Publisher Correction: Accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 from lung CT images using transfer learning.

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2024; 28 (3): 1213-1226-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202402_35360-PMID: 38375726, published online on February 16, 2024. This erratum corrects the references 1, 2, and 3, which have been mistakenly inserted in the text during the authors' drafting with the following: - Reference 1 has been substituted with the following: 1) Umakanthan S, Sahu P, Ranade AV, Bukelo MM, Rao JS, Abrahao-Machado LF, Dahal S, Kumar H, Kv D. Origin, transmission, diagnosis and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Postgrad Med J 2020; 96: 753-758. - Reference 2 has been substituted with the following: 2) Stokes EK, Zambrano LD, Anderson KN, Marder EP, Raz KM, El Burai Felix S, Tie Y, Fullerton KE. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Case Surveillance - United States, January 22-May 30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020; 69: 759-765. - Reference 3 has been substituted with the following: 3) Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, Zhang L, Fan G, Xu J, Gu X, Cheng Z, Yu T, Xia J, Wei Y, Wu W, Xie X, Yin W, Li H, Liu M, Xiao Y, Gao H, Guo L, Xie J, Wang G, Jiang R, Gao Z, Jin Q, Wang J, Cao B. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020; 395: 497-506. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/35360.

Accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 from lung CT images using transfer learning.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, it is aimed to classify data by feature extraction from tomographic images for the diagnosis of COVID-19 using image processing and transfer learning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the proposed study, CT images are made better detectable by artificial intelligence through preliminary processes such as masking and segmentation. Then, the number of data was increased by applying data augmentation. The size of the dataset contains a large number of images in numerical terms. Therefore, the results of the models are more reliable. The dataset is split into 70% training and 30% testing. In this way, different features of the applied models were found, and positive effects were achieved on the result. Transfer Learning was used to reduce training times and further increase the success rate. To find the best method, many different pre-trained Transfer Learning models have been tried and compared with many different studies. RESULTS: A total of 8,354 images were used in the research. Of these, 2,695 consist of COVID-19 patients and the remaining healthy chest tomography images. All of these images were given to the models through masking and segmentation processes. As a result of the experimental evaluation, the best model was determined to be ResNet-50 and the highest results were found (accuracy 95.7%, precision 94.7%, recall 99.2%, specificity 88.3%, F1 score 96.9%, ROC-AUC score 97%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a COVID-19 lesion in the images was identified with high accuracy and recall rate using the transfer learning model we developed using thorax CT images. This outcome demonstrates that the strategy will speed up the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Drug monitoring during ciprofloxacin prophylaxis of allogeneic stem cell transplant patients: associations with bacterial infections through a monocentric observational prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial infection ranks amongst the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). Although ciprofloxacin (CIP) prophylaxis is recommended, information on serum levels and clinical course is lacking. AIM: To investigate relationships between CIP level and failure of prophylaxis, particularly in terms of whether different pharmacokinetic (PK) indices [area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24h) vs single time samples] correlate differently with the outcome. METHODS: This prospective observational monocentric study was conducted at a 1500-bed teaching hospital (March 2018-March 2019), including 63 adult patients with alloHSCT receiving CIP prophylaxis. Blood samples were drawn at three sampling times (1, 6 and 12 h post-administration), twice per week, and measured via high performance liquid chromatography. The onset of febrile episodes (FEBs) indicated suspected failure of CIP prophylaxis. Positive blood cultures [bloodstream infection (BSI)] indicated confirmed failure of prophylaxis. FINDINGS: Seven of 63 patients died without significant differences in their average CIP levels compared with survivors, with patients experiencing FEBs (54/63) displaying a 13% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4-22%] lower probability of survival. In total, 225 sets of three values (triplets) were obtained from 58 primary CIP episodes. Triplets preceding BSI with Gram-negative bacteria (GNB-BSI) showed lower AUC0-24h on average, but similar single time sample indices. An AUC0-24h of ≤21.61 mgh/L resulted in four-fold higher odds of GNB-BSI (adjusted odds ratio 3.96, 95% CI 1.21-13.00). These results were independent of the administration route, patient demographics or sampling protocol deviations, indicating reduced CIP exposure upon GNB-BSI events. CONCLUSION: Monitoring CIP levels, using multiple sampling times, may be useful to reduce alloHSCT-associated bacterial infections. Further analysis is needed to investigate causality.

The frequency of body dysmorphic disorder in dermatology and cosmetic dermatology clinics: a study from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a distressing and impairing preoccupation with a slight or imagined defect in appearance. There are few reports on the prevalence of BDD in the Turkish population. AIM: To investigate the frequency of BDD in dermatology settings, and to compare the results from cosmetic dermatology with those from general dermatology settings. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 400 patients from cosmetic dermatology (CD) (n = 200) and general dermatology (GD) clinics (n = 200). A mini-survey was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics, and the dermatology version of a brief self-report BDD screening questionnaire was administered. A five-point Likert scale was used for objective scoring of the stated concern, which was performed by dermatologists, and patients who scored ≥ 3 were excluded from the study. RESULTS: In total, 318 patients (151 in the CD group and 167 in the GD group) completed the study, and of these, 20 were diagnosed with BDD. The CD group had a higher rate of BDD (8.6%) than the GD group (4.2%) but this was not significant (P = 0.082). The major concern focused on body and weight (40.0%), followed by acne (25.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of cosmetic procedures in dermatology practices is increasing Therefore, it is becoming more important to recognize patients with BDD. Although the rates of BDD found in the present study are in agreement with the literature data, population-based differences still exist between this study and previous studies.

Comparison of effects of nebivolol, carvedilol and irbesartan on left ventricular hypertrophy associated with hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate if the new generation beta-blockers are as effective as irbesartan, which is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 85 patients (average age: 56.6±9.6 year) with stage 1 and 2 hypertension, who previously didn't receive an antihypertensive treatment, but diagnosed with LVH echocardiographically. The patients were divided into three different treatment groups: irbesartan (n=28), nebivolol (n=25) and carvedilol (n=32). The patients were reassessed clinically and echocardiographically at 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatments. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in baseline left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and other parameters among the three treatment groups (p > 0.05). Although there was no significant decrease in LVMI in irbesartan and carvedilol groups at 3 months after the treatment (p > 0.05), the values measured at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001) were significant. The decrease in LVMI in the nebivolol group was significant at 3, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in measurements at 12 months (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both of the new generation beta-blockers were more effective than irbesartan in the regression of LVH. A significant regression in LVH was observed 3 months after nebivolol treatment and 6 months after irbesartan and carvedilol treatments.

PD-1 analysis on CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells allows stimulation-independent assessment of CMV viremic episodes in transplant recipients.

Expression of the inhibitory receptor programmed death 1 (PD-1) on cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD4 T cells defines a phenotype associated with CMV viremia in transplant recipients. Moreover, CD28(-) CD27(-) double negativity is known as a typical phenotype of CMV-specific CD4 T cells. Therefore, the co-expression of inhibitory receptors on CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells was assessed as a rapid, stimulation-independent parameter for monitoring CMV complications after transplantation. Ninety-three controls, 67 hemodialysis patients and 81 renal transplant recipients were recruited in a cross-sectional and longitudinal manner. CMV-specific CD4 T cell levels quantified after stimulation were compared to levels of CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells. PD-1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression on CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells were related to viremia. A percentage of ≥0.44% CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells defined CMV seropositivity (93.3% sensitivity, 97.1% specificity), and their frequencies correlated strongly with CMV-specific CD4 T cell levels after stimulation (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Highest PD-1 expression levels on CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells were observed in patients with primary CMV viremia and reactivation (p < 0.0001), whereas CTLA-4 expression was only elevated during primary CMV viremia (p < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis showed a significant increase in PD-1 expression in relation to viremia (p < 0.001), whereas changes in nonviremic patients were nonsignificant. In conclusion, increased PD-1 expression on CD28(-) CD27(-) CD4 T cells correlates with CMV viremia in transplant recipients and may serve as a specific, stimulation-independent parameter to guide duration of antiviral therapy.

[Pediatric transfusion practices: A single-center retrospective study]. / Pratiques transfusionnelles en pédiatrie : étude rétrospective monocentrique.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the professional practices in pediatric transfusion to assess the accuracy of transfusion guidelines in children. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of all the pediatric transfusions prescribed in the Clermont-Ferrand (France) university hospital center over 1 year and determined whether they conformed to the national guidelines. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred and seven blood products were delivered to 233 children (806 red cell units, 670 platelet units, and 131 plasma units), accounting for 5.3% of the center's whole blood products. Transfusions were mainly prescribed by the oncohematology unit (68.2%), the intensive care unit (15.4%), and for surgery (10.2%). Ten adverse events were reported in eight patients (0.6% of transfusions). The prescription conformed to the national guidelines in 35.9%, 41.6%, and 80.9% of the red blood cell, platelet, and plasma unit transfusions, respectively. Nonconformity was mainly due to abusive irradiation and "cytomegalovirus seronegative" specifications. CONCLUSION: Malignancies, intensive care, and surgery are the main indications for transfusion in children. Substantial discrepancy between recommendations and actual practices was observed. This illustrates the variability of risk evaluation. This should be made simpler by the use of photochemical pathogen inactivation techniques.

Surface properties of Indonesian-made narrow dynamic compression plates.

The enormous need of orthopaedic (surgical) implants such as osteosynthesis plates is difficult to be fulfilled in developing countries commonly rely on imported ones. One of the alternatives is utilization of local resources, but only after they have been proven safe to use, to overcome this problem. Surface properties are some of the determining factors of safety for those implants. We have succeeded in developing prototype of osteosynthesis plate and the results indicate that Indonesian-made plates need improvement with regards to the surface quality of physical characterization.

[Gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to traumatic superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (case report)]. / Travmatik süperior mezenterik arter anevrizmasina bagli gastrointestinal kanama (olgu sunumu).

We report the case of a 21-year-old male patient with superior mesenteric artery aneurysm due to missed arterial injuries, its complications of enteric fistula and results of surgical treatment. The aneurysm was excised, enteric fistula was closed and aorta-mesenteric bypass using saphenous vein graft was performed. The hemorrhage became masked because of the tamponade in the mesentery during penetrating abdominal injury and initial surgery, and the late complication of false aneurysm came on the scene in follow up. Aorta-mesenteric bypass by a transmesenteric approach provides successful result in surgical treatment of superior mesenteric artery aneurysm.