The Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with COVID- 19 Severity and Mortality

Background & Aims: There are few studies showing the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. This study designed to investigate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Materials & Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 48 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR test results. Patients were divided into three groups according to their serum 25-OH vitamin D3 levels: group 1 <20 ng/mL, group 2. 20-50 ng/mL, and group 3, ≥50 ng/ml. The relationship of the levels of vitamin D3, as well as the history of diabetes, hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) ≤60 mL/min, LDH ≥500 U/L, and Lymphocyte count ≤1500 with the severity of the disease and its mortality were investigated. Results: A significant relationship was observed between vitamin D ≤20 ng/mL and the severity (P<0.001) and mortality (P=0.001, adjusted OR=2.4) of the disease in COVID-19 patients. It was also shown that GFR ≤60 mL/min (P=0.02, adjusted OR=3.6), IHD (P=0.04, adjusted OR=2.8), LDH ≥500 U/L (P=0.027, adjusted OR=1.8), and lymphocyte count ≤1500 (P=0.002, adjusted OR=2.2) significantly affected the mortality. Conclusion: The present study showed a significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of the disease and mortality in COVID-19 patients. These results suggest the need for appropriate health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic

In vitro bactericidal, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, anticoagulant, and hemolytic effect of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using Allium sativum clove extract incubated at various temperatures

The current research aimed to evaluate in vitro biological activities of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles using the Allium sativum clove extract. The stability of green-synthesized silver nanoparticles was evaluated via storage at 4°C, room temperature (37°C), and calcined at 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C. The antibacterial effect was evaluated using agar well, spread plate, biofilm reduction, and cell proliferation inhibition assays. The cytotoxic and antidiabetic effects were determined via brine shrimp lethality, protein kinase inhibition, and α-amylase inhibition assays. DPPH scavenging, iron-chelating, anticoagulant, and hemolytic effects were evaluated. The highest inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae was observed when freshly prepared, calcined (300°C), and stored nanoparticles (4°C and 37°C) were applied (9.66, 9.55, 7.33, and 6.65 mm) against freshly prepared and calcined at 700°C which showed the highest inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.55 and 7.66 mm). Cell viability assay, biofilm reduction assay, and spread plate method showed a significant antibacterial effect of freshly prepared silver nanoparticles. Freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles at 300°C and 500°C possessed strong antioxidant and iron-chelating activity. Among all the synthesized silver nanoparticles, freshly prepared and calcined nanoparticles (300°C and 500°C) increases the prothrombin time. Silver nanoparticles possessed significant anticoagulant properties and less toxic at least concentration toward human RBCs. In brine shrimp lethality assay, freshly prepared nanoparticles showed a stronger toxic effect and caused high mortality of larvae. Protein kinase inhibition assay revealed that freshly prepared nanoparticles had the highest zone of inhibition (18.0 mm) at 50 µg/disc. Green-synthesized nanoparticles would be used as potential therapeutic agents to overcome both infectious and noninfectious diseases