Emerging viral infections are a ceaseless challenge and remain a global public health concern. The world has not yet come back to normal from the devastating effects of the highly contagious and pathogenic novel coronavirus, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Olfactory and taste dysfunction is common in patients infected by the novel coronavirus. In light of the emergence of different coronavirus variants, it is important to update the prevalence and pathophysiology of these side effects. In this review, articles published on the prevalence of olfactory and taste dysfunction from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their possible pathophysiologic mechanisms have been reviewed and reported. The modulatory role of different SARS-CoV-2 variants on the chemical senses is then described. The clinical relevance of chemical sense disorder and its long-term morbidity and management is also discussed.
Maintaining iron homeostasis is of great importance to the growing fetus and neonates. There is no consensus as to whether the neonates iron status is determined by fetal demands or by maternal iron status. There is no conclusive data confirming the likelihood of neonates born to anemic mothers suffering from compromised iron status. Therefore the aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship of iron indices between maternal and cord blood collected from mother and infant pairs and explore the association of maternal anemia on the iron status indicators of the cord blood. This prospective study included 60 mother and newborn pairs. The study population was subdivided as anemic and non-anemic groups based on hemoglobin (Hb) levels. The maternal venous blood samples were collected 1.5 h ± 20 min before the delivery. 5 ml of cord blood was collected soon after child birth. Samples were analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin and iron. Significantly lower values of Hb, Ferritin, iron (p < 0.05) was observed in neonates born to anemic mothers when compared to the indices of neonates born to non-anemic mothers. On multivariate linear regression analysis , maternal Hb showed positive linear correlation with cord Hb and ferritin (r =0.87, p<0.05). However, correlation between maternal Hb and cord iron was not significant. Maternal anemia can effect neonatal iron stores. Lowered concentration of iron status indicators in cord blood of neonates born to anemic mothers indicates that fetal iron transfer may be dependent on that of the iron stores of the mothers. However, this process may involve complex factors.
Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form or inadequate amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in large numbers of red blood cells being destroyed, which leads to anemia. Depending on the type of mutated globin, there are two types of thalassemia: Alpha-(α-) thalassemia and beta-(β-) thalassemia. It is estimated that around 9 million people suffering from thalassemia become pregnant every year worldwide, of which 1.33 million are at risk of developing severe thalassemia disorder. Thalassemia is a problem in the health sector in many Middle East and North Africa (MENA), region Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Countries in the MENA region, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the UAE, have higher prevalence of β-thalassemia and carriers than α-thalassemia. The UAE has the most prevalence of thalassemia carrier among all the MENA countries, due to a huge rate of consanguineous marriage. The UAE government has initiated various measure to reduce the incidences of thalassemia among which one such program included launching of a national campaign in 2008 to promote premarital screening that provides non-instructive genetic counseling to non-at-risk couples. Despite various measures of the thalassemia premarital screening program, the premarital screening program has not been able to effectively reduce the frequency of marriages in high-risk couples in UAE. The study concludes that targeting young people and raising awareness of thalassemia and increasing its burden may reduce inter-carrier marriage and reduce the incidence of such disorders.
Radiation therapy is used as the primary treatment for cancer. Eighty percent of cancer patients require radiation therapy during treatment or for medical purposes. During treatment, radiation causes various biological defects in the cells. The prevalence of cytotoxicity limits the dose used for effective treatment. This method is designed to strike a balance between removing cancer cells and protecting normal tissues. Unfortunately, effective radiation is unavailable once acute toxicity occurs during clinical radiation therapy. Therefore, a lot of research interest is needed in the discovery of radioprotective drugs to accelerate treatment to reduce this toxicity (i.e., normal tissue toxicity to cancer cell death). Radiation protectors may be chemicals or drugs that minimize the damage caused due to radiation therapy in living organisms. The determination of effective and nontoxic radiation protection is an essential goal for radiation oncologists and basic radiobiologists. However, despite the advantages, many radioprotectors were found to have disadvantages which include cost, less duration, toxicity, and effect on the central nervous system. Therefore in recent years, the focus has been diverted to finding out optimal natural products to act as radioprotectors. Natural radiation protectors are plant compounds that protect normal (noncancerous) cells from damage from radiation therapy. Natural herbal products are nontoxic with proven therapeutic benefits and have long been used to treat various diseases. In conclusion, we find that there are various radiation protectors with different purposes and mechanisms of action.
Introduction and Aim: Diabetic foot ulcers are common complications seen in diabetic patients. Treatment of this disabling foot sore remains a challenge to health care professionals. This study aimed at evaluating whether the neutrophils from type 2 diabetic patients with foot ulcers present an impairment of phagocytic index and impairment in respiratory burst. We also aimed at understanding whether the impairment in neutrophil phagocytic activity can be alleviated with short course of standard treatment regime for foot ulcers. Methodology: For this case-controled study, 43 participants with type 2 diabetes (18 with foot ulcers and 25 without foot ulcers) were prospectively recruited along with 18 healthy volunteers. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils and respiratory burst of neutrophils was assessed along with ESR, percentage neutrophil counts before and after 2 weeks of standard treatment for foot ulcers. Results: Neutrophils of type 2 diabetic patients (with and without foot ulcers ) showed lower levels of phagocytic index and lower percentage of respiratory burst on comparison with non-diabetic subjects. Furthermore, on receiving treatment for foot ulcers, a significant improvement in neutrophil phagocytic indices were observed, along with improvement in wound ulcer score. Conclusion: Phagocytic activity of the neutrophils is impaired in type 2 diabetics (with and without foot ulcers). Neutrophil phagocytic indices can be improved on glycemic control. Additionally, improvement in neutrophil phagocytic indices after short course treatment for foot ulcers can be useful markers to predict treatment efficacy and in prognosis of diabetic foot ulcers.
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