PENTRAXIN 3 LEVELS CORRELATE WELL WITH DISEASE SEVERITY AT ADMISSION IN COVID-19 PATIENTS.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a long pentraxin, is not only released from dendritic cells and neutrophils but also from epithelial and endothelial cells such as alveolar epithelium. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) initially activates the innate immune system, causing a complex immune response. Clinical and experimental studies suggest that PTX3, a locally and systemically secreted marker, can be used as a predictor of the severity and mortality in respiratory infections. In the current study, serum PTX3 levels in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were found to be significantly increased at admission and showed significant association with the disease severity.

Malnutrition risk frequency and independent risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized elderly patients with COVID-19 in Turkey.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition is common in elderly patients and is an important geriatric syndrome that increases mortality. We aim to examine the frequency of malnutrition and independent risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized elderly patients with COVID-19. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Patients aged 65 years and older with COVID-19, who were hospitalized between 15th March and 30th April 2020, were included. Demographic characteristics of the patients, their comorbid diseases, medications, malnutrition, and mortality status were recorded. Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 was used as a malnutrition risk screening tool. The factors affecting mortality were analyzed using multivariate Binary Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 451 patients included in the study, the mean age was 74.8±7.46 and 51.2% of them were female. The mean number of comorbid diseases was 1.9±1.28. Malnutrition risk was 64.7%, polymorbidity rate was 57.6% and polypharmacy was 19.3%. Mortality rate was found 18.4%. The risk factors affecting mortality were presented as malnutrition risk (OR: 3.26, p=0.013), high number of comorbid diseases (OR: 1.48, p=0.006), and high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (OR: 1.18, p<0.001), C-reactive protein (OR: 1.01, p<0.001), and ferritin (OR: 1.01, p=0.041) in elderly patients with COVID-19. Malnutrition risk (3.3 times), multiple comorbid diseases (1.5 times), and high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (1.2 times) were independent risk factors that increased the mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of malnutrition risk and mortality in elderly patients with COVID-19 is high. The independent risk factors affecting mortality in these patients are the risk of malnutrition, multiple comorbid diseases, and a high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio.

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of COVID-19 Infection Among Healthcare Workers in a Pandemic Hospital

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection among healthcare workers in our hospital with the risk factors affecting the transmission and course of the disease and to determine the control measures. Methods: Medical records of healthcare workers diagnosed with COVID-19, confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between 11 March and 30 April 2020, were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital in the center of Ístanbul, the city with the highest number of cases in our country. Real-time PCR detection was used to verify the diagnosis of the healthcare workers. A rapid diagnostic test kit for COVID-19 immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies was used in seroconversion analysis. Results: In our hospital, 4,177 COVID-19 cases confirmed by the laboratory between March 11 and April 30 2020 were followed. Of the 4177 cases, 165 (3.95%) were healthcare workers. The majority of healthcare workers with positive test results were nurses (36.3%), and 118 (71.5%) of the healthcare workers worked 40 h or more per week. Thoracic tomography examinations were performed in all infected healthcare workers, and 69 (41.8%) were diagnosed with pneumonia by the detection of ground patchy lesions. Conclusion: During the epidemic, early training of healthcare workers on the disease, use of personal protective equipment, and infection control are extremely important to reduce the risk of infection among healthcare workers. Periodic screening of asymptomatic healthcare workers can also help protect patients and hospital staff and prevent loss of workforce. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] Amaç: Bu çalışmada, hastanemizde görev yapan sağlık çalışanlarının Koronavirüs hastalığı-2019 (COVID-19) enfeksiyonu prevalansı ile hastalığın bulaşını ve seyrini etkileyen risk faktörlerinin araştırılması ve kontrol önlemlerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntemler: Ülkemizde olguların en fazla olduğu şehir olan Ístanbul'un merkezinde olan hastanemizde 11 Mart-30 Nisan 2020 tarihleri arasında polimeraz zincir reaksiyon (PCR) ile konfirme edilmiş COVID-19 tanısı alan sağlık çalışanlarının tıbbi kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Sağlık çalışanlarının tanıları gerçek zamanlı PCR tespit yöntemi ile konulmuştur. Serokonversiyon incelemesi için hızlı test tanı kiti COVID-19 immünoglobulin M (IgM) ve IgG kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Hastanemizde 11 Mart-30 Nisan 2020 tarihleri arasında laboratuvar tarafından konfirme edilmiş 4.177 COVID-19 olgusu takip edilmiştir. Toplam 165'i (%3,95) sağlık çalışanıydı. Pozitif olanların çoğunluğunu hemşireler (%36,3) oluşturmakta ve sağlık çalışanların 118'i (%71,5) haftada 40 saat ve üzerinde çalışmaktadır. Enfekte sağlık çalışanın tümüne toraks tomografisi çekilmiş olup 69'unda (%41,8) yamasal lezyonlar saptanarak pnömoni tanısı konulmuştur. Sonuç: Salgın sırasında sağlık çalışanlarının hastalıkla ilgili bilgilendirilme, kişisel koruyucu ekipman kullanımı ve enfeksiyon kontrolü ile ilgili eğitimlerinin erken dönemde yapılması sağlık çalışmalarında enfeksiyon riskini azaltma açısından son derece önemlidir. Asemptomatik sağlık çalışanlarının da düzenli aralıklarla taranmasının hastaların ve hastane personelinin korunması açısından faydalı olacağı ayrıca iş gücü kaybının da önüne geçileceği açıktır. (Turkish) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Istanbul Medical Journal is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Annual influenza vaccination effect on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the effect of seasonal influenza (flu) vaccination on the susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: A total of 203 healthcare workers of a pandemic centre of Istanbul, Turkey, were included in this retrospective study. According to the presence or absence of flu vaccination, participants were divided into group 1 and group 2. A comparison of the rate of COVID-19 was done between these two groups. Also, the mean age and the sex ratio of females/males were evaluated and compared between these two groups. RESULTS: Group 1 participants (n = 65) were older than participants in group 2 (n = 138) (p < 0.05). Despite of this, interestingly, the COVID-19 infection rate was lower in the 1st group (in comparison to the 2nd group) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that, even if low, the flu vaccination may have a protective effect on the susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Using this beneficial adjuvant effect of the vaccine may help us in this unpredictable battle with the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are needed to confirm this assumption.

The mortality rate of COVID-19 was high in cancer patients: a retrospective single-center study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has quickly turned into a global pandemic with close to 5 million cases and more than 320,000 deaths. Cancer patients constitute a group that is expected to be at risk and poor prognosis in COVID pandemic. We aimed to investigate how cancer patients are affected by COVID-19 infection, its clinical course and the factors affecting mortality. METHODS: In our single-center retrospective study, we included cancer patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 in our hospital. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data were obtained from electronic medical records. Logistic regression methods were used to investigate risk factors associated with in-hospital death. RESULTS: In the hospital, 4489 patients were hospitalized with COVID infection and 77 were cancer patients. The mean age of cancer patients was 61.9 ± 10.9 and 44 of them were male (62%). While the mortality rate in non-cancer patients was 1.51% (n = 68), this rate was significantly higher in cancer patients, 23.9% (n = 17). The stage of the disease, receiving chemotherapy in the last 30 days also lymphopenia, elevated troponin I, D-dimer, CRP, and CT findings were associated with severe disease and mortality. Severe lung involvement (OR = 22.9, p = 0.01) and lymphopenia (OR = 0.99, p = 0.04) are the most important factors influencing survival in logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: The disease is more severe in cancer patients and mortality is significantly higher than non-cancer patients. These data show that it may be beneficial to develop dynamic prevention, early diagnosis and treatment strategies for this vulnerable group of patients who are affected by the infection so much.

Association between Acute Pancreatitis and COVID-19: Could Pancreatitis Be the Missing Piece of the Puzzle about Increased Mortality Rates?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 commenced in Wuhan China in 2019 and soon spread worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 enters the cell by binding to the ACE II receptor and begins viral replication. The effects and clinical findings of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver, kidney, heart, gastrointestinal (GI) system and especially lungs have been widely discussed. However, the effects on the pancreas-another organ that also expresses ACE II-have not been studied. METHODS: This work prospectively evaluated data from 316 patients who were admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. The patients were categorized into three according to the severity of pneumonia (mild, severe, critical). Demographic data, rate of pancreatitis, biochemical parameters, and radiological images from each group were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups and outcomes were compared: COVID-19 patients with acute pancreatitis (Group P) and without acute pancreatitis (Group C). RESULTS: The median age was 54 (18-87), and the median age for patients with acute pancreatitis was 55 (26-84). As an expected finding, we found a positive correlation between advanced age and mortality (p = 0.0003). 12.6% of the patients had acute pancreatitis. While pancreatitis was not seen in patients on mild status, the rate of pancreatitis was 32.5% in critical patients. Hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in patients with COVID-19 accompanied by acute pancreatitis (p = 0.0038 and p < 0.0001, respectively). C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and ferritin were significantly higher in those who had pancreatitis (p < 0.0001). D-Dimer and procalcitonin levels had only a small difference (p = 0.1127 and p = 0.3403, respectively). CONCLUSION: Acute pancreatitis alone is a clinical condition that can lead to mortality and may be one of the reasons for the exaggerated immune response developing in the progression of COVID-19. Our results point out that the presence of pancreatic damage triggered by SARS-CoV-2 can deteriorate the clinical condition of patients and the mortality rate may increase in these patients.

The clinical findings and outcomes of symptomatic pregnant women diagnosed with or suspected of having coronavirus disease 2019 in a tertiary pandemic hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

AIM: To observe the clinical course of symptomatic pregnant women diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19. METHODS: This study analyzed the clinical and laboratory results of 27 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 and 25 patients with a suspected COVID-19 diagnosis based on their symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) findings. The patients' coagulation parameters and acute-phase reactants were evaluated both before and after treatment. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were also reviewed. RESULTS: The mean duration of hospitalization was 6.1 ± 3 days. The gestational age of the patients ranged from 6w2d to 40w2d. Thirty-five patients' CT scan findings suggested viral pneumonia. Four patients delivered vaginally, and 10 patients underwent a cesarean section during the study period. Four of the cesarean deliveries were indicated due to COVID-19 hypoxemia-related fetal distress. Four patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after the cesarean section. CONCLUSION: Early hospitalization and medical treatment can alleviate symptoms, improve the clinical course and reduce the need for ICU in symptomatic pregnant patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Chest CT scans are a suitable option for suspected but unconfirmed COVID-19 infection.

Taste and Smell Impairment in COVID-19: An AAO-HNS Anosmia Reporting Tool-Based Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the taste and smell impairment in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive subjects and compare the findings with COVID-19-negative subjects using the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) Anosmia Reporting Tool. SETTING: Tertiary referral center/COVID-19 pandemic hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After power analysis, 128 subjects were divided into 2 groups according to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) COVID-19 testing results. Subjects were called via telephone, and the AAO-HNS Anosmia Reporting Tool was used to collect responses. RESULTS: The mean age of the study group was 38.63 ± 10.08 years. At the time of sampling, rhinorrhea was significantly high in the COVID-19-negative group, whereas those complaints described as "other" were significantly high in the COVID-19-positive group. There was a significant difference in the smell/taste impairment rates of the groups (n = 46% [71.9%] for the COVID-19-positive group vs n = 17 [26.6%] for the COVID-19-negative group, P = .001). For subjects with a smell impairment, anosmia rates did not differ between the groups. The rates of hyposmia and parosmia were significantly high in the COVID-19-positive group. For the subjects with taste impairment, ageusia rates did not differ between groups. The rate of hypogeusia and dysgeusia was significantly high in the COVID-19-positive group. Logistic regression analysis indicates that smell/taste impairment in COVID-19-positive subjects increases the odds ratio by 6.956 (95% CI, 3.16-15.29) times. CONCLUSION: COVID-19-positive subjects are strongly associated with smell/taste impairment.