International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2021
Clinical characteristics and progression of COVID-19 confirmed cases admitted to a single British clinical centre-a brief case series report.
In December 2019, a pneumonia-like illness was first reported in Wuhan-China caused by a new coronavirus named corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) which then spread to cause a global pandemic. Most of the available data in the literature is derived from Chinese cohorts and we aim to contribute the clinical experience of a single British clinical centre with the characteristics of a British cohort. ⋯ This case series demonstrated that the characteristics of British COVID-19 patients were generally similar to what is published in literature, although we report more gastrointestinal symptoms at presentation. We have identified frailty as a risk factor for adverse outcome in COVID-19 patients and suggest that it should be included in the future vaccination recommendations.
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Hospital readmissions are associated with poor patient outcomes and increased health resource utilisation. The need to study readmission patterns is even bigger during a pandemic because the burden is further stretching the healthcare system. ⋯ Among hospitalised patients with COVID-19, those readmitted had a higher burden of comorbidities than the non-readmitted. Within the first 12 days from discharge, readmission reasons were more likely to be associated with COVID-19, while those happening later were related to other reasons. Readmissions characterisation may help in defining optimal timing for patient discharge and ensuring safe care transition.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2021
Shear Wave Elastography in Varicocele Patients: Prospective Study To Investigate Correlation with Semen Parameters and Histological Findings.
Shear wave elastosonography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound imaging modality used to assess the mechanical properties of tissues such as rigidity and elasticity. In this prospective study, we investigated the effect of laparoscopic varicocelectomy on the elasticity, degree of fibrosis and function of the testes through SWE and we evaluated the correlation with semen parameters and histology findings. ⋯ SWE showed a statistically significant positive correlation with testicular volume, semen analysis and histological findings. This study represents the first investigation that correlates the varicocele, the testis volume, the quality of the seminal fluid ant the histological findings with the ultrasound and SWE values.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2021
Assessment of anti-HSV antibodies in patients with facial palsy in the course of neuroborreliosis.
There are many causes of facial nerve palsy. The most common causes are neuroborreliosis (NB), idiopathic paralysis or Herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation. The aim of this study was to characterize patients with facial palsy in the course of NB and to determine whether HSV-1 reactivation takes place during the acute phase of NB. ⋯ Neuroborreliosis should always be considered as a cause of peripheral facial nerve palsy. Peripheral facial nerve palsy is a significant symptom in the course of NB, especially in patients accompanied by meningitis. Pathomechanism of facial nerve paresis has not been well explained so far and may depend on two independent mechanisms in NB, including HSV-1 reactivation.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Mar 2021
Effects of smoking cessation on sexual functions and health quality of life in premenopausal women: A prospective case - controlled study.
To evaluate whether smoking cessation has an effect on female sexual function and quality of life. ⋯ In this study, it was shown that smoking negatively affected FSD and QOL when compared with healthy non-smoking women, and smoking cessation caused significant improvements in FSFI and SF-36 scores in these women after 9 months.