While some biomolecules have been explored to identify potential biomarkers for the prognosis of COVID-19 patients, there is no reliable prognostic indicator of the disease progression and severity. We aimed to evaluate the ability of the C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict COVID-19 infection outcome. This retrospective study was conducted on 429 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 30, 2020, and April 30, 2020. The study population was divided into severe (n = 175) and nonsevere cases (n = 254). Data on demographic characteristics, clinical features, and laboratory findings on admission were collected. The proportion of patients with increased CRP levels was significantly higher in severe cases than in nonsevere patients. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve found that CRP could be used as an independent factor in predicting the severity of COVID-19. Also, patients with CRP >64.75 mg/L were more likely to have severe complications. In conclusion, CRP serum levels can predict the severity and progression of illness in patients with COVID-19.

Background:Several recent studies have investigated the therapeutic role of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in premature ejaculation (PE) used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.Objectives:In the present research, the efficacy of paroxetine alone and paroxetine plus tadalafil was compared in patients referred because of premature ejaculation.Patients and Methods:This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 consecutive 17 to 49-year-old potent men with premature ejaculation and without any clear organic disease. All patients had lifelong PE with an intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) shorter than 1.5 minutes. Informed consent was obtained from all patients who were randomly divided into two groups using a computer-generated random tabulation list. In group A, patients received 10 mg paroxetine daily, in addition to four hours before planned sexual activity. In group B, 10 mg paroxetine was taken daily, plus 10 mg tadalafil one hour before planned sexual activity. The duration of the intervention was six months and patients were evaluated for IELT three and six months after the beginning of therapy.Results:The mean age of patients in groups A and B were 33 ± 9.6 and 31.2 ± 9.3 years, respectively (P = 0.368). The mean number of intercourses were 1.08 ± 0.6 and 1.12 ± 0.6 per week in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.791). Mean IELT at the 3-month follow up in groups A and B was 4.5 ± 1.5 and 5 ± 2.4 minutes, respectively (P = 0.285) and at the 6-month follow up was 4.8 ± 1 and 5.3 ± 2 minutes, respectively (P = 0.278).Conclusions:The results of the study show that tadalafil can increase the mean IELT and can be used for treatment of premature ejaculation in combination with paroxetine.

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-repressor (AhRR) is a regulator of the AhR pathway, which plays an important role in xenobiotic and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) is a major factor in semen quality that protects sperm against ROS stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is the indicator of lipid peroxidation damage that is occurred due to ROSs. In this study, we determined and compared the MDA and TAC levels of infertile men's semen and blood plasma regarding genotype groups of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion. Semen and blood samples of 123 infertile males were collected from the Fatemeh Zahra IVF Centre, Babol, Iran. TAC and MDA levels of seminal and blood plasma were measured by TBARS and FRAP methods, respectively. Cases were genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of c.565C>G genotypes was determined as CC (34.14%), CG (55.28%) and GG (10.58%). Mean levels of TAC μm/L and MDA nmol/mL in semen plasma of CC, CG and GG groups were (1365.7, 1.28), (1542.8, 1.51) and (1860.2, 0.82), respectively. Also, mean levels of TAC μm/L and MDA nmol/mL in blood plasma samples in CC, CG and GG genotypes were (806.14, 1.168), (727.1, 1.006) and (635.7, 0.83), respectively. Comparison of marker levels between genotypes revealed that the TAC level of semen plasma in the GG genotype was significantly higher than its level in the CC group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that in seminal plasma of infertile men with the GG genotype of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion, the level of total antioxidant capacity is significantly higher in comparison with the CC genotype. Then, the G allele of AhRR-c.565C>G transversion may have a role in the increase in antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma.

BackgroundKidney stone (nephrolithiasis) is one of the most common diseases. During the past several decades, its prevalence and incidence have increased markedly in elderly population.ObjectivesThis study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for nephrolithiasis in elderly population.Patients and MethodsThis study was based on the Amirkola Health and Ageing Project (AHAP). Elderly people with kidney stones in every size, type and number were considered to be the case group and other subjects without a history of kidney stones served as control group. Demographic and anthropometric data, smoking, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MetS), calcium (Ca), vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), uric acid and urine pH were compared in both groups.Results In this study, 1390 elderly people with the mean age of 69.37 ± 7.42 years were evaluated which 202 (14.53%) cases had renal stones. The patients with nephrolithiasis were younger (P = 0.010) and had higher uric acid and body mass index (BMI) levels (P = 0.041 and P = 0.006, respectively). Age <75 years, male gender and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 had a significant association with stone formation. The prevalence of diabetes, MetS and smoking in the patients with nephrolithiasis was lower than the subjects without it. ConclusionsThis study suggests that male gender, obesity and age <75 years might be independent risk factors for the development of nephrolithiasis. Hence, low animal protein intake and weight reduction should be included as part of the counseling of senior stone-formers.

Background: Prostate cancer is a global health concern. In Iran, its epidemiology is not precisely recognized. We aimed to evaluate incidence of prostate cancer among Iranian populations. Methods: In this systematic review, we searched the databases PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus and Google Scholar for English studies and the databases Magiran, Scientific information Database, IranMedex and IranDoc for Persian studies, using related keywords. The cross sectional articles published from inception to 31 December 2018 were included. Meta-analysis was conducted on the collected data with STATA software using random effects model. Results: Out of 763 articles initially obtained, 9 articles were finally included after applying the predefined exclusion criteria. Analysis of 9 studies on the incidence of prostate cancer showed a crude rate of 7.1 per 100000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.6-8.6). Also, the pooled age-standardized incidence rate was 8.7 per 100000 (95% CI: 6.7-10.4). Studies performed in the period 2004-2012 had significantly a higher pooled estimate of the crude incidence rate (9.2 per 100000 [95% CI: 7.9-10.4]) compared with those conducted in the period 1996-2003 (4.5 per 100000 [95% CI: 2.8-6.2]). This trend was also observed based on the age-standardized incidence rate (11 per 100000 [95% CI: 9.4-12.5] versus 6.3 per 100000[95% CI: 4-8.5]).Conclusion: Despite low rate of prostate cancer occurrence in Iran, it is recommended that preventive measures be taken against this disease by health policymakers. Also, more epidemiological studies are needed to better find out the pattern of prostate cancer among Iranian populations.