Is Fatty Liver Associated with Increased Mortality and Morbidity in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pneumonia?

Background: Fatty liver has been shown to be associated with severe COVID-19 disease without any impact on mortality. This is based on heterogenous criteria for defining both fatty liver as well as the severity parameters. This study aimed to study the impact of fatty liver on the mortality and severity of disease in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: In a case control study design, patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (COVID-19 computed tomography severity index [CTSI] on high-resolution computed tomography chest of ≥1) with fatty liver (defined as liver to spleen attenuation index ≤5 on noncontrast computed tomography cuts of upper abdomen) were compared with those without fatty liver. The primary outcome measure was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcome measures were CTSI score, need for intensive care unit (ICU) care, need for ventilatory support, duration of ICU stay, and duration of hospital stay. Results: Of 446 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 289 (64.7%)admitted to Max Hospital, Saket, India, between January 1, 2021, and October 30, 2021, had fatty liver. Fifty-nine of 446 patients died during the index admission. In-hospital mortality was not different between patients with fatty liver (38 [13.24%]) or without fatty liver (21 [13.81%]). COVID-19 CTSI score was found to be significantly higher among patients who had fatty liver (13.40 [5.16] vs 11.81 [5.50]; P = 0.003). There was no difference in the requirement of ICU (94 [32%] vs 62 [39.49%]; P = 0.752), requirement of ventilatory support (27 [9.34%] vs 14 [8.91%]; P = 0.385), duration of ICU stay (8.29 [6.87] vs 7.07 [5.71] days; P = 0.208), and duration of hospital stay (10.10 [7.14] vs 10.69 [8.13] days; P = 0.430) between the groups with fatty liver or no fatty liver. Similarly, no difference was found in primary or secondary outcomes measure between the group with severe fatty liver vs mild/moderate or no fatty liver. High total leucocyte count and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were independently associated with mortality. Conclusions: Fatty liver may not be associated with increased mortality or clinical morbidity in patients who have COVID-19 pneumonia.

COVID-19, cytokines, inflammation, and spices: How are they related?

BACKGROUND: Cytokine storm is the exaggerated immune response often observed in viral infections. It is also intimately linked with the progression of COVID-19 disease as well as associated complications and mortality. Therefore, targeting the cytokine storm might help in reducing COVID-19-associated health complications. The number of COVID-19 associated deaths (as of January 15, 2021; https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) in the USA is high (1199/million) as compared to countries like India (110/million). Although the reason behind this is not clear, spices may have some role in explaining this difference. Spices and herbs are used in different traditional medicines, especially in countries such as India to treat various chronic diseases due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. AIM: To evaluate the literature available on the anti-inflammatory properties of spices which might prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 associated cytokine storm. METHOD: A detailed literature search has been conducted on PubMed for collecting information pertaining to the COVID-19; the history, origin, key structural features, and mechanism of infection of SARS-CoV-2; the repurposed drugs in use for the management of COVID-19, and the anti-inflammatory role of spices to combat COVID-19 associated cytokine storm. KEY FINDINGS: The literature search resulted in numerous in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials that have reported the potency of spices to exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating crucial molecular targets for inflammation. SIGNIFICANCE: As spices are derived from Mother Nature and are inexpensive, they are relatively safer to consume. Therefore, their anti-inflammatory property can be exploited to combat the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. This review thus focuses on the current knowledge on the role of spices for the treatment of COVID-19 through suppression of inflammation-linked cytokine storm.

Radiographic features of COVID-19 infection at presentation and significance of chest X-ray: Early experience from a super-specialty hospital in India.

BACKGROUND: Due to the relative early lockdown in India, relative greater availability of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing, and mandate to admit all positive corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the protocol in our hospital is to perform a baseline chest X-ray (CXR) at the time of admission and for follow up. There are currently limited publications demonstrating the radiographic findings and the role of CXR of COVID-19 patients at presentation. AIMS: Evaluatethe radiographic findings on CXR in COVID-19 patients at presentation. Recommend a guideline for its judicious use. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retroprospective study performed on RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in our hospital between March 31,2020 to May 25, 2020. The study included symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. CXR was performed for218 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Portable bedside CXR was performed. The CXRs were evaluated by three radiologists to record the findings and grade the disease. All variables were expressed as mean, ranges, counts, and percentages. RESULTS: 157 patients (72%) were symptomatic and 61 (28%) were asymptomatic. 104 CXRs (48%) were abnormal (97 in symptomatic (62%) and fourin asymptomatic (6%)). 74 patients (47%) in the symptomatic group had known comorbidities and of these, 62 (84%) had abnormal CXR. 97 CXRs (93%) had bilateral findings and 87 CXRs (84%) had peripherally predominant abnormalities. The lower zone was the most common area of involvement (73%). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was the most common finding (94%-98 CXRs). Mild disease was seen in 56 (54%). CONCLUSION: CXR can be used to assess symptomatic COVID-19 patients at presentation and to grade the severity of disease. It may be avoided in asymptomatic patients.