Relationship between physical activity, healthy lifestyle and COVID-19 disease severity; a cross-sectional study.

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency, and therefore the prevention and treatment of this disease is an important priority of world health. In the present study, some risk factors, including unhealthy nutrition, obesity, and physical inactivity, were assessed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, and their effects on the severity and duration of disease were evaluated. Subject and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from all patients who visited the respiratory emergency department from March 20, 2020 to April 24, 2020 in the University Hospital. The outcome measures were body mass index, diet quality that was evaluated with a 16-item food intake questionnaire, and physical activity level that was assessed by the global physical activity questionnaire. Results: Two hundred and six patients' data was analyzed. The results investigated that patients with lower levels of physical activity or lower MET.min/week were affected by a more severe form of the disease (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). We found that patients with a healthier dietary pattern were affected by lower severity of illness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that increasing levels of physical activity may partly reduce the severity of COVID-19 disease. Some dietary patterns such as increasing fruit and poultry consumption as well as drinking less tea were correlated significantly with a less severe form of the disease. The results did not confirm previous concerns regarding a potentially harmful effect of smoking on the severity or duration of symptoms.

Regular Sports Participation as a Potential Predictor of Better Clinical Outcome in Adult Patients With COVID-19: A Large Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To compare the severity outcomes of COVID-19 disease between patients with and without regular sports participation. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the authors investigated all patients who visited the emergency department of Imam Khomeini hospital with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 from February 20 to April 20, 2020. Then the authors assessed all patient outcomes (outpatient vs hospitalization or death). Finally, the authors compared the outcomes between athletes with regular sports participation and others, adjusting for confounding factors of age and sex. RESULTS: Of all 4694 adult patients, 249 individuals (137 males and 112 females with mean [SD] age of 36.45 [9.77] y) had regular participation in different sport disciplines. Overall, 30 (12%) athletes were hospitalized or died (30 and 0, respectively) compared with 957 (21.5%) nonathletes (878 and 79, respectively). Athletes with regular sports participation were 1.49 times less likely to be hospitalized (P = .044). CONCLUSIONS: Regular sports participation may positively affect the clinical outcome, regardless of confounding factors of age and sex. The probability of hospitalization in athletes with regular sports participation was 33% lower than nonathletes. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal effects.

The Effect of Dry Needling on Lower Limb Dysfunction in Poststroke Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Spasticity is one of the main complications in poststroke survivors leading to difficulties in walking and standing resulting in high levels of disability. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of deep dry needling on lower limb dysfunction in poststroke spastic patients. METHODS: A randomized clinical trial conducted in poststroke survivors who were assigned to one of 2 groups: Deep dry needling (intervention group) and sham dry needling (control group). The primary outcome measures were Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS) and functional tests (timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test). Secondary outcome measures were active ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (AROM), passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (PROM), single leg stance test, and Barthel index. All measurements were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after the third session 1 week later (T1), and 1 month after the end of the intervention (T2). RESULTS: We recruited 24 patients (71% male; mean age 57 ± 10 years; 26.4 ± 1.8 kg•m-2; time since event: 25.2 ± 12.5 months). There were significant improvements in MMAS, timed up and go test, 10-meter walk test, Barthel scale, and PROM (P < .05) in the intervention group compared to controls across the time-points. There were no significant improvements in AROM assessments (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Deep dry needling decreases muscle spasticity and improves lower limb function and gait speed in poststroke survivors.

Vitamin D deficiency in chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria is the most common skin diseases, characterized by chronic cutaneous lesions which severely debilitates patients in several aspects of their everyday life. Vitamin D is known to exert several actions in the immune system and to influence function and differentiation of mast cells, central role players in the pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria. One hundred and fourteen patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria were recruited in this study along with one hundred and eighty seven sex-matched and age-matched healthy volunteers as the control group. For each patient, urticaria activity score was calculated and autologous serum skin test was done. Vitamin D metabolic statue was measured in serum as 25 hydroxyvitamin D using enzyme immunoassay method. Patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria significantly showed lower levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria. There was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D levels and urticaria activity score. This study showed that patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria had reduced levels of vitamin D, while vitamin D deficiency could increase susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria.

The persian version of the chronic urticaria quality of life questionnaire: factor analysis, validation, and initial clinical findings.

Chronic urticaria (CU) also known as chronic idiopathic urticaria results in a lowered quality of life (QoL). Disease specific questionnaires are necessary to assess QoL in CU patients. Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) is the only available and validated disease specific questionnaire in the assessment of QoL in CU patients originally developed in Italian language. The aim of the current study was to develop the Persian version of the CU-Q2oL with an acceptable reliability and validity.Using the standard methods provided by guidelines, CU-Q2oL was translated into Persian. A total number of 110 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CU were asked to fill the questionnaire. Determination of scales was performed in addition to checking the data for internal consistency and known group validity. Urticaria activity score 7 (UAS7) was used to assess the severity of the CU in the population study. The 6 dimensional scale of Persian CU-Q2oL was determined using the Exploratory Factor Analysis. About 68% of the variance was explained by these 6 factor structure higher than 59.9% of the original Italian version.All 6 factors showed acceptable internal consistency as measured by Cronbach α coefficient. There was a significant correlation between UAS7 and total CU-Q2oL score. UAS7 and the presence of angioedema were predictors of CU-Q2oL score.The Persian version of CU-Q2oL was shown to be a valid and reliable tool to be used in the future clinical studies. Cultural considerations must be kept in mind in adoption of CU-Q2oL to other languages. 

Contemporary staining of arterial system with cadaver fixation: an experimental study / Tinción contemporánea del sistema arterial con fijación cadavérica: un estudio experimental

Although many methods are investigated, cadavers have unique role for education of gross anatomy. This study was performed to make cadaveric based gross anatomy more enjoyable and decrease the time needed for achievement of arterial system for teachers and learners. The adult rabbits in control (n=3) and experimental groups (n=9) sacrificed following deep anesthesia. The samples were fixed by injection of fixative solution to the left ventricle and the corps dropped to the traditional fixative liquid for at least 1 month. The injected fixative solution of experimental group contained stained human red blood cells. The red blood cells stained by eosin (0.25 percent in saline) for 30 minutes and injected between two injections of fixative. After passing the period of fixation, the samples were dissected and arterial system in the Neck, Trunk and extremities were recognized. The degree of staining of the arteries categorized as low, medium and high. The data of staining of arteries were analyzed by chi square using SPSS 16.0 for Windows XP (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). P value< 0.05 was considered significant. In almost all of the experimental samples, axillary and femoral arteries were stained (P= 0.005). The arteries of the neck (carotids), the wall of thorax (Intercostals), arch of aorta, abdominal arteries (renal, mesenteric) and iliac arteries stained (p=0.000). This study presents inexpensive and readily used protocol for making easier learning and teaching of gross anatomy by differentiating arteries from their associated nerves and veins in cadavers...

Aunque muchos métodos de enseñanaza se han investigado, los cadáveres tienen un papel único para la enseñanza de anatomía macroscópica. Este estudio se realizó para hacer de la anatomía basada en el cadáver más agradable y reducir el tiempo necesario para el aprendizaje del sistema arterial de profesores y alumnos. Dos grupos de conejos adultos, uno control (n = 3) y otro experimental (n = 9) fueron sacrificados después de una anestesia profunda. Las muestras fueron fijadas mediante la inyección de solución en el ventrículo izquierdo manteniéndose los cuerpos en líquido fijador durante al menos 1 mes. La solución fijadorea inyectada en el grupo experimental contenía glóbulos rojos (GR)humanos teñidos. Los GR se tiñeron con eosina (0,25 por ciento en solución salina) durante 30 minutos y se inyectaron entre dos inyecciones de fijador. Después del período de fijación, las muestras fueron disecadas, y se reconoció el sistema arterial en el cuello, tronco y miembros. El grado de tinción de las arterias fue clasificado como bajo, medio y alto. Fue utilizado el test de Chi cuadrado con el programa SPSS 16.0 para Windows XP (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Un valor P < de 0,05 fue considerado significativo. En casi la totalidad de las muestras experimentales, se tiñeron las arterias axilar y femoral (P = 0,005). Se tiñeron las arterias del cuello (carótidas), de la pared del tórax (intercostales), arco aórtico, arterias abdominales (renal y mesentérica) y arterias ilíacas (p = 0,000). Este estudio presenta un protocolo realizable de bajo costo que permite hacer más fácil el aprendizaje y la enseñanza de la anatomía macroscópica, permitiendo diferenciar las arterias de los nervios y venas asociadas...