Dysregulated Leukotriene Metabolism in Patients with COVID-19.

This study aimed to examine the leukotriene metabolism during COVID-19. In total, 180 participants were included in this study, of which 60 were healthy controls, 60 required intensive care units (ICU), and 60 did not require intensive care (non-ICU). The serum levels of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), 5-LO activating protein (ALOX5AP), and cysteinyl leukotriene (CYSLT) were measured, and the mRNA expression levels of 5-LO, ALOX5AP, and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CYSLTR1) were investigated. Compared with the control group, both the non-ICU and ICU groups had lower levels of 5-LO and mRNA expression. ICU patients had lower levels of 5-LO and mRNA expression than non-ICU patients. CYSLTR1 mRNA expression was highest in the ICU group, followed by the non-ICU group, and healthy controls had the lowest mRNA expression levels. CYSLT levels were higher in the control group than in the non-ICU and ICU groups. CYSLTR1 expression was higher in patients than in controls; therefore, selective leukotriene receptor blockers can be used as treatment options. CYSLTR1 expression was higher in the ICU group than in the non-ICU group. Furthermore, CYSLTR1 mRNA expression may be a promising biomarker of COVID-19 severity.

Comparison of Different Slice Thicknesses on Chest Computed Tomography for Evaluation of COVID-19- Associated Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the value of chest computed tomography at 1-mm and 5-mm slice thickness in terms of computed tomography severity score and computed tomography evaluation time in the diagnosis of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients were included in the study group who are reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction-positive for COVID-19 and had chest computed tomography. The 1 mm and 5 mm reconstructed images were evaluated in 2 different sessions with 4-week intervals by 2 certificated general radiologists. The presence of COVID-19-related findings, COVID-19 final category, and evaluation time were recorded. Thin and thick slices were compared for these variables and inter-reader reliability calculated with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the COVID-19-related findings on thorax computed tomography between 1-mm and 5-mm slices except crazy paving appearance, microvascular enlargement, and septal thickening. The frequency of the final categories of computed tomography results was consistent between the thick and thin slices. The computed tomography assessment time was significantly lower in 5 mm slices. The inter-reader reproducibility analysis results demonstrated good and excellent reproducibility of measurements between readers for both slice thicknesses. CONCLUSION: It was found that 5-mm reconstruction thickness of chest computed tomography can be employed for the initial detection of COVID-19-related findings and the final diagnostic category-related COVID-19 rather than 1-mm slices with a faster availability of results which can be beneficial on pandemic hospitals.

Understanding the pathophysiological changes via untargeted metabolomics in COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious respiratory disease caused by a new strain of the coronavirus. There is limited data on the pathogenesis and the cellular responses of COVID-19. In this study, we aimed to determine the variation of metabolites between healthy control and COVID-19 via the untargeted metabolomics method. Serum samples were obtained from 44 COVID-19 patients and 41 healthy controls. Untargeted metabolomics analyses were performed by the LC/Q-TOF/MS (liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry) method. Data acquisition, classification, and identification were achieved by the METLIN database and XCMS. Significant differences were determined between patients and healthy controls in terms of purine, glutamine, leukotriene D4 (LTD4), and glutathione metabolisms. Downregulations were determined in R-S lactoglutathione and glutamine. Upregulations were detected in hypoxanthine, inosine, and LTD4. Identified metabolites indicate roles for purine, glutamine, LTD4, and glutathione metabolisms in the pathogenesis of the COVID-19. The use of selective leukotriene D4 receptor antagonists, targeting purinergic signaling as a therapeutic approach and glutamine supplementation may decrease the severity and mortality of COVID-19.