CD4+ T-Cell Depression is Linked to the Severity of COVID-19 and Predicts Mortality.

Objective: Most patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have abnormalities of lymphocyte subsets. This study aimed to determine the distribution of lymphocytes in patients with various severity levels of COVID-19 and to describe the relationship between the CD4+ T helper and prognosis. Materials and Methods: Adult (>18 years old) patients with COVID-19 who followed up in a tertiary hospital were included in the study prospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were obtained from the hospital records. Peripheral flow cytometry was studied in patients with different severity of COVID-19 and different prognoses. Next, we analyzed the characteristics and predictive values of lymphocyte subsets in COVID-19 patients. Results: Totally 86 patients were included in the study, of which 21 (24.4%) had asymptomatic, 23 (26.7%) had mild/moderate, and 42 (48.8%) had severe/critical COVID-19. Severe/critical patients had lower lymphocyte levels and older age than asymptomatic patients (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). We determined that decreased CD4+ T cell ratio (p<0.001) and CD4+ /CD8+ ratio (p<0.001) were indicative of the severity of the disease. CD4+ T cell ratio on admission (odds ratio [OR]=0.858; p=0.033), day seven CD4+ T cell ratio (OR=0.840; p=0.029), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (OR=1.014; p=0.043) were prognostic factors for mortality. According to receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the area under the curve was greater than 0.9 for decreased CD4 + T cell ratio on admission and the seventh day. Conclusion: A low CD4+ T helper ratio predicts a poor prognosis. In combination with CRP, it can be used in clinical follow-up.

Fatigue, anxiety and depression in patients with prediabetes: a controlled cross-sectional study.

Objective: We aimed to determine fatigue, depression, anxiety levels, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with prediabetes (PD) and to compare them with healthy subjects. Materials and methods: A controlled, cross-sectional study was conducted. The patients, aged 18-65, were recruited from a tertiary care hospital. A total of 105 patients with newly diagnosed untreated PD and 48 normoglycemic subjects were included in the study. Participants did not know the diagnosis of PD and did not give psychological distress to the newly diagnosed. All participants were evaluated for body mass index (BMI), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Short Form-36 (SF-36). Results: Age, gender, BMI were similar between groups. The scores of psychological measures were significantly worse in patients with PD compared with normoglycemic subjects (FSS median score: 4.33 vs. 2.22, HADS-anxiety mean score: 7.53 vs. 2.64, HADS-depression mean score: 6.33 vs. 2.79, SF-36 total median score: 52.81 vs. 79.89). The FSS, HADS and SF-36 scores showed a weak but statistically significant relationship with BMI. OGTT, HbA1c and HOMA-IR did not show any relationship with these scores. Conclusion: Psychosocial problems may present in the prediabetic stage before the onset of diabetes.

Frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome and hand dysfunction in prediabetes: A cross-sectional, controlled study.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), to investigate the impairment of hand functions in patients with prediabetes (PD), and to compare laboratory findings of PD patients with and without CTS. Patients and methods: Between June 2018 and January 2019, a total of 115 patients (29 males, 86 females; mean age: 51.4±11.8 years; range, 24 to 78 years) who were recently diagnosed with PD and a total of 54 healthy participants (17 males, 37 females; mean age: 48.4±13.2 years; range, 21 to 78 years) as the control group were included. Demographic and clinical data of the patients including oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were recorded, and both groups were examined for the presence of CTS. Clinically suspected CTS was confirmed by electrodiagnostic studies. The hand grip strength (HGS) was measured and hand functions were evaluated using the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI). Results: There were no significant differences in the age, sex, occupation, body mass index (BMI), or insulin resistance between the groups. A total of 24 (20.9%) patients with PD and eight (14.8%) healthy controls had CTS (p=0.349). Hand functions were worse in the PD patients than the control group (p=0.044). Age, occupation, BMI, insulin resistance, OGTT at 0 and 2 h, and HbA1c values were similar between the PD patients with or without CTS. Conclusion: Our study, for the first time, reveals that CTS is slightly more common and hand functions are impaired in PD compared to the healthy individuals. Based on these findings, we suggest that hand functions should be evaluated in PD patients.

Low-dose tocilizumab is associated with improved outcome and a low risk of secondary infection in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory failure and death are the leading causes of severe Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hyper-inflammation and cytokine storm cause lung damage. This study aimed to compare the low-dose and high-dose effects of tocilizumab, an IL-6 receptor antagonist. METHOD: Patients with severe pneumonia and hyper-inflammation signs because of COVID-19 were included in this retrospective study. Patients receiving tocilizumab <200 mg intravenously were classified as the low-dose group, and receiving ≥200 mg as the high-dose group, and those not treated with tocilizumab as the control group. Demographic and clinical data of patients who died and survived in both low-high dose and control patients were compared. According to symptom day and radiological infiltration, patients with tocilizumab were also evaluated in two groups as early and late periods at tocilizumab administration time. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients were included in the study; 70 were treated with a low dose and 50 with high-dose tocilizumab. Forty patients were in the control group. Age, comorbidity and clinical features were similar in the control, low-dose tocilizumab and high-dose tocilizumab groups. The mortality rate (12.9%, 30.0%, 37.5, P = .008) was less in the low-dose tocilizumab group. The secondary infection rate was higher in the high-dose group than in the low-dose tocilizumab and control groups (44.0%, 10.0%, 10.0%, P < .001). Distinguishing between those patients who died and survived, age (OR: 1.1589, P < .001), higher APACHE II scores (OR: 1.225, P = .001) and needs for non-invasive mechanical ventilation (OR: 14.469, P < .001) were the most critical risk factors. Low-dose tocilizumab was associated with a lower mortality rate (OR: 0.244, P = .012). CONCLUSION: The use of tocilizumab at a low dose is associated with lower secondary infections and mortality.

Comparison of "burden of disease" in elderly and non-elderly patients with pre-diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: There are a lot of studies comparing elderly and adult patients with diabetes but not pre-diabetes systematically. We aimed to compare the discrepancies of clinical status and burden of disease in elderly (≥60 years old) versus non-elderly (18-59 years old) adult pre-diabetics. METHODS: A total of 126 pre-diabetic patients were included in the study and were compared as two groups; the elderly (n=32) and non-elderly (n=94). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, body mass index (BMI), the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), health-related quality of life using the short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, and disability using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were evaluated. RESULTS: Gender, BMI, the presence of obesity, the ratio of HOMA-IR, FPG, and plasma glucose in the 2nd h oral glucose tolerance test were similar in non-elderly patients with pre-diabetes compared to the elderly ones. However, HbA1c levels were higher in elderly subjects in our study. According to the SF-36 questionnaire and HAQ score, there were no significant differences between groups. The median total HAQ scores were 0.125 (non-elderly) and 0.250 (elderly) for groups and there was no significant difference (p=0.099). CONCLUSION: In the similar gender and BMI groups, pre-diabetes in the elderly gives different outcomes according to HbA1c. Since SF-36 questionnaire and HAQ scores were not statistically different in both pre-diabetic groups, the burden of disease is thought to be basically due to the presence of the disease rather than aging.

Bone mineral density and fracture risk in prediabetes: a controlled cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: There is comparatively scarce data on bone health in prediabetes (PD). This study aimed to evaluate osteoporosis, fracture risk, and to determine related factors in adults with PD comparing them with healthy participants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A controlled, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted. All post-menopausal women and men aged over 65 years were recruited from a tertiary care hospital. A total of 120 participants (90 prediabetic, 30 control group) were enrolled in the study. All participants were screened for clinical status, Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DEXA) was used to assess for osteoporotic fracture risk factors, and then the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was calculated. RESULTS: Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), presence of obesity and insulin resistance, and risk factors for osteoporotic fracture were similar between groups. Frequency of osteoporosis was higher in the PD group (p=0.045). Bone mineral density (BMD) and T scores of the lumbar and femoral neck regions were lower in the PD group (p=0.042, p=0.039, p=0.039, and p=0.042, respectively). Although there were statistically significant differences in BMD and T scores, 10-year probability of hip fracture and major osteoporotic fracture were similar in both groups. In the femoral neck region, BMD and T scores were weakly and negatively correlated with age. FRAX-major was correlated positively and weakly with age and FRAX-hip was positively and weakly correlated with age and negatively weakly correlated with BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one quarter of the post-menopausal prediabetic women had osteoporosis and osteoporosis was more common in the prediabetics than in the normoglycemic control group participants. While evaluating prediabetics, it is important to assess bone mineral density.

Effects of ultrasound guided leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma (LR-PRP) injection in patients with pes anserinus tendinobursitis.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma (LR-PRP) injection in patients with pes anserinus tendinobursitis (PATB). METHODS: A prospective, randomized and single-blinded study of 60 patients with PATB were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Whereas 2 mL LR-PRP injection was applied to one grup, once accompanied by ultrasonography (USG), 2 mL LR-PRP injection was applied to the other group accompanied by USG twice with a one-week interval. Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), Likert Scale were evaluated pre-treatment, at the 4th and 12th weeks after treatment. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, body mass index, duration of symptoms, affected side. When both groups are compared within themselves before and after treatment, there was a significant improvement in all VAS, in all WOMAC subgroups, 6MWT, at the 4th and 12th weeks after treatment. When the two groups are compared with each other, there was no statistical difference. In addition, when all patients were evaluated with Likert scale in the 12th week after treatment, complete healing in 22(36.7 %) patients, significant relief in 25(41.7 %) patients, mild relief in 4(6.7 %) patients, 5(8.3 %) same as before treatment patients, and worsened pain in 4(6.7 %) patients were seen. CONCLUSION: Both single-dose and double-dose local LR-PRP is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with PATB syndrome. We believe that once LR-PRP injection may be sufficient for the treatment efficacy in PATB.

Effects of platelet-rich plasma injection on pain, range of motion, and disability in adhesive capsulitis: A prospective, randomized-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in adhesive capsulitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2019 and December 2019, a total of 40 patients (21 males, 19 females; mean age: 57.1±6.5 years; range, 44 to 72 years) with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis were included. The patients were randomly assigned into two equal groups as the PRP and the control group. The PRP group received two doses of PRP via intra-articular route biweekly under ultrasound guidance. No injection was performed to the control group. In both groups, stretching and Codman exercises were applied as a home- based program. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), range of motion (ROM), and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores were evaluated before the treatment and at 2, 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all VAS, SPADI, and ROM scores at all time points after treatment compared to baseline in both groups. At the end of the study, there were significant differences in the active flexion, passive flexion, active abduction, passive abduction, and active external rotation scores at 12 weeks between the groups (p=0.012, p=0.015, p=0.008, p=0.019, and p=0.040, respectively). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of VAS and SPADI scores and the other parameters (active and passive extension, active and passive internal rotation, passive external rotation) at 2, 6, and 12 weeks (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of PRP to exercise treatment can improve patients' joint mobility, but not pain and disability in patients with adhesive capsulitis.

Efficacy of Alfuzosin in Male Patients with Moderate Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Is Metabolic Syndrome a Factor Affecting the Outcome?

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to compare the efficacy of alfuzosin therapy as an alpha-blocker in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and non-MetS patients with moderate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included male patients with obstructive voiding and had a moderate LUTS according to International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Patients were divided into two groups: MetS and Non-MetS. Following the measurement of uroflowmetric parameters (maximum flow rate [Qmax], post-void residual volume [PVR], urine volume) and the determination of IPSS scores, the patients were initiated on alfuzosin 10 mg once daily for a period of 12 weeks. At the end of the therapy, treatment outcomes were determined based on uroflowmetric parameters and IPSS scores. RESULTS: 301 patients were included in the study (MetS: 160, non-MetS: 141). Pre-treatment uroflowmetric measurements and IPSS scores were similar in both groups. After the therapy, the median Qmax level increased from 12.80 (10.62-14.82) ml/s to 14.55 (12.00-16.60) ml/s in the MetS group and from 12.60 (8.60-14.60) ml/s to 15.70 (13.20-17.20) ml/s in the non-MetS group (p<0.001 for both). Similar statistically significant changes were valid for PVR and IPSS. Post-treatment Qmax, PVR values and IPSS scores were higher in the non-MetS patients compared to MetS patients. CONCLUSION: Although the non-MetS patients had greater benefit from the alfuzosin therapy compared to the MetS patients, alfuzosin is an effective alpha-blocker in the treatment of MetS patients with moderate LUTS. Based on these findings, it is tempting to consider that MetS might be a negative factor for benign prostate hyperplasia treatment.

Does primary tumor localization has prognostic importance in seminoma patients?: Turkish Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary tumor localization may be a risk factor for relapse and survival in seminomatous germ cell tumors (GCT) patients. METHODS: In our study, 612 seminomatous GCT patients diagnosed in 22 centers between 01.01.1989 and 03.02.2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient interview information, patient files and electronic system data were used for the study. RESULTS: The primary tumor was localized in the right testis in 305 (49.9%) patients and in 307 (50.1%) in the left testis. Mean age of the patients was 36 years (range 16-85±10.4). The median follow-up period was 47 months (1-298). Recurrence was observed in 78 (12.7%) patients and 29 (4.7%) died during the follow-up period. Four-year overall survival (OS) was 95.4% and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 84.5%. The relationship between localization and relapse was significant in 197 patients with stage 2 and stage 3 (p=0.003). In this patient group, 41 (20.8%) relapses were observed. Thirty (73.2%) of the relapses were in the right testis and 11 (26.8%) in the left testis. Four-year OS was 92.1% in patients with right tumor; and 98.7% in patients with left tumor (p=0.007). When 612 patients were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 4 years, there was a 6.6% survival advantage in patients with left testicular tumor and this difference was significant (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Survival rates of patients with primary right testicular localization were worse compared with left testicular localization, and relapse rates were higher in stage 2 and 3 patients with right testicular localization.

Comorbidity and polypharmacy in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cancer sufferers are aged ≥ 65 years, but research has focused infrequently on elderly patients with the majority of cancer. We aimed not only to determine the frequency of comorbidity and polypharmacy, but also to present the discrepiancies in elderly versus non-elderly patients with breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 352 female patients aged over 18 years, 252 non-elderly and 100 elderly, followed-up in the oncology department of a tertiary hospital between January 2016 and September 2019 were retrospectively screened. Demographic data, comorbidity and medications of the patients were recorded hospital data processing system. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of ≥ 5 different medications. RESULTS: The most common four chronic diseases in both non-elderly and elderly groups were muscle-joint-bone disease, gastrointestinal diseases, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The most common four prescribed drugs were NSAID, adjuvant endocrine therapy, PPI, and vitamin D or/and calcium in non-elderly group while those were ACEI-ARB, PPI, NSAID, and diuretics in elderly one. The frequency of polypharmacy was 50% (n = 126) in the non-elderly patients and 74% (n = 74) in the elderly ones. These were considered statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean number of prescription medication categories reported was 5.02 (SD = 2.90; range 0-14) in non-elderly group whereas those was 6.83 (SD = 3.18; range 0-15) in elderly one (p < 0.001). The mean of ages were 47.9 years (without polypharmacy) and 51.3 years (with polypharmacy) in non-elderly patients while those are, respectively, 70.9 years and 74.7 years in elderly ones. These were considered statistically significant (respectively; p = 0.006, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: We first gained to raise awareness in the literature of comorbidity and polypharmacy in patients with breast cancer and to compare between the elderly and non-elderly participants. For the effectiveness of cancer treatment, importance in geriatric population, attention to drug-drug interaction, such studies should be considered during clinical practice.

Fear of hypoglycemia in adults with diabetes mellitus switching to treatment with IDegAsp co-formulation to examine real-world setting: an observational study (The HATICE study).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical results of insulin degludec/aspart (IDEgAsp) therapy and its effect on the fear of hypoglycemia. METHODS: A prospective observational study has been conducted through surveys of 36 patients using insulin because of type 2 diabetes mellitus who initiated treatment with IDegAsp switching from other insulins. Patients, 18-75 years old, were recruited to the study, consecutively. Participants' age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), daily insulin dose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), hypoglycemia rate, hypoglycemia fear survey (HFS) were recorded at the beginning of the study. By the end of 12th month, data was re-measured and compared with each other. RESULTS: HbA1c was declined by mean of -1.59% (95% CI -1.06 to -2.12, p<0.001). There was also a significant decrease in mean, daily insulin dose, weight and BMI values of patients via IDegAsp. While there was an increase in the amount of dipeptidyl peptidase 4-inhibitors (DPP4-i) and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2-inhibitors (SGLT2-i), there was a decrease in daily injection frequency. There was also a significant decrease in the median values of monthly hypoglycemia rate (from 2.0 to 1.0, p<0.001) and the entire HFS scores (HFS-T: from 1.09 to 0.73, p<0.001; HFS-B: from 0.83 to 0.60, p<0.001; HFS-W: from 1.33 to 0.88, p<0.001). There was a strong positive correlation between ΔHFS-B and daily injection frequency (Rho: 0.398; P: 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: IDegAsp co-formulation, combined with DPP4-i and/or SGLT2-i, can provide usefulness in terms of rates of hypoglycemia, reduced HbA1c, less injection administration, and decreased the fear of hypoglycemia in diabetics.

Effects of thymoquinone in prevention of experimental contrast-induced nephropathy in rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to show the effects of thymoquinone, which is known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and renal protective effects in contrast-induced nephropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study in rats. 7 groups were included within the scope of our study: sham-vehicle (n=3), premedication-control (n=6), model (n=6), isolated thymoquinone (n=3+3), low-dose thymoquinone (n=6), and high-dose thymoquinone (n=7). In addition to 48 hr of water deprivation, we pre-medicated the rats with intra-peritoneal indomethacin and L-NAME administration. After premedication, 12.5 ml/kg dose of a high osmolar contrast agent-diatrizoat (Urografin %76) was administrated. Thymoquinone was administrated in two different doses of 1 mg/kg and 1.75 mg/kg for four days intraperitoneally. Renal functions, histopathological differences, oxidative stress parameters, and inflammatory indicators of rats were evaluated at the end of the study. RESULTS: Significant decreases were observed in levels of serum creatinine and serum BUN with low-dose thymoquinone (1 mg/kg) administration. In light microscopy, significantly less histopathological damage was observed in the low-dose thymoquinone group compared to the contrast agent group. While high-dose thymoquinone is accepted as ineffective biochemically, toxic evidence was identified histopathologically. There were no significant differences between M and TA groups for serum MDA and SOD levels, which were compared to evaluate oxidative stress (P:0.99, P:0.98; respectively). TNF-α, iNOS, and NF-кB gene expressions were not significantly different between all groups (P:0.748, P:0.531, P:0.910; respectively). CONCLUSION: This experimental study has demonstrated for the first time the protective effect of the TQ substance for CIN in 1 mg/kg dose, in the accompaniment of biochemical and histopathological data in rats.

Efficacy and safety of cetuximab plus FOLFOX in second-line and third-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse events with cetuximab plus FOLFOX administered as second- and third-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. METHODS: IPatients were administered cetuximab plus FOLFOX as second- and third-line therapy from January 2010 through October 2015. mCRC patients with wild type KRAS were alsï given irinïtecan and/ïr ïxaliplatin cïmbined with fluorïpyrimidine±bevacizumab. Tumor respïnse and survival were evaluated using RECIST and Kaplan-Meier methïd respectively. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included this study. Cetuximab plus FOLFOX was administered to 40 (66.7%) patients as second-line and to 20 (33.3%) as third-line therapy. The majority of the patients had a good ECOG performance status (PS) (0 or 1). Clinical benefit was partial plus stable disease and it was 75.0% for both of these two lines. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 7.1 months (95% CI=3.2-10.9) and 6.0 months (95% CI=2.4-9.6), in the second-and third-line (p=0.484). The median ïverall survival (ÏS) was 14.3 and 9.2 mïnths in secïnd-and third-line therapy respectively (p=0.071). The common toxicities were haematologic and gastrointestinal, mostly grade 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: The addition of cetuximab to FOLFOX was well-tolerated and had antitumor activity both in second- and third-line therapy in patients with mCRC.

Peripartum genital tuberculosis presenting with ascites.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis may affect multiple sites within the body. The symptoms vary widely and diagnosis requires a high clinical suspicion. In rare cases, tuberculosis may be manifest in the genitalia, initially presenting as infertility. Here we report a clinical case of a 23-year-old female with peripartum genital tuberculosis who presented at 2 weeks after delivery with fever and increasing abdominal girth.