Evaluation and follow-up of antibody formation after CoronaVac vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to monitor the time-dependent change by evaluating the antibody levels at the 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th weeks after the second dose of the CoronaVac vaccine. METHODS: The study group (n=65) were between 21 and 60 years old and received two doses of the CoronaVac vaccine. Blood samples were collected after 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, and 16th weeks of the second dose of the vaccine administration. There was a coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group (n=29) who were SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR test result positive before the vaccination period, and no coronavirus disease 2019 history group (n=36). Age, BMI, gender, smoking, comorbidity, coronavirus disease 2019 contact history, and working in the coronavirus disease 2019 service history of the individuals were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the descriptive findings of the individuals according to coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group and no coronavirus disease 2019 history group. It was observed that antibody levels in the coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group were found to be higher for each period of serum collection compared to the no coronavirus disease 2019 history group, which were statistically significant. The distribution curves of the antibody levels according to the timing of blood collection in coronavirus disease 2019 recovered group, no coronavirus disease 2019 history group, and total subjects were extrapolated, and it was observed that the estimated time for the antibodies to reach the threshold value of the test was 214, 145, and 166 days after vaccination. CONCLUSION: It is important to make booster doses, as the CoronaVac vaccine will lose its effect after the fifth month due to the decrease in Ab levels. In addition, since the antibody levels decrease later in those who have a history of coronavirus disease 2019 infection and are vaccinated, individuals who have no previous history of coronavirus disease 2019 should be given priority for vaccination.

Evaluation of 86 patients whom death while being followed up with pre-diagnosis of COVID-19

The Coronavirus-19 pandemic continues at full speed and the number of patients who die from Covıd-19 is increasing. It was aimed to evaluate the demographic information and laboratory findings of 86 patients who died while being followed up in our hospital with a pre-diagnosis of Covıd-19. Identifying these characteristics of deceased patients will be essential to guide clinicians in identifying critically ill patients. Data on demographic information comorbidities time from hospitalization to death molecular test results thorax CT findings biochemical findings culture antibiotic susceptibility and the given treatments of the cases were collected from the electronic system Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital. While the RT-PCR test of 21 of the cases was positive in 9 of the cases control PCR tests were negative after a while. The CT results of 18 of the 21 initially RT-PCR positive cases were compatible with COVID-19 and the CT result of 3 could not be reached. When the blood test results of the cases were examined neutrophil increase white blood cell increase lymphocyte reduction and inflammatory markers increase were determined. A total of 43 bacterial growths were found in 21 cases. It has been observed that deaths in patients who were followed up with the pre-diagnosis of Covıd-19 generally occur in older people males and those with underlying diseases. It was thought that the cause of death could be underlying diseases pathologies caused by inflammation and secondary bacterial infections in addition to viral infection. Clinicians should be more careful about elderly patients with secondary bacterial infections or patients with neutrophilia lymphopenia.

High Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratios in Symptomatic Pediatric COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the symptoms and laboratory results of children hospitalised with the diagnosis of COVID-19, aiming to reveal the characteristics of symptomatic cases. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Pediatrics, Kastamonu Training and Research Hospital, Kastamonu, Turkey from March to December 2020. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-nine children, hospitalised with the diagnosis of COVID-19, were included in the study and were divided into two groups as symptomatic and asymptomatic. The demographic data, laboratory results and clinics of the patients of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 10.43 ± 5.91 (0-17) years, and 57% (n=45) of them were girls. Five patients in the symptomatic group had comorbidities (2 allergic asthma,  cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes mellitus and anorexia nervosa). The most common symptom was fever (36.7%, n=29). It was noteworthy that everyone with an NLR >3.13 (high-NLR) was symptomatic. Significantly more patients in the high-NLR group were symptomatic compared with the low-NLR group (p=0.005). On the other hand, symptomatic children had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein (2.8 (IQR: 1.2-10.0) mg/L vs. 1.4 (IQR: 0.4-2.0) mg/L, p=0.011); and procalcitonin (0.05 (IQR: 0.02-0.10) ng/mL vs. 0.01 (IQR: 0.00-0.03) ng/mL, p<0.001) than those without symptoms. One of the children with cerebral palsy died from pneumonia during the study. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and NLR levels were found to be significantly higher in symptomatic children. NLR can be suggested as a potential marker associated with disease severity in COVID-19 patients, which needs to be supported by other studies. Key Words: COVID-19, Children, Neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, Procalcitonin.