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Introductıon: This study was undertaken to investigate the importance of the CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) as an early prognostic marker for determining disease severity in acute cholangitis. Methods: A total of 366 patients aged >18 years diagnosed with acute cholangitis were included in the study. Acute cholangitis severity was determined according to the 2018 Tokyo criteria. Results: The study population consisted of 49.2% patients with mild, 24.6% moderate, and 26.2% severe acute cholangitis. The cut-off CAR value for predicting moderate risk compared to the mild risk group was found to be >1 with 73.3% sensitivity and 76.7% specificity (AUC±SE: 0.785±0.03; +PV: 61.1%, -PV: 85.2%; p<0.001). The CAR cut-off value for predicting severe risk compared to the moderate risk group was found to be >2.9 with 71.9% sensitivity and 71.1% specificity (AUC±SE: 0.788±0.03; +PV: 72.6%, -PV: 70.3%; p<0.001). The CAR cut-off value for predicting admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was >2.5 with 77.4% sensitivity and 74.6% specificity (AUC±SE: 0.803±0.03; +PV: 43.1%, -PV: 90.1%; p<0.001). The CAR cut-off value for predicting mortality was >2.8 with 100% sensitivity and 74.9% specificity (AUC±SE: 0.890±0.03; +PV: 19.5%, -PV: 100%; p<0.001). Compared to its components, the CAR was found to exhibit superior diagnostic performance in predicting moderate or severe risk, ICU admission, and mortality. Conclusion: We found that the CAR is a good prognostic marker in determining the severity of acute cholangitis in the early period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 25‐year‐old female patient was admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss for the last 5 months. The patient underwent paracentesis five times and was referred to our clinic after peritonitis findings were detected. Tubal tuberculosis was detected during her hospitalization. The patient, who also developed joint pain, was diagnosed with Poncet's disease. She was given quadruple antituberculosis treatment. After the treatment, the patient's joint pain regressed, and the adnexal mass due to tubal tuberculosis disappeared. In this case report, we wanted to present a rare case of Poncet's disease with tubal tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a high mortality rate and poses a significant threat to the population. The disease may progress with mild symptoms or may cause the need for intensive care, depending on many factors. In this study, it was aimed to determine if there is a tendency due to genetic factors in COVID-19 patients. Ninety-four of 188 patients with mild clinical and 94 with severe clinical symptoms were included in the study. The targeted panel including coagulopathy (F2, F5), viral invasion (ACE2), and inflammation (CXCL8, IFNAR2, IFNL4, IL10, IL2, IL6, IRF7, TLR3, TLR7, TNF) related genes was performed sequenced by the next generation sequencing (NGS). The variants found were classified and univariate analyses were performed to select candidate variables for logistic model. Risk factors and variants were compared. It was revealed that the presence of 2 or more risk factors caused the disease to progress severely (p < 0.001). Heterozygous IRF7:c.1357−23dup variant had a 2.5 times higher risk for mild disease compared to severe disease. Other variants were found to be more significant in mild disease. Since polymorphic variants were not evaluated in the literature, the findings of our study could not be compared with the literature. However, as variants that may be effective in the severity of infections may differ according to ethnicity. This study has the feature of being a guide for subsequent studies to be carried out especially in Turkish population. Clinical course of the COVID-19 is likely to depend on a variety of risk factors, including age, sex, clinical status, immunology and genetic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are significant threats to the security of agricultural supply from people migrating from rural areas to urban areas due to economic difficulties and disadvantages arising from a lack of extension. However, agricultural production is strategically important for Türkiye and the most important economic activity for rural areas. People who migrate to cities prefer to stay in output if agricultural subsidies are provided to encourage production. In addition to the support of the Turkish government, it is important to benefit from the work of international organizations such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which works in rural areas and supports the agricultural sector. IFAD is well aware of the needs of Türkiye's rural areas with 11 projects implemented with a total cost of USD 697.91 million and IFAD contribution of USD 251.84 million. In Türkiye, Uplands Rural Development Programme (URDP), financed by IFAD, supports the disadvantaged people living in rural areas. In this study, information about IFAD and its activities in Türkiye is given the ongoing URDP of the organization in Türkiye, the studies carried out in the process of including Kastamonu province in the programme, the project acceptance process in Kastamonu province and the results of the programme in Kastamonu province in 2020 when the programme was implemented for the first time in Türkiye, are examined in detail. As a result of the research, the utilisation of the fund by taking into account the needs of rural areas and the monitoring process were found to be positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunogenicity of vaccines decreases over time, causing a need for booster doses. This study aimed to present the long-term (Day 84) immunogenicity results of the double-blind, randomized, controlled, phase II Hybrid COV-RAPEL TR Study (NCT04979949), in which the TURKOVAC or CoronaVac vaccines were used as a booster after the second dose of primary vaccination with CoronaVac. A total of 190 participants from the Hybrid COV-RAPEL TR Study, who had both Day 28 and Day 84 immunogenicity results, were included. The immunogenicity on Day 84, regarding the neutralizing antibody positivity (Wuhan and Delta variants) and anti-spike immunoglobulin (Ig) G (IgG) antibody positivity, was compared between TURKOVAC and CoronaVac vaccine arms according to sex and age groups. Overall, antibody positivity showed a slight decrease on Day 84 vs. Day 28, but was not different between TURKOVAC and CoronaVac arms either for sexes or for age groups. However, TURKOVAC produced better antibody response against the Delta variant than CoronaVac, while CoronaVac was superior over TURKOVAC regarding neutralizing antibody positivity in the 50–60 years age group, regardless of the variant. A single booster dose, after the completion of the primary vaccination, increases antibody positivity on Day 28 which persists until Day 84 with a slight decrease. However, an additional booster dose may be required thereafter, since the decrease in antibody titer may be faster over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: It is important to determine which patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 should be hospitalized and treated. In this study, the aim was to investigate whether serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels in the early period are related to the need for intensive care follow-up in COVID-19. Methods: A total of 91 patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in the study. Patients hospitalized in the internal medicine clinic were screened cross-sectionally, and eligible patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into groups as mild/moderate pneumonia and severe pneumonia. Serum NGAL levels were measured before pulse steroid therapy. Age, gender, comorbid diseases, and 1-month survival of the patients were recorded. Results: In patients requiring pulse steroid therapy compared to those who did not, there was a significant difference between the median serum NGAL levels. The median NGAL level showed a significant difference in patients requiring intensive care treatment compared to patients hospitalized in the inpatient service. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed the relationship between serum NGAL levels and the need for treatment in the intensive care unit. It was also observed that the need for admittance to the intensive care unit was 10.9 times higher in those with a serum NGAL level below 30.29, according to the multivariate analysis. There was a significant difference between the median NGAL levels of patients who survived and those who died. Discussion and Conclusion: This study found a significant difference between serum NGAL levels of patients who died, who required intensive care follow-up, and who needed pulse steroid therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]