Favipiravir Experience in COVID-19 Patients at a Tertiary Center Intensive Care Unit.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare intensive care unit (ICU) and overall hospital mortality in patients treated with favipiravir and lopinavir-ritonavir for COVID-19. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively between March 10 and May 10, 2020, from patients' records admitted to ICU due to COVID-19. Laboratory data, clinical characteristics, ICU and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay were compared in patients treated with favipiravir and lopinavir-ritonavir. Results: A total of 100 patients' data were investigated. Favipiravir was used as the treatment for 85% of patients, with the rest treated with lopinavir-ritonavir. Clinical and laboratory data of both antiviral treatment groups were similar. Length of hospital stay was 16 (9-24) days with favipiravir and 8.5 (5-12.5) days with lopinavir-ritonavir (p=0.002). Length of ICU stay for favipiravir and lopinavir-ritonavir groups were 8 (5-15) days and 4 (3-9) days, respectively (p=0.011). ICU mortality was 65.9% for the favipiravir and 80% for lopinavir-ritonavir (p=0.002). Hospital mortality for favipiravir and lopinavir-ritonavir was 67.1% and 80%, respectively (p=0.001). Conclusion: The mortality in patients treated with favipiravir was less than patients treated with lopinavir-ritonavir. Favipiravir needs more attention and trials for its effect to be confirmed.

Effect of early awake prone positioning application on prognosis in patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the effect of early awake prone position administration on oxygenation and intubation requirements and short-term mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. METHODS: This is an observational-cohort study. Patients receiving mask oxygen therapy in our intensive care units because of acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia were included. The Awake Prone Position (APP) group consisted of patients who were applied awake prone position, whereas non-APP group consisted of patients who were not applied awake prone position. PaCO2, PaO2, pH, SpO2 values and PaO2/FiO2 ratios were recorded at the beginning and 24th hour. Demographic data, comorbidities, intubation requirements, ventilator-free days, length of intensive care unit stay and short-term mortality of the patients were recorded. RESULTS: The data of total 225 patients were examined, and 48 patients who met our study criteria were included. At the 24th hour, the median SpO2 value of the APP group was 95%, the median PaO2 value was 82 mmHg, whereas the SpO2 value of the non-APP group was 90% and the PaO2 value was 66 mmHg. (p = 0.001, p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in length of intensive care unit stay and ventilator-free days, but short-term mortality and intubation requirements was lower in the APP group (p = 0.020, p = 0.001) CONCLUSION: Awake prone position application in patients receiving non-rebreather mask oxygen therapy for respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia improves oxygenation and decreases the intubation requirements and mortality.

Effects of vitamin D and estrogen receptor polymorphisms on bone mineral density in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Background Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder that is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and greater lifetime risk for fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between BMD and genetic polymorphisms in AN. Methods This case-control study analyzed vitamin D receptor (VDR) (VDRBsml, VDRFokl) and estrogen receptor (ESR) (ESR1Xbal, ESR1Pvull) polymorphisms in 45 adolescents diagnosed with AN and 46 age-matched healthy controls. BMD values of the AN group were classified as low or normal, and polymorphisms were compared between cases and controls. The effects of body mass index (BMI), duration of disease and amenorrhea on BMD were also evaluated. Results In girls with AN, a positive effect of the bb genotype of VDRBsmI polymorphism on femur Z-scores (p = 0.103) and of the Ff genotype of VDRFokI polymorphism on vertebra Z-scores (p = 0.097) was observed. In boys with AN, a positive effect of the Ff genotype of VDRFokI polymorphism on vertebra BMD (g/cm2) was detected (p = 0.061). No association was detected between ESR polymorphisms. An inverse relationship was observed between BMD and duration of illness and amenorrhea. A direct relationship was detected between BMD and BMI. Conclusions Specific VDR gene polymorphism genotypes may have positive effects on BMD in patients with AN. Additionally, the lack of association between ESR gene polymorphisms on BMD could be attributed to the low estrogen status of the patient.

Investigation of Some Parameters Affecting Methyl OrangeRemoval by Fusarium acuminatum

ABSTRACT Dye stuff released to the ecosystem from textile industries cause a serious contamination and become a major environmental problem over the last few decades. As biological decolorization of textile wastewater is an important issue, Fusarium . acuminatum was used to removal of a frequently used textile dye, methyl orange. Live pellet of Fusarium acuminatum was used and decolorization studies performed in various temperatures and pH conditions with different dye concentrations. The highest decolorization rate was observed at 35ᴼC. 60 mg/L was found as the optimum initial dye concentration. In the pH range of 3-4, decolorization rate was approximately 70%. It was seen that Fusarium acuminatum have the great ability of the methyl orange removal. To our knowledge, it took place for the first time in the literature.