WBC Count and WBC to Hb Ratio Could Predict Short-Term Recurrence Rate in Multiple Myeloma Patients Underwent Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy with a variable clinical course. We investigated the prognostic role of routine laboratory factors including CBC indices and serum vitamin D levels to predict MM recurrence after receiving an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). 29 patients were enrolled. Before ASCT, demographic data and CBC, serum Cr, and Vit D levels were obtained. Patients underwent bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and biopsy (BMB) before ASCT and pretransplant plasma cell counts were also evaluated. Patients were followed for 6 months and BMA and biopsy were done in the 3rd and 6th month of the follow-up to detect recurrence. Overall, 9 patients were reported to have recurrence. The patient's WBC count mean was 13.3±11.6. WBC count was lower in patients with overall recurrence (P=0.005). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to WBC count (<5.5 109/L and ≥5.5 109/L) and we found that WBC count <5.5 109/L was associated with increased risk of recurrence by 15.2 times (Odds ratio: 15.2, 95%CI: 1.4-168, P=0.005). We also evaluated Wbc to Hb ratio (Wbc/Hb) and found that Wbc/Hb <1 had a significant statistical relationship with overall recurrence (P=0.026) as patients with WBC/Hb <1 were in 9.8 times increased risk of recurrence (Odds ratio:9.8, 95% CI: 2-93.5, P=0.026). pretransplant WBC <5.5 109/L and WBC/Hb <1 were associated with 9.8 and 15.2 times increased risk of myeloma recurrence and could be useful predictive factors for a patient's short-term recurrence

Concurrent Gastric and Colon Adenocarcinoma, a Rare Clinical Presentation

Synchronous (simultaneous) malignant lesions in different organs of a patient are very rare finding. Gastric and colon adenocarcinomas are the most common cancers worldwide but their synchronous occurrence is rare and only four percent of gastric cancer patients have simultaneous colon adenocarcinoma. Here, we report a 64-year-old woman with simultaneous gastric and colon adenocarcinoma presented by abdominal pain and hematemesis

Gut microbiota and COVID‐19: A systematic review

Abstract Background and Aims Alteration in humans' gut microbiota was reported in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). The gut and upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiota harbor a dynamic and complex population of microorganisms and have strong interaction with host immune system homeostasis. However, our knowledge about microbiota and its association with SARS‐CoV‐2 is still limited. We aimed to systematically review the effects of gut microbiota on the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and its severity and the impact that SARS‐CoV‐2 could have on the gut microbiota. Methods We searched the keywords in the online databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane on December 31, 2021. After duplicate removal, we performed the screening process in two stages; title/abstract and then full‐text screening. The data of the eligible studies were extracted into a pre‐designed word table. This study adhered to the PRISMA checklist and Newcastle−Ottawa Scale Bias Assessment tool. Results Sixty‐three publications were included in this review. Our study shows that among COVID‐19 patients, particularly moderate to severe cases, the gut and lung microbiota was different compared to healthy individuals. In addition, the severity, and viral load of COVID‐19 disease would probably also be influenced by the gut, and lung microbiota's composition. Conclusion Our study concludes that there was a significant difference in the composition of the URT, and gut microbiota in COVID‐19 patients compared to the general healthy individuals, with an increase in opportunistic pathogens. Further, research is needed to investigate the probable bidirectional association of COVID‐19 and human microbiome

The effect of macronutrient and micronutrient supplements on COVID-19: an umbrella review

Abstract Background and aims A healthy diet play an important role in the prevention and even treatment of various diseases. Proper nutrition plays an important role in boosting of immune system. These include the consumption of macronutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and also micronutrients including vitamins. Here, we aimed to systematically review the effects of macronutrients and micronutrients on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science on December 23, 2023. The records were downloaded into an EndNote file, the duplicates were removed, and the studies underwent a two-phase screening process based on their title/abstracts and full texts. The included articles were screened and underwent inclusion and exclusion criteria. We included the English systematic reviews and meta-analyses that concurred with the aim of our study. The selected articles were assessed by Cochrane's Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews for the quality check. The data of the eligible studies were extracted in a pre-designed word table and were used for the qualitative synthesis. Results A total of 28 reviews were included in this study. Most studies have shown that micronutrients are effective in morbidity and mortality controlling in viral respiratory infections such as COVID-19 but some studies have shown that micronutrients are sometimes not effective in controlling severity. On the other hand, calcifediol was by far the most successful agent in reducing intensive care needs and mortality between studies. Conclusion Individuals without malnutrition had a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease. The administration of Vitamin D is effective in reducing the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 patients. Patients with vitamin D deficiency were more prone to experience severe infection, and they were at higher risk of morbidities and mortality. Other micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Zinc also showed some benefits in patients with COVID-19. Vitamin C showed no efficacy in COVID-19 management even in intravenous form or in high doses

Evaluating the effects of air disinfectants in decontamination of COVID‐19 aerosols

Abstract Introduction Airborne transmission is the most  crucial mode of COVID‐19 transmission. Therefore, disinfecting the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) aerosols float can have important implications in limiting COVID‐19 transmission. Herein, we aimed to review the studies that utilized various disinfectants to decontaminate and inactivate the SARS‐CoV‐2 aerosols. Methods This study was a review that studied related articles published between December 1, 2019 and August 23, 2022. We searched the online databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, on August 23, 2021. The studies were downloaded into the EndNote software, duplicates were removed, and then the studies were screened based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The screening process involved two steps; first, the studies were screened based on their title and abstract and then their full texts. The included studies were used for the qualitative analysis. Results From 664 retrieved records, only 31 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final qualitative analysis. Various materials like Ozone, H2O2, alcohol, and TiO2 and methods like heating and using Ultraviolet were described in these studies to disinfect places contaminated by COVID‐19. It appeared that the efficacy of these disinfectants varies considerably depending on the situation, time, and ultimately their mode of application. Conclusion Following reliable protocols in combination with the proper selection of disinfectant agents for each purpose would serve to achieve desired elimination of the SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission

COVID-19 mortality in patients with immunodeficiency and its predictors: a systematic review

Introduction Patients with immunodeficiency are usually more prone to worse outcomes of infectious diseases. However, there are some disagreements in the context of COVID-19, for example, in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Herein, we aimed to systematically review the risk and predictors of COVID-19 mortality in people with primary or secondary immunodeficiency. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct were searched. We followed a two-step screening process to identify eligible results. We first reviewed the title and abstract of the records and the unqualified studies were removed. Then, their full texts were evaluated based on their coherence with the purpose and inclusion/exclusion criteria, and those eligible for qualitative synthesis were included. Results Twenty-two articles were included, which investigated a total of 109,326 with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies. Three studies investigated the pediatric and infant population, while other studies were conducted on the adult population. Overall, studies on both primary and secondary immunodeficiency conflicted as some reported higher and some mentioned lower mortality rates in patients with immunodeficiency. Conclusions Overall, there were two points of view in both types of immunodeficiencies. The first is the classical viewpoint that all immunodeficient patients are at a higher risk of infection leading to a higher mortality rate. The second types of studies found that immunodeficiency might play a less important or even an inverse role in mortality rates by lowering the severity of the inflammatory response. However, it is important to take note to comorbidities, such as DM, HTN, CAD, ESRD, history of lower respiratory infection, etc., and demographic factors, such as obesity and age > 70 years, as they appear to influence the mortality rate, especially in patients with secondary immunodeficiency.publishedVersio

Design, development, and evaluation of a registry system for hyperbaric oxygen therapy: A methodological study

Abstract Background and Aims Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), utilizes 100% oxygen at pressures greater than sea‐level atmospheric pressure, for the treatment of conditions in which the tissues starve for oxygen. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has granted HBOT approval for the treatment of various conditions. On the other hand, applying informatics registry systems can improve care delivery, ameliorate outcomes, and reduce the costs and medical errors for the patients receiving HBOT treatment. Therefore, we aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a registry system for patients undergoing HBOT. Methods In the first phase, the conceptual and logical models were designed after conducting symposiums with experts and having other experts review the models. In the second phase, the system was developed on the web using ASP.NET  and C# programming languages frameworks. The last phase involved Nielsen's heuristic evaluation method for the system's usability. Five experts evaluated the system, including three health information management specialists and two medical informatics specialists. Results The hyperbaric patient information registry system (HPIRS) interacts with three types of users—a specialist physician, a nurse, and a system administrator. A scenario for each predefined activity was designed, and all the information was stored in the SQL servers. The five experts independently found 152 issues, of which 84 were duplicates. The 68 distinct issues of the system were then resolved. Conclusions The design and development of such registry systems can make data available and stored carefully to improve clinical care and medical research and decrease costs and errors. These registries can provide the healthcare systems with E‐health applications, improved data management, more secure data transfer, and support for statistical reporting. The implemented heuristic evaluation method can also provide a low‐cost and readily available system to fix the issues of the designed systems

Impact of COVID ‐19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage of children and adolescents: A systematic review

International audienceScientists and healthcare workers have expressed their concerns on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vaccination coverage in children and adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the studies addressing this issue worldwide

The relationship between COVID‐19 viral load and disease severity: A systematic review

International audiencePatients with COVID-19 may present different viral loads levels. However, the relationship between viral load and disease severity in COVID-19 is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the association between SARS-CoV-2 viral load and COVID-19 severity