Journal of Inflammatory Diseases
Volume:26 Issue: 4, Winter 2023

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience chronic systemic inflammation. Although a relationship exists between inflammation and renal injury, the association between inflammatory markers and renal disease has not been well-studied. As inflammation may be a trigger or a result of chronic disease, the kidney needs to be investigated to determine whether it is a clearer target for the devastating effects of persistent inflammation. Here, we report the relation of C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume levels with renal functions in chronic kidney disease patients.

This study was an observational retrospective single-center study conducted on the record of CKD patients to detect the outcomes over a median follow-up time of three years. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, medication, and outcome data were obtained from the electronic data records of the hospital. We investigated the multivariable association of plasma levels of C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume with the progression of CKD in the study participants.

Elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein (r=0.13, P<0.001) and mean platelet volume (r=0.23, P<0.001) were associated with a greater loss of kidney function over time. The presence of diabetes mellitus was detected to be a risk factor for CKD progression (P=0.04). An inverse relationship was detected between sodium and creatinine (P<0.001). In addition, a weak association was detected between uric acid and creatinine (P<0.001). 

Elevated plasma levels of C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume were associated with a decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with CKD.

For severe cases of acute respiratory syndrome type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19), Remdesivir (RDV) is introduced as an anti-viral drug with side effects. Hepatotoxicity from prolonged exposure to RDV is associated with increased inflammatory factors. In this study, we evaluated the effect of RDV on the secretion of inflammatory markers by chicken liver cells.

In this in vitro study, 20 stage X embryonated chicken eggs were incubated for 10 days at 37.5°C and 60–65% humidity Hamburger–Hamilton stages (stage HH35). Liver cells were grown in a medium containing DMEM/F12+10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). After three days, the culture media was supplemented with four doses of RDV (1.00, 2.00, 3.00, and 4.00 μM). After 24 and 48hs, the viability of the hepatocytes, gene expression of Sox17, CXC motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), Interleukin-1 (IL-1), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and TNF-α, and hepatocellular functions (albumin and urea secretion) were assessed. 

Each hepatocyte had a prominent nucleus and a nucleolus with a hexagonal shape. The pink tint of the periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive cells in the PAS staining verified the hepatocytes’ glycogen content. Up to 50% of the cells lose viability after 48 hours in the presence of 3 and 4 μM RDV (P<0.001). In the presence of 3 μM RDV, the production and secretion of both albumin (P<0.001) and urea (P<0.05) decreased. Besides, the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α significantly increased after treatment with 3 μM RDV (P<0.001).

We concluded that RDV therapy altered the expression and function of hepatocyte inflammatory factors.

The tyrosinase enzyme catalysis monophenols to melanin pigments through the melanogenesis process. For this reason, various inhibitors have been studied for enzyme regulations in melanogenesis abnormalities in both the food and cosmetics industries. In this study, the effect of humic acid (Hu) and fulvic acid (Fu) on the structure, activity, and stability of mushroom tyrosinase (MT) was investigated.

These two organic acids are the main components of soil humus. Assessment of the thermodynamic and structural stability of enzymes was obtained through thechemical and thermal denaturations and (8-anilino-naphthalene sulfonic acid) ANS fluorescence analysis. The Hu and Fu impact on A375 melanoma cancer cell viability was achieved by MTT assay.  

The results of enzyme half denaturation concentration (Cm), melting points (Tm), ΔG0 values and external fluorescence emissions in the presence of Hu and FA proved the reduction of the thermodynamic and structural stability of MT by these compounds. The anti-proliferation effects of the compounds were confirmed by the inhibitory concentrations of 50% (IC50) of 31.5 and 42.7 µM and 12.5 and µM at time points of 24 and 48 hours treatments of the A375 melanoma cell line by Hu and Fu, respectively.

Humic and fulvic acids can be expected to contribute to advancing skin disorder science play a crucial role in tyrosinase related disorders and anti-cancer effects, and good candidates for medical applications.

One of the best tests for the assessment of a fetus is the biophysical profile test which has a significant effect on the fetus’s health and the outcome of pregnancy. The present study was designed to determine the relationship between the full biophysical profile (FBP) and the rapid biophysical profile (RBP) tests in antepartum fetal surveillance.

In this prospective study, Singleton pregnancies (n=209) with more than 34 weeks of gestational age were chosen. Both FBP and RBP tests were performed for all the patients. The main outcome is the Apgar score and neonatal intensive care unit admission analyzed by SPSS software, version 24. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of RBP were calculated. 

Out of 209 people who entered the study, 48 women (23.0%) had gestational diabetes, 84 women (40.2%) had hypertension pregnancy (preeclampsia), 45 people (21.5%) had intrauterine growth restriction, and 45 women (21.5%) had post-date pregnancy. For predicting adverse fetal outcomes of pregnancy, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of RBP were 95%, 73%, 52%, and 98%, respectively.

According to the statistically significant positive correlation between RBP and FBP and its simple and rapid application, RBP might be an acceptable alternative method for primary antepartum fetal screening tests in overcrowded obstetrics centers.

Dyschloremia is one of the most prevalent abnormalities that is highly associated with a high level of mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The current study evaluated serum chloride levels in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 245 patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Electrolytes, albumin, liver function test, complete blood count, serum chloride, and VBG were among the laboratory markers compared. The Chi-square, t-test, and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between these markers and the key outcomes, which included severity, mortality, intubation, and hospitalization.

The Mean±SD age of patients was 58.16±17 years. The mean serum chloride level in the studied patients was 109.6±5.1 with a range of 100-134. According to the regression logistic model, variables like age, intubation status, pH, and chlorine levels significantly affected the outcome of COVID-19 disease. Patients with acidosis were 4.7 times more likely to die than those with alkalosis (P<0.001). The chance of dying in hyperchloremia is 2.38 times more compared to the normochloremia group (P<0.009).

Patients with severe COVID-19 may present with chlorine abnormalities, including hyperchloremia. Hyperchloremia is also associated with poor clinical outcomes and a higher mortality risk. This relationship was independent of acid-base disorder.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent childhood cancer. ALL is a heterogeneous type of malignancy and treatment protocols vary based on the immunological classification of ALL. The critical step for treating ALL is to identify immunological subgroups by flow cytometry findings. 

In this study, immunophenotypic information was evaluated for the first time in children with ALL in Qazvin City, Iran.

This cross-sectional study reviewed the clinical and laboratory data of children with ALL during 2019-2020. Next, children with ALL were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry applying a panel of the specific monoclonal antibodies for some clusters of differentiation (CD) molecules, including CD20, CD21, CD10, CD34, CD38, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). The data were separately analyzed using SPSS software, version 24.

Of 52 children with ALL in the age range of 6 months to 15 years, 23 children (44.23%) had B-ALL-ProB (pro-B) cell immunotyping features, 26 (50%) had B-ALL-PreB (pre-B) cell immunotyping features, and 3 (5.7%) had T-cell immunotyping features. The ages of T-cell group children were higher than those of B-cell group children. The most common clinical and laboratory findings were fever (26 cases, 55.31%). In 55% of children, periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining was positive. The presence of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) enzyme was higher in B-cell patients than in T-cell cases. Children with CD34+ were higher in the pro-B group than in the pre-B group. 

our study shows that the immunophenotypic characteristics of children with ALL are more similar to previous reports and can be used for monitoring and prognosis of children with ALL in Qazvin City.

A major cause of male infertility, which includes 50 causes of infertility, is oxidative stress. Aerobic respiration in the sperm cell is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Some reactions, such as sperm capacitation and acrosome reactions require moderate levels of ROS. However, when the amount of ROS production surpasses the natural antioxidant defense of the cell, it causes a harmful effect called oxidative stress. This results in the oxidation of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleotides. The production of ROS is increased by various factors, including the presence of leukocytes, sperms with abnormal and immature morphology, centrifugation of samples, and changes in oxygen concentration, pH, and temperature. Sperm freezing is a method widely used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) as well as infertility treatment. The process of freezing also contributes to increased oxidative stress because it alters the fluidity of the mitochondrial membrane, leading to increased production and release of ROS. Sperm have defense mechanisms against oxidative stress caused by increased ROS production, which includes the presence of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in semen. The utilization of supplementary antioxidants in the freezing environment is a strategy to combat oxidative stress. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the effect of antioxidants on sperm freezing.