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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of factors such as age, gender, comorbid diseases and treatments applied on the positive duration of the PCR test in COVID-19 patients. BACKGROUND: The duration of PCR positivity in COVID-19 patients varies. Studies in the literature investigating factors that may affect this duration are limited. METHODS: Between March and September 2020, individuals with two or more positive PCR results with a 14-day interval were included in the case group, and those whose PCR results turned negative within 14 days were included in the control group. The relationship between age, gender, contact environment, presence of additional disease, drugs used, smoking and alcohol consumption; type, duration and severity of COVID-19 symptoms, treatment applied for COVID-19 and duration of PCR positivity were examined. RESULTS: Among 126 participants the mean duration of PCR positivity was 23.38 days (min 6, max 52). Symptoms lasted 15-30 days in 41 patients (32.5 %) and 5-10 days in 30 patients (23.8 %). The positivity duration varied according to age, smoking and alcohol consumption status, and body mass index. Patients with chronic disease, and who had loss of taste and smell during the disease had a longer positive stay. This period was shorter in favipiravir users. CONCLUSION: In COVID-19 infection, there are several factors that affect the PCR test to remain positive. Early-term favipiravir use may shorten this period as a modifiable factor (Tab. 3, Ref. 14).

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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the expanded and revised version of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (TR-SF-MPQ-2) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to investigate the relationship between TR-SF-MPQ-2 and etiology, pain scales, and disability index. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2014 and December 2014, a total of 194 patients with CLBP (66 males, 128 females; mean age 50±14.3 years; range, 35 to 65 years) attending to our outpatient clinic were included. To assess reliability, Cronbach alpha (α) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were estimated for participants who completed the questionnaire in the morning and afternoon. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by analyzing the confirmatory factor analysis. The Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index were also used to test concurrent validity of the questionnaire. RESULTS: For total score, Cronbach α was 0.912 and ICC was 0.973, ranging from 0.72 to 0.84 for Cronbach α and from 0.960 to 0.989 for ICC in subgroups. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit for each subgroup (χ2/Df <3, GFI >0.95, CFI >0.90, NFI >0.90, and RMSEA <0.10). The correlation coefficient between the mean VAS and the mean total score was 0.648. CONCLUSION: Our study results indicate that the Turkish version of the SF-MPQ-2 is a reliable and valid tool to assess pain in the Turkish patients with CLBP.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Spreading depolarizations (SDs) are recurrent and ostensibly spontaneous depolarization waves that may contribute to infarct progression after stroke. Somatosensory activation of the metastable peri-infarct tissue triggers peri-infarct SDs at a high rate. METHODS: We directly measured the functional activation threshold to trigger SDs in peri-infarct hot zones using optogenetic stimulation after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion in Thy1-ChR2-YFP mice. RESULTS: Optogenetic activation of peri-infarct tissue triggered SDs at a strikingly high rate (64%) compared with contralateral homotopic cortex (8%; P=0.004). Laser speckle perfusion imaging identified a residual blood flow of 31±2% of baseline marking the metastable tissue with a propensity to develop SDs. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal a spatially distinct increase in SD susceptibility in peri-infarct tissue where physiological levels of functional activation are capable of triggering SDs. Given the potentially deleterious effects of peri-infarct SDs, the effect of sensory overstimulation in hyperacute stroke should be examined more carefully.

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