Six month follow-up of self-reported loss of smell during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Loss of smell and taste is now recognised as amongst the most common symptoms of COVID-19 and the best predictor of COVID-19 positivity. Long term outcomes are unknown. This study aims to investigate recovery of loss of smell and the prevalence of parosmia. METHODOLOGY: 6-month follow-up of respondents to an online surgery who self-reported loss of smell at the onset of the CO- VID-19 pandemic in the UK. Information of additional symptoms, recovery of loss of smell and the development of parosmia was collected. RESULTS: 44% of respondents reported at least one other ongoing symptom at 6 months, of which fatigue (n=106) was the most prevalent. There was a significant improvement in self-rating of severity of olfactory loss where 177 patients stated they had a normal smell of smell while 12 patients reported complete loss of smell. The prevalence of parosmia is 43.1% with median interval of 2.5 months (range 0-6) from the onset of loss of smell. CONCLUSIONS: While many patients recover quickly, some experience long-term deficits with no self-reported improvement at 6 months. Furthermore, there is a high prevalence of parosmia even in those who report at least some recovery of olfactory func- tion. Longer term evaluation of recovery is required.

IL-10 IS DOWN-REGULATED IN THE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES SUSPECTED PATIENTS, INDEPENDENT OF ANGIOGRAPHY. / RIVEN' IL-10 ZNYZhENYY̆ U PATsIIeNTIV IZ SERTsEVO-SUDYNNYMY ZAKhVORIuVANNIaMY, NEZALEZhNO VID PROVEDENNIa ANGIOGRAFIChNYKh DOSLIDZhEN'.

IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) are the important anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively, which may participate in the cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. Additionally, environmental factors, such as the X-ray, can modulate cytokine expression. Due to the fact that X-ray is used during angiography, hence, angiography may alter expression of the cytokines. OBJECTIVE: Accordingly, this project was aimed to assess IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels within cardiovascular patients (with and without vessel stenosis) versus healthy controls and also the effects of angiography on the serum levels of the cytokines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was performed on the 80 participants, including twenty cases in each group (healthy controls and cardiovascular patients without vessel stenosis, stenosis of 1 vessel and stenosis of more than 1 vessel) to evaluate IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels using ELISA technique. The IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels also compared within group 2, 3 and 4 before and after angiography to explore the effects of the technique on the IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels. RESULTS: IL-10, but not IFN-γ, serum levels were higher in the healthy controls than all cardiovascular patients. IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels were not altered after angiography and also were not differ in the smoker versus non- smoker and opium consuming versus non-opium consuming participants. CONCLUSION: Due to the results it may be concluded that IL-10 can be considered as a plausible inhibitor of cardio- vascular diseases independent of angiography duration and X-ray, however, IFN-γ has no effects in the Iranian patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Association of dietary patterns and risk of cardiovascular disease events in the MASHAD cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the principal cause of mortality and disability in Iranian adults. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and CVD incidence in a large sample of adults in northeastern Iran. METHODS: The present study comprised a prospective study of 5706 CVD-free men and women aged 35-65 years who participated in a cohort study. All of the participants were followed up for a 6-year period. Dietary patterns were derived from a 65-item validated food frequency questionnaire and the factor analysis method was used to determine dietary patterns. RESULTS: We identified two major dietary patterns: (i) a Balanced dietary pattern (a high intake of green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, dairy products, red meats, poultry, seafoods, legumes and nuts, as well as a low intake of sugar) and (ii) a Western dietary pattern (a high intake of sugar, tea, egg, snacks, fast foods, potato, carbonated beverages, pickled foods, organs meat and butter) by factor analysis. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of total CVD in the highest versus lowest tertiles of the Balanced pattern were 1.29 (95% CI = 0.67-2.47; P = 0.44). The HR and 95% CIs of CVD in the highest versus lowest tertiles of Western pattern were 2.21 (95% CI = 1.08-4.45; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: During the 6-year follow-up, we found that adherence to a Balanced dietary pattern was not significantly associated with CVD events. However, adherence to a Western dietary pattern was associated with a significantly increased risk of CVD events and its associated risk.

Serum hs-CRP varies with dietary cholesterol, but not dietary fatty acid intake in individuals free of any history of cardiovascular disease.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) concentration varies with dietary fatty acid intake in Iranian adults free of any history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This cross-sectional study involved 8105 adults (3142 men) aged 35-65 years. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recalls. The relationship between anthropometric, cardiometabolic risk factors and dietary data and serum hs-CRP was assessed using SPSS software. Median crude dietary saturated fat decreased across hs-CRP quarters (P =0.009 for linear trend), whereas energy-adjusted total fat (P =0.017), trans-fat (P =0.016), monounsaturated fatty acids (P =0.030) and cholesterol (P =0.005) monotonically increased, with some evidence of statistical interactions by gender. In conclusion, serum hs-CRP concentrations were associated with some components of dietary fatty acid intake in our population of individuals without CVD, suggesting that dietary fat intake could be associated with subclinical inflammation.

Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a biomarker in patients with metabolic syndrome: evidence-based study with 7284 subjects.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and glucose intolerance, and is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus and related diseases. Circulating levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive-protein (CRP) have reported to be associated with CVD. Against this background, the prevalence of MetS is increasing globally, and thus predictive biomarkers are required for identification of MetS patients at an increased risk. Here we explored the value of CRP as a biomarker in 7284 subjects and also investigated which features of MetS have the greatest association with the hs-CRP level. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were recruited from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder study. Anthropometric factors and biochemical parameters (for example, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides (TGs) and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) were determined. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association of hs-CRP and MetS. RESULTS: Our results illustrated that the concentration of serum hs-CRP increased progressively with the number of MetS components, and subjects who fulfilled the criteria of MetS for waist circumference, TGs, blood pressure and FBG were found to have hs-CRP of 0.53, 0.38, 0.34 and 0.71 mg/l, respectively, higher than matched-subjects. Importantly, FBG had the greatest association with hs-CRP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the significant association between MetS components with hs-CRP, indicating that this association was cumulative by increasing the number of the defining features of MetS, supporting further studies to explore the value of emerging marker as a novel method for detecting individuals at high risk of developing MetS.

[Study on the influence of whitening toothpastes on the nanocomposite material surface].

The influence of whitening toothpastes on the surface of nanocomposite dental restorative materials (24 samples divided in 3 groups according to type of toothpaste used) was studied using optical profilometry. The most significant changes on the surface roughness of the material caused abrasive whitening toothpaste in comparison to enzymes-based paste. Selection and use of whitening toothpastes in patients with dental restorations must be carried out under dentist's supervision.

Comparative measurement of ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, EGF and IGF-1 in breast milk of mothers with overweight/obese and normal-weight infants.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obese infants are more susceptible to develop adulthood obesity and its related comorbidities. Previous studies have shown the presence of hormones and growth factors in maternal breast milk that may influence infant adiposity. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in concentrations of three hormones and two growth factors in the breast milk of mothers with obese and non-obese infants. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 40 mothers with overweight or obese infants (weight for length percentile >97) and 40 age-matched mothers with normal-weight infant (-10 < weight for length percentile < 85) who were between 2 and 5 months of age were enrolled. Anthropometric indices of infants and mothers were measured by routine methods. Breast milk concentrations of ghrelin and adiponectin, leptin, epithelial growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. RESULTS: The mean breast milk concentration of ghrelin was higher in mothers with normal-weight infants, 137.50 pg/ml, than in mothers with obese infants, 132.00 pg/ml (P=0.001). This was also true regarding the concentration of EGF in mothers with (0/04 ng/ml) and without (0/038 ng/ml) normal-weight infants (P=0.01). No significant differences were observed in concentrations of leptin, adiponectin and IGF-1 between two groups (P > 0.05). There was also a significant positive correlation between EGF and ghrelin in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that there was a correlation between ghrelin and EGF level in breast milk of mothers with obese and non-obese infants, suggesting a possible regulatory effect of these two hormones on weight in infants.

The relationship between established coronary risk factors and serum copper and zinc concentrations in a large Persian cohort.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between demographic and biochemical characteristics, including several established coronary risk factors, and serum copper and zinc was assessed in a large Iranian population sample. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 2233 individuals, 15-65 years of age [1106 (49.5%) males and 1127 (50.5%) females] was recruited from residents of the Greater Khorasan province in northeast of Iran. Demographic data were collected using questionnaires. Coronary risk factors were determined using standard protocols, and trace elements were measured in serum using atomic absorption spectroscopy. RESULTS: Degree of glucose tolerance and smoking habit were not associated with serum zinc and copper levels. Serum copper levels were significantly higher in obese and hypertensive than in normal subjects (p<0.001). In the whole group and for the female subgroup, serum zinc (p<0.01) and copper (p<0.001) were both significantly lower in individuals with normal versus high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. A strong positive correlation was found between serum copper and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.85, p<0.001). Weaker positive associations were found between serum copper and calculated 10 years' coronary risk (r=0.11, p<0.001). Serum zinc/copper ratio was strongly inversely associated with calculated 10 years' coronary risk (r=-0.10, p<0.001). The partial Eta squared (PES) values for factors determining serum zinc were hypertension (0.007, p=0.01) and BMI (0.004, p=0.01); and for serum copper, they were gender (0.02, p=0.001), hypertension (0.004, p=0.009), and 10 years' coronary risk for men (0.003, p=0.03) and women (0.002, p=0.07). CONCLUSION: Significant associations between serum trace element concentrations and several coronary risk factors, including calculated 10 years' coronary risk scores, were found.

[Trends in major tuberculosis epidemiological indices in Armenia over 10 years (1997-2006)].

The authors studied statistical data on the trend in quantitative and qualitative tuberculosis epidemiological indices in Armenia in the period of 1997 to 2006. They ascertained a 1.7-fold rise in the incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis per 100,000 (from 27.8 to 48.6 and from 103.8 to 176.1), by preserving the mortality rates at the same level (4.3). However, morbidity rates have become steady-state in the past 2 years. Along with this, that was a slight deterioration in the qualitative indices--new tuberculosis cases showed increases in the proportion of destructive forms from 62.9 to 67.7%, bacteria-discharging persons from 70 to 75.9%, extrapulmonary forms from 7.3 to 9.3%, childhood morbidity from 9.6 to 19.1% with reductions in their proportion among all detected patients from 12.2 to 9.9%; an increase in the proportion of deceased persons within the first year of the disease from 20.6 to 35.0% and in postmortem diagnosis rates from 0.7 to 0.8%. The cure rates comprised an increase in cavern closure rates from 55.4 to 66%, with the preservation of bacterial discharge cessation at the level of 73-74%, a reduction in mortality rates among both new cases from 3.5 to 2.5 and the contingent of tuberculosis patients from 4.8 to 3.5%, a 3.3-fold rise in early recurrences (from 0.9 to 1.3 per 100,000). The further task of the republic's antituberculosis service, planned by the authors, is to improve work in actively detecting tuberculosis in risk groups and treatment monitoring in patients with tuberculosis.

[Prediction of a risk for drug resistance in the pathogen of pulmonary tuberculosis].

The authors studied the spread of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis was studied in Armenia and its association with risk factors in 1114 patients with positive bacterial culture and developed a mathematical method for early detection of a risk of its developed, which had been tested in 210 patients. Over 3 years (2002-2004), there was a rise in multiple drug resistance from 8.83 to 10.03% and polyresistance from 5.61 to 7.67%, a reduction in monoresistance from 8.68 to 6.96%; among new cases, there was an increase in multiple resistance from 3.23 to 6.59%, polyresistance from 4.42 to 7.01% and a decrease in monoresistance from 8.73 to 6.74%. For estimation of the value of clinical, laboratory, and social risk factors, the authors complied a rapid diagnostic table (RDT) that reflected 16 signs. Fischer's angular transformation method and stage-by-stage computer-aided analysis were analyzed, by detecting the diagnostic coefficients and informative value of signs, which was based on Wald's analysis called a heterogeneous sequential statistical recognition procedure. Testing this procedure indicated that their data was concordant with the results of bacterial cultures. The use of the proposed procedure make is possible in any conditions to predict the possible development of drug resistance and to take measures of its prevention.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iran and its relationship with gender, urbanisation, education, marital status and occupation.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its relationship between gender, urbanisation, education, marital status and occupation in the Iranian population. METHODS: A total of 3,778 men and women aged between 15 and 64 years were recruited by using a cluster-stratified sampling method from Khorasan province, northeast Iran. Using an interviewer-administrated questionnaire, demographical data including gender, urbanisation, education, marital status and occupation was collected. Anthropometrical and biochemical measurements were taken for each subject. Associations of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other variables were tested for significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (defined as fasting blood sugar equal to or more than 126 mg/dL) was 5.5 percent, and the prevalence in men and women was 5.1 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, with a significantly higher prevalence among urban dwellers (seven percent) compared to that of the rural subgroup (three percent, p-value is less than 0.001). Diabetes mellitus was found to be most prevalent among the older age group (age more than 60 years, 10.9 percent), those who were retired (14.4 percent), and illiterate (6.1 percent, p-value is less than 0.001). Marital status was not significantly related to diabetes mellitus (p-value equals 0.09). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is related to some sociodemographical factors within the Iranian population. Thus the preventive strategies should be based on the affective factors. The urbanisation of the population with the migration of people from rural to urban areas may account in part for the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iran.

[Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in children and adolescents in Armenia].

In Armenia, the incidence of tuberculosis among children aged less than 18 years increased by 53.2% (from 7.9 to 12.1% per 100,000 inhabitants) in 1993 to 2003. On the contrary, the proportion of children and adolescents among all the patients decreased by almost twice (from 13.4 to 8.1%), which is largely due to the reduction in birth rates and to the inadequate detection of minor and local forms of primary tuberculosis. The clinical composition of tuberculosis in 1270 examined patients was the following: tuberculosis of respiratory organs (82.9%); its extrapulmonary forms (14.4%); tuberculous intoxication (2.7%); a concomitance of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (5%). The boy-girl ratio was 2:1. Tuberculosis of intrathoracic lymph nodes was predominant in children aged less than 14 years; infiltrative tuberculosis was prevalent in adolescents. Lung tissue destruction was observed in 15.7%; Mycobacterium tuberculosis was found in 10.2% of the patients. 49.9% of the patients were from the foci of tuberculosis; half of these cases were from the hidden foci of this infection.

[Analysis of tuberculosis mortality in Armenia]. / Analiz smertnosti tuberkulezom v Armenii.

The outpatient and patient histories were analyzed in 198 dead patients with tuberculosis. Particular concern is caused by an increase in mortality due to tuberculosis within a month after its detection. Clinically, there are predominant patients with progressive destructive forms of the disease. A total of 86.4% of the patients died directly from tuberculosis and its complications, the remaining (16.6%) patients died from other non-tuberculous diseases. The main cause of death from tuberculosis was its progression (50.1%), cardiopulmonary failure (34.3%), pulmonary hemorrhage (9%). A combination of several causes of death was noted in 33.1% of the patients who died from generalized tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis control in the Caucasus: successes and constraints in DOTS implementation.

SETTING: The pilot projects for tuberculosis (TB) control, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and based on the WHO recommended control strategy, directly-observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) in the Caucasian countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results 2 years after the implementation of the pilot projects. METHODS: Analysis of data on case detection, sputum conversion and treatment outcome reported quarterly to the WHO from the Ministries of Health in each country. RESULTS: Since the establishment of the project, 1330, 764 and 4866 new cases and relapses, respectively, of TB have been detected in the pilot areas of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In Armenia and Azerbaijan, respectively 46% and 57% of all cases were smear positive, whilst in Georgia, the corresponding figure was only 12%. After 3 months' treatment, 93% of new smear-positive patients had become smear-negative. The sputum conversion rate for relapses and other retreatment cases (failure, treatment interrupted) was 85%. In Armenia, 78.1% of new smear-positive patients were treated successfully (cured or completed treatment). The corresponding percentages for Azerbaijan and Georgia were 87.9% and 59.6%. Treatment success rates among retreatment cases was generally low, at respectively 46%, 64%, and 35%, in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. CONCLUSION: The results of the implementation of the WHO TB control pilot projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia suggest that the DOTS strategy is feasible in emergency situations in general, and in the Caucasus in particular.

[Changes in enzyme systems and lipogenesis metabolites in experimental tuberculosis]. / Izmenenie nekotorykh fermentnykh sistem i metabolitov lipogeneza pri éksperimental'nom tuberkuleze.

Lung tissue phospholipid metabolism has been studied under the conditions of experimental tuberculosis. These investigations were combined with the simultaneous studying of the qualitative and quantitative composition of individual phospholipids, of the changes in the content of glycerophosphate and dioxiacetonphosphate, as well as, of the abnormalities in the activity of glycerokinase and glycerophosphatedehydrogenase, which play an important role in the catalysis of the initial processes of phosphatidogenesis. Our data obtained have shown that formation of tuberculosis process is accompanied by the pronounced increase of glycerokinase and glycerophosphatedehydrogenase activities, which leads to the significant accumulation of the dioxiacetonphosphate and the free glycerol concentrations. It was established by us, that under the conditions of the pathology studied, the significant decrease of the quantity of phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines took place, while the level of sphingomyelins was increased. The results of our investigations shed the light on the up-to-date understanding of the role of different fractions of phospholipids, as well as, of corresponding enzymatic systems in the pathogenesis of lung tuberculosis and in the formation of focus of necrosis in lung tissue.

[Control over treatment efficacy in pulmonary tuberculosis patients by determining the amount of nucleic acids in the blood]. / Kontrol' za éffektivnost'iu lecheniia bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh s pomoshch'iu opredeleniia kolichestva nukleinovykh kislot krovi.

The authors formulated for the first time a conception of the possibility of controlling the course of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment efficacy by means of determination of the amount of nucleic acids in the blood. A dependence has been established of changes of the amount of nucleic acids of the blood on the degree of clinical improvement of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.