Comparison of two pandemics: H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the clinical, epidemiological, and prognostic features of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009 and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic in 2020. METHODS: This retrospective study involved subjects from seven centers that were admitted and found to be positive for H1N1 or COVID-19 real-time polymerase chain reaction test. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients with H1N1 and 309 patients with COVID-19 were involved in the study. H1N1 patients were younger than COVID-19 ones. While 58.7% of H1N1 patients were female, 57.9% of COVID-19 patients were male. Complaints of fever, cough, sputum, sore throat, myalgia, weakness, headache, and shortness of breath in H1N1 patients were statistically higher than in COVID-19 ones. The duration of symptoms until H1N1 patients were admitted to the hospital was shorter than that for COVID-19 patients. Leukopenia was more common in COVID-19 patients. C-reactive protein levels were higher in COVID-19 patients, while lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in H1N1 ones. The mortality rate was also higher in H1N1 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic is a major public health problem that continues to affect the world with its high rate of contagion. In addition, no vaccines or a specific drug for the benefit of millions of people have been found yet. The H1N1 pandemic is an epidemic that affected the whole world about ten years ago and was prevented by the development of vaccines at a short period. Experience in the H1N1 pandemic may be the guide to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic from a worse end.

The effects of memantine on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia / Efeitos da memantina sobre a recuperação, funções cognitivas e dor após a anestesia com propofol

Abstract Objectives: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction refers to the problems associated with thought and memory that are often experienced after major surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of intraperitoneally administered memantine on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia. Methods: The study was conducted in Gazi University Animal Research Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey in January 2012. Twenty-four adult female Wistar Albino rats weighing 170-270 g were educated for 300 s in the radial arm maze (RAM) over three days. Group P was administered 150 mg kg−1 of intraperitoneal (IP) propofol; Group M was given 1 mg kg−1 of IP memantine; and Group MP was given 1 mg kg−1 of IP memantine before being administered 150 mg kg−1 of IP propofol. The control group received only IP saline. RAM and hot plate values were obtained after recovery from the groups that received propofol anesthesia and 30 min after the administration of drugs in other two groups. Results: The duration of recovery for Group MP was significantly shorter than Group P (p < 0.001), and the number of entries and exits in the RAM by Group MP was significantly higher during the first hour when compared to Group P (p < 0.0001). Hot plate values, on the other hand, were found to be significantly increased in all groups when compared to the control values, aside from Group C (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In this study, memantine provided shorter recovery times, better cognitive functions, and reduced postoperative pain. From this study, we find that memantine has beneficial effects on recovery, cognitive functions, and pain after propofol anesthesia.

Resumo Objetivos: A disfunção cognitiva no pós-operatório refere-se a problemas associados ao pensamento e à memória que são frequentemente manifestados após uma cirurgia de grande porte. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da memantina administrada por via intraperitoneal sobre a recuperação, as funções cognitivas e a dor após a anestesia com propofol. Métodos: O estudo foi feito no Laboratório de Pesquisa com Animais da Universidade de Gazi, Ankara, Turquia, em janeiro de 2012. Vinte e quatro ratos albinos do sexo feminino, adultos, da linhagem Wistar, com 170-270 g, foram treinados durante 300 segundos no labirinto radial de oito braços (LRB) durante três dias. O Grupo P recebeu 150 mg/kg−1 de propofol por via intraperitoneal (IP), o Grupo H recebeu 1 mg/kg−1 de memantina IP e o Grupo MP recebeu 1 mg/kg−1 de memantina IP antes da administração de 150 mg/kg−1 de propofol (IP). O grupo controle recebeu apenas solução salina IP. Os valores do LRB e da placa quente foram obtidos após a recuperação dos grupos que receberam propofol e 30 minutos após a administração dos fármacos nos outros dois grupos. Resultados: O tempo de recuperação do Grupo MP foi significativamente menor do que o do Grupo P (p < 0,001) e o número de entradas e saídas do LRB do Grupo MP foi significativamente maior durante a primeira hora, em comparação com o Grupo P (p < 0,0001). Os valores da placa quente, por outro lado, foram significativamente maiores em todos os grupos, em comparação com os valores do grupo controle, exceto pelo Grupo C (p < 0,0001). Conclusão: No presente estudo, memantina proporcionou tempos mais curtos de recuperação, funções cognitivas melhores e reduziu a dor no pós-operatório. A partir deste estudo, descobrimos que a memantina tem efeitos benéficos sobre a recuperação, as funções cognitivas e a dor após anestesia com propofol.

Comparative Effects of Sevoflurane and Desflurane on Erythrocyte Deformability in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats.

Aim: It is known that blood viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation are increased and erythrocyte deformability is decreased in diabetic patients. Blood rheology is known to be affected by numerous factor including anaesthetic drugs. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on erythrocyte deformability in diabetic rats. Place and Duration of Study: The study was performed upon the approval of Gazi University Experimental Animals Ethics Committee in Gazi University Experimental and Clinical Research Center (GUDAM). Methodology: In this study, 24 male albino Wistar rats were used.Diabetes was induced by a single IP injection of streptozotocin, at a dose of 55 mg.kg-1 body weight in 18 Wistar Albino rats.72 hours following this injection rats were classified as diabetic if their fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels exceeded 250 mg.dl-1 and only animals with FBGs of > 250 mg.dl-1 were included in the diabetic groups. After the effects of chronic diabetes encountered diabetic rats were randomly assigned into diabetic control (group DC), diabetic desflurane (group DD) and diabetic sevoflurane (group DS) groups. Another 6 rats without diabetes were assigned as control group (group C). 4 weeks after the injection of streptozotocin diabetic rats were anaesthetized by desflurane 6% or sevoflurane 2% at a dose by which minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) for rats would be one. The drugs were given for 2 hours within 100% oxygen at a rate of 4 L.min1. After the anesthesia all rats were given ketamine (100 mg.kg-1) intraperitoneally and blood samples were withdrawn from the abdominal aorta and then rats were sacrificed. Erythrocyte samples were obtained from heparinized whole blood samples. Measurements for deformability were conducted on erythrocyte suspensions within serum physiologic tamponized with phosphate. Results: Diabetes led to increased relative resistance compared to group C however desflurane and sevoflurane did not alter erythrocyte deformability significantly in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Neither sevoflurane nor desflurane caused a negative effect on erythrocyte deformability in diabetic rats. However these findings should be further investigated in larger and more detailed studies.