The present study showed that MTV and mSUV of FDG PET/CT scans of the tumor, but not SUVmax, had a significant impact on survival time of patients with NSCLC. Based on this result, we believe that we might have more accurate information about the survival time of our patients if we also evaluate mSUV and MTV in combination with mSUV, which is frequently used for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with NSCLC during our daily practice.

Objectives: Patients who develop cytokine storm while they have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience more severe symptoms. This article aims to evaluate the effect of biochemical parameters on the clinical course of the disease in patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) due to cytokine storm.Methods: Medical documents of patients with COVID-19 were searched retrospectively. Patients who entered cytokine storm were classified as group 1 and divided into two subgroups as patients who were followed up in the ward and in the intensive care unit (ICU). Less severe COVID-19 patients who did not enter cytokine storm were included in the control group as group 2.Results: A total of 522 patients with COVID-19 infection were included in the study. The mean age was 62.0 ± 15.6 years, and the majority were male (64.4%). Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the two most common diseases, seen in 50.8% and 29.9%, respectively. There were 392 patients with TCZ application (group 1) and 130 patients without TCZ (group 2). Significantly higher serum glucose, magnesium, and sodium and lower calcium levels were present in group 1 than in group 2 (<0.001). Hypocalcemia, hypernatremia, hypermagnesemia, and hyperkalemia were more frequently detected in the ICU compared with the patients treated in the wards (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.039, and P < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions: Following up closely electrolyte disturbances may support patient survival and decrease the probability of ICU necessity. This approach should be taken before the development of important disorders to be effective in the treatment process of the main disease.

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Asthma is a disease characterized by the narrowing of the airways and resulting shortness of breath. Anxiety is a condition that is frequently observed in patients with asthma and causes worsening of symptoms. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has influenced the mental health of many individuals. ‘The aim of this study is to determine the anxiety levels of asthma patients during the pandemic period and to reveal the contribution of these patients' metacognition to anxiety’. This study was planned retrospectively Twenty-eight asthma patients were evaluated for asthmatic symptoms and anxiety levels. before the COVID-19 pandemic and 28 healthy controls were included. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients were re-evaluated for asthmatic symptoms and anxiety levels. The Asthma Control Test (ACT), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Metacognition Scale-30 (MCS) were applied to all participants to evaluate levels of asthmatic symptoms, anxiety and metacognitive beliefs. During the pandemic, while patients’ ACT scores increased significantly (p=0.011), the BAI score decreased significantly (p=0.039), compared to the pre-pandemic values. BAI score was negatively correlated with pre- and post-pandemic ACT scores (p=0.029, p=0.006, respectively). During the pandemic, patients' BAI score and "need to control thoughts" subscale score of MCS-30 were found significantly higher than those of controls (p=0.003). Additionally, patients’ anxiety levels during the pandemic were correlated with the metacognitive scale score (p=0.036). Asthma symptoms were observed to remit, and anxiety levels to decrease during the pandemic in asthma patients, compared to the pre-pandemic values. Patients’ anxiety levels during the pandemic were found higher than those of controls. Therefore, we consider that current anxiety is related to metacognitive beliefs, and our study findings are important in terms of understanding anxiety developing in asthma patients during the pandemic and reflecting the findings to psychotherapeutic modalities.