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Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate an active matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8) point-of-care diagnostic tool in COVID-19 patients with periodontal disease., Subjects, Materials, and Methods: Seventy-two COVID-19-positive and 30 COVID-19-negative subjects were enrolled in the study. Demographic data were recorded, periodontal examination carried out, and chairside tests run for evaluating the expression of active MMP-8 (aMMP-8) in the site with maximum periodontal breakdown via gingival crevicular fluid sampling as well as via a mouth rinse-based kit for general disease activity. In COVID-19-positive patients, the kits were run again once the patients turned COVID-19 negative., Results: The overall (n = 102) sensitivity/specificity of the mouthrinse-based kits to detect periodontal disease was 79.41%/36.76% and that of site-specific kits was 64.71%/55.88% while adjusting for age, gender, and smoking status increased the sensitivity and specificity (82.35%/76.47% and 73.53%/88.24, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the adjusted model revealed very good area under the ROC curve 0.746-0.869 (p < .001) and 0.740-0.872 (p < .001) (the aMMP-8 mouth rinse and site-specific kits, respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of results of aMMP-8 mouth rinse test (p = .302) and aMMP-8 site-specific test (p = .189) once the subjects recovered from COVID-19., Conclusions: The findings of the present study support the aMMP-8 point-of-care testing (PoCT) kits as screening tools for periodontitis in COVID-19 patients. The overall screening accuracy can be further increased by utilizing adjunctively risk factors of periodontitis. The reported noninvasive, user-friendly, and objective PoCT diagnostic methodology may provide a way of stratifying risk groups, deciding upon referrals, and in the institution of diligent oral hygiene regimens., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Dental Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: On 11th March 2020, WHO declared Covid-19 as the global pandemic; affecting over 200 countries world-wide. the clinical features ranges from mild flu like symptoms to seveare illness like ARDS and septic shock. Clinicians are looking for are the reliable prognostic marker that may identify the patients who are at risk & need prior treatment. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio(NLR) & platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are emerging out to be the important prognostic markers in the developing countries like India where limited resources are available. These markers are the important biomarkers which help in triaging the patients. Objective: 1. To determine the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in COVID 19 patients on day one of ICU admission and before discharge. 2. To correlate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio with the severity of illness in COVID 19 patients. 3. To correlate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-lymphocyte ratio with the respiratory support given to patients during the hospital stay. Method: It is a retrospective study and included two months data of covid positive patients admitted in ICU. A total of 200 cases that were RTPCR positive or RAT positive recorded with their clinical history. For all cases NLR & PLR were evaluated at the time of admission and before discharge and results were recorded. Clinical complains, age, gender and comorbid conditions were analyzed by cross tabulation to assess their relationship with NLR & PLR. Result: Out of 200 cases 119cases were males and 81 were females. Maxium deaths were noted in the age group of 40 to 60 years. There was no significant difference between the outcome of the disease in males and females. The most common complaint at the time of admission was breathlessness followed by fever. Hypertension was the most common co-mordidity amongst thepatients. NLR & PLR of the Covid positive patients were raised in the patients who died as compaired to the patients who were discharged from the hospital. Conclusion: In this study, it has been found that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in COVID-19 patients are increasing in diseased individuals and ratios are decreasing in discharged people. NLR and PLR prognostic biomarkers emerged out be cost-effective, readily available biomarker to access the severity of illness in COVID-19 patients, especially in the countries with low medical resources, for the better outcome of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 presents with a multitude of different symptoms and signs, most described is respiratory compromise. Many viral and bacterial infections coexist with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Many cranial neuropathies have also been reported, including facial nerve palsy and sudden sensorineural hearing loss individually. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, which is conventionally described as acute peripheral facial neuropathy, associated with erythematous vesicular rash of pinna or external auditory canal can at times present with cochlear or vestibular symptoms along with it. We report the case of a 32-year-old male who presented with Ramsay Hunt syndrome with cochlear manifestation during his COVID-19 illness. Evaluation of the patient and further management have been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]