Comparison of the prognostic value of F-18 FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters of primary tumors and MRI findings in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of metabolic parameters of pretreatment primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with F-18-FDG PET/CT compared with MRI findings for the prognostic value and disease-free survival (DFS) in locally advanced cervical cancer.

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.     

Mothers’ emotional states and attitudes regarding their children with asthma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of asthma with the psychological profile (depression and anxiety) of children with asthma and their mothers as well as the attitudes of these mothers toward their children and their family relationships. Methods: Sixty-four children with asthma, 60 healthy children and their mothers were included in the study. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) were applied to the children. All mothers completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Parental Attitude Research Instrument and the Family Assessment Device. Results: CASI scores were significantly higher in children with asthma (p?<?0.001) than in healthy children. The increasing duration and severity of asthma were associated with increasing anxiety levels in children with asthma. Depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher in the mothers of children with asthma than in the comparison group. The mothers of children with asthma did not have supportive and friendly relationships with their children. In addition, these mothers had significantly higher Attitude of Hostility and Rejection, Attitude of Over-parenting and Authoritarian Attitude scores than those of the comparison group. Increasing duration and severity of asthma influenced family functions and the attitude of the mothers of children with asthma. There was a correlation between an increasing number of emergency department visits and increasing depression in the mothers of children with asthma. Conclusions: This cross-sectional study revealed that the disease may negatively affect the lives of children with asthma and their mothers and their family relationships.     

Effects of passive smoking on lung function tests in preschool children born late-preterm: a preventable health priority

Objective: Late-preterm delivery is known to be associated with potential adverse effects on lung development. Passive smoking may result in alterations of pulmonary function in infants born late-preterm. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a noninvasive, rapid, and practicable technique that can assess lung function. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of passive smoking on lung function tests in preschool children born late-preterm using IOS.

Methods: The study population consisted of a total of 139 children between 3 and 7 years of age born late-preterm who were being followed-up at our outpatient unit at the time of study period. Late-preterms were subcategorized according to presence or absence of exposure to passive smoking (PS). Those with and without exposure to passive smoking were referred to as PS group (56.1%, n?=?78) and non-PS group (43.9%, n?=?61), respectively. Resistance (R5–R20), reactance (X5–X20), and resonant frequency were measured by impulse oscillometry (IOS) at 5–20?Hz.

Results: Median R5-R20 and Z5 were significantly higher and median X10 was significantly lower in PS group compared to non-PS group (p?Conclusions: This study demonstrated that passive smoking significantly increases peripheral airway resistance and seems to adversely affect lung function in children born late-preterm.