Highlights SARS-CoV-2 mainly enter to CNS via direct (neuronal and hematologic route) and indirect route. SARS-CoV-2 can infect leukocytes within the bloodstream and then cross the blood-brain-barrier via diapedesis. SARS-CoV-2 can invade the vascular endothelium by binding to ACE-2, leading to increased permeability of blood-brain-barrier and then infecting glial cells in the CNS. Future research is desirable to confirm or disprove such hypothesis.

Background Controversy exists regarding the drug selection in hypertension (HTN) management in patients with COVID‐19. This study aimed to compare the effects of losartan and amlodipine in patients with primary HTN and COVID‐19. Methods In this randomised clinical trial, hospitalised patients with COVID‐19 and primary HTN were enrolled in the study. One arm received losartan, 25 mg, twice a day and the other arm received amlodipine, 5 mg per day for 2 weeks. The main outcomes were compare 30‐day mortality rate and length of hospital stay. Results The mean age of patients treated with losartan (N = 41) and amlodipine (N = 39) was 67.3 ± 14.8 and 60.1 ± 17.3 years, respectively (P value = .068). The length of hospital stay in losartan and amlodipine groups was 4.57 ± 2.59 and 7.30 ± 8.70 days, respectively (P value = .085). Also, the length of ICU admission in losartan and amlodipine group was 7.13 ± 5.99 and 7.15 ± 9.95 days, respectively (P value = .994). The 30‐day mortality was two and five patients in losartan and amlodipine groups, respectively (P value = .241). Conclusions There was no priority in losartan or amlodipine administration in COVID‐19 patients with primary HTN in decreasing mortality rate, hospital and ICU length stay. Further studies need to clarify the first‐line anti‐HTN medications in COVID‐19.

Objectives : The relationship between immunity and trace elements levels is well known. We aimed to estimate the association of serum trace elements with severity and outcomes in the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: In this single-centered, prospective, observational study, we enrolled 114 patients admitted to severe intensive care units (ICUs) and corresponding 112 sex and aged-matched non-ICU ward patients. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were all collected. We analyzed serum levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) in both severity groups. Results : The serum levels of Cu, Se, and Mn in both groups were within the normal range while Zn serum levels were lower than the normal values. Based on these findings, Zn, Cu, Se, and Mn serum levels were not associated with disease severity ( P > 0.05). While we found Zn serum levels were strongly associated with patient outcomes ( P = 0.005). Our results indicated lower Mn serum levels were associated with age more than 55 years ( P = 0.006). Our results were not in favor of a causal relationship between serum trace elements levels and disease severity. Conclusion : We found Zn level as a strong indicator for patients’ outcomes that can be considered for monitoring of patients’ prognosis. Nutritional measures or supplementation can help reduce poor outcomes caused by low Zn levels in Iranian COVID-19 patients.

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Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disorder (Hockenberry, Wilson, & Wong, 2015), is one of the most prevalent health conditions around the world with an estimated 300 million currently diagnosed cases and predicted to reach 400 million by 2020 (Ohlmann, 2015), is a chronic respiratory disease among the children, is the primary reason for school absences, and is the third leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15. The prevalence of asthma in Iran was 8.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.5-9.3] that was similar to other Asian and European countries (Fazlollahi et al., 2018). And among Iranian children, it varied from 1.26%-11.6% (Hassanzadeh, Basiri, & Mohammad-Beigi, 2012). Despite the scientific and technological advances in