Diaphragmatic strengthening exercises for patients with post COVID-19 condition after mild-to-moderate acute COVID-19 infection: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To assess the clinical effects of incentive spirometry (IS) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) in patients with post COVID-19 condition and diaphragmatic dysfunction as compared with the standard care alone.

Methods: The present longitudinal randomized study included 60 patients with post COVID-19 condition and diaphragmatic dysfunction. Patients were equally randomized to receive standard care plus IS (G1), standard care plus DB (G2) or standard care alone (G3) for 8 weeks.

Auditory function assessment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a multisystem disease with multiple comorbidities. Hearing is dependent on the cochlear functions that may be affected by oxygenation. Affection of hearing is problematic and represents a major concern that should be seriously investigated as an important comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Impact of Toll-Like Receptor 2 and 9 Gene Polymorphisms on COVID-19: Susceptibility, Severity, and Thrombosis.

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in activation of innate and adaptive immune responses.

Aim: We aimed to detect the association between TLR2 rs5743708 G>A and TLR9 rs5743836 C>T variants and COVID-19 disease susceptibility, severity, and thrombosis by using neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Subjects And Methods: We included 100 adult COVID-19 patients as well as 100 age- and gender-matched normal controls.

The Influence of Smoking on Renal Functions Among Apparently Healthy Smokers.

Background: Cigarette smoking is an important modifiable risk factor in kidney disease progression. Although long-term smoking has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), its effect on kidney function in early stages has not been clarified.

Objective: To detect the early effects of smoking either active or passive on kidney functions.