RESUMO
Background and Aim: Little is known about the persistence of symptoms after clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study aimed to assess persistent symptoms in COVID-19 patients after clearance of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methodology: A multi-center survey was conducted on first wave COVID-19 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including presenting symptoms and persistent symptoms after viral clearance and possible factors contributing to persistence of such symptoms, were collected using an online multicomponent questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed to detect the most persisting symptoms and factors contributing to their persistence. Results: Overall, 538 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 41.17 (±SD 14.84), 54.1% were males, and 18.6% were smokers. Hypertension and diabetes were the most reported co-morbidities. Mild symptoms were reported in 61.3% of patients, 51.3% were admitted to hospital and 6.5% were admitted to the intensive care unit. Our study identified 49 types of persisting symptoms. Fatigue (59.1%), sense of fever (46.5%), anorexia (24.3%) and diarrhea (24.3%) were the most commonly reported persisting symptoms followed by loss of taste and smell (22.3%), headache (21.4%), cough (20.8) and dyspnea (21%). The use of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin and multivitamins were significantly associated with persistence of symptoms (OR = 8.03, 8.89 and 10.12, respectively). Conclusion: Our study revealed that in COVID-19 recovered patients, many patients reported persistence of at least one symptom, particularly fatigue and sense of fever. Follow-up of patients after discharge from hospital is recommended until complete resolution of symptoms.
RESUMO
With the expanding knowledge of tooth regeneration and biological mechanisms of functional dental tissue repair, current treatment strategies are beginning to give way to evolving fields such as tissue engineering and biomimetics. Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from rabbit teeth and seeded onto scaffolds prepared from 50/50 poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymers using two different porogen particle sizes. These cell/scaffold constructs were then transplanted subcutaneously in the rabbits. The expanded rabbit dental pulp stem cells showed high proliferative and clonogenic capacities as well as the ability to give rise to mineralised-like tissues in vitro in culture flasks and after seeding them onto the scaffolds for 12 days. Histological evaluation of transplanted samples revealed the formation of osteodentine-like structures as well as tubular bilayered structures of vertically aligned parallel tubules resembling tubular-like dentine. Using a tissue engineering approach yielded tissues quite similar to normal dentine/pulp-like tissues that can perhaps be used later on for regenerative endodontic or operative procedures.