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Background: Since the outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), identifying risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality has been a global priority. In this study, the purpose was to evaluate the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to develop a predictive model and scoring system for in-hospital mortality. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 611 adult patients with COVID-19, admitted to Sina hospital were enrolled and followed up. Results: Out of the total number of 611 patients, 104 patients (17%) deceased during hospitalization, including 75 (12.2%) deaths in ICU and 29 (4.7%) deaths in the wards. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, several characteristics including age >55 years, previous history of malignancy, history of cerebrovascular accident, tachypnea on admission, CRP>54 on admission, D-dimer>1300, and bilateral pulmonary consolidation on chest Computed Tomography (CT) were shown to be the main determinants for stratifying the risk for in-hospital death. The factors were finally considered for introducing a new predictive scoring system for COVID-19 related death. Conclusion: In-hospital mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 is estimated to be 17%. A new scoring system for predicting in-hospital mortality in such patients was structured based on determinant factors of advanced age, history of malignancy, cerebrovascular accident, tachypnea, raised CRP, raised D-dimer on admission, and bilateral pulmonary consolidation on chest CT scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the association between disease severity and hepatic steatosis in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Consecutively selected UC patients admitted to the gastroenterology clinic were enrolled in the study. UC severity was assessed by Truelove and Witts classification. Patients with severe UC were excluded from the study. NASH was determined based on persistently elevated serum aminotransferase levels and detection of fatty liver ultrasound. Patients with other etiologies for elevated aminotransferase levels were excluded. Liver fat content (LFC) was assessed by measuring liver fat score (LFS). One hundred patients (42% male) were included in the study. According to liver ultrasound examination, 62 (%) patients were identified with grade 1 fatty liver disease, and 38 (%) patients were classified as advanced (grade 2 and 3) fatty liver disease. Sixty-one patients had left-sided UC and (46%) had mild UC disease severity index. LFS was significantly higher in UC patients with the moderate disease than patients with mild disease (3.53±2.68 vs. 5.89±2.85, respectively; P<0.01). Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in LFS regarding UC extension. There was no significant difference between NASH ultrasound grades in view of UC severity and extension. LFC might be associated with UC severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]