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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is spreading like wildfire and has posed significant challenges to the delivery of healthcare in all affected countries. Populations worldwide are vulnerable to the virus, which is highly infectious in nature. With the consequential lifestyle changes resulting from lockdown and quarantine, compromised mental health was part of the repercussions that affected most people, including the public, healthcare workers, and those unfortunate ones who fell victim to the COVID-19 infection. This is a narrative review article that aims to dwell into and discuss the impact of COVID-19, focusing on neuropsychiatric implications and the subsequent provision of oral care. Articles were searched from online databases such as MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, and the keywords used to identify the papers were "COVID-19," "Neuropsychiatry," and "Dental care delivery." Any conventional and effective prevention of oral diseases and self-administered care may be doubtful considering dental care access and delivery are not operating in the usual way during this trying time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions has sparked a growing interest in solar power plants (SPPs) as a viable option for reducing reliance on conventional energy sources. With the integration of SPP, the potential arises for a decrease in grid dependency during the day and improved stability in demand-side load profiles. To enhance the contribution of SPP toward sustainable energy solutions, it is crucial to explore effective load management strategies, including peak clipping. This paper investigates peak clipping as one of the demand-side management (DSM) techniques facilitated by SPP. The objective of this study is to provide comprehensive insights into the practical application of peak clipping techniques and their impact on improving the load factor (LF). To achieve this objective, the analysis in this study utilizes real data derived from an operational SPP located in the central campus of Manisa Celal Bayar University. To evaluate the impact of SPP on peak clipping and LF, a series of diverse case studies which encompass a range of campus scenarios are undertaken. The aim is to thoroughly analyze and understand how SPP systems affect peak clipping and LF under different circumstances. The analysis reveals significant improvements in LF resulting from the integration of the SPP, ranging from 1.04% to 10.62%. Results show that transition to online education and reduced campus population positively impacted LF during coronavirus disease 2019 compared to pre-pandemic times. These findings align with the dynamics of the campus lifestyle and underscore the favorable effects of these factors on LF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic is progressing rapidly, sending the world into a great panic. Healthcare professionals have responded by embarking on a concerted search for therapies to cure and prevent COVID-19. Recently, interferon (IFN) has emerged as a potential therapy as it is associated with reducing lung inflammation and suppressing viral replication. This research paper assessed the efficacy of high-dose nebulized IFN α 2b in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. It commenced on April 9 and ended on June 17, 2020. Researchers selected participants from hospitalized patients aged 18 years and above who were diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Other inclusion criteria were bilateral pneumonia on lung or chest X-ray scan and severe respiratory distress. SMART-COP, which is a risk stratification scoring tool, and radiologic severity index (RSI) were used to assess pneumonia severity. Patients in the treatment cohort received nebulized IFN α 2b at a dose of 10 million IU every 12 hours for 5 days, in addition to standard treatment. Patients in the control cohort received standard treatment only. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients met the inclusion criteria; 37 were included in the treatment cohort and 36 in the control cohort. Mechanical ventilation was needed in 14 of 36 (38.9%) patients in the control cohort, compared with 6 of 37 (27.4%) patients in the treatment cohort (HR 5.62 [95% CI 1.81-17.48]; P = .003). For pneumonia severity, there was a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.72 [95% CI 1.74-7.98]; P = ·.01. After 5 days of treatment, chest X-rays indicated significant beneficial changes in the treatment group (HR 2.24 [CI 1.05-4.79]; P = .036). Multivariate analysis revealed that pneumonia severity and RSI remained higher in the control group. The HR was 3.44 [95% CI 1.49-7.94]; P = .004 and 2.26 [95% CI 0.99-5.16]; P = .05, respectively. There was an increase in liver aminotransferases in 5 (14%) participants in the control cohort and 3 (8%) participants in the treatment cohort. CONCLUSION: High-dose nebulized IFN α 2b has potential efficacy in mitigating severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This study established that administering high-dose nebulized IFN α 2b significantly reduces pneumonia severity in COVID-19 patients. We also found a strong relationship between using nebulized IFN α 2b and reduced need for mechanical ventilation among patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. However, a well-designed control trial is needed to confirm the drug's efficacy in reducing the COVID-19 pneumonia severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a study conducted in Turkey that examines the relationship between nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and COVID-19 cases and deaths. The study analyzes daily data from March 11, 2020, to March 8, 2022, and uses the Toda and Yamamoto causality analysis to determine the causal relationship between the stringency index (SI) and new cases and deaths. The results show that an increase in new cases and deaths leads to an increase in the stringency level, but the stringency level does not significantly affect new cases and deaths. However, increases in the stringency level do lead to a significant reduction in COVID-19 incidence in the subsequent 28 days. The findings suggest that there is a one-way causal relationship between NPIs and COVID-19 cases and deaths in Turkey, emphasizing the importance of considering the lagged effect of the stringency index on the number of cases and deaths. This research can help decision-makers understand the consequences of pandemic interventions and develop appropriate strategies. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic had a worldwide effect on people as well as on pediatric patients with cancer. This effect also caused cancer therapy plan alterations. In this study, we aimed to investigate pediatric patients with cancer who were diagnosed as having coronavirus 2019 infections and the alterations in treatment plans. Methods: Pediatric patients with cancer who were followed up in Istanbul Medical Faculty Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Outpatient Clinic and were diagnosed as having coronavirus 2019 between March 2020 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 28 patients were diagnosed as having a coronavirus 2019 infection. Forty-three percent of the patients had leukemia, and 57% had solid tumors. More than half (58%) of the patients had mild coronavirus 2019 symptoms. Sixteen (57%) patients had a therapy delay because of coronavirus 2019 infections. The mean therapy delay day was 5.8 ± 2.9 (median: 5 days). Hematologic malignancy (leukemia) had a delay rate of 33% in therapy, and it was 75% in solid tumors. Conclusion: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic affected all people as well as pediatric patients with cancer. The rate of delay in therapy was 57% in our overall pediatric cancer population. The prevention of patients against virus, vaccination of parents, and review of therapy plans might be scheduled in cancer centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a research study that examines the effects of coronavirus anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty on cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. The study collected data from 402 individuals through online surveys and found a positive correlation between cyberchondria severity, coronavirus anxiety, and intolerance of uncertainty. The study suggests that sharing accurate information and providing mental support can help prevent cyberchondria during a pandemic. However, the study has limitations, such as the online data collection method and the cross-sectional design. Ethical approval was obtained for the study, and the document includes a list of references related to cyberchondria and COVID-19. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Journal of Business Administration & Social Studies is the property of Aves Yayincilik Ltd. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Business Administration & Social Studies is the property of Aves Yayincilik Ltd. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and anxiety levels of healthcare workers in Turkey and South Africa and to determine the possible factors associated with anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 864 healthcare workers in Turkey and South Africa was conducted during May 1-October 30, 2020. The questionnaire included sociodemographic, individual, work-related, and about coronavirus disease 2019 questions. Anxiety was measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results: A total of 864 people answered the questionnaire, 527 from South Africa and 337 from Turkey. Healthcare workers in both countries have mild anxiety levels, and the median value of the Beck Anxiety Scale score was significantly higher in the participants from South Africa (10) than the participants in Turkey (8) (P = .004). Compared to Turkey, the risk of moderate/severe anxiety was 1.56 times higher in South Africa. Female gender, duties out of work definition, difficulties of chronic illness management, difficulties in accessing the treatment of mental health problem, living with a person who is older than 65 or has a comorbidity, and personal protective equipment support were found to be associated with moderate/severe anxiety (P < .05). Conclusion: In order to reduce the mental health impact on healthcare workers, pandemic readiness plans must take into account working hours and workload, adequate personal protective equipment supply, and measures to provide psychological support to healthcare workers, especially those with pre-existing mental health illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurses in providing care to COVID-19 patients. METHOD: This qualitative study was conducted with the content analysis approach between June and Agust 2020 in Iran. Fourteen nurses working in COVID-19 wards were selected via purposive sampling. The data were collected via semi-structured interviews and the Graneheim and Lundman content analysis method was adopted for the data analysis. RESULTS: The experiences of nurses in providing care to COVID-19 patients were divided into four categories "a scarcity of knowledge about COVID-19 patient care," "changes in daily life," "patient care challenges," and "occupational burnout.". CONCLUSION: The results of this study can be used by managers when facing crises similar to COVID-19 so that by paying attention to the challenges of caring for patients identified in this study, they can make the necessary preparations for caring for patients during other pandemic crises and plan the necessary measures accordingly. Also, to maintain and promote the quality of nursing care, it is crucial to ensure the adequate provision of resources for patient care, such as utilizing personal protective equipment and mechanisms that offer financial and emotional support to nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a frequent hyperglycemic emergency. During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, researchers showed a higher prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis and mortality compared with the preceding years. It is expected that lung involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 decreases compensation capacity for ketoacidosis. Thus, management of the diabetic ketoacidosis is critical in patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Insulin allergy makes the treatment procedure more complicated in these patients. Desensitization procedures or immunomodulatory therapies are not a routine part of treating diabetic ketoacidosis due to the urgency of the disease. Insulin administration to patients with insulin allergy and coronavirus disease 2019 may cause a risk of decreased maintaining oxygenation and compensating for ketoacidosis and endanger airway safety due to possible anaphylaxis. Clinicians should check all preparations for a possible need for anaphylaxis treatment and difficult airway management, including invasive procedures before insulin therapy. Here, we wanted to share a case of successful treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with insulin allergy and coronavirus disease 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sinonasal symptoms are important in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 during the diagnostic process. This study aimed to evaluate paranasal sinus findings on computed tomography by comparing patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 and those who were negative for coronavirus disease 2019. Methods: This retrospectively planned study included 163 patients (89 males and 74 females) with positive coronavirus disease 2019 polymerase chain reaction results and 104 patients with negative results for coronavirus disease 2019 (56 males and 48 females) who came to the emergency department for related symptoms. Cranial computed tomography scans routinely performed in symptomatic patients were assessed using the Lund-Mackay scoring system. All sinuses, the ostiomeatal unit, and the right-sided and left-sided sinuses were assessed separately. Mucosal opacities of less than 1 mm were scored as 0, partial opacities that did not completely obliterate the sinus were scored as 1, and opacities that completely obliterated the sinus were scored as 2. Results: In computed tomography scans performed, the mean total Lund-Mackay scores for right-sided sinusitis and left-sided sinusitis in coronavirus disease 2019-positive patients were 1.29 ± 1.9 and 1.26 ± 1.8, respectively. The mean total Lund-Mackay score for right-sided sinusitis in coronavirus disease 2019-negative patients was 1.26 ± 1.7, while it was 1.24 ± 1.7 for left-sided sinusitis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses in the symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019-positive patient group (P > .05). Conclusion: Although coronavirus disease 2019 is a disease with prominent sinonasal symptoms and sampling of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx is essential for diagnosis, no significant difference was determined between the coronavirus disease 2019-positive patient group and the coronavirus disease 2019-negative patient group in terms of paranasal sinus findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this work was to describe a simple, economical, and reproducible method for taste evaluation. Methods: A new protocol called Taste Assessment Protocol was created using different concentrations of sweet, salty, bitter, and sour solutions. The test was applied to participants complaining of persistent olfactory-gustatory complaints after coronavirus disease 2019 diagnosis. Results: Ten participants were included. The mean Taste Assessment Protocol score was 10.75 ± 1.2, with a recorded minimum of 8 and a recorded maximum of 12. Ninety percent of the patients had a Taste Assessment Protocol score ≥ 10. The mean olfactory threshold of the observed patients was 3.5 ± 1.7, with a registered minimum of 2 and a maximum of 6. Conclusion: Tests like this may persuade researchers and clinicians to assess taste more regularly. Validation of this method could bring light to a standardized and easily applicable taste test, with a well-defined score. Taste assessment by this method suggests that gustatory dysfunction after coronavirus disease 2019 may be due to retronasal olfactory dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic affected the healthcare systems worldwide. In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on injury-related visits. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 7648 injury-related pediatric emergency department visits between March 11 and June 30, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and compared the total number of visits, triage levels, distributions of injury mechanisms, and admission rates during the pandemic in 2020 to the same period in 2018 and 2019. Results: In the first 4 months of the pandemic, there was a 69.5% drop in all pediatric emergency department visits compared to the previous 2 years. Despite this decrease, the proportion of injury-related pediatric emergency department visits increased from 14% to 20.9% in 2020 (P < .001). There was a 3.8% increase in the frequencies of patients with high triage acuity levels (T1, T2, and T3) and a 3.8% decrease in patients with low triage acuity levels (P < .001). The domestic injury rate increased from 40% to 60% during the pandemic period (P < .001). Hospitalization rates increased from 6% to 11.5% and admission to intensive care units increased from 0.9% to 3.3%. The differences were statistically significant (P < .001). Visits due to burn increased from 2.7% to 5.2% (P < .001), poisoning from 3.4% to 5.5% (P < .001), bicycle accidents from 3.3% to 6.8% (P < .001), while injuries due to motor vehicle accidents decreased from 2.6% to 1.3% (P = .004) and sports injuries decreased from 8% to 2.1% (P < .001). Conclusion: This study revealed that despite the significant decrease in total pediatric emergency department visits, percentages of injury-related visits increased during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recommendations for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome/macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) associated with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are still of poor quality. IL-6 is an important therapeutic target as a main mediator of cytokine storm. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tocilizumab (TCZ) efficacy and factors affecting the therapy outcome. Methods: This retrospective study included 27 patients treated with TCZ for COVID-19-MAS. All patients in this study were treated with TCZ (intravenously, at a dose of 8 mg kg-1 ) in addition to standard therapy. Clinical improvement (survival and decreased oxygen demand) on the 10-14th days and secondary infection rate were assessed. Results: In our 27 treated patients, 14 (51.8%) received TCZ in the intensive care unit (ICU) and seven (25.9%) were need to invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Fifteen (55.6%) of these patients revealed a good clinical response (four patients discharge from the ICU and 11 patients who followed-up in non ICU beds showed a decrease in oxygen demand). TCZ was significantly less effective in patients having high Murray lung injury score, low PO2/FiO2 ratio, IMV, and ICU admission (P < .05). Severity of hypoxemia was found as a single independent risk factor in the multivariable analysis (P < .05). Secondary bacterial infections rate was significantly higher in intubated patients (P < .01) or treated in the ICU (P ¼ .01). Conclusion: TCZ was showed limited efficacy for COVID-19-related MAS. The most important predictive indicator for therapy outcome was found as the severity of hypoxemia. In addition, IMV and/or ICU was associated with the poor outcome and high side effect. So, controlled trials are still needed to confirm the indications and timing of TCZ therapy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: With this study, it was aimed to investigate whether the thoracic muscle mass of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 was related to disease severity and disease characteristics and to evaluate whether muscle mass measurement had a predictive effect on predicting disease severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty-three subjects (patient group = 161 and control = 62) who presented to our coronavirus disease 2019 outpatient clinic between May 2020 and September 2020 were included in the study. The medication, oxygen, and intubation requirements of the patients and their disease duration and hospital stay were also recorded. At the T4 level, thoracic and back (pectoralis, intercostalis, paraspinals, serratus, and latissimus dorsi) muscles and at the T12 level erector spinae muscles were measured in terms of area (cm²). RESULTS: T4-level muscle cross-sectional area results were found to be negatively correlated with the presence of pneumonia and the requirement of oxygen and intubation. In addition, both T4- and T12-level muscle cross-sectional area results were factors associated with oxygen and intubation requirements. T4-level muscle cross-sectional area results were also associated with the presence of pneumonia. CONCLUSION: We predict that there may be a relationship between the decrease in the mass of the accessory respiratory muscles and the severity of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: There is very limited data on the usefulness of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with coronavirus pneumonia who have survived intensive care unit care. The primary aim was to explore the feasibility of conducting a pulmonary rehabilitation program in patients with coronavirus disease-19 pneumonia surviving intensive care. The secondary aim was to study the impact of a hospital-based 6-week pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise capacity, quality of life, and psychological parameters in these patients. This study was conducted at the Center for Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Department of Pulmonary Medicine of the institute. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 27 patients were enrolled. Among them, 14 patients who completed the desired 12 sessions over 6 weeks constituted the pulmonary rehabilitation group and 13 patients who either did not consent or defaulted within the first 2 weeks were considered as controls. Both groups had assessments at 0 and 6 weeks that included a 6-Minute Walk Test, Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, mMRC Dyspnea Scale, Baseline Dyspnea Index, and Transitional Dyspnea Index, Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire score, and Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 score. RESULTS: Significant improvement in dyspnea by mMRC (P = .01) and exercise capacity as measured by 6-Minute Walk Test (P <.001) and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (P = .025) was seen in the pulmonary rehabilitation group as compared to the control group. There was no significant improvement in quality of life and psychological parameters (Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21 score) after 6 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation program as measured in our study. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary rehabilitation is feasible and appears promising in coronavirus disease acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. However, data from other centers and a larger number of patients are required to imbibe conclusive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, Early Career Task Force Group members of the Turkish Thoracic Society summarize the European Respiratory Society 2020 virtual congress. Current developments in the field of respiratory diseases were compiled with the addition of sessions specific to coronavirus disease 2019 this year. Almost all of the congress sessions were examined, and the important and striking results of the congress were highlighted. Congress sessions were attended by expert researchers, and the prominent messages of each session were highlighted in short summaries. They were then grouped under relevant titles and ranked in order of meaning and relation. It was finalized by a team of researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since coronavirus disease 2019 mainly affects the respiratory system, pulmonary rehabilitation has increased its importance during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Healthcare professionals must use appropriate personal protective equipment during rehabilitation of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Comorbidities of the patient should be taken into consideration while organizing the rehabilitation program. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no need for pulmonary rehabilitation in asymptomatic patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation may be recommended in patients with mild-moderate disease. It is advised that patients be followed up during the rehabilitation period. Positioning and passive range of motion exercises are beneficial in preventing immobilization complications in patients with critical illness. Post-coronavirus disease 2019 rehabilitation program should be established according to the needs and functional levels of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 is a novel viral infection that has caused a pandemic globally. Many kinds of vaccine development studies were conducted to prevent the spread and deaths. The CoronaVac is the most commonly used vaccine in Turkey. Phase 3 trials from various countries revealed that CoronaVac efficacy ranged from 50.7% to 91.25% but increased in moderate or severe cases to 100%. Additionally, it was remarkable owing to high seroconversion rates achieving up to 100%. After the vaccine campaign began in Turkey, critically ill patients continued to admit to our center's intensive care unit though they had been vaccinated with 2 doses of CoronaVac. The clinical course of these patients revealed that they are still at high risk of severe disease and death. Therefore, we aimed to share these patients' clinical characteristics and disease course, laboratory, and radiologic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Publications on vaccine hesitancy and the novel coronavirus disease 2019 in the scientific literature are increasing every day. An examination of their content will help to eliminate the existing negativity related to vaccine hesitancy through scientific methods. Hence, a systematic approach to the prevention of vaccine hesitancy worldwide can be developed. This article aims to survey how vaccine hesitancy is addressed in the PubMed articles about "vaccine hesitancy" over the novel coronavirus disease, for which the MeSH criteria have been published; to understand their recommendations for the prevention of vaccine hesitancy; to evaluate any related research described as "cross-sectional," "case-control," and "cohort" according to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology criteria; and to contribute to the current literature on the subject. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is planned to use a systematic review format and STROBE checklist was used to evaluate the articles accessed from PubMed database. Microsoft Excel was used as the data calculation tool. RESULTS: Sixty-five (81.3%) of the 80 articles investigated in the scope of this study mention "vaccine." While 64 articles (80%) discuss the determination of vaccine hesitancy, 57 (71.3%) articles address its prevention. The keyword "COVID-19" is used in 61 articles (79.2%). The second most frequently used keyword is "vaccine hesitancy" (n = 37, 48.1%), followed by "vaccine" (n = 25, 32.5%). Twenty-nine (48%) of the reviewed articles originate from the WHO American Continents. The second most represented region of research is the European Region (n = 21, 35%), followed by the South East Asian Region (n = 5, 8%). CONCLUSION: This study illustrates the recent situation for the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine and reveals the presence of a vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy is a risk factor that could prevent herd immunity. The systematic review of scientific articles should continue with improvements in order to tackle the problem as exemplified by the present study. Other checklists as well as STROBE checklist are recommended to be used in similar studies to have more objective conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the value of chest computed tomography at 1-mm and 5-mm slice thickness in terms of computed tomography severity score and computed tomography evaluation time in the diagnosis of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients were included in the study group who are reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction-positive for COVID-19 and had chest computed tomography. The 1 mm and 5 mm reconstructed images were evaluated in 2 different sessions with 4-week intervals by 2 certificated general radiologists. The presence of COVID-19-related findings, COVID-19 final category, and evaluation time were recorded. Thin and thick slices were compared for these variables and inter-reader reliability calculated with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the COVID-19-related findings on thorax computed tomography between 1-mm and 5-mm slices except crazy paving appearance, microvascular enlargement, and septal thickening. The frequency of the final categories of computed tomography results was consistent between the thick and thin slices. The computed tomography assessment time was significantly lower in 5 mm slices. The inter-reader reproducibility analysis results demonstrated good and excellent reproducibility of measurements between readers for both slice thicknesses. CONCLUSION: It was found that 5-mm reconstruction thickness of chest computed tomography can be employed for the initial detection of COVID-19-related findings and the final diagnostic category-related COVID-19 rather than 1-mm slices with a faster availability of results which can be beneficial on pandemic hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate modes of transmission and clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare workers in pediatric intensive care units. Materials and Methods: This multicenter descriptive study was conducted between March and November 2020. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, origin of coronavirus disease 2019, treatment modalities, and loss of workdays were recorded. Results: Seven hundred and sixty-eight healthcare workers from 16 pediatric intensive care units were enrolled and 114 (14.8%) healthcare workers with a mean age of 29.7 ± 6.7 years became coronavirus disease 2019 patients. Seventy-six (66.7%) patients were female. Approximately half (54.3%) of the patients were physicians, 34.2% were nurses, and 11.4% were ancillary staff. Transmission was deemed to occur through patient contact in 54.3% of the patients. Comorbid illness was present 10.5% of the patients. Transmission occurred during endotracheal intubation in 21%, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 9.6%, and non-invasive ventilation in 12.2% of patients, while transmission was a result of multiple possible procedures in 43.8%. Intensive care admission was needed for 13.1% of the patients. Five patients needed oxygen by cannula, 7 needed oxygen with a non-rebreathing mask, 5 needed high-flow nasal cannula support, 5 needed non-invasive ventilation, and 3 needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Fortunately, no infected healthcare workers died. Conclusion: Coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare workers is a significant problem in pediatric intensive care units. Transmission seems to occur particularly frequently during patient care procedures such as intubation, ventilation and aerosol therapy, which highlights the importance of proper use of full sets of personal protective equipment during all procedures during care of coronavirus disease 2019 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Millions of people suffer from sleep disturbances. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created several new challenges--particularly for frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). This study assessed the sleep quality (SQ) among HCWs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English-language online survey. The participants were invited via a web link sent using social network platforms. It included sociodemographic- and profession-related characteristics. COVID-19-associated risks were assessed (e.g., being on the front line, doing swabs, satisfaction about protective equipment, and management protocols). Assessment of SQ was done using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and various medical errors were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 217 HCWs completed the survey with mean (±standard deviation) age of 35.8 (±7.3) years; 56.2% were male, 18.43% had comorbidities, and 61.75% experienced sleep difficulties before the COVID-19 crisis. This work reports a 78.8% prevalence of poor SQ, with the mean (standard deviation) global PSQI score of 9.36 (±4.4). HCWs with poor sleep experienced more positive comorbid profile (23.64% versus 6.52%, p=0.01). Working on the front lines of COVID-19 was associated with poor sleep (69.59% versus 47.83%, p=0.006). Among the participants, 77.42% performed medical errors, particularly not checking for drug allergies (17.97%), dispensing medication with incomplete instructions (20.74%), providing incorrect doses or overdosing (14.75%), incorrectly explaining the use of medication (9.22%), and prescribing a drug to the wrong patient (10.14%). CONCLUSION: This nationwide survey reported high prevalence of poor SQ among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being an HCW on the front lines of COVID-19 and doing swabs with a positive comorbidity was associated with poor sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been more than 3 months now since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Turkey. Globally, the number of confirmed cases and deaths reached 9,653,048 and 491,128 respectively, as reported by 216 countries by June 27, 2020. Turkey had 1,396 new cases, 194,511 total cases, and 5,065 deaths by the same date. From the first case until today, the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) has been very proactive in educating doctors, increasing public awareness, undertaking academic studies, and assisting with public health policies. In the present report, social, academic, and management perspectives of the pandemic are presented under appropriate subtitles. During this critical public health crisis, TTS has once again demonstrated its readiness and constructive stance by supporting public health, healthcare workers, and the environment. This review summarizes the perspective of TTS on each aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic and casts light on its contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first case was diagnosed in China, the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has become the number one issue in the world and it seems to remain trend-topic for a long time. Until 17 April, it affected 210 countries, infected over 2 million people and caused approximately 150000 deaths. Although the course of the disease ranges from asymptomatic state to severe ARDS; the majority of patients reveal only mild symptoms. Though adults are the most commonly affected group; it can also be seen in newborns and elderly patients. Unfortunately, elderly patients are the most vulnerable group with higher mortality. Elderly patients, smokers and patients with comorbid conditions are most affected by the disease. In certain diagnostical tool is the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) test. However, it can be resulted in false-negative results and in this case the computed thorax tomography (CT) is one of the most important tools with high sensitivity. Besides the supportive treatment, most commonly used agents are immunomodulatory drugs such as plaquenil and azitromycin, and anti-virals including oseltamivir, ritonavir-lopinavir, favipiravir. Until a vaccine or a specific therapy invented, the most important intervention to control the disease is to fight against transmission. This is a real war and the doctors are the soldiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades lung ultrasound (LUS) has become of crucial importance in the evaluation and monitoring of a widely range of pulmonary diseases. One of the major benefits which favours this examination, is that this is a non-invasive, low-cost and radiation-free imaging modality which allows repeated imaging. LUS plays an important role in a wide range of pathologies, including cardiogenic oedema, acute respiratory distress syndrome and fibrosis. Specific LUS findings have proved useful and predictive of acute respiratory distress syndrome which is of particular relevance in the suspicion and monitoring of patients with lung disease. Furthermore, several studies have confirmed the role of LUS in the screening of interstitial lung diseases in connective tissue diseases. Given these data, LUS will likely play an important role in the management of COVID-19 patients from identification of specific abnormalities corresponding to definite pneumonia phases and CT scans findings. In addition, LUS could allow reduction in the exposure of health-care workers to potential infection. Herein, we provide a summary on emerging role of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus pandemic poses a major global threat to public health. Our knowledge concerning every aspect of COVID-19 is evolving rapidly, given the increasing data from all over the world. In this narrative review, the Turkish Thoracic Society Early Career Taskforce members aimed to provide a summary on recent literature regarding epidemiology, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of COVID-19. Studies revealed that the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus showed significant identity to SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor is an important target of the SARS-CoV-2 while entering an organism. Smokers were more likely to develop the disease and have a higher risk for ICU admission. The mean incubation period was 6.4 days, whereas asymptomatic transmission was reported up to 25 days after infection. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms, and cardiovascular diseases and hypertension were reported to be the most common comorbidities among patients. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic and mild disease to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Several patients showed typical symptoms and radiological changes with negative RT-PCR but positive IgG and IgM antibodies. Although radiological findings may vary, bilateral, peripherally distributed, ground-glass opacities were typical of COVID-19. Poor prognosis was associated with older age, higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and high D-dimer level. Chloroquine was found to be effective in reducing viral replication in vitro. Likewise, protease inhibitors, including lopinavir/ritonavir, favipiravir, and nucleoside analogue remdesivir were proposed to be the potential drug candidates in COVID-19 management. Despite these efforts, we still have much to learn regarding the transmission, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recommendation of conducting pulmonary function tests (PFTs) from different societies during and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was rated by the experts of the Turkish Thoracic Society (TTS) and presented as the TTS experts consensus report. Information about the topic has been provided. Globally, as of mid-May 2020, there have been over 4.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19. There are two main routes of transmission of COVID-19: respiratory droplets and contact transmission. PFTs are non-invasive tests that are commonly performed in routine assessment and follow-up of patients in the pulmonology units. However, PFTs may generate aerosols and require sharing common surfaces. With regard to the high prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the community, PFTs should not be performed routinely in confirmed or suspected patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic. Because of the risk of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19, PFTs should be restricted to a small patient population with selected indications. Triage for COVID-19 should be performed prior to testing. Only essential PFTs such as spirometry, diffusion capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), arterial blood gas analysis, or pulse oximetry should be performed in the selected cases. Tests should be scheduled to allow sufficient time for donning and doffing of the technical personnel with the full personal protective equipment (PPE) (gown, a filtering respirator mask, goggles or full-face shield, and disposable gloves), ventilation of the room, and application of post-test cleaning and disinfection procedures of the equipment and the testing room. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]