Influence of aluminum salts on COVID-19 infected patients

Background/aim: Based on the antiviral and antibacterial properties of aluminum salts, we aimed to find out the influence of aluminum salts on COVID-19 infected patients. Materials and methods: We performed an observational retrospective cohort study which includes the patients diagnosed as COVID-19 and received aluminum salts in addition to actual treatments during hospitalization as the treatment group (Alum Group). Patients who received standard COVID-19 treatment protocols in the Infectious Diseases Clinics were included as the Control Group. Clinical findings, laboratory parameters, length of stay, survival, radiological follow-up, intensive care and mechanical ventilation needs, the presence of comorbidity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, symptoms, symptom recovery times, hospital stay times, treatment protocols, and clinical presence of pneumonia were examined in all patients. Advanced chemical composition analyzes of existing aluminum salts were also performed. Results: A total of 109 patients, 54 in the alum group and 55 in the control group, were included in the study. None of the patients in the aluminum group developed side effects due to the intake of aluminum salt. Survival status was significantly different between the two groups as there were 5 loss in the Control Group and none in the Alum Group (P = 0.023). The symptom recovery time was significantly shorter in the Alum Group; 2 (1­3) vs. 1 (1­2) days, P = 0.003. According to the paired samples analyses of the comparison between hospitalization and discharge, CRP levels significantly drops in the Alum Group (from 54.09 to 27, P = 0.001) but not in the Control Group. The drop was significantly same for the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and procalcitonin levels with P = 0.001. Conclusion: It has been observed that aluminum salts have beneficial effects in COVID-19 infected cases. Considering the low systemic toxicity of intermittent oral intake of aluminum salts as food supplements and the fact that pandemic control is still not achieved, the use of aluminum salts is promising.

The Effect of Yoga on Early Clinical Outcomes and Pulmonary Functions in Patients Scheduled for Bariatric Surgery: a Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: The present research was undertaken to investigate the effect of yoga on pulmonary function and early clinical outcomes in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research with a randomized control group was performed on patients scheduled for bariatric surgery between October 2021 and June 2022 in the General Surgery Clinic of a University Hospital in Eastern Turkey. The sample consists of 100 randomized patients who received yoga breathing exercises and routine care. Pulmonary function test (PFT), posteroanterior chest X-rays (CXR), 6-min walk test, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were applied as a pretest. The researcher practiced yoga for 40 min every day of the week. Post-test measurements were performed at the end of the yoga practice. Control group patients underwent the tests at the same intervals without any modifications to the standard clinical protocol. RESULTS: The difference between the control and experimental groups was significant in terms of post-test PFT measurements (p < 0.001). In the CXR of the patients, a statistically significant improvement was determined in 61.5% of the patients with yoga breathing practice (p < 0.001). Also, there was a significant increase in the 6-min walk test and SpO2 values in the experimental group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Yoga practice positively affected the pulmonary function values of the patients.

Understanding the causes behind coracoid graft osteolysis in latarjet procedure (finite element analysis and comparison of three fixation methods).

BACKGROUND: Latarjet is one of the most common surgical procedure performed on patients with shoulder instability with osseous defects, some complications include coracoid bone graft osteolysis, osteoarthritis, graft detachment, and malpositioning were previously reported. Several studies investigated potential causes of graft osteolysis but still, it remains a crucial area of investigation. We aim to use finite element analysis to examine the potential correlations between three modes of fixation methods used in the Latarjet procedure (screw, wedge plate, and endobutton), and the coracoid graft osteolysis. HYPOTHESIS: Finite element analysis tested the hypothesis that there is a linear relationship between the compression stress on graft which was generated by fixation methods used in the latarjet and the coracoid graft osteolysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Boundary conditions and inhomogeneous material properties were carefully assigned within the material of the scapula and coracoid interface. For the screw and wedge plate fixations, an applied torque in the range of 1-1.5Nm was used to characterize the surgeon's insertion torque during the surgical operation, while a 100N compressive force was selected for the endobutton fixation. RESULTS: Relatively lesser stress magnitudes were observed with endobutton fixation method rather than screw and the wedge plate fixation. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the groups (p<0.05). DISCUSSION: Excessive compressive stresses within the coracoid graft regions may be responsible for osteolysis due to negative effects over biological factors such as blood flow. Our study emphasizes the importance of taking into account the fixation method while performing the Latarjet procedure. We concluded that the mode of fixation used within the Latarjet procedure has a correlation on the coracoid graft osteolysis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.