Turk J Med Sci
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With the increase in the elderly population, the elderly proportion needing emergency surgery is also increasing. Despite medical advances in surgery and anesthesia, negative postoperative outcomes and high mortality rates are still present in elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. Comorbidities are described as the main determining factors in poor outcomes. In this metaanalysis, it was aimed to investigate the effect of comorbidity on mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. ⋯ Our study revealed that comorbidity had no significant effect on causing mortality in geriatric patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. There are controversial results in the literature, and in order to reach more precise results, studies involving wider groups of patients and further studies examining the specific effect of certain comorbid conditions are needed.
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New treatment regimens for COVID-19, which has threatened the world recently, continue to be investigated. Although some of the treatments are promising, it is thought to be early to state that there is definitive treatment. Experiences and treatment protocol studies from treatment centers are still important. The aim of this study is to evaluate factors affecting the treatment process of the first cases followed in our clinic. ⋯ Early treatment and early admission to the hospital can be crucial for the better treatment process. Combination therapy with azithromycin may be preferred in the first treatment choice because it can shorten the length of hospital stay.
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, and the death toll from COVID-19, which is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has already surpassed that of many previous epidemics. A wide variety of treatment options are being considered for COVID-19, but there is still no definitive treatment or vaccine. This study aims to explain the background of convalescent plasma (CP) treatment and its relations with COVID-19 immunity, to define ideal treatment procedures, and to reveal present and future perspectives in the light of the rapidly growing data. Immunological basis of COVID-19-associated immune response and convalescent plasma as a treatment option: Since it has been shown that the impaired immune response of the host is one of the most important factors that increase the severity of the infection, treatment strategies to suppress aberrant immune activation are currently being considered. CP, which is derived from recently recovered patients and contains neutralizing antibodies and many other immune- modulatory substances, seems to be the most convenient strategy to restore normal immune function considering the fast spreading nature of the ongoing pandemic. ⋯ Even though mechanisms of action of plasma therapy are not fully delineated, it was shown that it could lead to a reduction in mortality since other alternatives such as monoclonal antibodies or SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmunoglobulin require much more time and effort to be developed.
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The NoSAS score is a new tool for the identification of high-risk patients for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The aim of this study was to validate the NoSAS score in a sleep clinical population in Turkey and compare its performance with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang, and Berlin questionnaires for high-risk SDB. ⋯ The NoSAS score had a good degree of differentiation for SDB and can be used as an easily applicable, subjective, and effective screening tool in a sleep clinical population in Turkey. Not only in moderate to severe SDB but also in mild SDB, the NoSAS score performed better than the other 3 screening tools.
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Lycopene is associated with anticancer effects in various tumor types. However, the exact underlying mechanisms of action of lycopene in human cervical cancer remain to be determined. This study aimed to determine anticancer efficacy and mechanism of lycopene in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells. ⋯ Lycopene increases the sensitization of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin via inhibition of cell viability, up-regulation of Bax expression, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, the anticancer effect of lycopene might be also associated with suppression of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses, and modulation of Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress. The results of the present study suggest that lycopene and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy might have a role in improving the treatment of cervical cancer.