Effects of comorbidities associated with COVID-19 cases in Intensive Care Unit on mortality and disease progression.

OBJECTIVE: The patient's age, gender and the presence of certain concomitant diseases have been reported to play a part in the course and progression of COVID-19 in the literature. In this study, we aimed to compare the comorbidities causing mortality in critically ill Intensive Care Unit (ICU)-patients diagnosed with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data as regards the COVID-19 cases followed up in the ICU were retrospectively reviewed. 408 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR test were included in the study. In addition, a subgroup analysis was performed in patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation. While the primary aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in survival rates due to comorbidities in critical COVID-19 patients, we also aimed to assess the comorbidities in severely intubated COVID-19 patients in terms of mortality. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in mortality was observed in patients with underlying hematologic malignancy and chronic renal failure (p=0.027, 0.047). Body mass index value in the mortal group was significantly higher in both the general study group and subgroup analysis (p=0.004, 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Advanced age and comorbidities such as chronic renal failure and hematologic malignancy in COVID-19 patients are associated with poor survival prognosis in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Obstructive sleep apnoea, cigarette smoking and serum testosterone levels in a male sleep clinic cohort.

This study evaluated the impact of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and smoking on total serum testosterone levels in 96 men (mean age 43.3 years; range 25 - 60 years) attending a sleep clinic. Fifty-five men (57.3%) had OSA, defined as an apnoea-hypopnoea index of > or = 15 events/h, recorded during overnight polysomnography, and 42 (43.8%) were current smokers. Mean serum total testosterone levels were significantly lower in OSA subjects (3.4 ng/ml) than in non-OSA subjects (3.9 ng/ml), whereas no significant difference was observed between current smokers and nonsmokers. In a multiple linear regression analysis, serum testosterone was negatively correlated with body mass index and the apnoea-hypopnoea index, but not with age and pack-years of smoking. Our results support previous observations regarding testosterone levels in men with OSA, but, contrary to some earlier reports, there was no positive relationship between smoking and total testosterone in the present cohort.

A portable device based on the interrupter technique for measuring airway resistance in preschool children.

The interrupter technique for measuring airway resistance is a noninvasive method reported to require minimal subject cooperation. Therefore it has a good potential for use in young children who are not able to cooperate with conventional lung function tests. The interrupter method is based on transient interruption of airflow at the mouth for a brief period during which alveolar pressure equilibrates with mouth pressure. In order to investigate the compliance rate with the interrupter technique in preschool children and to look for associated baseline measures of RINT we performed a study in 214 children of ages from 3 months to 5 years. There was a significant inverse correlation between baserint and age (r = -0.672, p<0.001), and standing height (r = -0.692, p<0.001) in children with recurrent wheezing. However, this was not seen in healthy children. We concluded that the portable interrupter device is very useful in preschool children. The measurements showed that the age and standing height are inversely proportional to the baseline RINT values measured. We reported that these differences would be more apparent in children with a history of recurrent wheezing.

[Technical differences in various CPAP and BiLevel CPAP devices]. / Technische Unterschiede der verschiedenen CPAP und BiLevel-CPAP-Geräte.

PURPOSE: Since the first presentations of CPAP by Sullivan 1983 und BiPAP by Sanders 1990 as a successful treatment in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, many CPAP and BiLevel-CPAP devices have been developed by several companies around the world. Although all devices work on the same principle of continuous positive airway pressure delivered through nasal or facemasks, there are, however, significant technical differences between these devices, mainly due to different size and different maximum speed of the turbines. As far as we know, the only study concerning this technical difference in the devices was conducted by Raschke in 1995, who found significant differences in the pressure stability of the devices using a very complicated measurement model on volunteers who were breathing on the different devices. We intended to study the technical differences of the devices using a more simple technique in static conditions, but with very exact measurement. METHODS: We measured pressure stability on different inspiration flows and different pressure levels of 8 CPAP's and 4 BiLevel-CPAP's under static conditions using the "Höntzsch Exact ASD-G Messrohr ms 20201-18" flow-measurement device and the "Thommen HM 18.0020.A" pressure-measurement devixe. We measured the noise emission by these devices at different frequency levels using the "Brüel and Kjer Dual Channel Real Time Frequency Analyzer", and measured the speed to reach the adjusted pressure level with the "Multimeter Phillips PM 2518X" and "Oszillograph Phillips PM3350" using the voltage change due to different working of the electric engines at different turbine speeds. We also investigated the different construction of the devices by opening them and analysing the materials used in the devices. RESULTS: The real pressure levels at an adjusted pressure of 10 mbar and at an inspiration flow of 1 Liter/sec range from 8.7 mbar to 15.6 mbar in CPAP's and from 9 mbar to 9.7 mbar in BiLevel devices. At higher inspiration flows the differences are larger, at lower flows smaller. The maximum noise emission in the 10 Hhz spectrum at a distance of 100 cm from the device at an adjusted pressure level of 10 mbar ranged from 29.6 dB to 39.9 dB in CPAP's and 30.4 dB to 42.2 dB in BiLevel-CPAP's. The time to reach an adjusted pressure level of 10 mbar after closing the airway of the device ranged from 0.26 to 0.66 sec in CPAP's and from 0.46 to 0.80 sec in BiLevel devices. CONCLUSION: There are significant technical differences in the different CPAP and BiLevel devices due to different construction of the turbines and electrical engines of these devices. This should be considered when prescribing a device for a sleep apnoea patient. Not every device is suitable for every patient, and quality differences should be considered by all persons involved in the production and prescribing process.

Passive smoking and expired carbon monoxide concentrations in healthy and asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND: Carbon monoxide (CO) in expired air has been reported to be an indirect measurement for the quantity of passive smoking. Since endogen CO is produced in inflammatory processes and inflammation is the main pathogenetic mechanism of asthma, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between the intensity of passive smoking and CO concentration in expired air of healthy and asthmatic children. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was performed in the outpatient pediatrics clinics and day care centers. Knowledge about indoor smoking habits were obtained from parents. The exhaled CO concentrations were measured by a portable device in 235 healthy (mean age, 4.4 +/- 2.3 years) and 54 asthmatic (mean age, 4.5 +/- 1.7 years) children. Children with no smoking parents had the lowest exhaled CO concentrations. Significant relationships were found between the number of smoking cigarettes in the house and exhaled CO concentrations in both healthy (p = 0.003) and asthmatic (p = 0.01) children. Carbon monoxide concentrations were higher in asthmatic children than healthy ones (mean +/- SD, 1.32 +/- 1.50 ppm and 0.86 +/- 1.35 ppm, respectively, p = 0.028) if their parental smoking habits were not taken into account. Asthmatic children of non-smoking parents had higher CO concentrations than healthy subjects of non-smoking parents (1.05 +/- 1.55 ppm vs 0.37 +/- 0.53 ppm, p = 0.01). On the other hand, asthmatic children who has no smoking parents and did not receive inhaled steroids had significantly higher CO concentrations (1.75 +/- 1.45 ppm) than those who received steroids (0.58 +/- 0.65 ppm, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Exhaled CO can be used as an indicator of passive smoking in children. Higher expired CO of asthmatic children may reflect inflammation of the lung in asthma.

Central nervous system tuberculosis in children: a review of 214 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical, laboratory, and treatment features observed in pediatric patients with tuberculous meningitis in Turkey. Study Design. Retrospective case review study. METHODS: Review of medical records for demographic data, medical history, clinical manifestations, auxiliary test results, complications, and treatment of 214 children with central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) admitted to Dicle University's hospital between August 1988 and February 1996. RESULTS: Of the 214 patients with tuberculous meningitis, 112 (52%) were male. The mean age at presentation was 4. 1 years, with 165 patients (77%) younger than 5 years. Twenty-two patients (10%) were in the first stage of the disease, 120 (56%) in the second, and 72 (34%) in the third. Our epidemiologic data showed that 141 (66%) of the patients had a family history of TB, and 64 (30%) had a Mantoux skin test result of >10 mm of induration. Radiographic studies demonstrated abnormal chest findings in 187 patients (87%) (hilar adenopathy, 33%; infiltrates, 33%; miliary pattern, 20%; and pleural effusions, 1%, and 172 (80%) cases with hydrocephalus, 26% with parenchymal disease, 15% with basilar meningitis, and 2% with tuberculomas. Only 22 (13%) of 164 children had a positive acid-fast bacilli smear in cerebrospinal fluid, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in 49 patients (30%). All the patients were treated with Isoniazid, rifampin, and streptomycin or pyrazinamide for 2 months, followed by 10 months of Isoniazid and rifampin alone. Also, all the patients received adjuvant treatment with steroids early in the course of treatment, and 140 of 172 cases with hydrocephalus had surgical intervention. The overall mortality rate was 23%. CONCLUSION: One or more of these findings: a family history of TB, positive tuberculin skin test results, abnormal cranial computed tomography, and/or cerebrospinal fluid analysis compatible with TBM were found in all but 3 children in our study. central nervous system, tuberculous meningitis, diagnosis, hydrocephalus, children.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis: a rare familial inheritance with report of six cases in a family. Contribution of six new cases to the number of case reports in Turkey.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a lung disease characterized by deposits of calcium within the alveoli. Our aim was to emphasize the familial character and the clinical features of the disease, and to draw attention to the increasing number of Turkish patients reported in the world. We detected 6 cases of PAM. Three cases had been diagnosed 4 years earlier, and 3 new cases were detected during the screening of the family members. All patients were male and the mean age was 11.5 ranging between 5 and 29 years. Five of the patients were cousins and the other one was their uncle. Radiographic studies showed a sand-like appearance in all patients. One case showed small subpleural bullae and bronchiectatic changes in both lower lobes in recent high-resolution CT scans, while his CT performed 4 years ago showed only sand-like appearance. The cases were diagnosed with the demonstration of microliths by bronchoalveolar lavage in 5 patients and transbronchial biopsy in 1. Recently reported cases from Turkey have constituted a considerable percentage among all cases in the world. In conclusion, (1) our patients constitute one of the largest series of cases reported in one family in the world. The disease seems to have familial and racial characteristics. The Turkish race has to be further investigated for genetic transmission. (2) Contrary to female predominance in previous reports, all 6 cases were male and 5 of them were below 12 years of age. (3) The disorder may show rapid progression in some cases probably due to the severity of the genetic disturbance.