Evaluation of abdominal computed tomography findings in patients with COVID-19: a multicenter study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and interrogate the relationship between abdominal CT findings and patient demographic features, clinical findings, and laboratory test results as well as the CT atherosclerosis score in the abdominal aorta. METHODS: This study was designed as a multicenter retrospective study. The abdominal CT findings of 1.181 patients with positive abdominal symptoms from 26 tertiary medical centers with a positive polymerase chain-reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were reviewed. The frequency of ischemic and non-ischemic CT findings as well as the association between CT findings, clinical features, and abdominal aortic calcific atherosclerosis score (AA-CAS) were recorded. RESULTS: Ischemic and non-ischemic abdominal CT findings were detected in 240 (20.3%) and 328 (27.7%) patients, respectively. In 147 patients (12.4%), intra-abdominal malignancy was present. The most frequent ischemic abdominal CT findings were bowel wall thickening (n = 120; 10.2%) and perivascular infiltration (n = 40; 3.4%). As for non-ischemic findings, colitis (n = 91; 7.7%) and small bowel inflammation (n = 73; 6.2%) constituted the most frequent disease processes. The duration of hospital stay was found to be higher in patients with abdominal CT findings than in patients without any positive findings (13.8 ± 13 vs. 10.4 ± 12.8 days, P < 0.001). The frequency of abdominal CT findings was significantly higher in patients who did not survive the infection than in patients who were discharged after recovery (41.7% vs. 27.4%, P < 0.001). Increased AA-CAS was found to be associated with a higher risk of ischemic conditions in abdominal CT examinations. CONCLUSION: Abdominal symptoms in patients with COVID-19 are usually associated with positive CT findings. The presence of ischemic findings on CT correlates with poor COVID-19 outcomes. A high AA-CAS is associated with abdominal ischemic findings in patients with COVID-19.

An Unusual Cause of Acute Isolated Hepatitis in a Cancer Patient Post-COVID Pneumonia: HSV-2.

Herpes simplex virus is a rare cause of hepatitis in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. It can cause clinical pictures in patients ranging from an asymptomatic course to fatal acute fulminant hepatitis. Early diagnosis and treatment may be delayed if it is not suspected because of the patients' nonspecific clinic. This study presents a case of isolated HSV-2 hepatitis in a patient with a history of cancer chemotherapy and a recent diagnosis of COVID-19 who received steroid therapy.

Evaluation of the Opinions and Knowledge of Medical School Students on Organ Donation and Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Insufficient organ donation is one of the most significant current problems in medical care. The students of the faculty of medicine could be the strongest supporters of organ donation and transplantation, and may play an important role in increasing organ donation. This study aimed to determine the relevant educational needs of the medical students by evaluating their knowledge and opinions about organ donation and transplantation, according to their grade levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 395 (83.6%) students in the first, third, and sixth grades of the faculty of medicine. A questionnaire consisting of 42 questions was used to measure their opinions and knowledge about organ transplantation. RESULTS: Among the students who responded, 6.8% (n = 27) had donated their organs and 81.4% of the donors had donation cards, while 73.4% (n = 290) were considering organ donation. The percentages of women and students at the grade six level considering organ donation were significantly higher (P < .05). The study revealed that 38.7% of the students did not have enough knowledge about organ donation, 47.8% stated that they had some knowledge and 61.8% of the students did not know the principles of brain death. The students of all grades reported that most of the information about organ donation and transplantation was obtained from their family and friends. CONCLUSION: As medical students progress through the grade levels, their perceptions and knowledge of organ donation and transplantation also increase positively. Courses on organ donation and transplantation can be added to the curriculum from the very first year of medical education.

Changes in acute viral hepatitis epidemiology in the Turkish adult population: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study aimed to determine the changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis in recent years in an adult Turkish population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 852 patients with acute viral hepatitis from 17 centers were included in this study. Their sociodemographic characteristics, clinical courses, treatments, and laboratory findings were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The most commonly found microorganisms were the hepatitis B virus (55.2%) and hepatitis A virus (37.6%), and the types of acute viral hepatitis differed significantly according to the age group (p≤0.001). The most frequently reported symptom was fatigue (73.7%), and the most common complications were cholecystitis (0.4%) and fulminant hepatitis (0.4%). The median hospital stay was 9 days (range 1-373). In total, 40.8% patients with acute hepatitis B virus developed immunity. CONCLUSION: In Turkey, there are significantly large adolescent and adult populations susceptible to acute viral hepatitis. Therefore, larger vaccination programs covering these age groups should be implemented.

Effects of interferon-alpha2b on hearing.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of interferon-alpha2b treatment on hearing in patients with chronic active hepatitis B. Twenty-six patients with chronic active hepatitis B were enrolled in the study, and pure-tone audiometry was performed to determine hearing thresholds of the patients before and at the end of 6 months of interferon-alpha2b treatment. There was no significant change in hearing thresholds of patients after treatment with interferon-alpha2b (p>0.05). The results of the present study indicate that interferon-alpha2b therapy does not have any negative effect on hearing thresholds of patients with chronic active hepatitis B. There is a need for further studies involving larger numbers of patients to allow conclusions to be drawn regarding the safety of this therapy with respect to hearing.