Introduction: Recreational use of nitrous oxide (NO) is increasing in Western countries, including France. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some authors warned that recreational NO use could increase further as the supply of illicit drugs was impacted by various containment measures.
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed NO exposures reported to the Paris Poison Control Center (France) from 2010/01/01 to 2021/04/15. The Poison Severity Score was used to grade severity.
Results: During the study period, 93 cases of NO recreational exposures were reported (male/female ratio: 1.1; median age: 20.9 years range: [14.8-49.0]). The first case was reported in 2012, 84/93 (90%) and 65/93 (70%) were reported since 2019 and March 17 2020 (first lockdown in France) respectively. Most of the patients were symptomatic (88/93; 95%) and developed neurological symptoms (78/93; 84%). Among the fourteen patients who developed moderate to severe symptoms, eleven were reported after March 2020.
Conclusion: Despite a marked increase in recreational NO exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the exact impact of COVID-19 on this increase remains to be determined as it was observed from 2019.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.revmed.2022.06.004 | DOI Listing |
Croat Med J
December 2024
Athanasios, Nafpliou 1 C, Gerakas 15344, Athens, Greece,
Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affects the respiratory system, neurological symptoms were reported both during acute and post-acute COVID-19. Notably, patients with no history of epilepsy or other neurological conditions developed new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) weeks, months, or even up to a year following the viral infection. While NORSE is uncommon, it carries a high mortality rate and can result in permanent epilepsy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCroat Med J
December 2024
Grgur Salai, University Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia,
Aim: To investigate histopathological changes in the lung tissue of long-COVID patients.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in long-COVID patients with persisting symptoms and radiological abnormalities. Histopathologic analyses were performed by using hematoxylin-eosin, Martius, Scarlet and Blue, Movat's, thyroid transcription factor 1, CD34, and CD68 staining.
Croat Med J
December 2024
Maja Valentić, Tijardovićeva 8, 10104 Zagreb,
Aim: To determine age and gender patterns of alcohol use among Croatian pupils and assess whether alcohol use was associated with factors related to school, peers, family, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Data were collected from the 2022 Health Behavior in School-aged Children cross-sectional study conducted in Croatia involving 5338 pupils. Pearson χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were performed.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
January 2025
Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Objective: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a painful inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland, which - after a phase of thyrotoxicosis - leads to transient, or less frequently permanent hypothyroidism. Apart from a strong association with specific HLA alleles, the causes are uncertain. Viral disease has been hypothesised as a trigger, with Enteroviruses, namely Echoviruses and Coxsackieviruses, showing a seasonal distribution that coincides with the incidence of SAT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, youth across the globe took outstanding initiatives to support their communities. From distributing food and oxygen to raising funds via digital platforms, young people demonstrated their potential in times of crisis. This commentary explores how youth civic engagement surged during the pandemic, driven by digital activism, community-led initiatives, and institutional collaboration.
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