Relationship between physical activity, healthy lifestyle and COVID-19 disease severity; a cross-sectional study.

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency, and therefore the prevention and treatment of this disease is an important priority of world health. In the present study, some risk factors, including unhealthy nutrition, obesity, and physical inactivity, were assessed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, and their effects on the severity and duration of disease were evaluated. Subject and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from all patients who visited the respiratory emergency department from March 20, 2020 to April 24, 2020 in the University Hospital. The outcome measures were body mass index, diet quality that was evaluated with a 16-item food intake questionnaire, and physical activity level that was assessed by the global physical activity questionnaire. Results: Two hundred and six patients' data was analyzed. The results investigated that patients with lower levels of physical activity or lower MET.min/week were affected by a more severe form of the disease (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). We found that patients with a healthier dietary pattern were affected by lower severity of illness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that increasing levels of physical activity may partly reduce the severity of COVID-19 disease. Some dietary patterns such as increasing fruit and poultry consumption as well as drinking less tea were correlated significantly with a less severe form of the disease. The results did not confirm previous concerns regarding a potentially harmful effect of smoking on the severity or duration of symptoms.

Disseminated TB in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis considered as a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, may invade all organs but mainly affects the lungs. Overall, disseminated TB is rare in immunocompetent patients and its association with seborrheic keratosis has never been reported. ; Case Presentation: We reported a 54-year-old man with a complaint prolonged fever, abdominal pain, weight loss and lymphadenopathy without any immunosuppression who was eventually treated based on the diagnosis of diffuse tuberculosis.

Brucella Pneumonia with Systemic Complications and Pancytopenia: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Iran, which is regarded as an endemic region for brucellosis, ranks second in brucella prevalence in the world. Pulmonary involvement is a rare complication of brucellosis. In this article, we aimed to report a case of systemic brucellosis complicated with brucella pneumonia. ; Case Presentation: A 39-years-old man was referred to the emergency department with weakness, productive coughs and severe weight loss during 8 months. Agglutination tests for brucellosis showed high titers suggestive for brucella infection. After 6 days of treatment, the patients' clinical state improved significantly. ; Conclusion: The patient had systemic signs and bone marrow suppression with pulmonary involvement that his diagnosis confirmed with delay after one year, but with treatment, he had a very good outcome.

Multifocal Osteolytic Lesions in Skull Bone with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Bone Tuberculosis of the skull base as well as maxillofacial and oral cavity involvement can rarely and only occur in about 3% of the cases with systemic diseases or in case of pulmonary involvement. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old patient with fever and swelling in his face and neck referred to our center. After MRI and CT scan, it was revealed that multiple erosions and destructions are seen in the Hard Palate bones, as well as the pre-maxillary process, alveolar ridge, and the floor of maxillary sinus on both sides. In the Ziel Nelson staining, there were 5 Acid-fast bacilli in each field. The patient received standard anti-tuberculosis and clarithromycin therapy. In the follow-up three months later, the patient's condition improved and MRI showed significant remission. CONCLUSION: The present case confirms that tuberculosis may occur in patients with skull bone involvement and osteolytic lesions whose early diagnosis and treatment can result in gaining good outcomes.

Prevalence of COVID-19-like Symptoms among People Living with HIV, and Using Antiretroviral Therapy for Prevention and Treatment.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 200 PLWH were recruited through the positive club via sampling, and completed the symptom-based questionnaire for COVID-19, which was delivered by trained peers. RESULTS: Of 200 participants, respiratory symptoms, including cough, sputum, and shortness of breath, were the most prevalent among participants, but only one person developed symptoms collectively suggested COVID-19 and sought treatments. CONCLUSION: It appears that existing infection with HIV or receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) might reduce the susceptibility to the infection with SARS-CoV-2 or decrease the severity of the infection acquired. Further research is needed to understand causal mechanisms.