The Effect of Short Treatment with Nigella Sativa on Symptoms, the Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Profile, and Inflammatory Markers in Mild COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

The current study investigated the impact of different doses of Nigella sativa seeds on the symptoms, the cluster of differentiation profile group, and inflammatory markers of mild COVID-19 cases. METHODS: The study was a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients with mild and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection patients were randomly subdivided into seven subgroups: Group (GP) 1: received charcoal capsules as a control group, and GP 2: received three capsules of whole Nigella sativa seeds daily, two capsules in the morning and one in the evening; GP 3: received three capsules of whole Nigella sativa seeds every 12 h, GP 4: received five capsules in the morning and four capsules of whole Nigella sativa seeds in the evening, GP 5: received one capsule of Nigella sativa powder every 12 h; GP 6: received two capsules of Nigella sativa powder every 12 h; GP 7: received three capsules of Nigella sativa powder every 12 h; all treatment course was for ten days. Inflammatory parameters were assessed before and after interventions. RESULTS: 262 subjects were included in the final analysis. No significant difference was detected regarding age, gender, and nationality. No significant differences were detected between the inflammatory marker in all groups. The WBCs showed a significant difference between before and after the intervention. While for procalcitonin, a significant difference was demonstrated in groups 1,4, and 6. CONCLUSIONS: The current randomized clinical trial did not reveal a significant effect of ten days of treatment with various doses of Nigella sativa on symptoms, differentiation profile, and inflammatory markers of patients with COVID-19. As a natural product, the effect of Nigella sativa on disease requires weeks to manifest itself.

Clinical Presentation of Asymptomatic and Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: There is substantial evidence that most SARS-CoV-2 infections are mild or even asymptomatic, yet they can transmit the virus to others. The current study described the clinical presentation of mild COVID-19 cases isolated in the ministry of health (MOH) quarantines in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study targeted the SARS-CoV-2 PCR +ve asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients isolated in the Saudi MOH quarantines in Riyadh city between July and December 2020. The confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled and interviewed by telephones after obtaining the informed consent. RESULTS: The study included 223 patients with a mean age of 32.5±10.7 years old. The majority were male 156 (70%). Only 27 [12.1%; 95% CI = (8.1-17.1%)] were asymptomatic. General fatigue was the most common reported symptom, 43.5%, followed by headache with 42.6%, and cough by 38.1%. Anosmia and ageusia were reported by 33.2% and 31.4%, respectively. The least common reported symptoms were vomiting, earache, and nausea with 1.8%, 4.0%, and 7.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The top five clinical manifestations of mild COVID-19 cases were general fatigue, headache, cough, anosmia, and ageusia. Only 12% of confirmed COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic.

Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among Hajj pilgrims.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among a cohort of pilgrims during 2004 Hajj season. METHODS: Pilgrims attending the 2004 Hajj season were recruited and screened for carriage of MRSA. Standard microbiological techniques were used to screen for the presence of MRSA. RESULTS: Out of 411 individuals screened, 85 (20.6%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) of which only 6 (1.46 %) were MRSA. Four individuals (4.6%) had the S. aureus organism in both nasal and axillary swabs, while 7 individuals (8%) had the organism in their axillae only. The other 74 individuals (87.1%) had the organism in their nares only. The 6 MRSA isolates were positive for the mecA gene by polymerase chain reaction method. None of the pilgrims examined had any risk factors for community-acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus (CAMRSA). Overall, the prevalence of MRSA in the population of pilgrims examined was found to be low (1.46%) in comparison with most community based studies. CONCLUSION: A low rate of MRSA carriage was noticed among the screened cohort. Physicians treating patients suspected of S. aureus infection during the Hajj pilgrimage should bear in mind the possibility of community acquired - MRSA and should obtain appropriate samples for bacterial cultures and susceptibility testing so that antimicrobial agents could be introduced when necessary at a later stage.