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Due to the known anti‐inflammatory and antiviral effects of zinc, 25(OH)D, and vitamin B12, in this study, we explored the association between serum levels of these micronutrients in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients at the time of admission and the clinical outcomes. This study was carried out on 293 patients with COVID‐19, who were hospitalized at Imam Hassan hospital (Bojnourd, Iran). We collected demographic data, clinical characteristics, values of serum biochemical parameters in the first week of admission, and clinical outcomes from electronic medical records. We also measured serum levels of zinc, 25(OH)D, and vitamin B12 within 3 days of admission. Of the 293 hospitalized, the median age was 53 years, and 147 (50.17%) were female. Thirty‐seven patients (12.62%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and forty‐two (14.32%) died. We found that the serum levels of zinc, vitamin B12, and 25(OH)D were lower in patients who died than those who were admitted to ICU or non‐ICU and survived; however, these differences were not statistically significant for vitamin B12 and 25(OH)D ( p > 0.05). The serum concentrations of zinc, vitamin B12, and 25(OH)D at the time of admission did not affect the length of hospital stay in patients with COVID‐19. In general, it seems that serum levels of 25(OH)D, vitamin B12, and especially zinc at the time of admission can affect clinical outcomes in COVID‐19 patients.

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Immunological disorders are among the main causes of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSAs). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to modulate various aspects of immune responses. It seems that MSCs may improve the immunological conditions in immune-mediated RSA. The aim of this study is the reduction of resorption in RSA mouse model through MSCs therapy. The adipose-derived MSCs were administered intraperitoneal to pregnant CBA/J mice on day 4.5 of gestation in abortion-prone matting. On day 13.5 of pregnancy, abortion rates were calculated and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin 10 (IL-10), interferon γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) gene expression in deciduas were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The level of TGF-β in serum was also determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The obtained results showed that MSCs therapy could reduce the abortion rate significantly in test group compared to controls. MSCs therapy also caused a significant upregulation of TGF-β and IL-10 and downregulation of IFN-γ and TNF-α genes expression in deciduas. However, the levels of TGF-β didn't change in mice sera. Due to the significant decrease in abortion rate, we concluded that MSCs therapy could modulate the immune responses in fetomaternal interface and protect fetus from undesirable immune responses. So, these cells might be considered as a new therapeutic for spontaneous pregnancy loss. The local upregulation of TGF-β and IL-10 and downregulation of IFN-γ and TNF-α gene expression in decidua could be considered as one possible mechanism of immune regulation, which could protect the fetus.

ObjectiveIn the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of high doses of dexamethasone (DEX) in early pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes.MethodsPregnant BALB/c mice were treated with high-dose DEX in the experimental group or saline in the control group on gestational days (GDs) 0.5 to 4.5. Pregnant mice were sacrificed on GDs 7.5, 13.5, or 18.5 and their peripheral blood, placentas, fetuses, and uterine tissue were collected. Decidual and placenta cell supernatants were examined to evaluate the effect of DEX on the proliferation of mononuclear cells, the quantity of uterine macrophages and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells, and levels of progesterone and 17β-estradiol, as determined by an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also were measured fetal and placental growth parameters on GD 18.5.ResultsWe found that high doses of DEX were associated with an increased abortion rate, enhancement of the immunosuppressive effect of the decidua, alterations in placental growth parameters, decreased progesterone and 17β-estradiol levels, and a reduced frequency of macrophages and uNK cells.ConclusionOur data suggest that the high-dose administration of DEX during early pregnancy negatively affected pregnancy outcomes.