Prevalence, clinical, imaging, electroencephalography and laboratory characteristics of seizures in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is the cause of the recent pandemic. Viral infections could increase the risks of neurological impairments, including seizures. Here, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical, imaging, electroencephalography and laboratory characteristics of seizures in COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on cases of COVID-19 infection and seizure. The prevalence of seizures in patients with COVID-19 was calculated using the incidence of seizures in all patients. The collected data were age, sex, history of previous illnesses, the severity of COVID-19 disease, patients' medications, hospitalization, and the presence of electrolyte disorders in patients' tests and other tests such as blood gas. Those patients with their first seizure episodes were also divided into two groups of cases with COVID-19 associated seizures (N=38) and non-COVID-19 associated seizures (N=37) and the mentioned data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: We assessed data of 60 patients with COVID-19-associated seizures (group 1), 40 patients with seizures not related to COVID-19 (group 2) and 60 patients with COVID-19 infection and no seizures (group 3). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly higher in group 3 compared to group 1 (P=0.044 and P=0.009, respectively). Still, patients in group 1 had a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) compared to group 3 (P=0.008). The prevalence of abnormal EEG was significantly higher in cases with COVID-19 infection compared to the other group (P<0.001). Cases with their first seizure episode associated with COVID-19 had significantly higher creatinine levels (P=0.035), lower blood pH (P=0.023), lower blood HCO3 (P=0.001), higher ALT (P=0.004), higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P=0.001), lower hemoglobin (Hb) (P=0.017), higher ESR (P=0.001), higher CRP (P<0.001) and higher mortality rates (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 infection and seizure have higher mortality rates and disturbed laboratory data.

Visual inspection results of ultrasound guided biopsy specimens and compared with open biopsy pathologic in patients with breast lesions.

BACKGROUND: Core needle biopsy (CNB) method is a common method and a gold standard for the diagnosis of breast lesions. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of visual inspection of ultrasound guided biopsy specimens with pathologic outcomes in patients with breast lesions. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive was conducted on 600 patients with breast lesions who were candidates for ultrasonography with CNB were entered into the study. Then, patients underwent sonography with needle biopsy, in a sample taken by The radiologist classifies the breast mass according to its consistency and shape based on observation to the malignant or benign, as well as the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System or Mass BIRADs. visual inspection results were compared with the CNB pathology of patients. RESULTS: In this study, the sensitivity and specificity of the lesion were 97.48% and 94.10%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values of this test were 85.64% and 99.05%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Given that the sensitivity and specificity of the biopsy lesions to detect the type of mass was higher than the pathology of the sample, it can be ensured that the biopsy of breast lesions, especially in sizes less than 10 mm in time Increased the biopsy and reduced the number of cores taken from the lesion.

Alcohol and multiple sclerosis: an immune system-based review.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Although the exact etiology of multiple sclerosis is unknown, researchers suggest that genetic, environmental, and microbial factors play a central role in causing multiple sclerosis. Pathology of multiple sclerosis is based on inflammation as T cells enter the brain via disruptions in the blood-brain barrier, recognizing myelin as foreign antigen; and as a result, the T cells attack myelin and start the inflammatory processes, enhancing inflammatory cytokines and antibodies. Since previous studies show ethanol can suppress the immune system such as innate, humoral, and cellular immunity and increases the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, we hypothesized maybe ethanol also have ameliorating effects on multiple sclerosis symptoms. Although alcohol induces apoptosis in oligodendrocytes and neurons, causing demyelination and affects CNS directly, in this study we will investigate ethanol's effects on some aspects of the immune system in multiple sclerosis.

Feasibility, complication and long-term follow-up of the newly nelaton based urethral dilation method, retrospective study.

Introduction: Current methods for Urethral dilatation include filiforms and followers, metal sounds, balloon dilators, catheters of increasing size, introduction of a Council catheter over a guidewire, and coaxial dilators of increasing size. These methods however are effective but expensive and use of them is limited in many third world countries. In this retrospective study, we report the feasibility, complication and long-term follow-up of the newly Nelaton based urethral dilation method following by self calibration plan as a single referral center experience. Method: We reviewed the records of 333 men with urethral stricture longer than 1 cm over a 16-year period between March 2001 to December 2018. In this method the straight flexi-tip guide-wire is introduced through the urethra and advanced under cystoscopic vision. This wire then was used to guide the dilatation after withdrawal of the cystoscope. The tip of well-lubricated Nelaton urethral catheters incised and then advanced gently over the guide-wire serially from the smallest to the largest appropriate sizes. The patients were followed up regularly after the dilatation 1, 3, 6, 12 months and then annually postoperatively with taking history, PVR and uroflowmetry and all underwent retrograde urethrography at the 6th and 12th months of follow-up. Result: The mean age of patients was 39.19±16.9 years old (10 to 86 years). The mean period of the follow-up was 3.6±1.1 years (range, 3 to 4.3 years). Success rate after first attempted was 58.5% and after two attempted was 77.7% in two years follow up. After one year 51 (15.3%), two years 23 (6.9%) and after three years 11 (3.3%) cases required continued self dilatation once a month. Conclusion: Guide wire-assisted urethral dilatation is shown to be acceptable, cost-effective, simple, safe and feasible techniques for urethral dilation. Our technique may be the choice manner in selected patients with short memberanous urethral stricture, because of decrease the risk of incontinency.