Investigation of high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) outcomes associated with chronic pulmonary microaspiration (CPM) in Tehran and Zahedan, Iran

Background: In patients with chronic pulmonary microaspiration (CPM) the recognition of high-resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) findings and their pattern is important. Objective: To investigate the HRCT detections in patients with CPM. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study enrolled 100 consecutive patients with CPM underwent HRCT of the lungs between 2017 and 2018 in Tehran and Zahedan Hospitals and private centers. The required variables were recorded for each patient with a questionnaire. Subsequently, HRCT was performed and abnormalities were then reported by two radiologists. Results: Most of patients exhibited bronchial thickening in 33.6% of cases, followed by ground-glass opacity (12.4%), emphysema (11.1%), and bronchiectasis (8.5%). In addition, the most common HRCT findings were found in left lower lobe (LLL) (37.1%), followed by right lower lobe (RLL) (35.9 %), right upper lobe (RUL ) (6,2%), and left upper lobe (LUL) (6%). Conclusion: Our data showed the most common findings in HRCT were bronchial thickening ground-glass opacity, emphysema, and bronchiectasis, where these findings was dominantly found in LLL, RLL, RUL, and LUL, indicating its high tendency to dependent areas

Olfactory and Gustatory Dysfunctions as Prognostic Factors in Patients with the SARS-CoV-2 Virus: COVID-19 and olfactory and gustatory dysfunction

Background: COVID-19 neurologic symptoms such as anosmia and ageusia are considered the most challenging issues for patients in the first steps of viral infection. Herein, we aimed to investigate the olfactory and gustatory dysfunction and their association with prognostic factors in patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: The current retrospective study was performed on patients admitted to a hospital with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 between March and November 2020. Based on the study criteria, information of 150 eligible participants (89 males and 61 females) was completely collected. The olfactory and gustatory symptoms including anosmia, hyposmia, ageusia, and dysgeusia were assessed, and five main COVID-19 prognostic factors including level of D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), lymphocyte count (LC), lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) and COVID-19 related lung involvement were measured. Results: Among all patients, 102 (68%) participants were completely treated and 48 (32%) died. Compared to treated patients, all prognostic factors including CRP, LDH, LC, D-dimer, and lung involvement were significantly higher in death cases. We found that 97 (64.7%) patients experienced at least one olfactory or gustatory dysfunction. The level of CRP, LC, D-dimer, and lung involvement showed a better prognosis among patients with at least one sensory dysfunction. Moreover, a better outcome was observed in patients with sensory dysfunction. Conclusion: It can be concluded the evaluation of CRP, LDH, D-dimer, and LC together with the HRCT scan score contributes to a better prognosis in COVID-19 patients with sensory dysfunction

Amyloid PET scan diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review study

Highlights The years after the first diagnosis and progressive or non-progressive MS are crucial factors in increasing the risk of early AD. The florbetapir-based radio traces in helping to diagnose early AD. Logical to use an age-specific cutoff in MS patients for early AD diagnosis