Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients' safety. This study aims to measure the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six central hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Data were collected from 1 to 30 June-2021. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Quality of life was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index. RESULTS: A total of 700 participants were included in this study. 61.6% (n = 431) were males and 38.4% (n = 269) were females. Younger ages (18-29 years old) were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress (p < 0.0083). Female healthcare workers had higher significant levels of anxiety (p < 0.05). Significant anxiety and stress levels were reported when healthcare workers had contact with COVID-19 patients, even if they had protective equipment (p < 0.05). Half of the participants (50%; n = 349) reported a good quality of life. CONCLUSION: Stress levels and depressive symptoms were remarkably higher in healthcare workers of ages 18 and 29 years old, whereas anxiety levels were significantly higher and more severe in female healthcare workers. Moreover, direct interaction with COVID-19 patients was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety symptoms.

A case of suspected primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma: An uncommon cause of sudden death.

Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) is an aggressive tumor originating from thymic B-cells. Clinically, it presents with general signs such as cough, chest pain and dyspnea. Although these symptoms are not specific, they are severe enough to reveal the disease. We report an autopsy case of a 25-year-old man, with a recent past history of cough and dyspnea, for which he consulted twice the emergency department and no diagnosis was made. He presented to the Emergency Unit, with a sudden onset of a dyspnea followed by a loss of consciousness. He was shortly declared dead after, a medico-legal autopsy was requested. On external examination, no traumatic lesions on the body were found, an important cyanosis of the face and ears, was, however, found. On autopsy, a mediastinal mass was found, measuring 19 cm × 25 cm and weighing 600 g, extending to the infra-hyoid region and to the thoracic cage and infiltrating the pericardium. Trachea had a necrotic mucosa with a partially obstructive lymph node mass. The diagnosis of a primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma was suspected based on pathological and immunohistochemical findings. The cause of death was finally attributed to respiratory failure due to this tumor.

Sudden death due to Takayasu arteritis complication associated with situs inversus totalis: A case discovered at autopsy.

Takayasu arteritis is a rare pathology that usually has general and atypical signs that make its diagnosis difficult. These characteristics can delay diagnosis, thus leading to complications and death. We, herein, report an autopsy case of a 25-year-old female patient with a history of multiple consultations for dyspnea. During these consultations, no diagnosis was made. She was found unconscious near her home and shortly after, she was declared dead. Forensic autopsy revealed superficial traumatic lesions. Internal examination revealed complete situs inversus. Multiple bilateral pleural adhesions and bilateral moderate effusion were found. The heart was heavy with thickening of the aortic wall (1.1cm), carotid arteries, and pulmonary trunk, associated with a large aortic valve and evidence of leakage. Histological examination of the aorta and its major branches showed features of panarteritis with segmental involvement. The vascular wall was thick with lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate and giant cells involving mainly the medio-adventitial junction. Disruption of the elastic lamina and reactive fibrosis in the intima were also noted. Diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis and particularly Takayasu arteritis was made. Death was therefore attributed to heart failure due to aortic insufficiency as a complication of Takayasu arteritis.

Cardiac rupture during acute myocardial infarction : Autopsy study (2004-2020).

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac rupture is a rare but critical complication of myocardial infarction with an incidence of 1 to 3% of cases. We aimed in this autopsy study to analyze the anatomical, epidemiological, cardiac, and coronary profiles of cardiac rupture in the Monastir region. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive study with retrospective data collection of all cases of myocardial infarction complicated by a cardiac rupture over seventeen years (2004-2020). RESULTS: Thirty-one cases were included in this study. The mean age of the cases was 67 years with a male predominance. Sixteen cases (57%) had cardiovascular risk factors. The most common symptomatology reported before death was acute chest pain in 57% of cases. Fourteen cases (45%) corresponded to the definition of sudden cardiac death. At autopsy, the heart had a mean weight of 452.78 grams. A large hemopericardium was associated in 90% of cases. Myocardial rupture involved the posterior wall of the left ventricle in 50% of cases. The myocardial rupture occurred at a site of acute myocardial infarction in 86% of cases and on a myocardial scar in 14% of cases. The coronary study showed double or triple vessel atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in 57% of cases with fresh thrombi at the infarct-related coronary in 11% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis found that cardiac rupture mostly involved elderly subjects with underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings sustain that age is a determining prognostic factor after acute coronary syndrome with the need for further education and awareness-raising efforts to speed up access to care for these patients.

The prevalence of stress among medical students in Syria and its association with social support: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic stress can interrupt personal life and cause fatigue, inability to concentrate, and irritability. This study aims to determine the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among medical students in Syria and whether social support could be a protective factor against stress. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the faculty of medicine of five Syrian universities. The Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) was used to evaluate the stress caused by the possible sources of stress. And Social Support Questionnaire - short version (SSQ - short version) was used to assess the social support that medical students received from family, friends, and their fellow medical students using six questions. RESULTS: A total of 1472 medical students participated in the study. Among the total participants, 671 (45.6%) were males, and 801 (54.4%) were females. The majority of the participators had mild (50.6%; n = 745) and moderate (37.0%; n = 545) stress levels. Academic-related stressors were the most important cause of stress among undergraduate medical students. Social support was provided equally to both genders, and genders reported the same degree of satisfaction. CONCLUSION: Our results emphasize the importance of improving the curricula, providing mental health consultants for students, and paying more attention to the mental health of female students. Finally, students in their clinical years should also receive mental health care, decreasing their duties and providing more self-free time.

Epidemiology of poisoning in Syria (1999 through 2020).

INTRODUCTION: Acute poisoning is a significant international public health issue and one of the leading causes of death in the emergency department (ED). In the absence of any previous reports describing the poisoning profile in Syria, we present this study to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of poisoning over 21 years. METHODS: We collected the data retrospectively from the Syrian Poisons Information Centre (SPIC) from January 1999 until December 2020. The data included patients who had accidental or non-accidental exposure to poisons, either by drugs, medicaments, and biological substances or substances chiefly nonmedicinal sources such as soaps and detergents, corrosive substances, pesticides, and other miscellaneous products. RESULTS: We collected the data of 120,972 poisoned patients, of whom 52.6% were females, and 47.4% were males. Aleppo governorate reported the highest number of poisoned cases (28.6%), followed by Damascus governorate (19.9%). The highest poisoning rates were recorded in 2020, 2014, and 2010. Pharmaceutical (37.0%) and animal (33.8%) sources were the most common causative agents. The oral route was the route of poisoning in 58.3% of patients, and 33.4% through the skin. The most common poison was scorpion stings 19.5% while the most common cause of death was organophosphates 15.7%. DISCUSSION: The differences in socioeconomic status, cultural habits, and agricultural and industrial activities between countries have led to a state of fluctuation regarding the most common poisoning agents. CONCLUSION: Damascus and Aleppo, the two major governorates in Syria, had the highest poisoning cases. Oral administration of pharmaceutical agents was responsible for most of the poisoning cases. The most common individual poison was the scorpion poison, while the top killer was organophosphates.

Assessing the Knowledge and Attitude towards Osteoporosis among Syrian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Osteoporosis is a progressive decline in the bone mass, which occurs with no alterations to the bone's composition. It is associated with increased bone fragility that may eventually lead to fractures. In this study, we aim to assess the level of awareness that Syrian women possess regarding osteoporosis and spread the knowledge about its prevention measures. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Syrian Private University. A validated questionnaire was asked to be filled in by women aged 18 and above, who were presented to clinics at Damascus, Al Helal, and Al Zahrawi hospitals between 28 November 2021 and 5 March 2022. Results: 6082 women were included, of which 63.9% (n = 3884) were under 30 years old and 89.3% (n = 5429) were in their reproductive age. The average knowledge score of osteoporosis was 69.2 ± 7.7 (28-100); 88.1% correctly defined osteoporosis while the majority (93.4%) has heard of it. The majority of our participants were living in rural areas (77.2%; n = 4698) while only 22.8% (n = 1384) were living in urban areas. The respondents from urban areas reported the highest knowledge scores (OR = 1.472; 95% CI: 1.258-1.723; P < 0.0001). 75.60% agreed that aging is a risk factor for osteoporosis. 64.6% were aware that osteoporosis is directly responsible for hip fractures. Smoking, family history, lack of exercise, and menopause were the main risk factors for osteoporosis, at 53.6%, 53.1%, 84.6%, and 60.7%, respectively. Social media represented the ultimate source of information on osteoporosis (64.70%). Conclusion: Our study is the largest in the region and the first of its kind in the country. Syrian women had an average knowledge score regarding osteoporosis; the vast majority has defined it correctly and has heard of it. We found no statistical significance between age or educational level and adequate knowledge about osteoporosis.

Primary splenic T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma in a patient with recurrent hairy cell leukemia: a case report.

T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma is a high-grade, morphologic variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma. It is rare as a primary splenic involvement and is usually reported as a second malignancy after hairy cell leukemia. Here, we report the first case that describes the occurrence of primary splenic T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma in a patient with a previous diagnosis of recurrent hairy cell leukemia. A 53-year-old male patient was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia in 1996 and achieved complete remission with Pentostatin. Then, recurrence of hairy cell leukemia was diagnosed in 2015 and treated with Cladribine. In 2016, he presented with B symptoms and hypersplenism. Therapeutic and diagnostic splenectomy was performed. Histopathological study with immunohistochemistry evaluation revealed the presence of T-cell/histiocyte-rich B-cell lymphoma. Therefore, second malignancies should be considered in patients with a previous neoplasm when symptoms recur or develop.

Pathophysiology of stress cardiomyopathy: A comprehensive literature review.

Introduction: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient type of acute heart failure with distinct wall motion abnormalities and unclear pathophysiology. This review focuses on the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms that could be involved in the occurrence takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Main body: Acute stress and subsequent excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system are major factors in the pathophysiology of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The high levels of catecholamine work in a triggering manner, generate reactive oxygen species, release inflammatory cytokines, and induce endothelial injury. The incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has increased following COVID-19 infection and vaccination, which suggests that neurohormonal and psychological factors (i.e., fear and anxiety of infection or vaccination) may have an additional role in the pathophysiology. In addition, inflammatory state, cytokine storm, augmented sympathetic activity, and endothelial dysfunction during the acute phase of COVID-19 infection may participate in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Chronic stress is also linked to this complex mechanism by accelerating cripple of endocrinal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, which influences the cortisol effect on releasing catecholamine, which is directly related to the pathogenesis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: The excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system and subsequent high levels of catecholamines could initiate the process. The catecholamines, in turn, generate reactive oxygen species and release inflammatory cytokines (i.e., IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, CXCL1, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), which causes endothelial injury.

Surgical challenges during open pancreaticoduodenectomy in a patient with situs inversus totalis: A rare case report and literature review.

Background: Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital anomaly defined by a mirror-image of thoracic and abdominal viscera. Discrete cases of situs inversus totalis and its association with gastrointestinal tumors have been reported. Here we report the first case of pancreatic-head serous cystadenoma in patient with situs inversus totalis. Case presentation: A 68-year-old woman presented with an abdominal mass that appeared four months ago. She was otherwise asymptomatic and her physical examination was unremarkable. Chest X-ray revealed dextrocardia. CT scan confirmed situs inversus totalis with an irregular, clear border, heterogenous pancreatic-head mass measuring 11 cm. Laboratory studies were within the reference range and pancreatic tumor markers were normal. We performed an elective open pancreaticoduodenectomy followed by an end-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy, an end-to-side choledochojenunostomy, and a side-to-side gastrojejunostomy. The immediate postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged four days later without any complications. Four-month of follow-ups revealed no recurrent or relapsed disease. Discussion: Although the steps of the Whipple procedure are almost the same in SIT patients. The main differences during the operation in SIT patients are the anatomical variations and how the surgeon will cope with them to avoid any mistakes. Conclusion: The surgeons should improve their skills and gain control in both hands to easily adjust with the anatomic variations of situs inversus totalis and reduce the operation time and the associated risk of long operation time.

An abdominal ectopic pregnancy following in vitro fertilization: a rare case report.

A significant rise in the incidence of abdominal pregnancy has been reported following in vitro fertilization techniques. Herein, we present a healthy 30-year-old woman, primigravida, conceived through in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer for male factor infertility. Six weeks later, she reported abdominal pain and discomfort. Ultrasonography revealed an empty uterus and a heterogenic abdominal mass in the anterior aspect of the uterus with normal adnexa. Computed tomography scan revealed a mass outside the uterus measuring 11 × 8 cm. Under general anesthesia, laparotomy exposed a gestational sac implanted outside the uterus on the anterior abdominal wall and contained an unviable fetus. Blood clots and pieces of placental tissue were also noticed. The patient had an uneventful course of recovery and was discharged after six days. Therefore, abdominal ectopic pregnancy must be considered in all patients with vaginal bleeding and/or abdominal pain who have undergone assisted reproductive technology.

Hysterectomy after a failed conservative management of placenta increta: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Conservative management of placenta accreta is a recent approach demarcated by leaving the placenta in situ. It can be applied either after a failed attempt to remove the placenta manually or without previous attempts. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case, we present a 31-years-old woman who was diagnosed with placenta increta during the cesarean section. Surgeons tried to remove the placenta manually, but they have failed and left the placenta in situ to avoid performing a hysterectomy on the patient. CASE PRESENTATION: Inappropriate follow-up clinically ultrasound results in severe bleeding and subsequent emergent urges to conduct a hysterectomy to save the patient's life. CONCLUSION: Conservative management requires a close follow-up using ultrasonography to avoid any fatal complications.

A missed psoas abscess diagnosis: A forensic case report.

Psoas abscess is a rare pathology that usually presents with non-specific signs and rare clinical features. These characteristics can delay the diagnosis leading to complications and death. We report a forensic autopsy case of a 65-year-old male, alcoholic, smoker, with a history of hypertension, and urinary infection, who presented to the emergency room for anorexia and consciousness disorder. On physical examination, the patient was febrile and confused. Laboratory exams revealed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Two days later, he died despite extensive resuscitation. Forensic autopsy revealed a large amount of green pus in the left psoas muscle extending to the muscles of the thigh of the same side with multiple cavities. The pus extended to the left kidney with destructive parenchyma and coralliform lithiasis. Histological examination showed destroyed renal tissue by lesions of chronic and acute pyelonephritis with dilatation of the pyelocaliceal cavities. Bacteriological analysis of the pus showed the presence of Escherichia coli. The psoas abscess was secondary to pyonephrosis favored by the immunodeficiency. Thus, death was attributed to a septic shock secondary to a psoas abscess complicating pyonephrosis.

A challenging diagnosis and management of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome in low-resource Settings: A case report complicated with hydronephrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome is a rare congenital disorder that consists of a didelphic uterus, hemivaginal septum, and unilateral renal agenesis. Both diagnosis and management can be challenging in low-income countries. CASE PRESENTATION: a 13-year-old female who experienced recurrent pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and abdominal mass for one month. We could not obtain the MRI as it was unavailable in our hospital, and the patient cannot afford its expensive cost in a private center. Instead, US showed an absent right kidney and doubled uterus with a heterogeneous cystic formation. A pelvic CT scan revealed an absent right kidney, an enlarged left kidney, a double uterus, and a left hematocolpos. We established the diagnosis of Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome and started planning for correcting the anomalies via laparotomy. DISCUSSION: ultrasound detects uterus didelphys, hematocolpos, hematometrocolpos, and renal agenesis but cannot identify the vaginal septum and the type of müllerian defect. The MRI is more convenient for a thorough assessment, but it is a high-priced diagnostic method. CONCLUSION: although MRI is the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis and preoperative planning, ultrasound and CT scan can be an alternative, less expensive, and reliable approach. In addition, Laparoscopy or vaginoscopy may not be available in these countries. Therefore, correcting the anomalies can be achieved with laparotomy, which results in acceptable outcomes without any complications.

Successful diagnosis and management of prerupture rudimentary horn pregnancy in the second trimester: a case report.

Rudimentary horn pregnancy has concerns due to the high incidence of an extreme risk of a life-threatening rupture. Thus, early diagnosis and management are essential to preserving the patient's life. We present a successful diagnosis and management of a prerupture rudimentary horn pregnancy in a 24-year-old woman presented with chronic pelvic pain and amenorrhea for the last 3 months. On physical examination, she had a mobile, nontender mass equals 16 weeks of gestation. Transvaginal ultrasound revealed an empty uterus with signs of a decidual reaction and a gestational sac adjacent to the uterus and surrounded by less than a 2 mm-in-thickness muscular wall with a positive fetal heart rate. The gestational age was 16 weeks based on biparietal diameter and femur length. Based on these findings rudimentary horn pregnancy was suspected. Laparotomy was performed, unicornuate uterus with unruptured, left rudimentary horn pregnancy was observed, and the pregnant horn with the ipsilateral tube was excised. To conclude, an empty uterus and extrauterine gestational sac surrounded by a thin muscular wall (<2 mm) on ultrasound should raise the suspicion of rudimentary horn pregnancy.

Sequences of COVID-19 in a child with WAGR syndrome: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: and importance: WAGR syndrome is a rare genetic disorder consist of Wilms tumor, Aniridia, Genitourinary abnormalities, and Intellectual disability. During the enduring COVID-19 pandemic, it has become extremely important to document the properties of SARS-CoV-2 and its interactions with other diseases. Herein, we present the first case of Syrian child with WAGR syndrome that has been affected by COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: a 17-month-old boy was diagnosed with WAGR syndrome. During the follow-up, he developed rhinorrhea, cough, and moderate dyspnea with no fever. Computed tomography scan was normal and polymerase chain reaction test was positive. The child started an oxygen therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics based on laboratory findings. His vital signs and laboratory values improved gradually without any further complications. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 has a special interest regarding its course in children. Although the clinical presentation varies, the current data reveal a better prognosis in children. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in non-specific symptoms and normal CT scan findings in children with WAGR syndrome. The accurate diagnosis, effective isolation and monitoring of the child, and successful management can improve the prognosis and shorten the infection period.

Red degeneration of a large leiomyoma in a non-pregnant woman in pursuit of 17 pregnancies: a case report.

Leiomyoma is a common benign tumor in women of reproductive age. Increasing the number of pregnancy has a significant role in reducing the risk of tumor development. Red degeneration is a rare complication and often occurs during pregnancy. However, its incidence in non-pregnant women is tremendously rare. Herein, we present a case of 51-year-old non-pregnant women with a history of 17 pregnancies, diagnosed with leiomyoma that underwent red degeneration.

Sudden death in the young adult: a Tunisian autopsy-based series.

BACKGROUND: We aim to study the profile, and pathological characteristics of sudden death in young in purpose of recommendations for prevention. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using autopsy data from the Department of Forensic Medicine of Monastir (Tunisia). A review of all autopsies performed for 28 years was done (August 1990 to December 2018). In each case, clinical information, and circumstances of death were obtained. A complete forensic autopsy and histological, and toxicological investigations were performed. We have included all sudden death in persons aged between 18 and 35 years. RESULTS: We collected 137 cases of sudden death during the studied period. The mean age of the studied population was 26.47 years. Almost 72% deaths were classified as cardiac death, and was due to ischemic heart disease in 32.32%. Sudden death was attributed to a pleuropulmonary cause in 7.4%, an abdominal cause in 6%, and from a neurological origin in 4.5%. The cause of sudden death in this group was not established by 9.5%. CONCLUSION: In this series, sudden death in young adults occurs mainly in a smoking male, aged between 18 and 24 years old, occurring at rest, in the morning, and early in the week. It is more common, especially in summer. Sudden death is most often the first manifestation of pathologies, especially unsuspected heart diseases. The predominance of cardiovascular causes is the common denominator of almost all studies reported in the literature. Our findings suggest that prevention of sudden death among young adults under the age of 35 years should also focus on evaluation for causes not associated with structural heart disease.

Sudden Death Due to a Cerebellopontine Angle Epidermoid Cyst: Case Report.

Epidermoid cyst of the brain is a rare benign embryonal tumor. It has an excellent prognosis because of its slow-growing nature. Clinically, symptoms are variable and depend on the location of the cyst. Sudden death may occur as a result of lethal complications because of the tumor growth, but it is still rare. In this article, we present a rare case of sudden unexpected death of a 58-year-old man, with no neurologic history, due to an epidermoid cyst of the brain diagnosed at autopsy.

Sudden death due to left ventricular thrombosis: A report of two autopsy cases.

PURPOSE: In this paper, we report two rare cases of sudden death due to giant left ventricular thrombus revealed at autopsy and we discuss the manner and the cause of death. RESULTS: Cases presentation: The two cases reported are about two men aged 55 and 53 years respectively. In the two cases, no past cardiac history was found. Prior to the onset of complications and subsequent death, both patients presented to the emergency department with progressing asthenia, faintness and shortness of breath, were treated symptomatically. At autopsy, atherosclerosis of coronary arteries was found. In the first case, death was attributed to thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. In the second case, it was due to thrombosis complicating a myocardial infarction. The mechanism of death in the first case was explained by the hemodynamic shock caused by a total left ventricular pseudoaneurysm thrombosis secondary to old myocardial infraction. In the second case, death was the consequence of a cardiogenic shock secondary to thrombosis of the cardiac pseudoaneurysm complicating a myocardial infraction. CONCLUSION: Complications of myocardial infarction represent frequent causes of adult sudden death. Left ventricular thrombosis is a complication that is often fatal and its discovery during an autopsy remains rare. The first-line doctor must take these types of complications into consideration in order to detect them and thus ensure timely management.