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BMC Res Notes 2021 May 12;14(1):178. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Objectives: The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically impacted the global health and economy. Computed tomography (CT) is the prime imaging modality for diagnosis of lung infections in COVID-19 patients. Data-driven and Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered solutions for automatic processing of CT images predominantly rely on large-scale, heterogeneous datasets. Read More

BMC Surg 2021 May 12;21(1):242. Epub 2021 May 12.

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Exeter, EX2 5DW, Devon, UK.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically influenced the delivery of healthcare. In line with the UK Royal Colleges' advice the management of acute appendicitis (AA) changed with greater consideration for non-operative management (NOM) or open appendicectomy when operative management (OM) was sought. We describe our experience of the presentation, management and outcomes for these patients to inform care for future viral pandemics. Read More

Rev Saude Publica 2021 10;55. Epub 2021 May 10.

Hospital São Luiz. Matter Group Assistência Médica. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Objective: To report the decrease in breast imaging after covid-19 pandemic, obtaining the number of mammograms performed in 2019 and 2020. Additionally, to investigate if there was an increase in the proportion of women undergoing mammography for diagnostic purposes, with palpable lesions.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study, based on the number of mammograms performed by the Brazilian public health services, provided by DATASUS, an open access database. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 11;14(5). Epub 2021 May 11.

Pulmonology, Franciscus Gasthuis en Vlietland, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

A 74-year-old man with COVID-19 was admitted and experienced progressive dyspnoea while receiving supplemental oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC). A CT of the thorax showed a pneumomediastinum. The HFNC was temporally interrupted, since it was uncertain whether the positive end-expiratory pressure of the HFNC could be the cause of the pneumomediastinum. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 11;14(5). Epub 2021 May 11.

Division of Cardiology and Department of Radiology, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.

This report documents a rare case of COVID-19-associated constrictive pericarditis (CP) in the setting of a recent COVID-19 infection. A 55-year-old man with a history of hypertension and gout presented with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome. His hospital course was complicated by a large pericardial effusion; an emergent bedside transthoracic echocardiography was concerning for cardiac tamponade, so pericardiocentesis was performed. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1318:937-964

Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Netting individuals separated from each other by vast distances; the present condition of COVID-19 needs art and its extraordinary capacity to connect human beings and integrate scientific disciplines. We can predict that the COVID-19 pandemic would leave the mind lonely and vulnerable to diseases, for, on the one hand, the COVID-19 pandemic and related problems, in particular social isolation, are itself stressor. On the other hand, studies confirm the potential of COVID-19 to involve the central nervous system by affecting the immune system, either directly or indirectly. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1318:413-434

Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center (ADIR), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic launched in the third decade of the twenty-first century and continued to present time to cause the worst challenges the modern medicine has ever encountered. Medical imaging is an essential part of the universal fight against this pandemic. In the absence of documented treatment and vaccination, early accurate diagnosis of infected patients is the backbone of this pandemic management. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1318:209-222

Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Since December 2019, a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has begun to infect people. The virus first occurred in Wuhan, China, but the whole world is now struggling with the pandemic. Over 13 million confirmed cases and 571,000 deaths have been reported so far, and this number is growing. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2021 ;1318:179-196

Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third coronavirus causing an outbreak in the twenty-first century. It is related to a contagious coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which its high pace of spreading allowed it to lie to the whole world and be turned into a pandemic only a few months after the identification of the first case. Currently, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test of throat swap is the gold standard of diagnosis; however, several studies have reported false-negative results with non-ideal sensitivity. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 10;14(5). Epub 2021 May 10.

General Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

We describe the case of a 31-year-old man who presented with a 3-day history of right iliac fossa pain with associated nausea and vomiting. He denied any previous incidents of abdominal pain and had no relevant medical history or family history to note. Given the typical history, examination findings of localised peritonism and infection risk, he was taken to theatre for laparoscopic appendicectomy without diagnostic imaging. Read More

Front Public Health 2021 22;9:622762. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Medical Imaging Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), originating from Wuhan (Hubei, China), has rapidly spread across China and several other countries. During the outbreak of COVID-19, mental health of the general population in Hubei province may be affected. This study aimed to assess the psychological status and associated risk factors of the general population in Hubei province during the COVID-19 outbreak. Read More

J Healthc Eng 2021 29;2021:8869372. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Medical Familiar Unit, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de Los Trabajadores del Estado, 27268 Torreón COAH, Mexico.

The rapid worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has infected patients around the world in a short space of time. Chest computed tomography (CT) images of patients who are infected with COVID-19 can offer early diagnosis and efficient forecast monitoring at a low cost. The diagnosis of COVID-19 on CT in an automated way can speed up many tasks and the application of medical treatments. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2021 Jul 4;16(7):1777-1779. Epub 2021 May 4.

Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by viral pneumonia with mild to moderate symptoms. Emerging studies suggest that some patients may experience uncommon complications, such as thrombotic or hemorrhagic episodes. Here we present a 59-year-old male patient who had a hemorrhage episode from a branch of the pulmonary arteries and was treated by interventional embolization. Read More

Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao 2021 Apr;43(2):216-221

Department of Pathology,The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University,Hangzhou 310015,China.

Objective To analyze the CT characteristics of consolidation type of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients,and thus improve the diagnosis of this disease. Methods A total of 20 cases with consolidation-type pulmonary cryptococcosis confirmed by pathological examinations were studied.Each patient underwent breath-hold multislice spiral CT,and 10 patients underwent contrast enhanced CT. Read More

Chest 2021 05;159(5):2107-2108

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Division, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

BMC Endocr Disord 2021 May 8;21(1):97. Epub 2021 May 8.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.

Aims: Hyperuricemia has attracted increasing attention. However, limited concern has been paid to the potential dangers of lowering serum uric acid (SUA). We observed lower levels of SUA in patients with COVID-19. Read More

Am J Med 2021 05;134(5):e360-e361

Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, Calif. Electronic address:

Case Rep Infect Dis 2021 14;2021:6652819. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Namazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that has affected millions of individuals across the world. It was officially declared as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Although most patients with COVID-19 manifest as viral pneumonia characterized by symptoms such as fever, dyspnea, and cough, atypical presentations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute kidney or cardiac injury have been reported amongst COVID-19 patients. Read More

J Int Med Res 2021 May;49(5):3000605211010631

Undergraduate, Faculty of Medicine, New Giza University, Egypt.

Objective: To analyze computed tomography (CT) features of symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Ninety-five symptomatic patients with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction from 1 May to 14 July 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Follow-up CT findings and their distributions were analyzed and compared from symptom onset to late-stage disease. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2021 Apr 30;57(5). Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Gastroenterology Department, Emergency University Hospital of Bucharest, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050098 Bucharest, Romania.

Emerging evidence suggests that patients with metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) are prone to severe forms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), especially those with underlying liver fibrosis. The aim of our study is to assess the association of an increased FIB-4 score with COVID-19 disease prognosis. We performed a prospective study on hospitalized patients with known type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and confirmed COVID-19, with imaging evidence of liver steatosis within the last year or known diagnosis of MAFLD. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 30;22(9). Epub 2021 Apr 30.

Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V, Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Straße 11, 44139 Dortmund, Germany.

Platelets are components of the blood that are highly reactive, and they quickly respond to multiple physiological and pathophysiological processes. In the last decade, it became clear that platelets are the key components of circulation, linking hemostasis, innate, and acquired immunity. Protein composition, localization, and activity are crucial for platelet function and regulation. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2021 May 3;15(1):259. Epub 2021 May 3.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Jl. M. H. Thamrin Boulevard 1100, Lippo Village Tangerang, Tangerang, Banten, 15811, Indonesia.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first identified in Indonesia in March 2020, and the number of infections has grown exponentially. The situation is at its worst, overwhelming intensive care unit (ICU) resources and capacity.

Case Presentation: This is a single-center observational case study of 21 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU from March 20, 2020, to April 31, 2020. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2021 05 3;4(5):e218828. Epub 2021 May 3.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

Importance: In-hospital mortality rates from COVID-19 are high but appear to be decreasing for selected locations in the United States. It is not known whether this is because of changes in the characteristics of patients being admitted.

Objective: To describe changing in-hospital mortality rates over time after accounting for individual patient characteristics. Read More

Ideggyogy Sz 2021 Mar;74(3-4):129-134

BAZ Megyei Központi Kórház és Egyetemi Oktató Kórház, Intervenciós Radiológia Osztály, Miskolc.

In SARS-CoV-2 positive patients with corresponding neurological symptoms the presence of carotid bifurcation macrothrombus should always be considered. Hypercoagulopathy caused by viral endotheliitis, systemic inflammation and cytokine storm play an important role in its development. Here we present two patients treated with different treatment strategies because of carotid bifurcation macrothrombus as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 15;8:630802. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, and chest computed tomography (CT) findings of familial cluster (FC) and non-familial (NF) patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. This retrospective study included 178 symptomatic adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The 178 patients were divided into FC ( = 108) and NF ( = 70) groups. Read More

J Healthc Eng 2021 20;2021:5528441. Epub 2021 Apr 20.

College of Computer Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110189, China.

Novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has become a global pandemic disease, and computed tomography-based (CT) image analysis and recognition are one of the important tools for clinical diagnosis. In order to assist medical personnel to achieve an efficient and fast diagnosis of patients with new coronavirus pneumonia, this paper proposes an assisted diagnosis algorithm based on ensemble deep learning. The method combines the Stacked Generalization ensemble learning with the VGG16 deep learning to form a cascade classifier, and the information constituting the cascade classifier comes from multiple subsets of the training set, each of which is used to collect deviant information about the generalization behavior of the data set, such that this deviant information fills the cascade classifier. Read More

Comput Intell Neurosci 2021 8;2021:5527923. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

This paper aims to investigate the use of transfer learning architectures in the detection of COVID-19 from CT lung scans. The study evaluates the performances of various transfer learning architectures, as well as the effects of the standard Histogram Equalization and Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization. The findings of this study suggest that transfer learning-based frameworks are an alternative to the contemporary methods used to detect the presence of the virus in patients. Read More

Eur Radiol 2021 May 1. Epub 2021 May 1.

Siemens Healthineers, Princeton, NJ, USA.

Objectives: To investigate machine learning classifiers and interpretable models using chest CT for detection of COVID-19 and differentiation from other pneumonias, interstitial lung disease (ILD) and normal CTs.

Methods: Our retrospective multi-institutional study obtained 2446 chest CTs from 16 institutions (including 1161 COVID-19 patients). Training/validation/testing cohorts included 1011/50/100 COVID-19, 388/16/33 ILD, 189/16/33 other pneumonias, and 559/17/34 normal (no pathologies) CTs. Read More

Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2021 May 1. Epub 2021 May 1.

Department of Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Medical imaging methods are assuming a greater role in the workup of patients with COVID-19, mainly in relation to the primary manifestation of pulmonary disease and the tissue distribution of the angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2 (ACE 2) receptor. However, the field is so new that no consensus view has emerged guiding clinical decisions to employ imaging procedures such as radiography, computer tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging, and in what measure the risk of exposure of staff to possible infection could be justified by the knowledge gained. The insensitivity of current RT-PCR methods for positive diagnosis is part of the rationale for resorting to imaging procedures. Read More

BMC Psychol 2021 Apr 30;9(1):68. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

SE-NAP2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.

Background: The main goal of this research was to explore whether migraineurs had a higher level of perceived stress than healthy controls during the times of the coronavirus and related restrictive measures, and to examine the relationship between different subtypes of rumination and perceived stress in these groups. We measured two facets of depressive rumination, brooding and reflection, along with rumination about the current COVID-19 situation to see whether these different subtypes of rumination explained perceived stress among migraineurs and healthy controls.

Methods: Healthy adults (n = 64) and migraine patients (n = 73) filled out self-report questionnaires online. Read More