Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide. Chronic HCV infections are usually associated with increased oxidative stress in the liver tissue. The intensity of oxidative stress may be a detrimental factor in liver injury and may determine the severity of the disease. The aim of the present case-control study was to determine the level of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), protein oxidative modification (AOPP), and catalase activity in sera of patients infected with HCV, in relation to different HCV genotypes and viral load. Considering the HCV patients with chronic hepatitis C (52) and control subject (50) recruitment, the study was designed as a case–control-type. The HCV RNA isolation, viral load, and HCV genotyping were performed according to the standard protocols. A significant difference compared to control healthy subjects was reported for TBAR ( p < 0.001 ), AOPP ( p = 0.001 ), and catalase activity ( p = 0.007 ). In a gender-based comparison, a significantly higher level of AOPP for females was reported ( p < 0.001 ). As stratified by HCV genotype, the most common was HCV-1 (HCV-1a and HCV 1b), with the overall participation of more than 60%, followed by genotype 3, while the least represented was genotype 2. No significant difference was documented among genotypes in regard to oxidative stress markers, although somewhat higher TBARS level, but not significant, was registered in patients infected with genotype 1b. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the concentration of HCV genome copies and AOPP ( r = 0.344 ; p = 0.012 ). A high level of HCV viral load was more likely to have a higher TBARS, but still without statistical significance ( p = 0.072 ). In conclusion, the results obtained confirmed an imbalance between the ROS production and antioxidative defense system in HCV-infected patients. Since oxidative stress may have a profound influence on disease progression, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis, our results may meet the aspirations of mandatory introduction of antioxidants as early HCV therapy to counteract ROS consequences.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a microorganism that colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces of healthy individuals, but it is also one of the most common causes of community-acquired and hospital infections. Nasal carriage of S. aureus represents a major risk factor for the development of infection with this bacterium. A special therapeutic problem are methicillin-resistant isolates of S. aureus (MRSA). The aim of this study was to assess the nasal carriage of S. aureus in healthy individuals in the local community, and the sensitivity of the microorganism to antibiotics. The study enrolled 56.868 healthy individuals aged 19 to 65 years, and 2.040 healthy school children aged 15 to 19 years. Specimens to be studied were obtained from anterior nares. We used the disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) on Mueller-Hinton agar to assess the sensitivity of isolated S. aureus. S. aureus was isolated in 1.381 (2.34%) respondents. Positive findings were obtained in 2.33% of adult examinees, and in 2.59% of studied school children. We found a low level of susceptibility only to penicillin (5.36%). The susceptibility of S. aureus isolates to all other tested antibiotics was present in a high percentage, with the lowest percentage of susceptibility to doxycycline (71.54%) and erythromycin (86.09%). The highest percentage of susceptibility of tested isolates was reported for fusidic acid (99.27%). In relation to the total number of S. aureus isolates from nasal swabs in adults, MRSA was present in 8.96% (119 isolates), while there were 4 MRSA isolates from nasal swabs in school children. In this study, we established a low percentage of nasal carriage of S. aureus in the population of healthy individuals, but a high percentage of MRSA.

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Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 virus more than 2 800 000 cases have been reported worldwide. Patients suffering from diabetes and other comorbidities are particularly susceptible to severe forms of the COVID-19, which might result in chronic complications following recovery. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors exert beneficial effects in the prevention/treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, heart, and kidney injury, and since they may be a long-term consequence caused by COVID-19, it is reasonable to expect that DPP-4 inhibitors might be beneficial in alleviating long-term consequences of COVID-19. With that in mind, we would like to voice our concerns over chronic implications following recovery from COVID-19 especially in diabetic, but also in non-diabetic patients, and to indicate that some preventive measures could be undertaken by application of DPP-4 inhibitors.

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