The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and initial clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and their importance in evaluating the severity of the disease. A retrospective study included patients suffering from COVID-19 who were hospitalized at The Department of Infectious Disease of the Clinical Hospital Center Pristina—Gracanica from the beginning of the pandemic until the end of 2020. We compared the symptoms of the disease, radiographic findings of pneumonia, laboratory parameters, duration of symptoms before admission, the difference in the need for certain therapies, and the presence of comorbidities between non-severe and severe groups of patients. Patients with a severe disease were statistically significantly older. Hypertension was significantly associated with severe clinical conditions. Radiographic findings of bilateral pneumonia on admission were much more frequent among the severe group, and these patients’ need for oxygen support was significantly higher. Lower neutrophil and higher lymphocyte counts were statistically significant in the non-severe group. Biochemical parameters at admission also showed statistical significance between the examined groups. Based on our research, we can conclude that a complete overview of the patient, including demographic and laboratory parameters as perhaps the most significant attributes, can help doctors in the timely clinical assessment of patients and, thus, in the timely application of adequate therapeutic protocols in the treatment of COVID-19.

Introduction: Vitamin D Deficiency (VDD) is defined as the level of 25(OH)D in the serum < 30 ng/ml. According to the contemporary research, even the slight vitamin D deficiency can adversely affect our body in many ways. Numerous studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency is very common in children. The study aimed to research the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in infants and toddlers, the connection between VDD and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), as well as the correlation between 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D) and haemoglobin (Hb) in the examinees. Method: The study includes 150 children, 73 (49%) newborns and 77 (51%) infants. Vitamin D status was determined through the amount of 25(OH)D in blood, using the electrochemiluminescence. Results: Vitamin D Deficiency was found in 58% of infants and toddlers (severe vitamin D deficiency was found in 16% of examinees, vitamin D deficiency was found in 23% of examinees, while vitamin D insufficiency was found in 19% of examinees). Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and anaemia were found in 80% of examined infants and toddlers. VDD was found in 49% of newborns that were not anaemic. We have observed the substantial difference between the examinees suffering from both anaemia and VDD and the examinees suffering from VDD only. Conclusion: The highest level on anaemia was found in the children with severe vitamin D deficiency, while in the examined infants and toddlers, there was a connection between the level of 25(OH)D and Hb in the serum.

Introduction: Liver inflammatory response occurring after toxic chemicals injection, such as cisplatin, causes the aggravation in liver damage. Lycopene, a carotenoid, has previously been proven to possess antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antiapoptotic properties. This study objective was to...