ABSTRACT
Destructive outcomes of coronavirus pandemic call for medical research which can report all of the influential agents not only for the treatment of the disease but also preventing its severe impacts on the societal health in the most efficient manner. Zinc plays an integral role in the function of cellular enzymes and transcription factors. Owing to its anti-inflammatory and cellular immunity regulation activity, zinc is regarded to be effective on strengthening the immune system. Its crucial antiviral effects have long been established as well. Studies suggest that low serum zinc level predisposes the patient to severe COVID-19 infection, which makes patient's zinc profile a potential determinant of prognosis and severity of this disease. Furthermore, zinc supplementation has indicated promising outcomes of coronavirus infection management. Zinc modulates cell-mediated immunity and participates in the killing of microorganisms in cytotoxic immune cells. Zn2+ has anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting IL-6 production. Although there is still not enough evidence, it seems that zinc could be a promising supplementary treatment for COVID-19 especially in zinc-deficient patients. The aim of this review is to clarify the role of zinc in pathogenesis and therapy of COVID-19 in detail. © 2022 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on the psychological state of society and has made the importance of planning evidence-based interventions even more apparent. Despite advances in telecommunication technologies to facilitate access to psychological care, the use of this technology in psychology has been limited and few studies have been conducted in this field. The present study is the first controlled trial of applying video-teleconferencing to use parent-child interaction therapy in Iranian society. Patients and Methods: In a pilot randomized controlled trial, during May to November 2020 and from families with a mother with non-metastatic cancer, 42 parents and children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) were selected through purposive sampling method and were assigned into two groups of internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy (I-PCIT) and waiting list (WL). After three weeks of baseline evaluation, twelve weekly I-PCIT sessions were presented to the experimental group in the form of video-teleconferencing based on Landers and Bratton model. The data were analyzed by semi-parametric test of Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE). Results: The primary outcome showed that I-PCIT had a significant effect on all three motor, cognitive and non-planning impulsiveness components of children (all's p<0.05). The secondary outcome showed that changes in the three components of impulsivity persisted until the follow-up stage (all's p<0.05). Conclusions: Given the cost-effectiveness and easy access to the Internet model of this treatment, the application of new technology in teaching parent-child interaction in Pandemic of COVID-19 seems to have a promising and growing role.