mRNA expression of toll-like receptors 3, 7, 8, and 9 in the nasopharyngeal epithelial cells of coronavirus disease 2019 patients.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stem partially from the abnormal activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Here in the current investigation, the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs) were evaluated in the nasopharyngeal epithelial cells from COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Epithelial cells were obtained using nasopharyngeal swab samples from 90 COVID-19 patients and 50 controls. COVID-19 cases were classified into those without symptoms, with symptoms but not hospitalized, and with symptoms and hospitalized. To determine the mRNA expression levels of TLRs, first RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized, and finally Real-time PCR was exerted. RESULTS: It was seen that the transcript levels of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 were overexpressed in the COVID-19 patients with clinical symptoms needing hospitalization as well as in those with clinical symptoms without needing for hospitalization compared to controls. Upregulation of TLRs was associated with clinical presentations of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Modulation of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9 in the epithelial cells of COVID-19 cases may estimate the disease severity and requirement for hospitalization.

Vitamin B12 Administration Facilitates The Antipsychotic And Pain-Relieving Effects Of Quetiapine, In The Alzheimer Patients With Psychotic Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are a problem in medicine. The efficacy of the vitamin B12 on the treatment of the psychotic symptoms of the AD patients in the association with antipsychotic drugs Quetiapine and Risperidone, was evaluated in this Study. METHODS: The effects of vitamin B12 along with two other drugs were studied on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in 47 AD patients with psychotic symptoms, including 4 groups, psychotic AD patients treated with Risperidone, Risperidone plus vitamin B12, Quetiapine and Quetiapine plus vitamin B12 . RESULTS: The results showed that Quetiapine improved all of the psychotic criteria, while Quetiapine plus vitamin B12 had better results on BPRS after 2 weeks, VAS score and MMSE. Risperidone also improves all of the criteria except MMSE and drug efficacy index, while, vitamin B12 neutralize the effects of the Risperidone on the BPRS, VAS, and severity of illness. CONCLUSION: Due to these results, Quetiapine is the preferred antipsychotics drug and Vitamin B12 plays an effective role in treatment as an adjunct therapy.