15-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase expression profile and their related modulators in COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: The role of the lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating immune responses promoted us in this study to analyze the pattern of changes in 15-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase isoforms and their related cytokines in SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: 15-LOX-1, 15-LOX-2, COX-1 and COX-2 gene expression levels were determined using qRT-PCR in nasopharynx specimens from patients with severe [N = 40] and non-severe [N = 40] confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections and healthy controls. Circulating levels of lL-6, lL-10, PGE2, and IFN-γ were measured in patients and healthy controls using ELISA assay. The associations between the measured variables and the patient's clinic-pathological characteristics were assessed for all groups. RESULTS: The expression level of 15-LOX-1 was elevated significantly in male patients with severe infection; although female patients showed a different expression profile. 15-LOX-2 expression level was considerably increased in male patients with severe infection; while changes in its expression remained inconclusive in female patients. The relationship between 15-LOX expression and the male gender was prominent. Both COX isoforms expression showed elevation in male and female patients that were correlated with disease severity. The simultaneous increase in lL-6, PGE2 and IFN-γ levels also decrease in lL-10 in patients with severe infection indicating the possible regulatory network related to the COX and 15-LOX enzymes in the output of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: The results of this study determined the pattern of possible changes in key enzymes of prostaglandin and eicosanoids synthesis pathway and their mediators, which can be helpful in mapping the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity and pharmaceutical approaches.

Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP): an effective implementing technique for the therapy efficiency of meropenem and vancomycin antibiotics in Iranian pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is a distinguished method to improve the prescription and efficacy of antibiotics. AIM: The efficacy of ASP and conventional methods was compared to measure the effectiveness of meropenem (MPM) and vancomycin (VMN) antibiotics in pediatric patients. DESIGN: In an interventional quasi-experimental study, 135 children admitted in Children's Hospital affiliated to University of Medical Sciences in time periods of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 were assessed. METHODS: The conventional and ASP methods in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 were respectively utilized to provide the best antimicrobial therapy of MPM and VMN antibiotics in patient children. The data of mortality rate (MR), antibiotic prescription (AP), antibiotic dose (ADe), antibiotic duration (ADn), length of hospital stay (LOHS), and blood cultures (BCs) were compared across the years using the Chi square, independent t test, and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The levels of MR, AP, ADe, ADn, LOHS, and positive BCs using the ASP method in 2015-2016 were significantly lower those of in 2014-2015 using the conventional one (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ASP method versus conventional one with a better efficacy can be employed as an antibiotic administration guide for MPM and VMN in the therapy of patients in community-based hospitals.