Background/aim: Sepsis is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the values of procalcitonin and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in the differential diagnosis of patients with sepsis and noninfectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (NI-SIRS) and measure their importance in the prognosis of patients with sepsis. Materials and methods:This prospective study included 41 NI-SIRS and 33 sepsis patients hospitalized in Celal Bayar University Hospital, Manisa, Turkey. Blood samples were taken from NI-SIRS patients on days 0 and 3 and from sepsis patients on days 0, 3, 4, 7, and 14. Clinical status of the patients was determined with the SOFA scoring system.Results: The SOFA scoring system and procalcitonin and sTREM-1 measurements were significant in the differential diagnosis of sepsis and NI-SIRS patients. The SOFA scoring system was considered the most important indicator in determining the prognosis of sepsis patients. Procalcitonin and sTREM-1 levels increased progressively in nonsurvivors and decreased in survivors, but changes were statistically insignificant. Conclusion:In the differentiation of sepsis and NI-SIRS, and evaluation of the prognosis of sepsis, combined measurements of procalcitonin and sTREM-1 levels are important.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the vaccination status and the risk factors for the intensive care unit (ICU) support need of the laboratory-confirmed breakthrough COVID-19 infection inpatients. Materials and Methods: This multi-center point-prevalence study was conducted on inpatients, divided into two groups as ‘fully’ and ‘partially’ vaccinated according to COVID-19 vaccination status. Results: Totally 516 patients were included in the study. The median age was 65 (55-77), and 53.5% (n=276) of the patients were male. Hypertension (41.9%, n=216), diabetes mellitus (DM) (31.8%, n=164), and coronary artery disease (CAD) (16.3%, n=84) were the predominant comorbidities. Patients were divided into two groups ICU (n=196) and non-ICU (n=301). Hypertension (p=0.026), DM (p=0.048), and congestive heart failure (CHF) (p=0.005) were significantly higher in ICU patients and the median age was younger among non-ICU patients (p=0.033). Of patients, 16.9% (n=87) were fully vaccinated, and this group’s need for ICU support was statistically significantly lower (p=0.021). Conclusion: We conclude that older age, hypertension, DM, CHF, and being partially vaccinated were associated with the need for ICU support. Therefore, all countries should continuously monitor post-vaccination breakthrough COVID-19 infections to determine the national booster vaccine administration approach that will provide vulnerable individuals the highest protection. Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine, intensive care unit, risk factor, SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccine breakthrough infections, variant of concerns

Objective: We aimed to evaluate results of telaprevir, pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection. Methods:We evaluated results of telaprevir-based triple therapy in treatment-experienced 53 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients followed in five hospitals in Gaziantep, retrospectively. Demographic data of patients, adverse events, treatment indications, sustained virologic response (SVR) rates and outcomes were recorded. Results: 43 (81.1%) of 53 patients with HCV genotype 1 infection included in the study completed the treatment. Of patients treated, 44 (83%) had had a relapse and 9 (17%) were previous non-responders. Telaprevir-based triple therapy achieved SVR in 31 (58.5%) patients. Pruritus, rash, anemia and anorectal discomfort were main adverse effects. Blood transfusion and ribavirin dose reduction were required for 19 and 13 patients, respectively. Of patients, 10 (18.9%) discontinued therapy because of severe adverse effects. Conclusions: Despite of more severe and frequent adverse effects, telaprevir-based therapy has provided SVR in more than a half of patients with CHC for both relapse and non-responder patient groups before an era of new direct acting antiviral agents.