Effects of COVID-19 pandemics on urinary metabolites in kidney stone patients: our kidney stone prevention clinic experience

BACKGROUND@#The dietary habits and lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 pandemic could affect the urinary risk factors in kidney stone formers. In this study, we investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on 24-h urine metabolites, as a surrogate for dietary intake, in patients with kidney stones, in Tehran, Iran.@*METHODS@#We evaluated the medical records of all patients with urolithiasis who visited in our stone prevention clinic from the beginning of COVID-19 in Iran to 1 year later (Feb 2020-Feb 2021) and compared it with the patients' medical records in the same period a year before COVID-19 (Feb 2019-Feb 2020).@*RESULTS@#The results of our stone prevention clinic showed a decrease in the number of visits during COVID-19. Twenty-four-hour urine urea, sodium, and potassium were significantly lower, and 24-h urine magnesium was significantly higher during COVID-19. Higher 24-h urine oxalate was only shown in patients with the first-time visit, whereas lower 24-h urine uric acid and citrate were only shown in patients with the follow-up visits.@*CONCLUSIONS@#COVID-19 pandemics may change some of the dietary habits of the patients, including lower salt, protein, and fruit and vegetable intake. Although economic issues, restricted access, or sanitation issues may be the reason for the undesirable dietary changes, the importance of a quality diet should be discussed with all patients, as possible. Since the number of patients visited in the stone clinic was lower during COVID-19, virtual visits could be an excellent alternative to motivate patients with kidney stones.

[Testicular torsion: major causes of orchiectomy]

One of the leading causes to orchiectomy is the testicular torsion. It seems that early diagnosis and surgical exploration improve testis salvage after testicular torsion. To assess the delay cause of orchiectomy our patients included in a Cross sectional hospital-based research. In all patients with suspected testicular torsion scrotal exploration were done in Shahid Labbafinejad Hospital over 1 year period. Of Forty patients underwent surgery, 28 [70%] had testicular torsion and then 10 [25%] required orchiectomy. Delay in presentation to the hospital and misdiagnosis by general practitioners were the two main causes of delay leading to orchiectomy in patient with testicular torsion. Orchiectomy rate due to testicular torsion is high. To reduce it we suggest to evaluate our general population education and medicines programs

[Rate of consent validity in patients from teaching hospitals in Sari]

Quality of data in patient record is not a new issue. Data quality requires many details, which in this article we analyzed for validity of consent. This is a patients right and hospitals must pay attention to it, prior to providing their services. This is a descriptive chart review research. Variables are age, sex, type of admission, degree of-understanding, general condition at time of admission, and the person who signed the consent for chart, using medical information, validity of consent and education of admission clerk. This was a pilot study within each hospital, according to the number of clerks, thus, 30 records were reviewed. Validity of consent confirmed with comparison of consents with the standards. Data was analyzed with SPSS software, X2 statistics were used for determining the relation between variables and P<0/05 was significant. Results showed that of the 540 records which were reviewed, 266 [49/4%] of the patients were males and remaining were females. Range of age was from 1 day to 89 years of age. Type of admission for 258 [47/8%] was emergency and the others were admitted electively. Degree of conscious for 477[88/5%] were awake and 442[82%] were in good general condition. The 403 [74/6%] consent for care were not valid and 125[23/1%] of the consent for using data of medical records in research was also not valid. The results of this research indicated that most consent is not reliable. Every effort must be made to ensure the development of consent validity

salutary effects of antioxidant vitamins on the plasma lipids of healthy middle aged-to-elderly individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Study objective To determine the efficacy of antioxidant vitamins C and E in lowering the serum lipid levels in apparently healthy middle aged-to-elderly subjects. Desing: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: University outpatient clinic. Participants: One hundred twenty subjects [60 males and 60 females] with no known cardiovascular disease, aged 50 and over were enrolled into the study and were randomly allocated to four age and sex matched groups. Each group was subsequently randomized to receive vitamin C, vitamin E, their combination and placebo respectively, for 75 days. Pre-and post-treatment fasting plasma lipid profiles were determined for each case. Results: Except for serum triglyceride level which did not change significantly in group "A" cases receiving vitamin C, there was a quite significant reduction in the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglyceride in all treatment groups compared to the placebo [P < 0.001]. Conclusion: Antioxidant vitamins C and E or their combination can effectively lower the serum cholesterol and LDL levels and raise the serum HDL level in the middle aged-to-elderly healthy individuals