Imaging data in COVID-19 patients: focused on echocardiographic findings

To assess imaging data in COVID-19 patients and its association with clinical course and survival and 86 consecutive patients (52 males, 34 females, mean age = 58.8 year) with documented COVID-19 infection were included. Seventy-eight patients (91) were in severe stage of the disease. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Mean LVEF was 48.1 and mean estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was 27.9 mmHg. LV diastolic dysfunction was mildly abnormal in 49 patients (57.6) and moderately abnormal in 7 cases (8.2). Pericardial effusion was present in 5/86 (minimal in size in 3 cases and mild- moderate in 2). In 32/86 cases (37.2), the severity of infection progressed from �severe� to �critical�. Eleven patients (12.8) died. sPAP and computed tomography score were associated with disease progression (P value = 0.002, 0.002 respectively). Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly higher in patients with no disease progression compared with those who deteriorated (P value = 0.005). Pericardial effusion (minimal, mild or moderate) was detected more often in progressive disease (P = 0.03). sPAP was significantly lower among survivors (P value = 0.007). Echocardiographic findings (including systolic PAP, TAPSE and pericardial effusion), total CT score may have prognostic and therapeutic implication in COVID-19 patients. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature

Genetics of intellectual disability in consanguineous families

Autosomal recessive (AR) gene defects are the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID) in countries with frequent parental consanguinity, which account for about 1/7th of the world population. Yet, compared to autosomal dominant de novo mutations, which are the predominant cause of ID in Western countries, the identification of AR-ID genes has lagged behind. Here, we report on whole exome and whole genome sequencing in 404 consanguineous predominantly Iranian families with two or more affected offspring. In 219 of these, we found likely causative variants, involving 77 known and 77 novel AR-ID (candidate) genes, 21 X-linked genes, as well as 9 genes previously implicated in diseases other than ID. This study, the largest of its kind published to date, illustrates that high-throughput DNA sequencing in consanguineous families is a superior strategy for elucidating the thousands of hitherto unknown gene defects underlying AR-ID, and it sheds light on their prevalence

Does plastic incise drape prevent recolonization of endogenous skin flora during lumbar spine procedures?

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the PID with bare skin (without PID) regarding bacterial recolonization and bacterial regrowth of the adjacent skin of surgical incision in lumbar spine surgery patients. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted from February to May 2018 on 88 patients who were candidate for lumbar spine surgery. Patients were assigned to one of two groups, treatment (with PID) and control (without PID). Skin sampling (adjacent of surgical incision) for bacterial culture was done in two steps, immediately after surgical skin prep (IASSP) and immediately after surgical wound closure (IASWC) by researcher. Finally, samples were sent to the laboratory. Results: The mean total bacterial count of patient's skin in stage IASSP was not significantly different between treatment and control groups (0.34 vs 0.27, P = 0.68). However, mean total bacterial count in stage IASWC in treatment group was significantly higher than control group (2.2 vs 0.93, P = 0.03). The frequency distribution of S. aureus (P = 0.04) and S. epidermidis (P = 0.02) was significantly higher in treatment group compared with control group in stage IASWC. Conclusions: The results showed that using PID is unable to reduce recolonization and regrowth of bacteria on patients' skin adjacent to surgical wound in clean lumbar spine surgeries. However, making a definite decision about using or not using of PID requires further studies. © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved

Venous thromboembolism in renal transplant recipients: Results of Venous thromboEmbolism in renal Transplant Recipients- Italian Study - VETRIS

none15noN.A. (Letter)mixedPoli D.; Migliaccio L.; Antonucci E.; Biancone L.; Bozzolin A.; Corradetti V.; Finale C.; Furian L.; La Manna G.; Larti A.; Ranghino A.; Rossetti M.M.; Taruscia D.; Palareti G.; Zanazzi M.Poli D.; Migliaccio L.; Antonucci E.; Biancone L.; Bozzolin A.; Corradetti V.; Finale C.; Furian L.; La Manna G.; Larti A.; Ranghino A.; Rossetti M.M.; Taruscia D.; Palareti G.; Zanazzi M