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OBJECTIVE: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening is strongly recommended in the pre-transplant evaluation of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, although it remains inadequate in many transplant centers. We decided to investigate pre-transplant TB risk assessment, LTBI treatment, and registry rates in Türkiye. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult SOT recipients who underwent tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon-gamma release test (IGRA) from 14 centers between 2015 and 2019 were included in the study. An induration of ≥5 mm on TST and/or probable/positive IGRA (QuantiFERON-TB) was considered positive for LTBI. Demographic features, LTBI screening and treatment, and pre-/post-transplant TB history were recorded from the electronic database of transplantation units across the country and pooled at a single center for a unified database. RESULTS: TST and/or IGRA were performed in 766 (33.8%) of 2266 screened patients most of whom were kidney transplant recipients (n = 485, 63.4%). LTBI screening test was positive in 359 (46.9%) patients, and isoniazid was given to 203 (56.5%) patients. Of the patients treated for LTBI, 112 (55.2%) were registered in the national registry, and 82 (73.2%) completed the treatment. Tuberculosis developed in 6 (1.06%) of 563 patients who were not offered LTBI treatment. CONCLUSION: We determined that overall, only one-third of SOT recipients in our country were evaluated in terms of TB risk, only 1 of the 2 SOT recipients with LTBI received treatment, and half were registered. Therefore, we want to emphasize the critical importance of pretransplant TB risk stratification and registration, guided by revised national guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bosphorus Medical Journal / Boğaziçi Tıp Dergisi is the property of KARE Publishing 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 abstract 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 abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: To examine the treatment success and the factors affecting the treatment success in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted by scanning the files of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C, who were followed in Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology outpatient clinics. Demographic and clinical characteristics (presence of hepatomegaly or splenomegaly, comorbidity treatment protocols, and side effects) were examined. Results: 418 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 48.4 (min: 27-max:76) years. 40.4% (n=169) of the patients were male. Fifty patients had hepatomegaly and 45 had splenomegaly. While 79.9% of the patients had no comorbid disease, 13.4% had diabetes, 5.3% had thyroid dysfunction, and 1.4% had both. Hepatocellular carcinoma was observed in 4 patients, cirrhosis was observed in 29 patients, and side effects were observed in 33 patients. Four patients received ribavirin, 32 patients received classical interferon, 13 patients received pegylated interferon, 69 patients received classical interferon+ribavirin, 297 patients received pegylated-interferon+ribavirin, and three patients received classical interferon+ ribavirin+pegylated-interferon. Of the patients, 12 resulted in "exacerbation under treatment," 14 with "partial response," 89 with "relapse," 124 with "no response," and 179 with "sustained virologic response (SVR)." Overall, the most successful results were obtained in patients treated with pegylated interferon+ribavirin. In univariate comparisons, younger age, absence of splenomegaly, and absence of cirrhosis were significant in patients with SVR. In multivariate analysis, combined therapy was found to be independently significantly successful among patients with SVR. Discussion and Conclusion: In our study, the response rate of patients to interferon-based treatment was 42.8%, while young age, female gender, and absence of organomegaly were determined as factors that increased this rate, and according to multiple analyses, it was determined that combined treatment alone was effective on SVR independently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Tepecik Education & Research Hospital / İzmir Tepecik Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Dergisi is the property of Logos Medical Publishing 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 abstract 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 abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Light chain deposition disease (LCDD) is a rare disease and the most common subtype of monoclonal immunglobulin deposition disease (MCDD). The most commonly affected organ is the kidney, characterized by nodular glomerulosclerosis and proteinuria at the nephrotic level. The LCDD is often associated with underlying plasma cell dyscrasias or lymphoproliferative diseases. The investigation of the underlying disease is very important for the treatment. We herein present a case of nodular glomerulosclerosis with nephrotic syndrome—a case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with acute renal failure with no previously known disease and was diagnosed with rarely seen LCDD, and whose subsequent examinations revealed a plasma cell neoplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Medeniyet 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 abstract 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 abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In hematologic malignancy patients with HBsAg positivity, the risk of hepatitis B reactivation is high in cases of high dose use of corticosteroids, rituximab, chemotherapy agents belonging to the anthracycline group and stem cell transplantation. HBV reactivation has been reported in the literature generally in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc IgG- and anti-HBs-positive lymphoma patients in case of stem cell transplantation or use of rituximab as a chemotherapeutic agent. There are publications that report cases of HBV reactivation in HBsAg-negative multiple myeloma patients who have recieved bortezomib and/or stem cell. In this article, we present a multiple myeloma case with full recovery from HBV infection developing an acute hepatitis due to HBV reactivation after bortezomib use and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Finally, it was successfully treated with lamivudine. It is aimed to draw attention to the fact that hepatitis B serologic markers should be closely monitored for possibility of reactivation of hepatitis in candidates of chemotherapy/stem cell transplantation recovering from HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mediterranean Journal of Infection, Microbes & Antimicrobials 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 abstract 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 abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on evaluating the factors affecting the vaccine response rates of patients living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have been vaccinated for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Topics include the high rates of HBV coinfection among HIV patients, the controversy surrounding the administration of the HBV vaccine to HIV patients, and the study's examination of HIV patients who received hepatitis B vaccines and factors that affect their vaccine response rates.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the resistance to asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) between term and preterm pregnancies. Material and Methods: Pregnant women aged 17-41 years who were followed up in the obstetrics department of our hospital and whose urine cultures were sent to the laboratory for analysis and reported as ABU were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to gestational weeks as preterm (<37 weeks) and term (≥37 weeks). The results were compared between the two groups. Results: From among a total of 123 pregnant women, 29 (23.6%) delivered at preterm and 94 (76.4%) at term. The most frequently identified pathogen throughout the study group was 52.0% (n=64) Escherichia coli (E. coli), followed by 16.3% (n=20) Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of the distribution of E. coli and S. agalactiae between the term and preterm groups (p=0.698 and p=0.930). E. coli was resistant to ampicillin 56.3% (n=36), to cefuroxime 40.6% (n=26). While fosfomycin resistance was 1.6% (n=1), nitrofurantoin resistance was not found. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase positivity was 23.4% (n=15) in E. coli strains. No statistically significant difference was found in antibiotic resistance rates of E. coli strains between the term and preterm groups. Conclusion: The most commonly isolated pathogen was E. coli which was highly resistant to beta-lactams. Screening of pregnant women for ABU and treatment with appropriate antibiotics; is the most effective way to prevent both maternal and fetal complications and antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been some difficulties in the routine care of people living with HIV (PLWH)., Subjects and Methods: We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health of PLWH and their use of health services. This study was conducted using the face-to-face interview method in the outpatient clinic of a university hospital, between 01.09.2020 and 30.11.2020. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and survey instrument designed by the researchers investigating socio-demographic data and access to health services were used., Results: The study included 217 patients, 91.7% (n=199) of whom were male. All of the patients were postponed their hospital appointments, 60.8% were concerned about not being able to contact their physician and 53% had concerned about being stigmatized if they went to the hospital. Of the participants, 27.6% had depression, 12.9% had anxiety and 8.3% had both depression and anxiety. Low income, job loss, and fear of being stigmatized were associated with depression and anxiety. Lower level of education, discontinuation of medications and lack of opportunity to work remotely were associated with depression, while history of psychiatric illness, worry about not being able to contact their physician and cessation of antiretroviral therapy were associated with higher anxiety levels., Conclusion: It is important to develop strategies ensuring the continuity of care for PWLH and identify and support those with a higher mental health impact.

Background/aims: The present study aimed to determine the changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis in recent years in an adult Turkish population., Materials and Methods: Overall, 852 patients with acute viral hepatitis from 17 centers were included in this study. Their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical courses, treatments, and laboratory findings were retrospectively analyzed., Results: The most commonly found microorganisms were the hepatitis B virus (55.2%) and hepatitis A virus (37.6%), and the types of acute viral hepatitis differed significantly according to the age group (p≤0.001). The most frequently reported symptom was fatigue (73.7%), and the most common complications were cholecystitis (0.4%) and fulminant hepatitis (0.4%). The median hospital stay was 9 days (range 1-373). In total, 40.8% patients with acute hepatitis B virus developed immunity., Conclusion: In Turkey, there are significantly large adolescent and adult populations susceptible to acute viral hepatitis. Therefore, larger vaccination programs covering these age groups should be implemented.