Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

This literature review is aimed at exploring the significance of laboratory parameters in the follow-up of the coronavirus disease-19, which is the latest global biohazard for humanity. Laboratory parameters were classified under three main headings. These headings were hematological tests, inflammatory parameters and coagulation parameters. It has been determined that low lymphocyte count, which is one of the hematological tests, is a condition seen at every stage of the disease. High neutrophil counts are evident in worsening the course of the disease. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio increases with increasing disease severity. Low platelet levels may also be observed. It has been determined that high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels can be seen at every stage of the disease. In addition, as the prognosis of the illness worsened, C-reactive protein levels were found to increase more. Increased prothrombin time and high D-dimer values are evident in coagulation tests in patients with severe coronavirus disease-19. In addition, increased ferritin and procalcitonin levels are observed as the illness course worsens. As a result, lymphocytopenia and increased CRP levels come to the fore in the illness course. When the illness becomes more aggressive, prothrombin time, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil count, D-dimer, ferritin and procalcitonin levels draw attention.

Human adenoviruses infection causes diseases worldwide in all age groups and genders, which is associated with a wide range of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and the eye, but they are often isolated from the pharynx and stool of asymptomatic children. However, in developing countries, diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality; and after rotaviruses, human adenoviruses are considered to be the second most important cause of viral infantile diarrhea. Also, human adenoviruses cause fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome in healthy adults and are especially fatal in infants and immune-compromised individuals. This review summarizes both classical and contemporary discoveries in the study of human adenoviruses at the molecular level, with particular emphasis on viral receptors, capsid proteins, nucleic acid, and genome properties as well as the molecular interactions governing the virion assembly. In this article, we provide insightful information concerning the molecular aspects of human adenoviruses. This would develop an understanding of the virus and serve as a powerful tool in identifying new approaches for the prevention and treatment of adenoviral infection.

Background and objective: Thrombotic and microangiopathic effects have been reported in Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. In the present study, we aimed to examine the relationship between hereditary thrombophilia factors and the clinical picture severity of COVID-19 patients.
Methods: Ninety COVID-19 patients were included and grouped according to the severity to three groups: severe/critical (n=30), mild/moderate (n=30) and asymptomatic (n=30). Hereditary thrombophilia genetic markers [prothrombin (FII) G20210A, factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A, factor XIII (FXIII) V34L, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C and C677T, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) 4G & 5G] were genotyped for all patients.
Results: Seventeen (18.9%) patients had the polymorphism 4G/4G PAI-1 and 48 (53.3%) had 4G/5G. In addition, the heterozygous GA FVL, MTHRF677CT, and MTHRF1298AC polymorphisms were detected in 11 (12.2%), 26 (28.9%), and 38 (42.2%) patients, respectively. The rate of severe/critical patients with PAI 4G/5G gene polymorphism was higher than the asymptomatic+moderate/mild patients, and the rate of severe/critically ill patients with PAI 4G/4G polymorphism was found to be lower than the asymptomatic+moderate/mild patients. No difference was evidenced between the distribution of deceased and survivors of the genotype groups.
Conclusions: In the present study, we found that heterozygous 4G/5G PAI-1 polymorphism is associated with critical or severe COVID-19 picture, and that FVL, MTHFR, FXIII, and prothrombin polymorphisms were not directly related to COVID-19 severity.

Background and objectives: Subclinical thyroid disorder is a most common subclinical disease among many medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and subclinical Lyme disease. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between lipid profile results, lipid ratios, and anthropometric parameters and thyroid hormones.
Methods: One hundred patients (ages 20 to 50 years) with subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT group) and 50 healthy subjects (control group), who are age-matched with patients, were included in the current study. Thyroid function tests (TSH, T3 and T4) were determined by immunodiagnostic assay system (VIDAS) for all participants. The serum glucose and lipid profile tests parameters were evaluated by Biolis 24i Premium chemistry analyser. In addition, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured for each individual in the study using mercury sphygmomanometer.
Results: The levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) were significantly lower in the SHT group when compared with control group. Whereas, the level of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), the ratios total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c were significantly higher in SHT group than in controls. Moreover, TSH was negatively correlated with diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions: Both LDL-c and HDL-c are altered in subclinical hypothyroidism patients. And, there is a negative association between TSH and diastolic blood pressure.

Background and objective: It is well known that inflammation may affect the platelets. However, there are inconsistencies between the results of observational studies investigating changes in platelet indices in inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of acute inflammation on platelet indices in plantar inflammation model in rats.
Methods: A total of 10 rats, 5 in each group, were used in the study. Lambda-carrageenan and saline were applied subcutaneously to the right hind paw of the rats in the inflammation group and in the control group, respectively. Six hours after the administration, blood samples were taken from femoral arteries and femoral veins, and platelet indices were measured by a hematology analyzer. In addition, plantar tissue samples belonging to the control and inflammation groups were evaluated histopathologically.
Results: On histopathological examination, no pathological condition was observed in the control group, while there were changes consistent with acute inflammation in the lambda-carrageenan-injected group. There was no significant difference in terms of platelet indices between both the arterial and vein samples and between the control and inflammation groups.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that platelet indices cannot be used in the diagnosis of acute inflammatory conditions. However, in our opinion, these findings must not be interpreted as that acute inflammation does not affect platelet number and volume. Instead, we believe that it may be more appropriate to say that acute inflammation does not produce a quantitatively significant change in platelet indices due to the combination of the opposite effects.

Background and objective: Dates are a high-nutritional-value food that is suitable for humans since they contain major nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and dietary fibers. The current study aimed to determine the level of some heavy metals such as Fe, Pb, Co, Mn, Cd, Cu in the dates (P. dactylifera L.) taken from various regions of Balochistan (Panjgoor and Turbat).
Method: The analysis was performed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results: The results indicated the presence of all the analyzed heavy metals in the samples. The mean detected concentration order of heavy metals is Fe > Pb > Cu > Mn > Cd > Co. The highest average level of Fe was detected and the least average level of Co was determined in dates.
Conclusions: It is concluded that the levels of all the detected heavy metals in all varieties of dates were found within the admissible limit of WHO/FAO and ATSDR.