Turk J Med Sci
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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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Observational Study
IMPAIRED INTEGRITY OF COMMISSURAL AND ASSOCIATION FIBERS IN ESSENTIAL TREMOR PATIENTS: EVIDENCE FROM A DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING STUDY.
The evolving understanding of essential tremors (ET) has led to a new definition of neurodegenerative disease, pointing to diffuse brain network involvement with a wide spectrum of associated motor and nonmotor symptoms. Considering the fact that white matter should also be affected by the nature of the disease, our study aimed to evaluate the integrity of white matter and its clinical correlations in ET patients. ⋯ In our study, major white matter structure changes were found in the ET patients. The results suggest that possible neurodegeneration also affects white matter structures in ET patients and that the duration of the tremor and family history are related with impaired integrity of white matter.
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Multicenter Study
Does fludrocortisone treatment cause hypomagnesemia in children with primary adrenal insufficiency?
Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid that secreted from adrenal glands and a known factor to increase magnesium excretion by direct and indirect effects on renal tubular cells. Although the frequency of hypomagnesemia was found to be approximately 5% in adult studies, there is no study in the literature investigating the frequency of hypomagnesemia in children by using fludrocortisone, which has a mineralocorticoid activity. ⋯ Unlike the studies performed in adults, we could not find any evidence of magnesium wasting effect of fludrocortisone treatment with normal or even high doses in children and adolescents.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Is there any difference between oral preemptive pregabalin vs placebo administration on response to EBUS-TBNA under sedation?
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of preemptive oral pregabalin on hemodynamic response, anxiety, sedation, and recovery in patients who underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) under sedation with intravenous ketamine-propofol combination. ⋯ Preemptive oral pregabalin, in addition to sedation with ketamine-propofol combination, was effective in providing limited hemodynamic response, restricted coughing reflex, and lower anxiety during EBUS-TBNA. Besides, with pregabalin usage, decreased anesthetics consumption, lower complication rate, and shorter recovery time might have contributed to safety of the procedure and comfort of the bronchoscopist.
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Autoimmune bullous diseases, if left untreated, are life-threatening conditions affecting primarily skin and mucous membranes. These blistering disorders are characterized by epidermal or subepidermal detachment. Autoimmunity plays a key role in pathogenesis; therefore, immunosuppressive agents are the treatment of choice. The aim of this study is to document relative frequencies of different autoimmune bullous diseases, patient characteristics, treatment options, and side effects in patients presenting to our bullous skin disease center at İstanbul University, Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty. ⋯ This retrospective study summarizes the patient characteristics, comorbidities, treatment choices, and side effects during 16 years of clinical practice.