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Background: The genus Bartonella is composed of Gram-negative, fastidious, facultative intracellular bacteria that can cause bacteremia in mammals and various disorders in humans. Rodents have been reported as reservoirs of more than 30 Bartonella species, seven of which cause zoonotic infections. Materials and Methods: In the present study, the isolation of Bartonella sp. was attempted from 150 spleen samples from 13 rodent species (mostly Apodemus species) from three geographically different regions in Turkey. Results:Bartonella sp. was successfully isolated from 65 of these 150 samples (43%). The prevalences of Bartonella sp. in tested rodents in the regions of Giresun, Yozgat, and Burdur were 68%, 44%, and 16%, respectively. Using polymerase chain reaction/sequence analysis of the citrate synthase-coding gene (gltA), Bartonellaisolates were classified seven species including B. taylorii, B. grahamii, B. birtlesii, B. mastomydis, and three putatively new Bartonella species. We performed further identification techniques for one of the three Bartonella species that were different from the validated Bartonella species according to the gltA sequence analysis. Conclusion: Here, we report the genomic and phenotypic characterization of Bartonella sp. strain G70 that was isolated from the splenic tissue of an Apodemus uralensis (Pallas 1881), the Ural field mouse, captured in the Giresun region of northeastern Turkey. Bartonella sp. strainG70 (RSKK 22001) was characterized by whole genome and partial gene (gltA, 16S ribosomal RNA) sequencing and comparison, scanning electron microscopy, biochemical tests, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This novel Bartonella is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium and has neither flagella nor pili. The genome from strain G70 was 1,606,969-bp-long with a G + C content of 35.7%. Bartonella rochalimae was found to be the closest phylogenetic relative of strain G70 (OrthoANI = 90.5%, digital DNA–DNA hybridization = 41.4%). We therefore propose that this new species be named Bartonella bilalgolemii sp. nov. with strain G70T as the type strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the incidence and clinical characteristics of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) in patients diagnosed before and after the onset of the pandemic. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 67 patients diagnosed with GPA between 2012 and 2023, categorized into pre-pandemic (n=35) and post-pandemic (n=32) cohorts. Data on sociodemographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics were collected and statistically analysed. Results: The incidence of GPA increased from approximately 0.58 to 1.07 cases per 100,000 person-years post-pandemic. No statistically significant differences were observed in most clinical parameters, although a notable rise in alkaline phosphatase levels was identified (p=0.016). The demographic analysis revealed a higher prevalence of male patients in the post-pandemic group (p=0.020). Despite the increased incidence, mortality rates and clinical features remained stable between the two periods. Conclusion: The findings suggest a significant association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the increased incidence of GPA, potentially linked to immune dysregulation triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. While the clinical management of GPA has remained effective, the need for heightened awareness of autoimmune conditions in the context of COVID-19 is emphasized, warranting further investigation into the long-term implications of viral infections on autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Behçet's disease (BD) is characterized by the presence of skin and mucosal lesions, systemic inflammation, and vasculitis. The objective of this study was to examine changes in urotensin II (UII) and sclerostin levels in patients with BD and to assess their correlation with atherosclerosis. Material and Methods: The study population comprised 32 patients with BD, 39 with systemic lupus erythematosus, and 30 healthy controls. A series of clinical examinations were conducted, and blood samples were obtained to analyze UII and sclerostin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was evaluated using Doppler ultrasonography. Results: UII levels were significantly elevated in the BD group compared with the other groups (p<0.001). Conversely, sclerostin levels were markedly diminished in the BD group (p<0.001). In the BD group, UII levels were positively correlated with cIMT (r=0.513, p<0.001), whereas sclerostin levels were negatively correlated with cIMT (r=-0.270, p=0.020). Conclusion: Elevated UII and reduced sclerostin levels are crucial biomarkers of atherosclerosis risk in individuals with BD. These findings help to elucidate the cardiovascular complications associated with BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical correlation and a set of machine learning (ML) models were developed to estimate droplet size and count distributions over an extended duration after a cough at different relative humidities (RHs), air temperatures and locations within an indoor environment. Experiments covered RHs of 20%–80% and air temperatures of 21 °C–26 °C. Droplet count distributions for 4 size bins (0.3–0.5, 0.5–1, 1–3 and 3–5 μm) were recorded for 70 min within the distance of 2 m from the cough source. Different ML models, including decision tree, random forest and artificial neural network, were trained for each size bin to predict the associated count distribution. Amongst these models, random forest showed a slight superiority in performance. The coefficient of determination for the random forest models ranged from 0.912 to 0.989, indicating robust correlations between the features and the response variables. An empirical correlation was established linking the count distribution of 0.3–0.5 μm droplets to time, RH and distance along the cough direction. Both ML models and the correlation accurately predicted the trends and the distributions, providing valuable data for validating computational simulations and informing indoor environment control systems to reduce the risk of virus transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming more widespread globally. Thanks to renal replacement therapy (RRT) methods, the life expectancy of CKD patients is gradually increasing. Today, the notion of quality of life has come to the forefront in evaluating treatment efficacy with increasing life expectancy. Among the RRT methods, kidney transplantation is the one that improves the quality of life the most. Polypharmacy is a concept that has been on the agenda recently and is known to have adverse effects on quality of life. Kidney transplant patients are frequently exposed to polypharmacy due to immunosuppressive drugs and comorbidities, particularly during the initial stages of transplantation. In our study, the KDQOL-SF questionnaire was administered to 128 kidney transplant recipients who visited the Nephrology outpatient clinic between October 2023 and November 2023. Those taking ≥6 medications were defined as the group exposed to polypharmacy. Polypharmacy was considered present in 74 of the patients involved in the study. The mean age of the patients was 51.8 ±11.5 years in the polypharmacy group and 42.4 ±12.5 years in the non-polypharmacy group. In renal transplant patients, the quality of life was notably reduced in the polypharmacy group. The presence of polypharmacy showed a statistically significant correlation with age, comorbidity, multimorbidity, marital status, and primary disease. The group with polypharmacy had notably lower scores in all sub-parameters of the KDQOL-SF. In conclusion, our study determined that the presence of polypharmacy had a negative impact on the quality of life of renal transplant patients. Polypharmacy was found to be associated with age, comorbidity and multimorbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Thrombotic pathologies develop at an increasing rate in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Understanding the pathologies that cause thrombosis in SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for developing prophylaxis strategies for the development of thrombosis and regulating treatment in cases of thrombosis. For all these reasons, we aimed to evaluate the levels of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a Thrombospondin Type-1 Motif Member 13 (ADAMTS13), in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Material and Methods: The data of patients who were followed up in the intensive care unit due to coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) with lung involvement, who received respiratory support and pulse steroid therapy, and those who were followed up as outpatients without lung involvement were analyzed. Demographic data, laboratory results, and serum ADAMTS13 levels were recorded. These results were compared with those of the control group. Results: ADAMTS13 levels were significantly lower in the COVID-19 group without lung involvement than in the control group (p=0.037). ADAMTS13 levels were significantly lower in the COVID-19 group with lung involvement than in the control group (p=0.016). There was no difference in ADAMTS13 levels between COVID-19 patients with and without lung involvement (p=0.797). There was no significant difference in ADAMTS13 levels between patients with and without chronic diseases in the COVID-19 group (p=0.40 for those without lung involvement; p=0.573 for those with lung involvement). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 caused a decrease in ADAMTS13 levels. ADAMTS13 levels were decreased more in patients with lung involvement than in those without lung involvement. Decreased ADAMTS13 levels in COVID-19 may be a cause of the prothrombotic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the global community begins recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges due to its aftermath remain. This health crisis has highlighted challenges associated with airborne pathogens and their capacity for rapid transmission. While many solutions have emerged to tackle this challenge, very few devices exist that are inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and versatile enough for various settings. Methods: This paper presents a novel suction device designed to counteract the spread of aerosols and droplets and be cost-effective and adaptable to diverse environments. We also conducted an experimental study to evaluate the device's effectiveness using an artificial cough generator, a particle counter, and a mannequin in an isolated system. We measured droplet removal rates with simulated single and repeated cough incidents. Also, measurements were taken at four distinct areas to compare its effectiveness on direct plume versus indirect particle removal. Results: The device reduced airborne disease transmission risk, as evidenced by its capacity to decrease the half-life of aerosol volume from 23.6 minutes to 15.6 minutes, effectively capturing aerosol-sized droplets known for their extended airborne persistence. The suction device lessened the peak total droplet volume from peak counts. At 22 minutes post peak droplet count, the count had dropped 24% without the suction device and 43% with the suction device. Conclusions: The experiment's findings confirm the suction device's capability to effectively remove droplets from the environment, making it a vital tool in enhancing indoor air quality. Given the sustained performance of the suction device irrespective of single or multiple cough events, this demonstrates its potential utility in reducing the risk of airborne disease transmission. 3D printing for fabrication opens the possibility of a rapid iterative design process, flexibility for different configurations, and rapid global deployment for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors are used in patients resistant to conventional treatments for rheumatologic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA). Agents used for treating rheumatic diseases affect hematological parameters. In this study, we evaluated hematological parameters in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who started anti-TNF treatment at our center. Material and Methods: A total of 109 patients diagnosed with RA, SpA without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and PsA who applied to the İnönü University Rheumatology Clinic and started TNF inhibitor treatment were included in the study. The patients' diagnoses, demographic data such as age and gender, and laboratory parameters (white blood cell, eosinophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil counts, hemoglobin, platelet (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) ratio, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, monocyte/lymphocyte ratio and eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio) at the beginning of treatment and at the first month of treatment were recorded. Results: The rheumatic inflammatory patients included in our study comprised 29 RA, 16 PsA, and 64 spondyloarthritis without PsA patients. Seventy-seven patients were female (70.6%), and 32 were male (29.4%), with a mean age of 46 (18-78). When all patients were evaluated together, a statistically significant decrease in white blood cell, neutrophil, and PLT counts, a statistically significant increase in hemoglobin, lymphocyte, and eosinophil counts, and a statistically significant decrease in neutrophil to lymphocyte and monocyte to lymphocyte ratios with an increase in MPV and mean platelet volume to platelet count were observed at the 1st month of treatment. No complications related to laboratory changes were observed, and no patient discontinued treatment. Conclusion: Although there were changes in hematological parameters in patients receiving TNF inhibitor treatment in our study, we believe that regular hemogram monitoring should be performed at regular intervals in patients undergoing anti-TNF treatment, despite the absence of any complications in our study, as cases of severe cytopenia and eosinophilia have been reported in the literature following TNF inhibitor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]