Functional outcomes of COVID-19 patients with acute ischemic stroke: A prospective, observational, single-center study in North Jordan.

We assessed whether stroke severity, functional outcome, and mortality in patients with ischemic stroke differed between patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and those without. We conducted a prospective, single-center cohort study in Irbid, North Jordan. All patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection were consecutively recruited from October 15, 2020, to October 16, 2021. We recorded demographic data, vascular risk factors, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, stroke subtype according to the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment Criteria (TOAST), treatments at admission, and laboratory variables for all patients. The primary endpoint was the functional outcome at 3 months assessed using the modified Rankin Score. Secondary outcomes involved in-hospital mortality and mortality at 3 months. We included 178 patients with a mean (standard deviation) age of 67.3 (12), and more than half of the cases were males (96/178; 53.9%). Thirty-six cases were coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related and had a mean (standard deviation) age of 70 (11.5). When compared with COVID-19-negative patients, COVID-19-positive patients were more likely to have a higher median NIHSS score at baseline (6 vs 11; P = .043), after 72 hours (6 vs 12; P = .006), and at discharge (4 vs 16; P < .001). They were also more likely to have a higher median modified Rankin Score after 3 months of follow-up (P < .001). NIHSS score at admission (odds ratio = 1.387, 95% confidence interval = 1.238-1.553]; P < .001) predicted having an unfavorable outcome after 3 months. On the other hand, having a concomitant SARS-CoV-2 infection did not significantly impact the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio = 1.098, 95% confidence interval = 0.270-4.473; P = .896). The finding conclude that SARS-CoV-2 infection led to an increase in both stroke severity and in-hospital mortality but had no significant impact on the likelihood of developing unfavorable outcomes.

Presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA on particulate matters: A multi central study in turkey

RATIONALE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2, has been affecting the world since the end of 2019. Turkey is severely affected with the first case being reported on March 11th 2020. Several studies suggest an association between air pollution and the spread of the infection, and that ambient particulate matters (PM) can present a potential, as virus carriers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on ambient PM. METHODS: Ambient PM samples in various size ranges were collected from 13 sites including urban, urban background locations and hospital gardens in 10 cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Zonguldak, Tekirdag, Eskisehir, Bolu, Bursa, Konya, and Antalya across Turkey, between 13th of May and 14th of June, 2020. The nucleocapsid (N) 1 gene and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) gene expressions were analyzed in PM samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by applying quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and three dimensional (3D)-digital PCR methods. RESULTS: A total of 155 daily samples (Total Suspended Particulate [TSP], n=80;PM2.5, n=33;PM2.5-10, n=23;PM10, n=19;and 6 size segregated, n=48) were collected using various samplers in the each city. According to RT-PCR and 3D-RT-PCR analysis, dual RdRP and N1 gene positivity were detected in 20 of the samples (9.8 %). The highest percentage of virus detection on PM samples was from hospital gardens in Tekirda Zonguldak, and Istanbul, especially in PM2.5 mode. Samples collected from two urban sites, Ankara and Eskisehir, were also positive. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may be transported by ambient particles, especially at sites close to the infection hot-spots such as hospital gardens. Whether this has an impact on the spread of the virus infection remains to be determined.