Clinical and Laboratory Comparison of Covid-19 and Influenza A/B in Children.

BACKGROUND: The clinical picture of COVID-19 shows significant similarity with influenza. In this study, it was aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory findings between pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and those with influenza A or B, and to obtain data on the differential diagnosis of COVID-19 from influenza in children. METHODS: The study included 104 patients with COVID-19, 140 patients with influenza A and 135 patients with in-fluenza B (379 patients in total) who were admitted to our tertiary hospital with symptoms of acute respiratory tract infection. RESULTS: Fever, cough, runny nose, and pharyngeal hyperemia rates were significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 than in those with influenza A/B. The highest leukocytosis and lymphocytosis rates were seen in influenza A patients. Eosinophil levels were found significantly lower in the influenza A/B patients compared to the COVID-19 group. C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the influenza A/B group when compared with the COVID-19 group. The mean PDW value was significantly higher in the COVID-19 patients compared to influenza A/B. CONCLUSIONS: Our study data show that low body temperature and loss of taste and smell support the diagnosis of COVID-19, and fever, cough, pharyngeal hyperemia, and runny nose support the diagnosis of influenza. While leukocytosis and increased C-reactive protein suggest influenza, high PDW and eosinophil levels support COVID-19.

The relationship of argyrophilic proteins of the nuclear-organized regions and atopic dermatitis in children.

BACKGROUND: The argyrophilic proteins of nuclear-organized regions (AgNOR), visualised with colloidal silver methods as black dots are known as AgNOR. To date, the relationship between AgNOR and cancer and inflammatory conditions has been investigated. However, there has been no report investigating the relationship between AgNOR and atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between atopic dermatitis and AgNOR in paediatric patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine children with atopic dermatitis and 23 healthy children were included in the study. AgNOR test results were analysed prospectively. RESULTS: The mean AgNOR number (40.19 ± 21.06) in the patient group was significantly higher than the control group (12.83 ± 10.40) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated the association between AgNOR and atopic dermatitis for the first time in the literature. In the study, atopic dermatitis and AgNOR were found to be related. In the study, for the first time with the ROC analysis, AgNOR limit values with high sensitivity and specificity levels were determined in the diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.

Laser-assisted laterally positioned flap operation: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized, controlled clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of a new treatment approach, which consisted of laterally positioned flap (LPF) procedure combined with an external vestibular releasing incision made by a diode laser (LALPF) to LPF alone for the treatment of isolated gingival recession defects. METHODS: Thirty-two healthy patients presenting single Miller class II isolated gingival recessions with minimal loss of interdental papilla were treated with an LPF technique. Sixteen patients were randomly assigned to the test group (laser-assisted laterally positioned flap [LALPF]), and the other 16 patients were assigned to the control group (LPF). In the test group, diode laser was used for vestibular deepening in order to obtain maximum maneuverability of the advanced flap. Clinical and patient-centered parameters (visual analog scale for pain and aesthetics [VAS]) were measured at baseline, 7 days, and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Complete root coverage from baseline to 6 months post-surgery was achieved for 46.7% of the control group and 81.2% of the test group (p=0.044). There were no differences in VAS pain measurements between the groups. Patient satisfaction with aesthetics was higher in LALPF group than in the LPF group. CONCLUSIONS: Six month results showed that the LALPF approach was effective for the treatment of single Miller class II gingival recessions.