Evaluation of Biochemical Characteristics in a Retrospective Cohort of COVID-19 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a significant impact on global health and healthcare systems. This retrospective study aimed to assess the association between biochemical parameters and outcomes in COVID-19 patients in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: After establishing the inclusion criteria and obtaining ethical approval, data from 156 reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 patients were collected from electronic medical records from a general hospital in Samtah, Jazan, from April 2020 to October 2021. The collected data included patient demographics and liver, kidney, heart, and electrolyte function marker levels. Descriptive, inferential, and principal component analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Survival rates varied according to age and body mass index (BMI). Statistical analysis demonstrated that the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), sodium (Na), potassium (K), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), creatine kinase (CK), CK myocardial band (MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the reference values, as assessed using the one-sample t-test. Principal component analysis (PCA) also revealed an underlying pattern in the variation of these biochemical markers. These findings suggest that certain biochemical parameters may serve as useful indicators for monitoring the condition of COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study in Jazan, Saudi Arabia highlights the association between biochemical parameters and outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Elevated levels of markers of liver, kidney, heart, and electrolyte function suggest organ damage and dysregulation. The pattern identified through PCA provides insights into disease severity. Monitoring these parameters may serve as valuable indicators for assessing COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to validate these findings, explore their potential for personalized treatment strategies, and improve patient outcomes during the ongoing pandemic.

Advancements in Vaccine Adjuvants: The Journey from Alum to Nano Formulations.

Vaccination is a groundbreaking approach in preventing and controlling infectious diseases. However, the effectiveness of vaccines can be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of adjuvants, which are substances that potentiate and modulate the immune response. This review is based on extensive searches in reputable databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The goal of this review is to provide a thorough analysis of the advances in the field of adjuvant research, to trace the evolution, and to understand the effects of the various adjuvants. Historically, alum was the pioneer in the field of adjuvants because it was the first to be approved for use in humans. It served as the foundation for subsequent research and innovation in the field. As science progressed, research shifted to identifying and exploiting the potential of newer adjuvants. One important area of interest is nano formulations. These advanced adjuvants have special properties that can be tailored to enhance the immune response to vaccines. The transition from traditional alum-based adjuvants to nano formulations is indicative of the dynamism and potential of vaccine research. Innovations in adjuvant research, particularly the development of nano formulations, are a promising step toward improving vaccine efficacy and safety. These advances have the potential to redefine the boundaries of vaccination and potentially expand the range of diseases that can be addressed with this approach. There is an optimistic view of the future in which improved vaccine formulations will contribute significantly to improving global health outcomes.

Correlation between Resistin, Tuberculosis and Khat Addiction: A Study from South Western Province of Saudi Arabia.

Tuberculosis(TB) is a disease of global significance, which accounts for a death in every 15 seconds. Recent studies shows TB is rising in certain parts of the world, and Saudi Arabia is one of them. Several factor contribute in predisposing the subjects for infection including but not limited to addiction to various compounds which have immune modulation properties, such as amphetamines and Heroin etc. Khat a plant whose leaves are chewed for its euphoric effect in east Africa and Arabian Peninsula including Saudi Arabia, is considered as mildly addictive, and its principle compound, Cathinone shares structural and functional similarity with amphetamine a known immunomodulator. Tuberculosis being a disease of immune modulation has a varied spectrum of complex interplay of proinflammatory molecules, resistin is one of them. In the present study, we try to explore the trinity of khat addiction, serum resistin level and tuberculosis by correlating the serum resistin level in non khat addicted healthy subjects, khat addicted healthy subjects, and in patients, both khat addicted and non khat addicted, with active tuberculosis. We observed significantly higher resistin level among the apparently healthy khat addicted subjects as compared to non addicted healthy controls. Thereafter, when we compare the resistin levels between khat addicted and non khat addicted TB patients we did not found significant difference between the two groups. However bacillary load was observe to be significantly higher among the khat addicted TB patient as compare to non addicted one. Validation of above results in animal model revealed dose dependant increase in bacillary growth in the Wistar rats treated with khat. Taken together these results suggest the role of khat in immune modulation albeit in the limited frame of resistin level.

Prevalence of antibacterial resistant bacterial contaminants from mobile phones of hospital inpatients.

Mobile phones contaminated with bacteria may act as fomites. Antibiotic resistant bacterial contamination of mobile phones of inpatients was studied. One hundred and six samples were collected from mobile phones of patients admitted in various hospitals in Jazan province of Saudi Arabia. Eighty-nine (83.9%) out of 106 mobile phones were found to be contaminated with bacteria. Fifty-two (49.0%) coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, 12 (11.3%) Staphylococcus aureus, 7 (6.6%) Enterobacter cloacae, 3 (2.83%) Pseudomonas stutzeri, 3 (2.83%) Sphingomonas paucimobilis, 2 (1.8%) Enterococcus faecalis and 10 (9.4%) aerobic spore bearers were isolated. All the isolated bacteria were found to be resistant to various antibiotics. Hence, regular disinfection of mobile phones of hospital inpatients is advised.