Alteration in vaccination rates and an evaluation of physicians' perceptions of the possible impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on childhood vaccinations in Ankara, Turkey.

Vaccination is the most effective and cost-efficient approach to protect both individual and community health. Decreased vaccination rates have been reported in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we compared the vaccination rates of the current year with those of the same period of 2019 in Ankara and presented the physicians' thoughts about effects of COVID-19 pandemic on vaccinations in Turkey. An online survey was sent to family practitioners, pediatricians, and pediatric infectious disease specialists to ascertain their thoughts on vaccination during the pandemic. A majority of family practitioners stated that, despite hesitations, families brought their children for vaccination. They noted that vaccination should be emphasized, physicians should be supported by health authorities, and all related media and social media channels should be used to promote maintaining vaccinations. In contrast, pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists were of the opinion that families were expressing greater hesitation and would not bring their children for vaccination. Vaccination rates in Ankara have decreased 2-5% during the pandemic, and the greatest decrease was observed for vaccines administered after 18 months of age. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases can threaten community health worldwide. Thus, vaccinations must continue, and effective regulations and recommendations need to be implemented by healthcare authorities to promote it.

AuNPs modified, disposable, ITO based biosensor: Early diagnosis of heat shock protein 70.

This paper describes a novel, simple, and disposable immunosensor based on indium-tin oxide (ITO) sheets modified with gold nanoparticles to sensitively analyze heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), a potential biomarker that could be evaluated in diagnosis of some carcinomas. Disposable ITO coated Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) electrodes were used and modified with gold nanoparticles in order to construct the biosensors. Optimization and characterization steps were analyzed by electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Surface morphology of the biosensor was also identified by electrochemical methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). To interpret binding characterization of HSP70 to anti-HSP70 single frequency impedance method was successfully operated. Moreover, the proposed HSP70 immunosensor acquired good stability, repeatability, and reproducibility. Ultimately, proposed biosensor was introduced to real human serum samples to determine HSP70 sensitively and accurately.

A new immobilization procedure for development of an electrochemical immunosensor for parathyroid hormone detection based on gold electrodes modified with 6-mercaptohexanol and silane.

Fabrication of a new electrochemical impedance-based biosensor for the analysis of parathyroid hormone (PTH), using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of mercaptohexanol and (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane on gold electrodes, was investigated for the first time in the field. Anti-PTH was used as a biorecognition element. To monitor immobilization processes in the biosensor fabrication, cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were successfully operated. CV and EIS techniques were also used in quantification of PTH. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) was also applied to identify surface modifications. Fabrication and working parameters of the biosensor were optimized. Moreover, Kramers-Kronig transformations were performed for validation of obtained EIS data in all steps of biosensor fabrication. The linear PTH detection range of the presented biosensor was 10-50 pg/mL PTH. The chrono-impedance technique for real-time monitoring of PTH binding was also implemented. The biosensor has exhibited good repeatability (with a correlation) and reproducibility. Finally, artificial serum samples spiked with known concentrations of PTH were analyzed by the proposed biosensor. To demonstrate the feasibility of the biosensor in practical analysis, real human serum samples and the artificial serum samples were analyzed.

Electrochemical biosensor based on self-assembled monolayers modified with gold nanoparticles for detection of HER-3.

We have developed a new immunological biosensor for ultrasensitive quantification of human epidermal growth factor receptor-3(HER-3). In order to construct the biosensor, the gold electrode surface was layered with, hexanedithiol, gold nanoparticles, and cysteamine, respectively. Anti-HER-3 antibody was covalently attached to cysteamine by glutaraldehyde and used as a bioreceptor in a biosensor system for the first time by this study. Surface characterization was obtained by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltammetry. The proposed biosensor showed a good analytical performance for the detection of HER-3 ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 pg mL(-1). Kramers-Kronig transform was performed on the experimental impedance data. Moreover, in an immunosensor system, the single frequency impedance technique was firstly used for characterization of interaction between HER-3 and anti-HER-3. Finally the presented biosensor was applied to artificial serum samples spiked with HER-3.

[Pandemic influenza A (H1N1)v vaccination status and factors affecting vaccination: Ankara and Diyarbakir 2009 data from Turkey]. / Pandemik Influenza A (H1N1)v Asilanma Durumu ve Asilanmaya Etki Eden Faktörler: Ankara ve Diyarbakir 2009 Verileri.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the frequency of the symptoms of influenza-like illness during influenza A (H1N1)v pandemic in two provinces where sentinel influenza surveillance was conducted and also to obtain opinions about H1N1 influenza and vaccination, H1N1 vaccination status and factors affecting vaccination. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the provinces of Ankara (capital city, located at Central Anatolia) and Diyarbakir (located at southeastern Anatolia). It was planned to include 455 houses in Ankara and 276 houses in Diyarbakir. The household participation rate in the study was 78.9% and 53.6% for Ankara and Diyarbakir, respectively. Our study was carried out between January-February 2010, with 1164 participants from Ankara and 804 from Diyarbakir, including every household subjects except for infants younger than 11 months and patients with primary/secondary immunodeficiency diseases. Data was collected by site teams consisting of a physician and a healthcare staff with informed consent. Of the participants 45.5% from Ankara and 35.3% from Diyarbakir stated that they had gone through an influenza-like illness. The most frequently indicated clinical symptoms were fatigue/weakness, rhinitis, sore throat and cough. The rates of admission to a physician with influenza like illness complaints were 50.6% and 58.7%; rates of hospitalization due to influenza-like illness were 1% and 1.5%, and rates of antiviral drug use were 3.8% and 1.9%, in Ankara ve Diyarbakir participants, respectively. The rate of personal precautions taken by the subjects for prevention from pandemic influenza were 59% and 53.3%, in Ankara and Diyarbakir, respectively. These precautions most frequently were "hand washing" and "avoiding crowded public areas". H1N1 influenza vaccine was applied in 9.3% of the participants in Ankara and in 3.7% of the participants in Diyarbakir. Vaccination rate was higher in both of the provinces in adults over 25 years old than children and adolescents and in patients with chronic underlying disease. None of the 25 pregnant participants were vaccinated against pandemic influenza. The educational background, employment status and quality of the job have been detected as factors affecting the status of being vaccinated with H1N1 influenza vaccine in both provinces. In addition, the percentage of having H1N1 influenza vaccination was found to be higher in subjects who had seasonal influenza vaccination previously and in 2009, than those who had not, and this difference was statistically significant in both provinces (Ankara p< 0.001, Diyarbakir p< 0.001). The mostly indicated post-vaccination adverse reactions reported by vaccinated participants were local sensitivity, muscle and joint pains, headache and malaise. The most frequent rationale for not being vaccinated against H1N1 were "I do not consider it necessary/I do not want" (Ankara 33.4%, Diyarbakir 27.4%) and "I do not believe/trust its efficacy" (Ankara 25.6%, Diyarbakir 22.6%). Those data emphasized the insufficient awareness of our population about the importance of pandemic influenza and vaccine. It is also believed that possible case definition in H1N1 case management scheme should be revised. In conclusion an important part of pandemic preparation plans is risk communication with the public to increase awareness and to prevent the missed opportunities.