Sudden cardiac death in COVID-19 patients, a report of three cases.

The mortality rate of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has been reported as 1-6% in most studies. The cause of most deaths has been acute pneumonia. Nevertheless, it has been noted that cardiovascular failure can also lead to death. Three COVID-19 patients were diagnosed based on reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of a nasopharyngeal swab test and radiological examinations in our hospital. The patients received medications at the discretion of the treating physician. In this case series, chest computed tomography scans and electrocardiograms, along with other diagnostic tests were used to evaluate these individuals. Sudden cardiac death in COVID-19 patients is not common, but it is a major concern. So, it is recommended to monitor cardiac condition in selected patients with COVID-19.

Recovery of severely ill COVID-19 patients by intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: During the recent months, COVID-19 has turned to a global crisis claiming high mortality and morbidity among populations. Despite the high prevalence of the disease, it has currently no definitive treatment. We here reported the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration in severely ill COVID-19 patients diagnosed based on PCR and radiology tests. CASE PRESENTATION: Five severely ill COVID-19 patients in whom standard treatments failed were administrated with IVIG which prevented the deterioration of clinical symptoms. All the patients were treated with high-dose IVIG (0.3-0.5 g/kg) for 5 consecutive days so that no patient would receive lower than 25 g of the drug. All the patients showed a desirable therapeutic response and were discharged from the hospital with a stable clinical condition after being recovered. CONCLUSION: Treatment with IVIG at the therapeutic dose of 0.3-0.5 g/kg can improve the clinical condition and O2 saturation and prevent the progression of pulmonary lesions in COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms in whom standard treatments have failed.

In Vitro Evaluation of Achillea Millefolium on the Production and Stimulation of Human Skin Fibroblast Cells (HFS-PI-16).

AIM: In the present study, we aimed the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium (HEAML) on human skin fibroblast cells (HSF-PI-16) proliferation, stimulation and growth properties. METHODS: Initially, using HSF-PI-16 monolayer culture, we created one line scratch method as an in vitro wound closure and after 3 days monitored via an inverted microscopy. RESULTS: HEAML selectively inhibited proliferation of HSF-PI-16 cells at higher concentration (>20.0 mg/mL), and stimulated at lower concentrations (<20.0 mg/mL). Following, HSF-PI-16 media treatments up to 72 h, HEAML demonstrated significantly elevated proliferation rates (p<0.05) and stimulation in a scratch wound assay (p<0.04). Furthermore, the morphological analysis of HSF-PI-16 cells at culture media were detected the figures of round to spindle, non-adherent, immature and mature cells. CONCLUSION: These results clearly demonstrate the absence of any toxic effect of HEAML on human skin fibroblasts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report elucidating potential mechanisms of action of HEAML on fibroblasts proliferation, and stimulation, offering a greater insight and a better understanding of its effect in future studies.