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Elly USMAN, Yusticia KATAR. THE ROLE OF AGE AND COMORBIDITIES ON THE OUTCOME OF CONFIRMED CLINICALLY CRITICAL COVID-19 PATIENTS TREATED WITH REMDESIVIR AT INDONESIA'S NATIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. Afr J Infect Dis 2022; 17:55-59. [PMID: 36756490 PMCID: PMC9885022 DOI: 10.21010/ajidv17i1.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is currently no viable pharmaceutical therapy for COVID-19 illness that has been validated. The use of remdesivir is one of the medications for which there is no consistent evidence of a significant therapeutic benefit or a meaningful effect on survival. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the role of age and comorbidities on the outcome of confirmed clinically critical COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir at Indonesia's National Referral Hospital. Methods A retrospective cohort study was used in this study. The subjects in this study were confirmed clinically critical COVID-19 patients who were treated at Dr. M Djamil Hospital Padang, one of Indonesia's national referral hospitals, from January 2 to June 30, 2021. The number of sample size in this study was 90 patients. The variables of this study were divided into three independent variables (age, comorbidities, and a number of comorbidities). A dependent variable was the outcome of confirmed clinically critical COVID-19 patients. The Chi-square test was performed in bivariate analysis, and the odds ratio was calculated. SPSS version 17.0 was used to analyze the data. Results The results of this study found that there was an association between ages 50-59 years (OR = 10.23, 95% CI 1.89-55.53), 60-69 years (OR = 4.58, 95% CI 1.25-16.76), and > 70 years (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.38 -9.59), comorbid diabetes mellitus (OR = 9.78, 95% CI 1.23-77.66), the number of comorbid > 1 (OR = 10.97, 95% CI 2.19-54.96, and the number of comorbid 1 (OR = 5.69, 95% CI 1.59- 20.41) with the outcome of confirmed clinically critical COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir. Conclusion The significance of age and comorbidities on the outcome of COVID-19 patients treated with remdesivir at Indonesia's national referral hospital was confirmed in this study. This study could assist in the management of patient therapy, potentially decreasing morbidity and even patient mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- USMAN Elly
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia,Corresponding author E-mail:
| | - KATAR Yusticia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
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Naik RR, Shakya AK, Aladwan SM, El-Tanani M. Kinase Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutic Agents in the Treatment of COVID-19. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:806568. [PMID: 35444538 PMCID: PMC9014181 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.806568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Corona virus is quickly spreading around the world. The goal of viral management is to disrupt the virus’s life cycle, minimize lung damage, and alleviate severe symptoms. Numerous strategies have been used, including repurposing existing antivirals or drugs used in previous viral outbreaks. One such strategy is to repurpose FDA-approved kinase inhibitors that are potential chemotherapeutic agents and have demonstrated antiviral activity against a variety of viruses, including MERS, SARS-CoV-1, and others, by inhibiting the viral life cycle and the inflammatory response associated with COVID-19. The purpose of this article is to identify licensed kinase inhibitors that have the ability to reduce the virus’s life cycle, from entrance through viral propagation from cell to cell. Several of these inhibitors, including imatinib, ruxolitinib, silmitasertib, and tofacitinib (alone and in conjunction with hydroxychloroquine), are now undergoing clinical studies to determine their efficacy as a possible treatment drug. The FDA approved baricitinib (a Janus kinase inhibitor) in combination with remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 patients receiving hospital care in November 2020. While in vitro trials with gilteritinib, fedratinib, and osimertinib are encouraging, further research is necessary before these inhibitors may be used to treat COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajashri R Naik
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Amman, Jordan.,Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Ashok K Shakya
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Centre, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Safwan M Aladwan
- Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohamed El-Tanani
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Amman, Jordan.,Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.,Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Centre, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan
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Polvere I, Silvestri E, Sabatino L, Giacco A, Iervolino S, Peluso T, Guida R, Zerillo L, Varricchio R, D’Andrea S, Voccola S, Madera JR, Zullo A, Stilo R, Vito P, Zotti T. Sample-Pooling Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Detection among Students and Staff of the University of Sannio. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071166. [PMID: 34206932 PMCID: PMC8303429 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, it has been clear that testing large groups of the population was the key to stem infection and prevent the effects of the coronavirus disease of 2019, mostly among sensitive patients. On the other hand, time and cost-sustainability of virus detection by molecular analysis such as reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) may be a major issue if testing is extended to large communities, mainly asymptomatic large communities. In this context, sample-pooling and test grouping could offer an effective solution. Here we report the screening on 1195 oral-nasopharyngeal swabs collected from students and staff of the Università degli Studi del Sannio (University of Sannio, Benevento, Campania, Italy) and analyzed by an in-house developed multiplex RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection through a simple monodimensional sample pooling strategy. Overall, 400 distinct pools were generated and, within 24 h after swab collection, five positive samples were identified. Out of them, four were confirmed by using a commercially available kit suitable for in vitro diagnostic use (IVD). High accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were also determined by comparing our results with a reference IVD assay for all deconvoluted samples. Overall, we conducted 463 analyses instead of 1195, reducing testing resources by more than 60% without lengthening diagnosis time and without significant losses in sensitivity, suggesting that our strategy was successful in recognizing positive cases in a community of asymptomatic individuals with minor requirements of reagents and time when compared to normal testing procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immacolata Polvere
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Elena Silvestri
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Lina Sabatino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Antonia Giacco
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Stefania Iervolino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Teresa Peluso
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Rosa Guida
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Lucrezia Zerillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Romualdo Varricchio
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Silvia D’Andrea
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
| | - Serena Voccola
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
- Consorzio Sannio Tech, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy
| | - Jessica Raffaella Madera
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Alberto Zullo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Romania Stilo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
| | - Pasquale Vito
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
- Correspondence: (P.V.); (T.Z.); Tel.: +39-0824305105 (P.V. & T.Z.)
| | - Tiziana Zotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università Degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 82100 Benevento, Italy; (I.P.); (E.S.); (L.S.); (A.G.); (S.I.); (T.P.); (R.G.); (L.Z.); (J.R.M.); (A.Z.); (R.S.)
- Genus Biotech, Università degli Studi del Sannio, SS Appia, 82030 Apollosa, Italy; (R.V.); (S.D.); (S.V.)
- Correspondence: (P.V.); (T.Z.); Tel.: +39-0824305105 (P.V. & T.Z.)
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Jemeršić L, Lojkić I, Krešić N, Keros T, Zelenika TA, Jurinović L, Skok D, Bata I, Boras J, Habrun B, Brnić D. Investigating the Presence of SARS CoV-2 in Free-Living and Captive Animals. Pathogens 2021; 10:635. [PMID: 34064271 PMCID: PMC8224323 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to SARS CoV-2 recombination rates, number of infected people and recent reports of environmental contamination, the possibility of SARS CoV-2 transmission to animals can be expected. We tested samples of dominant free-living and captive wildlife species in Croatia for the presence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies and viral RNA. In total, from June 2020 until February 2021, we tested blood, muscle extract and fecal samples of 422 free-living wild boars (Sus scrofa), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and jackals (Canis aureus); blood and cloacal swabs of 111 yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) and fecal samples of 32 zoo animals. A commercially available ELISA (ID.Vet, France) and as a confirmatory test, a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT; GenScript, Netherlands) were used. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of viral RNA by a real-time RT-PCR protocol. Fifteen out of 533 (2.8%) positive ELISA results were detected; in wild boars (3.9%), red foxes (2.9%) and jackals (4.6%). However, the positive findings were not confirmed by sVNT. No viral RNA was found. In conclusion, no spillover occurred within the investigated period (second COVID-19 wave). However, further investigation is needed, especially regarding wildlife sample features for serological tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Jemeršić
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Ivana Lojkić
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Nina Krešić
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Tomislav Keros
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Tajana Amšel Zelenika
- Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.A.Z.); (L.J.)
| | - Luka Jurinović
- Poultry Center, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.A.Z.); (L.J.)
| | - Damir Skok
- Zagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.S.); (I.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Ingeborg Bata
- Zagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.S.); (I.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Jadranko Boras
- Zagreb Zoo, Maksimirski Perivoj, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.S.); (I.B.); (J.B.)
| | - Boris Habrun
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
| | - Dragan Brnić
- Virology Department, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska Cesta 143, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (N.K.); (T.K.); (B.H.); (D.B.)
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Li CH, Chiou HYC, Lin MH, Kuo CH, Lin YC, Lin YC, Hung CH, Kuo CH. Immunological map in COVID-19. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2021; 54:547-556. [PMID: 34023234 PMCID: PMC8114810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a newly discovered coronavirus that exhibits many similarities with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, respectively). The definite pathogenesis and immunological influences of SARS-CoV-2 have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we constructed a brief summary comparison of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV infections regarding their immunological changes. In addition, we further investigated the immunological differences between severe and nonsevere COVID-19 cases, and we searched for possible immunological predictors of the patient outcome by reviewing case series studies to date. Possible immunological predictors of a poor outcome are leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphopenia (both CD4 and CD8 T cells), an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-γ), regulatory T cell cytokines (IL-10) and Th17 cytokines (IL-17). A more precise immunological map needs to be established, which may assist in diagnosing this disease and facilitate immunological precision medicine treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Hsiang Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | | | - Ming-Hong Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | | | - Yu-Chih Lin
- Department of Medical Humanities and Education, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Allergology, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Doctoral Degree Program in Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Chih-Hsing Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Hung Kuo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Tripp RA, Stambas J. Intervention Strategies for Seasonal and Emerging Respiratory Viruses with Drugs and Vaccines Targeting Viral Surface Glycoproteins. Viruses 2021; 13:v13040625. [PMID: 33917411 PMCID: PMC8067509 DOI: 10.3390/v13040625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines and therapeutics targeting viral surface glycoproteins are a major component of disease prevention for respiratory viral diseases. Over the years, vaccines have proven to be the most successful intervention for preventing disease. Technological advances in vaccine platforms that focus on viral surface glycoproteins have provided solutions for current and emerging pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, and our understanding of the structural basis for antibody neutralization is guiding the selection of other vaccine targets for respiratory viruses like RSV. This review discusses the role of viral surface glycoproteins in disease intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph A. Tripp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - John Stambas
- School of Medicine, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia;
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Vitamin D Levels Are Reduced at the Time of Hospital Admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patients. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073491. [PMID: 33801759 PMCID: PMC8036292 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a worldwide healthcare challenge that needs an efficient response. Unfortunately, to date there is no highly effective treatment, so a deep understanding of COVID-19 risk factors could be an important step in treating the disease. Vitamin D affects the immune system in many different ways, and other authors already found that COVID-19 patients have low levels of vitamin D. In our retrospective study, we evaluated the vitamin D status at the time of hospital admission in 50 COVID-19 patients in Sicily, which is the southernmost region of Italy, and compared them with 100 control subjects matched for age and sex. Our data showed markedly low levels of vitamin D in patients with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but no association was found with inflammation markers or clinical severity. Vitamin D levels were reduced at the time of hospital admission in Sicilian SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, but it is not clear whether this condition has an impact on the clinical course of COVID-19.
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