Changes in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness may be the cause of post-COVID-19 headaches.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of post-COVID headaches is not low. The eye can be affected by this infection, but it is not clear yet what the relationship is between persistent headaches and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) after COVID-19 infection this study aims to investigate the relationship between these subjects. METHODS: In this retrospective study, in patients who have had a persistent headache, SD-OCT analysis of RNFL was obtained, and RNLF thickness values before and after COVID-19 infection were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 26 eyes from 13 patients (nine (69.2%) females, four (30.8%) males) with persistent headaches after COVID-19 infection were studied. The average age was 47,35 years for females and 63 years for males. The mean RNFL thickness of both eyes between before and after COVID-19 infection decreased, which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, a correlation between headache and changes in RNLF after COVID-19 infection was found. It may have wider ramifications to look into the COVID-19-associated headache phenotype of people with a history of migraines, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of migraine pathogenesis. This relationship can provide further insight into this infection.

The relationship between medication adherence and complementary medicine use in epilepsy patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research is to examine the usage of Complementary and Integrated Medicine (CIM) in individuals with epilepsy and the impact of CIM usage on medication adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in a university hospital in northern Turkey between July and October 2023, involving 101 individuals with epilepsy (PWE). Descriptive information forms and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-4 (MMS-4) were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and post-hoc LSD analyses were employed for data evaluation. RESULTS: The participants consisted of 65.3 % males, 25.7 % were not working due to epilepsy, and 61.4 % with generalized epilepsy. The average MMS-4 score was found to be 3.08 ± 0.96. MMS-4 scores showed significant differences based on epilepsy type (F = 3.998, p = 0.021; η2 = 0.07). 76.2 % (n = 21) of the participants who used at least one CIM technique preferred "having a religious person read a prayer." CONCLUSION: Medication adherence in PWE was at a moderate level. Individuals with focal and secondary generalized epilepsy showed better medication adherence compared to those with generalized types. Of those participant who used at least one CIM technique to improve their general health or control seizures, the most common was "having a religious person read a prayer."

Does enteral nutrition through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, attenuate Helicobacter pylori colonization?: is it worth mentioning?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: In patients who experience difficulties in oral feeding, alimentary intake can be supported by creating direct access into the stomach through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The present study purposed to compare naïve and exchanged percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes in terms of Helicobacter pylori infection and other clinical characteristics. METHODS: A total of 96 cases who underwent naïve or exchanged percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedures with various indications were incorporated into the study. The patients' demographic data, such as age and gender, etiology of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, anti-HBs status, Helicobacter pylori status, the presence of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, biochemical parameters, and lipid profiles, had been analyzed. In addition, the anti-HCV and anti-HIV statuses had also been evaluated. RESULTS: The most common indication for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement was dementia in 26 (27.08%) cases (p=0.033). The presence of Helicobacter pylori positivity was significantly lower in the exchange group compared to the naïve group (p=0.022). Total protein, albumin, and lymphocyte levels were significantly higher in the exchange group compared to the naïve group (both p=0.001), and the mean calcium, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were statistically significantly higher in the exchange group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Preliminary outcomes of the present study revealed that enteral nutrition attenuates the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Considering the acute-phase reactant, the significantly lower ferritin values in the exchange group suggest that there is no active inflammatory process in the patients and that immunity is sufficient.