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Evans syndrome in the course of COVID-19 infection; essentials and approaches
No full textRedundant studies proved coronavirus infection results from a defect in a suitable immune response that may exacerbate immune-inflammatory reactions like cytokine storm and autoimmunity. Evans syndrome (ES) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease that distinguishes it from autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Reports have shown significant differences in immune cells and laboratory parameters in Evans syndrome/COVID-19 co-infected patients. Also, the contribution between autoimmune diseases and SARS-CoV-2 infection could result in immune response disequilibrium that considers a possible mechanism for ES development. Moreover, we will briefly explain the double-edged sword role of immunosuppressive drugs in Evans syndrome/ COVID-19 co-infected patients. Generally, the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 in hematologic autoimmune disorders progression, particularly ES, remains unclear, but some investigations explain the COVID-19 infection mechanism in the mentioned disorders development. The purpose of the current study is to look at the coronavirus effects on Evans syndrome aggravation, the immune cells and laboratory markers alterations in Evans syndrome/COVID-19 co-infected patients, the coronavirus effects on Evans syndrome patients during their pregnancy, and the Evans syndrome / COVID-19 co-infected patient management. © 2022, Iranian Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Society. All rights reserved
The Effectiveness of Laboratory Parameters in Predicting the in-Hospital Mortality of Iranian Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
No full textBackground. The novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV (now SARS-CoV-2) has spread globally and affected healthcare systems worldwide. Due to lack of long-term immunization and effective specific treatments for the COVID-19 disease, there is a need of identifying the patients who are at the risk of a fatal outcome, according to the available epidemiological data and laboratory parameters. Objective. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of epidemiological data and laboratory parameters for in-hospital case fatality in patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods. A retrospective cohort of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital of Ilam University of Medical Sciences from February 29 until March 29, 2020 was performed. Epidemiologic data and laboratory results were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of the laboratory parameters for inhospital death. Results. A total of 256 Iranian COVID-19 patients were included in the evaluation; 38 of them died, resulting in a in-hospital case-fatality rate of 14.8. The univariate analysis showed that advanced age OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.06, P=0.001, smoking OR=4.041, 95% CI: 1.546-10.563, P=0.004, white blood cells OR=0.941, 95% CI: 0.904-0.980, P =0.003 and hematocrit OR=1.060, 95% CI: 1.009-1.113, P=0.020 were positively associated with the risk of a fatal outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that COVID-19 patients with an elevated white blood cell count and elevated hemoglobin level had 1% and 9% greater risk of an in-hospital death for each elevated unit OR=1.07; 95 %CI: 1.024-1.088, P =0.002 and OR=1.379; 95% CI 0.064-1.788, P =0.015, respectively. Conclusions. An increase in white blood cell count and an increase in hemoglobin level might be independent risk factors for in-hospital death in Iranian patients with COVID-19. Further studies are necessary in order to conferm the prognostic value of the variables discussed
p Predicting the Future: Phage Therapy
No full textBACTERIAL pathogens have a major role in human disease and cause different symptoms in all human organs. In 21 century antibiotic resistance is widespread and causes mortal disease. Phages or bacteriophages are kinds of viruses that attack bacterial cells and are ordered into one phylum which is divided into three families: myoviridae, podoviridae, and siphoviridae. Phages have a triple role including (1) pseudovirion (bacterial gene in virus envelop that delivered pathogen gene), (2) virus that eliminates the bacterial cell, and (3) silent infection. Phage has three major sections: Head, neck, and tail. The attack begins with the attachment of the virus to the bacterial cell surface. The most phage receptor is presented in cell surface and has many roles in different bacteria. On the other hand, phage should be pure and removed all contamination to avoid an immune reaction. Phage can only affect bacterial cells and don't have collateral damage to eukaryotic cells. In addition, phage display is a hopeful method for treatment, detect and cure of many diseases. In this review, we try to show the role of phages in treating some diseases and detection by phage display method
Anti-leishmanial effects of resveratrol and resveratrol nanoemulsion on Leishmania major
No full textBackground Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Low efficacy and high cytotoxicity of the current treatment regimens for leishmaniasis is one of the most important health problems. In this experimental study, anti-leishmanial effects of different concentrations of resveratrol and resveratrol nano-emulsion (RNE) were assessed. Methods RNE was prepared using the probe ultra-sonication method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT technique on the L929 cell line. The anti-leishmanial activities on promastigotes of leishmania were assessed using vital staining and infected BALB/c mice were used to assess the in vivo anti-leishmanial effects. Results In vitro and in vivo assays revealed that all concentrations of resveratrol and RNE had valuable inhibitory effects against Leishmania major in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were calculated as 16.23 and 35.71 mu g/mL for resveratrol and RNE, respectively. Resveratrol and RNE showed no cytotoxicity against the L929 cell line. Conclusions According to the potent in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial activity of RNE at low concentration against L. major, we suggest that it could be a promising anti-leishmanial therapeutic against L. major in the future
The Effect of Prosopis farcta and Its Bioactive Luteolin on the Hippocampus of Mice after Induced Ischemia Reperfusion
No full textBackground: Ischemia plays an important role in increasing damage to the nervous system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Prosopis farcta (PFE) and its bioactive luteolin (Lu) and forced swimming exercise on the hippocampus of mice after induced ischemia reperfusion. Methods: The bioactive component of PFE (Lu) was identified by HPLC. Fifty-six male mice were divided into different groups. Ischemia was induced by ligation of the common carotid artery. After mice training (swimming exercise, 8 weeks) and consuming PFE and Lu, the mice's memory ability was evaluated in the shuttle box. Histological examination was performed by Nissel staining and immunohistochemistry. Results: Results showed that the ischemic mice exercised and treated with PFE and Lu had higher step-through latency (STL) compared with the nonexercised mice, and this was confirmed with time spent in the dark compartment (TDC). The number of dark cells in the ischemic group exercising and receiving PFE and Lu decreased compared to that of the other groups in the hippocampus. DCX protein expression was increased in nonexercised groups compared to that of the exercised groups and those treated with PFE and Lu, while NeuN decreased. Conclusions: Forced swimming exercise following ischemia, as well as consumption of PFE and Lu, has reduced cell death and increased neurogenesis in the hippocampus and thus may help improve memory in ischemia
Lived Experiences of COVID-19 Patients With Pulmonary Involvement: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology
No full textThe aim of this study was to explore the lived experience of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement. The hermeneutic phenomenology was chosen, as this approach can extract the participant experiences as COVID-19 patients. A total of 10 COVID-19 patients with the pulmonary disease were selected as participants after being discharged from the hospital by purposive sampling method until reaching saturation. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and by using Greatrex-White and van Manen's methods were analyzed. As a result of data analysis, five main themes were emerged: Symptoms of inducing fear, Annoying loneliness, death anxiety, Spirituality healing factor, and Valuable life again. Based on the results of the interviews, the participants' experiences showed that patients infected with COVID-19, after being discharged from the hospital, due to mental and physical problems experienced during hospitalization, need comprehensive attention and care to regain their health during convalescence
A model for Vision Zero implementation in Iran: a grounded theory study
No full textBACKGROUND: Road Traffic injuries (RTIs) are major global health issues, but they have been neglected. RTIs are multi-faceted in nature and, like many injuries, are costly but preventable. Iran has one of the highest rates of deaths due to traffic accidents among middle-income countries. Hence, there is a need for effective and preventive approaches in road safety management. One of the new approaches to road safety is the Vision Zero. The aim of this study was to design a Vision Zero implementation model in Iran. METHODS: This present study was conducted using the qualitative grounded theory approach. Purposive, snowball and maximum variety sampling were used to select participants. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. Grounded theory method was used to analyze the data using Corbin and Strauss method. RESULTS: In this study, 19 interviews were conducted with 17 participants. Based on data analysis, a total of 4 main categories and 13 subcategories were obtained. According to the participants, the lead agency was recognized as the core category. Other concepts were categorized as causal conditions, intervening conditions, contextual conditions, action/interaction strategies, and consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Establishing a lead agency with inter-organizational coordination through political support and legislation and changing the approach of road safety can be effective in implementing a Vision Zero. Also, improving the safety attitude of the stakeholders and changing their approach through training and advocacy from various organizations related to road safety is effective in creating a lead agency and implementing a vision zero. In addition, in order to implementation of the model, it is very important to pay attention to the economic, political and ethical underlying factors towards human beings
Evaluation of anorexia and analysis of related factors in patients with COVID-19
No full textObjective: COVID-19 may cause an anorexic situation. This in turn leads to underfeeding, puts the patient in an energy protein malnutrition state, develops the hyperinflammation, weakens the immunity, and makes COVID-19 conditions more dangerous. Meanwhile, the more severe inflammation conditions in the body, the more severe the anorexia, which in turn affect the disease severity. Studies evaluating appetite in COVID-19 patients are very rare; therefore, we evaluated anorexia and analyzed the related factors in patients with COVID-19. Material and methods: In this cross sectional study, adult patients’ ≥18 years old with the positive real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction for COVID-19 were included. The patients were classified as mild, moderate, and severe based on the WHO classification. We measured the appetite score, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), depression and anxiety score, at admission for every patient. Results: A total of 301 patients participated in the study. The prevalence of admission anorexia was 58, and this rate was significantly more in the severe group compared to the mild and moderate groups (P < 0.001). Comorbidities, depression and anxiety were independently correlated with anorexia risk (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.68–7.70, P = 0.001), (OR = 1.23, 95% CI 1.16–1.30, P < 0001), and (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.17–1.31, P < 0001), respectively. This correlation was adherence to a U-shape association for BMI, which means BMI < 18.5 (OR = 3.35, 95% CI 1.8–10.42, P < 0001) and BMI ≥30 (OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.02–6.53, P = 0.048) were related to higher risk of anorexia. Conclusion: We reported a high prevalence of anorexia (58%) in COVID-19 patients, which was positively correlated with disease severity. Furthermore, any factor worsening inflammatory state, including underweight, obesity, comorbidities, depression and anxiety can exacerbate anorexia in these patients. © 2021 Société francophone nutrition clinique et métabolisme (SFNCM
Does vitamin D supplementation for COVID-19 increase the chances of fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome?
No full textCOVID-19 has been associated with factors such as inflammation, obesity, low vitamin D levels, and hyperandrogenism. These factors are also directly related to Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We hypothesize that concurrent COVID-19 and high dose vitamin D supplement will decrease the inflammation, and can increase the chances of fertility in these women
The frequency, related cause of disease, and treatment of hepatitis B virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis in Iran
No full textBackground: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most dreadful viruses causing high mortality rates and serious damages to hepatocytes. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, related causes/risk factors, and treatments of HBV infection in Iran by systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: The data were obtained by a literature search in the PubMed, Scopus, SID, and Web of Sciences databases. Keywords included prevalence, risk factors, causes, treatment, and HBV. The Persian equivalents of these keywords were also searched. The time span included 2004 to2021. The Q and I2 statistics were used to check heterogeneity among studies. The data were analyzed using Stata (version 14). Results: The frequencies of HBV infection and its pharmaceutical therapy were P = 6 (95 confidence interval CI: 4-9, I2 = 95.2%, P < 0.001) and 19% (95% CI: 18%-30%, I2 = 98.9%, P < 0.001), respectively. The most common risk factors/causes of HBV were narcotic consumption, blood-related factors, and transmission from infected individuals with the respective frequencies of 27% (95% CI: 16%-38%, I2 = 88.7%, P < 0.001), 32% (95% CI: 11%-53%, I2 = 99.8%, P < 0.001), 25% (95% CI: 10%-41%, I2 = 99.3%, P < 0.001), and 15% (95% CI: 7%-22%, I2 = 98.4%, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The most important causes of HBV infection were transmission from infected people, narcotic consumption, and blood-related factors. The main therapeutic intervention for HBV was pharmaceutical therapy