The impact of COVID-19 on liver injury in various age

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. This disease is currently one of the most important global health problems. The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, that has caused a deadly pandemic that is spreading rapidly around the world. It is not only a respiratory system virus that causes severe lung disease, but also a systemic disease agent that can affect all systems. People with COVID-19 disease usually have respiratory signs, however, the liver disorder is not an uncommon presentation. In addition, many studies around the world have revealed that the liver is injured to various degrees in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 disease. This review mainly focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on Liver Injury at various ages.     

Clinical and obstetric characteristics of pregnant women with Covid-19: A case series study on 26 patients

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with Covid-19.Materials and methodsThis case series study was performed to investigate demographic, clinical and obstetric characteristics of 26 pregnant women with COVID-19 referring to a university hospital of Kashan during the epidemic of COVID-19 (March to May 2020).ResultsThe mean gestational age of the patients at admission and delivery was 31.8 ± 5.2 and 36.3 ± 3.4 weeks, respectively. The most common symptoms were fever (96.2%) followed by dyspnea and cough (30.8%). The findings of lung CT scan showed abnormalities confirming the pneumonia in 22 patients (84.6%). Cesarean section was performed in 69.2% of the mothers. The most common maternal–fetal outcome was preterm delivery (38%). Two mothers were transferred to the ICU due to deterioration in clinical condition and they underwent mechanical ventilation without any maternal death. The most common neonatal outcomes were prematurity (38%) and low birth weight (34.6%). No cases of confirmed COVID-19 were observed in the neonates.ConclusionClinical manifestations and laboratory and radiographic findings in pregnant women with COVID-19 are similar to the general population. Common outcomes of pregnancy and delivery in mothers included increased rate of preterm delivery and cesarean section. The most prevalent neonatal outcomes included prematurity and LBW. Careful monitoring of pregnant women with COVID-19 is recommended.     

HSP65-PRA identification of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria from 4892 samples suspicious for mycobacterial infections

Various molecular methods have been used for the rapid identification of mycobacterial species. In this survey, evaluation of antibiotic resistance and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA) of the hsp65 gene was carried out for identification of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) isolates from different clinical specimens. Forty-eight different mycobacterial isolates were selected and followed by the conventional and PRA of hsp65 for species identification. The antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out according to standard methods. A 439 bp PCR product of hsp65 in all selected isolates was amplified and digested with the BstEII and HaeIII restriction enzymes. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed for species identification. Using PRA for 48 mycobacterial selected isolates, including 15 M. tuberculosis, one M. bovis and all 32 isolates of NTM, revealed 11 different species among the NTM isolates. The most frequent NTM isolates were M. kansasii, M. gordonae III, M. marinum, M. chelonae, M. scrofluaceum and M. gastri. In most cases, the PRA results were perfectly in accordance with the classical biochemical method. Combination of resistance to rifampin and isoniazid was present among M. kansasi, M. gordoniae III, M. scrofluaceum, M. chelonae, M. marinum, M. gastri, M. gordoniae II and M. trivale isolates. A high incidence of co-resistance to six, five, four and three anti-TB drugs was observed in 18.5%, 9.1%, 6.6% and 11.7% of all NTM isolates, respectively. Our results showed that PRA, in comparison with classical methods, is rapid and accurate enough for the identification of mycobacterial species from LJ medium. Additionally, we found that in Iran we have a highly diverse population of NTM isolates among patients suspected of having TB.     

Evolution and species-specific conservation of toll-like receptors in terrestrial vertebrates

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are known for their essential roles in promotion of innate immunity and induction of adaptive immunity through recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). TLR genes are excellent models for the study of the selective pressure enforced by microorganisms on the host genome. Phylogenetic analyses have shown that interactions between pathogens and immune systems have changed during evolution. Selective pressure for maintenance of specific pathogen recognition has led to evolution of TLRs under both positive and purifying selection. However, intracellular and cell-surface TLRs have been affected differently due to their variation in conservational constraints. In this review, we summarize some of the main studies on the influence of selection on shaping the evolution of several TLR gene families in different terrestrial vertebrate species. We also describe the effect of evolution on the function of different TLRs and their specific conservations in these species and show similarities and differences in evolutionary patterns of TLR orthologs among species as well as among TLR gene families.     

Persistent infections with Sendai virus and Newcastle disease viruses

Summary Persistent infections (Pi) were established in two host-cell systems [Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) and Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK)] with Sendai virus and three strains of NDV, to test the influence of different viruses and host-cell systems.Virus was recovered from the persistently infected cells. An RNA- ts mutant was recovered from a Pi of MDBK cells, but no Pi could be established in MDCK cells with the three strains of NDV. Additionally, the Pi was established exclusively by a virulent strain, NDV-Milano.On the other hand, Sendai virus could establish Pi in MDBK and MDCK cell-systems. Several ts mutants were recovered from late passages of Pi, and from an accidental infection, a ts mutant with an altered P polypeptide. Ten other ts mutants were tested, however, the specific ts lesion could not be identified. From three Pi in MDCK cells, host range mutants (ts-f1, ts-f2, and ts-f3) were recovered. One of the mutants (ts-f1) has an altered M (matrix) protein. The host range mutants undergo a productive infection in MDBK and MDCK cells, which are nonpermissive for wild type Sendai virus. The possible significance of the results are discussed.With 5 Figures     

Sexual compatibility among Iranian couples: a qualitative study

Sexual compatibility increases the stability of marriage and partners’ relationships and decreases sexually transmitted diseases. This qualitative study using a content analysis approach was conducted with 36 married men and women. Interviews were conducted for data collection. As the main theme of this study, “couple's sexual companionship” emerged as the main theme of sexual compatibility, that means couples’ participation for fulfilling each other sexual needs and solving problems arising from sexual discrepancies based on sexual understandings, sexual agreements and interests for continuing the sexual relationship with the aim of mutual sexual satisfaction. Sexual compatibility did not necessarily mean similarities, as during the marital life sexual discrepancies were inevitable. However, compatible couples encountered such a situation based on understandings, agreement and love. Active participation in sexual relationships, forgiveness and consideration, no huffing, mutual respect, flexibility and an occasional use of non-penetrative sexual relationships, sexual conversation with spouses, patience and development of the sexual relationship were the prominent feature of sexually compatible couples.     

Neuregulin‐1 positively modulates glial response and improves neurological recovery following traumatic spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in glial activation and neuroinflammation, which play pivotal roles in the secondary injury mechanisms with both pro‐ and antiregeneration effects. Presently, little is known about the endogenous molecular mechanisms that regulate glial functions in the injured spinal cord. We previously reported that the expression of neuregulin‐1 (Nrg‐1) is acutely and chronically declined following traumatic SCI. Here, we investigated the potential ramifications of Nrg‐1 dysregulation on glial and immune cell reactivity following SCI. Using complementary in vitro approaches and a clinically‐relevant model of severe compressive SCI in rats, we demonstrate that immediate delivery of Nrg‐1 (500 ng/day) after injury enhances a neuroprotective phenotype in inflammatory cells associated with increased interleukin‐10 and arginase‐1 expression. We also found a decrease in proinflammatory factors including IL‐1β, TNF‐α, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP‐2 and 9) and nitric oxide after injury. In addition, Nrg‐1 modulates astrogliosis and scar formation by reducing inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans after SCI. Mechanistically, Nrg‐1 effects on activated glia are mediated through ErbB2 tyrosine phosphorylation in an ErbB2/3 heterodimer complex. Furthermore, Nrg‐1 exerts its effects through downregulation of MyD88, a downstream adaptor of Toll‐like receptors, and increased phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and STAT3. Nrg‐1 treatment with the therapeutic dosage of 1.5 μg/day significantly improves tissue preservation and functional recovery following SCI. Our findings for the first time provide novel insights into the role and mechanisms of Nrg‐1 in acute SCI and suggest a positive immunomodulatory role for Nrg‐1 that can harness the beneficial properties of activated glia and inflammatory cells in recovery following SCI.     

Effects of neurofeedback on the short-term memory and continuous attention ofpatients with moderate traumatic brain injury: A preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial

Purpose: There are some studies which showed neurofeedback therapy (NFT) can be effective in clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) history. However, randomized controlled clinical trials are still needed for evaluation of this treatment as a standard option. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate the effect of NFT on continuous attention (CA) and short-term memory (STM) of clients with moderate TBI using a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Methods: In this preliminary RCT, seventeen eligible patients with moderate TBI were randomly allocated in two intervention and control groups. All the patients were evaluated for CA and STM using the visual continuous attention test and Wechsler memory scale-4th edition (WMS-IV) test, respectively, both at the time of inclusion to the project and four weeks later. The intervention group participated in 20 sessions of NFT through the first four weeks. Conversely, the control group participated in the same NF sessions from the fifth week to eighth week of the project. Results: Eight subjects in the intervention group and five subjects in the control group completed the study. The mean and standard deviation of participants'' age were (26.75 ± 15.16) years and (27.60 ± 8.17) years in experiment and control groups, respectively. All of the subjects were male. No significant improvement was observed in any variables of the visual continuous attention test and WMS-IV test between two groups (p≥0.05). Conclusion: Based on our literature review, it seems that our study is the only study performed on the effect of NFT on TBI patients with control group. NFT has no effect on CA and STM in patients with moderate TBI. More RCTs with large sample sizes, more sessions of treatment, longer time of follow-up and different protocols are recommended.     

Anticancer properties of green-synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles using Hyssopus officinalis extract on prostate carcinoma cells and its effects on testicular damage and spermatogenesis in Balb/C mice

The unclear bio-safety issue and potential risk of nanoparticles (NPs) on various organelles can be considered as a major challenge. In the present study, we have assessed the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) extract and their effects on PC3 cell line and BALB/c mice model. The cytotoxicity of the ZnO-NPs was assessed on PC3 cell line by MTT test after characterisation. Apoptotic effect of ZnO-NPs was determined by in vitro AO/PI staining. The histopathological assessments and determination of LH and FSH levels carried out as in vivo analysis in BALB/c adult male mice. The expression of major genes involved in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation (Adam3, Prm1, Spata19, Tnp2, Gpx5) were also analysed. The obtained result demonstrated that the IC₅₀ for PC3 cell line treated with green-synthesised ZnO-NPs during 24 and 48 hr was reported 8.07 and 5 µg/ml respectively. Meanwhile, the induced apoptosis was recorded 26.6% ± 0.05, 44% ± 0.12 and 80% ± 0.07 of PC3 cells. The results of gene expression analysis revealed that the increase in the concentration of ZnO-NPs significantly (p < .05) down-regulated the Adam3, Prm1, Spata-19, Tnp2 and Gpx5 genes. The overall results of this research elucidated that ZnO-NPs impaired spermatogenesis, sperm maturation process and sperm motility.