During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus of which evidence-based medical paradigms cannot be easily applied; difficult clinical decisions shall be required particularly in the 'difficult-to-treat' cases of high risk group with associated comorbidities. Convalescent immune plasma therapy is a promising option as a sort of 'rescue' treatment in COVID-19 immune syndrome, where miraculous antiviral drugs are not available yet. In this report, we aim to convey our experience of multi-task treatment approach with convalescent immune plasma and anti-cytokine drug combination in a COVID-19 patient with extremely challenging comorbidities including active myeloid malignancy, disseminated tuberculosis and kidney failure.

Objective:To evaluate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the relationship between RLS and clinical/laboratory findings of COPD.Methods:One hundred and thirty-four COPD patients without secondary causes of RLS were included. Thirty-nine (29.1%) patients were diagnosed with RLS and classified as Group 1. The control group consisted of 65 age-matched COPD patients without RLS. Group 1 was divided into subgroups according to the Johns Hopkins Severity (JHS) scale. Patients with a score of 0, 1, or 2 were classified as JHS 0-2 and those with a score of 3 as JHS 3. Group 1 and the control group and subgroups were compared for clinical and laboratory characteristics.Results:We found that the duration of COPD was longer and that airway obstruction, hypercapnia, and hypoxia were more evident in patients with RLS than those without. Similar differences were also detected between JHS subgroups 3 (more severe) and 0-2. Polyneuropathy frequency was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to controls. However, Group 1 subgroups showed a similar frequency of polyneuropathy. In a multivariate analysis, hypercapnia made a significant independent contribution to both JHS 0-2 and JHS 3 patients when RLS severity was set as the dependent variable. Polyneuropathy and the duration of COPD were significant independent variables for patients in the JHS 3 subgroup. Polyneuropathy was the strongest predictor for the JHS 3 patients.Conclusions:We conclude that RLS is frequent in COPD, particularly in patients with severe hypoxemia/hypercapnia and in late stages of the disease.

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Although measles is usually considered a benign viral disease of childhood, adults may be affected at any age and may experience severe respiratory or neurologic consequences. We present three adult cases (one of whom was pregnant) admitted to our University Hospital who were diagnosed to have measles and who had uncommon clinical features such as hepatitis and hyponatremia. All patients were markedly hypoxic; one required mechanical ventilation. Two patients received therapy with intravenous ribavirin and all patients received high-dose vitamin A for 3 days. Therapy with intravenous ribavirin and vitamin A were well tolerated by our patients except one patient who developed acute renal failure and were associated with reversal of respiratory compromise. Life-threatening measles pneumonitis in adults may be more common than previously appreciated, regardless of the patient's immune status, and ribavirin and high-dose vitamin A might be a treatment option.

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to determine mortality rates and to evaluate clinical features of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Materials and methods:The medical records of active TB patients requiring ICU admission were retrospectively reviewed over a 5-year period.Results: Sixteen patients with active TB admitted to the ICU were included in the study. Seven (43.8%) patients died in the ICU. The cause of mortality was septic shock in 5 patients and respiratory failure in 2 patients. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were higher in patients who died (P = 0.012 and 0.048, respectively). Six of the 8 immunosuppressed patients and 1 of the 8 nonimmunosuppressed patients died (P = 0.041). The median mechanical ventilation (MV) duration was longer in patients who died (11 (5-45) days) than in patients who survived (4.5 (3-7) days) (P = 0.036). Seven of the 8 patients with nosocomial infection and/or coinfection died, while all of the patients without additional infection survived (P = 0.01). Conclusion:Active TB patients admitted to the ICU had higher mortality rates, especially patients with immunosuppression, nosocomial infection, high APACHE II and SOFA scores, and patients receiving MV.

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Background:  The aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of pleural tuberculosis in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods:  Three hundred consecutive patients who were smear positive for pulmonary tuberculosis or isolated pleural tuberculosis were enrolled in the study. Patients’ age and smoking status (pack‐years) were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups: those with and without DM. Results:  All patients enrolled in the study were male. Mean (±SD) patient age was 42.4 ± 15.9 years. Of the 300 patients in the study, 48 had DM. There was no significant difference in the distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis and isolated pleural tuberculosis between patients with and without DM (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in mean pack‐years of smoking between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and those with isolated pleural tuberculosis for all patients; patients with isolated pleural tuberculosis had a significantly lower number of pack‐years of smoking (P < 0.05). Conclusion:  Severe pulmonary involvement in DM patients may be due to smoking status.

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