Evaluation of the prophylactic effect of hydroxychloroquine on people in close-contact with patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant mortality worldwide. The disease attacks the lung tissue and may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. An in vitro study showed that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has a prophylactic effect against COVID-19 due to its anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of HCQ on individuals in close contact with patients with COVID-19. METHOD: In this quasi-trial study, we prescribed HCQ for 7 days to all people who had close contact with a patient with COVID-19. All contacts underwent a nasal swab in two steps, and those positive for COVID-19 were excluded from the study. After 14 days of follow-up, the clinical and laboratory manifestations of COVID-19 were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 113 participants completed the study. The HCQ group comprised 51 (45.13%) contacts, and 62 (54.86%) contacts were allocated to the control group. According to the results of clinical examination and real-time polymerase chain reaction test, 8 (12.90%) contacts in the control group were reported to have contracted COVID-19. In the HCQ group, 7 (13.72%) contacts were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. There was no relationship between HCQ use and age, sex, underlying disorders, and laboratory data (all p > 0.05). In terms of HCQ side effects, five participants experienced gastrointestinal and cutaneous side effects that subsided on discontinuation of HCQ. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that HCQ had no prophylactic effect with regard to COVID-19 prevention.

Dietary L-carnitine affects the expression of genes involved in apoptosis and fatty acid metabolism in rooster testes.

Thirty-six 12-week-old breeder roosters (Ross 308) were randomly allocated into three groups to receive L-carnitine (LC): LC-0, LC-250 or LC-500 mg/kg of diet to evaluate the effects of dietary LC on the expression of apoptotic-related genes and desaturases and elongase mRNA transcript levels, in the cockerel testicles. Alteration of Bak (Bcl2 antagonist/killer), Bcl2, Cas3, Cas8, Cas9, Elovl2, Elovl4, Elovl5, Fads1, Fads2 and Scd expression at 24 and 34 weeks of age was compared by real-time quantitative PCR. The expression of Bcl2 and Elovl5 was significantly up-regulated (p < .05), while Cas8 expression (p < .05) and Bak/Bcl2 ratio were reduced (p < .02) in the cockerel testicles at 24 weeks of age. Although Bak mRNA abundance decreased by dietary LC, Bak/Bcl2 ratio was not affected by the treatments at 34 weeks of age. The expression of Cas3 was down-regulated, while Fads2 was up-regulated in the cockerel testicles by dietary LC at 34 weeks of age (p < .05). The results demonstrate the beneficial effects of LC supplementation in suppression of the Bak/Bcl2 ratio by altering Bak and Bcl2 mRNA abundance and, ultimately, prevention of apoptosis. Furthermore, LC increased the expression of Elovl5 and Fads2 genes which are involved in the metabolism of long chain fatty acids.