A Multivariate Analysis Model of Changes in Some Laboratory Parameters in Response to COVID-19, Diabetes, Gender, and Age.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in some laboratory parameters in response to four independent variables (COVID-19, diabetes, gender, and age) using univariate and multivariate analysis. METHODS: We measured WBC (neutrophil and lymphocytes), RBC and platelet counts, and hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, IL-2, IL-4, and vitamin D3 levels in 30 hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 and in 30 healthy people in terms of COVID-19. The population was divided into groups based on each of the variables of age, gender, COVID-19, and type 2 diabetes. Then they were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis of logistic regression. RESULTS: Based on CBC data, leukocytosis (in 70% of COVID-19 patients, 61.1% of diabetic patients, and 70.9 ± 18 years old), neutrophilia (in 73.3% of patients with COVID-19, 61.1% of diabetic patients, and 66 ± 18.6 years old), neutropenia (in 6.7% of patients with COVID-19, 27.8% of diabetic patients, and 33.6 ± 12.7 years old), lymphocytosis (10% of patients with COVID-19, 33.3% of diabetic patients, and 35.4 ± 15.5 years old), and lymphocytopenia (in 76.7% of patients with COVID-19, 66.7% of diabetic patients, and 67.1 ± 18.8 years old) were observed in the population. The elderly and those with COVID-19 had significant abnormal RBC and platelet counts. Increased LDH and CRP levels and abnormal hemoglobin level were related to elderly, COVID-19, and diabetes conditions. Although the levels of IL-2 and -4 were significant in patients with COVID-19 and elderly; however, the changes were not significant in diabetic patients. Changes in serum vitamin D levels were not significant in any of the sub-groups. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia, abnormal counts of RBCs and platelets, the elevated levels of LDH and CRP, and abnormal hemoglobin levels in blood are considered as poor prognostic factors for COVID-19.

Effect of Achillea wilhelmsii extract on expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA in the PC3 prostate cancer cell line.

Evidence has indicated that human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) was overexpressed in prostate cancer (PCa). Achillea wilhelmsii (AW) is a plant that has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties. The aim of current study was to evaluate the effects of AW extract on a PCa cell line. The cytotoxic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of AW was studied on the PCa PC3 cell line using MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effects of the extract on the apoptosis. The expression of hTERT mRNA was analyzed by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. The ELISA method was used to measure the levels of telomerase enzyme. The hydroalcoholic AW extract demonstrated the appropriate inhibitory effect in 150 µg/ml concentration (IC50) on PC3 cell line following 48 h treatment. Treatment of the PC3 cells with AW resulted in a significant increase in early and late apoptotic cells and a decrease in live cells (P<0.001), in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the early apoptotic cells were significantly higher than late apoptotic cells. The hTERT mRNA expression was decreased following 24 h treatment of AW extract, although it was not different between 2, 4, 8 and 12 h treatments or 24, 48 and 72 h treatments. In addition, the hTERT concentration was significantly decreased following 24 h treatment of AW extract with the marginal P-value. There was no significant difference regarding hTERT concentration between 2, 4, 8 and 12 h treatments or 24, 48 and 72 h treatments. The hydroalcoholic extract of AW induced potent antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in PC3 cell line, which could be explainable by its high potency to inhibit expression of the prominent oncogene hTERT in PCa. Therefore, targeting telomerase represents a promising strategy for PCa therapy, and AW may have considerable potential for development as a novel natural anticancer agent.

Anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing potential of hydroalcoholic Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch extract on human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-Mb-468.

Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch contains a variety of components such as flavonoid. The previous studies showed that flavonoid has anti-cancer properties. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing potential of hydroalcoholic Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch extract (HAWE) on MCF-7 and MDA-Mb-468 human breast carcinoma cell lines. The anti-proliferative activity of HAWE was evaluated using MTT, flowcytometry by annexin V/PI double staining, and caspase-3 activity. The results of MTT showed that the ED50 of MCF-7 and MDA-Mb-468 was 25µg/ml of HAWE, 48h after treatment. Flowcytometry by annexin V/PI showed that HAWE induced late apoptosis in MCF-7 and early apoptosis in MDA-Mb-468. In addition, the caspase-3 colorimetric method showed that caspase-3 increased in the MDA-Mb-468 after treatment with HAWE. This study found that the hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch induced apoptosis in both the MCF-7 and MDA-Mb-468 human breast carcinoma cell lines.