ABSTRACT
Background: Prevention of transfusion-associated infections remains a challenge in transfusion medicine. The Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology (PRT) System uses riboflavin plus UV light to inactivate residual white blood cells and nucleic acid-containing pathogens to reduce the risk of transmission of bacteria, viruses, parasites, novel pathogens e.g SARS-CoV-2. This demonstrates the cumulative quality data of Mirasol-treated PC produced under routine conditions in our institute in the last year Methods: One hundred sixteen whole blood derived PCs, resulting from the pooling of 5 buffy coats with 250ml PAS-E solution were treated with the Mirasol technology. PCs were mixed with 35 ml Riboflavin solution and illuminated with UV-light in accordance to manufacturer's instructions. For quality control (QC) assessment the following parameters were investigated post-production (PP) and at the end of shelf-life (EOS) at days 5, 6 or 7: pH (ABL80 FLEX Blood Gas Analyzer, at 37degreeC), platelet yield (Cell- Dyn Ruby, Abbott) and CD62P-positive cells with and without TRAP-6 (100muM) using the FACS methodology with FITC-labelled CD62P antibody (Cytomics FC 500 Flow Cytometer, Beckman Coulter). Result(s): Mirasol-treated PCs showed a mean pH of 7.3 at PP and ranged 7.1 to 7.0 at EOS1. Platelet yield PP and EOS were consistent with 3.0 to 3.1 x1011 platelets (PLT)/unit. Platelet activation measured with CD62P+ expression w/o TRAP-6 was 27.7% at PP and ranged from 46.9 to 55.8 at EOS1;CD62P+ expression induced by TRAP-6 was 79.3 at PP and ranged from 72.3 to 68.1 at EOS1. Conclusion(s): The QC data on Mirasol-treated PCs produced during the past year showed encouraging results: all pH values remained far above 6.4, platelet yields remained stable suggesting min cell loss, with EOS yields always above the threshold of 2.5x1011 PLT/unit. Rates of CD62P+cells increased with time, an upregulation of CD62P+ with TRAP-6 was still detectable at EOS up to Day 7. The presented results confirm the data of the initial Mirasol validation at our site, showing the robustness of the technology. (Table Presented).
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The aim of this study is to determine the problems faced by individuals living with cancer (ILCs) in accessing health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. This qualitative study’s sample consisted of 18 volunteer interviewees from 10 cancer-related patient associations in Turkey. Research data were collected by semi-structured interview method. Data collection and analysis were carried out simultaneously. In the sessions where all researchers participated together, the data were coded with a common view, and main and sub-themes were determined. In the analysis of the data the inductive thematic analysis method was applied. Information was gathered under two main themes: compliance with the measures taken and access to health services. Lack of information about nutrition, physical activity, psychological problems, caused by the lockdown and social distance measures taken within the scope of the pandemic should be accepted as problems within the scope of the right of individuals to access health, and additional programs should be prepared to minimize these. Cancer types should be considered in delaying diagnosis, treatment, and controls related to cancer, so that patients are not harmed at least or at all. It is important to ensure that patients do not hesitate to attend diagnosis, treatment, and controls with the anxiety of being infected with COVID-19, both in transportation to health facilities and in terms of preventing transmission in health facilities.
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The sudden changes in human mobility, the immense increase in demand for logistics and delivery systems, governmental restrictions, and uncertainty of the spread dynamics have introduced several transportation and location-related decision problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, a variety of Operations Research (OR) tools and techniques have been applied to tackle these problems for mitigating the adverse effects of the spread. In this study, we first investigate the emerging decision problematics observed during epidemics/pandemics under four research clusters as: (i) effects of epidemics on transportation, (ii) effect of mobility on pandemic spread, (iii) logistics and delivery systems, and (iv) medical waste management and wastewater-based epidemiology. Next, we explore the OR tools implemented to solve the transportation and location-related decision problems in each cluster. IEEE
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Purpose: The study aims to examine the effects of sociodemographic, organizational, and resilience factors on the fear of COVID-19 of healthcare workers in the filiation teams. Materials and Methods: 1028 healthcare workers participated in the study. The sociodemographic questionnaire, The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and The Resilience Scale for Adults were used. The data were analysed with stepwise multiple linear regression by using the backward elimination method. Results: The study showed that age and family cohesion are positively significant, while planned future and perception of self are negatively significant explanatory factors on the fear of COVID-19. The fear of COVID-19 is higher in females, and in those;with a high level of education, who have an individual with a chronic disease at home, with a low-income level, who lost a colleague or a family member due to coronavirus, who have an increase in patient burden, and who have problems in access to medical equipment. Conclusion: It is recommended to improve psychosocial support and organizational conditions for healthcare workers in the filiation teams.
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Plasma from recovered donors with COVID-19 (COVID-19 convalescent plasma, CCP) has been considered as a treatment option for patients with COVID-19. Several case reports and case-control studies with evidence of therapeutic effect were published during the initial phase of the pandemic. Results of several randomized trials are now available. The studies differed in terms of patient populations, which ranged from outpatients to critically ill patients, and primary endpoints. Also, the standard of care varied widely within the clinical trials. Most notably, the investigational drug differed significantly in terms of treatment regimen, volume, and antibody content. In the following we will discuss the results of the randomized trials published to date. From the results published to date, we can infer efficacy of CCP that contains high titers of neutralizing antibodies and is administered early in the course of the disease. COVID-19 convalescent plasma is not yet a routine treatment and should not be administered outside of a clinical trial. Newly designed studies should focus on early use of CCP containing high levels of neutralizing antibody and control important concomitant medications.
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Objectives: In Coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19), chest computed tomography's (CT) benefits are controversial in the subgroup of asymptomatic and mild-to-moderate symptomatic individuals. Since most patients are in this subgroup, for triage, it is necessary to choose the diagnostic tool with the highest diagnostic performance and the least risk. We aimed to evaluate chest CT findings and the initial chest CT's sensitivity in individuals suspected of COVID-19 with no severe disease manifestations. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study. Symptomatic individuals who had mild-to-moderate clinical manifestations and asymptomatic individuals who had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 positive patient were eligible. Presenting severe clinical manifestations was excluded. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chest CT were performed on admission day. Consecutive nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab sampling, tested by RT-PCR, were accepted as the reference standard for definitive diagnosis of COVID-19.
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BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease as well as an airborne disease. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) could survive on dental materials shipped to dental laboratories. AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the number of bacilli held on the prosthetic material and the effect of chemical disinfection agents on various prosthetic materials that were shipped to dental laboratory of TB patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of three study groups, and a control group. 10 mm x 2 mm disc-shaped (n = 18 for each group, n = 72 in total) nickel-chromium alloy (Ni-Cr), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and dental ceramic (DC) samples were prepared. After exposure to MTB 24 hours in a 37°C incubator, six samples for each group (PMMA), Ni-Cr alloy and a control group DC samples) were exposed to three disinfectants; 10 minutes into 2% glutaraldehyde, 10 minutes into 5% sodium hypochlorite, and 1 minute into alcohol-based disinfectant after vortexed in distilled water. Colony forming units (CFU/ml) were calculated per milliliters. Two-way ANOVA statistical analysis method was used, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: The bacteria count for six Ni-Cr alloy disc-shaped specimens were recorded as 40, 10, 8, 6, 5, and 4 CFU/ml, respectively. Intensity of the colonies were found to be lower in other groups. 5 CFU/ml were detected on a single PMMA sample in the control group, and 40 CFU/ml were detected on one of the dental ceramic sample. No MTB uptake was observed on any sample in the 2% glutaraldehyde and 5% NaOCl disinfectant study groups. In alcohol-based disinfectant group, 1 CFU/ml was observed on Ni-Cr alloy sample. The effect of prosthetic materials used in this experimental study were not statistically significant on the CFU (p = 0.293). However, the disinfectants use was statistically significant on the number of colonies (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: NaOCl and glutaraldehyde appeared to be more effective than alcohol-based disinfectant in removing MTB from Ni-Cr alloy, PMMA and dental ceramic surfaces.