ABSTRACT
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARSCoV-2 of Coronaviruses types, is a highly infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, which first appeared in China. The presence of comorbid diseases, especially diabetes, and advanced age are determinants of the mortality and morbidity of the disease. In this study, it was aimed to examine the possible role of Diabetes mellitus (DM) in the course of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: In this study, the data of 81 patients who applied to Ankara Polatlı Duatepe State Hospital between January 01 and May 05, 2021 and were confirmed to have COVID-19 and were hospitalized in the COVID-19 service for 5 to 20 days were analyzed. 39 female and 42 male patients were included in the study and the patients were divided into three groups. COVID-19 group (n=26;10 female, 16 male), COVID-19+DM group (n=28;13 female, 15 male), and COVID-19+hypertension (HT) group (n=27;16 female, 11 male). Demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the groups when they matched for age and gender (p<0.05). The mean age of the COVID-19+DM and COVID-19+HT groups was higher than the COVID-19 group (p<0.05). COVID-19 group 55.96±15.545 years, COVID-19+DM 68.29±12.849 years, COVID-19+HT 71.48±11.416 years. Only 32 patients had positive PCR tests, and the rate was 39.5%. The number of patients with CT is 69, and the rate is 85.2%. The number of CT-positive patients is 56 and the positivity rate is 81%. The PCR test positivity rate is lower than the CT positivity rate. The serum fasting blood glucose (FBG) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19+DM group when compared to the COVID-19 group and COVID-19+HT group (p<0.05). The serum sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) levels were significantly lower in the COVID-19+DM group when compared to the COVID-19 group and COVID-19+HT group (p<0.05). The serum creatinine and phosphorus (P) levels were significantly higher in the COVID-19+DM group when compared to the COVID-19 group (p<0.05).The serum hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) levels were considerably higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the COVID-19+DM group (p<0.05). Conclusion: When all the data we obtained in our study are evaluated;we determined that the comorbidity effect of DM is important in the clinical course of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We think that SARSCoV-2 pneumonia patients with diabetes may be more severe than those without diabetes in terms of organ damage, and inflammatory variables, and are more likely to evolve to a worse prognosis, regardless of whether the additional comorbidities were present or not. © 2022,Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In this study, we documented the demographic, etiological, clinical and radiological features of our patients with primary hemifacial spasm (HFS). We also wanted to emphasize that there may be an association between idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and HFS. Methods: Fifty-five patients diagnosed with HFS (28 women) who were followed up in the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinics of the Department of Neurology University of Health Sciences Turkey, Istanbul Bagolar Training and Research Hospital between January 2017 and January 2022 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and radiological findings were retrospectively reviewed. Depending on radiological findings, patients were divided into three groups: a) Normal findings, b) Incidental findings that did not appear to be related to clinical findings, and c) vascular abnormalities at the level of the brainstem. Results: Only 23 patients had no atherosclerotic risk factors. While magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was normal in 23 patients, 19 patients had ischemic white matter changes, 5 patients had partial empty sella, 7 patients had dolichoectatic basilar artery, and 1 patient had a compression of the anterior segment of the left superior cerebellar artery to the 7th cranial nerve. Based on the history and clinical findings, lumbar puncture was performed in 4 patients, and 3 of them were diagnosed with idiopathic IIH with HIS, and they were treated with acetazolamide. fifty-one patients were treated with botulinum toxin injections only. Conclusion: Vascular compression is often noted on imaging of patients with primary HIS, but as in our case series, an empty sella finding in patients with chronic headache may be a sign of IIH and should not be overlooked. Also, HFS may be an uncommon presentation of IIH, and symptoms of HFS may improve with treatment of IIH. Additionally, the presence and history of Coronavirus disease-2019 infection should be questioned in newly admitted cases.
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: Data is accumulating that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can cause nervous system symptoms. CVD cases are increasingly reported as the presentation or during COVID- 19. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical findings of patients with a suspected and definite diagnosis of COVID-19 whom we evaluated for CVD. Methods: A total of 43 patients who had CVD with a suspected or definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in our study. Clinical characteristics, vascular risk factors (VRF), imaging and laboratory findings, and prognosis were recorded. Patients with positive nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and patients with negative PCR test were compared. Results: 65.1% (n=28) of the patients were initially suspected of COVID-19 but PCR (-). While 10.7% of these patients were hemorrhagic CVD, 89.3% were ischemic CVD. The COVID-19 diagnosis of 34.9% of the patients (n=15) was confirmed by PCR or immunoglobulin tests. All of them were diagnosed with ischemic CVD. In 53.3%, the diagnosis of COVID-19 and CVD was made simultaneously. In 46.7%, CVD complaints developed 4-21 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. 11 patients were diagnosed with CVD possibly associated with SARS-CoV-2, while four patients were considered to be atypical demyelinating/ inflammatory disease probably associated with SARSCoV- 2 based on imaging and CSF findings. In the COVID- 19 (+) group, the levels of fibrinogen, ALT, and the ratio of neutrophils/lymphocytes were significantly higher than the other group. Conclusion: Increasing data provide evidence that acute CVD is not uncommon in COVID-19 and that elderly COVID-19 patients with VRF are more prone to CVD.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak like SARS and MERS would have been thought to end in China. But it has not been envisaged, spread in Iran then Italy to continental Europe and spread to America in very prevalant and in a very short time. It was thought that looking to China from Turkey was very distant story for us. When it showed that the heavy influence on Italy, gave us the idea to be our next photograph. No matter how slow the World Health Organization behaved, the fact that it declared the disease as a pandemic during this period, increased the seriousness. COVID-19, after confirmation with the PCR test, the detection of spread in the lungs with radiological imaging chest tomography is also done. Commonly presented clinical findings were characterized by fever, cough, headache and muscle weakness. Some person recovered with mild symptoms of this disease contrary to the high level of contagiousness without symptoms of this disease sign both a good and a bad condition. It is very crucial to avoid contact, to protect personal distance, to wear a mask and to pay attention to hand hygiene to prevent disease transmission from human to human. It is important for those with suspected diseases to isolate themselves, to be quarantined and to be kept under the supervision of a doctor. The screening and observation of patients with whom they have been in contact with their families for the last three days is the best way to break the chain of contamination. Teams established to filiation are working hard in our country. The number of patient cases in Turkey as of May 22, 154.500. The number of death was 4.276, with 2.8% ratio. COVID-19 case numbers and mortality rates declined with the curfew of over 65-year old people and younger than 20s. With the drugs that were used in the treatment protocol as hydroxychloroquine, favipiravir and supportive treatments, in Turkey, it is stated that the treatment was good. © 2020 Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency (RSNPHA).