Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known for its effects on the respiratory system. Three years after the pandemic morbid and mortal consequences, growing evidence is showing that the disease also has adverse outcomes and complications on additional organs including the kidneys. This study aims at investigating the effects of COVID-19 on hemodialysis patients receiving services at Palestine Medical Complex (PMC) kidney dialysis department, and to identify mortality related risk factors. Methods: In April 2022, data was collected using the electronic medical records system for the dialysis department at PMC. The study included all PMC hemodialysis patients that were infected with COVID-19 between January 2020-April 2022. The collected data included patient demographics, clinical features, laboratory tests, dialysis frequency and the disease outcome. Results: The results showed that the patients' outcomes and dialysis frequency were impacted by their blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr) and calcium levels. About one third of the study population died after being infected with COVID-19. The frequency of dialysis was also affected by the presence of comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) and myocardial infarction (MI). Conclusion: This study found that there was a high mortality rate within the hemodialysis patients infected with COVID-19. Having comorbidities affected the frequency of dialysis following COVID-19 infection. Dialysis patients should be protected from infections such as COVID-19 and their comorbidities should be monitored and kept under control as much as possible.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Birzeit University students: a cross-sectional study.

Aim: COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, has been characterized as a pandemic, as it spreads all over the world and has so far infected more than 20 million worldwide. In Palestine, the first seven cases were documented on March 5 2020, followed by the declaration of the state of emergency. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 among Birzeit University students. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out; a questionnaire was developed based on the WHO, CDC, and ECDC recommendations. The questionnaire was distributed online and filled out by Birzeit University students. Chi-square testing was performed to check for significant association between KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practices) and different socio-demographic variables. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify and control the confounding factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 22). Results: A total of 665 students have completed the online questionnaire. The mean age was 20.55 ± 3.069 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that males, students from health professions and scientific faculties, and those with highly educated parents had manifested a good knowledge level (GKL) about COVID-19. With regard to students' practices, fewer negative practices were displayed by students from health professions faculty and the students living at the middle governorate of Palestine, compared to north, south, and Jerusalem dwellers. With regard to the practices, the vast majority of the participants showed a positive and very cautious practice in relation to the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: Our results revealed that students had variable knowledge about COVID-19, and the vast majority depended on the official media briefs in Palestine as a source of information. With regard to practices, positive and cautious practices with regard to the COVID- 19 epidemic were carried out by the vast majority of participants.

Expression levels of endothelin-1, endothelin-2, and endothelin-3 vary during the initial, lag, and late phase of orthodontic tooth movement in rats.

Endothelins (ET)-1, ET-2, and ET-3 are one group of cytokines likely to be released during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Therefore, the expression of ET levels was investigated to determine the importance and involvement of isopeptides during the several phases of OTM. Thirty-two male Wistar rats (12-13 weeks old) were divided into four groups of eight: control, 14, 28, and 42 day groups. Tooth movement was induced by a closed-coil spring inserted between the upper left first molar and the upper incisors. The distance between the teeth was measured on days 0, 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 using a digital calliper. The rate of tooth movement was calculated. The animals were sacrificed on days 14, 28, and 42 and gene expression levels of all three ET were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni's correction, and paired t-tests. The distance between the teeth decreased in all appliance groups (P < 0.001). The rate of tooth movement was 0.20 +/- 0.02, 0.03 +/- 0.01, and 0.06 +/- 0.02 mm/day between days 0-2, 3-21, and 22-42, respectively. On day 14, gene expression levels for ET-1 (P < 0.05) and ET-3 (P < 0.001) increased compared with day 0. On day 28, a downregulation of ET-3 was observed when compared with day 0 (P < 0.001). On day 42, ET-1 (P < 0.001) and ET-3 (P < 0.01) gene expression levels were strongly upregulated, while ET-2 gene expression level was downregulated (P < 0.01) when compared with day 0. ET-1 and ET-3, but not ET-2, are involved in all three phases of OTM, and ET-1 seems to be the predominant form in the late phase of OTM.