Background Genetic deficiencies of immune system, referred to as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), serve as a valuable model to study human immune responses. In a multicenter prospective cohort, we evaluated the outcome of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection among IEI subjects and analyzed genetic and immune characteristics that determine adverse COVID‐19 outcomes. Methods We studied 34 IEI patients (19M/15F, 12 [min: 0.6‐max: 43] years) from six centers. We diagnosed COVID‐19 infection by finding a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR test ( n = 25) and/or a lung tomography scoring (CORADS) ≥4 ( n = 9). We recorded clinical and laboratory findings prospectively, fitted survival curves, and calculated fatality rates for the entire group and each IEI subclass. Results Nineteen patients had combined immune deficiency (CID), six with predominantly antibody deficiency (PAD), six immune dysregulation (ID), two innate immune defects, and one in the autoinflammatory class. Overall, 23.5% of cases died, with disproportionate fatality rates among different IEI categories. PAD group had a relatively favorable outcome at any age, but CIDs and IDs were particularly vulnerable. At admission, presence of dyspnea was an independent risk for COVID‐related death (OR: 2.630, 95% CI; 1.198–5.776, p < .001). Concerning predictive roles of laboratory markers at admission, deceased subjects compared to survived had significantly higher CRP, procalcitonin, Troponin‐T, ferritin, and total‐lung‐score ( p = .020, p = .003, p = .014, p = .013, p = .020; respectively), and lower absolute lymphocyte count, albumin, and trough IgG ( p = .012, p = .022, p = .011; respectively). Conclusion Our data disclose a highly vulnerable IEI subgroup particularly disadvantaged for COVID‐19 despite their youth. Future studies should address this vulnerability and consider giving priority to these subjects in SARS‐Cov‐2 therapy trials.

Tuberculosis of the parotid gland is very rare and clinically indistinguishable from a neoplasm. Thus the diagnosis of parotid gland involvement with tuberculosis has traditionally been made after surgical resection. We present a case which was diagnosed on fine needle aspiration cytology and managed medically.

Objective:To establish local normative data of thyroid volume assessed by ultrasonography in subjects aged 0-55 years living in İstanbul, Turkey.Methods: Subjects without any known history of thyroid disease, of major surgery and/or chronic disease were enrolled in the study and evaluated by physical examination and thyroid ultrasonography. Thyroid gland and isthmus at usual location, each lateral lobe volume with three dimensions, ectopic thyroid tissue and echogenicity of the gland were assessed.Results:Initially, 494 subjects were enrolled in the study. Subjects showing heterogeneous thyroid parenchyma (n=21) and/or nodule (n=51) in ultrasonography were excluded. Final analysis covered 422 subjects (216 males, 206 females). Thyroid volume was found to significantly correlate with height, weight, age and body surface area (r=0.661, r=0.712, r=0.772 and r=0.779, respectively; p<0.0001 for all). These correlations were even stronger in subjects younger than 18 years (r=0.758, r=0.800, r=0.815 and r=0.802, respectively; p<0.0001 for all).Conclusion: The study provides updated reference norms for thyroid volume in Turkish subjects which can be used in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with thyroid diseases.

An alternative, simple shunt, which is easily constructed in the operating room or clinic, using an angiocatheter, a three-way stopcock, and a serum line can provide adequate cerebral flow and permit safe carotid endarterectomy for those rare patients with carotid artery stenosis, who cannot tolerate even seconds of carotid occlusion.

Introduction: Little is known about the COVID-19 disease characteristics and differences between different pediatric age groups. This study aimed to investigate the disease characteristics according to age groups. Methodology: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of pediatric COVID-19 in a tertiary care hospital in Turkey. The patients were divided into three groups: 15 days-24 months old (Group 1), 25-144 months old (Group 2), and 145-210 months old (Group 3) according to age. Results: A total of 139 pediatric patients with COVID-19 were examined. Twenty-nine patients (20.9%) were in Group 1, 52 (37.4%) were in Group 2, 58 (41.7%) were in Group 3. Thirty-nine patients (28.1%) were hospitalized. The most common symptoms were cough (55.4%) and fever (51.8%). The median chest X-ray (CXR) score of hospitalized patients was 1 (min 0-max 7), and the median CXR score of outpatients was 1 (min 0-max 6). Fever was significantly more frequent in Group 1, and chest pain was more frequent in Group 3. Group 1 had significantly higher WBC, lymphocyte, thrombocyte counts, AST, LDH, D-dimer, and Troponin T levels but lower hemoglobin, total protein, and albumin levels. The treatment included antibiotics, oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine, and supportive therapy. Only one patient (0.7%) received non-invasive mechanical ventilatory support. Conclusions: As we know the clinical course of COVID-19 in children is less severe than in adults. We also found significant differences in both clinical and laboratory findings between different pediatric age groups which supports the theory that disease pathogenesis is highly variable according to age.