Retrospective analysis of respiratory virus infections in adults with hematologic malignancies

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to evaluate respiratory virus infections in adult patients with hematological malignancies (HM).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The medical records of patients who were followed up by the hematology clinic at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital between March 2021 and March 2023 with a diagnosis of HM and who underwent real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal specimens taken with suspected respiratory tract infection constituted the study data.

RESULTS

Infections were symptomatic in 64.56% of patients, and the most common symptoms were fever (48.10%) and cough (18.99%). The mortality rate was 25.32% over a two-year period. When the samples were examined, positive test frequency was 43.04%, and the three most common pathogens were Influenza A (10.13%), SARS-CoV-2 (8.86%), and rhinovirus/enterovirus (7.59%). The frequency of positive tests from HMs was highest in patients with AML (p=0.042). Respiratory PCR kit positivity was higher in patients who had any symptoms (p=0.002) and cough (p=0.003). Test positivity was higher in patients with any pathological radiological finding (p=0.039) and ground glass appearance (p=0.010). The risk of death was found to be 5.848 times higher in patients with dyspnea compared to those without (OR: 5.848, 95% CI: 1.143-29.915, p=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory tract virus panel PCR test positivity is more common in patients with HM presenting with respiratory tract infection symptoms in the presence of AML diagnosis, symptomatic infection, cough, radiological findings, and ground glass appearance. Mortality risk is high in HM patients with respiratory tract virus infection who have shortness of breath.

COVID-19: booster(s) vs. hospitalization and Intensive Care Unit admission

OBJECTIVE

As the pandemic continues, different vaccine protocols have been implemented to maintain the protection of vaccines and to provide protection against new variants. The aim of this study was to assess hospitalized patients' vaccination status and document the efficacy of boosters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The patients that were hospitalized due to COVID-19 were enrolled from 28 hospitals in Turkey for five months from September 2021. 5,331 confirmed COVID-19 patients from collaborating centers were randomly enrolled to understand/estimate the distribution of vaccination status in hospitalized patients and to compare the efficacy of vaccination/booster protocols.

RESULTS

2,779 men and 2,552 women of which 2,408 (45.2%) were admitted to Intensive Care Units participated in this study. It was found that the highest risk reduction for all age groups was found in groups that received 4 doses. Four doses of vaccination for every 3.7 people under 50 years of age, for every 5.7 people in the 50-64 age group, and for every 4.3 people over 65 years of age will prevent 1 patient from being admitted to intensive care. Regardless of the type of vaccine, it was found that the risk of ICU hospitalization decreased in those who were vaccinated compared to those who were not vaccinated. Regardless of the type of vaccine, the ICU risk was found to decrease 1.25-fold in those who received 1 or 2 doses of vaccine, 1.18-fold in those who received 3 doses, and 3.26-fold in those who received 4 doses.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that the addition of a fourth dose is more effective in preventing intensive unit care even in disadvantaged groups.

Migratory life history of European eel Anguilla anguilla from freshwater regions of the River Asi, southern Turkey and their high otolith Sr:Ca ratios

Otolith Sr:Ca ratios from 32 of 34 European eel Anguilla anguilla collected from three freshwater sites in the River Asi, southern Turkey, indicated that they were resident in fresh water without apparent exposure to salt water since the elver stage. The Sr:Ca ratio criterion indicative of residence in fresh water was more than twice that of values from other European countries. Otolith Sr:Ca ratios of A. anguilla from fresh waters can vary among regions, possibly reflecting regional-specific water chemistry. Hence, the use of Sr:Ca ratios determined in one region to interpret results from a different region might lead to misclassification of migratory life-history types.