[Mucormycosis in the time of COVID-19: risks and challenges].

The first patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 were registered in December 2019. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, the beginning of a worldwide health crisis that revealed numerous medical challenges for healthcare systems and pandemic emergency strategies.Among these challenges, mucormycosis, a typically rare fungal infection, gained global attention.

The Cologne ECMM Excellence Center: A Two-Year Analysis of External Consultation Service for Invasive Fungal Infections.

The European Confederation of Medical Mycology (ECMM), formed due to the surge in invasive fungal infections (IFI), initiated the Excellence Centers program in 2016 to guide stakeholders to leading medical mycology sites. This report focuses on the Cologne ECMM Excellence Center, recognized with Diamond status for active global involvement in 2017. The center offers free consultation via email and phone, responding within 24 h for life-threatening IFI, collecting data on origin, pathogens, infection details, and more.

Invasive Trichoderma spp. infections: clinical presentation and outcome of cases from the literature and the FungiScope® registry.

Background: Trichoderma spp. are filamentous fungi causing invasive fungal diseases in patients with haematological malignancies and in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objectives: To analyse clinical presentation, predisposing factors, treatment and outcome of Trichoderma infections.

COVID-19 infection in adult patients with hematological malignancies: a European Hematology Association Survey (EPICOVIDEHA).

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are at high risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 disease 2019 (COVID-19). A better understanding of risk factors for adverse outcomes may improve clinical management in these patients. We therefore studied baseline characteristics of HM patients developing COVID-19 and analyzed predictors of mortality.

Genetic basis and hematologic manifestations of sitosterolemia in a group of Turkish patients.

Background: Sitosterolemia is a rare lipid disorder caused by mutations in adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette genes (ABCG) 5 and 8.

Objective: To evaluate the phenotypic/genotypic features of sitosterolemia in a group of Turkish patients.

Methods: Seven probands with unexplained hematologic abnormalities and their 13 relatives were enrolled.

Invasive infections with Purpureocillium lilacinum: clinical characteristics and outcome of 101 cases from FungiScope® and the literature.

Objectives: To provide a basis for clinical management decisions in Purpureocillium lilacinum infection.

Methods: Unpublished cases of invasive P. lilacinum infection from the FungiScope® registry and all cases reported in the literature were analysed.

COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, March-August 2020.

Pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 emerged in China at the end of 2019. Because of the severe immunomodulation and lymphocyte depletion caused by this virus and the subsequent administration of drugs directed at the immune system, we anticipated that patients might experience fungal superinfection. We collected data from 186 patients who had coronavirus disease-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) worldwide during March-August 2020.

Characterization and outcome of invasive infections due to Paecilomyces variotii: analysis of patients from the FungiScope® registry and literature reports.

Objectives: To provide a basis for clinical management decisions in Paecilomyces variotii infection.

Methods: Unpublished cases of invasive P. variotii infection from the FungiScope® registry and all cases reported in the literature were analysed.

Mucormycosis in the Middle East and North Africa: Analysis of the FungiScope registry and cases from the literature.

Background: Regional differences in the underlying causes, manifestations and treatment of mucormycosis have been noted in studies covering Europe, Asia and South America.

Objectives: To review cases of mucormycosis across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in order to identify epidemiological, treatment and outcome trends in this region.

Patients/methods: Cases of proven or probable invasive mucormycosis from the region were identified from the FungiScope database and the medical literature.

Risk factors and mortality in invasive Rasamsonia spp. infection: Analysis of cases in the FungiScope registry and from the literature.

Background: The new Rasamsonia spp. complex can develop invasive infection in immunosuppression or chronic pulmonary disease. It has potential to be misidentified as other genera due to morphological similarities.

Refugee children with beta-thalassemia in Turkey: Overview of demographic, socioeconomic, and medical characteristics.

Aim: Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, more than 3.5 million Syrians have been under temporary protection status in Turkey. Because beta-thalassemia (BT) is a prevalent disorder in the Mediterranean countries, we decided to estimate the prevalence of and make an overview of the demographic, socioeconomic, medical characteristics, and healthcare problems of refugee children with BT.

Hematologic Findings of Inherited Metabolic Disease: They are More Than Expected.

Inherited metabolic diseases are pathologic conditions that generally develop as a result of impairment of the production or breakdown of protein, carbohydrate, and fatty acids. Early determination of hematological findings has a positive effect on the prognosis of metabolic diseases. Three hundred eighteen patients who were being followed-up within the previous 6 months at Department of Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism, Gazi University, Turkey, were included in the study.

Relationship between obesity and iron deficiency anemia: is there a role of hepcidin?

Objectives: Iron deficiency is common in obese children although the underlying mechanism is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between iron parameters, leptin, hepcidin and adiponectin levels in obese children.

Methods: A total of 237 children, ranging in age from 5 to 18 years, 180 with primary obesity and 57 healthy children and adolescents, were enrolled.

Association of CYP3A5 Expression and Vincristine Neurotoxicity in Pediatric Malignancies in Turkish Population.

Vincristine is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of childhood malignancies. Neuropathy is the most common adverse effect. CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 enzymes of cytochrome p450 enzyme system are responsible in vincristine metabolism.

Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) cases with 2 novel TMPRSS6 mutations.

Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) is a rarely diagnosed autosomal recessive disorder that presents with hypochromic, microcytic anemia due to mutations in TMPRSS6, which encodes matriptase-2. Contrary to classical iron deficiency anemia, serum hepcidin levels are found to be elevated in this disorder. Here, we report 5 cases from 4 unrelated families with inadequate response to iron therapy, who were consequently diagnosed as IRIDA.

Comparison of Cerebral Oximeter and Pulse Oximeter Values in the First 72 Hours in Premature, Asphyctic and Healthy Newborns.

Aim: The monitoring of oxygenation is essential for providing patient safety and optimal results. We aimed to determine brain oxygen saturation values in healthy, asphyctic and premature newborns and to compare cerebral oximeter and pulse oximeter values in the first 72 hours of life in neonatal intensive care units.

Methods: This study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Van Yüzüncü Yil University Research and Administration Hospital.

P-wave and QT interval dispersion analysis in children with Eisenmenger syndrome.

Objectives: P-wave and QT dispersion are increased and associated with atrial and ventricular arrhythmia and an increase in sudden death in a variety of diseases. This study aimed to investigate P-wave and QT dispersion in children with Eisenmenger syndrome (ES).

Study Design: The study group included 27 children (15 females, 12 males) with both congenital heart disease (CHD) and ES.

Evaluation of Pediatric Bleeding Questionnaire in Turkish Children With Von Willebrand Disease and Platelet Function Disorders.

The diagnosis of mild bleeding disorders is not easy as most of the "healthy" individuals also report bleeding symptoms. In order to get a precise bleeding history, Pediatric Bleeding Questionnaire (PBQ) has been developed. In our study, Turkish children diagnosed with Von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet function defect (PFD), and healthy children without any symptoms (control group 1) and healthy children with symptoms but found hemostatically normal (control group 2) were analyzed with PBQ.

Is the acronym IRIDA acceptable for slow responders to iron in the presence of TMPRSS6 mutations?

Iron refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) is a recently described autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in TMPRSS6, the gene encoding matriptase-2. Patients have inappropriately high levels of hepcidin. Hypochromic microcytic anemia refractory to oral iron and only partially responsive to parenteral iron is the hallmark of this disorder.

Evaluation of oxidant and antioxidant status in infants with hyperbilirubinemia and kernicterus.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine oxidant and antioxidant status in infants with hyperbilirubinemia and/or kernicterus and to find whether there is a relationship between bilirubin level and oxidant/antioxidant status.

Patients: The study includes 69 full-term newborns (neonates with hyperbilirubinemia needing phototherapy [Group 1, n = 36] and neonates with kernicterus [Group 2, n = 33]) and 25 age-matched healthy newborn.

Results: Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum total oxidant status (TOS) were significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2 than the control group.

A case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis mimicking leukodystrophy.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a monophasic, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder that can follow immunizations or more often infections including rubeola, rubella, varicella, herpes zoster, mumps, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, or, more commonly, other nonspecific upper respiratory tract infections. Documentation of a preceding illness is not required to make this diagnosis. This report examines the case of a 9-month-old male patient presenting with the features of an acute leukodystrophy following innoculation with the mixed vaccine Pentaxim (Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon- France) while suffering from a lower respiratory tract infection, and who was eventually diagnosed as ADEM.

Concurrent celiac disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and autoimmune thyroiditis: a case report.

Celiac disease (CD) is a disease of the small intestine caused by an immune response to ingested gluten. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common acquired bleeding disorder of childhood. It may follow a viral infection or immunization and is caused by an inappropriate response of the immune system.

Clinical outcome and magnetic resonance imaging findings in infants with hypoglycemia.

The authors examined clinical outcome and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in infants with hypoglycemia to determine the effects of hypoglycemia on the developing brain. A total of 110 infants with hypoglycemia were included in the study. Of the patients, 36 were females and 74 were males.