No abstract

Background. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the thorax Computed Tomography (CT) findings of pediatric patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and to discuss these findings in light of the results of adult patients from the literature. Methods. The CT scans of pediatric patients (1-18 years old) with a diagnosis of COVID-19 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in our hospital between March 2020 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The scans were interpreted regarding the distribution and localization features, and involvement patterns including ground-glass opacity, consolidation, halo/reversed halo sign, interlobular septal thickening, air bronchograms and bronchiectasis. The frequencies of these findings in pediatric cases in our study were recorded. Results. A total of 95 patients with a mean age of 13±4.6 years were included in this study. Among them, 34 (36%) had lesions associated with COVID-19 on CT scans. Bilateral involvement was detected in 15 (44%) while unilateral in 19 (56%) patients. Eighteen (53%) patients had single lobe involvement. In 16 (47%) patients a solitary lesion was detected and in 18 (53%) multiple lesions were present. Ground-glass opacity appearance was observed in 28 (82%), consolidation in 9 (26%), and ground-glass opacity with consolidation in 8 (24%), halo sign in 9 (26%), reversed halo sign in 2 (6%), interlobular septal thickening (interstitial thickening) in 1 (3%) patients. Conclusions. As symptoms are relatively milder in children with COVID-19, CT findings are less extensive than in adults. It is essential to know the thorax CT findings that aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can potentially infect female reproductive organs. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in cervicovaginal fluid. This study included 31 female patients aged 18–65 years. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was investigated by RT‒PCR in two separate cervicovaginal swab samples collected from patients 14 days apart. Viral RNA was extracted using Bio-Speedy ®vNAT® Viral Nucleic Acid Buffer (vNAT) solution, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA was analyzed using Bio-Speedy SARS-CoV-2 RT‒qPCR kits in a Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM device. First and second cervical swab samples were collected 14 days apart. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA result was negative in all 53 cervicovaginal swab samples collected. Negative SARS-CoV-2 RNA results in cervicovaginal swab samples indicate that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not sexually transmitted. However, the number of studies on this subject and the sample size examined are still insufficient for reaching this conclusion.

Purpose: ACE 2 RNA expression has been detected in organs of the female reproductive tract, suggesting that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could potentially infect female reproductive organs. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the cervicovaginal fluid.Materials and Methods: Our study included 31 female patients aged 18–65 years. The presence of SARS-COV-2 RNA was investigated by RT-PCR in two separate cervicovaginal swab samples collected from patients 14 days apart. Viral RNA was extracted using viral nucleic acid buffer (vNAT) solution, and SARS-COV-2 RNA was analyzed using Bio-speedy SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR kits in Bio-Rad CFX96 TouchTM device.Results: The first and second cervical swab samples were collected from 22 of 31 patients 14 days apart. The first cervical swab sample was collected from 9 patients; however, the second swab sample could not be collected after 14 days. SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in 100% of a total of 53 cervicovaginal swab samples collected. Moreover, the SARS-COV-2 RNA result was negative in the nasopharyngeal swab of babies after delivery in three pregnant women.Conclusion: Negative SARS-COV-2 RNA results in cervicovaginal swab samples suggest that there is no sexual transmission of COVID-19 and no vertical transmission during pregnancy. However, the number of studies conducted on this subject and the sample size examined are still insufficient.

Sistemik dolaşımda anti-nükleer antikorların (ANA) varlığının tespiti birçok otoimmün hastalığın tanısı için anahtar rol oynamaktadır. Ancak indirekt immünofloresan (IIF) tarama testlerinde sıkça karşılaşılan ve anti-DFS70 antikorlarının varlığı ile ilişkilendirilebilen yoğun ince benekli (dense fine spekled, DFS) ANA paterninin hastalıklar ile ilişkili olup olmadığı henüz netleşmemiştir. Bu çalışmada, DFS paterninde ANA varlığı ile hastaların klinik tanıları ya da semptomları arasındaki ilişkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: ANA-IIF tarama testinde DFS paterni varlığı belirlenen 200 hasta çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Hastaların klinik bilgilerinin elde edilmesi amacıyla hastaların hekimleri tarafından belirlenen International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) kodları retrospektif olarak incelenmiştir. Bulgular: DFS paterninde ANA varlığı tespit edilen hastaların 158'i (%79.0) kadın, 42'si (%21.0) erkektir. Bu antikorlar en sık 1-10 yaş (58 hasta, %29.0), en az 71-80 yaş aralığında (bir hasta, %0.5) olan hastalarda tespit edilmiş, yaş ilerledikçe görülme sıklığının azaldığı belirlenmiştir. Hastaların 26'sında (%13.0) sistemik otoimmün romatizmal hastalık (SORH), sekizinde (%4.0) organa spesifik otoimmün hastalık, dokuzunda (%4.5) malignensi tanısı konduğu, 127 hastanın (%63.5) ise çeşitli sistemlere ait farklı hastalıklar, semptomlar ya da tanımlamalar içeren ICD kodları ile takip edildiği görülmüştür. Hastaların 30'unda (%15.0) ICD kodu belirtilmemiştir. Sonuç: Bu çalışmada DFS paternindeki ANA pozitifliğinin kadın hastalarda ve erken çocukluk evrelerinde daha sık görüldüğü tespit edilmiştir. Spesifik bir hastalık ile ilişkilendirilemese de bu paternin SORH'da da pozitif olabileceği, bu nedenle DFS paterninde ANA varlığı tespit edilen hastaların klinik bulgular eşliğinde değerlendirilmesi gerektiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.