Journal of Trends in Medical Sciences
Volume:2 Issue: 4, Autumn 2022

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is widely known as the essential receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of the globally known coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been the leading cause of virus-related mortality since early 2020. A wide range of human cells in different human organs express ACE2. The importance of ACE2 in the involvement of human organs during COVID-19 and its critical role in the process of target cell infection have rendered it an interesting therapeutic target. In this review, we briefly focus on ACE2 and its general roles in the human body and highlight the roles of ACE2 in the emergence of COVID19. Ultimately, we discuss the strategies for preventing virus entry using ACE2 blocking.

End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who undergo hemodialysis treatment suffer from immune system disorders. The immunodeficiency of these patients makes them prone to various infections.

To investigate the prevalence of naturally acquired immunity against Haemophilus influenzae type-B (Hib) and its association with the duration of dialysis treatment, gender, and age of patients in hemodialysis patients in Jahrom city, Iran.

This cross-sectional descriptive was conducted on ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment, referred to Jahrom Hemodialysis Center, June - August,2022. In order to determine the presence or absence of an immunity to Hib in the patients, the qualitative level of anti-Hib Polyribosyl-ribitol-phosphate (anti-Hib PRP) antibodies in the serum of the patients were determined using the ELISA test using a specialized commercial kit. SPSS-21 was used to analyze the data. The chi-square test, univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used for data analysis.

The prevalence of naturally acquired immunity to Hib in patients was 26.13% (10.22% short-term immunity, 15.91% longterm immunity). A significant relationship was found between the prevalence of long-term immunity to Hib in patients and the number of dialysis sessions three times and more per week (P < 0.001).

Considering that hemodialysis patients in Iran are not vaccinated against Hib, 26.13% prevalence of natural immunity against Hib indicates the same prevalence of Hib infection history in hemodialysis patients. A case-control study with a large sample size on hemodialysis patients is recommended to accurately determine the prevalence of Hib and to decide whether to implement a Hib vaccination program in these patients.

Ox-bile has been recommended as a natural remedy with several therapeutic potentials in traditional Persian medicine. It has had efficacy against inflammation and infection according to traditional medicine. Evidence revealed that bile disrupts bacterial cell membrane and degrades DNA structure, so it has anti-bacterial effects. However, there is no evidence of any approved medication composed of ox-bile in Iran.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anti-bacterial effects of ox-bile.

Ox-bile was obtained under aseptic conditions and sterilized with a 0.22 msyringe filter, then examined for their sterility status through culture on different media. Following incubation under aerobic cultures for 48 hours and the anaerobic cultures for one week. Two different kinds of antimicrobial susceptibility tests, including well-diffusion method and serial dilution test were employed to characterize the inhibitory effect of ox-bile extraction on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Propionibacterium acnes.

Based on our study, no anti-bacterial effect of ox-bile was observed against selected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

No in-vitro evidence of inhibitory effect was observed against studied gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Though further evaluation of the anti-bacterial effects of different preparations of ox-bile seems is still required.

Fatigue is the most common symptom described by patients undergoing hemodialysis. Foot reflexology and then aromatherapy, among the types of complementary medicine, are the most frequently used intervention to control fatigue in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

The purpose of the present study is to compare the effect of aromatherapy with geranium essential oil and foot reflexology on Fatigue and daily activities of patients undergoing hemodialysis referred to the Hemodialysis Centers of Dezful University of Medical Sciences in 2019.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 90 patients (30 patients in the geranium essential oil aromatherapy intervention group, 30 patients in the foot reflexology intervention group, and 30 patients in the control group). After the consent form was completed by the patient, Visual Analogue Fatigue Scale (VAFS), Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) and Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale were completed for patients before the intervention and then four weeks after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics (prevalence, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) post hoc test, t test) in SPSS version 16.

There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test PFS and NEADL scores in the foot reflexology group. After foot reflexology, the mean fatigue scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) and the mean activities of daily living (ADL) scores increased significantly (P < 0.001). There were no changes in fatigue and ADL scores in the geranium essential oil aromatherapy and the control groups after the intervention (P > 0.05).

Foot reflexology can be used as an effective nursing intervention to reduce fatigue and increase ADLs of patients with chronic kidney failure and undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

Areas with a higher prevalence of vitaminDdeficiency have reported a higher frequency of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections.

This study aimed to assess the possible association between vitamin D and COVID-19.

This study examined the vitamin D status, hepatic, serologic, and hematologic parameters of COVID-19 patients who tested positive upon admission to a major referral center in southwest Iran. A total of 50 cases and 50 controls were enrolled in the study after obtaining informed consent. The patients did not receive a vitamin D supplement during their hospitalization.

Patients with insufficiency and deficiency of vitamin D3 had a longer hospitalization time, a higher likelihood of ICU admission, and a greater risk of death compared to cases with sufficient levels of vitamin D.

The results of this study showed that vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased severity and mortality rates. Therefore, using a vitamin D supplement may help reduce the severity of COVID-19.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, affecting their mental and social health and quality of life.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy (ACT) on the severity of pain and quality of life in patients with breast cancer.

This research had a semi-experimental pre-test and post-test design with a control group, which, using the convenience sampling method, selected 30 patients with breast cancer and randomly assigned them to the experimental and control groups. During the two months, the experimental group underwent eight 90-minute sessions of ACT-based group therapy. The scores of Cleeland’s severity of pain and Arenson’s quality of life questionnaires before and after the intervention were collected from two experimental and control groups and analyzed using SPSS 20.

The findings showed that treatment based on ACT significantly reduced pain and increased quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group in the postoperative stage.

Considering the findings and observed efficacy, thismethodcan effectively reduce pain and improve the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, it is advisable to use this method along with medical therapies by establishing counseling centers in specialty hospitals and cancer clinics.

COVID-19 has been announced as an international public health emergency since February 2020 by the WHO.

The present study aimed to identify clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of COVID-19 patients and their relationship with severe outcomes.

This cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes was conducted on 470 patients suspected of having COVID-19 infection hospitalized at Ganjavian hospital, one of the Referral Hospitals for COVID-19 patients, in Dezful, Iran. Patients’ records were reviewed for demographics and clinical manifestations, and the results of laboratory tests and serious outcomes from April to June2020were reviewed. The admission criterionwasa definitive coronavirus infection diagnosis, andthe exclusion criteria were the medical records of patients who underwent three follow-up test appointments for any reason. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.

The mean age of patients was 56.05. The most prevalent symptoms among COVID-19 patients were dry cough, fever, and respiratory complications. The most significant laboratory findings were between the first and third test appointments in WBC, MCV,MCHC, HB, PLT, CRP, ESR, BUN, CR, LDH, and SGPT (P < 0.001). Age, fever, nausea, chills, underlying disease, and some laboratory factors with severe COVID-19 outcomes (ICU admission and death) had a significant relationship.

Considering the main clinical manifestation of COVID-19, such as dry cough, fever, and dyspnea (need for oxygen) also, results of laboratory tests such as Hb and RDW can have a key role in preventing of serious outcome and covid-19 moratality rate.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic proliferation of immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells that have multiple presentations due to the infiltration of plasma cells in the bonemarrowand other organs. Commonmanifestations include anemia, bone pain, fatigue, and hypercalcemia. MMpresented with rectorrhagia is very rare.

A74-year-oldwomanwith a history of rectorrhagia episodes from about nine months ago presented with severe anemia, weakness, and lethargy. The findings of endoscopy and colonoscopy did not justify the patient’s manifestation, and finally, due to thrombocytopenia and anemia, a bone marrow biopsy was performed, and multiple myeloma was diagnosed.

Although GI bleeding in Multiple myeloma is a very rare manifestation, this diagnosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained and refractory GI bleeding.