Can Opportunistic Use of Computed Tomography Help Reveal the Association Between Hepatic Steatosis and Disease Severity in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients?

To measure hepatic steatosis (HS) in hospitalized COVID-19 patients using unenhanced chest computed tomography (CT) imaging and to evaluate the relationship between disease severity and prognosis in adult patients.This retrospective study included 152 consecutive hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. The COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) and the chest CT score were evaluated. HS measurements were performed based on CT images using a single region of interest placed on the right liver lobe (segments V-VII). HS was defined as a liver attenuation value <40 Hounsfield units. Data were collected and compared with the patients' prognostic parameters.Of the 152 inpatients, 137 patients (90.1%) had a CT score ≥3 and 109 patients (71.7%) had a CO-RADS score ≥4, 43 (28.2%) had HS. All patients with HS (100%) and 94/109 (86.2%) patients without HS had a CT score ≥3. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of chest CT score (p=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of CO-RADS score (p=0.291). The median CRP levels were significantly increased in patients with HS compared to patients without HS (p=0.023). There was no significant difference in ICU hospitalization and mortality due to the presence of HS (p>0.05).The current study revealed significantly higher chest CT scores in COVID-19 patients with HS measured on CT compared to those without HS. Opportunistic use of CT images for the detection of HS can be considered as an adjunctive tool in the risk analysis of COVID-19 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia.The severity of COVID-19 disease is increased in hospitalized patients with hepatosteatosis compared to patients with a normal liver. Density measurements for the evaluation of HS using opportunistic CT applications can be considered as an adjunctive tool in the prognostic evaluation of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. · Parlak AE, Erdem Toslak I, Turkoglu Selcuk N. Can Opportunistic Use of Computed Tomography Help Reveal the Association Between Hepatic Steatosis and Disease Severity in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients?. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2024; DOI 10.1055/a-2369-8377.

An evaluation of the change in serum SCUBE-1 levels with CPAP treatment in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVE: Signal peptide CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE-1) is a cell surface protein, wherein inflammation causes an increase in serum. The aim of this study was to compare serum SCUBE-1 levels in OSA patients and to investigate the serum SCUBE-1 change with CPAP treatment. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 61 severe OSA patients and from 25 control subjects evaluated as simple snorers. The 61 patients with severe OSA were treated with CPAP therapy and were recalled for follow up after 1 year. Evaluation was made after 1 year of CPAP therapy. RESULTS: Serum SCUBE-1 values were significantly higher in patients with severe OSA. The SCUBE-1 values significantly decreased after treatment with CPAP. CONCLUSION: Serum SCUBE-1 values in OSA patients showed a significant reduction in SCUBE-1 levels following 1 year of CPAP treatment.

Attitude and Practice Toward Use of Cigarettes and Electronic Cigarettes Among Pregnant Women: A Questionnaire-Based Survey.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate attitude and practice toward use of regular tobacco cigarettes and electronic cigarettes among pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1123 pregnant women participated on a voluntary basis in this questionnaire survey. Maternal characteristics, cigarette consumption parameters, and personal opinions regarding the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS: Active smokers composed 12.4% (9.4%: regular tobacco cigarettes, 3.0%: electronic cigarettes) of the study population. Smoking during the current pregnancy, particularly via regular tobacco cigarettes, was more likely for women with smoking during previous pregnancies (56.0% vs. 7.8%, P < .001), previous history of low birth weight infant delivery (16.1% vs. 8.6%, P = .013), premature delivery (16.7% vs. 7.0%, P < .001), and stillbirth (22.8% vs. 11.7%, P = .002). The presence versus absence of smoking during pregnancy was associated with a lower likelihood of being a housewife (70.5% vs. 80.5%, P = .010) and a higher likelihood of having an actively smoking mother (25.9% vs. 11.2%, P < .001) or partner (65.7% vs. 46.9%, P < .001). Regular tobacco cigarette users considered electronic cigarettes to have a higher risk of adverse impacts (11.1% vs. 2.9%, P = .012), while electronic cigarette users considered regular cigarettes to have a higher risk of nicotine exposure (55.9% vs. 13.0%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate being employed, having an actively smoking mother or partner, as well as smoking in previous pregnancies, to be the risk factors for increased likelihood of smoking during pregnancy.

Can we use serum SCUBE 1 levels as a biomarker in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the SCUBE1 level, a biomarker in vascular biology that could determine the prognosis of cardiovascular events during OSA treatment. METHODS: In total, 129 patients were included in the study. Thirty were diagnosed with simple snoring and 99 with OSA. RESULTS: In males, significant correlation was determined between SCUBE1 non-REM AHI, hypopnea index, total apnea index, mean SO2, minimum SO2, and < 90% saturation duration. CONCLUSION: Serum SCUBE1 levels increased more in male patients with severe OSA compared to other OSA levels, and high serum SCUBE1 levels were found to be associated with lower oxygen levels in OSA patients. The SCUBE1 biomarker can correlate with severe OSA in males. There was a statistically significant difference between OSA groups in terms of SCUBE1 score for male patients (p = 0.002) but not for females (p = 0.498). It is important that future SCUBE1 studies evaluate males vs. females.