Rejected

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection which can cause a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and vascular symptoms. The acute illness phase generally lasts no more than 2-3 weeks. However, there is increasing evidence that a proportion of COVID-19 patients experience a prolonged convalescence and continue to have symptoms lasting several months after the initial infection. A variety of chronic symptoms have been reported including fatigue, dyspnea, myalgia, exercise intolerance, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, fever, headache, malaise, and vertigo. These symptoms are similar to those seen in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic multi-system illness characterized by profound fatigue, sleep disturbances, neurocognitive changes, orthostatic intolerance, and post-exertional malaise. ME/CFS symptoms are exacerbated by exercise or stress and occur in the absence of any significant clinical or laboratory findings. The pathology of ME/CFS is not known: it is thought to be multifactorial, resulting from the dysregulation of multiple systems in response to a particular trigger. Although not exclusively considered a post-infectious entity, ME/CFS has been associated with several infectious agents including Epstein-Barr Virus, Q fever, influenza, and other coronaviruses. There are important similarities between post-acute COVID-19 symptoms and ME/CFS. However, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish COVID-19 as an infectious trigger for ME/CFS. Further research is required to determine the natural history of this condition, as well as to define risk factors, prevalence, and possible interventional strategies.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a chronic, progressive, and life-threatening disease in children with diverse causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The most severe cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension require aggressive treatments with systemic administration of continuous prostacyclin therapy, including treprostinil and epoprostenol. The successful use of continuous subcutaneous treprostinil therapy eliminates the need for an indwelling central venous catheter and its associated risks. However, pain at the subcutaneous infusion site, an expected side effect of this therapy, is often a deterrent to its widespread use. Effective subcutaneous treprostinil site maintenance and pain management is essential to achieve success with this therapy, but strategies surrounding site maintenance and pain control vary significantly between pediatric pulmonary hypertension treatment centers. In an attempt to standardize practice, a survey on the use of subcutaneous treprostinil and site maintenance and pain management strategies, as well as its perceived effectiveness, was disseminated to 13 pediatric pulmonary hypertension centers of the Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Network. Responses to the survey were collected and analyzed and were developed into a set of formalized strategies to facilitate knowledge sharing and standardization of practice.

Postoperative pain following third molar removal is one of the most common and unpleasant complications encountered in routine surgical practice. Various methods have been advocated to minimize the postoperative pain: preemptive analgesia is one of those found to be effective.

The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical effects and results of lower-extremity surgery under ultrasound-guided nerve block; time required for nerve block, anesthesia onset time, duration of anesthesia, duration of analgesia, tolerable tourniquet time, visual analog scale (VAS) satisfaction score, and anesthetic-related complications.

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a regional anesthesia technique, which provides visceral and somatic analgesia for abdominal surgery; during surgery and in the postoperative period. The local anesthetic is injected between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process and it spreads cranially and caudally into the paravertebral space, affecting the ventral and dorsal branches of the thoracic spinal nerves and the rami communicants that contain sympathetic nerve fibers. ESP block can replace thoracic epidural anesthesia and has a better analgesic effect compared to other plane blocks that are used in abdominal surgery. We described six case series of successfully performed ESP block for postoperative analgesia in various abdominal surgeries such as unilateral open inguinal hernia repair with a supraumbilical hernia, ileostomy reversal surgery, open diaphragmatic hernia repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and abdominal abscess evacuation.

The progression of the otitic infectious process toward diseases of particular severity is often unpredictable, just as it is challenging to manage the patient over time, even after the apparent resolution of the disease. We aim to define a radiological reading key that allows us to correctly and promptly treat the disease, avoiding the possible severe complications.

The patients hope is closely related to his mental health, which is an important component of quality of life. In the context of the treatment of a serious illness, hope can be seen as the expectation of a future positive outcome that is personally valuable and realistically achievable. Research has shown that people with higher level of hope show better adaptation, lower stress levels, less anxiety and depression, and maintain an active approach to problem solving. Questionnaires and intervention methods have been empirically verified to assess and influence the level of hope in patients with advanced cancer. The sources and specific contents of the patients hopes, which change depending on the life situation and the severity of the disease, were also determined. It has been repeatedly found that the hopes of patients with advanced cancer do not relate solely to cure from the disease but are directed more towards the psychosocial aspects quality of life. The main sources of hope include the existence of a good relationship with a close person, the possibility of achieving partial meaningful life goals, a positively assessed life, a sense of self-worth, and spiritual support. On the other hand, the feeling of loneliness, persistent pain and reduced self-esteem have a negative effect on hope. It also shows that the patients hope is largely influenced by the quality of communication with doctors and other healthcare professionals. In an interview on unfavorable prognosis, patients most appreciate the empathic dialogue in which the sincerity and clarity of the message delivered by the doctor is balanced by the encouragement that leaves room for hope. Knowledge of the patients hope, wishes and life values can make a significant contribution to making optimal end-of-life care decisions.

Cystoscopy is a diagnostic and invasive procedure for treatment and follow-up of genitourinary system patients and could be performed with a variety of anesthesia techniques. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of dexmedetomidine-ketamine vs. fentanyl-ketamine on sedation and analgesia for cystoscopy. This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 60 patients undergoing cystoscopy in two groups. Patients were assigned randomly by block random allocation method into dexmedetomidine-ketamine group (1 μg/kg dexmedetomidine) and fentanyl-ketamine group (2 μg/kg fentanyl) receiving ketamine (0.5 mg/kg). Subsequently, mean blood pressure, heart rate, saturated oxygen, respiratory rate, pain intensity, Ramsay score for sedation level, cystoscopy duration, and urologic satisfaction were measured and compared between two groups. Both the groups were similar regarding age, sex and baseline hemodynamic parameters (P > 0.05). Lower heart rate and pain score were revealed in the dexmedetomidine-ketamine group at 25-50 and 30-60 minutes, respectively, after cystoscopy (P < 0.05). Moreover, repeated measure test showed that there was significant difference in trend of respiratory rate and pain score between two groups (P = 0.017) and was lower in dexmedetomidine-ketamine group. The dexmedetomidine-ketamine group relieves pain 30 minutes after cystoscopy with stable hemodynamic parameters during operation. Therefore, dexmedetomidine-ketamine is recommended to be employed for pain relief in subjects undergoing cystoscopy. The study was approved by Ethical Committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences with IR.ARAKMU.REC.1397.108 on July 2, 2018, and registered in Iranian Registry Clinical Trial center with code IRCT20141209020258N105 on April 21, 2019.

With the 1-portal technique for endoscopic carpal tunnel release, the incision is less tender and patients have less postoperative need for analgesics, and return to activities of daily living and work seems to be earlier. The literature also confirms an earlier return to work. Surgical time can be shorter as less time is spent in making and closing the incision.