Frequency And Factors Associated With Adverse Reactions After Administration of Inactivated COVID-19 Vaccine Among Health Workers.

BACKGROUND: The 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has precipitated a significant public health crisis. Our study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors associated with adverse reactions to the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine. METHODS: The study involved voluntary health workers who received CoronaVac vaccine. We documented the sociodemographic information of 2,019 participants who volunteered for our study. Of these, 1,964 and 1,702 participants were interviewed by phone 1 month after the first and second dose, respectively, during which they were queried about any adverse reactions. RESULTS: Within the first week after the first dose, adverse reactions were observed in 856 (43.3%) participants, with 133 (6.7%) experiencing them during the second week, and 96 (4.9%) people at the end of the first month. For the second dose, 276 individuals (16.2%) reported adverse reactions. The prevalence of both local and systemic adverse events ranged from 9.5-11.2% overall. Fatigue was the most common adverse reaction overall, while pain at the injection site was the most frequent local adverse reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of both systemic and local side effects revealed no significant adverse reactions to the inactivated CoronaVac vaccine (Sinovac Life Sciences, Beijing, China). Our study found that the incidence of systemic and local adverse responses to the CoronaVac vaccination was lower than the rates reported in studies involving the recombinant adenovirus type-5, BNT162b1, and ChAdOx1nCoV-19 COVID-19 vaccines, all of which underwent the World Health Organization LULUC/PQ evaluation process.

Comparison of Mitoxantrone-Melphalan and BEAM Conditioning Regimens in Patients with Lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Lymphoma is seen as a highly treatable and curable malignancy with aggressive treatment methods. Efficacy is often limited by toxicity and many patients need alternative treatment strategies as they cannot tolerate existing high cytotoxic approaches. Our aim is to compare BEAM [carmustine (BCNU), etoposide, cytarabine (ARA-C, cytosine arabinoside), and melphalan] and mitoxantrone-melphalan (Mx-Mel) regimens utilized in our patients with a diagnosis of lymphoma who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and to demonstrate that the Mx-Mel regimen has similar but less toxic results than the BEAM regimen we have been using frequently as standard conditioning regimen. METHODS: A total of 101 patients with lymphoma who underwent ASCT were included in our study. The BEAM regimen included BCNU, etoposide, ARA-C, and melphalan. The Mx-Mel regimen included mitoxantrone and melphalan. RESULTS: Of 101 patients included in the study, 60 (59.4%) received BEAM and 41 (40.6%) received Mx-Mel (40.6%) conditioning regimen. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 10 (range: 9-20) days and 12 (range: 9-12) days in the BEAM and Mx-Mel arms, respectively; it was statistically significantly shorter in the BEAM arm (p = .001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the Mx-Mel regimen has similar efficacy and toxicity compared with the BEAM regimen. Although time to neutrophil engraftment was shorter in the BEAM arm, it did not result as significant transplant-related complications between the two regimens. The Mx-Mel regimen is seen as a good alternative with low toxicity and high efficacy.

Effect of the uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) and nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1) genes on treatment efficacy and survival in patients with multiple myeloma: a single-center study.

OBJECTIVE: Studies on the genetic background of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) have been increasing; two important factors considered in such works are uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) and nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1). We aim to reveal the association of MM with NR3C1 and UCP-2 gene polymorphisms. In this prospective study, 200 patients diagnosed between January 2009 and 2018 and 200 healthy individuals were included. For patients who had undergone autologous stem cell transplantation and control subjects, we statistically compared the CC, GC, and GG genotypes and the C and G alleles of the NR3C1 gene, as well as the AA, AG, and GG genotypes and the A and G alleles of the UCP-2 gene. RESULTS: While the AA genotype was significantly more common in the MM group (p = 0.001), the GG genotype was significantly more common in the control group (p = 0.016). Overall survival was found to be significantly shorter in patients with the UCP-2 GG genotype (p = 0.034). It was also found that having the GG genotype of the UCP-2 gene was a 2.48-fold risk factor for mortality. The fact that overall survival is significantly shorter in MM patients with the UCP-2 GG genotype and its definition as a risk factor for mortality have been put forward for the first time in the literature.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma-like post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for primary myelofibrosis is successfully treated with nivolumab: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), a lymphoid proliferation observed after the solid organ transplantation or allogeneic stem cell transplant, is an important and mortal complication that can occur during the post-transplant period. Classical Hodgkin lymphoma-like PTLD is the least form of PTLD. We are presenting an adult case of classical Hodgkin lymphoma-like PTLD which was successfully treated with nivolumab. CASE REPORT: A 31-year-old female was diagnosed with primary myelofibrosis and we performed allogeneic stem cell transplantation from her HLA fully matched brother in 2015. Two years after transplant, classical Hodgkin lymphoma-like PTLD was diagnosed. The patient was resistant to six cycles of ABVD chemotherapy and four cycles of brentuximab vedotin. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: After the failure of ABVD and brentuximab vedotin, we started nivolumab therapy at a dose of 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks. After six cycles, we achieved a PET negative complete remission. After 10 cycles of nivolumab, the patient is still followed with a complete remission. Still, there is no evidence of acute or chronic GvHD, and therefore no need for immunosuppressive treatment. No auto-immune complication was observed. It is planned to give nivolumab treatment to the patient until the progression. DISCUSSION: Our case has depicted that the classical Hodgkin lymphoma type PTLD may be resistant to the conventional treatments and anti-CD30 brentuximab vedotine. In such cases, nivolumab may be an effective and worth assessing agent in terms of both activity and safety profile.

Does bosentan protect diabetic brain alterations in rats? The role of endothelin-1 in the diabetic brain.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major problem all over the world, affecting more people in recent years. Individuals with diabetes are more prone to disease than non-diabetics, especially vascular complications. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of the endothelin (ET)-1 in brain damage formed in a streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model, and the effect of bosentan, which is the non-specific ET1 receptor blocker in the prevention of the diabetes-induced brain damage. To examine the effects of bosentan (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) in this study, the rats were given the drug for 3 months. The rats were divided into four groups: the sham group (n = 10), the diabetic control group (n = 10), the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 50 mg/kg (n = 10) and the group of diabetic rats given bosentan 100 mg/kg (n = 10). Diabetes was induced in the rats by STZ (60 mg/kg i.p.). On day 91, all rats were killed. Brain tissues of the rats were measured by molecular, biochemical and histopathological methods. Antioxidant levels in the therapy groups were observed as quite near to the values in the healthy group. In this study, while the brain eNOS levels in the diabetic groups decreased, the ET1 and iNOS levels were found to be increased. However, in the diabetes group, hippocampus and cerebellum, pericellular oedema and a number of neuronal cytoretraction were increased in neuropiles, whereas these results were decreased in the therapy group. Based on all of these results, ET1 will not be ignored in diabetes-induced cerebral complications.

Validation of self report version of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs score for identification of neuropathic pain in patients from northern Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain is an important clinical problem. OBJECTIVES: A self report version of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) score provides identification of neuropathic pain without the help and need of a clinician. We targeted validation of the S-LANSS score in the northern Turkish population in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the linguistic validation of S-LANSS, translation and back-translation method was used to adapt S-LANSS into Turkish and a cognitive-debriefing test was performed. A total of 148 patients were enrolled in the present study. S-LANSS, The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS), Visual Annalogue Score (VAS) and Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ) were performed twice for every patient. The patients were examined and diagnosed as having nociceptive or neuropathic pain by neurologists, who were blind for S-LANSS, LANSS and NPQ scores of the patients. RESULTS: Results of the McNemar test indicated that S-LANSS scores were reliable when the first and the second scores were compared. The sensitivity and specificity of the scale were found to be 98% and 97% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that using S-LANSS scores for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain may help our colleagues as a tool for a quicker differential diagnosis of pain in daily practice.

Migration of ingested sewing needle from within sigmoid colon to outside of the lumen.

Foreign body ingestion is a frequently observed condition in children. However, migration of an ingested foreign body from the gastrointestinal tract toward any abdominal organ is extremely rare. We report herein a case of a 2-year-old female patient in whom an ingested sewing needle was palpable by rectal examination and was determined to have migrated from within the sigmoid colon to outside of the lumen. The needle was surgically removed. In cases of foreign body ingestion, both physical examination and radiological follow-up should be performed.

Effect of a plant origin drug on the biodistribution of 99mTc-DTPA in Wistar albino rats

In recent years all over the world, medicinal plants are used quite a lot but side effects of biological and chemical contents and radiopharmaceutical interactions for each consumer in question aren't entirely well-known. The studies of plant origin drug interaction with radiopharmaceuticals are highly relevant and desired. One of them is passiflora syrup (Passiflora incarnata L., Passifloraceae) which is widely used for depression, insomnia, anxiety and menopause period. The aim of current study is to evaluate possible effects of passiflora syrup on the biodistribution of 99mTc-DTPA and its blood cells uptake. DTPA was labeled with 99mTc radionuclide. Biodistribution studies were performed on male Wistar albino rats which were treated via oral feeding-gavage-method with either passiflora syrup or 0.9 % NaCl as control group for ten days. Blood samples were obtained by cardiac blood withdrawal from the rats and they were radiolabeled. The biodistribution results showed that the passiflora syrup decreased the uptake of 99mTc-DTPA in kidneys and in blood cells. 99mTc-DTPA being used widely as a kidney diagnostic agent in nuclear medicine seems to be interacting with orally taken passiflora. Passiflora syrup may modify the uptake of 99mTc-DTPA by kidney. The knowledge of this negative effect may contribute to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and/or repetition of the examinations in nuclear medicine.

In Vivo investigation of radiolabeled Bevacizumab in healthy rat tissues

In this study, BevMab was conjugated with the bifunctional chelating agent [diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)] and the product (BevMab-DTPA) was labeled with 99mTc using stannous chloride reducing method. The quality control studies of radiolabeled compound (99mTc-BevMab-DTPA) were done with Thin Layer Radio Chromatography (TLRC) and High Performance Liquid Radio Chromatography (HPLRC) methods ( percent 95 <) to confirm the labeling efficiency. High radiochemical yield [98.07 percent ± 2.17 (n = 13)] was obtained by TLRC method. Biodistribution studies of 99mTc labeled BevMab-DTPA was run on healthy female and male Albino Wistar rats. The distribution figures demonstrated that the radiolabeled compound was eliminated through the kidneys and accumulated in urinary bladder. The values of the BevMab-DTPA uptakes were similar in heart, blood, liver and spleen in both sexes.

Electrophysiological assessment of polyneuropathic involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: relationships among demographic, clinical and laboratory findings.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to electrophysiologically evaluate polyneuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to examine the relationships among polyneuropathy and demographic, clinical and laboratory findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients (51 women and nine men) with a clinical diagnosis of RA were examined electrophysiologically for the evidence of polyneuropathy. Parameters including age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, erosions, joint deformities, laboratory parameters, duration of RA, as well as dose, duration and type of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) and steroid usage were recorded. RA activity was assessed using a 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28). The functional status of patients was measured using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The symptoms and signs of polyneuropathy were quantified using the neuropathy symptoms score (NSS) and the neuropathy disability score (NDS), respectively. RESULTS: Ten patients (17%, eight women and two men) had polyneuropathic involvement as defined by nerve conduction studies (NCS). Two patients had mild symmetric sensory neuropathy and eight patients had mild symmetric sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy. There was no significant difference in age, gender, subcutaneous nodules, erosions, joint deformities, rheumatoid factor, as well as dose, duration and type of DMARD and steroid therapy administered. We found a significant relationship among polyneuropathy and duration of RA, DAS28, HAQ, as well as abnormal NSS and NDS values. The durations of RA and DAS28 were also associated with a four- and three-fold increase in the risk of polyneuropathy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Mild symmetric sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathies are common in RA patients and it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms of polyneuropathy from those of arthritis. An electrophysiological examination should be routinely carried out especially when patients have had a long disease duration and high scores for DAS28, HAQ, NSS and NDS.

Malignant progression of invasive tumour cells seen in hypoxia present an accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus at the tumour front.

Of all processes involved in tumour progression, local invasion and formation of metastases are the clinically most relevant but the scientifically least well understood at their molecular level. The loss of cell adhesion, then tumour cell migration with changes in the cytoskeleton, invasion and metastatic dissemination are the steps of the "metastatic cascade". The E-cadherin-catenin complex plays a key role in cell adhesion thus building the first step in malignant progression. In many epithelial cancers, E-cadherin is lost concomitantly with tumour progression. Thus beta-catenin dissociates in the cytoplasm and accumulates in the nucleus as a transcription factor. Recent experimental progress has identified that tumour hypoxia not only induces tumour angiogenesis, but also modulates malignant progression to initiate tumour invasion and metastasis. It was hypothesised that hypoxia within tumours causes dysfunction of the E-cadherin-catenin complex with an accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus and produces an invasive phenotype of tumour cells. For this purpose fertilized chicken eggs were incubated for ten days in normoxic conditions. Subsequently colon carcinoma cells (SW-480) were placed on the chorioallantoic membrane. During the following six days the eggs were incubated either in normoxic conditions or in stepwise decreasing hypoxic conditions. SW-480 colon carcinoma cells did not invade the epithelial layer in normoxic conditions. beta-catenin was membrane bound or in the cytoplasm. The nuclei were regularly omitted. In contrast, an invasion through the epithelial layer into the mesoderm was already seen after three days when incubated in hypoxic conditions. beta-catenin was membrane bound in non-invasive regions of the tumour nodule but there was an accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus in the invasive tumour front. Hypoxia seems to be responsible for accumulation of beta-catenin in the nucleus which is accompanied by a more invasive phenotype of tumour cells at the tumour front.

Hypoxia generates a more invasive phenotype of tumour cells: an in vivo experimental setup based on the chorioallantoic membrane.

Of all processes involved in carcinogenesis, local invasion and the formation of metastases are the clinically most relevant but the scientifically least well understood at their molecular level. Recent experimental progress has identified that tumour hypoxia not only induces tumour angiogenesis, but also modulates the expression of several genes that have been implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis. Here we developed an in vivo model to understand a number of molecular pathways and cellular mechanisms for tumour invasion in hypoxia. For this purpose fertilized chicken eggs were incubated for 10 days in normoxic conditions. Subsequently colon carcinoma cells (SW-480) were placed on the chorioallantoic membrane. During the following 6 days the eggs were incubated either in normoxic conditions or in stepwise decreasing hypoxic conditions. SW-480 colon carcinoma cells did not invade the epithelial layer in normoxic conditions. In contrast an invasion through the epithelial layer in to the mesoderm was already seen after 3 days when incubated in hypoxic conditions. The chorioallantoic membrane assay described in this paper allows investigating tumour invasion and its cellular mechanisms under defined hypoxic conditions.