Background The long-term health consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still unclear. The majority of previous trials addressed the post-COVID-19 symptoms through comprehensive medical questionnaires for relatively short periods after recovery. We tried to detect the potential pathological clinical signs and biochemical residue which persist for more than 3 months after the negative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test of SARS-CoV-2. Results Among 120 COVID-19 survivors of mean age 38.29 and 55.6% male proportion, systolic blood pressure was significantly elevated (P=0.001). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer showed higher values in COVID-19 survivors (P< 0.001). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl trans-peptidase (GGT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly elevated in contrast to serum albumin that was reduced in COVID-19 survivors (P ≤0.001). Serum lipase, amylase and albuminuria were higher in COVID-19 survivors (P ≤0.001). Regression analysis (AOR, 95% CI) showed that ESR (P = 0.014), haemoglobin concentration (P = 0.039), serum lipase (P= 0.018), blood urea nitrogen (P= 0.003), albuminuria (P= 0.046), 25(OH) vitamin D (P= 0.002), and serum uric acid (P= 0.005) were the significant predictors of COVID-19 survivors (94.8% an overall prediction). Conclusion COVID-19 survivors experienced residual significant clinical and biochemical alterations that necessitate comprehensive medical care and close follow-up for longer periods.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a major public health challenge worldwide. It affects more than half of the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). It may progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and carcinoma. The sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) may improve hepatic steatosis. We aimed to estimate the effect of empagliflozin or dapagliflozin versus conventional treatment on fatty liver status in patients with concomitant T2D and NAFLD over 24 weeks. Results: We found a significant improvement of the fatty liver index (FLI) with a significant reduction of the bodyweight, body mass index, waist circumference, ALT, AST, GGT, AST to ALT ratio, lipid profile, and lipid profile ratios in both SGLT2 inhibitors groups versus the conventional treatment group. Post hoc analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the SGLT2 inhibitors groups (dapagliflozin versus empagliflozin). Conclusion: SGLT2 inhibitors, empagliflozin and dapagliflozin, exert a beneficial effect on the fatty liver index of diabetic patients with NAFLD.

No abstract

Background. Telocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells that play a vital role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis and colonic tissue hemostasis. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nanocurcumin (NC) on the morphometric and immunohistochemical characterization of TCs in the ulcerative colitis (UC) rat model. Methods. Forty rats were randomly divided into control, NC, UC, and UC+NC groups. At the end of the experiment, the colon was dissected and prepared for histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment. Tissue homogenates were prepared for real-time PCR assessment of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) gene expression. Our results revealed extensive mucosal damage with inflammatory cell infiltration, significant reduction of CD34, and vimentin immunostained TCs in the colon of the UC group with significant elevation of expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β. The UC+NC-treated group revealed significant elevation of TC count compared to the UC group besides, a significant reduction of the three gene expression. Conclusion. NC successfully targeted the colonic tissue, improved the mucosal lesion, preserve TCs distribution, and count through its anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties.

No abstract