Editor’s Choice – Comparison Between Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients Admitted to a Referral Center Regarding Coronavirus-2019 Manifestations in the Northeast of Iran During Three Peaks of Pandemic

Author(s):Mohsen Aliakbarian, Rozita Khodashahi *, Mahin Ghorban Sabbagh, Hamid Reza Naderi , Mandana Khodashahi , Shahrzad Jahanian and Maliheh Dadgar Moghaddam

Volume 17, Issue 4, 2021

Published on: 09 December, 2021

Page: [232 – 241]

Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/1573398X17666211122160608

Abstract

Background: Transplant recipients are at high risk for severe Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Transplant recipients are immune-compromised individuals at high risk for severe infection. This study aimed to compare the presentations and outcomes of liver and kidney transplant recipients who were infected with COVID-19 in the Iranian population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Imam Reza and Montaserieh Hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, between 2020 and 2021. In general, 52 patients were selected and divided into two groups of the kidney (n=28) and liver (n=24) transplantation. Two groups were compared in terms of demographic characteristics and clinical findings.

Results: Of the 52 patients, severe COVID-19 infection was reported in 61% of the patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of symptoms, except for cough (χ²=8.09; P=0.004), clinical condition, and laboratory symptoms, except for creatinine (Z=14; P<0.005), alkaline phosphatase (Z=4.55; P=0.03), total bilirubin (Z=8.93; P=0.03), and partial thromboplastin time (Z=5.97; P=0.01). There was no relationship between the outcome and the use of immunosuppressive medications (P>0.05). All patients with kidney transplantation survived, while two cases in the liver transplantation group failed to survive (χ²=2.42; P=0.11).

Conclusion: The mortality rate was higher in the liver transplant recipients, compared to the patients who underwent kidney transplantation. Read now: https://bit.ly/3UQ8N8c

Most Cited Article – The Prognostic Effect of Clinical and Laboratory Findings on in-hospital Mortality in Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 Disease

Author(s):Ali Jangjou, Razieh Sadat Mousavi-Roknabadi*, Hossein Faramarzi, Alireza Neydani, Seyed Rouhollah Hosseini-Marvast and Mostafa Moqadas

Volume 18, Issue 2, 2022

Published on: 02 June, 2022

Page: [134 – 141]

Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1573398X18666220413113142

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is known as a global health issue, which can cause high morbidity and mortality in patients. It is necessary to identify biomarkers, clinical and laboratory findings and effects on patients’ mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic effect of clinical and laboratory findings on in-hospital mortality in patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study (February-August 2020) was conducted on adult patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in one of the main reference hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, southern Iran. Patients with uncompleted or missed medical files were excluded from the study. Clinical and laboratory findings were extracted from the patients’ medical files and then analyzed. The patients were categorized and later compared as survivor and nonsurvivors groups.

Results: 345 patients were enrolled and 205 (59.4%) were male. The mean±SD of age was 53.67±16.97 years, and 32 (9.3%) out of the total did not survive. Hypertension (28.4%) and diabetes (25.5%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. All clinical symptoms were similar in both groups, except fever, which was observed significantly more in nonsurvivors (P=0.027). The duration of hospitalization was 9.20±5.62 (range; 2-42) days, which was higher in nonsurvivors (P<0.001). The results of Multivariate Logistic Regression Model showed that CRP (OR=1.032, P=0.01) and INR (OR=48.88, P=0.049) were the predictor factors for in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Conclusion: The current study showed that in-hospital mortality was 9.3%. It was found that CRP and INR were the predictor factors for in-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19. Read now: https://bit.ly/3DIzVA5

Most Cited Article – COVID-19 in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review of Current Knowledge and Practice

Author(s):Esmaeil Mehraeen, Shahram Oliaei, SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi*, Amirali Karimi, Pegah Mirzapour, Amir Masoud Afsahi, Alireza Barzegary, Farzin Vahedi, Mahdi Soleymanzadeh, Farzane Behnezhad, Mohammad Javaherian, Ghazal Zargari, Seyed Peyman Mirghaderi, Tayebeh Noori and Jean-Marc Sabatier

Volume 22, Issue 5, 2022

Published on: 18 April, 2022

Article ID: e290921196908

Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/1871526521666210929121705

Abstract

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is the novel coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and could afflict individuals from all walks of life. Children are usually asymptomatic or represent non-specific mild to moderate symptoms; therefore, they often remain undiagnosed and could be potential reservoirs and silent carriers of the virus. Despite the global attention to COVID-19 and its importance in public health, some clinical and paraclinical aspects of this disease in children are still unclear. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of available literature to reflect on the current knowledge and practice of the disease among children.

Methods: This study was a systematic review of current evidence conducted in October 2020. We performed a systematic search using the keywords in online databases. The investigation adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to ensure the reliability and validity of extracted literature and results.

Results: We selected and reviewed 23 most related studies out of 1744 identified papers in an initial online search based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the present review; of whom 13 were original research studies, and 10 were letters to the editors, commentaries, viewpoints, consensus statements, and perspectives. Although due to the origin of the current pandemic, China was the country with the most publications (12 articles), data from several countries have been included in this review.

Conclusion: COVID-19 can also affect children and cause systemic disease with several internal organ involvements. However, the prevalence, severity, and diversity of the symptoms in children are less than in adults. Cough and fever appear to be some of the most common symptoms, followed by other symptoms such as gastrointestinal manifestations. Comorbidities increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children, and those without underlying conditions are very unlikely to suffer from severe disease. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression due to the isolated situation caused by pandemics are common findings in children of early ages and should be seriously considered in current practice. Read now: https://bit.ly/3ATBGZo

Social Support Crucial for Health in Old Age

‘Man is a social animal’ – this statement has become a cliché over time but still holds its significance. The reason is that it is as true in practice as it is in theory. We see in our surroundings that the people who have families around them who care for them are visibly more satisfied than the ones who are alone. Apart from family if they are getting support from their friends, neighbors and society, then they find it much easier to maintain their health and wellbeing.

This topic has gained much attention from the social scientists as well as medical and life scientists, as they are curious to find the social factors and their correlations that are vital for human ageing, morbidity and mortality. The findings have been clear that the people who were old and had little access to others and social support were found more susceptible to ailments and were leading rapidly towards death. Whereas those older ones who had people near them to talk to them, hear and address their problems, provide emotional as well as social support, were more satisfied and more capable of keeping healthy for long.

One of the important researches finding this correlation is published in the journal, Current Aging Science journal and can be read here:

Support and Social Contact as a Decisive Meta-Variable in Morbidity and Social Welfare of the Older Person

Dengue Patients Treated with Doxycycline Showed Lower Mortality Associated to a Reduction in IL-6 and TNF Levels

Author(s): Terry M. Fredeking, Jorge E. Zavala-Castro, Pedro Gonzalez-Martinez, William Moguel-Rodríguez, Ernesto C. Sanchez, Michael J. Foster and Fredi A. Diaz-Quijano

Abstract:

Objective: To determine the effect of doxycycline treatment on cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), and mortality in dengue patients at high risk of complication.

Methods: A group of dengue hemorrhagic fever patients (n=231) were randomized to receive either standard supportive care or supportive care in addition to oral doxycycline twice daily for 7 days. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by PCR using multiple primers. Serum samples were obtained at days 0, 3, 5 and 7 and tested for levels of TNF and IL-6.

Results: Doxycycline-treated group presented a 46% lower mortality than that observed in the untreated group (11.2% [13/116] vs 20.9% [24/115], respectively, p=0.05). Moreover, administration of doxycycline resulted in a significant (p<0.01) decrease in levels of TNF and IL-6 versus controls in the tests performed during follow-up (day 3, 5 and 7). Patients who died in both groups possessed significantly (p<0.01) higher levels of TNF and IL-6 compared to those who survived at all-time points.

Conclusion: The above findings suggest that doxycycline can provide a clinical benefit to dengue patients at high risk of complications. This effect could be mediated by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.

– See more at: http://eurekaselect.com/130242#sthash.Iera4U3T.dpuf

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This article is taken from the journal Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery