Determining host factors contributing to disease severity in a family cluster of 29 hospitalized SARS‐CoV‐2 patients: Could genetic factors be relevant in the clinical course of COVID‐19?

In this study, we report a large family cluster consisting of 29 genetically related patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19). We sought to determine the clinical characteristics relevant to the clinical course of COVID‐19 by comparing the family cluster to unrelated patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection so that the presence of potential determinants of disease severity, other than traditional risk factors previously reported, could be investigated. Twenty‐nine patient files were investigated in group 1 and group 2 was created with 52 consecutive patients with COVID‐19 having age and gender compatibility. The virus was detected for diagnosis. The clinical, laboratory and imaging features of all patients were retrospectively screened. Disease course was assessed using records regarding outcome from patient files retrospectively. Groups were compared with respect to baseline characteristics, disease severity on presentation, and disease course. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of comorbidity and smoking history. In terms of inhospital treatment, use differed not significantly between two groups. We found that all 29 patients in the group 1 had severe pneumonia, 18 patients had severe pneumonia. Hospitalization rates, length of hospital stay, and transferred to intensive care unit were found to be statistically significantly higher in the group 1. In the present study, COVID‐19 cases in the large family cluster were shown to have more severe disease and worse clinical course compared with consecutive patients with COVID‐19 presenting to the same time. We believe further studies into potential genetic mechanisms of host susceptibility to COVID‐19 should include such family clusters.     

Oral complaints of denture-wearing elderly people living in two nursing homes in istanbul, Turkey

Aim: The aim of this study was to observe and determine oral complaints of people aged 55 years or older, living in two nursing homes in Istanbul, Turkey, and their satisfaction with their complete or partial dentures by means of a simple questionnaire. Methods: Two old peoplea??s homes (one public and one private) in the district of Uskudar in Istanbul agreed to take part in this study. All residents who were available were invited to answer a piloted nine-point questionnaire with questions on age, gender, physical problems, eating, and communication, aesthetic denture wearing and psychological problems. The questions were asked in person by one investigator. The resulting data were entered into SPSS version 15. Results: Out of a total of 210 residents, 130 (61.9%) took part in the study, of whom 53% (n=71) of residents were living in the private nursing home and 60% (n=81) were female. One hundred and five (80%) were denture wearers. More than half of the residents (59%, n=79) were over 75 years old. Problems were mostly seen in older ages, especially those over 75 years old, over 60% of whom reported problems for all the variables listed in the questionnaire. Women were more aware of halitosis than men. Conclusions: The results of this study confirm those of previous studies and suggest that elderly people with dentures, and particularly complete dentures, frequently complain of a wide range of problems including: eating, social interaction and communication and these problems have a detrimental influence on their quality of life.     

Avaliação de entesopatia em pacientes com fibromialgia por meio do novo índice ultrassonográfico de entesite

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study is to determine the frequency of enthesopathy in fibromyalgia (FM) by using a newly developed ultrasonography (US) method, the Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index (MASEI).MethodsThis study was conducted on 38 consecutive patients with FM and 48 healthy sex- and age-matched controls. Six entheseal sites (olecranon tuberosity, superior and inferior poles of patella, tibial tuberosity, superior and inferior poles of calcaneus) on both lower limbs were evaluated. All US findings were identified according to MASEI. Scores of patients and controls were compared by Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Validity was analysed by receiver operating characteristic curve. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsTotal enthesitis score was 7.39 ± 4.99 (mean ± SD) among FM patients and 3.7 ± 3.22 among healthy controls (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve established an ultrasound score of > 3.5 in the FM group as the best cut-off point to differentiate between cases and controls. No statistically significant correlation was found between the MASEI score and the FM disease duration, and the location of the tender points.ConclusionsMisdiagnoses of FM are harmful to patients and the community, and the presence of enthesopathy among FM patients increases. Its detection with the MASEI score may help to discriminate FM patients presenting with ill-defined symptoms and signs, in order to prevent mistreatment.     

The effects of polycystic ovary syndrome on gestational diabetes mellitus

The aim of this study was to explore the inter-relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes mellitus, and demonstrate maternal and fetal outcomes. This was a case-control study in 1360 pregnant women who received a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus between 24 and 28 weeks of gestational age. Among all diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus, 150 pregnant women had received a polycystic ovary syndrome, and 160 women who did not have polycystic ovary syndrome were designated as controls. The incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension was 26.3% and 12% in the case and control groups, respectively. Preeclampsia was seen at an incidence of 12% and 6% in case and in control groups, respectively. The difference in neonatal hypoglycemia between the two groups was statistically significant, with an incidence of 17% and 5% in the case and in control groups, respectively. This study demonstrated that the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome along with gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension by 2.4 fold, preeclampsia by 2 fold and neonatal hypoglycemia by 3.2 fold, compared to gestational diabetes mellitus alone.