Comparison of trace element (selenium, iron), electrolyte (calcium, sodium), and physical activity levels in COVID-19 patients before and after the treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a worldwide health problem, is the cause of 2019 coronavirus disease. This study aimed to compare the trace element (selenium and iron), electrolyte (calcium and sodium), and physical activity levels of COVID-19 patients before and after COVID-19 treatment. METHOD: This prospective study was conducted in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (n = 15). Trace element (selenium and iron), electrolyte (calcium and sodium), and physical activity levels of the patients were compared before and after the treatment. RESULT: Most of patients had selenium deficiency (86.7 %), iron deficiency (73.3 %), calcium deficiency (66.7 %) and sodium deficiency (46.7 %) before COVID-19 treatment. The most important improvements were seen in iron deficiency (from 73.3 % to 26.7 %) and sodium deficiency (from 46.7 % to 13.3 %) after the treatment. Selenium, iron, calcium, and sodium levels of the patients were significantly higher after the treatment (p < 0.05). The patients had low physical activity before and after COVID-19 treatment. In addition, no statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of physical activity levels (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicated that selenium, iron, calcium, and sodium levels and deficiencies might improve after treating patients with COVID-19. However, the results of this study showed that the physical activity levels of COVID-19 patients might remain stable and low throughout the treatment process.

Gastric outlet obstruction secondary to acid ingestion in children.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a well-known complication of acid ingestion. However, most reports deal with adults. In this report, the authors present their experience with the treatment of acid-induced GOO in children. METHODS: The records of patients admitted for unintentional ingestion of corrosive agents between 1980 and 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. Data concerning age at ingestion, type of ingested substance, time between ingestion and the first signs of GOO, weight loss, treatment, complications, duration of hospital stay, and long-term follow-up were reviewed. RESULTS: GOO was not observed in any of the children admitted for alkaline ingestion, whereas GOO developed in 8 of 98 children (8.2%) in a mean period of 26.7 +/- 10 days after the ingestion of acid substances. Presenting symptoms were frequent nonbilious vomiting and marked weight loss. All had pyloric obstructions in the upper gastrointestinal series and required surgical intervention. Gastrojejunostomy was the operation of choice for all patients. Oral feedings were started on the third postoperative day. The complications were wound infection in 1 and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in another in the early postoperative period. Mean follow-up is 8.33 +/- 4.45 (4.8-18.7) years. No late complications such as marginal ulcus or stricture at the anastomosis site were observed in the series. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of GOO with gastrojejunostomy gives good long-term results in children. This procedure is safe and causes minimal morbidity particularly in patients without extensive gastric damage.

Does colonization of Helicobacter pylori in the heterotopic gastric mucosa play a role in bleeding of Meckel's diverticulum?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Helicobacter pylori is a microorganism known to colonize in gastric type of mucosa and is associated with gastritis and peptic ulceration. The aim of the study was to determine whether colonization of H pylori in heterotopic gastric mucosa plays a role in bleeding of Meckel's diverticulum. METHODS: Histopathologic slides of patients who had undergone resection of Meckel's diverticulum in recent 5 years were reexamined for the presence of H pylori in heterotopic gastric mucosa. Polimerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used to trace the genetic material of urease gene and 16s rDNA amplifications for H pylori. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 30 histopathologic slides of Meckel's diverticula had heterotopic gastric mucosa. Ten of the 13 patients presented with acute bleeding of the diverticula, whereas 3 of them were asymptomatic. None of the 13 gastric mucosa bearing diverticula were colonized with H pylori. PCR was unable to show any trace of genetic material for H pylori. CONCLUSION: Although the role of H pylori is well established in the gastric mucosal ulceration, its presence is not essentially required to induce "heterotopic gastritis" that may result in bleeding of the Meckel's diverticulum. .