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Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection, especially seen in individuals with diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression, in which the vast majority of cases result in death. Early diagnosis is vital for treatment. Coronavirus disease 2019 infection can also lead to the development of mucormycosis infection. Only few cases have been reported in the literature. A 35-year-old kidney transplant patient was hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 infection with lung involvement and was further examined upon complaint of headache and visual impairment during follow-up, which was later diagnosed as mucormycosis infection. The patient died despite the initiation of emergent surgical debridement and amphotericin B therapy. © 2023 Turkish Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved.
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BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate pregnancy frequency and evaluate the factors affecting live births in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: Female HD patients whose pregnancy was retrospectively reported between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019. The duration of HD, primary disease, and the information on whether the pregnancy resulted in abortion, stillbirth, or live birth, whether the HD duration was prolonged after diagnosing the pregnancy and whether it accompanied preeclampsia were recorded. RESULTS: In this study, we reached 9038 HD female patients' data in the study. A total of 235 pregnancies were detected in 145 patients. The mean age was 35.42 (35 ± 7.4) years. The mean age at first gestation was 30.8 ± 6.5 years. The average birth week was 32 (28 -36) weeks. A total of 53.8% (no = 78) of the patients had live birth, 51.7% (no = 70) had at least one abortion in the first 20 weeks, and 13.1% (no = 19) had at least one stillbirth after 20 weeks. The rate of patients' increased numbers of dialysis sessions during pregnancy was 71.7%. The abortion rate was 22.4% in those with increased HD sessions, whereas 79.3% in those not increased HD sessions (p < 0.001). Live birth frequency was 67.2% in the increased HD sessions group and 3.4% in those who did not differ in HD sessions (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: For the first time, we reported pregnancy outcomes in HD female patients, covering all regions of Turkey. It has been observed that;increasing the number of HD sessions in dialysis patients will decrease fetal and maternal complications and increase live birth rates.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is not enough data on the post-COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) period for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients affected from COVID-19. We aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory data retrospectively obtained in the follow-up of PD patients after COVID-19 with a control PD group. METHOD: This study, supported by the Turkish Society of Nephrology, is a national multicenter retrospectively case-control study involving adult PD patients with confirmed COVID-19, using data collected from 21 April 2021 to 11 June 2021. A control PD group was also formed from each PD unit, from patients with similar characteristics but who did not have COVID-19. Patients in the active period of COVID-19 were not included. Data at the end of the first month and within the first 90 days, as well as other outcomes, including mortality, were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 223 patients (COVID-19 group: 113, control group: 110) from 28 centers were included. The duration of PD in both groups was similar [median (IQR):3.0 (1.88-6.0) years and 3.0 (2.0-5.6)], but the patient age of the COVID-19 group was lower than the control group [50 (IQR:40-57) years and 56 (IQR:46-64) years, P < 0.001]. PD characteristics and baseline laboratory data were similar in both groups, except serum albumin and hemoglobin levels on Day 28, which were significantly lower in the COVID-19 group. In the COVID-19 group, respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, lower respiratory tract infection, change in PD modality, UF failure and hypervolemia were significantly higher on the 28th day. There was no significant difference in laboratory parameters at Day 90. Only one (0.9%) patient in the COVID-19 group died within 90 days. There was no death in the control group. Respiratory symptoms, malnutrition and hypervolemia were significantly higher at Day 90 in the COVID-19 group. CONCLUSION: Mortality in the first 90 days after COVID-19 in PD patients with COVID-19 is not different from the control PD group. However, some of these patients continue to experience significant problems, especially respiratory system symptoms, malnutrition, and hypervolemia.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although existing data suggest an increased mortality rate, data about the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, its short-and long-term effects on the patient and technique survival are limited. Moreover, specific factors associated with increased risk of death have not been clearly defined yet. Therefore, we aimed to study the characteristics of PD patients with COVID-19, determine the short-term mortality and other medical complications, and delineate the factors associated with COVID-19 outcome. METHOD: This national multicenter study included all PD patients who had confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing of a nasopharyngeal swab recorded in this database from the attending 27 PD centers. The demographic data, comorbidities, medications used, PD-related data were recorded as well as clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of COVID-19 and outcomes at the end of the first month were recorded. RESULTS: We enrolled 142 COVID-19 patients (median age: 52 years). A total of 58.2% of patients had mild disease at diagnosis, lung involvement was detected in 60.8% of patients. A total of 83 (58.4%) patients were hospitalized, 31 (21.8%) patients were admitted to intensive care unit and 24 needed mechanical ventilation. A total of 15 (10.5%) patients were switched to hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration was performed for 4 (2.8%) patients. Persisting pulmonary symptoms (n = 27), lower respiratory system infection (n = 12), rehospitalization for any reason (n = 24), malnutrition (n = 6), hypervolemia (n = 13), peritonitis (n = 7), ultrafiltration failure (n = 7) and in PD modality change (n = 8) were reported in survivors. During the 1 month from the diagnosis of COVID-19, 26 patients (18.31%) died. The non-survivor group was older and comorbidities were more prevalent. Fever, dyspnea, cough, serious-vital disease at presentation, bilateral pulmonary involvement and pleural effusion were more frequent among non-survivors. Age (OR:1.102;95% CI: 1.032- 1.117;P:0.004), moderate-severe clinical disease at presentation (OR:26.825;95% CI: 4.578-157.172;P < 0.001) and CRP levels (OR:1.008;95% CI;1.000-1.016;P:0.040) were associated with increased first-month mortality in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Early mortality rate and medical complications are quite high in PD patients with COVID-19. Age, clinical severity of COVID-19 and baseline CRP level are the independent parameters associated with mortality.
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Haemodialysis (HD) patients are at increased risk for adverse short-term consequences of COVID-19. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of chronic HD patients in the post-COVID-19 period and compared them with the control group. METHOD: We conducted a national multicentre observational study involving adult chronic HD patients recovering from COVID-19. The control HD group was selected from patients with similar characteristics who did not have COVID-19 in the same center. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR negative patients and patients in the active period of COVID-19 were not included. RESULTS: A total of 1223 patients (635 COVID-19 groups, 588 control groups) were included in the study from the data collected from 47 centres between 21 April 2021 and 11 June 2021. The patients' baseline demographics, comorbidities, medications, HD characteristics and basic laboratory tests were quite similar between the groups (Table 1). 28th-day mortality and between 28th day and 90th day mortality were higher in the COVID-19 group than in the control group [19 (3.0%) patients and 0 (0%) patients;15 (2.4%) patients and 4 (0.7%) patients, respectively]. Presence of respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, need for home oxygen therapy, lower respiratory tract infection and A-V fistula thrombosis were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group in the first 28 days of illness and between 28 and 90 days. Mortality was significantly associated with preexisting COVID-19, age, current smoking, use of tunneled HD catheter, persistence of respiratory symptoms, rehospitalization, need for home oxygen support, presence of lower respiratory tract infection within 28 days and persistence of respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSION: In the post-COVID-19 period, mortality, rehospitalization, respiratory problems and vascular access problems are higher in maintenance HD patients who have had COVID-19 compared to control HD patients. (Table Presented).
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Objective:The primary aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effects of home accidents(HAs) on the traumatic dental injuries(TDIs) of primary teeth. Furthermore, the secondary aim was to bring attention to the importance of preventive measures for HAs, especially in this pandemic period where children all over the world spend most of their time in their homes due to coronavirus(COVID-19) disease. Material and Methods:The records of the patients with TDIs of the primary teeth, aged 6 months-8 years, who applied to the xxxxxxxxxUniversity, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pedodontics, between the years 2000 2010 and yyyyyyyyUniversity, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pedodontics, between the years 2012- 2019 were investigated. Results:The sample consisted of 504 children that had TDIs to the primary teeth. The age range of the children was 1-8 years(3.5±1.8years old) and 37.3%(n=188) of the patients were girls and 62.7%(n=316) boys. The prevalence of the TDIs due to HAs was found to be 43.25%(n=218). A total of 380 teeth in the 218 patients who were found to have TDIs due to HAs were examined. The highest prevalence of traumatized children was in the age range 2-4 years(63.3%). Collisions with objects(45%) were found to be most common causes of dental trauma and the most common type of injury was found to be lateral luxation(35.8%). Conclusions:Measures to prevent HAs should primarily target preschool children, the riskiest group. Accidents can be largely prevented by taking simple precautions such as providing a safe environment for children's healthy mental and physical development at home.
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Aim: To investigate the relationship between infection markers (lymphocyte, C-reactive protein, and D-dimer) at the time of diagnosis, and the new scoring system created according to the amount and pattern of pneumonic involvement in recent computed tomography (CT) of patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia Methods: We investigated retrospectively patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction on throat swabs between March 17 and May 1, 2020. Eighty-nine cases with COVID-19 pneumonia were divided into two groups according to the level of poor prognostic criteria (blood lymphocyte count <800/µL or C-reactive protein >10x upper limit of normal value or D-dimer >1000 ng/mL). The severity of pulmonary parenchymal findings was scored using two separate scoring systems previously as well as a third separate scoring system, namely the “modified CT severity scoring”. The cut-off point for severe infection was investigated by comparing the scores of the groups with and without severe infection. Results: All three scoring systems were significantly higher in the group with severe infection compared to those without severe infections. A modified CT score above 3.4 accompanies at least one of the poor prognosis findings (sensitivity 77.6%, specificity 61%). Conclusion: In patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, the presence of at least one of the infection markers that are poor prognosis markers at the time of diagnosis indicate that the modified CT severity score of pneumonia will be above 3.4.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been accepted as a global pandemic, and poses a greater risk to the elderly and those with comorbidities. Comorbid diseases (particularly end-stage kidney disease with hemodialysis) and impaired immunity place patients in the high-risk group for COVID-19. In recent studies, it was also mentioned that exaggerated inflammation and a cytokine storm were the underlying causes related to the high mortality in COVID-19 patients. Currently, treatment modalities to balance the immune system of such vulnerable patient groups are essential, to protect them from the disease. Several vitamins (like vitamins C, D, and E), trace elements like zinc, and probiotics have been proposed as immune boosters to protect and combat infectious conditions. It is well known that these vitamins and elements are insufficient in hemodialysis patients. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the immune-boosting mechanisms of vitamins C, D, E, zinc, and probiotics, the studies related to their beneficial effects against infections, and their possible benefits for hemodialysis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to investigate whether elementary lesions detected at the time of the diagnosis, their distribution characteristics, and CT scoring can be predictive of a cytokine storm. BACKGROUND: CT might have a prognostic predictive value beyond its diagnostic value. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients, 32 with cytokine storm and 36 without cytokine storm, were included in the study. Four different scoring methods were created according to elementary lesions, distribution and involvement rate. CT scores and demographic findings of the cases were compared in the cytokine storm and non-cytokine storm groups. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 57.72 (SD: 13.5) and 40 (58.8 %) of them were male. The cytokine storm was significantly more common among male patients and patients of older age (p=0.04). The AUC values of CT score 1, CT score 2, CT score 3, and CT score 4 were as follows; 0.772 (95% CI; 0.651-0.892), 0.766 (95% CI; 0.647-0.885), 0.758 (95% CI; 0.639-8.78), and 0.760 (95% CI; 0.640-0.881), respectively. All CT scores had better predictive values in males. CONCLUSIONS: CT scoring at the time of admission can be used to predict cases that may develop cytokine storm later (Tab. 4, Fig. 2, Ref. 15).