Benefits of dexmedetomidine during noninvasive mechanical ventilation in major abdominal surgery patients with postoperative respiratory failure.

Objective: The efficacy of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) on the postoperative ARF is conflicting and the failure rate of NIMV in this patient population is high. In our study, we hypothesized that the use of dexmedetomidine during NIMV in major abdominal surgical patients can reduce NIMV failure without significant side affect.

Methods: Medical records of patients who underwent major abdominal surgery, admitted to our general surgery intensive care unit (ICU), developed postoperative ARF, received NIMV (with oro-nasal mask) and dexmedetomidine infusion were enrolled in this study.

Angiographic measurement of the superficial temporal artery for potential use in cerebral bypass surgery: a combined radiological and cadaveric study.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the microsurgical anatomy of the superficial temporal artery (STA), explore the relationship between STA length and lumen diameter, and develop a reliable radiologic method for selecting STA segments for bypass surgery.

Methods: This study used 10 cadaveric dissections (20 STAs, both sides) and 20 retrospective radiological examinations (40 STAs, both sides), employing curved multiplanar reformation and flow color lookup table (CLUT) DICOM processing. Measurements included vessel lumen diameters and luminal cross-sectional thicknesses 3 mm proximal to the STA bifurcation, 3 mm distal to the frontal branch, 5 cm distal to the frontal branch, 3 mm distal to the parietal branch, and 5 cm distal to the parietal branch.

Vaccination status of COVID-19 patients followed up in the ICU in a country with heterologous vaccination policy: A multicenter national study in Turkey.

Objective: Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-2) prevents the development of serious diseases has been shown in many studies. However, the effect of vaccination on outcomes in COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care is not clear.

Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study conducted in 17 intensive care unit (ICU) in Turkey between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

The relationship between the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infections and ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression and polymorphisms.

Background: The viral spike (S) protein and host ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genetic variations may act as a barrier to viral infections or determine susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between the expression patterns and polymorphisms of the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptor genes associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Material And Methods: We examined 147 COVID-19 patients (41 asymptomatic, 53 symptomatic and 53 cases treated in the intensive care unit (ICU)) and 33 healthy controls.

Secondary Infections in Critical Patients with COVID-19 Associated ARDS in the ICU: Frequency, Microbiologic Characteristics and Risk Factors.

Objective:  To determine frequency, microbiologic characteristics and risks of secondary infections in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Study Design: An Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study:  COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU), University of Health Sciences, Diskapı Yildirim Beyazit Research and Training Hospital, Turkey, from July 2020 to January 2021.

Hematological manifestations of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and the impact of thrombocytopenia on disease outcomes: A retrospective study.

Background: Platelet count is a simple and readily available biomarker, in which thrombocytopenia was shown to be independently associated with disease severity and risk of mortality in the critical coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of thrombocytopenia on disease progression in critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: COVID-19-associated ARDS patients in our research hospitals' ICU were retrospectively investigated.

Current situation in ARDS in the light of recent studies: Classification, epidemiology and pharmacotherapeutics.

In the last 50 years, there have been great research and developments in the definition and pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the most progressive form of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Although there are various discussions and recommendations, the definition of ARDS is still based on the Berlin 2012 diagnostic criteria. Despite various studies in recent years, there is still no effective pharmacotherapeutic agent for the treatment of ARDS.

Role of serological rapid antibody test in the management of possible COVID-19 cases.

Background: Although the detection of viral particles by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard diagnostic test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the false-negative results constitute a big challenge.

Aim: To examine a group of patients diagnosed and treated as possible COVID-19 pneumonia whose multiple nasopharyngeal swab samples were negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by RT-PCR but then serological immunoglobulin M/immunoglobulin G (IgM/IgG) antibody against SARS-CoV-2 were detected by rapid antibody test.

Methods: Eighty possible COVID-19 patients who had at least two negative consecutive COVID-19 RT-PCR test and were subjected to serological rapid antibody test were evaluated in this study.

Association between age-related macular degeneration and 25(OH) vitamin D levels in the Turkish population.

Purpose: Age-related macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries, and several factors have been attributed for its etiology. This study was conducted to explore the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 114 patients with age-related macular degeneration.

COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome: Pathological, radiological and clinical concordance.

Severe coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) represents viral pneumonia from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, when ARDS occurs as part of COVID-19, it has different features. The strategy of breathing support is very important in treating COVID-19 related ARDS (CARDS).

Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a 1-2% fatality rate, where no specific treatment has yet been defined. Although corticosteroids are recommended for selected COVID-19 patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and septic shock, there is no consensus regarding patient subgroups, dose, and duration. In this study, it was aimed to examine the contribution of corticosteroid treatment to the management of COVID-19 pneumonia without ARDS, septic shock both in acute and recovery setting.

Macula pigment optical densitometry changes in hydroxychloroquine use.

Purpose: To investigate the association between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use and macular pigment optic densitometry (MPOD) abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients that have been receiving HCQ treatment and forty-eight control subjects were randomly selected from patients with no visual impairment with similar age and gender. All participants underwent detailed ophthalmologic examination including fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, optic coherence tomography, and visual field analysis.

Management of the regression of papilledema with regional axon loss in idiopathic intracranial hypertension patients.

Purpose: To use optic coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with subclinical segmental optic atrophy despite being under apparently effective treatment.

Methods: IIH patients underwent an OCT examination including the peripapillary retina never fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, focal loss volume (FLV) and global loss volume (GLV) of the GCC, and total macular thickness measurements at presentation and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the diagnosis. The obtained data were compared with healthy subjects.

Predictors of Neoplasia in Colonic Wall Thickening Detected via Computerized Tomography.

Introduction Colonic wall thickening (CWT) is frequently observed incidentally via abdominal computerized tomography (aCT). Although the general approach to evaluating incidental CWT is a colonoscopic examination, there is a lack of definitive recommendation guidelines. Thus, we aimed to determine neoplasia rates and identify the factors predictive of neoplasia via colonoscopic examinations of patients with CWT incidentally diagnosed via aCT.

Correlation between peripheral blood inflammatory indicators and pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer patients.

The immune system plays a fundamental role in the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients. Patients with pathological complete response (pCR) after NAC have a higher survival rate. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) are peripheral blood indicators of inflammatory response.

The Fibrin Glue Application Enhances Surgical Success Rate in Endonasal Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy With Lacrimal Sac Preservation.

The purpose of this study to compare lacrimal sac flap preserving techniques with or without fibrin glue in patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. A retrospective study included 132 patients who underwent unilateral endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy between February 2011 and March 2016. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the nonfibrin glue group (n = 66) and fibrin glue anastomosis group (n = 66).

Comparison of clinical courses and mortality of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial pneumonias and chronic fibrosing idiopathic interstitial pneumonias.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common pulmonary manifestation of connective tissue diseases (CTD). Prognostic effect of radiological usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern in CTD-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the disease progression and mortality of patients with CTD-ILD and idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP) including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and the prognostic impact of the radiological UIP pattern on both disease groups.

Efficacy of stem cell therapy in ambulatory and nonambulatory children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy - Phase I-II.

Purpose: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive pediatric disorder that ultimately leads to progressive muscle degeneration. It has been known that cell-based therapies were used to promote muscle regeneration. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of allogeneic Wharton jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells therapy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Stem cell therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. How far is it to the clinic?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that has a major impact worldwide. The currently-available drugs mainly focus on relieving the symptoms of COPD patients. However, in the latter stages of the disease, the airways become largely obstructed and lung parenchyma becomes destructed due to underlying inflammation.

Re-defining the anatomical structures for blocking the nerves in adductor canal and sciatic nerve through the same injection site: an anatomical study.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to re-define the anatomical structures which are important for blocking the sciatic nerve and the nerves within the adductor canal which innervate the knee joint through the same injection site. We also aimed to investigate the spread of the anesthetic toward the areas in which the mentioned nerves lie on cadavers.

Methods: This study was performed on 16 lower extremities of formaldehyde-embalmed eight adult cadavers.

Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review.

There is limited literature on non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) in patients with polytrauma-related acute respiratory failure (ARF). Despite an increasing worldwide application, there is still scarce evidence of significant NIMV benefits in this specific setting, and no clear recommendations are provided. We performed a systematic review, and a search of clinical databases including MEDLINE and EMBASE was conducted from the beginning of 1990 until today.