Browsing by Author "Kuscu, Ozlem Ozkan"

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Evaluation of the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test
(2023) Sanli, Ozlem Oguc; Kuscu, Ozlem Ozkan; Incekas, Caner; 0000-0001-7899-0233; 0000-0001-9019-423X
Introduction: Coronavirus disease, is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2. The gold standard method to diagnose is the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test. Rapid antigen tests can also be used for diagnosis. This study aims to compare the results of these two methods.Materials and Methods: Between November 2021 and July 2022, the study included 1811 patients who visited the emergency depart-ment with coronavirus-related symptoms and signs. Respiratory samples from these patients were simultaneously evaluated using both reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and rapid antigen tests. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction tests were conducted using the BioSpeedy SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction kit (Bioeksen-Turkiye), while the rapid antigen tests were performed using the RapidForTM SARS-CoV-2 Ag (Vitrosens-Germany).Results: The comparison of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test and rapid antigen test results showed a 90.67% sensitivity, 98.28% specificity, 91.27% positive predictive value, 98.15% negative predictive value, and 97.02% (1757/1811) accuracy. Qualitative results of both tests exhibited a very good agreement (Kappa= 0.892, p< 0.001). According to the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test, the sensitivity of the rapid antigen test was found to be 100% in 28 samples with a cycle threshold <17, 100% in 78 samples with a cycle threshold <20, 98.33% in 120 samples with a cycle threshold <22, and 96.28% in 215 samples with a cycle threshold <25.Conclusion: When the results of the study are evaluated, it is seen that the use of the rapid antigen test for screening purposes and confirmation of patients with negative test results by Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction will provide advantages in terms of both time and cost. Due to the low sensitivity and high positive predictive value of the vitrosens rapid antigen test, we think that this test can be used in the first stage to accelerate the diagnosis of patients with high viral load, who are more likely to be infectious, to prevent transmission and to start their treatment quickly.
Relationship Between Perioperative Factors and Splenic Artery Steal Syndrome After Orthotopic Liver Transplant: A Retrospective Clinical Study
(2023) Kuscu, Ozlem Ozkan; Kus, Murat; Incekas, Caner; Ozmete, Ozlem; Ergenoglu, Pinar; Yildirim, Sedat; Torgay, Adnan; Haberal, Mehmet; 37885290
Objectives: After orthotopic liver transplant, ischemia of biliary tract and graft loss may occur due to impaired hepatic arterial blood flow. This situation with hypersplenism and impaired hepatic arterial blood flow is defined as splenic artery steal syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perioperative factors and splenic artery steal syndrome in orthotopic liver transplant patients. Materials and Methods: Forty-five patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplant between 2014 and 2022 were included in the study. The data for the patients were obtained from the hospital database, including the intraoperative anesthesiology and postoperative intensive care records. Results: Eleven patients were diagnosed with splenic artery steal syndrome. Patients with splenic artery steal syndrome had higher need for intraoperative vasopressor agents (P = .016) and exhibited lower intraoperative urine output (P = .031). In the postoperative intensive care follow-up, patients with splenic artery steal syndrome had higher levels of C-reactive protein during the first 48 hours (P = .030). Conclusions: Intraoperative administration of vasopressor drugs, low urine output, and early postoperative high C-reactive protein levels were associated with the development of splenic artery steal syndrome in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplant. Future studies should focus on investigation of biomarkers associated systemic hypoperfusion that may contribute to the development of splenic artery steal syndrome.
The Role of Calprotectin and Alpha-Defensin in the Diagnosis of Pneumonia in Ventilated Patients
(2023) Kuscu, Ozlem Ozkan; Bayrakci, Sinem; Etiz, Pinar; Karakoc, Emre; Ozturk, Ozlem Gorurolu; Ozyilmaz, Ezgi; Candevir, Aslihan
Introduction: Hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia are the major causes of death in hospitalized patients, particularly in the intensive care unit, and early diagnosis may contribute to the survival of the patients. Our aim in this study was to contribute to the rapid treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia by providing an early diagnosis of pneumonia with alfa-defensin, and calprotectin as inflammation biomarkers. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a single-center, prospective observational study involving mechanically ventilated patients who were admitted to the Internal Medicine Intensive Care Unit at cukurova University Hospital between May 2018 and July 2019 and were above 18 years of age. Patients' demographics and clinical parameters were noted. Serum alpha-defensin levels were measured with the Human Alpha-defensin ELISA kit (Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Jiaxing, China). Serum calprotectin levels were measured with the Human Calprotectin ELISA kit (Bioassay Technology Laboratory, Jiaxing, China). Deep tracheal aspirates (DTA) and blood specimens were collected on the day of ventilation, as well as on the first, third, and seventh days, prospectively. The patients were monitored for the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Infections other than ventilator-associated pneumonia were also noted. Results: During the study period, 822 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, accumulating 5101 patient days and 1966 ventilator days. Of the included 88 patients who were intubated and mechanically ventilated, 59.1% were male and the mean age was 59.9 +/- 18.4. Mean alpha defensin levels were higher in patients with pneumonia than those without (1679.21 +/- 3398.17 vs 552.32 +/- 243.67 respectively, p= 0.012). As for the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve for alpha-defensin in pneumonia patients was 0.583 (p= 0.239). Mean calprotectin levels were higher in patients with pneumonia than those without (230.40 +/- 150.6819 ng/ mL vs 163.80 +/- 73.5819 ng/mL, p= 0.001). As for the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve for calprotectin in pneumonia patients was 0.621 (p= 0.086). Conclusion: Serum and bronchoalveolar fluid levels of alpha defensin and calprotectin exhibited higher values in patients with pneumonia compared to those without pneumonia. However, due to the absence of statistical significance, larger-scale studies are necessaryto ascertain the clinical utility and benefits. In conclusion, it is recommended to plan a study with a larger number of patients, in which serum and bronchoalveolar fluid alpha defensin levels are measured simultaneously and molecular methods are used for more accurate diagnosis.
"Tracheostomy healing time after decannulation": can we improve it?
(2022) Kuscu, Ozlem Ozkan; Ozcengiz, Dilek; Esquinas, Antonio M.