Correlation of Low Levels of α-1 Antitrypsin and Elevation of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio with Higher Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Variations in COVID-19 prevalence, severity, and mortality rate remain ambiguous. Genetic or individual differences in immune response may be an explanation. Moreover, hyperinflammation and dysregulated immune response are involved in the etiology of severe forms of COVID-19. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) levels, as an acute-phase plasma protein with immunomodulatory effect and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker of inflammation response in severe COVID-19 illness. METHODS: In this retrospective observational cohort study, 64 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive COVID-19 hospitalized patients were studied for AAT, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), troponin, complete blood count (CBC), random blood sugar, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), and arterial oxygen saturation (O2sat) at admission and during hospitalization. RESULTS: The results showed that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had low serum levels of AAT and high CRP levels at the first days of hospitalization. In particular, the percentages of individuals with low, normal, and high AAT levels were 7.80%, 82.80%, and 9.40%, respectively, while high and low values of CRP accounted for 86.70% and 13.30% of patients. Most of the patients had an upward neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) trend, with a higher mortality rate (p < 0.05) and troponin levels (p < 0.05). However, comorbidities, CRP alterations, ESR alterations, nonfasting blood sugar, SGOT, SGPT, O2sat, RBC, and PLT values were not significantly different between the NLR downward and upward trend groups. CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed that severe COVID-19 patients had low serum AAT levels related to CRP values. Therefore, AAT response may be considered as a new mechanism by which some COVID-19 patients show immune dysregulation and more severe symptoms.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery activities and residency programs in a tertiary referral centre in Iran.

Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the COVID-19 outbreak as a new pandemic. In the meantime, plastic surgeons postponed their appointments due to the fair and rational allocation of medical supplies. These limitations made all junior and senior residents perform operations only on traumatic patients rather than those needing reconstructive procedures. This study aims to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic surgery training programs in Iran. Also, the number of canceled surgeries will be determined to see the effects of the pandemic on the patients. Methods: This retrospective case study considers a six-month timeframe in two consecutive years before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, the researchers evaluated the number of surgeries, types of procedures, age distribution, and gender distribution. The training program data of plastic surgery residents were collected from their logbooks and then analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 26. Differences were considered significant if p < 0.05 at a 95% confidence level. Results: The total number of surgeries decreased by 23.5% after the COVID-19 outbreak (p < 0.05). There was a 29.9% reduction in trauma cases, -78.9% in aesthetic surgeries, -17.7% in reconstructive surgeries, -51.8% in craniofacial surgeries, and -59.5%in microscopic surgeries for each resident. Conclusions: This study provides an insight into the severity of the pandemic effects on the plastic surgery training programs and the patients. The reduced number of surgeries led to a depletion in surgical skills training. These effects will not wear off immediately after the pandemic; therefore, it is necessary to observe whether the pandemic will have any lasting effects on this subspecialty.Level of evidence: Level IV, risk/prognostic study.

Epinephrine's effect in varying concentrations on the end artery organ in an animal model.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the concentration of epinephrine that causes end artery necrosis and ischemia. STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Animal Laboratory of Khordad Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from September 2007 to June 2008. METHODOLOGY: This study was done on 54 ear flaps from 9 rabbits [9 (rabbits) x2 (ears) x3 (splits) =54] divided into three groups of 18 ear flaps each. Nine of the ear flaps were randomized as control and nine of them were randomized as study group. The different concentrations of epinephrine and lidocaine 1% were injected in study groups but only 1% lidocaine was injected in control groups. Study group 1 received 1/200000, group 2 received 1/100000 and group 3 received 1/500000 concentration of epinephrine respectively. RESULTS: There was no evidence of necrosis in the control and study groups 1 and 2. However, 4 out of 9 of the ear flaps showed clear evidence of tissue necrosis in group 3. CONCLUSION: Injecting epinephrine in 1/200000 and 1/100000 concentrations had no side effect for the end artery of the rabbit ear flaps, but 1/50000 concentration is shown that it can cause tissue necrosis. Further studies need to be done in order to find out the effects of epinephrine with the same concentrations on the human end artery.

The Effect of Hirodoid Cream on Ecchymosis and Edema around Eyes after Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Several methods have been used to decrease the periorbital edema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of hirudoid and dexamethasone in reduction of the periorbital edema and ecchymosis. METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group H received hirudoid cream, 3 times per day for 5 days from postoperative-day (POD). Group D received 10 mg of dexamethasone IV, immediately before surgery; and group C (control) received neither dexamethasone nor hirudoid. Two surgeons who were unaware of administered medications rated the severity of edema and intensity of ecchymosis, on 2nd, 5th, and 7th POD. RESULTS: On 2nd POD, the edema in group D was significantly lower than groups H and C; but there was no significant difference in severity and intensity of ecchymosis between 3 groups. On 7th POD, the intensity of ecchymosis was significantly lower in group H in comparison to group C. When the difference between 2nd and 7th POD was evaluated, the resolution of severity of edema and intensity of ecchymosis was significantly better in group H (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Hirudoid was shown to be effective in reducing edema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty. The use of dexamethasone was effective in prevention of periorbital edema at early postoperative days, but it was not effective on resolution of ecchymosis.

The Effect of Topical Vitamin A and E on Ischemic Random Skin Flap Survival.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia of skin flaps is an important complication in reconstructive surgery. This study evaluated the efficacy of topical vitamins A and E on improving flap survival. METHODS: Twenty-four white-albino male rats were randomly divided into two groups of treatment and control. Standard rectangular, distally based dorsal random pattern skin flap was elevated. Intra-peritoneal cephazoline was administered to prevent any unexpected infection. No pharmaceutical agent was administered for the control group, but pure vaseline ointment. In treatment group, vaseline plus vitamins A and E were administrated daily after surgery for 10 days. The rats were evaluated on the 10th day after surgery for viable and necrotic portions of the flaps. RESULTS: The mean values of necrosis in the flaps were 625±189.56 and 920.00±247.31 in the treatment and control groups, respectively. Vaseline plus vitamins increased flap survival significantly. CONCLUSION: Topical vitamins A and E may be effective pharmaceutical agents to increase viability of random skin flaps in rats. They can be added to vasoactive topical agents to reach better results.

Giant Condyloma Acuminatum of Vulva Frustrating Treatment Challenge.

Giant condylomata are not usually seen nowadays in developed nations, but such cases are still seen in the under-resourced countries. Condylomata acuminata are commonly transmitted through sexual intercourse. Generally diagnosed based on their appearance. Giant condyloma acuminata also named Buschke- Löwenstein tumour (BLT) is a slow growing cauliflower-like tumor, locally aggressive and destructive, with possible malignant transformation. Common clinical treatment of anogenital warts is conservative, however, in extreme cases conservative therapy is insufficient and surgical excision is required. A case of common presentation of giant condylomata in a 50 years old, divorced, multiparous woman is presented and the literature is reviewed. She presented with 15 years history of slowly progressive vulval lesion and associated itching, contact bleeding, malodorous vaginal discharge and difficulty in walking. She had previously been treated with podophyllin and cryosurgery without success. The growth measured 30×10 cm in each side and was successfully excised with no evidence of malignancy concomitant and reconstruction also done.

Is Platelet-rich plasma superior to whole blood in the management of chronic tennis elbow: one year randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Lateral humeral epicondylitis, or 'tennis elbow', is a common condition with a variety of treatment options. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Autologous Whole Blood (AWB) represent new therapeutic options for chronic tendinopathies including tennis elbow. The aim of the present study was to compare the long term effects of PRP versus autologous whole blood local injection in patients with chronic tennis elbow. METHODS: Seventy six patients with chronic lateral humeral epicondylitis with duration of symptoms more than 3 months were included in this study and randomized into 2 groups. Group 1 was treated with a single injection of 2 mL of autologous leukocyte rich PRP (4.8 times of plasma) and group 2 with 2 mL of AWB. Tennis elbow strap, stretching and strengthening exercises were administered for both groups. Pain and functional improvements were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), Mayo score (modified Mayo Clinic performance index for the elbow) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) at 0, 4, 8 weeks and 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: All pain variables including VAS, PPT and Mayo scores improved significantly in both groups at each follow up intervals compared to baseline. No statistically significant difference was noted between groups regarding pain, functional scores and treatment success rates in all follow up examinations (P >0/05). CONCLUSION: PRP and autologous whole blood injections are both effective methods to treat chronic lateral epicondylitis and their efficacy persisted during long term follow up. PRP was not superior to AWB in long term follow up.

Bilateral deep peroneal nerve paralysis following kerosene self-injection into external hemorrhoids.

Along with conventional therapies, some abrogated traditional treatment had been used for hemorrhoids like local Kerosene injection especially for extremely irritated external hemorrhoids. We report a rare case of Kerosene self-injection into the hemorrhoid. Despite antibiotics therapy, extent debridement, and colostomy, the patient died after 24 hours because of heart attack. Moreover, we discuss here the case with contact or injection of hydrocarbon materials and early care action to decrease the extensions of injury and side effects.