Elevated Transaminases as Predictors of COVID-19 Pneumonia Severity

Legumes as a Substitute for Red and Processed Meat, Poultry or Fish, and the Risk of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Large Cohort

BACKGROUND

Dietary recommendations have globally shifted towards promoting the consumption of legumes as an environmentally friendly and healthy source of protein. This study investigated the replacement of red and processed meat, poultry or fish for equal amounts of legumes on the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

UK Biobank participants who completed ≥ 2 dietary assessments and had complete covariate information were included in the analyses (N = 124,546). Information on dietary intake was collected using two to five 24-h dietary assessments. Incident cases of NAFLD were determined through linkage to the National Health Service registries. The rate of developing NAFLD when replacing 80 g/week of red and processed meat, poultry or fish with legumes was estimated using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

During follow-up (median 10.49, IQR: 10.4-10.9 years), 1205 individuals developed NAFLD. Replacing 80 g/week of red and processed meat or poultry with legumes was associated with 4% and 3% lower rates of NAFLD, respectively (red and processed meat HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94; 0.98; poultry HR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95; 0.99). Replacing 80 g/week of fish with legumes was not associated with NAFLD (fish HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96; 1.00). Results did not change markedly after adjustment for BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Consuming one serving of legumes weekly instead of red and processed meat or poultry was associated with a slightly lower rate of NAFLD, while consuming legumes instead of fish did not show an association with NAFLD. Further research in cohorts with higher legume consumption is needed to confirm these findings.

Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of HRS9432(A) injection in healthy Chinese subjects: a phase-I randomized, double-blind, dose escalation, placebo-controlled study

HRS9432(A) is a long-acting echinocandin antifungal medication primarily used to treat invasive fungal infections, particularly invasive candidiasis. The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic characteristics of HRS9432(A) injection were investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single- and multiple-ascending-dose Phase I study involving 56 healthy adult subjects. Doses ranging from 200 to 1200 mg were administered. Safety was continually monitored, including adverse events, clinical laboratory examinations, vital signs, 12-lead electrocardiograms, and physical examinations, while the pharmacokinetic profile within the body was evaluated. The results indicated that concentrations of HRS9432 peaked immediately after infusion, demonstrating essentially linear pharmacokinetic characteristics within the dosage range of 200-1,200 mg. It exhibited a low clearance rate and an extended half-life, with a clearance of approximately 0.2 L/h, a volume of distribution of around 40 L, and a half-life of approximately 140h following a single dose. The accumulation index for AUC0-τ after multiple doses ranged from 1.41 to 1.75. No severe adverse events occurred during the study, and the severity of all adverse events was mild or moderate. Therefore, the intravenous administration of HRS9432(A) in healthy Chinese adult subjects, either as multiple infusions of 200 to 600 mg (once a week, four doses) or as a single infusion of 900-1,200 mg, demonstrated overall good safety and tolerability. The pharmacokinetic exhibited essentially linear characteristics in the body, supporting a weekly dosing frequency for clinical applications and providing additional options for the treatment or prevention of invasive fungal infections.

CLINICAL TRIALS

This study is registered with the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform as ChiCTR2300073525.

The laboratory parameters in predicting the severity and death of COVID-19 patients: Future pandemic readiness strategies

The range of clinical manifestations associated with the infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encompasses a broad spectrum, ranging from flu-like symptoms to the occurrence of multiple organ failure and death. The severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is categorized based on clinical presentation and is divided into three distinct levels of severity identified as non-severe, severe, and critical. Although individuals of all age groups are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, middle-aged and older adults are more frequently impacted, with the latter being more likely to develop severe illness. Various laboratory characteristics observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients have been correlated with adverse outcomes. These include elevated levels of D-dimer, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, ferritin, prothrombin time, and troponin, as well as decreased lymphocyte and platelets counts. This review investigated the relationship between baseline clinical characteristics, initial laboratory parameters upon hospital admission, and the severity of illness and mortality rates among COVID-19 patients. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has concluded, understanding the laboratory predictors of virus severity and mortality remains crucial, and examining these predictors can have long-term effects. Such insights can help healthcare systems manage resources more effectively and deliver timely and appropriate care by identifying and targeting high-risk individuals. This knowledge can also help us better prepare for future pandemics. By examining these predictors, we can take steps to protect public health and mitigate the impact of future pandemics.

Importance of Demographic and Clinical Features in Evaluating the Severity of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients: A Serbian Retrospective Study in the First Pandemic Year

The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and initial clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their importance in evaluating the severity of the disease. A retrospective study included patients suffering from COVID-19 who were hospitalized at The Department of Infectious Disease of the Clinical Hospital Center Pristina-Gracanica from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of 2020. We compared the symptoms of the disease, radiographic findings of pneumonia, laboratory parameters, duration of symptoms before admission, the difference in the need for certain therapies, and the presence of comorbidities between non-severe and severe groups of patients. Patients with a severe disease were statistically significantly older. Hypertension was significantly associated with severe clinical conditions. Radiographic findings of bilateral pneumonia on admission were much more frequent among the severe group, and these patients' need for oxygen support was significantly higher. Lower neutrophil and higher lymphocyte counts were statistically significant in the non-severe group. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. Based on our research, we can conclude that a complete overview of the patient, including demographic and laboratory parameters as perhaps the most significant attributes, can help doctors in the timely clinical assessment of patients and, thus, in the timely application of adequate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.