Increased incidence of rhino-orbital mucormycosis in an educational therapeutic hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in western Iran: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 patients, especially the patients requiring hospitalisation, have a high risk of several complications such as opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Mucormycosis is a rare and opportunistic fungal infection that mainly affects diabetic and immunocompromised patients. An increase has been observed in the number of rhino-orbital mucormycosis in patients with COVID-19 admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, since October 2020. This is a report of the frequency, risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of COVID-19 associated with mucormycosis infection. METHODS: The medical records of COVID-19 patients with rhino-orbital mucormycosis who were diagnosed in an educational therapeutic hospital in Kermanshah, west of Iran were surveyed. Several parameters were analysed including demographic, clinical, therapeutic and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS: Twelve patients with COVID-19-associated rhino-orbital mucormycosis were identified from 12 October to 18 November 2020. All cases reported as proven mucormycosis had a history of hospitalisation due to COVID-19. Comorbidities mainly included diabetes mellitus (83.33%) and hypertension (58.33%). Seventy-five per cent of patients received corticosteroids for COVID- 19 treatment. The sites of involvement were rhino-sino-orbital (83%) and rhino-sino (17%). Amphotericin B/liposomal amphotericin B alone or in combination with surgical debridement or orbital exenteration was used as the first-line therapy. The overall mortality rate was 66.7% (8/12). CONCLUSIONS: We found a high incidence of mucormycosis among COVID-19 patients. Diabetes mellitus and corticosteroid use were the dominant predisposing factor of mucormycosis. Mucormycosis is a life-threatening and opportunistic infection; therefore, physicians should know the signs and symptoms of the disease so that a timely diagnosis and therapy can be performed.

Emerging Role of miR-372 and miR-101a in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: microRNAs (miRNAs) have an important role in cancer development and progression. It has been shown that miR-372 and miR-101 are involved in cancer progression. In the present study we evaluated expressions of these miRNAs and their serum levels in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and controls. METHODS: We conducted this case-control study on 60 patients with HNSCC and 30 controls. Patients were diagnosed by histological assessments of their tissues. Expressions of EGFR, PTEN, PI3K/CA, miR-372, and miR-101a were evaluated in the tissues, along with serum levels of the miRNAs. RESULTS: Tissue expression of PTEN decreased in HNSCC, and expressions of EGFR and PI3K increased in HNSCC tissues compared to the controls. Tissue expressions of miR-372 increased and miR-101a decreased in HNSCC tissues compared to the controls. We observed significantly lower serum levels of miR-101a in patients; however, these findings for miR-372 were not significant. A strong correlation existed between serum levels and tissue expression of miR-101a. Notably, miR-101a serum levels showed good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of HNSCC. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that HNSCC patients had higher tissue expression of miR-372 and lower expression of miR-101a. Also, serum levels of miR-101a were lower in HNSCC patients. We observed that miR-101a had good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of HNSCC. The present study suggested that miR-101a could be a potential biomarker for HNSCC.