Melatonin, vitamins and minerals supplements for the treatment of Covid-19 and Covid-like illness: A prospective, randomized, double-blind multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Melatonin, zinc, and multivitamins are among most recommended supplements in the fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to examine the efficacy and safety of this association in the treatment of COVID-19 and COVID-like illnesses.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Patients with no medical history consulting the emergency department for covid and covid-like illness and who were not hospitalized were included. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the treatment or the placebo group. The primary outcome was studying the effectiveness of zinc multivitamin supplement and melatonin in the treatment of COVID and -like illnesses symptoms' according to the time from randomization to clinical improvement. The pre-specified secondary outcomes were date of disappearance of symptoms present on admission, appearance of an adverse effect due to the administration of the treatment, number of patients developing complications, requiring hospitalization, requiring respiratory support.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty four patients were eligible for the study and were randomized to either the treatment group or the placebo group. Overall, 128 of the 164 patients had a PCR for SARS-CoV-2, yielding a positive PCR result in 49.1% of them. Regarding the disappearance of all initial presenting symptoms: on the 5th day of the follow-up, there was a significant difference between the two groups with a p value 0.04;On the 10th day, there was a significant difference too with p value of 0.038. There were no significant differences between the two groups in recovery during the 15th day of follow-up p>0.5. Finally, 100% of patients fully recovered in the treatment group vs 98.8% in the placebo group. No severe adverse events were reported throughout the trial.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that daily doses of Melatonin, zinc and vitamins did significantly reduce the duration of symptoms accelerating its disappearance among patients consulting with COVID-19 or COVID-19 like illness.

Value of inferior vena cava collapsibility index as marker of heart failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

INTRODUCTION

Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter variability with respiration measured by ultrasound was found to be useful for the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in ED patients with acute dyspnea. Its value in identifying HF in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation (AECOPD) was not specifically demonstrated.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of ΔIVC in the diagnosis of HF patients with AECOPD.

METHODS

This is a prospective study conducted in the ED of three Tunisian university hospitals including patients with AECOPD. During this period, 401 patients met the inclusion criteria. The final diagnosis of HF is based on the opinion of two emergency experts after consulting the data from clinical examination, cardiac echocardiography, and BNP level. The ΔIVC was calculated by two experienced emergency physicians who were blinded from the patient's clinical and laboratory data. A cut off of 15% was used to define the presence (< 15%) or absence of HF (≥ 15%). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was also measured. The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated to determine the diagnostic and predictive accuracy of the ΔIVC in predicting HF.

RESULTS

The study population included 401 patients with AECOPD, mean age 67.2 years with male (68.9%) predominance. HF was diagnosed in 165 (41.1%) patients (HF group) and in 236 patients (58.9%) HF was excluded (non HF group). The assessment of the performance of the ΔIVC in the diagnosis of HF showed a sensitivity of 37.4% and a specificity of 89.7% using the threshold of 15%. The positive predictive value was 70.9% and the negative predictive value was 66.7%. The area under the ROC curve was 0.71(95%, CI 0.65-0.76). ΔIVC values were not different between HF patients with reduced LVEF and those with preserved LVEF.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that ΔIVC has a good value for ruling out HF in ED patients consulting for AECOPD.

[The effect of intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized controlled double-blind study]

Introduction

the effect of intravenous corticosteroids on postoperative pain has been well demonstrated; however, few studies have focused on the efficacy of intraperitoneal corticosteroid use after laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods

we conducted a prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study, including patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and randomised into two groups: the group D (receiving 16 ml: 12 ml saline and 4 ml solution containing 16mg dexamethasone) and the group T (receiving 16 ml saline). The primary endpoint was: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for abdominal pain during the first 24 hours after surgery. The secondary endpoints were the incidence of shoulder pain, time to first request for analgesia, the consumption of morphine in the post-intervention surveillance room (PACU), the consumption of non-opioid analgesics and the incidence of nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after surgery as well as the presence of complications.

Results

sixty patients were included in the study and divided into two groups of 30. Demographic parameters, duration of surgical and anesthesia procedures, as well as intraoperative fentanyl consumption were comparable between the two groups. Abdominal pain VAS values (p≤0.001), the incidence of shoulder pain (p<0.001), opioid and analgesic consumption (p<0.001) and the incidence of nausea (p=0.002) and vomiting (p=0.012) during the first 24 hours after surgery were significantly lower in group D. No complications related to dexamethasone administration were noted.

Conclusion

intraperitoneal dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

A synopsis of global frontiers in fertility preservation

Since 2007, the Oncofertility Consortium Annual Conference has brought together a diverse network of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and professional levels to disseminate emerging basic and clinical research findings in fertility preservation. This network also developed enduring educational materials to accelerate the pace and quality of field-wide scientific communication. Between 2007 and 2019, the Oncofertility Consortium Annual Conference was held as an in-person event in Chicago, IL. The conference attracted approximately 250 attendees each year representing 20 countries around the world. In 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this paradigm and precluded an in-person meeting. Nevertheless, there remained an undeniable demand for the oncofertility community to convene. To maintain the momentum of the field, the Oncofertility Consortium hosted a day-long virtual meeting on March 5, 2021, with the theme of "Oncofertility Around the Globe" to highlight the diversity of clinical care and translational research that is ongoing around the world in this discipline. This virtual meeting was hosted using the vFairs ® conference platform and allowed over 700 people to participate, many of whom were first-time conference attendees. The agenda featured concurrent sessions from presenters in six continents which provided attendees a complete overview of the field and furthered our mission to create a global community of oncofertility practice. This paper provides a synopsis of talks delivered at this event and highlights the new advances and frontiers in the fields of oncofertility and fertility preservation around the globe from clinical practice and patient-centered efforts to translational research.

P–122 Benefit of use of theophilline in ICSI with testicular sperm

Study question

Would the use of theophylline have an effect on ICSI outcomes?

Summary answer

The cumulative pregnancy rate after the transfer of fresh and frozen embryos (FET) becomes more important justifying the addition of theophylline as an efficacy variable.

What is known already

Absolute immotile spermatozoa is one of the most important causes of reduced fertilization and pregnancy rates after ICSI, immotility of testicular spermatozoa is a physiological event resulting from metabolic sperm immaturity. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to resolve this problem by identification of pharmacological agents that might improve sperm motility. In particular, theophylline turned out to be an effective tool in stimulating motility in human semen and identifying viable sperm in testicular sperm extraction sperm (TESE) patients. aim of this study is to evaluate ICSI outcomes after the use of theophylline to select viable spermatozoa

Study design, size, duration

This prospective, comparative randomised study was conducted in Fertillia ART center in Tunisia, between november 2017 to november 2020. All patients underwent ICSI cycles with testicular sperm were included. The exclusion criteria consist of cycles with female partner age &gt;42 years and/or cycles with no information about pregnancy outcomes. In our study, the cycles were categorized into two groups according to sperm selection method used in ICSI procdure.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The present study include 678 cycles. This cohort was randomly divided into two groups according to method of spermatozoa selection. Treatements arms were performed by theophylline to improve sperm motility (Group A) and the Hyposmotic swelling (HOS) test to indicate sperm vitality (Group B). Clinical and biological parameters, the duration of sperm selection and ICSI outcomes were compared between the two groups. A statistical significant difference was accepted when the p value was &lt;0.05.

Main results and the role of chance

Baseline clinical parameters were found to be comparable in the two groups. No differences regarding number of oocytes retrieved or MII oocytes were reported . he sperm selection was easier in the group A (time interval : 12±7,2 minutes) than group B (time interval : 22±10 minutes) (p &lt; 0,05). No significative difference was observed between goups in the Fertilization rate (group A : 66% vs group B : 68%) ; Cleavage rate (group A : 76.20% vs. Group B : 75.56%) and Blasulation rate (group A : 63.60% vs. Group B 60.61%) p &gt; 0 ,05. The Cumulative Pregnancy rate for group A (31. 5%) was higher than group B (30%, p &gt; 0 ,05). Indeed, The rate of frozen cycles is significantly higher for group A compared to group B (30% vs. 4.5% p &lt; 0,05).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Need large sample size.

Wider implications of the findings: Theophylline reduces significantly the time needed for sperm selection, Which positively affects the ICSI result.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Installing oncofertility programs for common cancers in limited resource settings (Repro-Can-OPEN Study): An extrapolation during the global crisis of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

PURPOSE

The state of limited resource settings that Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created globally should be taken seriously into account especially in healthcare sector. In oncofertility, patients should receive their fertility preservation treatments urgently even in limited resource settings before initiation of anticancer therapy. Therefore, it is very crucial to learn more about oncofertility practice in limited resource settings such as in developing countries that suffer often from shortage of healthcare services provided to young patients with cancer.

METHODS

As an extrapolation during the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic, we surveyed oncofertility centers from 14 developing countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Nigeria, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and India). Survey questionnaire included questions on the availability and degree of utilization of fertility preservation options in case of childhood cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancer.

RESULTS

All surveyed centers responded to all questions. Responses and their calculated oncofertility scores showed different domestic standards for oncofertility practice in case of childhood cancer, breast cancer, and blood cancer in the developing countries under limited resource settings.

CONCLUSIONS

Medical practice in limited resource settings has become a critical topic especially after the global crisis of COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the resources necessary to provide oncofertility treatments is important until the current COVID-19 pandemic resolves. Lessons learned will be valuable to future potential worldwide disruptions due to infectious diseases or other global crises.

[Congenital heart block associated with maternal anti SSA/SSB antibodies :a report of four cases]

Congenital heart block (CHB) associated with maternal anti-SSA/SSB antibodies: a report of four cases. CHB detected in utero is strongly associated with maternal antibodies to SSA (Ro) and SSB (La). Their pathogenic role in the development of CHB has been established in several studies. The mothers of affected infants frequently had autoimmune disease (systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome) or were entirely asymptomatic. It is very difficult to identify pregnant asymptomatic mothers carrying anti-SSA/SSB antibodies. We report four cases of infants born to asymptomatic mothers with anti-SSA/SSB antibodies, three of them developed isolated congenital cardiac heart block and one with no evidence of CHB. All three CHB are detected during pregnancy between 16 and 24 weeks of gestation. All maternal sera contained antibodies to SSA alone or the both SSA and SSB. Three of four subsequent pregnancies were complicated by heart block. One child affected died in utero. While the two other newborns with CHB required pacemaker insertion during the first 3 months of life. Although the association of anti-SSA/SSB with CHB is widely accepted, the precise mechanism by which these antibodies cause cardiac conduction abnormalities remains to be defined. Antibodies to SSA/SSB have been proposed to be a serologic marker for neonatal lupus syndrome and CHB. Fetal and neonatal diseases are presumed to be due to the transplacental passage of these IgG autoantibodies from the mother into the fetal circulation. Since these antibodies may have a pathogenic role in CHB, screening of infants with isolated CHB or neonatal lupus and their mothers for the presence of anti-SSA and anti-SSB is strongly recommended.

[Anatomo-clinical characteristics of ovarian fibrothecal tumors. 19 cases over 12 years: 1981-1992[]

The quasi-constantly benign nature of fibrithecomas of the ovary has been known for many years. However, there have been very few studies of their incidence and clinical characteristics. The aim of this study, based upon 19 cases of fibrothecal tumours of the ovary operated upon at the Rabta maternity unit during a 12 year period, is to give an idea as to epidemiological factors, diagnostic conditions and treatment methods used among the women studied.

[Norplant contraception at the Rabta Tunis maternity hospital]

612 women had the benefit of contraceptive implants in the Maternity Hospital of La Rabta in Tunis over a period of 5 years (1988-1992). This study aimed at analysing the tolerance of this method by studying a group of 508 normal women and 104 women at risk (58 women were heart-diseased, 22 nursing, 13 diabetic, 11 hypertensive). The typical woman in this group is thirty years old, having 3 children, and weighing 61 kg. The implants were most of the cases withdrawn because of problems related to the menstrual cycle that were observed in 37% of the cases, equally distributed among both groups of the series. Contraceptive implants failed in 1.79% of the cases.