The Outcome of COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Gastrointestinal Diseases: An Experience at a Tertiary Center.

Objective: Observing the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on digestive diseases in hospitalized patients at the Department of Gastroenterology-Hepatology in "Mother Teresa" University Hospital Center (UHC),Tirana.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out from June 2020 to December 2021 involving 41 cases of patients >18 years who were positive for COVID-19 infection detected by RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) assays of nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The severity of COVID-19 infection was evaluated by hematological/biochemical parameters, blood oxygenation/need for oxygen, radiological data on pulmonary CT imaging.

Prognostic models in COVID-19 infection that predict severity: a systematic review.

Current evidence on COVID-19 prognostic models is inconsistent and clinical applicability remains controversial. We performed a systematic review to summarize and critically appraise the available studies that have developed, assessed and/or validated prognostic models of COVID-19 predicting health outcomes. We searched six bibliographic databases to identify published articles that investigated univariable and multivariable prognostic models predicting adverse outcomes in adult COVID-19 patients, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, high-flow nasal therapy (HFNT), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mortality.

Altered functional connectivity and oscillatory dynamics in polysubstance and cannabis only users during visuospatial processing.

Rationale And Objectives: Cannabis use is often associated with the use of other psychoactive substances, which is subsequently linked to an increased risk for addiction. While there is a growing body of neuroimaging literature investigating the cognitive effect of long-term cannabis use, very little is known about the potential additive effects of cannabis polysubstance use.

Methods: Fifty-six adults composed of 18 polysubstance users (i.

Annular pancreas: Beneath the intestinal obstruction-A case report.

Annular pancreas is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is a rare cause of congenital duodenal obstruction. It is normally identified during the neonatal period, but may also be identified in adolescence or adulthood. This diagnosis is often overlooked in adult patients who present with symptoms suggestive of duodenal obstruction.

Cardiac hemangioma presenting as a primary cardiac tumor.

Cardiac hemangiomas are very rare benign cardiac tumors. They can present at any age and clinical presentation varies according to location and size. We encountered an 87-year-old woman with a left atrial hemangioma clinically diagnosed as cardiac myxoma.

Real-Life Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Immune Therapy with Carbamylated Monomeric Allergoids on Mite, Grass, and Pellitory Respiratory Allergy: A Retrospective Study.

Background: real-life studies are encouraged to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). In this context, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and safety of carbamylated monomeric allergoid subcutaneous immunotherapy (MA-SCIT), along with patient satisfaction. Methods: a total of 291 patients with rhinoconjunctivitis with or without asthma with inhalant (house dust mite, grass, and pellitory) allergies were enrolled in this study.

Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment in Albanian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and Advanced Liver Fibrosis.

Background Treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) is very effective at clearing the infection. In Albania treatment with DAA is limited to patients with liver stiffness F3-F4, and with other co-infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of DAA in Albanian patients with genotypes 1-5, who mostly suffer from advanced liver fibrosis.

Sodium Balance Analysis In The Burn Resuscitation Period.

The different formulae for resuscitation therapy after thermal damage recommend 0.5-0.6 mmol sodium for each % TBSA burned, suggesting fluid requirements from 2-4 ml/kg/% burn because of sodium loss in burned and unburned tissues.

Challenging clinical presentation of Zinner syndrome.

Zinner syndrome is a rare congenital malformation of the mesonephric duct comprising of seminal vesicle cyst, ipsilateral renal agenesis, and ejaculatory duct obstruction. Clinical presentation varies with perineal pain, painful ejaculation, hematospermia and infertility common presenting complaints. Here, we present a case of Zinner syndrome in a 35-year-old male with a rare clinical presentation of only abdominal discomfort.

Somatosensory gating is related to behavioral and verbal outcomes in children with mild-to-severe hearing loss.

Sensory gating is a process by which the brain filters out redundant information to preserve neural resources for behaviorally relevant stimuli. Although studies have shown alterations in auditory and visual processing in children who are hard-of-hearing (CHH) relative to children with normal hearing (CNH), it is unclear whether these alterations extend to the somatosensory domain, and how aberrations in sensory processing affect sensory gating. In this study, CHH and CNH were presented with a paired-pulse median nerve stimulation during magnetoencephalography.

Factors leading to dissemination of cutaneous anthrax: an international ID-IRI study.

Background: Although anthrax is a rare zoonotic infection, it still causes significant mortality and morbidity. In this multicenter study, which is the largest anthrax case series ever reported, we aimed to describe the factors leading to dissemination of cutaneous anthrax.

Methods: Adult patients with cutaneous anthrax from 16 referral centers were pooled.

nosocomial meningitis following spinal anesthesia - still a significant treatment dilemma.

Background: Infections of central nervous system after spinal anesthesia nowadays are a rarity; however, their presence might be of concern.

Case Description: We report the case of lateral ventricular empyema treated unsuccessfully with parenteral antibiotic therapy, with the clinical signs of a persisting meningitis. After several lumbar taps suggesting an infection, was isolated and a brain magnetic resonance imaging find out the collection in the left horn of the lateral ventricle.

A nano erythropoiesis stimulating agent for the treatment of anemia and associated disorders.

The usual treatment for anemia and especially for anemia of inflammation (also called anemia of chronic disease) is supportive care with the target of improving the lifestyle of the patients. There is no effective medication to date for proper management. As the inflammation, erythropoiesis, and oxidative stress are the major concerns in this case, it inspired us to use a nano-erythropoietin stimulating agent (nano-ESA) made up of a nano-complex of manganese and citrate (Mn-citrate nano-complex), which has been hypothesized to have excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Superficial intraventricular surface siderosis brain.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a chronic condition characterized by hemosiderin deposition in the brain and spinal cord. It's diagnosed by brain MRI. It can be caused by low-grade extravasation of blood into the subarachnoid space of the brain.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaves Extracts and Their Photocatalytic and Biological Activities.

The advanced technology for synthesizing nanoparticles utilizes natural resources in an environmentally friendly manner. Additionally, green synthesis is preferred to chemical and physical synthesis because it takes less time and effort. The green synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles has recently risen due to its physico-chemical properties.

The importance of CT Urography in early diagnosis of anatomical variations in urogenital tract: case presentation.

Anatomic variations in the urogenital tract have generally been diagnosed through intravenous urography as a modality of choice. In recent years, computerized tomography (CT) urogram has replaced the traditional intravenous imaging of the genitourinary tract. Hematuria, tumoral mass, obstructive uropathy, and congenital collecting system abnormalities are indications for CT imaging.

Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on Admissions and In-Hospital Outcomes in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI): An Albanian Observational Study.

Background Multiple studies conducted worldwide and in Albania documented an important reduction of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admissions during the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. There are few studies regarding STEMI admissions and outcomes during the ongoing pandemic after the initial lockdown. We aimed to study STEMI admissions and in-hospital outcomes after the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Women leaders in Cardiology. Contemporary profile of the WHO European region.

Aims: Women's participation is steadily growing in medical schools, but they are still not sufficiently represented in cardiology, particularly in cardiology leadership positions. We present the contemporary distribution of women leaders in cardiology departments in the World Health Organization European region.

Methods And Results: Between August and December 2020, we applied purposive sampling to collect data and analyse gender distribution of heads of cardiology department in university/third level hospitals in 23 countries: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK.

Borderline ovarian tumor and MRI evaluation of a case report.

Borderline ovarian tumors or atypical proliferative tumors are abnormal cells that arise from ovarian epithelium in contrast to ovarian cancers which form from stroma, the supportive tissue of ovaries. They are not invasive and tend to grow slowly. Many patients with BOTs are asymptomatic, while others have nonspecific symptoms like abdominal pain or abdominal distension.