Patients With Post-COVID-19 Respiratory Condition: Chest Computed Tomography Findings and Pulmonary Function Tests and Comparison With Asymptomatic Participants.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess the chest computed tomography (CT) findings in post-COVID-19 respiratory condition (rPCC) patients and compare the findings with asymptomatic participants (APs). It also aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT findings and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in rPCC patients. Finally, it aimed to compare the quantitative chest CT findings and PFT results of patients with rPCC and APs. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with rPCC who underwent unenhanced chest CT and PFTs between June 2020 and September 2022. In addition, a control group (APs) was prospectively formed and underwent nonenhanced chest CT and PFTs. The presence and extent of abnormalities in unenhanced chest CT images were evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively in a blinded manner. We used fully automatic software for automatic lung and airway segmentation and quantitative analyses. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with rPCC and 23 APs were investigated. Reticulation/interstitial thickening and extent of parenchymal abnormalities on CT were significantly greater in the rPCC group than in the control group ( P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, respectively). Computed tomography extent score was significantly related to length of hospital stay, age, and intensive care unit stay (all P s ≤ 0.006). The rPCC group also had a lower 85th percentile attenuation lung volume ( P = 0.037). The extent of parenchymal abnormalities was significantly correlated with carbon monoxide diffusing capacity ( r = -0.406, P = 0.001), forced vital capacity (FVC) ( r = -0.342, P = 0.002), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/FVC ( r = 0.427, P < 0.001) values. Pulmonary function tests revealed significantly lower carbon monoxide diffusing capacity ( P < 0.001), FVC ( P = 0.036), and total lung capacity ( P < 0.001) values in the rPCC group. CONCLUSIONS: The rPCC is characterized by impaired PFTs, a greater extent of lung abnormalities on CT, and decreased 85th percentile attenuation lung volume. Advanced age, intensive care unit admission history, and extended hospital stay are risk factors for chest CT abnormalities.

The evaluation of tibial nerve using shear-wave elastography and ultrasound in patients with systemic sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate stiffness and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tibial nerve (TN) using shear wave elastography (SWE) and ultrasound (US) and investigate the relationship of these with disease activity, quality of life, and severity of neuropathic pain in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 28 SSc patients (1 male, 27 females; mean age: 50±11 years; range, 28 to 67 years) and 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (4 males, 18 females; mean age: 48±6 years; range, 37 to 66 years) between March and April 2022. US and SWE were performed on the TN, and CSA and nerve stiffness were measured. The TN was examined by a radiologist, 4 cm proximal to the medial malleolus. A few days later, an evaluation was performed in the second session by a second observer to investigate inter-and intraobserver agreement. Interobserver agreement was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire, European League Against Rheumatism European Scleroderma Trial and Research (EUSTAR) group activity index, and Douleur-Neuropathique 4 scores of the patients were evaluated. Correlations between the questionnaires and measurements of nerve stiffness and CSA were assessed. Results: Patients with SSc had significantly higher stiffness and CSA values of the right TN compared to healthy controls (p<0.001 and p=0.015, respectively). The nerve stiffness values of the right TN were positively correlated with the EUSTAR activity index (p=0.004, r=0.552). The CSA of the left TN was larger in patients with SSc (21.3±4.9 mm2 ) than in controls (12.8±3.4 mm2 ), and the nerve elasticity was positively correlated with the EUSTAR activity index (p=0.001, r=0.618). The interobserver agreement was moderate to good for measuring stiffness and CSA of the TN (ICC were 0.660 and 0.818, respectively). There was a good to excellent intraobserver agreement for measuring stiffness and CSA of TN (ICC were 0.843 and 0.940, respectively). Conclusion: The increased disease activity in patients with SSc is associated with TN involvement, which can be demonstrated by US and SWE.