COPD is an irreversible chronic illness with airflow limitation. The aim of the current study was to assess the role of vitamin D
3
on quality of life and pulmonary function in patients with COPD. A randomized, double-blinded clinical trial was conducted in 63 patients with COPD. Patients were placed into intervention and placebo groups. Each individual in the intervention group took 50,000 IU vitamin D
3
once a week for 8 weeks and then once a month for 4 months. There was no significant difference among FEV
1
, FEV
1
/FVC, and number of exacerbations in patients with COPD (
P
>0.05). In the intervention group, a significant difference was observed in quality of life at 2 months (
P
<0.001) and 6 months (
P
<0.001). In addition, qualitative analysis showed that the status of exacerbation had not got worse six months after initiation in the intervention group. The current study shows that consumption of 50,000 IU vitamin D
3
, as a convenient supplementation in a daily diet, is able to increase quality of life in patients with COPD.
Objectives
Current medications for allergic rhinitis (AR) may have undesirable side effects that could affect quality of life (QoL). Probiotics could be an alternative in these patients. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of add‐on probiotics on symptoms and QoL of patients.
Methods
In this randomized crossover clinical trial, patients with persistent AR were included. Each subject received budesonide with probiotic supplements (BP) or budesonide with placebo for 8 weeks (B), then vice versa for a further 8 weeks. There was an 8‐week washout. The primary outcome was the change of the Short Form 36‐Item Health Survey (SF‐36) score. The secondary outcomes were assessed by the Sinonasal Outcome Test‐22 (SNOT‐22) and the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) questionnaires.
Results
A total of 152 subjects (30.1 ± 7.6 years) completed the study. The SF‐36 score in both groups showed improvement compared with baseline values. Treatment BP was more effective than that of B. The Cohen's d and the number needed to treat for Physical Component Scales of SF‐36 were 0.40 and 10.77, respectively. These values for Mental Component Scales were 0.33 and 12.61, respectively. Also, treatment BP showed more reduction in the score of SNOT‐22 and CARAT.
Conclusion
This study showed that the addition of probiotics to budesonide significantly improved QoL in persistent AR patients. However, the clinical situation of these patients may be not very representative of AR patients in general population. Further studies are recommended.
Level of Evidence
1bLaryngoscope, 129:1744–1750, 2019
Background
In late December 2019, a novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 started to spread around the world in different populations. Its clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcome in kidney transplant recipients are little known. Therefore, we describe 22 kidney transplant recipients with SARS‐CoV‐2–induced pneumonia.
Methods
All kidney transplant recipients who referred to the Razi Hospital of Rasht with a diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection from February 20 to 19th of April 2020 have been included in this observational study.
Results
We present 22 cases of COVID‐19 in kidney transplant recipients (median age 52 years [interquartile range 40.75‐62.75 years]) and baseline eGFR 60 (mL/min/1.73 m
2
) (44.75‐86.75). Patients complained of cough (72.7%), dyspnea (63.6%), fever (68.2%), and chill (72.7%) with greater prevalence. We decreased the dose of immunosuppression and started stress dose of intravenous hydrocortisone or equivalent oral prednisolone. Each patient received antiviral therapy based on the latest updated version of local protocol at the time of admission. CT scan findings in 90.9% of patients showed bilateral multifocal lesions. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was observed in 12 patients during hospitalization. Six patients died after a median of 12 days from admission (IQR, 1‐21).
Conclusions
In this small observational study, we observed high AKI occurrence and mortality rate in kidney transplant recipients with COVID‐19.
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