: This is a comparative, prospective, two-center clinical study.

Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Immune Response over 6 Months in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients and the Role of a Booster Dose in Maintaining Seropositivity.

Introduction: Although lower than general population, newly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccines generate immune responses in end-stage kidney disease patients. However, the persistence of immune responses in the long term is not known yet. This study aimed to evaluate humoral immune responses in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients over 6 months and to analyze the effects of the booster dose.

COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Experience from the First Two Waves of Pandemic.

Background: Kidney transplant recipients have an increased risk of complications from COVID-19. However, data on the risk of allograft damage or death in kidney transplant recipients recovering from COVID-19 is limited. In addition, the first and second waves of the pandemic occurred at different times all over the world.

Clinical predictors of incipient vertebral fractures and bone mineral density in kidney transplant patients.

Purpose: Kidney transplant recipients are prone to metabolic bone diseases and consequent fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of incipient vertebral fractures, osteopenia, osteoporosis, and the clinical factors associated with incipient vertebral fractures in a group of kidney transplant patients.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-four patients (F/M 124/140, 45.

Arteriovenous fistula as the vascular access contributes to better survival of hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 infection.

Background: While COVID-19 in chronic hemodialysis patients has high mortality and the pandemic will not end in the near future, effective follow up strategies should be implemented for these patients. Surgeries have been triaged according to their level of urgencies and arteriovenous fistula (AVF) operations were among elective surgeries. This study aimed to analyze the effect of vascular access on the outcomes of hemodialysis patients who had COVID-19.

Comparative Analysis of Three Different Drug Distribution Schemes for Smoking Cessation.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the success rate of 3 different drug prescription policies: Free drugs with online system prescription, free drugs with doctor's prescription, and drugs paid for by patients with doctor's prescription.

Material And Methods: The effect of 2 different Ministry of Health (MoH) projects with free-of-charge and self-payment pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation were compared. Patients who completed 6 months of pharmacotherapy and follow-up were evaluated.

Can we enhance compliance to treatment by performing a continuous positive airway pressure trial in obstructive sleep apnea?

Background: Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is not always easy to gain adherence to therapy. We aimed to evaluate how short-term CPAP application during the daytime before the titration night affects polysomnographic data and CPAP adherence in OSA.

Methods: Patients with moderate to severe OSA for whom CPAP titration was recommended were prospectively randomized to daytime CPAP application (group 1) or usual care (group 2).

COVID-19 in chronic kidney disease: a retrospective, propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: The prognostic factors for COVID-19 in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are uncertain. We conducted a study to compare clinical and prognostic features between hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without CKD.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with stage 3-5 CKD and propensity score-matched fifty-six patients without CKD were included in the study.

Medium Cut-Off Dialysis Membranes: Can They Have Impact on Outcome of COVID-19 Hemodialysis Patients?

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 may lead to high levels of expression of inflammatory cytokines. Medium cut-off (MCO) membranes may make greater clearances for large-middle molecules (including cytokines) than low-flux (LF) membranes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of MCO membranes on outcome of COVID-19 patients on hemodialysis (HD).

The clinical characteristics and course of COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: In December 2019, pneumonia cases emerging in China rapidly spread and became a global pandemic. The disease called COVID-19 threatens health and life in patients with comorbid disease, especially in patients with kidney failure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical findings, laboratory parameters, and prognosis of COVID-19 disease in end-stage renal patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients: A multicenter experience in Istanbul.

Introduction: Management of COVID-19 in kidney transplant recipients should include treatment of the infection, regulation of immunosuppression, and supportive therapy. However, there is no consensus on this issue yet. This study aimed to our experiences with kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with COVID-19.

Reversibility of microalbuminuria with continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Introduction: Microalbuminuria is an early marker of kidney damage and an early predictor and risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the association between albuminuria levels in different severity obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) cases and to find out the efficacy of CPAP treatment on microalbuminuria.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective study on subjects who underwent polysomnography.

Peripheral arterial disease diagnosed by ankle-brachial index: Predictor for early renal replacement therapy in chronic kidney disease.

Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle-brachial index (ABI) and need for early renal replacement therapy (RRT) in predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A total of 112 patients (62% men) with pre-dialysis CKD, seen in the outpatient clinic, were included, and ABI was obtained as per standard protocol. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was defined as ABI <0.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of lung parenchyma involvement in sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To use ultrasonography (USG) for the evaluation of lung parenchyma in patients with sarcoidosis, andto compare the USG findings with the results of a high-resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function test-carbon monoxide diffusion test (PFT-DLCO), which are commonly used methods in the evaluation of parenchymal involvement in sarcoidosis.

Material And Methods: Patients with sarcoidosis and healthy controls were enrolled in the study between January 2015 and December 2017. The clinical findings, HRCT and PFT-DLCO results of all subjects were recorded, and USG findings and comet tail artifact (CTA) measurements were recorded by another pulmonologist.

Can positron emission tomography/computed tomography be predictive of diagnostic success in endobronchial biopsies performed through a fiber-optic bronchoscopy in lung cancer?

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of homogeneous/heterogeneous (necrotic) involvement and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) value of the lesion on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) of patients who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) for prediagnosis of lung cancer and biopsy for endobronchial lesion on the diagnostic success of biopsy procedure.

Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, patients with final diagnosis of pulmonary malignancy as determined by FOB biopsy and patients who failed to be diagnosed by FOB biopsy and diagnosed with pulmonary malignancy by a different diagnostic method were examined. These patients were divided into two groups as those with diagnosis by FOB biopsy (Group 1) and those who failed to be diagnosed by this method and diagnosed with pulmonary malignancy by a different diagnostic method (Group 2).

A New Modality for the Diagnosis of Bleomycin-induced Toxicity: Ultrasonography.

Objective: To evaluate the role of ultrasonography (USG) in the diagnosis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity (BT).

Material And Methods: The study included patients with suspected BT during treatment with bleomycin due to various oncologic diseases between June 2015 and May 2017. The patients initially underwent clinical and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examinations and pulmonary function tests (PFT)-diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), followed by registration of USG findings-number of comet tail artifact (CTA) images by a different pulmonologist.

Relationship of asymmetric dimethylarginine levels with disease severity and pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has emerged as a risk marker for many conditions related to pulmonary hypertension (PH); however, little is known about ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) plasma concentrations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our interest centers on the role of ADMA in regulation of endothelial function in COPD and secondary PH. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum ADMA, SDMA, and L-arginine concentrations in COPD and its association with PH.

A randomized study to assess the efficacy of herbal product to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat model.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and antioxidant activity of an herbal product that made from multiple plants in a rat model of kidney dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal cisplatin.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into four different groups namely: Group 1 - control healthy animals without any specific medication, Group 2 - Herbal product only 5 mg/kg, Group 3 - cisplatin only and Group 4 - Herbal product 5 mg/kg + cisplatin.

Results: Evaluation of our findings demonstrated a significant (p = 0.

Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients Referred for Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Study Objectives: A recent study reported an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and low vitamin D levels. In this study, we measured vitamin D levels in patients referred for evaluation of suspected OSA and sought to identify associated risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Our objective was to determine whether evaluations of patients with suspected OSA should include routine screening for vitamin D deficiency.

The Effect of Pulmonary Function Testing on the Success of Smoking Cessation.

Background: In several studies, low spirometric levels have been shown to increase the success rates of smoking cessation, whereas other studies have indicated that pulmonary function has no effects on quitting smoking. Given the fact that there are contradictory results on this subject, we aimed to investigate the effect of identifying airway obstruction via spirometry and its explanation to subjects on the success rate of smoking cessation in the short term.

Methods: Subjects who were admitted to the smoking cessation out-patient clinic, underwent pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and completed at least 3 months of the cessation program following their admittance were included in the study.

Can a Computer-Based Prescription of Free Medication Increase Smoking Cessation Rates Efficiently?

Objectives: In 2011, in the context of a research project, bupropion and varenicline were distributed to smoking cessation clinics by the Ministry of Health of Turkey to be prescribed free of charge by a computer-based system. In the present study, we compared smoking cessation rates between patients who were prescribed free medications during the period of the project and those who had to pay for their medication.

Material And Methods: Six hundred four patients who applied during the project period were given either bupropion or varenicline, which were prescribed using an algorithm-based computer system.