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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants, and their abundance in the entire ecosystem raises the question of how far is the impact of these MPs on the biota, humans, and the environment. Recent research has overemphasized the occurrence, characterization, and direct toxicity of MPs; however, determining and understanding their genotoxic effect is still limited. Thus, the present review addresses the genotoxic potential of these emerging contaminants in aquatic organisms and in human peripheral lymphocytes and identified the research gaps in this area. Several genotoxic endpoints were implicated, including the frequency of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridge (NPB), nuclear buds (NBUD), DNA strand breaks, and the percentage of DNA in the tail (%Tail DNA). In addition, the mechanism of MPs-induced genotoxicity seems to be closely associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inflammatory responses, and DNA repair interference. However, the gathered information urges the need for more studies that present environmentally relevant conditions. Taken into consideration, the lifestyle changes within the COVID-19 pandemic, we discussed the impact of the pandemic on enhancing the genotoxic potential of MPs whether through increasing human exposure to MPs via inappropriate disposal and overconsumption of plastic-based products or by disrupting the defense system owing to unhealthy food and sleep deprivation as well as stress. Overall, this review provided a reference for the genotoxic effect of MPs, their mechanism of action, as well as the contribution of COVID-19 to increase the genotoxic risk of MPs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background/Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases first emerged in Turkey in March 2020, spreading rapidly and peaking in April and May. This study aimed to assess individuals with loss of taste and smell who were admitted to our hospital with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Methods: Between March and June 2020, we retrospectively assessed 6966 patients who visited Kartal Dr. Lütfi Krdar City Hospital's Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology COVID-19 outpatient clinics; 137 patients with loss of taste and smell were included in the study. We enrolled 18-year-old patients who were admitted to the infection emergency outpatient clinics. Results: Out of the 6966 patients hospitalized with a pre-diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, 137 (0.19%) complained of poor taste and smell. Among these, 69 (50.4%) were female, and 68 (49.6%) were male. Of the 137 patients, 100 (73%) reported a loss of smell, while 94 (68.6%) reported a loss of taste. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was positive in approximately one-third (n=2672, 38.4%) of the 6966 patients and roughly half (n=62, 48.4%) of the patients with loss of taste and smell. The most common symptoms observed in patients with anosmia were fever (n=123, 91%), cough (n=102, 75%), shortness of breath (n=411, 30%), sore throat (n=12, 9%), malaise (n=12, 9%), myalgia (n=11, 8%), nausea/vomiting (n=6, 5%), diarrhea (n=4, 3%), loss of smell (n=2, 2%), and loss of taste (n=2, 2%). Comorbidities included hypertension (n=4, 3%), diabetes mellitus (n=4, 2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n=2, 2%), and coronary artery disease (n=1, 1%). Conclusion: Patients admitted to our hospital during the initial wave of the pandemic experienced typical and prevalent symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and loss of taste and smell. Further large cohort studies are required to address the "tasteless" COVID-19 more fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the effects of hypokalemia on clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with Covid-19 pneumonia. Materials and Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we recorded characteristics of hospitalized covid-19 pneumonia patients and laboratory test results on the first hospital day. Duration of hospitalization, requiring intensive care including mechanical ventilation and survival, were determined. Results: Our study included 185 patients and of them 111 male (60% male) patients with mean age of 64 ± 14.5 (23- 90). Patients were grouped as hypokalemic (16.8%) and normokalemic patients (83.2%). The number of diabetic patients was higher in the normokalemic group. Serum total protein and albumin levels were lower in hypokalemic group, while alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood pH and bicarbonate level were higher. In multiple logistic regression analyses, alkalosis increased risk of hypokalemia 5.73 times. Duration of hospitalization, requirement of intensive care and hospital mortality were similar in hypokalemia and normokalemia patients. Conclusion: In patients with Covid-19 pneumonia, hypokalemia has been found to be quite common as high as 16.8% at the first presentation. Hypokalemia was related to metabolic alkalosis but unrelated to the duration of hospitalization, requirement of intensive care including mechanical ventilation and hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]