It was first identified as new pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, Hubei, China; since December 2019, the struggle against coronavirus continues despite the cumulative number of cases ex-ceeding 231 million and the number of deaths exceeding 4.7 million in the world, and the number of cases exceeding 6 million and approximately 60 thousand deaths in our country. [1][2][3][4]

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Introduction The lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1) is a DNA‐binding transcription factor that functions in the Wnt signaling pathway. Increased LEF1 activity is associated with progression of several types of cancer including leukemia. Here, we investigated LEF1 isoform expression and genomic variations in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods LEF1 isoform expression was evaluated by quantitative real‐time PCR in 87 newly diagnosed childhood ALL patients and controls. Moreover, Western blot analysis was performed for detection of LEF1 expression and the hotspot region of LEF1 was screened by deep sequencing. Results The LEF1 mRNA expression of B cell ALL patients was higher than the controls (LEF1‐total P = .011, LEF1‐long P = .026). Moreover, B‐ALL samples showing higher total LEF1 expression had significantly shorter relapse‐free survival (P = .008) and overall survival (P = .011). Although full‐length LEF1 expression was similar to the controls in T‐ALL, 50% (n = 15) of the ALL patients had increased full‐length LEF1 protein expression. Imbalance between short‐ and full‐length LEF1 isoforms may lead to cell survival in ALL. Beside the LEF1 activation, LEF1 gene variations were rarely observed in our cohort. Conclusion The results indicate that the Wnt pathway may have a pathogenic function in a group of ALL patients and high LEF1‐total expression might be a marker for shorter relapse‐free survival time in B cell ALL.

Background: This study aimed to assess the attitudes and knowledge of adult individuals about antibiotics. Since in Turkey, antibiotics are not sold without a prescription, it was also investigated whether Turkish people compelled physicians to prescribe antibiotics by showing unrealistic symptoms. Methods:A self-administered cross-sectional survey involving 1,057 respondents was conducted using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in four sections. The first section included attitude assessment and a five-point Likert scale has collected information. In the second section, knowledge questions examined participants' knowledge about antibiotics with Three-point Likert scale. The third section contained a sensitive question, and using the crosswise model was indirectly asked whether the participant has forced the physician to prescribe an antibiotic. The reliability test results for the attitude scale showed the α-value of Cronbach was 0.767, and KR-21 reliability for the knowledge scale was 0.713. Test-retest reliability coefficients for attitude scale was r=0.697, the coefficients for knowledge scale was r=0.887.Results: Turkish people's awareness about antibiotics is insufficient but at an acceptable level. The public is aware that antibiotics rapidly develop resistance when used widely and incorrectly. Nevertheless, %17 of them resort to showing unrealistic symptoms to force the physician to prescribe antibiotics. Conclusion:To conclude, Turkish people's knowledge and attitudes about antibiotics are insufficient but acceptable. However, a noticeable rate of patients resorts to showing unrealistic symptoms to force the physician to prescribe antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels after 6 months of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative but assumed to be COVID-19 positive cases to investigate the relationship between IgG levels and thoracic computed tomography (CT) findings. METHODS: This was a single-center study that included patients whose PCR test results were negative at least three times using nasopharyngeal swabs but had clinical findings of COVID-19 and thoracic CT findings compatible with viral pneumonia. Six months after discharge, the IgG antibodies were analyzed. The cutoff value for negative and positive serology was defined as <1.4 (index S/C) and ≥1.4 (index S/C), respectively. In addition, the patients were categorized according to their thoracic CT findings as high (typical) and low (atypical). Also, the patients were grouped into classes as <5% lung involvement versus ≥5% lung involvement. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 49.78±12.96 years. PCR was negative, but patients with COVID-19 symptoms who had SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive were 81.9% (n=95). The antibody titer and lung involvement ≥5% were statistically significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 IgG positive cases (p<0.001 and p=0.021). Age and chest CT findings were the risk factors for lung involvement (OR=1. 08, p<0.001 and OR=2.19, p=0.010, respectively). CONCLUSION: This study is valuable because increasing severity (≥5%) of lung involvement appears to be associated with high and persistent IgG antibody titers. In probable cases of COVID-19, even if the PCR test is negative, high IgG titers 6 months after discharge can predict the rate of lung parenchymal involvement.