Mahmoud Mohammadi, Leila Kohan, Mohsen Saeidi, Marie Saghaeian-Jazi, Saeed Mohammadi,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (5-2022)
Abstract
Fibrosis is a common and mostly progressive pathological outcome in various chronic inflammatory disorders. Dermal (skin) fibrosis, which is associated with intense skin lesions, is a result of an uncontrolled healing process in the dermis, particularly disproportionate fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) production. Animal models are substantial tools in biomedical investigations and have been considerably employed to evaluate miscellaneous features of diseases that cannot be demonstrated otherwise in humans. To date, various skin fibrosis models have been generated, including the transgene and/or genetic models and chemical and drug-induced models. However, genetic models are sophisticated and need access to convoluted methods. Accordingly, the introduction of affordable and easy to generate fibrosis models in the skin is crucial. Here, we aimed to introduce the chemical/drug-induced skin fibrosis animal models to provide an updated list of available approaches.
Mahmoud Khandashpour, Mahtab Rakhshaie, Rahmatollah Sharififar, Somayeh Livani, Nafiseh Abdollahi, Mahdi Soleimannejad, Fahimeh Abdollahi, Mahila Monajati,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (10-2024)
Abstract
Background: Severe coronavirus infections may lead to long-term effects, such as persistent lung dysfunction and residual involvement. This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function tests (PFT) and chest computed tomography (CT) scans of severe COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) survivors one year after discharge.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted, assessing spirometry and chest CT scans in patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to the ICU. Patients with pre-existing lung disease were excluded. Initial laboratory tests, clinical information, and medication (antivirals and corticosteroids) were reported in patients with and without fibrosis on chest CTs.
Results: Thirty patients (57% female) with a mean (SD) age of 50 (13.5) years were included. Initial pulmonary involvement had a mean score of 16 (±4), with ground-glass opacification (GGO) observed in all patients, consolidation in 88%, and pneumomediastinum in 10% of patients. One-year chest CT scans revealed mild fibrotic changes in 70% of patients, presenting as a fibrotic band (47%) or a fibrotic band with GGO (23%). Patients with fibrosis had lower serum albumin levels, lower platelet counts, and were older. One-year follow-up spirometry showed that 73% had normal results, 20% had mild obstruction, and 7% exhibited a hyperreactive airway pattern. Spirometry parameters did not significantly differ between the fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups.
Conclusion: Most patients who survived severe COVID-19 infection showed significant improvement in one-year follow-up chest CT scans, and their PFT was not severely impaired. Importantly, our findings indicate no association between the severity of initial lung involvement, medication use, and follow-up chest CT results.
