ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: In this study, double-vortex-ultrasonic assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DVUDLLME) was applied to determine the concentration of vitamin B9, 5-methyl tetrahydrofolate (5-MeTHF) and vitamin B12 in human serum samples. METHODS: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with DVUDLLME was applied to analyze vitamins B in patients with Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Then, significant variables were chosen and optimized using the hybrid Box-Behnken design and genetic algorithm. RESULTS: The detection limits of DVUDLLME-HPLC were 0.21 ng mL-1, 0.18 ng mL-1 and 55 pgmL-1 for vitamin B9, 5-MeTHF and vitamin B12, respectively. Subsequently, DVUDLLME-HPLC was applied to measure B vitamins and investigated their possible roles in susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Fifty-seven percent of the patients without an underlying disease have significantly lower serum vitamin B12 levels in comparison to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of this method are low detection limit, simple preparation, low retention time and the use of a cheaper technique instead of expensive mass detectors. The results suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency may decrease the immune system defenses against COVID-19 patients without an underlying disease and cause the disease to become severe. However, these works need a large population and further research, such as a randomized trial and a cohort study.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Liquid Phase Microextraction , Vitamin B Complex , Humans , Liquid Phase Microextraction/methods , Ultrasonics , Cohort Studies , COVID-19/epidemiology , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Vitamin B 12 , Folic Acid , Algorithms , Limit of DetectionABSTRACT
Background: Acute viral gastroenteritis is a major source of morbidity and mortality in young children. The purpose of the study was to investigate the frequency and cause of acute gastroenteritis in children admitted to the Ilam hospital in Iran. Materials and Methods: 103 children suffering from acute diarrhea suspected of viral infections were included. Stool samples were collected and the prevalence rate of common viruses such as Rotavirus, Norovirus G1/G11, Astrovirus, Sapovirus, Adenovirus (multiplex) Picornavirus, Picobirnavirus, Torovirus, Bocavirus, and Coronavirus was determined by multiplex PCR- based, and Monoplex assay. Results: The viruses that cause the symptoms, were detected in 37 out of the 103 cases, that 2 cases were found to be co-infection. Rotavirus was detected in 17/103 Norovirus, in 13/103, Astrovirus, in 4/103, and Adenovirus, in 3/103. The percentage of Norovirus genogroups 1 and 11 were 15.4% and 84.6%, respectively. We could not detect any virus in winter. Conclusions: The viral etiology was confirmed in about one-third of the subjects. Rotavirus was the most frequently detected virus.