Curcumin is proposed as a potential treatment option for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) by inhibiting the virus entrance, encapsulation and replication, and modulating various cellular signaling pathways. In this open-label nonrandomized clinical trial, efficacy of nano-curcumin oral formulation has been evaluated in hospitalized patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Forty-one patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were allocated to nano-curcumin (n = 21) group (Sinacurcumin soft gel, contains 40 mg curcuminoids as nanomicelles, two capsules twice a day) or control (n = 20) group, for 2 weeks. Patients' symptoms and laboratory data were assessed at baseline and during follow-up period. Most of symptoms including fever and chills, tachypnea, myalgia, and cough resolved significantly faster in curcumin group. Moreover, SaO 2 was significantly higher in treatment group after 2, 4, 7, and 14 days of follow-up and lymphocyte count after 7 and 14 days. Duration of supplemental O 2 use and hospitalization was also meaningfully shorter in treatment group. It is also noteworthy to mention that no patient in treatment group experienced deterioration of infection during follow-up period, but it occurred in 40% of control group. Oral curcumin nano-formulation can significantly improve recovery time in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Further randomized placebo controlled trials with larger sample size are recommended.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition that is associated with oxidative stress. Serum trace elements and their related transport proteins, e.g., albumin and ceruloplasmin, play an important role in the antioxidant defense. Trace element status may therefore be involved in the pathogenesis of RA or be affected by the disease activity of this chronic inflammatory condition. The study participants were 110 patients with RA and 100 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. Serum concentrations of albumin, ceruloplasmin, selenium, zinc, copper, and zinc/copper ratio were measured in all subjects. The relationship between these parameters and disease activity score was also assessed. Lower concentrations of serum Alb, Zn, and Se were independently related to disease activity index. High concentrations of serum copper were associated with the presence of RA. Serum Cu concentrations were positively related to disease activity as assessed by the disease activity score. Low serum concentrations of Zn and Se, and high serum Cu concentrations may be associated with the presence of RA or be a consequence of this condition. Of the trace elements that were investigated in the present study, only serum Cu was positively correlated with disease activity.

Background:The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has been introduced as an efficient method for the assessment of medical students.Objectives:The aim of the present study was to determine the satisfaction level of undergraduate medical students of internal medicine department with the OSCE.Materials and Methods:This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, performed on all available undergraduate students at the end of their internal medicine training period in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The students responded to 15 multiple-choice questions with confirmed validity and reliability.Results:The majority of the students (94.5%) had a positive attitude toward the OSCE and mentioned that the OSCE format was a more appropriate type of exam than other methods of testing; however, 79.1% thought that the OSCE format was stressful. In addition, the participants’ sex had no effect on their level of satisfaction with the examination. Likewise, there was no significant correlation between their level of satisfaction and their age, marital status, or lack of previous experience with this type of exam.Conclusions:If the exam standards are met and a uniform dispersion of the scientific content is maintained, the OSCE method of assessment can be recommended as an efficient and applicable method for assessing medical students.

Background: Statins are first-line lipid-lowering agents with tolerable adverse reactions, low cost, and high availability worldwide. The potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-thrombotic and immunomodulatory effects of statins propose them as an option to face COVID-19 infection. Objective: In this randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, we have investigated the atorvastatin efficacy in the management of mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this study, 52 mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were allocated to the treatment group to receive 40 mg atorvastatin orally once daily for two weeks (n=26) or the placebo group (n=26). Patients' symptoms and laboratory investigations were assessed at baseline and during the follow-up period. We also evaluated the duration of hospitalization and supplemental oxygen therapy as endpoints. Results: After 14-day of follow-up, the oxygen saturation (SaO2) was significantly higher, and the serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level was lower in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. Moreover, at the end of the follow-up in the treatment group, the lymphocyte count was higher, and the duration of symptom resolution was shorter but not significant. Additionally, in the treatment group length of supplemental oxygen therapy and hospitalization duration were meaningfully shorter. Our results revealed that the mortality rate was almost twice higher in the placebo group compared with the treatment group, without any significant adverse drug reaction. Conclusion: Atorvastatin significantly reduces supplemental oxygen need, hospitalization duration, and serum hs-CRP level in mild to moderate hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

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