Biochemistry
Ahmad Raesi; Ebrahim Saedi Dezaki; Hamideh Moosapour; Farzaneh Saeidifard; Zahra Habibi; Fereidoun Rahmani; Soleiman Kheiri; Elham Taheri
Abstract
Background & Objective: Previous studies have addressed the electrolyte abnormalitiessuch as hypocalcemiain COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the laboratory findings especially the electrolyte levels amongCOVID-19 patients and healthy controls and evaluate their prognostic values. Materials ...
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Background & Objective: Previous studies have addressed the electrolyte abnormalitiessuch as hypocalcemiain COVID-19 patients. We aimed to compare the laboratory findings especially the electrolyte levels amongCOVID-19 patients and healthy controls and evaluate their prognostic values. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 91 COVID-19 patients and 169 healthy individuals. Their laboratory parameters including electrolytes, albumin, liver enzymes, complete blood count, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were compared. We also analyzed the association between these markers and the major outcomes including severity, mortality and hospitalization. Results: Among patients with COVID-19, 59.3% of the patients had hypocalcemia on admission while in control group only 32.5% had low calcium level (OR=3.02, 95% CI: 1.79-5.13, p <0.001). The rates of death and ICU admission were significantly higher among the patients in hypocalcemic group than those of eucalcemic group (85.7% vs 14.3% and 33.3% Vs 9.1%, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the mean PTH and vitamin D levels between the two groups. In terms of the severity of the infection, 74.1% of patients in hypocalcemic group had a severe infection while 24.3% of the patients in eucalcemic group were diagnosed with severe infection (OR=8.89, 95% CI: 3.38-23.37, p <0.001). Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 had considerable laboratory abnormalities including hypocalcemia. The hypocalcemia was also associated with worse major clinical outcomes and higher mortality risk.
Elham Taheri; Shahriar dabiri; Manzoomeh Shamsi Meymandi; Ebrahim Saedi
Abstract
Background & Objective: There is a complicated interaction between leishmaniasis and the host immune cells, and also between the host immune cells. These interactions have fundamental effects on the outcome of the disease. The current study aimed at characterizing the number, distribution, co-localization, ...
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Background & Objective: There is a complicated interaction between leishmaniasis and the host immune cells, and also between the host immune cells. These interactions have fundamental effects on the outcome of the disease. The current study aimed at characterizing the number, distribution, co-localization, and interrelation of 4 types of inflammatory cells in different clinical forms of dry-type cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Methods: Thirty-nine cases of CL were studied. The cases were classified clinically as 14 cases of acute leishmaniasis with indurated papules, nodules, and plaques with central crust formation < 2 years, 7 cases of chronic type with non-healing lesions > 2 years, and 12 cases of lupoid leishmaniasis with characteristic papules around previous scars of CL > 2 years. Paraffin-embedded blocks were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and also stained immunohistochemically for CD4, CD8, CD68, and CD1a. Results: In acute CL, there was a significant correlation between CD68+ macrophages and CD1a+ epidermal dendritic cells (DCs); the population of CD68+ macrophages and CD1a+ epidermal DCs increased in parallel. In lupoid CL, there was a significant correlation between CD1a+ epidermal DCs, and CD1a+ dermal DCs and population of CD1a+ epidermal DCs; the number of CD1a+ dermal DCs increased in parallel. Conclusions: The result of the current study could be used as a baseline to design and study the new targeted therapy of synergistic effects of macrophages and DCs to phagocytizing leishmania bodies; and/or suggestion planning of individualizing setup of vaccine by autologous interaction of macrophages and DC in CL.