Impaired semen parameters in patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: A prospective cohort study

In this prospective study, we investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on semen parameters in a cohort of men who had recently recovered from COVID-19. A total of 24 men who had recently recovered from mild COVID-19 were included in the study. Their semen parameters were normal before COVID-19 according to the World Health Organization 2010 reference values. Semen samples were collected from these participants in the recovery phases of COVID-19. To determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on semen parameters, the patients' pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 semen analyses were compared. The mean age of the participants was 34.7 ± 6.4 years. The median interval between the positive nasopharyngeal swab test and obtaining semen samples was 111.5 (158) days. There was no significant difference in semen parameters before and after COVID-19 in terms of semen volume (p = .56), sperm concentration (p = .06), and progressive motility (p = .14). Total motility (p = .01) and total motile sperm count (p = .02) decreased significantly after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the pre-infection values. This study demonstrated that sperm motility and total motile sperm count were the semen parameters which showed a significant reduction in cases with a history of mild COVID-19.     

A Study on Olfactory Dysfunction in Turkish Population with using Survey Method and Validated Olfactory Testing

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of olfactory dysfunction on quality of life (QOL), and to investigate olfactory dysfunction related self-reported clinical features in Turkish population. The participants were questioned about the presence of any olfactory dysfunction. Participants with a complaint of olfactory dysfunction were asked to fill out a survey and then a validated olfactory test was performed. We asked 2,824 volunteers whether they had olfactory dysfunctions or not. A total of 199 (6.7 %) people mentioned that they had, and filled out the questions in our survey. The mean age of the surveyed population was 44 ± 15 years. The current investigation produced four major findings (1) the feeling of inadequacy due to olfactory dysfunction was more common among females than males (2) there was a significant correlation between subjective olfactory complaints and objective olfactory testing (3) problems in QOL issues are typically reported primarily in the areas of safety and nutrition (4) the possible reasons for the olfactory dysfunction according to the volunteers were upper respiratory infections including rhinosinusitis (46 %), allergic rhinitis (27 %), severe face and head trauma (6.5 %). The effect of subjective olfactory dysfunctions on QOL among the Turkish population was investigated for the first time. Problems in daily life issues are typically reported primarily in the areas of safety and nutrition.     

Role of Chemotherapeutic Agents in the Management of Cystic Echinococcosis

Hydatid disease is caused by infection with the metacestode stage of Echinococcus tapeworms of the family Taeniidae. The primary carriers are dogs and wolves, and humans are accidental hosts that do not contribute to the normal life cycle of this organism. The liver is the most commonly involved organ in the body by cystic echinococcosis (CE) secondary to infection with Echinococcus granulosus. Management options for CE should depend on the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic classification. Small (<5 cm) WHO stage CE1 and CE3a cysts may be primarily treated with benzimidazoles; the first-choice drug is albendazole. In some situations the combination of albendazole and praziquantel may be preferred. Chemotherapy with a benzimidazole or albendazole plus praziquantel is also used as adjunctive treatment to surgery and percutaneous treatment. Drug treatments have been the indispensable therapeutic modalities for cystic echinococcosis.Key words: Cystic echinococcosis, Drug treatment, Albendazole, Mebendazole, PraziquantelHydatid disease is caused by infection with the metacestode stage of Echinococcus tapeworms of the family Taeniidae. Four species of Echinococcus cause infection in humans: Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus alveolaris are the most common, causing cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. The primary carriers are dogs and wolves, and intermediate hosts are sheep, cattle, and deer, Humans are accidental hosts that do not contribute to the normal life cycle of this microorganism. Humans are infected by ingesting ova from soil or water contaminated by the feces of dogs. Hydatid cysts are common in societies where agriculture and raising animals are common, and hydatid disease continues to be a serious public health problem in many countries, including Turkey.^1–6 The most common site is the liver, followed in frequency by lung, kidney, and spleen.^7,8 The other, less common sites, such as the heart, pancreas, bone, brain, and muscles, are very rarely affected.^8–11 The first step in the prevention of hydatid disease is basic hygiene and the second step involves the approach to treatment. No consensus exists regarding the optimal treatment, although medical treatment is effective against larval E granulosus. In this study, we aim to discuss the effectiveness of medical treatment in the management of hydatid disease     

The effect of mineral trioxide aggregate on the contractility of the rat thoracic aorta

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is being advocated for vital pulp therapy. In the case of direct pulp capping, hemorrhage control is an important step on success, but little is known about the effect of MTA on pulpal bleeding. In addition, there has been a lack of information on the effect of MTA on smooth muscle contraction, such as can occur in the blood vessels of dental pulp. The present study assessed the vascular effects of MTA, using the rat aortic ring preparations as a tissue model. MTA (100-500 mg) induced dose-dependent contraction in rat thoracic aorta. The contractile effect of MTA was blocked by calcium channel blocker nifedipine (1 muM). These data suggest that the vasoconstrictor property of MTA is related to calcium influx and it may allow proper control of hemorrhage which is critical for the success of any pulp-capping treatment.     

An experimental model of traumatic nasoethmoidal cerebrospinal fluid fistula

Cerebrospinal fluid fistula secondary to head trauma is a potentially dangerous problem and precise localization and radical treatment is mandatory. The diagnostic technique is either computed tomography cisternography or MR cisternography. For evaluating the safety of diagnostic modalities and efficacy of treatment especially in terms of surgery, animal studies demonstrating traumatic cerebrospinal fistula model are indispensable not only for neurosurgeons but also for neuroradiologists. The authors in this paper describe a traumatic cerebrospinal fistula in an animal model using rabbits. The cerebrospinal fluid leakage was demonstrated successfully in all eight rabbits and was verified by computed tomography cisternography. The results led us to conclude that rabbit model of traumatic cerebrospinal fluid fistula is safe and has low mortality and morbidity rates. Further studies including larger number of animals should be considered in order to verify safety more accurately.     

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves myocardial diastolic function in diabetic patients

Myocardial diastolic dysfunction is the relaxation abnormality of ventricles that limits the diastolic filling and generally precedes diastolic heart failure. Diastolic dysfunction is a common finding in diabetes. Diabetic patients receive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for non-healing lower extremity ulcers, and exposure to HBO therapy is known to influence cardiovascular functions. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of HBO therapy on myocardial diastolic function in diabetic patients. Thirty diabetic patients (18 male and 12 female, 59.9 +/- 10 years old), who were planning to undergo HBO therapy, were consecutively enrolled. Myocardial diastolic function was evaluated by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler echocardiography before the first HBO therapy and after the tenth HBO therapy session. HBO therapy improved the relaxation capability of left ventricular myocardium, which was reflected by reduction in E wave deceleration time of mitral valve inflow (286.1 +/- 65.8 msec vs 214.3 +/- 32.1 msec, p < 0.05). HBO therapy also affected favorably the diastolic filling dynamics of right ventricle, which was partially reflected by the changes in E wave peak velocity of tricuspid valve inflow (0.48 +/- 0.07 m/sec vs 0.46 +/- 0.09 m/sec, p < 0.05). Tissue Doppler parameters of mitral lateral annulus, which are better correlated with ventricular relaxation, tended to be improved after HBO therapy, but the degree of improvement was not statistically significant. In conclusion, we suggest that HBO therapy may improve the myocardial diastolic function of diabetic patients when applied repetitively.