Yavuz Uyar

Determination of SARS-CoV-2 variant is significant to prevent the spreads of COVID-19 disease. We aimed to evaluate the variants of SARS-CoV-2 rate in positive patients in Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Training and Research Hospital (KSS-TRH), Istanbul, Türkiye between 1st January and 30th November 2021 by using RT-PCR method. Herein, 825,169 patients were evaluated (male:58.53% and female:41.47%) whether COVID-19 positive or not [( +):21.3% and (−):78.7%] and 175,367 patient was described as positive (53.2%-female and 46.8%-male) by RT-PCR. COVID-19 positive rate is observed highest in the 6–15- and 66–75-year age range. The frequencies were obtained as SARS-CoV-2 positive (without mutation of B.1.1.7 [B.1.1.7 (U.K), E484K, L452R, B.1.351 (S. Africa/Brazil) spike mutations] as 66.1% (n: 115,899), B.1.1.7 Variant as 23.2% (n:40,686), Delta mutation (L452R) variant as 9.8% (n:17,182), B.1.351 variant as 0.8% (n:1370) and E484K as 0.1% (n: 230). In April 2021, general SARS-CoV-2 and B.1.1.7 variant were dominantly observed. Up to July 2021, B.1.617.2 (Delta variant/ Indian variant) and E484K has been not observed. B.1.351 variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been started in February 2021 at the rarest ratio and March 2021 is the top point. September 2021 is the pick point of E484K. African/Brazil variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been started in February 2021 at the rarest ratio and March 2021 is the top point. September 2021 is the pick point of E484K. When the gender type is compared within the variants, women were found to be more prevalent in all varieties. The meaning of these mutations is very important to understand the transmission capacity of the COVID-19 disease, pandemic episode, and diagnosis of the virus with mutation types. Understanding the variant type is important for monitoring herd immunity and the spread of the disease.

Introduction: The importance of academic equipment in biochemical and microbiological evaluations of SARS-CoV-2 is increased. In this context, different techniques have been developed in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 disease as qRT-PCR, rapid antigen tests and vaccine technology. The first known example of vaccine technology is the CoronaVac (Sinovac, China) inactivated vaccine throughout pandemic. In the presented study, the sensitivity of CoronaVac in the community would be positively increased and this data would be strengthened. In addition, antibody sensitivity of the CoronaVac between two doses, as well as the hemogram and biochemical analyzes were evaluated. The focus will be on increasing the sensitivity of the society to the vaccine. Materials and methods: The immunoglobulin, biochemical analyzes, hemogram, and iron-iron binding capacities were evaluated after vaccinated person in a vaccine administration center in Istanbul, Türkiye. Results: RBDIgG level was significantly higher after second dose (p<0.05). Mon#, Bas#, IMG#, Mon, Hgb, MCH, MCHC, RDWCV, RDWSD, and PDW levels were higher at 28th day. RBDIgG, Fe, WBC, Neu#, Lym#, Eos#, and PLT levels were higher at 42nd day. All other parameter means were higher at 56th day. RBDIgG, Fe, WBC, RDWCV, RDWSD and PDW differences between 28th and 42nd days were significant (p<0.05). RBDIgG, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDWCV differences between 28th and 56th days were statistically significant (p<0.05). RBDIgG, MCV and MCH differences between 42nd and 56th days were statistically significant (p<0.05). Discussion and conclusion: The 60 volunteers in our study were laboratory, emergency service staffes and hospital personnel working at high risk of COVID-19. There was no differentiation in blood values related to the vaccine. It has been shown as an example of the phase-1 and the side effects of the CoronaVac, were also evaluated, and all our volunteers were followed for 60 days, and no possible serious side effects were observed. In groups with statistical significance in blood results, a vaccine related observation is not clearly revealed. We see that CoronaVac vaccine offers a positive confidence interval in antibody responses after the 2nd dose. These data are great importance in terms of better monitoring of the data by the anti-vaccine groups in Türkiye. It is beneficial to remove the vaccine mistrust against the anti-vaccination and pave the way for social immunization. This study contributes to the accuracy of the ministry and the vaccination strategy implemented in Türkiye. The result of this study provides preliminary information for the studies that will result from the application of the 3rd and 4th dose of vaccines.

The real target planned is the prevention of COVID-19 using natural treatment tools, other than medical drugs, together with the use of vaccines. Similar to various viruses that lead to upper respiratory diseases, SARS-CoV-2 most frequently enters the body through the nasal cavity and oral cavity. It has been stated that the Oscardia Ledovir Spray can form a mechanical barrier in the mucosa of the nasal and oral cavities, which are the points of entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the body, preventing the bonding of the virus to the receptors, and inhibiting any virus it encounters through direct contact.

The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is generally accepted as an indicator of sub-clinical inflammation. In recent studies, it has been found that the NLR can be used in the calculation of morbidity and mortality. Within the scope of this study, the relationship between NLR and mortality in hospitalized patients between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2019, was explained. Among the studies on NLR between these dates, the age range of 584 patients with normal and abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP) values ​​ranged from 10 to 100, and the data of 272 female and 312 male patients were analyzed. In this study, while evaluating the academic contributions of the NLR and CRP data obtained with the retrospective approach to the literature in the cases of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Age, NLR, CRP, IgG, and IgG percent levels of exitus group patients were significantly higher than non-exitus group (p<0.05). Lymphocyte level of non-exitus group (lymphocyte 1.26±1.04) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than exitus group (age, mean±SD 68.70±16.69, NLR 17.48±25.80, CRP 167.27±114.10, IgG 0.38±0.60, IgG percent 2.56±5.15, and neutrophile 12.50±9.68). We hypothesize that the data evaluated together with the immature granulocyte count will help and benefit the intensive care specialists in their evaluation reports for the patient.

COVID‑19 is a devastating disease, and its control is difficult due to its high transmissibility rate and a long incubation average period (6.4 days). Additionally, more than half of the infected patients were asymptomatic young people or children. The asymptomatic virus transmission is the actual challenge to controlling the disease. Because of limited treatment options, diagnosis techniques have been the first focus all over the world, involving q-RT-PCR as a gold standard, serological tests, point of care studies, or RT-LAMP. Generally, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal samples are preferred clinically as sources. However, alternative sources are being researched, particularly for healthcare professionals who have difficulty taking samples, patients who are afraid of giving samples, and pediatric patients. Herein, physiological saline has been utilized to offer an alternative source besides the swab samples for use in q-RT-PCR. In this study, 212 randomly chosen patients’ samples were studied, and we evaluated the concordance and accurate q-RT-PCR results in two different sources, obtained from swab and gargle samples of patients. Herein, physiological saline is utilized, which is widely used medically as a recommended irrigating and wound dressing solution. We obtained in our experiments with this method, the confidence interval determines 74.50% positivity when compared to the routine q-RT-PCR procedure as summarized. In addition, when only the gargle sampling method is studied in low-income countries, the cost of testing for COVID-19 will decrease significantly. Because this method does not require vNAT or VTM transport solution sterile swab sticks as shown. The plastic container with a lid in which the patient can gargle with SF and spit it out is an ideal method for this. Additionally, it provides a great cost-benefit in low-income countries.

Coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID‐19 caused by novel coronavirus/severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2 or 2019‐nCoV) is an ongoing pandemic that has emerging global effects and requires rapid and reliable diagnostic testing. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (q‐RT‐PCR) is the gold standard method for SARS‐CoV‐2 detections. On the other hand, new approaches remedy the diagnosis difficulties gradually. Reverse transcription loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (RT‐LAMP) as one of these novel approaches may also contribute to faster and cheaper field‐based testing. The present study was designed to evaluate this rapid screening diagnostic test that can give results in 30–45 min and to compare the effectiveness of LAMP to the q‐RT‐PCR. The 30 randomly chosen patient samples were generated by nasopharyngeal swabs with a portion of the SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleic sequence. The sample of quantification cycle (Cq) values was tested using RT‐LAMP as well as by conventional q‐RT‐PCR. The patient samples were tested with four different kits (SENSObiz COVID‐19 [SARS‐CoV‐2] LAMP Assay, the QIAseq DIRECT SARS‐CoV‐2 kit, Biospeedy SARS‐CoV‐2 Variant Plus kit, and CoVirion‐CV19‐2 SARS‐CoV‐2 OneStep RT‐PCR kit) and two different PCR devices (GDS Rotor‐Gene Q Thermocycler and Inovia Technologies GenX series). Based on 30 patient samples, the positive/negative ratio (P/N) was 30/0 as Biospeedy and Covirion (positivity 100%), 28/2 as Qiagen kit (positivity 93.3%) for the samples studied on the Inovia device while the same samples on the Rotor‐Gene device were 30/0 as Biospeedy and Covirion (positivity 100%), 29/1 as Qiagen kit at the first day (96.7%). On the fifth day, the samples were studied in the Inovia device and the respective results were obtained: 27/3 as Biospeedy (positivity 90%), 16/14 as Qiagen (positivity 53.3%), 28/2 as Covirion kit (positivity 93.3%). When these samples were studied in the Rotor‐Gene device, it was 29/1 in Biospeedy and Covirion (positivity 96.7%), 19/11 in the Qiagen kit (positivity 63.3%). When these samples were compared with the LAMP method it was found to be 19/11 (positivity 63.3%) on the first day and 18/12 (positivity 60%) on the fifth day. SARS‐CoV‐2 test studies will contribute to a proactive approach to the development of rapid diagnosis systems. The LAMP approach presents promising results to monitor exposed individuals and also improves screening efforts in potential ports of entry.

<%=header_description %> <%=header_description %> Yurt Dışı Kaynaklı Bir Dang Ateşi Olgusu ve Literatürün Gözden Geçirilmesi An Imported Dengue Fever Case in Turkey and Review of the Literature