Prevalence and association of oral manifestations with disease severity in patients diagnosed with COVID­19: A cross­sectional study.

Systemic disorders may exhibit early signs when conducting an oral examination. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, several studies have been published detailing the direct impact of the virus on the oral cavity. The present study aimed to determine whether indeed there are any significant disparities in oropharyngeal manifestations between individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and a control group, and whether the virus has the ability to invade and reproduce inside oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts, resulting in the development of oral ulcerations and superficial lesions. The present study provides an overview of the symptoms that occur at an early stage of the illness, and the most commonly affected regions of the oral cavity, including the tongue, lips, palate and oropharynx are examined. In the present retrospective study, 52 patients infected with COVID-19 were recruited between April, 2021 and October, 2022. In addition, 52 individuals who tested negative for the virus were recruited as the control group. The study was conducted through a thorough examination and questionnaire provided to all participants. The results revealed that among the cohort of patients from the COVID-19 group examined (n=52), a proportion (mean, 16.15) displayed oral manifestations. Specifically, 75% of the patients in the COVID-19 group described oral cavity pain, and 69% of these patients had changes in teeth color or dental caries. In summary, in relation to the control group, the prevalence of oropharyngeal symptoms was generally lower compared to the COVID-19 group, apart from oral cavity pain (30.8%), tonsillitis (17.3%), bleeding (34.6%), teeth color changes (36.5%), recurrence (15.4%) and abscesses (7.7%). Thus, on the whole, the patients without COVID-19 had fewer oral manifestations.

Risk Factors for Pulmonary Embolism in Individuals Infected with SARS-CoV2-A Single-Centre Retrospective Study.

The emergence of SARS-CoV2 has presented itself as a significant global health crisis. The prevalence of thrombotic events is known to be high in these patients, affecting various organ systems, sometimes leading to cutaneous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (PE), stroke, or coronary thrombosis. The available evidence suggests that thromboembolism, hypercoagulability, and the excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines play a significant role in the development of multiorgan failure. Methodology: This retrospective single-centre study was conducted at "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timisoara, Romania, involving a total of 420 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. We separated them into a CONTROL group that included 319 patients, and an intervention group (PE) with 101 patients that, subsequent to infection with the virus, developed pulmonary embolism. The study included the reporting of demographic data, laboratory findings, and comorbidities. Results: Out of a total of 420 patients, 24% experienced pulmonary embolism, while 21.42% died. Arterial thrombotic events were found to be associated with factors such as age, cardiovascular disease, levels of white blood cells, D-dimers, and albumin in the blood. The findings of the study indicate that there is an independent association between pulmonary thrombosis and hypertension (odds ratio (OR): 1.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.7 to 1.7; p = 0.6463), cancer (OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 0.6 to 2.3; p = 0.6014), and COPD (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.6 to 2.3; p = 0.4927). On the other hand, there is a stronger correlation between PE and obesity (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.7 to 4.6; p < 0.0001), diabetes (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 2 to 5.3; p < 0.0001), and dyslipidemia (OR: 3.6; 95% CI: 2.3 to 5.8; p < 0.0001) in a multivariable regression logistic model. Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with severe forms of COVID-19 display a comparable incidence of arterial thrombotic events, which have been linked to poor survival rates.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Vitamin D in Respiratory Tract Infections and COVID-19 in Children.

Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) are one of the main reasons that the pediatric population goes to the doctor. The connection between ARTI and vitamin D (VD) is currently debated by the medical community, and so far, there has been little agreement with regard to the ideal level of 25(OH)D concentration that would provide protection for the respiratory tract, or the effectiveness of its administration in the treatment of respiratory infections. The purpose of this literature review was to bring attention to the immunomodulatory and antiviral function of vitamin D and its relation to the respiratory system by examining the main ARTIs, including SARS-CoV-2. The latter has affected the pediatric population in different ways, from asymptomatic patients to severe forms with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Although there are not much clinical data on the SARS-CoV-2 disease in the pediatric population worldwide, we tried to find out whether there is a connection between the severity of this disease, other ARTIs, and vitamin D supplementation. We also aimed to find out if 25OHD deficiency had an adverse effect on the evolution of the disease and the recovery period in the case of younger patients affected by COVID-19. For this literature review, the PICO framework was selected as the methodological approach. Our results demonstrated many methods by which this vitamin may lower the risk of ARTI with regard to the COVID-19 infection. Despite these significant advancements, more research is needed to support the idea that 25(OH)D concentration can influence the evolution of respiratory tract infections in children.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Transient Neonatal Diabetes Mellitus-2 Case Reports and Literature Review.

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is a rare genetic disease that affects 1 in 90,000 live births. The start of the disease is often before the baby is 6 months old, with rare cases of onset between 6 months and 1 year. It is characterized by low or absent insulin levels in the blood, leading to severe hyperglycemia in the patient, which requires temporary insulin therapy in around 50% of cases or permanent insulin therapy in other cases. Two major processes involved in diabetes mellitus are a deformed pancreas with altered insulin-secreting cell development and/or survival or faulty functioning of the existing pancreatic beta cell. We will discuss the cases of two preterm girls with neonatal diabetes mellitus in this research. In addition to reviewing the literature on the topic, we examined the different mutations, patient care, and clinical outcomes both before and after insulin treatment.

Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Allergies in Children: A Literature Review.

The intestinal microbiota is a diverse and complex microecosystem that lives and thrives within the human body. The microbiota stabilizes by the age of three. This microecosystem plays a crucial role in human health, particularly in the early years of life. Dysbiosis has been linked to the development of various allergic diseases with potential long-term implications. Next-generation sequencing methods have established that allergic diseases are associated with dysbiosis. These methods can help to improve the knowledge of the relationship between dysbiosis and allergic diseases. The aim of this review paper is to synthesize the current understanding on the development of the intestinal microbiota in children, the long-term impact on health, and the relationship between dysbiosis and allergic diseases. Furthermore, we examine the connection between the microbiome and specific allergies such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and food allergies, and which mechanisms could determine the induction of these diseases. Furthermore, we will review how factors such as mode of delivery, antibiotic use, breastfeeding, and the environment influence the development of the intestinal flora, as well as review various interventions for the prevention and treatment of gut microbiota-related allergies.

Herpes Zoster Incidence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: The aberrant immune response in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and immunosuppression may intrinsically predispose patients to infectious complications, such as herpes zoster (HZ). We quantified the incidence of HZ in IBD patients in the province of Quebec, Canada. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study using the provincial "Regie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec" (RAMQ) health registry from 1996 to 2015. The study population consisted of all subjects in the source population who fulfilled the CD and UC case-defining criteria. HZ incidence rates (IRs) in person-years (py) were calculated according to age groups, sex, Charlson Comorbidity index (CCI), and IBD type. Age standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were performed using the Quebec general population as reference. RESULTS: A total of 39,366 patients met the diagnostic criteria of either Crohn's disease (CD; n = 23,388), ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 14,513), or IBD unclassified (n = 1465). We identified 2158 HZ cases. Crude IR was 6.67 cases/1000 py and 7.22 cases/1000 py for CD and UC patients, respectively. Unclassified IBD crude HZ IR was 7.54 cases/1000 py. No significant time trend was identified. HZ incidence is high in IBD patients >50 years of age and among the very young (0-17 years of age; SIR, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 2.64-4.26), especially females. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that HZ incidence is high in the IBD population. Preventives measures should be implemented in this at-risk population.