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The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in lung transplant recipients is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed lung transplant recipients vaccinated with an inactivated virus vaccine (CoronaVac) and the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 used against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Turkey and shared their effects on COVID-19.Demographic data of lung transplant recipients followed up for3 months were collected, and vaccination dates and status against the SARS-CoV-2 virus were recorded. Recipients who received at least 3 doses of CoronaVac or 2 doses of BNT162b2, or 1 dose of CoronaVac plus 2 doses of BNT162b2, or 2 doses of CoronaVac plus 1 dose of BNT162b2 were considered fully vaccinated; those who were vaccinated less than this number were considered partially vaccinated. Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction tests from respiratory tract samples were accepted as positive for COVID-19. Recipients were classified by number and type of vaccine, and groups were compared for infection, need for intensive care, and death as a result of COVID-19.Of the 53 lung transplant recipients, 51 were vaccinated (7 partially vaccinated, 44 fully vaccinated) and 2 were not vaccinated. Of fully vaccinated recipients, 13/44 received the inactivated vaccine, 5/44 received the mRNA vaccine, and 26/44 had a combination of the 2 vaccines. During the follow-up period, 13 patients (2/2 not vaccinated, 2/7 [28.5%] partially vaccinated, 9/44 [20.5%] fully vaccinated) were diagnosed with COVID-19. There was no significant difference in protection against infection between the inactivated, the mRNA, and combined vaccine groups. There was no significant association in cycle threshold values that determine the infection load and COVID-19 severity between transplant recipients who died and those who did not.In lung transplant recipients, 3 doses of inactivated vaccine, 2 doses of mRNA vaccine, or the combined heterologous vaccine provided similar protection. Prevention of exposure is one of the most crucial steps.

Objective: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an effective treatment for severe aortic stenosis. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after TAVI. The development of AKI after TAVI has been linked to the thromboinflammatory response as evaluated by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and mean platelet volume (MPV). We sought to determine the predictive value of NLR and MPV on AKI after TAVI in this study. Method: This is a single-center retrospective study. Baseline, peri-procedural, and post-procedural demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics were assessed for AKI. The optimal NLR and MPV cut-off values for predicting AKI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: A total of 184 consecutive patients (age 79.4 ± 7.8 years, 61.4% female) who underwent TAVI were included in this study. The optimal cut-off points for the NLR and MPV were 5.70 (AUC: 0.790; 95% CI: 0.711-0.869, p

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on nutritional status in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. METHODS: The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment was initiated in 153 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who were symptomatic despite optimal medical treatment and were followed up for 6 months. The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire scores, New York Heart Association functional class, NT-pro-BNP levels, and nutritional index scores of the patients were evaluated before sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment and at the 6-month follow-up. The nutritional status of the patients was evaluated with the COntrolling NUTritional Status score, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, and Prognostic Nutritional Index. RESULTS: After sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment, significant changes were observed in the mean scores of the three different nutritional indexes: COntrolling NUTritional Status (before: 2.76±2.43 vs. after: 1.12±1.23, p

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors added to optimal medical therapy have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and recurrent heart failure (HF) hospitalization in HF patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on the ventricular repolarization markers (VRM) in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).51 patients with HFrEF who had symptoms New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV despite optimal medical treatment and were added SGLT2 inhibitors to their treatment were included in the study. Electrocardiography (ECG) and laboratory results obtained before the treatment and at the first-month follow-up visit were compared. QT, QTc (corrected by Bazett formula), QT dispersion (QTd), QTc dispersion (QTc-d), Tpeak to Tend (Tp-e) interval, Tp-e/QT, and Tp-e/QTc ratios were measured and defined as VRM.A significant decrease was observed in HR, QT, QTc intervals, and QTd compared to pre-treatment. While the mean Tp-e interval was 101.5 ± 11.7 ms before treatment, it decreased to 93.1 ± 12.7 ms after treatment (p 0.001). There was a significant decrease in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels after treatment [2859 ± 681vs.1266 ± 763, respectively (p 0.001)] and QTd, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QTc ratio was positively correlated with the change in NT-proBNP level.The addition of SGLT2 inhibitors to optimal medical therapy in HFrEF patients positively changes VRM (QT, QTc, QTd, Tp-e, and Tp-e/QTc).

Background and objective Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) is possible with early recognition of individuals at risk. Salusin alpha is an endogenous bioactive peptide with anti-atherogenic properties. We aimed to reveal the relationship between salusin alpha levels and cardiovascular (CV) risk using the Systematic COronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2) and Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE) algorithms. Methods A total of 137 asymptomatic outpatients were included in the study. The participants were divided into four quartile groups according to the distribution of salusin alpha levels: Q1 (n = 34), Q2 (n = 35), Q3 (n = 34), and Q4 (n = 34). The relationships of salusin alpha with cardiovascular risk scores and groups were investigated. Results The means of SCORE2 and PCE risk scores (11.24 ± 1.24 and 13.30 ± 1.71, respectively; p0.001 for both), baseline scores in the presence of SCORE2 and PCE optimal risk factors (4.82 ± 0.71 (p = 0.034); 4.20 ± 0.77 (p = 0.010)), and means of Δ SCORE2 and Δ PCE risk score (6.41 ± 0.67 and 9.10 ± 1.10, respectively; p0.001 for both) were significantly higher in the Q1 group. The SCORE2 "very high" cardiovascular (CV) risk group was significantly represented in the Q1 group (n = 17 (50%)), while the "low-moderate" risk group was more heavily represented in the Q4 group (n = 15 (44.1%)) (p0.001). The PCE "high" CV risk group was significantly represented in the Q1 group (n = 9 (26.5%)), while the "low" risk group was more intensely represented in the Q4 group (n = 20 (58.8%)) (p0.001). Salusin alpha had a significantly negative moderate correlation with SCORE2 and PCE risk scores. As a result of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, it was found that salusin alpha had significant diagnostic power in the prediction of CV risk groups determined by SCORE2 and PCE risk scores. Salusin alpha was observed to be a risk-reducing factor in SCORE2 and PCE CV risk groups (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.989 (0.982-0.997) (p = 0.002) and OR (95% CI): 0.988 (0.978-0.998) (p = 0.009) respectively). Conclusion Salusin alpha has a negative correlation with SCORE2 and PCE risk scores. It has significant diagnostic power in the prediction of CV risk groups and is an independent variable that has a risk-reducing effect in the distribution of risk groups.

Background and Objectives: In addition to left ventricular (LV) functions, right ventricular (RV) functions and pulmonary arterial stiffness (PAS) may be adversely affected in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor therapy positively affects LV functions as well as having functional and symptomatic benefits in HFrEF patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of SGLT2 inhibitor treatment on RV function and PAS in HFrEF patients. Materials andMethods: 168 HFrEF patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≥2 symptoms despite optimal medical treatment and who were started on SGLT2 inhibitor therapy were included in this retrospective study. NYHA classification, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLWHFQ) scores, laboratory tests, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) measurements were recorded before treatment and at the end of the 6-month follow-up. Results: The mean age of the patients was 62.7 ± 11.4 years, and 38 (22.6%) were women. RV function (RV fractional area change (FAC) (33.8 ± 6.4% vs. 39.2 ± 7.3%, p < 0.001); tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (18.4 ± 3.8 mm vs. 19.6 ± 3.6 mm, p < 0.001); RV S’ (10 (8 − 13) cm/s vs. 13 (10 − 16) cm/s, p < 0.001); RV myocardial performance index (RV MPI) (0.68 ± 0.12 vs. 0.59 ± 0.11, p < 0.001); mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) (39.6 ± 7.8 mmHg vs. 32 ± 6.8 mmHg, p = 0.003)) and PAS (24.2 ± 4.6 kHz/ms vs. 18.6 ± 3.1 kHz/ms, p < 0.001) values at the 6-month follow-up after SGLT2 inhibitor therapy significantly improved. It was found that SGLT2 inhibitor treatment provided significant improvement in NYHA classification, MLWHFQ scores, and NT-proBNP levels (2876 ± 401 vs. 1034 ± 361, p < 0.001), and these functional and symptomatic positive changes in HFrEF patients were significantly correlated with positive changes in LVEF, PAS, and RV functional status. Conclusions: SGLT2 inhibitor treatment results in symptomatic and functional well-being in HFrEF patients, as well as positive changes in RV function and PAS.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the complexity of coronary artery disease (CAD), determined by the SYNTAX score, and the resting and post-exercise Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI). Materials and Methods: Patients who were treated for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) were evaluated in our study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their SYNTAX Score ≤22 or >22. In addition, patients were evaluated in two groups as Results: The mean age of 118 patients was 57.50±11.19 years and 26 (22%) patients were female. In the group with SYNTAX Score>22, lower resting ABI (p 22 [p 22 and SYNTAX II PCI score ≥30. Conclusion: In ACS patients, post-exercise ABI measurements have a stronger diagnostic power than resting ABI measurements in predicting CAD complexity. ABI measures at resting and post-exercise are independent predictors of CAD complexity in ACS patients. &nbsp

Background: it has been shown that vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause hematological and neuropsychiatric disorders, may also be associated with cardiac autonomic dysfunction, heart rate variability, endothelial dysfunction, and a decrease in myocardial deformation. Aims: the aim of our study is to evaluate the relationship between vitamin B12 levels and electrocardiographic repolarization disorders, which are indicators of arrhythmogenic predisposition in healthy individuals. Methods: our study population consisted of 214 healthy adults. Considering the distribution of vitamin B12 levels and accepting 25 % and 75 % percentiles as the cut-off values, the participants were divided into 3 groups. Laboratory, echocardiography and electrocardiography (ECG) measurements were compared between three groups. ECG measurements were performed manually and Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e), Tp-e corrected (Tp-ec), QT and QT corrected (QTc) intervals were calculated. Results: the patients in Group 1 (vitamin B12253 pg/ml) were found to have significantly higher QT and QTc dispersions, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios when compared to those in Group 2 (253 pg/mlvitamin B12436 pg/ml) and Group 3 (vitamin B12436 pg/ml). On the other hand, a negative significant correlation was detected between vitamin B12 levels and Tp-e, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc ratios, QT and QTc dispersions. Conclusion: a low level of vitamin B12 in healthy individuals can be a significant indicator of arrhythmogenic susceptibility. A close follow-up of these subjects in terms of arrhythmogenic predisposition can be useful.Fundamento: se ha demostrado que la deficiencia de vitamina B12, que puede causar trastornos hematológicos y neuropsiquiátricos, también puede estar asociada con disfunción autonómica cardíaca, variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca, disfunción endotelial y disminución de la deformación miocárdica. Objetivos: el objetivo de nuestro estudio es evaluar la relación entre los niveles de vitamina B12 y los trastornos de repolarización electrocardiográfica que son indicadores de predisposición arritmogénica en individuos sanos. Métodos: la población del estudio fue de 214 adultos sanos. Considerando la distribución de los niveles de vitamina B12 y aceptando los percentiles del 25 % y 75 % como valores de corte, los participantes se dividieron en 3 grupos. Se compararon las mediciones de laboratorio, ecocardiografía y electrocardiografía (ECG) entre tres grupos. Las mediciones del ECG se realizaron manualmente y se calcularon los intervalos Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e), Tp-e corregido (Tp-ec), QT y QT corregido (QTc). Resultados: se encontró que los pacientes del grupo 1 (vitamina B12253 pg/ml) tenían dispersiones QT y QTc, intervalo Tp-e, cocientes Tp-e/QT y Tp-e/QTc significativamente más altos cuando se compararon con los del grupo 2 (253 pg/mlvitamina B12436 pg/ml) y el grupo 3 (vitamina B12436 pg/ml). Por otro lado, se detectó una correlación significativa negativa entre los niveles de vitamina B12 y las relaciones Tp-e, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc, dispersiones QT y QTc. Conclusión: el bajo nivel de vitamina B12 en los individuos sanos puede ser un indicador significativo de susceptibilidad arritmogénica. Un seguimiento estrecho de estos sujetos en términos de predisposición arritmogénica podría ser útil.

Demonstrate of accidental intravascular injection during lumbar transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) performed with three-dimensional imaging angiography (3DIA) and fluoroscopy.We assessed 20 (9 males and 11 females) patients (with a total of 40 levels) whose images were received with simultaneously 3DIA and fluoroscopy-guided TAESI between January 2016 and September 2016 as retrospective. Injections were carried out in the lumbar fourth intervertebral space bilaterally and performed in the same way all of the cases.The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 47.9±2.72 years and 26.95±1.21, respectively. There were 10 patients with disc herniation, seven patients with spinal stenosis, and three patients with failed back surgery syndrome. In 3D imaging, vascular escape was detected in the 7 levels (17.5%) which were thought to be no escape in the fluoroscopy imaging.In chronic lumbar radiculopathy patients, intravascular escapes may occur during the fluoroscopic TAESI procedure. To avoid intravascular injections during TAESI procedure, it may be appropriate to use different imaging methods that can give more detailed results such as 3D angiography.

Although many methods have been developed in order to reduce the negative effects in laying hens reared at high cage density, researches on effects of dietary supplementation of oregano (Oreganum syriacumL., OEO) essential oil as a feed additive to the diets are extremely sparse. This study investigated the effects of OEO and caging density on performance parameters, egg quality criteria, some blood biochemical parameters, blood antioxidant capacity, and intestinal histopathology of laying hens. We used 276 white Lohmann laying hens aged 38–40 weeks in the experiment. The animals were divided to positive control (600 cm2hen/cage, PC), negative control (360 cm2hen/cage, NC), negative control+ 200 mg/kg OEO (NC+O2), negative control+ 400 mg/kg OEO (NC+O4), and negative control+ 600 mg/kg OEO (NC+O6). In this study, it was determined that egg weight and egg shell weight increased at higher caging density, but they did not change with dietary supplementation of OEO. In addition, the plasma calcium and phosphorus decreased with the higher caging density and dietary supplementation of OEO. Supplemented OEO to the diets of the laying hens reduced lipid peroxidation and improved antioxidant capacity and intestinal histopathology of laying hens. As a result, it was determined that OEO decreased the negative effects of high caging density. While this positive effect was found to be at a maximum dose at 400 mg/kg of OEO, it was determined that a dose of 600 mg/kg of OEO had a toxic effect, if even numerically.

The study was carried out to determine the heavy metal of Pseudophoxinus antalyae Bogutskaya, 1992, (Flower fish) which is an endemic fish species living in Kırkgöz springs. Kırkgöz springs were born within the boundaries of Döşemealtı district of Antalya province seasonally in the years of 2016-2017. Kırkgöz springs, which carry runoff from urban and Antalya Organized Industrial Zone Water Treatment Discharge runoff falls, flows for approximately 30 km from Döşemealtı to Lara which flowing to the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, to determine the possible metal pollution caused by the urban runoff and especially the water treatment discharge, fish were sampled seasonally from the Kırkgöz Springs, the Kepez Loading Pool (the station which receiving discharge of OIZ treatment water), and Çırnık Bridge stations. The minimum-maximum values of some heavy metals were determined in the muscle tissues of the fish: Kadmium (Cd) 1.48 - 4.24 µg /g, Cobalt (Co) 0.73 - 3.12 µg/g, Chromium (Cr) 0.90 - 8.14 µg /g, Copper (Cu) 1.21 - 4.22 µg/g, Manganese (Mn) 3.94- 32.39 µg/g, Nickel (Ni) 0.24 - 0.78 µg/g, Lead (Pb) 20.03-58.15 µg /g and Zinc (Zn) 223.07- 464.39 µg/ g. Accordingly: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn levels were generally determined above the criteria of TFC, WHO, EC, EPA, and FAO., Araştırma, 2016-2017 yıllarında mevsimsel olarak Antalya ili Döşemealtı ilçesi sınırları içinde doğan Kırkgöz Kaynaklarında yaşayan ve endemik bir tür olan Pseudophoxinus antalyae Bogutskaya,1992 (Çiçek balığı)’nda ağır metal düzeylerini belirlemek amacı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kırkgöz Kaynağı Döşemealtı’dan Lara’ya kadar 30 km’nin üzerindeki bir akış güzergâhını yerleşim yerleri ve en önemlisi Antalya Organize Sanayii Bölgesi Arıtma Suyu Deşarjını alarak Akdeniz’e dökülmektedir. Bu nedenle söz konusu yerleşim yerleri ve özellikle arıtma deşarj suyunun sebep olduğu muhtemel metal kirliliğini tespit etmek için anılan türde mevsimsel olarak Kırkgöz Kaynağı, Kepez Yükleme Göleti (OSB arıtma suyunun deşarjını alan istasyon) ve Çırnık Köprüsü istasyonlarından balık örneklemeleri yapılmıştır. Balıkların kas dokularında Kadmiyum (Cd) 1,48- 4,24 µg/g, Kobalt (Co) 0,73- 3,12 µg/g, Krom (Cr) 0,90- 8,14 µg/g, Bakır (Cu) 1,21- 4,22 µg/g, Mangan (Mn) 3,94- 32,39 µg/g, Nikel (Ni) 0,24- 0,78 µg/g, Kurşun (Pb) 20,03-58,15 µg/g ve Çinko (Zn) 223,07- 464,39 µg/g minimum- maksimum düzeyleri saptanmıştır. Buna göre: Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb ve Zn düzeyleri genel anlamda TGK, DSÖ, AB, EPA ve FAO kriterlerinin üzerinde belirlenmiştir

In this study, seasonal and sexual variations of fatty acid profiles of Pseudophoxinus fahrettini and Capoeta mauricii which are freshwater fishes in Turkey inland waters were investigated. The monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) values were higher than saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) values for both species. Also the ratios of MUFAs in P. fahrettini were higher than those of C. mauricii in all seasons. The results indicated that palmitic acid was the most dominant SFA for both species in all seasons. Oleic acid in the muscle of P. fahrettini and palmitoleic acid in the muscle of C. mauricii were the highest MUFA respectively in both genders in all seasons. The highest ratios of omega 3 PUFAs were 23.00% in the muscle of C. mauricii in summer and 18.44% in P. fahrettini in winter. The ratios of omega 3 PUFAs in muscles of both species and genders were higher than the ratios of omega 6 PUFAs during all the seasons. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were significantly higher than the other PUFAs in both sexes of the species. The ratio of omega 3 PUFAs to omega 6 PUFAs was higher than 1.76 in both species and genders in all seasons.

Objectives Demonstrate of accidental intravascular injection during lumbar transforaminal anterior epidural steroid injection (TAESI) performed with three-dimensional imaging angiography (3DIA) and fluoroscopy. Methods We assessed 20 (9 males and 11 females) patients (with a total of 40 levels) whose images were received with simultaneously 3DIA and fluoroscopy-guided TAESI between January 2016 and September 2016 as retrospective. Injections were carried out in the lumbar fourth intervertebral space bilaterally and performed in the same way all of the cases. Results The mean age and body mass index of the patients were 47.9±2.72 years and 26.95±1.21, respectively. There were 10 patients with disc herniation, seven patients with spinal stenosis, and three patients with failed back surgery syndrome. In 3D imaging, vascular escape was detected in the 7 levels (17.5%) which were thought to be no escape in the fluoroscopy imaging. Conclusion In chronic lumbar radiculopathy patients, intravascular escapes may occur during the fluoroscopic TAESI procedure. To avoid intravascular injections during TAESI procedure, it may be appropriate to use different imaging methods that can give more detailed results such as 3D angiography.