Characteristics, outcome, duration of hospitalization, and cycle threshold of patients with COVID-19 referred to four hospitals in Babol City: a multicenter retrospective observational study on the fourth, fifth, and sixth waves.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the epidemiological patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and duration of hospitalization during the fourth, fifth and sixth epidemic waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Iran. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective observational study was conducted on hospitalized patients in four hospitals in the Babol district of northern Iran. The study periods were during the fourth, fifth, and sixth waves of the epidemic in Iran, (March 2021 to March 2022). A total of 13,312 patients with suspected COVID-19 were included. Patient demographics, medical history, length of hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were obtained from the hospital information system. Data on the cycle threshold (Ct) and SARS-CoV2 variant were collected for SARS-CoV2-positive cases. RESULTS: The highest number of hospitalized patients was reported during the fifth (Delta) wave (5231; 39.3%), while the lowest number of hospitalized patients was reported during the sixth (Omicron) wave (2143; 16.1%). In total, 6459 (48.5%) out of 13,312 hospitalized patients with suspected COVID-19 had a positive rRT-PCR result. The fifth (Delta) wave had the highest number of SARS-CoV2 rRT-PCR-positive hospitalized patients (3573, 55.3%), while the sixth (Omicron) wave had the lowest number (835, 12.9%). Moreover, 238 (3.7%) patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 died. The hospital mortality rate was 6.8% in the fourth (Alpha) wave, which reduced to 2.7 and 3.5% in the fifth (Delta) and sixth (Omicron) waves, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the most comprehensive study evaluating the epidemiologic characteristics of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV2 cases in Iran during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron waves. The highest number of SARS-CoV2-positive hospitalized patients was in the fifth wave of COVID-19 (dominance of the Delta variant), while the sixth wave (dominance of the Omicron variant) had the lowest number. Comorbidities were similar, and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and hypertension were the main risk factors in all waves.

Evaluating the MicroRNA Expression of IL-35 and IL-37 in Helicobacter Pylori-infected Patients with Gastritis and Gastric Ulcer.

Interleukin (IL)-35 and IL-37 are two anti-inflammatory cytokines. IL-35 inhibits the development of T-effector cells such as Th1, and Th17; while increasing regulatory T cells (Tregs). IL-37 causes the suppression of inflammatory cytokines. Regarding the positive impact of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection on inflammation and considering the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-35 and IL-37, this study aimed to evaluate the expression of these two cytokines in H. pylori-infected patients with gastrointestinal problems. The case group consisted of H. pylori-infected individuals with gastric ulcer and/or gastritis (n=50) and the control group consisted of cases with gastric ulcer and/or gastritis non-H. pylori-infected (n=50). Sampling and classification of patients were based on pathology findings. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for evaluating the IL-35 and IL-37 expression levels. pylori-infected gastritis patients showed lower expression of IL-35 and IL-37 than the non-infected group. There was a significant difference between the expression levels of IL-35 and IL-37 in patients with gastric ulcers and/or gastritis who were infected and non-infected by H. pylori. There were no significant differences in the expression level of IL-35 and IL-37 in H. pylori-infected patients with gastric ulcer or gastritis. Interleukins 37 and 35 were less expressed in patients with H. pylori-infection. In differentiation between patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who have H. pylori infection or with similar symptoms who do not have H. pylori-infection, mentioned interleukins can be used as diagnostic markers.