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The article is devoted to the global problems of modern medicine - HIV infection and the COVID-19 pandemic. The review of the literature highlights current ideas about the pathogenesis and course of COVID-19 in patients with HIV infection, and also touches upon the problems of concomitant pathology and mental health of patients with HIV in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been shown that HIV-positive patients are a risk group for the severe course of COVID-19, in particular, individuals with severe immunodeficiency (CD4+ T lymphocytes 200 cells/l) due to the development of synergetic lung damage by SARS-CoV-2 and secondary infectious agents such as cytomegalovirus and Pneumocystis carinii. It has been proven that one of the targets of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is CD4+ T cells, which in COVID-19 leads to a more rapid progression of immunodeficiency in patients with HIV infection and, thus, significantly increases the risk of secondary diseases and death. Particular attention should be paid to middle-aged and elderly people living with HIV, who, compared with HIV-negative patients, are more likely to have concomitant pathology - arterial hypertension, cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, which are the risk factors for severe COVID-19. The results of studies on the effect of antiretroviral drugs on the course of COVID-19 showed that HIV-infected patients receiving tenofovir + emtricitabine have a lower risk of severe COVID-19 and associated hospitalization than patients receiving other HIV treatment regimens. Clinical and preclinical data support the potential use of tenofovir in the treatment of novel coronavirus infection.
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Introduction and objective:The latest scientific reports showed that there is a relationship between the state of the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system, and the incidence of COVID-19. Diet can exert an immunomodulatory effect and regulate the immune response of an organism. The aim of the review is to show the effects of immunomodulators contained/supplemented in a diet on the infection SARS-CoV-2 and the course of COVID-19. Review methods:The literature review was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and the Medline database. Abbreviated description of the state of knowledge:Regular vitamin D supplementation significantly reduces the risk of respiratory infection with SARS-CoV-2;vitamin C may inhibit the expression of the ACE2 receptor in human small alveolar epithelial cells and limit the penetration of SARS-CoV-2;reduced iron levels predispose people to severe COVID-19 symptoms;selenium deficiency may be responsible for a decreased level of antibodies and NK cell cytotoxicity. Alo.. vera isolated polysaccharides strengthens the immune system;the quercetin and ellagic acid in combination with virus proteins show potential antiviral activity against SARSCoV- 2. Subsequently, adaptogens, ginger, echinacea and curcumin - showed anti-inflammatory effects. Also, the optimal composition of the gut microbiota improved/maintained the integrity of the lymphoid tissue found in the gastrointestinal tract (GALT) and the functioning of the gut-pulmonary axis. Summary:Natural immunomodulators may be a relatively safe therapeutic option in patients during the course of COVID-19, but there are still no official recommendations for their practical use in therapy. It should be emphasized that there is a need for further scientific research into the mechanisms of action and efficacy of phytotherapy in the context of the effectiveness of plant-based immunostimulants in alleviating the course of COVID-19 disease.
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Background and Objective: Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a life-threatening factor worldwide. Identifying the characteristics of the affected population helps to identify risk factors and determine more effective treatment goals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the demographic characteristics and clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in West Mazandaran hospitals. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 758 patients admitted to the COVID care unit using the census method. The research population was all COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the internal wards, intensive care unit, and ward 550 (for COVID-19 patients) of hospitals from February 13 to May 20, 2021. Data were collected from the care monitoring center and using a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests through SPSS 22. Findings: Totally, 52.1% and 47.9% of COVID-19 patients were men and women, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of patients' age were 59.77 ..18.22 years. The most common clinical signs were fever (53.7%) and cough (46.3%). There was a statistically significant relationship between contracting COVID-19 and presence of immune-mediated diseases associated with cancer (p=0.0001), diabetes (p=0.008), immune system diseases (p=0.001), heart disease (p=0.0001) and hypertension (p=0.0001) in the studied patients based on treatment outcome (discharge and death). Conclusion: Old age and underlying diseases put people at higher risk for COVID-19. It is recommended that these people should be given more attention.
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These proceedings contain 78 articles focusing on the following themes: asthma immunology;SARS-COV-2;neuroimmunoendocrinology and immunopharmacology;immunology of infectious and parasitic diseases;immunogenetics, genomics and proteomics;and immunodeficiency and immunopathology.
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This issue contains 10 articles that discuss: immune system and allergies;vaccinations;prophylactic and therapeutic management in immunodeficiency;immunology;therapy planning;sarcoidosis and berylliosis;innovations in drug therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus;and antibody therapy in patients with COVID-19.
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A prominent issue for patients with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is obesity. Some reports claim that obese patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome have better outcomes. This inverse relationship has been termed the obesity paradox and is not yet understood in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to investigate the obesity paradox in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU. In this retrospective observational study, 5230 patients with COVID-19, admitted to the ICU between June 1, 2020, and January 10, 2021, were analyzed. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated according to the World Health Organization classification, and patients were categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese for statistical analysis. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Cox regression model, and dose-response relationship between BMI level and ICU length of stay (LOS) and connection to the ventilator survival were conducted. Of the 5230 patients studied, 3233 (62%) had nonobese BMIs, and 2997 (38%) were obese. We found no significant difference in mortality between obese and nonobese patients with COVID-19, where 1699 patients (31%) survived. However, there were significant differences in BMI level for ICU LOS and ventilation duration (P < 0.05, P < 0.03). In multivariable Cox regression, significant differences were observed in ICU LOS and ventilation duration of patients between obese and nonobese patients (P < 0.001, P < 0.005). There was no association between BMI and survival among patients with LOS in the ICU LOS or connection to a ventilator. However, obese patients with COVID-19 require more care than nonobese patients because of additional comorbidities, higher inflammation, and a weaker immune system.
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Objectives: Clinical features and risk factors are highly variable for Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Researchers investigate for the prediction of people who have high risk of developing severe illness and dying. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of obesity on the course of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 were retrospectively screened between March 11 and April 30. Anthropometric measures including standing height and body weight were measured at admission. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and patients were classified into three groups as BMI< 25, BMI 25-29.99, and BMI30 according to the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity in Turkey.
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The infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 may result in a series of skin damages. In addition, some patients report the re-activation of the varicella-zoster virus, which might be related to T cell immune dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recently, studies reported herpes zoster occurrence after inoculating the COVID-19 vaccine. At present, the mechanism of interaction between COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine and herpes zoster remains unclear, and more high-quality studies are required to further define the relationship.
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Type-I interferons (IFNs) mediate antiviral activity and have emerged as important immune mediators during coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Several lines of evidence suggest that impaired type-I IFN signaling may predispose to severe COVID-19. However, the pathophysiologic mechanisms that contribute to illness severity remain unclear. In this study, our goal was to gain insight into how type-I IFNs influence outcomes in patients with COVID-19. To achieve this goal, we compared clinical outcomes between 26 patients with neutralizing type-I IFN autoantibodies (AAbs) and 192 patients without AAbs who were hospitalized for COVID-19 at three Italian hospitals. The presence of circulating AAbs to type-I IFNs was associated with an increased risk of admission to the intensive care unit and a delayed time to viral clearance. However, survival was not adversely affected by the presence of type-I IFN AAbs. Our findings provide further support for the role of type-I IFN AAbs in impairing host antiviral defense and promoting the development of critical COVID-19 pneumonia in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-infected individuals.