Reinfection risk of novel coronavirus (COVID-19): A systematic ‎review of current evidence

BACKGROUNDThere is recently a concern regarding the reinfection and reactivation of previously reCoVered coronavirus disease 2019 (CoVID-19) patients.AIMTo summarize the recent findings and reports of CoVID-19 reinfection in patients previously reCoVered from the disease.METHODSThis study was a systematic review of current evidence conducted in August 2020. The authors studied the probable reinfection risk of novel coronavirus (CoVID-19). We performed a systematic search using the keywords in online databases. The investigation adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist to ensure the reliability and validity of this study and results.RESULTSWe reviewed 31 studies. Eight studies described reCoVered patients with reinfection. Only one study reported reinfected patients who died. In 26 studies, there was no information about the status of the patients. Several studies indicated that reinfection is not probable and that post-infection immunity is at least temporary and short.CONCLUSIONBased on our review, we concluded that a positive polymerase chain reaction retest could be due to several reasons and should not always be considered as reinfection or reactivation of the disease. Most relevant studies in positive retest patients have shown relative and probably temporary immunity after the reCoVery of the disease.     

Therapeutic potential of silymarin as a natural iron‐chelating agent in β‐thalassemia intermedia

Abnormal iron accumulation in vital organs is one of the major complications of β‐thalassemia intermedia (β‐TI). Silymarin, a flavonolignan isolated from Silybum marianum, significantly decreases the serum ferritin levels of β‐TI patients. This finding suggests silymarin as a safe and effective natural iron‐chelating agent for the treatment of iron‐overloaded conditions.     

Worldwide prevalence of microbial agents’ coinfection among COVID‐19 patients: A comprehensive updated systematic review and meta‐analysis

BackgroundTo provide information about pathogens’ coinfection prevalence with SARS‐CoV‐2 could be a real help to save patients’ lives. This study aims to evaluate the pathogens’ coinfection prevalence among COVID‐19 patients.MethodIn order to find all of the relevant articles, we used systematic search approach. Research‐based databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, without language restrictions, were searched to identify the relevant bacterial, fungal, and viral coinfections among COVID‐19 cases from December 1, 2019, to August 23, 2021. In order to dig deeper, other scientific repositories such as Medrxiv were probed.ResultsA total of 13,023 studies were found through systematic search. After thorough analysis, only 64 studies with 61,547 patients were included in the study. The most common causative agents of coinfection among COVID‐19 patients were bacteria (pooled prevalence: 20.97%; 95% CI: 15.95–26.46; I ²: 99.9%) and less frequent were virus coinfections (pooled prevalence: 12.58%; 95% CI: 7.31–18.96; I ²: 98.7%). The pooled prevalence of fungal coinfections was also 12.60% (95% CI: 7.84–17.36; I ²: 98.3%). Meta‐regression analysis showed that the age sample size and WHO geographic region did not influenced heterogeneity.ConclusionWe identified a high prevalence of pathogenic microorganism coinfection among COVID‐19 patients. Because of this rate of coinfection empirical use of antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral treatment are advisable specifically at the early stage of COVID‐19 infection. We also suggest running simultaneously diagnostic tests to identify other microbiological agents’ coinfection with SARS‐CoV‐2.     

Expression of recombinant parvalbumin from wolf-herring fish and determination of its IgE-binding capability

In this study, we produced the recombinant form of parvalbumin from wolf-herring fish and determined its IgE reactivity. Parvalbumin cDNA was sub-cloned into pET28 and expressed in Escherichia coli BL-21. The immunoreactivities of the recombinant and native parvalbumins were compared, and the effect of calcium binding was determined by sera from 25 fish-allergic patients. ELISA and Western blotting confirmed similar IgE-reactivities of the recombinant and native proteins and confirmed that this phenomenon is highly dependent on calcium binding. The recombinant protein was 94.5% similar to carp parvalbumin (Cyp c1). Approximately 72% of patients reacted strongly with recombinant parvalbumin, 80% of them reacted with the native form and only 56% showed IgE reactivity with crude extract. Because the IgE-binding capacity of recombinant wolf-herring parvalbumin is retained and is highly similar to Cyp c1, the wild and hypoallergenic forms of this allergen could be used for diagnosis and immunotherapy of fish allergy, respectively.     

The incidence of berry aneurysm in the Iranian population: an autopsy study

Intracranial berry aneurysms are the most common kind of aneurysms in the brain, and are caused by head trauma in 1% of cases. They may remain asymptomatic for a long time or may rupture and cause intracranial hemorrhage. These aneurysms are associated with a high mortality rate. A definitive diagnosis can be made by angiography or autopsy. We studied the cadavers of 425 people who passed away accidentally. The number and location of berry aneurysms were recorded. Twelve cases (2.82%) were found to have a single berry aneurysm and two (0.47%) had multiple aneurysms. The aneurysms had a tendency to occur in the frontal half of the Circle of Willis and in approximation of the bifurcation of arteries. The main characteristics of cases of berry aneurysm in the Iranian population were in agreement with that reported in previous Western studies.     

Blood Levels of Methemoglobin in Patients with Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning and its Correlation with Patient’s Outcome

Although methemoglobinemia following aluminum phosphide (AlP) intoxication has been reported, probable effect of blood level of methemoglobin (Met-Hb) on outcome of AlP-poisoned patients has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate blood levels of methemoglobin in patients with AP intoxication and its correlation with patient’s outcome. This prospective study was carried out at the Loghman–Hakim poison hospital from April 2009 to August 2009. All patients aged >12 years who had ingested AlP and were admitted at the hospital were enrolled in the study. Using the co-oximetry, blood Met-Hb level was measured at the time of admission and 24 h later if the patient survived. Forty-eight patients with AlP intoxication including 24 males were evaluated. Mean age of the patients was 25.5 ± 9.5 years. There was significant association between blood level of Met-Hb at the time of admission and mortality (2.4% ± 7.1% in survivors versus 15.2% ± 13.5% in non-survivors, P < 0.001). The same association was found at the 2nd day of admission (2.9% ± 8.2% in survivors versus 26.5% ± 19.9% in non-survivors, P = 0.02). The present study found an association between blood level of Met-Hb and mortality in patients with AlP intoxication. Effect of administration of vitamin C and methylene blue on outcome of patients with AlP intoxication should be investigated in future studies.     

Characteristics,sources, and health risks of atmospheric PM10-bound heavy metals in a populated middle eastern city

ABSTRACT

This study reports on the characteristics, sources, and health risks of atmospheric PM₁₀-bound heavy metals (HMs) on citizenship living in different regions of Ahvaz, Southwest of Iran were investigated during 2016–2017. A total of 84 samples were analyzed from different regions: (S1) industrial, (S2) high traffic, and (S3) residential. Blood samples were collected from people who came to the east health center of Ahvaz. High volume air samplers, equipped with quartz fiber filters (8?×?10) were utilized for sampling in this study. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was also used for HMs. Risk assessment and hazard index of these pollutants were estimated, using USEPA’s exposure parameters. Based on the results, the highest and the lowest concentration of HM were observed in industrial and residential areas. Blood’s HMs concentration for chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were 2.932, 4.199, 8.425, and 71.2?μg/dL, respectively. In conclusion, increasing exposure concentration of HMs would have a significant potential for increased cancer and risk of diseases. The results of this study show that increasing exposure concentration to HM in the studied scenarios have a significant potential for generating different health endpoints, although exposing to HMs led to generating diseases in individuals particularly in polluted and populated districts; so, environmental measures should be considered by urban air authorities to mitigate the concentration of these pollutants in ambient air.