Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on physical well-being and mental health of ICU healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods A total of 51 ICU HCWs working at a tertiary care hospital were included in this cross-sectional study conducted before (January 2019-January 2020) and during (January 2021-April 2021) COVID-19 pandemic. Data on sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, COVID 19 history and current mental health issues via Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), Suicidal Ideation Scale (SIS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were recorded. Results Overall, 62.7% of participants were nurses, heavy workload (working ≥200 h/month) was reported by 76.5% of participants and previous history of COVID-19 was confirmed by 62.7%. Current mental health issues involved poor sleep quality in majority (96.1%) of participants, anxiety (51.0%), depression (51.0%) in at least half of them and a moderate degree of emotional exhaustion Heavy workload was associated with more remarkable decrease in sleep duration (median change: −0.5 vs. −1.0 h/day, P = .020), Vit B12 (median change: 60[−48-293] vs. −65[−371-262] pg/mL, P < .001) and Vit D (median change: −1.6[−13.1-20] vs. −9.7[−39.7-21.8] ng/mL, P = .004) during pandemic, while working hours per month were also significantly higher in those with versus without anxiety (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .003) and with versus without depression (264[150-390] vs. 240[150-264] h, P = .037). Conclusion Our findings indicate high prevalence of mental health issues including anxiety and depression as well as poor sleep quality and emotional burnout among ICU HCWs, particularly those with heavy workload.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of 24 hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) variability (BPV) on renal progression in hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) Methods: A total 59 hypertensive patients (mean age: 54.2±14.6 years, 50.8% male) with CKD who underwent 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) were included. Data on SBP, DBP, BPV coefficients (VC) for SBP (SBP-CV) and DBP (DBP-CV) were recorded. A decrease in e-GFR of <5 ml/min/year was considered as normal renal progression and a decrease in ≥5 ml/min/year was considered as rapid renal progression. Results: Overall, 40.6% of the patients had uncontrolled HT, while 45.8% had non-dipper pattern. Mean±SD daytime and night-time SBP and SBP-VC values were 135.3±17.9 mmHg, 128.6±23.0 mmHg, 11.7±2.8 and 9.5±3.6, respectively. Mean±SD daytime and nigh-time DBP and DBP-VC values were 84.5±13.4 mmHg, 77.2±16.1 mmHg, 13.8±3.8 and 12.0±3.7, respectively. Rapid renal progression was detected in 25.4% of patients with no significant difference in daytime, night-time and total SBP, SBP-VC, DBP and DBP-VC values between patients with rapid vs. natural renal progression. The regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, presence of DM, baseline e-GFR and dipping status revealed no significant impact of SBP-VC and DBP-VC in predicting rapid progression (p> 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our finding revealed no significant association between BPV and renal progression in hypertensive patients with CKD. Larger scale prospective, randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up are needed to clarify this issue.

Introduction This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of mental health problems and sexual dysfunction in hemodialysis patients before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods A total of 84 hemodialysis patients were evaluated in terms of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5), and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results Poor sleep quality (79.8%) and poor mental health status (62.7%) and higher likelihood of having depression (31.0 vs. 61.9%, p < 0.001) were noted. The IIEF‐5 (10.5 [5–25] vs. 7.5 [5–23], p < 0.001) and FSFI (12 [4–78] vs. 6 [4–66], p < 0.001) scores were significantly decreased during the pandemic with an increase in the likelihood of having erectile dysfunction (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings indicate high prevalence of mental health issues, an impaired quality of life and an increase in prevalence and severity of suspected depression during pandemic in hemodialysis patients along with deterioration in erectile dysfunction among males.

65-85% of cases not requiring specific treatment or resulting in sequelae, the remaining may suffer from severe attacks progressing to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) with a high morbidity and mortality. [3][4][5][6] Hence, the early assessment of severity of disease through risk stratification,

Background/aim: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a clinical situation that should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with complaints of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The aim of this study is to investigate the in-hospital morbidity and mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis at our clinic. Materials and Methods: In total, 159 patients with acute pancreatitis were included in the study and analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups: those over 65 years old and those younger than 65 years. The demographic characteristics, severity, treatment, patient prognoses,and hospitalization duration were recorded. The relationship between APseverity, etiological factors, age, gender, length of stay, and prognosis was investigated for both groups. Results: Acute biliary pancreatitis was detected in 99 (62.3) of the 159 patients. Biliary causes were significantly higher among the elderly group. There was no relationship between disease severity and demographic characteristics or clinical and laboratory findings. When the hospitalization period was compared between age groups, the hospitalization period for the group over 65 years was found to be significantly longer than that of the other group. The mortality rate was 0% in the group younger than 65 years and 3.2% in the group older than 65 years (three patients). This rate was not statistically significant due to the low incidence of death. Conclusion: Gallstonesis a leading cause in the etiology of AP. Prognostic scoring systems should be used to determine the disease severity and age should be considered an additional risk factor in the increased morbidity and mortality of AP.