Assessment of smell disturbances 6 months after COVID-19 in Polish population.

Considering the frequency and severity of olfactory disorders associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, attention to the olfactory loss has expanded. The aim of our study was to assess of smell disturbances 6 months after COVID-19. The study population consisted of 2 groups: 196 Post-COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized because of COVID-19, control sample-130 patients without reported smell disorders from general population-Bialystok PLUS study. People from both groups were asked to participate in the Sniffin Sticks Test (half year after the disease). Sniffin Sticks Test consisted of 12 standardized smell samples. The participant's test score was counted based on correct scent recognition. Middle/older age was related with lower likelihood of olfaction recovery. The biggest differences in recognition of particular fragrances were observed for: orange and lemon, lemon and coffee (p.adj < 0.001). Patients had the greatest problem in assessing smell of lemon. The comparison of scores between Delta, Omicron, Wild Type, Wild Type Alpha waves showed statistically significant difference between Delta and Wild Type waves (p = 0.006). Duration of the disease (r = 0.218), age (r = -0.253), IL-6 (r = -0.281) showed significant negative correlations with the score. Statistically significant variables in the case of smell disorders were Omicron wave (CI = 0.045-0.902; P = 0.046) and Wild Type wave (CI = 0.135-0.716; P = 0.007) compared to Delta wave reference. Moreover, patients with PLT count below 150 000/µl had greater olfactory disorders than those with PLT count over 150 000/µl. There are: smell differences between post-COVID-19 patients and healthy population; statistically significant difference between Delta and Wild Type waves in Post-COVID-19 group in score of the Sniffin Sticks Test. Smell disturbances depend on the age, cognitive impairments, clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 disease and sex of the patient.

The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis and assessment of resectability of pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the pancreas is one of the most malignant tumors. Symptoms are usually nonspecific and insidious, such that the cancer is advanced by the time of diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of MRI and MRCP in the diagnosis of patients suspected of pancreatic carcinoma and to define the role of these methods in the evaluation of resectability of pancreatic cancer in comparison with surgical findings. MATERIAL/METHODS: Forty-seven patients (32 men and 15 women) aged 46-81 had undergone MRI and MRCP examination of the upper abdomen on a 1.5 T system with a standard flexible surface coil. The results of those tests were compared with surgical and histopathological findings. The capacity of MR and MRCP to detect pathological mass, assess the nature of the disease process, and accurately assess the resectability of the malignant lesion were evaluated. In the statistical analysis the chi-squared and Fisher's precise tests were performed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed 87% sensitivity, 97% specificity, and 95% accuracy of MRI and MRCP in the evaluation of the nature of tumors within the pancreas and 100% sensitivity, 90% specificity, and 93% accuracy in determining the resectability of the lesion. The positive predictive value came to 83%, while the negative predictive value was 100%. The kappa compatibility index in comparison with surgical findings was 0.85714. CONCLUSIONS: MR and MRCP is an important diagnostic method in assessing pancreatic tumors. It is very useful in differential diagnosis and determination of tumor resectability.

Hydrogen-1 MR spectroscopy of the peritumoral zone in patients with cerebral glioma: assessment of the value of the method.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The determination of tumor boundaries, especially in high-grade glioma, is critically important for the proper planning of treatment, but the standard diagnostic imaging methods do not enable precise delimitation of the extent of tumor cell infiltration into the surrounding tissue. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of hydrogen-1 (H-1) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy for determining the extent of gliomatous infiltrate in the "uncertain zone'--the peritumoral area that appears unchanged on standard diagnostic MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 patients with cerebral glioma scheduled for tumor resection and subsequent radiation therapy. All patients were examined prior to resection with MR imaging and MR spectroscopy. MR spectra were obtained from examination of the solid part of the tumor and from two peritumoral volumes of interest located approximately along the axis of surgical access to the tumor. MR spectra obtained from a group of 32 healthy volunteers were used as control data. RESULTS: Analysis of the consequent voxels in the peritumoral zone revealed statistically significant differences in lipid/creatine and lactate/creatine metabolite ratios between patient subgroups with recurrent malignant lesions and without recurrent lesions. Significant differences also were found between the patient group and the control group in most metabolite ratios assessed. CONCLUSION: H-1 MR spectroscopic demonstration of metabolic changes in the peritumoral zone can guide treatment for cerebral glioma, enabling the physician to identify patients who have a high risk of recurrence.