Turk J Med Sci
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Food allergy (FA) has become an increasing problem throughout the world. Over the last 2 decades, the frequency of FA has increased in both children and adults. The prevalence differs according to the research methodology, age, and geographic regions, ranging between 2.0% and 10.0%. ⋯ The gold standard in the diagnosis of FA is oral provocation tests. Epidermal skin prick tests and specific IgE measurements, as well as component-resolved diagnostic techniques are helpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients. In this review, the epidemiology, diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis of IgE-mediated FA in children and adults were discussed and some specific forms of FA, such as pollen FA syndrome, alpha-gal allergy, and food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis were explained.
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With the increase in the elderly population, the elderly proportion needing emergency surgery is also increasing. Despite medical advances in surgery and anesthesia, negative postoperative outcomes and high mortality rates are still present in elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery. Comorbidities are described as the main determining factors in poor outcomes. In this metaanalysis, it was aimed to investigate the effect of comorbidity on mortality in elderly patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. ⋯ Our study revealed that comorbidity had no significant effect on causing mortality in geriatric patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. There are controversial results in the literature, and in order to reach more precise results, studies involving wider groups of patients and further studies examining the specific effect of certain comorbid conditions are needed.
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, and the death toll from COVID-19, which is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has already surpassed that of many previous epidemics. A wide variety of treatment options are being considered for COVID-19, but there is still no definitive treatment or vaccine. This study aims to explain the background of convalescent plasma (CP) treatment and its relations with COVID-19 immunity, to define ideal treatment procedures, and to reveal present and future perspectives in the light of the rapidly growing data. Immunological basis of COVID-19-associated immune response and convalescent plasma as a treatment option: Since it has been shown that the impaired immune response of the host is one of the most important factors that increase the severity of the infection, treatment strategies to suppress aberrant immune activation are currently being considered. CP, which is derived from recently recovered patients and contains neutralizing antibodies and many other immune- modulatory substances, seems to be the most convenient strategy to restore normal immune function considering the fast spreading nature of the ongoing pandemic. ⋯ Even though mechanisms of action of plasma therapy are not fully delineated, it was shown that it could lead to a reduction in mortality since other alternatives such as monoclonal antibodies or SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmunoglobulin require much more time and effort to be developed.