ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Purpose: To investigate subjective ocular symptoms and objectively measure tear secretion in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 24 patients who had survived COVID-19 infection and 27 healthy controls were enrolled. Conjunctival impression cytology, the Schirmer test, tear-film break-up time, corneal staining scores were applied to all the participants. Results: No significant difference was noted with regard to the gender and mean age between the two groups (p=0.484 and p=0.599, respectively). The conjunctival impression cytology analysis revealed that the density of the goblet cells was decreased, while the counts of lymphocytes and neutrophils were increased in the COVID-19 group patients when compared with ethe control group patients. When the Nelson classification was applied to the conjunctival impression cytology samples, 25% of the COVID-19 group patients and 14.8% of the control group patients exhibited changes consistent with ≥grade 2. The mean tear-film break-up time, Schirmer test, and corneal staining score results were determined to differ between the COVID-19 and control groups (p=0.02, p<0.001, and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: The present study revealed the pathological conjunctival alterations of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, indicating the possibility of the occurrence of pathological ocular surface alterations to even at the end of COVID-19 infection, without the occurrence of any significant clinical ocular manifestations.
RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar sintomas oculares subjetivos e medir a secreção lacrimal objetivamente em pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado da doença coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19). Métodos: Vinte e quatro pacientes que sobreviveram à infecção pela COVID-19 e 27 controles saudáveis foram incluídos neste estudo transversal prospectivo. Citologia de impressão da conjuntiva, teste de Schirmer, tempo de separação do filme lacrimal, pontuações de coloração da córnea foram aplicados a todos os participantes. Resultados: Concluiu-se que não houve diferença significativa em relação ao gênero e idade média entre os dois grupos (p=0,484 e p=0,599, respectivamente). A análise dos resultados da citologia de impressão da conjuntiva revelou que a densidade das células do cálice diminuiu, enquanto os linfócitos e neutrófilos aumentaram nos pacientes do grupo COVID-19 quando comparados com os do grupo controle. Quando a classificação de Nelson foi aplicada às amostras de citologia de impressão da conjuntiva, determinou-se que 25% dos pacientes do grupo COVID-19 e 14,8% dos pacientes do grupo controle apresentaram alterações consistentes com grau 2 ou superior. O tempo médio de separação do filme lacrimal, teste de Schirmer e os resultados das pontuações de coloração da córnea foram determinados, diferindo entre o grupo COVID-19 e o grupo controle (p=0,02, p<0,001, and p=0,003, respectivamente). Conclusões: As análises realizadas neste estudo revelaram as alterações conjuntivais patológicas de pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado de COVID-19 e mostraram que é possível que alterações patológicas da superfície ocular ocorram mesmo no final da infecção pela COVID-19, sem a ocorrência de manifestações oculares clínicas significativas.
ABSTRACT
The genus Verbascum, commonly known as mullein, traditionally used in folk medicine, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Verbascum inulifolium Hub.-Mor. (Scrophulariaceae), is an endemic species from Turkey. Here, we examined the healing effect of methanol extract of the aerial parts of V. inulifolium on incisional and excisional skin wounds in diabetic and non-diabetic rats. Ointments of the extract were prepared in two concentrations (0.5 and 1% (w/w)) and applied topically on wound models once daily throughout for 7 and 14 days. During the experiments, wounds were visually observed, photographically documented and wound areas were measured. After 7 and 14 days treatments, animals were sacrificed and measurements of hydroxyproline level and biomechanical analysis were performed. Histopathology of the wound area was evaluated considering features of re-epithelialization, the granulation tissue thickness, angiogenesis, presence of inflammation, number of mast cells. Outcomes of this study revealed that the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of V. inulifolium enhances the healing process of skin tissue in both non-diabetic and diabetic wounds. The best wound healing activity was observed in incisional wound treated with 0.5% (w/w) concentrated ointment (99.7%) and in excisional wound treated with 1% (w/w) concentrated ointment (98.1%) on day 14 according to macroscopic results.