ABSTRACT
Leptospirosis is an uncommon infectious illness - a spirochetal zoonosis - caused by Leptospira species and the primary cause of human leptospirosis is exposure to the urine of infected rodents. Clinical manifestations of human leptospirosis are diverse, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe life-threatening with multiorgan dysfunction. The severe condition is known as Weil's disease, which is characterized by feverish illness with jaundice, acute kidney damage, and bleeding. The aim of this case report was to present a Weil's disease which occurred simultaneously with a community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) resulting in serious complications. A 41-year-old man with Weil's disease, as well as CAP caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, and septic shock was presented. The patient was treated accordingly after establishing the diagnosis through history taking, physical examination, and laboratory tests. In this instance, the score for diagnosing leptospirosis based on Modified Faine's Criteria was calculated resulting possible diagnoses; and therefore, therapeutic management was initiated. Despite presenting with severe symptoms, the patient recovered completely after receiving antibiotics and supportive care. This study highlights that when a patient has Weil's disease and a CAP infection, which could cause unfavorable consequence, a prompt diagnosis and proper treatment could result satisfied patient recovery.
Subject(s)
Community-Acquired Infections , Multiple Organ Failure , Shock, Septic , Weil Disease , Humans , Adult , Male , Shock, Septic/diagnosis , Shock, Septic/microbiology , Community-Acquired Infections/diagnosis , Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology , Multiple Organ Failure/diagnosis , Weil Disease/diagnosis , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Pneumonia/diagnosis , Pneumonia/microbiologyABSTRACT
N-acetylcysteine has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that could potentially improve the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. N-acetylcysteine potentially inhibits NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) inflammasome and results in control oxidative stress and cytokine release in COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of N-acetylcysteine in reducing the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in COVID-19 patients. A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among severe and moderate COVID-19 patients. The treatment group received oral 1200 mg daily of N-acetylcysteine (three times a day) and the standard care for COVID-19, while the control group received standard care for COVID-19 and a placebo. The NLR was determined on the first day of admission and after the seventh day of treatment. A paired Student t-test was used to compare the NLR before and after treatment while independent Student t-test was used to compare the NLR between treatment and control groups. A total of 40 severe and moderate COVID-19 were enrolled, 20 people in each group, with a mean age was 44.68±13.24 years old. The mean NLR on the first day was 9.44 in the treatment group and 8.84 in the control group. After the seventh day, the mean NLR was 4.27 and 11.54 in the treatment group and control group, respectively. The mean changes of NLR (the pre-treatment compared to post-treatment) in the treatment and control group were reduced 4.05 and increased 3.34, respectively. The NLR in treatment group significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.001). In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine 1200 mg daily could reduce the NLR in severe and moderate COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is associated with significant poor survival. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) therapy has been a promising treatment for COPD; therefore, it has the potential to be an additional therapy for AECOPD. Its potential is associated with its secretome since it has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator activities. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the secretome as an adjuvant therapy in reducing the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), procalcitonin, and the length of stay in AECOPD patients. A clinical control trial study was conducted among 28 moderate and severe AECOPD patients who were hospitalized from January to February 2023. The control group (n=14) received standard therapy of AECOPD while the treatment group (n=14) received standard therapy plus secretome 1 ml twice daily for three days. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and procalcitonin were measured at admission and on the fourth day of treatment. The length of stay was calculated from the time the patient was admitted until the patient was discharged from hospital. The data were compared using a paired Student t-test, chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney test as appropriate. In the treatment group, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin after the treatment reduced 13.09 pg/mL, 5.00 pg/mL and 751.26 pg/mL, respectively compared to pre-treatment. In contrast, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin increased 48.56 pg/mL, 44.48 pg/mL and 346.96 pg/mL, respectively after four days of treatment. There was a significant reduction of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin in treatment group compared to the control group with p=0.022, p=0.009 and p=0.001, respectively. However, there was no significant reduction of the length of stay (p=0.072). In conclusion, administration of secretome to AECOPD patients could reduce the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and procalcitonin.
