Effectiveness of echocardiographic evaluation of lung transplant candidates: Could it be an alternative to right heart catheterization?

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the value of transthoracic echocardiography in the estimation of pulmonary artery pressure and to identify the presence of pulmonary hypertension in lung transplant candidates with end-stage lung disease.

Methods: Between January 2012 and September 2020, a total of 244 patients (166 males, 78 females; mean age: 48.6±13.

Monitoring T-Cell Kinetics in the Early Recovery Period of Lung Transplantation Cases by Copy Number Levels of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circle.

Background/aim: Lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage lung diseases. T-Cell receptor excision circle (TREC) is circular DNA produced during T-cell receptor gene rearrangement in the thymus and indicates naive T-cell migration from the thymus. Therefore, its levels represent thymic T-cell output.

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma with PAX3/FOXO1 fusion.

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS), previously known as low-grade sinonasal sarcoma, is a rare tumour of the sinonasal tract, first described in 2012. It involves both myogenic and neural differentiation and is characterized by PAX3 rearrangement. MAML3 is the most frequent fusion partner of PAX3; however, its partner remains unidentified in a subset of cases.

Electrophysiological Evaluation of Macular Photoreceptor Functions in Patients with Choroidal Neovascular Membranes.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in cone functions using light-adapted (LA) 30 Hz flicker and LA 3.0 electroretinography (ERG) in intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR)-treated naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective interventional study reviewed the medical records of 32 nAMD patients (32 eyes) who received monthly IVR between January 2019 and January 2021.

Effects of Some Interferon-Related Proteins on Influenza A Viruse RNA Polymerase Activity.

Objectives: Interferons (IFNs) are one of the most important components of innate immunity against viruses, especially those carrying the RNA genomes such as influenza viruses. Upon viral infection, the IFNs are rapidly secreted, inducing the expression of several genes in the target cells and establishing an antiviral state. In this study, the effects of proteins encoded by some IFN-related genes on influenza A virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme were investigated.

Choroidal and retinal anatomical response following treatment of carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms with flow diverter stents.

Background: Flow diverter stents(FDSs) are recent additions to the endovascular armament for treating ophthalmic segment aneurysms(OSA). In our study we evaluated the long-term effect of FDS placement on multiple Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) findings, best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) and intra-ocular pressure(IOP).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 35 patients treated with a single FDS placement for OSA, between 2013 and 2018.

Avanafil as a Novel Therapeutic Agent Against LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Increasing CGMP to Downregulate the TLR4-NF-κB-NLRP3 Inflammasome Signaling Pathway.

Aim: We demonstrate the effect of PDE5 inhibitors in cases of acute lung injury via the relationship between cGMP/NO and the TLR4-NF-κB-NLRP3 pathway.

Materials And Methods: This study was performed with 30 male Wistar albino rats. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered intratracheally to the rats and acute lung injury (ALI) was induced.

Pretreatment electroencephalographic features in patients with childhood absence epilepsy.

Objective: To analyze the ictal and interictal electroencephalographic (EEG) features in newly diagnosed childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and determine the association between seizure onset topography, interictal focal spike-wave discharges (FSWDs) and accompanying clinical features of absence seizures.

Methods: The authors searched the EEG database for a definite diagnosis of CAE according to ILAE 2017 criteria. Video-EEGs of untreated pediatric patients during sleep and wakefulness were evaluated retrospectively.

Eyelid edema following the first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination: is it a coincidence?

Objective: This report describes an ocular allergic reaction manifested as eyelid edema after Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination.

Case Description: A 28-year-old female had the first Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose and was discharged following a 20-minute post-vaccination observation for potential adverse complications. She came to the emergency department after her left eyelid swelled unexpectedly two hours later, accompanied by itching and redness.

Analysis of COVID-19 infection in hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients in a pandemic hospital.

Introduction: The mortality rate for any infection is often higher in patients with a kidney transplant (KT) and hemodialysis (HD), which may also be the case in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methodology: In this study, the demographic, clinic, laboratory, and radiologic signs of KT and HD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection between 11th March 2020 and 11th March 2021 were evaluated prospectively.

Results: In the present study, 72 HD (median age, 57.

Factors affecting anxiety and depression during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of three different populations.

Background: This paper was the first study comparing levels of anxiety and depression and assessing the affecting factors among the general population, frontline healthcare workers, and COVID-19 inpatients in Turkey during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected data from the general population ( = 162), frontline healthcare workers ( = 131), and COVID-19 inpatients ( = 86) using Individual Characteristics Form, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory in this cross-sectional study.

Results: An increased prevalence of depression and anxiety were found predominantly in frontline healthcare workers ( < 0.

Prognostic value of expression levels of miR-148a, miR-152 and HLA-G in colon cancer.

Aberrant expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), an immunosuppressive molecule, has been observed in various cancer types. The exact mechanism of HLA-G expression is unclear. HLA-G expression is associated with low expression levels of microRNA (miR)-148a and miR-152.

Characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with left-sided infective endocarditis complicated by heart failure: a substudy of the ESC-EORP EURO-ENDO (European infective endocarditis) registry.

Aims: To evaluate the current management and survival of patients with left-sided infective endocarditis (IE) complicated by congestive heart failure (CHF) in the ESC-EORP European Endocarditis (EURO-ENDO) registry.

Methods And Results: Among the 3116 patients enrolled in this prospective registry, 2449 (mean age: 60 years, 69% male) with left-sided (native or prosthetic) IE were included in this study. Patients with CHF (n = 698, 28.

Carotid artery stenting without embolic protection: A randomized multicenter trial (the CASWEP trial).

Background: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) with a carotid protection device (CPD) has become the standard practice in patients with severe carotid stenosis and high surgical risk. However, the clinical efficacy and safety of CPDs are still controversial issues. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of the CAS without CPD with CAS combined with CPD.

Unexpected isolated native pulmonary valve endocarditis; really benign as thought?

Background: Isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis is extremely rare, accounting for <2% of cases. Major predisposing factors are intravenous drug use, implanted cardiac devices, congenital heart diseases, and central venous catheters. Most patients respond well to appropriate antibiotherapy.

New trend: Surgical correction of Ebstein's anomaly using modified cone repair and a combination of different techniques.

Background: Ebstein's anomaly,a rare cardiac disease that accounts for <1% of all congenital heart diseases, is a right ventricular myopathy with varying degrees of delamination in the endocardium under the tricuspid valve. Cone reconstruction, first described by da Silva in 2004, is a modification of the Carpentier technique. An alternative surgical treatment for Ebstein's anomaly, it is now the preferred surgical corrective technique.

It is time to define an organizational model for the prevention and management of infections along the surgical pathway: a worldwide cross-sectional survey.

Background: The objectives of the study were to investigate the organizational characteristics of acute care facilities worldwide in preventing and managing infections in surgery; assess participants' perception regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, antibiotic prescribing practices, and source control; describe awareness about the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and IPC measures; and determine the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on said awareness.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted contacting 1432 health care workers (HCWs) belonging to a mailing list provided by the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The self-administered questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team.

Assessment of treatment patterns and patient awareness in atrial fibrillation patients using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (ASPECT-NOAC).

Background And Aim: Despite the advances in oral anticoagulation with NOACs, careful patient and dose selection is required with NOAC therapy. Our study aimed to assess treatment patterns of NOACs in AF along with patients' continuity to NOAC treatments in first year, and their knowledge level of AF and NOAC treatment.

Methods: ASPECT-NOAC was designed as an observational, prospective, and multicenter study.

Effect of intraoperative theophylline use on acute kidney injury in paediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of theophylline use in preventing renal dysfunction in patients undergoing CHD surgery.

Methods: A total of 94 patients aged 1-60 months were included in the study. Patients in the theophylline group were enrolled according to a pre-defined protocol for treatment administration, while controls were selected retrospectively from patients without theophylline treatment during the same period - who were matched according to critical baseline characteristics.

Evaluation of the selected parameters of the fetal diastolic functions in normally grown or macrosomic fetuses of gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether the third trimester fetal cardiac diastolic function measured by selected conventional Doppler indices is affected in appropriate-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses of gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 93 pregnant women divided into two groups. Group 1 included 45 appropriate-for-gestational-age or macrosomic fetuses from gestational diabetic mothers with poor glycaemic control (study group).

A gray zone in the literature: indications, options, and outcomes for surgical repair of pulmonary artery aneurysms.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare. They are characterised by an aneurysmatic dilatation of the pulmonary vascular bed, including the main pulmonary artery or the accompanying pulmonary artery branches. Increases in pulmonary flow and pulmonary artery pressure increase the risk of rupture: when these conditions are detected, surgical intervention is necessary.

Human sorting nexin 2 protein interacts with Influenza A virus PA protein and has a negative regulatory effect on the virus replication.

Background: Replication of the influenza A viruses occurs in the cells through the viral RdRP consisting of PB1, PB2, and PA. Several cellular proteins are involved in these processes. This study aims to reveal the interaction between human SNX2 protein and the PA protein and the effects of the SNX2 on the virus replication.

Do we need to evaluate patients with spontaneous subconjunctival haemorrhage for bleeding disorders?

Aim Of The Study: Subconjunctival haemorrage (SCH) is a frequent bleeding manifestation and a common cause of visits to the primary care. Trauma in young patients and vascular damage such as hypertension in the elderly are the most common causes of SCH and the prevalence of haematological diseases is <1%. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of congenital or acquired bleeding disorders in patients with once or recurrent SCH.

Preoperative monocytosis is predictable at diagnosis for RT-PCR negative COVİD-19 paediatric cardiac surgery patients.

Other markers investigated in this population have gained importance in the diagnosis of the disease since the course of COVID-19 disease is atypical in the paediatric population and PCR may be misleading. The leukocyte profile is one of these biochemical tests. Children did not have lymphopenia in hemogram count, whereas relatively neutropenia and monocytosis were detected, unlike the adult population.

Uric acid albumin ratio as a predictive marker of short-term mortality in patients with acute kidney injury.

Objective: We aimed to investigate uric acid and albumin ratio (UA/A) as a marker of short-term mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI). Both uric acid and albumin are strongly correlated with the development and mortality of AKI.

Methods: The patients hospitalized from May 2019 to September 2019 for AKI were included in this study.