The current outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has generated a notable challenge for diabetic patients. Overall, people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing different infectious diseases and demonstrate increased mortality. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 progression and its severity, poor prognosis, and increased mortality. How diabetes contributes to COVID-19 severity is unclear; however, it may be correlated with the effects of hyperglycemia on systemic inflammatory responses and immune system dysfunction. Using the envelope spike glycoprotein SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, a key protein expressed in metabolic organs and tissues such as pancreatic islets. Therefore, it has been suggested that diabetic patients are more susceptible to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, as glucose metabolism impairments complicate the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease in these patients. In this review, we provide insight into the COVID-19 disease complications relevant to diabetes and try to focus on the present data and growing concepts surrounding SARS-CoV-2 infections in T2DM patients.
Background: One of the most common infections in women, especially during the reproductive age, is vulvovaginal candidiasis, which can cause physical and psychological distress for patients. According to different reports, Candida albicans is the main etiological agent of this infection. However, non-Candida albicans species have arisen recently. Therefore, it seems that in VVC, the pattern of Candida species, have changed. Objectives: In the current study, the researchers determined the frequency of different species of Candida in the Iranian female population. Methods: Five hundred and fifty-nine patients suspected of VVC, participated in this study. Wet swabs were used for collecting the samples. Vaginal swabs were examined microscopically and treated for fungal culture. Candida species identification was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Sequencing with universal fungal primers (ITS1 and ITS4). Results: Out of 559 patients, 46 (8.2%) samples were positive for VVC. The age group of 30 to 39 years old with 20 (44.7%) patients had the highest frequency. Itching concomitant with abnormal discharge and vaginal irritation (59.6%) were the most prevalent symptoms in the patients. The most frequent identified species of Candida were Candida albicans (67.7%), Candida glabrata (25.8%), and Candida kefyr (3.2%), respectively. In addition, only one (2.1%) case showed recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that in patients with VVC, Candida albicans species are more frequent than other candida species. In order to achieve appropriate treatment, clinical and laboratory findings must be considered together.
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