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Kwak MY, Lee HY, Lee SA, Jeong J, Chung JH, Kim J, Jun BC, Yeo SG, Kim SH, Lee JD. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Bell's Palsy and Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. J Korean Med Sci 2024; 39:e140. [PMID: 38685888 PMCID: PMC11058340 DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article presents a comprehensive review of data on the impact of facial palsy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The possible causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of changes in the epidemiology of facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. METHODS This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 943 patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy or Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This study compared patient demographics, comorbidities, symptoms, and treatments before the COVID-19 pandemic (from 2017 to 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2020 to 2022). RESULTS Following the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases of Bell's palsy, particularly among elderly individuals with diabetes. Bell's palsy increased after the COVID-19 outbreak, rising from 75.3% in the pre-COVID-19 era to 83.6% after the COVID-19 outbreak. The complete recovery rate decreased from 88.2% to 73.9%, and the rate of recurrence increased from 2.9% to 7.5% in patients with Bell's palsy. Ramsay Hunt syndrome showed fewer changes in clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION This study highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and management of facial palsy, and suggests potential associations with COVID-19. Notably, the observed increase in Bell's palsy cases among elderly individuals with diabetes emphasizes the impact of the pandemic. Identifying the epidemiological changes in facial palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic has important implications for assessing its etiology and pathological mechanisms of facial palsy disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Young Kwak
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea
| | - Ho Yun Lee
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ewha Womans University Faculty of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se A Lee
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea
| | - Junhui Jeong
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Ho Chung
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jin Kim
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, Korea
| | - Beom Cho Jun
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seung-Geun Yeo
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Kim
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Jong Dae Lee
- The Facial Nerve Disorder Subcommittee, The Quality Control Committee of the Korean Otologic Society, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
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Samad S, Baloch B, Qadeer MA. Revolutionizing depression diagnosis: earwax analysis for cortisol and beyond. Bioanalysis 2024; 16:429-430. [PMID: 38415689 PMCID: PMC11216613 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2023-0240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shahzaib Samad
- Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Rafiqi H J Shaheed Road, Karachi, 75510, Pakistan
| | - Bilqees Baloch
- Ziauddin Medical College, 4/B, Shahrah-e-Ghalib, Block 6, Clifton Karachi, Sindh, 75600, Pakistan
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Amer SA, Alotaibi MN, Shahid S, Alsafrani M, Chaudhary AR. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) Profiling of Earwax DNA Obtained from Healthy Volunteers. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:5741-5751. [PMID: 37504278 PMCID: PMC10378584 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to establish human earwax as a potential source of DNA evidence that could be effectively used in human identification. Sixty earwax samples were obtained from 15 healthy male and female Saudi volunteers living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Four consecutive earwax swab samples were obtained from each volunteer and stored for 1, 15, 30 and 60 days. Earwax samples were stored at room temperature (20-22 °C). Reference oral swab was also taken from each volunteer. DNA was extracted by QIAamp DNA Mini kit and quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 7500 Thermal Cycler. Autosomal STR loci were amplified using AmpFLSTR™ Identifiler™ Plus PCR Amplification Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Carlsbad, CA, USA). Amplified fragments were size separated and analyzed on a 3500 Genetic Analyzer. Complete autosomal STR profiles were obtained from the earwax swabs of all the volunteers stored up to 30 days after the collection. Some STR profiles were partially obtained 60 days after the earwax collection. Allelic drop-out, allelic drop-in, and stutters were seen in earwax samples analyzed 60 days after the collection. The results have shown that human earwax can be a potential source of DNA evidence for human identification up to 30 days after the earwax collection. It is recommended to quickly analyze earwax samples or store them at room temperature or at -10 °C after their recovery from the crime scene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Amin Amer
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Nawar Alotaibi
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sajjad Shahid
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Alsafrani
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul Rauf Chaudhary
- Department of Forensic Sciences, College of Criminal Justice, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, Riyadh 11587, Saudi Arabia
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Measuring the Possibility of Middle Ear Discharge for COVID-19 Test Material. Interdiscip Perspect Infect Dis 2022; 2022:7207846. [PMID: 35464252 PMCID: PMC9020411 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7207846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, and new variants continue to emerge. Various examination methods and sampling specimens are continuously being developed and published. The standard for sampling is in the nasopharynx. However, in children, this is often uncomfortable and at risk of eliciting complications. Therefore, it is necessary to look for other alternative sampling sites such as fluid from the middle ear. Scientific evidence shows that the middle ear can be a place for the attachment and growth of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Currently, to the best of the author's knowledge, there have been no publications on middle ear discharge as a sample for the determination of the diagnosis of COVID-19. Based on this, the authors would like to explore the possibility of middle ear discharge for COVID-19 test material. A narrative review on the use of middle ear discharge as a potential diagnostic specimen for COVID-19 was conducted. The searches were conducted in the PubMed and ProQuest databases.
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Celik S, Kalcioglu MT, Hanege FM. In response to the letter to the editor regarding SARS-CoV-2 Presence in the Saliva, Tears, and Cerumen of COVID-19 Patients. Laryngoscope 2021; 131:E2819. [PMID: 34216142 PMCID: PMC8441852 DOI: 10.1002/lary.29723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Serdal Celik
- Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
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Cherchi M, Yacovino DA. In Reference to "SARS-CoV-2 presence in the saliva, tears and cerumen of COVID-19 patients". Laryngoscope 2021; 131:E2820. [PMID: 34216143 PMCID: PMC8441737 DOI: 10.1002/lary.29727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Cherchi
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A
| | - Darío A Yacovino
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Cesar Milstein Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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SARS-CoV-2 is not found in the sweat of COVID-19 positive patients. Ir J Med Sci 2021; 191:27-29. [PMID: 33580478 PMCID: PMC7880206 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background As the SARS-CoV-2 virus made a pandemic all over the world, its transmission routes became significant. Transmission from human to human is known, but other possible routes are not determined well. Aims This study aimed to reveal the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in sweat. Methods This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care education and training hospital. Fifty patients were included in this study. Skin disinfection was done with an alcohol-based solution. Swabs for RT-PCR (real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) were taken from forehead and axilla skin after sweating patients for 30 min. After collection of sweat, swabs were placed into 2 ml of sterile viral transport medium, then transported quickly to the microbiology laboratory. Results No SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in RT-PCR of forehead and axilla swabs. Conclusion This study showed that there is no transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus via sweat. However, general precautions must be taken while doing interventional procedures.
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