Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:25 Issue: 2, Jun 2021

 The novel coronavirus is responsible for a widespread pandemic, causing multiple clinical manifestations. Peripheral blood films have shown changes in white blood cell (WBC) morphology and counts, as well as platelet abnormalities. Atypical and reactive lymphocytes may also be observed in the blood film, which suggests mild leukoerythroblastosis.

 The present study aimed to evaluate the hematological and morphological changes in the peripheral blood smear of patients with COVID-19.

 This study was conducted on 175 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 infection. Blood samples were collected from the patients and examined for the estimation of blood parameters, differential cell count, and presence of atypical lymphocytes.

 The mean age of the patients was 53.73 years, and males constituted 52.6% of the patients. The majority had normal hemoglobin levels. WBC count was normal in 60.6% of the patients, while 74.3% had normal platelet count, and thrombocytopenia was detected in 23.4%. In addition, differential WBC count indicated that 56.6% of the patients had normal neutrophils, while lymphopenia was detected in 28 and 77.7% had a low eosinophil count. The peripheral blood smears showed atypical lymphocytes with deeply basophilic cytoplasm in 21.14% of the patients.

 Blood film examination may show multiple abnormal findings in patients with COVID-19 infection. Neutrophilia and lymphopenia with the presence of atypical lymphocytes are frequently observed as well. Low eosinophil count is also highly common. Although platelets showed changes, they were normal or reduced in most cases.

 Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are prevalent diseases and a major cause of referral to primary healthcare centers. The present study aimed to identify the bacterial etiology of LRTIs to determine the trend changes within the past three decades and help ascertain the new scenarios of empirical LRTI therapy in Turkey.

Data Sources:

 This systematic review was conducted by searching various electronic databases based on specified criteria. In total, 2,670 articles were identified, which had been published during 1990 - 2020 and could be potentially used, and 46 scientific studies that met the eligibility criteria were selected for the review.

 The most frequently isolated bacteria in the reviewed studies were Acinetobacter spp. (31.68%), P. aeruginosa (16.59%), H. influenzae (14.30%), and S. pneumoniae (13.80%). Data analysis also indicated that the most frequent reports of LRTI agents were in Aegean region in Turkey during 2014-2020.

 This systematic review reflected the changes in LRTI agents over the past three decades in Turkey. Knowledge of the frequency of LRTI bacterial agents specific to each country could help healthcare professionals in reporting laboratory results and prescribing/selecting the most effective antibiotics for the treatment of the disease.

Context: 

Recently, the incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) have increased drastically in different regions of the world, including Asia. The present study aimed to systematically review the recent MS epidemiology in Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.

 A systematic literature search was performed in Medline and Embase databases to retrieve the available studies regarding MS epidemiology in Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.

 Most of the studies were performed in hospital settings. The female-to-male ratio in the sample populations varied from 1.5:1 in Turkey to 5:1 in Malaysia. The total mean age at the onset of MS varied from the minimum of 28 years in Hong Kong to the maximum of 36 years in the United Arab Emirates. Among 16 pertinent studies in this regard, seven addressed the incidence rate of MS, and 13 addressed the prevalence of the disease. The highest prevalence rate was reported to be respectively 124.2 and 148.06 in Australia and Iran versus 2.73 in Malaysia (06 per 100,000 population), while a higher incidence rate was estimated at 6.88 and 6.7 per 100,000 population in Kuwait and Australia, respectively compared to the lower incidence rate per 100,000 population in China (0.2 in females, 0.12 in males).

 According to the results, the prevalence of MS has increased in Asia, while the prevalence of MS in this continent is lower compared to the rates reported in Australia, Europe, and North America.

 Tamoxifen (TAM) is an effective agent for the treatment of breast cancer and has antifungal activity against various fungi. However, the antifungal effects of TAM in-vivo and in patients under treatment remain unclear.

 The present study aimed to investigate the antifungal effects of TAM on yeast oral flora in-vitro and in breast cancer patients.

 In this case-control study, the antifungal effects of TAM were assessed on 50 breast cancer patients receiving TAM treatment, 50 breast cancer patients without TAM treatment, and 50 healthy controls. The disc-diffusion method was used to determine the antifungal effects of TAM on six clinical yeast isolates in-vitro.

 The number and species count of the yeasts were extremely low in the patients undergoing TAM treatment compared to the other subjects. On the other hand, the absence of the isolates was more evident in the patients receiving TAM treatment (96%). Candida albicans was frequently isolated from all the subjects. In the in-vitro tests, all the yeasts were susceptible to the two concentrations of TAM (5 and 10 µg/mL) at varying degrees. In addition, C. intermedia was the most susceptible yeast species to TAM with a low minimal inhibitory concentration (3.8 µg/mL).

 According to the results, TAM exerted significant antifungal effects on the yeasts of the oral cavity in the breast cancer patients, showing superior inhibitory effects compared to clotrimazole. Therefore, TAM is recommended as a promising antifungal, while further investigation is required regarding its safety.

 The recognition of the influential factors in the reduction of quality of life and health status in women is essential to their empowerment.

 The present study aimed to investigate the correlations between body mass index (BMI), quality of life, the severity of menopausal symptoms in women during menopause.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted on 136 women transiting to menopause, who referred to the main health centers in Javanrood city, Iran. The subjects were selected via random sampling. MEN-QOL was used to measure the specific quality of life of the women, and the severity of menopausal symptoms was determined using the MRS questionnaire.

 BMI could significantly predict the severity of menopausal symptoms, dimensions of quality of life (vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms), and total score of quality of life during the transition to menopause (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the severity of menopausal symptoms and BMI during menopause (P = 0.002).

 According to the results, BMI could predict the quality of life and severity of menopausal symptoms in women during menopause.

 Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes tissue destruction due to the imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system. Melatonin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulatory properties and is considered to be a biomarker and diagnostic/therapeutic agent in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

 The present study aimed to evaluate the salivary melatonin level and its changes following non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with periodontitis.

 In total, 90 salivary samples were collected from 60 patients, including 30 from patients with moderate chronic periodontitis (before periodontal treatment), and 30 from the same patients one month after the non-surgical periodontal therapy, and 30 from periodontally healthy subjects (control). Salivary melatonin levels were measured using the competitive immunoassay of the human melatonin ELISA kit.

 The highest melatonin concentration was observed in the control group (79.55 ± 59.22; P < 0.05), while the lowest concentration was observed in the pre-treatment group (P < 0.05). In addition, salivary melatonin concentration in the post-treatment group (56.58 ± 46.48) was significantly higher compared to the pre-treatment group (17.25 ± 5.79; P < 0.05).

 According to the results, salivary melatonin levels improved after non-surgical periodontal therapy, which suggests the involvement of melatonin in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. However, the exact role of melatonin requires further investigation.