Increased serum citrullinated histone H3 levels in COVID-19 patients with acute ischemic stroke = Akut ischaemiás stroke-ban szenvedő Covid-19-betegek körében megnő a szérum citrullinált hiszton H3-szintje

Prevalence of acute ische­mic stroke (AIS) is increased in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A proposed hypothesis is increased virus-induced propensity to hypercoagulation resulting in arterial thrombosis. Our aim was to provide evidence regarding the involvement of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis) in COVID-19 related AIS. Twenty-six consecutively enrolled COVID-19+ pneumonia patients with AIS, 32 COVID-19+ pneumonia patients without AIS and 24 AIS patients without COVID-19 infection were included to the study. Clinical characteristics of recruited patients were collected. Serum levels of citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit; a factor of NETosis), IL-8 and C5a (mediators associated with NETosis) were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). H3Cit levels were significantly higher in COVID-19+ AIS patients, whereas all study groups showed comparable IL-8 and C5a levels. There were no significant differences among etiological subgroups of AIS patients with or without COVID-19. AIS patients with COVID-19 showed relatively increased white blood cell, lymphocyte, neutrophil, D-dimer, C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels than control groups. H3Cit levels did not correlate with clinical/prognostic features and inflammation parameters. H3Cit and IL-8 levels were correlated in COVID-19 patients without stroke but not in COVID-19 positive or negative AIS patients. Increased levels of inflammation parameters and H3Cit in COVID-19 related AIS suggest that NETosis may cause susceptibility to arterial thrombosis. However, H3Cit levels do not correlate with clinical severity measures and inflammation parameters diminishing the prognostic biomarker value of NETosis factors. Moreover, the link between IL-8 and NETosis appears to be abolished in AIS

The effect of sleep disorders on quality of life in patients with epilepsy: A multicenter study from Turkey

Objective: We aimed to investigate sleep disorders in patients with epilepsy (PWE) and to investigate the effects of sleep disorders on quality of life. Methods: In our multicenter study conducted in Turkey, 1358 PWE were evaluated. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-10 (QOLIE-10) were administered. Results: The mean age of 1358 patients was 35.92 ± 14.11 (range, 18–89) years. Seven hundred fifty-one (55.30 %) were women. Some 12.7 % of the patients had insomnia (ISI > 14), 9.6 % had excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10), 46.5 % had poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5), and 354 patients (26.1 %) had depressive symptoms (BDI > 16). The mean QOLIE-10 score was 22.82 ± 8.14 (10–48). Resistant epilepsy was evaluated as the parameter with the highest risk affecting quality of life Adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 3.714; 95 % confidence interval (CI): [2.440–5.652] < 0.001)). ISI (AOR = 1.184; 95 % CI: [1.128–1.243]; p < 0.001), ESS (AOR = 1.081; 95 % CI: [1.034–1.130]; p < 0.001), PSQI (AOR = 0.928; 95 % CI: [0.867 – 0.994]; p = 0.034), BDI (AOR = 1.106; 95 % CI: [1.084–1.129]; p < 0.001), epilepsy duration (AOR = 1.023; 95 % CI: [1.004–1.041]; p = 0.014), were determined as factors affecting quality of life. Significance: Sleep disorders are common in PWE and impair their quality of life. Quality of life can be improved by controlling the factors that may cause sleep disorders such as good seizure control, avoiding polypharmacy, and correcting the underlying mood disorders in patients with epilepsy