Persistent Post-COVID Symptoms and the Related Factors.

OBJECTIVE: The recently emerged coronavirus 2019 disease is an infectious disease that predominantly affects the respiratory system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the persistent post-COVID symptoms and the related factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 396 post-COVID patients. The demographic (age, gender, body mass index, smoking, location and duration of treatment, and date of post-COVID follow-up visit) and clinical (symptoms during and after the infection, comorbidities) data were evaluated by interview and a questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 50.25 years (min-max: 19-85). There were equal numbers of males (n = 198) and females (n = 198) in the study. The mean body mass index was 27.94 (min-max: 17.90-44.92). The majority of patients (n = 222, 56.1%) had been treated at home, while the rates of patients admitted to ward and intensive care unit were 37.1% (n = 147) and 6.8% (n = 27), respectively. The number of patients with at least 1 persistent symptom during post-COVID follow-up visit was 348 (87.9%). The symptoms during the infection included fatigue (n = 339, 85.6%), cough (n = 373, 68.9%), joint pain (n = 267, 67.4%), appetite loss (n = 234, 59.1%), dyspnea (n = 231, 58.3%), while the persistent post-COVID symptoms were fatigue (n = 222, 56.1%), cough (n = 174, 43.9%), dyspnea (n = 171, 43.2%), and chest pain (n = 171, 43.2%). No significant relationships between post-COVID symptoms and age, body mass index, comorbidity, duration from diagnosis to a follow-up visit, and COVID-19 pneumonia during the infection were found, while a statistically significant relationship regarding gender was found. CONCLUSION: There is still a lack of knowledge about the long-term consequences of coronavirus 2019 disease. Moreover, no standardized method exists for categorizing patients into post-COVID controls.

Instability of Tear Film after Novel Coronavirus Disease: A Noninvasive and No Contact Method by a Scheimpflug-Placido Disc Topographer.

PURPOSE: To compare the topographical tear film break-up time (T-BUT) between individuals recovering from COVID-19 and control subjects using a noninvasive and noncontact technique with a Scheimpflug-Placido disc topographer. METHODS: One-hundred and twenty-two eyes from 61 post-COVID-19 patients and 124 eyes from 62 control subjects were included in this prospective study. All participants underwent detailed ophthalmological examination including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurements, slit lamp examination, and fundoscopy as well as qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the noninvasive first tear film break-up time (NIF-BUT) and noninvasive average tear film break-up time (NIAvg-BUT) with T-BUT measured with a Sirius (CSO - Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici S. r. l., Italy) corneal topography device. RESULTS: The mean NIF-BUT in post-COVID-19 and control patients was 5.2 ± 3.4 vs. 6.5 ± 3.2 sec, respectively. The mean NIAvg-BUT in the corresponding groups was 7.5 ± 3.5 vs. 8.8 ± 3.0 sec, respectively. Both NIF-BUT and NIAvg-BUT were significantly lower in the post-COVID-19 group than in controls (p = 0.004 vs. 0.020). Topographical tear film break-up at any time during the test (17 sec) was observed qualitatively in 79 eyes (64.8%) in the post-COVID-19 group and 57 eyes (46%) in the control group (p = 0.003). Moreover, temporal quadrant involvement occurred significantly more frequently in the post-COVID-19 group (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Tear film stability assessment based on T-BUT showed shorter NIF-BUT and NIAvg-BUT in post-COVID-19 patients as compared to the control group. Our results suggest that post-COVID-19 patients have impaired stability of tear film, and therefore require closer monitoring regarding dry eye. In addition, tear film instability in post-COVID-19 patients can be reliably detected using a noninvasive and noncontact technique that is more comfortable for both patients and physicians.

Diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for patients with lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is both the most common seen malignity and cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is a hydrolytic enzyme that catalyses the conversion of adenosine to inosine in the purine metabolism pathway. Studies examining ADA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of patients with lung malignancy are very limited in the literature. Our aim examine the clinical significance of ADA levels in BAL fluids of patients with lung malignancy. METHODS: A total of 89 patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with different indications from December 2017 to December 2018 were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups as malignancy and non-malignancy groups. Demographic, laboratory data and ADA levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were compared between the two groups. In addition, ADA levels in BAL were compared among the histopathological subtypes of patients in the malignant group. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 58.2 ± 14.5 years with 86% of male gender. ADA enzyme levels were statistically higher in the malignant patient group compared with the non-malignant group (37.2 [17.6-71] vs 17.1 [9-35.3], P < .001). When the patients in the malignant group were compared in terms of ADA levels according to their histopathological types, a statistically significant difference was obtained in small cell carcinoma patients (49 [12.5-75.3], P = .005). CONCLUSION: ADA levels in BAL may be a diagnostic biomarker in lung malignancies. In patients where a biopsy cannot be taken or histopathological typing cannot be performed because of tissue insufficiency, ADA levels in BAL can be an auxiliary parameter in making malignancy / histopathological diagnosis accompanied by radiological and clinical findings.

Tracheal Lipoma Mimicking Asthma.

Primary tracheal tumors are very rare and 10%-20% are benign tumors. Tracheal lipoma is extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. A 69-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of shortness of breath, respiratory distress, chest pain and cough. Chest CT scan showed a round mass in the topography of the trachea that almost caused airway obstruction. The lesion was resected endoscopically and the pedicle base was cauterized. Tracheal lipoma is a rare condition that should lie in the differential diagnosis of treatment-resistant asthma.

Old Habits Die Hard - Asbestos Exposure.

OBJECTIVE: Although the damages to health that are caused by asbestos exposure are known, the mineral continues to be in use. Our main purpose in the study was to determine the relationship between awareness and asbestos use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 residents from the Armutova village of Ergani District in the Diyarbakir province of Turkey, with previous asbestos exposure were studied between January 2010 and December 2010. Exposure to asbestos was questioned in all participants. Asbestos doses were measured in the setting where they lived. The pulmonary function tests (PFTs) including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were performed, and chest radiography was taken. RESULTS: The duration of asbestos exposure was found to be associated with reduced PFTs and the pathological lung findings on radiology. Although 97% of the participants were aware of asbestos and its health risks, the rates of its use were significantly higher, and associated with excessive exposure levels. Longer duration of asbestos exposure was significantly associated with reduced FVC. There were more prominent reductions in FEV1 with longer durations of asbestos exposure. CONCLUSION: The high rates of asbestos use indicate that changing habits, particularly among individuals residing in rural areas, is difficult. In our country, the main route of asbestos exposure is through the environment, which is at least as hazardous as occupational exposure.