Inhaled Aviptadil Is a New Hope for Recovery of Lung Damage due to COVID-19.

Objective: We are still in search of new therapeutic options for COVID-19 to prevent new infections, enable fast recovery, and reduce the long-lasting symptoms or sequelae. This study aimed to investigate the short- and long-term effects of inhaled aviptadil on hospitalized, adult COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, placebo-controlled, comparative, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted.

Evaluation of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis compliance: A multicenter point prevalence study.

Background: This study aimed to determine the frequency of compliance with surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) in Turkey and to identify the causes for noncompliance.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, point prevalence study was conducted in 8 hospitals from different regions of Turkey. Patients over 18years who underwent SAP in all hospital surgical units were included.

Comparison of Standard and Point-of-Care CD4+ T Lymphocyte Measurement Methods in HIV-1 Infected Turkish Patients.

: CD4+ T lymphocytes are the primary targets of HIV infection. CD4+ T lymphocyte count is an indicator of immune competence. In this study, we aimed to compare standard flow cytometry and point-of-care (POC) CD4+ T lymphocyte in terms of cost, effectiveness, reliability, time, and the use of this method for disease.

COVID-19 Vaccines and COVID-19 in People Living with HIV.

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spread rapidly around the world, and COVID-19 and HIV co-infection also became common. In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of vaccination preferences and vaccination rates on the severity of COVID-19 in patients with HIV co-infection.

Materials And Methods: People living with HIV who were followed in our hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020- December 2022) were retrospectively included in the study.

Treatment initiation rates of patients with positive anti-hepatitis C virus results in tertiary hospitals in Turkey.

Introduction: The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional, retrospective chart review study was to determine the proportion of patients in Turkey who received hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment after receiving positive anti-HCV results during HCV screening.

Methodology: Data related to patients' demographics, laboratory results, time interval from obtaining a positive anti-HCV result to treatment initiation, specialty of the physician requesting anti-HCV screening, and type of hospital were analyzed.

Results: Among 1,000 patients who received a positive anti-HCV result, 50.

Comparison of Immunological and Virological Recovery with Rapid, Early, and Late Start of Antiretroviral Treatment in Naive Plwh: Real-World Data.

Background: Rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the transmission of HIV infection in the community. This study aimed to determine whether rapid ART initiation is effective compared to standard ART treatment in our country.

Methods: Patients were grouped based on time to treatment initiation.

Evaluation of lateral flow and ELISA techniques for detecting IgG and IgM antibodies in COVID-19 cases in Türkiye.

Background: Antibody testing can complement molecular assays for detecting COVID-19.

Aims: We evaluated the concurrence between lateral flow assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: The study was conducted at Kocaeli University, Türkiye.

Efficacy, Immunogenicity, and Safety of the Two-Dose Schedules of TURKOVAC versus CoronaVac in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Observer-Blinded, Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial.

We present the interim results of the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the two-dose schedules of TURKOVAC versus CoronaVac. This was a randomized, observer-blinded, non-inferiority trial (NCT04942405). Volunteers were 18-55 years old and randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive either TURKOVAC or CoronaVac at Day 0 and Day 28, both of which are 3 μg/0.

Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor (INSTI) Genotypic Resistance Analysis in Treatment-Naive, INSTI Free Antiretroviral-Experienced and INSTI-Experienced Turkish Patients Infected with HIV-1.

Background And Objective: Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are currently the standard of practice for first-line HIV therapy for most patients. We evaluated the mutations associated with INSTI resistance in naive HIV-1 infected patients and treated them with antiretrovirals (ART).

Methods: The study, conducted in the 2018 - 2020 period, included 50 ART-naïve patients, 69 INSTI free ART-experienced patients, and 82 INSTI-experienced patients.

Efficacy and safety of an inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac): interim results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial in Turkey.

Background: CoronaVac, an inactivated whole-virion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, has been shown to be well tolerated with a good safety profile in individuals aged 18 years and older in phase 1/2 trials, and provided a good humoral response against SARS-CoV-2. We present the interim efficacy and safety results of a phase 3 clinical trial of CoronaVac in Turkey.

Methods: This was a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Occult hepatitis B infection in Turkish HIV-infected patients: A multicentre, retrospective, cross-sectional study, Schindler study.

Objective: Occult hepatitis B infection (OHBI) appears to have a higher prevalence in populations at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with concomitant liver disease. The aim was to assess the prevalence of OHBI in a sample of human immunodeficiency virus -1 positive and HBV surface antigen-negative (HIV-1+/HBsAg-) Turkish patients.

Methods: Ten centres in Turkey were included in the study.

Real-World Data from Turkey: Is Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir With or Without Ribavirin Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Really Effective?

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-based therapies in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in real-world clinical practice.

Methods: Data from patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with SOF/LDV ± RBV or SOF/RBV in 31 centers across Turkey between April 1, 2017, and August 31, 2018, were recorded in a nationwide database among infectious disease specialists. Demographics, clinical, and virological outcomes were analyzed.

Investigation of compatibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcriptase-PCR kits containing different gene targets during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Aim: In the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) technique is often used. We evaluated the compatibility of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR kits containing different gene targets during the pandemic.

Materials & Methods: Samples were tested by Bio-Speddy ( gene) and Diagnovital ( genes).

NS5A resistance - associated substitutions in chronic hepatitis C patients with direct acting antiviral treatment failure in Turkey.

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is now a more curable disease with new direct acting antivirals (DAA). Although high sustained virologic response rates, failures still occur in DAA regimens. Our objective in this study was to characterize the real-life presence of clinically relevant resistance - associated substitutions (RASs) in the HCV NS5A gene in CHC patients whose DAA regimen has failed.

Response to direct-acting antiviral agents in chronic hepatitis C patients with end-stage renal disease: a clinical experience.

Objective: The recent development of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) has dramatically changed the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and interferon-based regimes have become a poor treatment choice in clinical practice. Today DAAs offer shorter, well-tolerated, highly effective curative therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DAAs in patients with end-stage renal disease and HCV genotype 1 infection in real clinical practice.

Low recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma following ledipasvir and sofosbuvir treatment in a real-world chronic hepatitis C patients cohort.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) with or without ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in patients with advanced liver disease and to analyse whether the use of LDV/SOF treatment is associated with a new occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during and after LDV/SOF treatment. The Turkish Early Access Program provided LDV/SOF treatment to a total of 200 eligible CHC patients with advanced liver disease. The median follow-up period was 22 months.

Diagnostic value of combined serum biomarkers for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection: A multicenter, noninterventional, observational study.

Background/aims: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important cause of chronic hepatitis. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessment of fibrosis but this procedure is an invasive procedure. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of non-invasive serum biomarkers, separately and in combinations, on liver fibrosis in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

Daclatasvir plus asunaprevir dual therapy for chronic HCV genotype 1b infection: results of Turkish early access program.

Unlabelled:  Background. Daclatasvir and asunaprevir dual therapy is approved for the treatment of HCV genotype 1b infection in several countries.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of daclatasvir and asunaprevir dual therapy in Turkish patients.

Liver Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Changes during Telaprevir-Based Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has become an established diagnostic modality for the evaluation of liver parenchymal changes in diseases such as diffuse liver fibrosis.

Aims: To evaluate the parenchymal apparent diffusion coefficient value (ADC) changes using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) during telaprevir-based triple therapy.

Study Design: Diagnostic accuracy study.

Protease Inhibitors Drug Resistance Mutations in Turkish Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Background: Drug resistance development is an expected problem during treatment with protease inhibitors (PIs), this is largely due to the fact that Pls are low-genetic barrier drugs. Resistance-associated variants (RAVs) however may also occur naturally, and prior to treatment with Pls, the clinical impact of this basal resistance remains unknown. In Turkey, there is yet to be an investigation into the hepatitis C (HCV) drug associated resistance to oral antivirals.

Evaluation of Dual Therapy in Real Life Setting in Treatment-Naïve Turkish Patients with HCV Infection: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Background: Before the introduction of direct-acting antivirals in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients, the combination of peginterferon alpha and ribavirin was the standard therapy. Observational studies that investigated sustained virological response (SVR) rates by these drugs yielded different outcomes.

Aims: The goal of the study was to demonstrate real life data concerning SVR rate achieved by peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin in patients who were treatment-naïve.

Retreatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection with Telaprevir: Preliminary Results in Turkey.

Background: The use of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) for the retreatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection without a sustained virological response (SVR) prior to PegIFN/RBV treatment has resulted in low success rates.

Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of telaprevir (TVR) in combination with PegIFN/RBV in patients infected with HCV genotypes 1 and 4 who were previously treated with PegIFN/RBV and failed to achieve SVR.

Study Design: Multi-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Predictors of response to pegylated interferon treatment in HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Introduction: Although pegylated interferons (pegIFNs) alpha-2a and alpha-2b have been used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment for many years, there are few studies concerning predictors of sustained virologic response (SVR) to pegIFN therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate the predictors of response to pegIFN treatment in cases with HBeAg-negative CHB infection.

Methodology: Seventeen tertiary care hospitals in Turkey were included in this study.