scholarly journals Fascioliasis and COVID-19: A Case-Control Study in Iran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Balazadeh ◽  
Mohammad Zibaei ◽  
Aliehsan Heidari ◽  
Hadis Rastad ◽  
Farzaneh Firoozeh
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Fasciola Hepatica ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background: Human Fascioliasis is a zoonotic infection caused by the adult stage of Fasciola species. Fasciola hepatica is a parasite that, following living in its vertebrate host, reduces the host's inflammatory immune responses to infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Therefore, because of the completely unproven and limited data on this issue, we decided to evaluate the prevalence of antibodies against this parasite in patients admitted to the hospital due to relatively severe symptoms of COVID-19.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the serum samples of 182 patients with COVID-19 disease who were diagnosed by PCR test and 210 healthy subjects in Alborz Province, Iran between March and June 2020. Anti-Fasciola antibodies status was determined in all serum samples, using ELISA technique. A self-developed questionnaire was used to measure demographic information.Results: The frequency of Fasciola infection was found to be significantly higher in COVID-19 patients as compared to healthy control (n = 4, 2.2%, n = 9, 4.3%; respectively) (P = 0.041). There was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients and control group in age, education, and gender (P > 0.05).Conclusions: This study indicates that a significant association between Fasciola hepatica seropositivity and COVID-19 disease. Our finding suggests that Fasciola infection may be able to lead to decreased immune responses, thereby reducing the severity and symptoms of COVID-19 disease.

scholarly journals Comparison of ox-LDL Levels in Diabetic Patients with Normo-, Micro-, and Macroalbuminuria with Their First Degree Relatives and the Healthy Control Group

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Behzadi ◽  
Firouzeh Torabi ◽  
Massoud Amini ◽  
Ashraf Aminorroaya
Keyword(s):  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Degree Relatives ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Control

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is a product of oxidative stress. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the ox-LDL concentrations in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (n=28), microalbuminuria (n=28), and macroalbuminuria (n=28) with their first degree relatives (n=28) and healthy control people (n=31). They were selected by consecutive patient selection method. The ox-LDL level was assayed using ELISA. We measured blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and HbA1c in all groups. There was no significant difference in ox-LDL concentrations among normoalbuminuric, microalbuminuric, and macroalbuminuric diabetic groups. In diabetic patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria, ox-LDL concentration was higher than their first degree relatives (P=0.04andP=0.03) and control group (P=0.001andP=0.03, resp.). In normoalbuminuric diabetic persons, ox-LDL concentration was just higher than that of healthy people (P=0.02). There was no statistically significant difference in ox-LDL levels between normoalbuminuric diabetic patients and their first degree relatives. In conclusion, the presence and progression of albuminuria in diabetic patients are not related to ox-LDL concentration and genetic predisposition influences the plasma OX-LDL level. Larger sample size is needed to confirm this conclusion in future studies.

scholarly journals Anolunula in Fingernails among Patients Infected with HIV

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Pratik Gahalaut ◽  
Nitin Mishra ◽  
Sandhya Chauhan ◽  
Mir Mubashir Ali ◽  
Madhur Kant Rastogi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stage 1 ◽  
And Control ◽  
Hiv Negative

Lunula is the white, half-moon shaped area seen in proximal ends of some nails. Though a few studies have described the nail changes that can occur in association with HIV infection, none of these paid much attention to lunula. Aims and Objectives. To study the lunula in fingernails among HIV infected patients. Materials and Methods. An observational, cross-sectional study to record presence of lunula in 168 HIV-positive patients and compare it with age and sex matched 168 healthy HIV-negative control. Anolunula (absence of lunula) in HIV-positive patients was correlated with CD4 counts, stages of HIV infection, time since patient was diagnosed as HIV-positive, and status of antiretroviral therapy. Results. Anolunula was present in significantly more fingernails in HIV-positive patients compared to HIV-negative controls. There was a highly significant difference for total anolunula (anolunula in all fingernails) in study and control group. Incidence of total anolunula was directly proportional to the stage of HIV infection, increasing progressively as the HIV infection advances from stage 1 to stage 4. Conclusion. Absence of lunula is related to not only HIV infection per se but also the stages of HIV infection.

scholarly journals Motor development in non-microcephalic infants born to mothers with Zika Virus infection during pregnancy

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
Laís Rodrigues Gerzson ◽  
Carla Skilhan de Almeida ◽  
Juliana Herrero da Silva ◽  
Lavinia Schüler-Faccini
Keyword(s):  
Motor Development ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Development ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
And Control ◽  
Normal Head

ABSTRACT This cross-sectional study sought to evaluate motor development in infants exposed to ZIKV born with normal head circumference (HC). Thirty one children, distributed into two groups, participated in the study: 15 whose mothers were infected by ZIKV during pregnancy, born with HC from −1.9 to +2 Z-scores, adjusted for sex and gestational age (exposed group); and 16 randomly selected infants without known prenatal exposure to ZIKV, paired by sex and age (control group). Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) was used to evaluate gross motor development. We found no significant difference between the exposed and control groups. However, considering that AIMS is a screening test that assesses only the gross motor development and the small size of our sample, infants exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy should be continuously evaluated for different aspects of their development.

scholarly journals COMPARISON IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY EXPRESSION OF DESIDUAL NATURAL KILLER (dNK) IN SEVERE PREECLAMPSIAAND NORMAL PREGNANCY

2020 ◽  
pp. 58-60
Author(s):  
MUARA P. LUBIS
Keyword(s):  
Normal Pregnancy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Maternal Immune System ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Immuno Histochemistry ◽  
And Control

Objective: Preeclampsia characterized systematically by extensive vascular endothelial dysfunction and microangiopathy on mother, dNK is very important for the success of placentation. They are the key mediator of maternal immune system interactions with fetal cells. dNK cells are also involved in the modulation of EVT and the remodeling of spiral arteries. Methods: Analytic research with cross-sectional study, with samples of pregnant women who suffer from severe PE and aterm pregnancy which came to H. Adam Malik Hospital and Networking Hospital, November 2015-April 2016. The samples are 46 women, who met the inclusion criteria. Results: Immunohistochemistry examination dNK cell in the severe PE case group and control group, statistically found p<0,05. dNK placenta expression in the severe preeclampsia case group gives an overview of expression with a mean of 2.55±2.31, while the control group of normal pregnancy had higher mean is 8.66±3.16. Conclusion: The examination of immunohistochemistry of dNK cells showed there is a significant difference in the expression of Immuno-histochemistry dNK cells between severe PE case group and non severe PE.

scholarly journals Relationship between migraine and sleep disorders in adolescents

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Lina Waty ◽  
Supriatmo Supriatmo ◽  
Bistok Saing
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Headache Type ◽  
Migraine Group ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sleeping Disorder

Background Headaches and sleep disorders may influenceacademic performances, personality, memory, and interpersonalrelationships. Migraine is the most common headache type seen inadolescents. Although headaches and sleep disorders are believedto be related, there has been little study in this area.Objectives To assess the relationship between migraine andsleep disorders in adolescents and compare different types ofsleep disorders found in adolescents with migraine vs. healthyadolescents.Methods We conducted a cross sectional study in December 2009on students of three junior high schools in the Secanggang District,Langkat Regency, North Sumatera. We included adolescents aged12 to 17 years who suffered from migraines, as defined by theInternational Cftissificaticm of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition criteria(ICHD-II), and h ealthy adolescents who did not experien cemigraines as the control group. Parents filled questionnaires ontheir child's sleep patterns for one week.Results A total of 100 adolescents were enrolled in the study,consisted of 50 adolescents in the migraine group and the others50 in the control group. There was a significant difference in theincidence of sleep disorders between the two groups (76% and30%, in the case and control groups, respectively; P= 0.0001).Moreover, significant differences were also found in the prevalenceof different sleeping disorder types between the case and controlgroups, i.e. insomnia (62% and 30%, respectively; P= 0.003), sleepapnea (56% and 16%, respectively; P= 0.0001), restlessness (56%and 18%, respectively; P= 0.0001) , parasomnia (76% and 10%,respectively; P= 0.0001), narcolepsy (42% and 16%, respectively;P= 0.008), and excessive daytime sleepiness (50% and 26%,respectively; P= 0.023).Conclusions Migraine in adolescents is significantly associatedwith sleep disorders. Parasomnia is the most common type ofsleeping disorder observed in adolescents with migraines in ourstudy.

Evaluation of choroidal circulation and stromal features in Graves’ disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 112067212110314
Author(s):  
Mustafa Aksoy ◽  
Mert Simsek ◽  
Mahmut Apaydın
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Graves Disease ◽  
Ocular Involvement ◽  
Ct Measurements ◽  
Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Control

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in patients with Graves’ disease (GD) without ocular involvement. Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with GD and 50 age and gender matched healthy control subjects were retrospectively evaluated. Measurements were taken from five different points on CT images. Choroid images were classified as lumen regions (LA) and stromal regions (SA) using the image binarization method. CVI was calculated by dividing LA by the total choroidal area (TCA). The effects of Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody (TRAb), age, GD duration, blood pressure, axial length measurements, and intraocular pressure were analyzed on CT and CVI measurements. Results: Mean age was 40.1 ± 13.5 years in the patient group and 39.3 ± 13.6 years in the control group ( p = 0.89). There was no significant difference between the GD group and control group in terms of CT measurements. There was a significant difference between the mean CVI measurements of the GD group and control group (68.03 ± 3.41 and 66.62 ± 3.11, respectively) ( p < 0.001). Univariate linear regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between TRAb and CVI ( p = 0.013). Conclusion: While there was no significant difference between the CT measurements of the GD group and the control group, the GD group had significantly higher CVI measurements.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Podocalyxin level in pre-eclampsia with severe features' patients: a cross-sectional study

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 3255
Author(s):  
Ahmed F. Amin ◽  
Hisham Abou-Taleb ◽  
Mustafa Gamal ◽  
Marwa M. Thabet ◽  
Nashwa Azoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Women Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control

Background: This study aims to evaluate the level of podocalyxin (PCX) in preeclampsia with severe features patients and correlate it with the results of laboratory tests.Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional study conducted in Assiut Women Health Hospital between April and October 2018.  The study included 60 patients divided into two groups; Group (A): 30 patients diagnosed to have preeclampsia with severe features and Group (B): 30 patients as normal control group. Complete laboratory investigations with measurements of the PCX level was performed for all study participants.Results: No statistically significant difference between the study group and control group according to blood urea (p= 0.339) and serum creatinine (p= 0.801).There was statistically significant difference between the study group and control group according to PCX level (p= 0.001); the mean PCX was 3340.0 ± 2394.6 in the study group versus 1083.5±1400.2 in the control group. Univariate analysis revealed podocalyxin was not correlated with clinical data or laboratory investigations.Conclusions: Podocalyxin levels were significantly elevated in preeclampsia.

scholarly journals Decreased Vitamin B12 Levels in Children with Nocturnal Enuresis

ISRN Urology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bülent Altunoluk ◽  
Mehmet Davutoglu ◽  
Mesut Garipardic ◽  
Vedat Bakan
Keyword(s):  
Nocturnal Enuresis ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Complete Blood Counts ◽  
And Control ◽  
First Time

Objectives. Nocturnal enuresis is a common pediatric problem, the etiology of which is unclear. In the present study, vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured in children with nocturnal enuresis and compared with those in healthy control group children to investigate whether there was any relation with enuresis and neurogenic maturation as a first time in the literature. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we included thirty children (16 girls, 14 boys) who had presented with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) complaints in the study group and 31 children (13 girls, 18 boys) in the control group. Body weight and height measurements were obtained and complete blood counts and vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured in all children. Results. No difference was found in age, height, and weight between study and control groups. Also the mean levels of the hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were not different between the two groups. Significantly lower mean vitamin B12 and folate levels were found in the enuresis group compared with the control group. Conclusions. Further studies are needed to clarify B12 and folate deficiency in larger series so that these tests can be included in routine investigations of enuretic children.

scholarly journals Investigation of Possible Role of Chlamydia in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serpil Gonca ◽  
Mehmet Sami Serin ◽  
Ayca Yilmaz ◽  
Ozgun Oktay ◽  
Ayse Serin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference

Background: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a systemic disease characterized by the aggregation of fibrillar extracellular material in intraocular and extraocular tissues with unknown etiology. Clarifying the etiopathogenesis of PES would be important for public health. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the possible role of Chlamydia in the etiology of PES. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the ophthalmology clinic of a tertiary hospital. The study included two groups, including the patient group (PES patients with nuclear cataracts) and the control group (patients with nuclear cataracts). Patients with other ophthalmic problems and systemic diseases were excluded. Blood samples and conjunctival swabs taken from 49 patients and 42 controls were used in the study. Anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG and IgM, anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgM, Interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-20 were studied in the serum samples. The PCR study was performed with conjunctival swab samples and sequence analysis of PCR-positive samples was performed. Results: According to the results of the study, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of anti-C. trachmatis IgG, anti-C. trachmatis IgM, anti-C. pneumoniae IgM, IL-6, and PCR results. There was a statistically significant difference between patient and control groups in terms of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IL-20 levels. The DNA sequencing of all PCR products was found to be compatible with C. pneumoniae. Conclusions: It seems that C. pneumoniae might have an important role in the etiology and development of PES. However, further studies in larger groups are needed to clarify these results.

scholarly journals Exercise and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-53
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Bahramnezhad ◽  
Ahmad Ali Asadi Noughabi ◽  
Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar ◽  
Simin Marandi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Positive Effect

Background: Guidelines recommend that exercise training can beconsidered for medically stable outpatients with heart failure; thus, this study sought to determine the effect of exercise on quality of life in patients with heart failure.Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional study 160 patients were included and divided into 2 groups (n=80). Intervention group performed the exercise (poly striding), 30 minutes three times a week, for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the exercises have not been followed for six months; SF36 Questionnaire was filled to assess the quality of life for the individuals in both groups in three steps: before the intervention, and 3 and 6 months after. After completion of questionnaires, quality of life was compared between the two groups and all the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The mean ages of the intervention and control groups were 61.65±17.5 and 64.116±17.4 years, respectively. Control group had significant decrease in quality of life at different stages of the study. Quality of life was significantly better in the intervention group comparing to the control group three months after the intervention despite the lack of significant difference before the intervention and after 6 months.Conclusion: Results showed a positive effect of exercise on quality of life in patients but the failures and lack of continuity did not improve the overall quality of life of patients as compared with their condition before the exercise. Overall, regular exercise is recommended for these patients.

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