COVID-19 and hematology findings based on the current evidences: A puzzle with many missing pieces

In December 2019, a new type of coronavirus was detected for the first time in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. According to the reported data, the emerging coronavirus has spread worldwide, infecting more than fifty-seven million individuals, leading to more than one million deaths. The current study aimed to review and discuss the hematological findings of COVID-19. Laboratory changes and hematologic abnormalities have been reported repeatedly in COVID-19 patients. WBC count and peripheral blood lymphocytes are normal or slightly reduced while these indicators may change with the progression of the disease. In addition, several studies demonstrated that decreased hemoglobin levels in COVID-19 patients were associated with the severity of the disease. Moreover, thrombocytopenia, which is reported in 5%-40% of patients, is known to be associated with poor prognosis of the disease. COVID-19 can present with various hematologic manifestations. In this regard, accurate evaluation of laboratory indicators at the beginning and during COVID-19 can help physicians to adjust appropriate treatment and provide special and prompt care for those in need.     

Serum IgG and IgM levels in new and regular long-term plasmapheresis donors.

This Australian study monitored the effects of monthly plasmapheresis on donor serum IgG and IgM levels in 127 new and 124 established plasma donors who donated 1014 units over a five-month period. Of the 251 donors, 3% had reduced total serum protein (TSP) levels, 7% had low IgG levels and 12% had low IgM levels prior to donation on at least one occasion over the study period. Statistical analysis showed that the TSP, IgG and IgM levels of new donors who had donated plasma on less than 10 occasions were no more likely to fall below normal than those of old donors. However, new and old donors whose IgG or IgM levels fell below normal at any time during the study had significantly lower levels of the relevant parameter on entry to the study. Followed longitudinally, IgG and IgM levels in old and new donors tended to fall, although levels fluctuated throughout the study. Statistical analysis failed to show any correlation between TSP levels and IgG or IgM levels. These parameters did not correlate significantly with the number of previous plasmaphereses, donor weight, volume collected or history of infection. This study highlighted the need for regular, specific quantitation of IgG and IgM levels as well as TSP in regular plasmapheresis donors. The frequency of testing is yet to be determined, in view of the high materials and labour costs of such a programme.     

Comparative study of the prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes among Arab female students of both London and Cairo universities

Two matched samples of Arab female undergraduate students attending London and Cairo Universities were recruited to determine the relative prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes and the effect of exposure to Western culture upon this prevalence. A positive response was reported on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) in 22% of the students in the London group and 12% in the Cairo group, indicating that abnormal attitudes occur in this non-Western population. Six cases among the London sample fulfilled diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa, but no cases of either anorexia or bulimia were identified in the Cairo sample.     

Effect of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor ZD2138 on allergen-induced early and late asthmatic responses.

BACKGROUND--Leukotrienes are lipid mediators generated from arachidonic acid by the 5-lipoxygenase pathway which may play an important part in the pathophysiology of asthma. Previous studies have demonstrated attenuation of the allergen-induced early and late asthmatic responses by leukotriene receptor antagonists. The effect of the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor ZD2138, a non-redox lipoxygenase inhibitor which inhibits leukotriene synthesis for 24 hours after single doses of 350 mg, on allergen-induced early and late asthmatic responses has been assessed. METHODS--Eight asthmatic subjects with baseline FEV1 > 70% were studied. On screening, all subjects developed an allergen-induced biphasic asthmatic response to grass pollen, cat dander, or house dust mite. ZD2138 (350 mg) or placebo was given on two occasions separated by two weeks in a randomised double blind fashion. Allergen inhalation challenge was performed four hours after dosing and FEV1 was measured for eight hours. The inhibitory activity of ZD2138 on the 5-lipoxygenase pathway was assessed by measurements of calcium ionophore-stimulated generation of LTB4 in whole blood ex vivo and by analysis of urinary LTE4 levels before administration of drug or placebo and at regular intervals after oral drug dosing and allergen challenge. RESULTS--ZD2138 produced no significant bronchodilatation or attenuation of the early or late asthmatic response, although there was 82% inhibition of whole blood generation of LTB4 in response to calcium ionophore stimulation and 52% reduction in urinary excretion of LTE4. CONCLUSIONS--In asthmatic subjects the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor ZD2138 did not protect against allergen-induced asthmatic responses, despite substantial inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase.     

Fusidic acid in infections of the external eye

Summary A newly developed 1% eye preparation of the potent antistaphylococcal antibiotic fusidic acid, showed an excellent clinical effect in 206 Egyptian children with external eye infections. The 248 patients included in the study were randomized, in the ratio 5:1, to either fusidic acid or chloramphenicol 0.5% eye drops. Both preparations were given four to six times daily for one week. Bacterial conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 56% of the children. Offending eye pathogens were mainlyStaphylococcus aureus (60%),Haemophilus aegyptius (10%),Streptococcus pneumoniae (13%) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae (6%). The overall clinical success rate in children with bacterial conjunctivitis was 85% with fusidic acid, compared to 48% with chloramphenicol (p < 0.001). The better effect of fusidic acid could be ascribed to a lower frequency ofin vitro resistance (16%) in comparison to chloramphenicol (55%). Both drugs were apparently well tolerated and no side-effects were observed.

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Fusidinsäure zur Behandlung von externen Augeninfektionen

Zusammenfassung Eine neuentwickelte 1%ige ophthalmologische Präparation des gegen Staphylokokken hochwirksamen Antibiotikums Fusidinsäure erwies sich bei 206 ägyptischen Kindern mit externen Augeninfektionen als hervorragend klinisch wirksam. Die im Rahmen der Studie behandelten 248 Kinder erhielten nach Randomverfahren im Verhältnis 5:1 entweder 1%ige Fusidinsäure- oder 0.5%ige Chloramphenicol-Augentropfen. Beide Präparate wurden eine Woche lang vier-bis sechsmal täglich verabreicht. Bei 56% der Kinder wurde eine bakterielle Konjunktivitis diagnostiziert. Die häufigsten pathogenen Erreger der Augeninfektionen warenStaphylococcus aureus (60%),Haemophilus aegyptius (10%),Streptococcus pneumoniae (13%) undNeisseria gonorrhoeae (6%). Mit Fusidinsäure wurde bei 85% der Kinder mit bakterieller Konjunktivitis ein Therapieerfolg erzielt, mit Chloramphenicol in 48% der Fälle (p < 0,001). Die therapeutische Überlegenheit von Fusidinsäure ließ sich darauf zurückführen, daß dieIn vitro-Resistenz der Erreger mit 16% der Isolate in der Fusidinsäure-Gruppe geringer war als in der Chloramphenicol-Therapiegruppe mit einer Resistenzrate von 55% der Isolate. Beide Medikamente wurden offensichtlich gut vertragen, Nebenwirkungen wurden nicht beobachtet.

     

Comparison of salivary calmodulin binding proteins in Sjögren''s syndrome and healthy individuals

Background: Reduction in salivary secretion is the hallmark of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin binding proteins (CaMBPs) play a key role in the secretory process of saliva. Recent studies have suggested that SS‐B, an autoantibody associated with SS, is a CaMBP. This finding suggests that CaMBP may contribute to the loss of saliva in SS. To better understand the role(s) of these proteins in SS, the purpose of this study was to compare salivary CaMBPs in Sjögren's patients and controls. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 20 patients and 20 age‐, race‐, and gender‐matched controls. CaM overlay was used to identify CaMBPs in saliva of patients and controls. Results: Higher number of salivary CaMBPs was observed among patients than controls. Conclusions: The increased number of salivary CaMBPs in SS may suggest a potential role for these proteins in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Treatment of osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital dislocation of the hip. Primary cemented surface replacement compared with conventional total hip replacement

Seventy-four cemented conventional total hip arthroplasties (in fifty-five patients) and thirty-seven cemented surface replacements (in thirty-two patients) were done between 1971 and 1984 for treatment of osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital dislocation of the hip. The patients in the first group were older and had more severe dysplasia. In all patients, we tried to position the acetabular component at the level of the true acetabulum. In both groups, the operation relieved pain and improved the function of the hip in the short term. There were fewer and less severe early postoperative complications in the surface-replacement group, but the rate of long-term failure (revision or resection) was substantially higher. Survivorship analysis demonstrated that neither type of operation yielded durable results in younger patients; all revisions were in patients who were less than sixty years old. However, in older patients who had cemented conventional total hip arthroplasty, survivorship was excellent, regardless of the amount of dysplasia.     

Excitation and desensitization of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo following bright adapting light

Electroretinographic (ERG) methods were used to determine response properties of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo following adapting illumination that produced a significant extent of rhodopsin bleaching. Bleaching levels prevailing at ∼10 min and ∼20 min after the adapting exposure were on average 14% and 9%, respectively, based on the analysis of visual cycle retinoids in the eye tissues. Recovery of the rod response to the adapting light was monitored by analysing the ERG a -wave response to a bright probe flash presented at varying times during dark adaptation. A paired-flash procedure, in which the probe flash was presented at defined times after a weak test flash of fixed strength, was used to determine sensitivity of the rod response to the test flash. Recovery of the response to the adapting light was 80% complete at 13.5 ± 3.0 min (mean ± s.d .; n = 7) after adapting light offset. The adapting light caused prolonged desensitization of the weak-flash response derived from paired-flash data. By comparison with results obtained in the absence of the adapting exposure, desensitization determined with a test-probe interval of 80 ms was ∼fourfold after 5 min of dark adaptation and ∼twofold after 20 min. The results indicate, for mouse rods in vivo , that the time scale for recovery of weak-flash sensitivity substantially exceeds that for the recovery of circulating current following significant rhodopsin bleaching. The lingering desensitization may reflect a reduced efficiency of signal transmission in the phototransduction cascade distinct from that due to residual excitation.