Changing Disease Course of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Children, Turkey.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), endemic in certain regions of the world, is listed as a priority disease with pandemic potential. Since CCHF was first identified in Turkey, children have been known to experience milder disease than adults. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed an unusually severe disease course, including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). We examined cytokine/chemokine profiles of 9/12 case-patients compared with healthy controls at 3 time intervals. Interferon pathway-related cytokines/chemokines, including interleukin (IL) 18, macrophage inflammatory protein 3α, and IL-33, were elevated, but tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, CXCL8 (formerly IL-8), and cytokines acting through C-C chemokine receptor 2 and CCR5 were lower among case-patients than controls. Interferon pathway activation and cytokines/chemokines acting through CCR2 and CCR5 improved health results among children with severe CCHF. Children can experience severe CCHF, including HLH, and HLH secondary to CCHF can be successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and steroid therapy.

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. Patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and followed in ICU were included in the study. Patients who have never been vaccinated and patients who have been vaccinated with a single dose were considered unvaccinated. Logistic regression models were fit for the two outcomes (28-day mortality and in-hospital mortality). RESULTS: A total of 2968 patients were included final analysis. The most of patients followed in the ICU during the study period were unvaccinated (58.5%). Vaccinated patients were older, had higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and had higher APACHE-2 scores than unvaccinated patients. Risk for 28-day mortality and in-hospital mortality was similar in across the year both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. However, risk for in-hospital mortality and 28-day mortality was higher in the unvaccinated patients in quarter 4 adjusted for gender and CCI (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06-1.99 and OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.03-1.96, respectively) compared to the vaccinated group. CONCLUSION: Despite effective vaccination, fully vaccinated patients may be admitted to ICU because of disease severity. Unvaccinated patients were younger and had fewer comorbid conditions. Unvaccinated patients have an increased risk of 28-day mortality when adjusted for gender and CCI.

Patient Anxiety in Endoscopy: A Comparative Analysis of Single vs. Dual Procedure Effects.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the difference in anxiety levels between patients undergoing gastroscopy only and those subjected to both gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Despite known preoperative anxiety impacts, no prior research has compared these specific patient groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 150 patients were divided equally into two groups: Group I, undergoing gastroscopy only, and Group II, undergoing gastroscopy and colonoscopy. Inclusion criteria were patients in the age range 18-70 years and having an ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status classification of I-III. Exclusion criteria were patients outside the age range, and patients with hearing disorders, psychiatric disorders, dementia, or recent anxiolytic drug use. Anxiety was analysed using the Beck Anxiety Inventory Scale before procedures, without any premedication. RESULTS: Patients in Group II had significantly higher anxiety levels, with particular increases noted in symptoms such as leg weakness and tremors, inability to relax, and fears of adverse events and death. These results highlighted a considerable elevation in anxiety among patients anticipating or undergoing combined endoscopic procedures. DISCUSSION: The findings revealed that undergoing combined gastroscopy and colonoscopy procedures significantly elevated patient anxiety levels compared to gastroscopy alone. This suggests a critical need for healthcare providers to implement more strong preoperative counselling and anxiety reduction strategies for patients facing multiple procedures. Addressing this increased anxiety could lead to better patient experiences, reduced procedural complications, and improved satisfaction and outcomes.

First management of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 akin to the vital head and neck region and thyroid gland bed: trust, but be careful whom (you trust)?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A total of 48 patients who underwent percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, with 24 COVID-19 patients (Group C) and 24 non-COVID-19 patients (Group N), were included in the study. Patients' demographic features including age and gender, time to intubation, duration of intubation, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scores, comorbidities, duration of opening tracheostomy, complications, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care units, and mortality were recorded and compared between the groups. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding age and gender (p=0.558 and p=0.110, respectively). Time to intubation was significantly more prolonged, and intubation follow-up duration was significantly shorter in Group C compared to Group N (p=0.034 and p=0.002, respectively). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was statistically significantly higher in Group N compared with Group C (p=0.012). The most common comorbidity was hypertension in 29 (60.4%) patients, followed by cerebrovascular disease in 19 (39.6%) patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups regarding mortality (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy can be performed safely in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. However, COVID-19 patients may have a longer time to intubation and shorter intubation follow-up duration than non-COVID-19 patients. The study also found a higher incidence of complications in COVID-19 patients undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy. These results emphasize the importance of careful patient selection, meticulous technique, and close postoperative monitoring in patients undergoing percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy, particularly in those with COVID-19.

Late hemorrhagic transformation of brain lesions in case with methanol intoxication.

Methanol intoxication can be occurred as accidental or suicidal ingestion or intentional ingestion through abuse. Formic acid is the primary toxic metabolite which causes high anion gap metabolic acidosis and end-organ damage in the human body. Here we presented a 46-year-old man who loss of consciousness on the 23rd day of hospitalization and his cranial computed tomography revealed bilateral subcortical hemorrhages. This case indicates us an example of late appearance of hemorrhagic transformation in methanol intoxication.

Clinical Evaluation of Balance in Children With Hemophilic Arthropathy.

Purpose: Hemophilia is a hereditary coagulation disorder characterized by acute hemorrhages into the musculoskeletal system, leading eventually to arthropathy and disability. Chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane arises as a result of frequent joint hemorrhage. Proteolytic enzymes in the blood and cartilage cause deterioration after that, and joint space narrows. Chronic hemophilic arthropathy develops as a result of these unfavorable developments, which occur more quickly, especially in the target joints. Balance is a process that allows us to maintain our orientation in three-dimensional space while also regulating our body posture to avoid falling. After the central nervous system evaluates deep stimuli from sensory, visual, and auditory receptors, movement of the corresponding muscle groups is delivered. Methods: The goal of this study was to investigate how impairment to deep sensory receptors (proprioception) in the arthropathic joint structure affected hemophiliacs' balance. The study comprised 34 patients with hemophilic arthropathy, and 34 age and weight matched healthy volunteers. Results: When balance tests of patients with hemophilic arthropathy were compared to healthy controls, hemophiliacs had a greater risk of falling. As the degree of arthropathy increased, so did the risk of falling and balance test values in individuals with hemophilic arthropathy. Conclusions: Treatment and coagulation factor prophylaxis to prevent the onset of arthropathy will improve patients' quality of life and reduce morbidity associated with frequent falls and bleeding. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12288-022-01526-0.

Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with H1N1 Influenza Virus in Pregnancy: Successful Mechanical Ventilation and Weaning with Airway Pressure Release Ventilation.

In pregnancy, infection with H1N1 influenza virus may produce symptoms similar to infection with seasonal influenza virus. Patients may rarely come with a clinical condition causing severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death. Therefore, mechanical-ventilation strategies to manage these events are vital. We report a case of ARDS after an infection with H1N1 influenza A in a 33-year-old patient pregnant at 27-weeks. The ARDS was successfully managed by airway pressure release ventilation (APRV). APRV can be used successfully as an alternative to conventional mechanical ventilation modes in pregnant patients experiencing severe respiratory failure.

Initial white blood cell kinetics for assessment of individual response to the conditioning regimen in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients.

We hypothesized that the individual hematological response to chemo/ radiotherapy may be used as a parameter to assess the degree of myeloablation and probability of transplant-related events. This study included 58 pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). White blood cell (WBC) ratio (pre-conditioning WBC: day 0 WBC), day 0 WBC count, and WBC nadir day were used as potential indicators of myeloablation. The association between WBC kinetics and clinical result of HSCT was investigated. There was a positive correlation between WBC ratio and the date of engraftment. A positive correlation was noted between day 0 WBC count and engraftment day. There was a negative correlation between WBC nadir day and engraftment day. WBC nadir day was lower in patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) than in cases without acute GVHD. Among patients who had fever during the conditioning regimen, the WBC ratio was higher, day 0 WBC count was lower, and WBC nadir day was lower in patients who developed >5 days of fever between day 0 and day +30. The present preliminary study suggests that WBC kinetics may be used as a measure of initial hematological response to the conditioning regimen and perhaps in determining the degree of myeloablation.