To evaluate the effects of Caspase‐3 (CASP3) gene expression and serum levels on preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. A total of 41 individuals (male: 21; female: 20) with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were included in the current study. Hemograms were examined from patient blood samples, and CASP3 gene expression levels were detected. Also, human CASP3 levels were determined from the serum samples of patients. The mean age of patients was 56.220 ± 18.937 years. Significant differences were detected among all groups for CASP3 (p = 0.014) and CASP3 concentration (p = 0.024). The relationship between CASP3 levels and hemoglobin (p = 0.023), between CASP3 levels and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.001), between CASP3 levels and ferritin (p = 0.003), between CASP3 levels and lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.001), and between CASP3 levels and SpO₂ (p = 0.006) were statistically significant. Also, the relationship between CASP3 concentration levels and SpO₂ was statistically significant (p < 0.046). The CASP3 gene and/or its products have an important function to prevent injury caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. They play crucial roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis and viability. Perhaps CASP3 levels may provide information about the severity of the disease.

Aim: At the context of the chest and infectious diseases, the main goal of this study is to make a bibliometric analysis of publications on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Visualizing it with visible and scientific mapping techniques is the secondary goal. Material and Methods: Raw data for 2020 have been downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection database. A total of 787 articles were reviewed. Raw data were analyzed with Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. The articles about COVID-19, related with the respiratory system and infectious diseases were included. The perspectives of other disciplines were excluded with the analysis. Results: A total of 787 articles were published in 108 different journals. The average number of citations per article is 10.17. There are four studies with over 300 citations. The top three authors with the highest H index are Raoult D, Colson P and Rolasin JM. The h, g and m indices of the authors were calculated and the core authors were determined according to Lotka's law. The top three countries that publish the most articles are China, America and Italy. Finally, according to the word mining analysis, it was determined that the studies can be classified under three clusters. Conclusion: One of the tools that will accelerate the basic reading process in the face of the numerical increase rate of publications on COVID-19 is the bibliometric analysis results. The most up-to-date and basic information on treatment options can be found collectively in bibliometric studies.

Aim We aimed to investigate the effect of short-term pirfenidone treatment on prolonged COVID-19 pneumonia. Method Hospital files of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of critical COVID-19 pneumonia between November 2020 and March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Chest computed tomography images taken both before treatment and 2 months after treatment, demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients receiving pirfenidone+methylprednisolone (n=13) and only methylprednisolones (n=9) were recorded. Pulmonary function tests were performed after the second month of the treatment. CT involvement rates were determined by machine learning. Results A total of 22 patients, 13 of whom (59.1%) were using methylprednisolone + pirfenidone and 9 of whom (40.9%) were using only methylprednisolone were included. When the blood gas parameters and pulmonary function tests of the patients were compared at the end of the second month, it was found that the FEV1, FEV1%, FVC, and FVC% values were statistically significantly higher in the methylprednisolone + pirfenidone group compared to the methylprednisolone group (p=0.025, p=0.012, p=0.026, and p=0.017, respectively). When the rates of change in CT scans at diagnosis and second month of treatment were examined, it was found that the involvement rates in the methylprednisolone + pirfenidone group were statistically significantly decreased (p<0.001). Conclusion Antifibrotic agents can reduce fibrosis that may develop in the future. These can also help dose reduction and/or non-use strategy for methylprednisolone therapy, which has many side effects. Further large series and randomized controlled studies are needed on this subject.