Induction of Th1 cytokine responses by mycobacterial antigens in leprosy.

Twelve mycobacterial antigens were compared for induction of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) secretion by human blood mononuclear cells of patients with leprosy. Fractionated Mycobacterium leprae antigens containing cell wall proteins or cytosolic and membrane proteins induced good IFN-gamma responses in tuberculoid leprosy patients. Lipoarabinomannan from M. tuberculosis Erdman and M. leprae mycolylarabinogalactan peptidoglycan were the poorest IFN-gamma inducers.     

Do men with normal testosterone–oestradiol ratios benefit from letrozole for the treatment of male infertility?

Research question

Previous studies of aromatase inhibitors on male infertility have focused on men with low testosterone–oestradiol ratio of less than 10. Can aromatase inhibitors improve spermatogenesis in men with idiopathic male infertility with normal testosterone–oestradiol ratio?

Association of Metacognitive Beliefs,Obsessive Beliefs and Symptom Severity With Quality of Life in Obsessive–Compulsive Patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of obsessive beliefs, obsessive–compulsive disorder severity and metacognitive beliefs to the quality of life in patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Sixty one adults with a principal diagnosis of OCD were recruited for the study. Participants were assessed by trained clinicians using an unstructured clinical interview, the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire, the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale, the Metacognitive Beliefs Questionnaire and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson's of correlation coefficients and multiple regression analyses. Findings indicate that obsessive beliefs, severity total OCD and metacognitive beliefs were associated with total quality of life scores. Regression analysis revealed that while OCD total severity explained 40.1% of the variance in total quality of life, obsessive beliefs (perfectionism/certainty domain) and metacognitions (cognitive self-consciousness and negative beliefs about thoughts in general) explained an additional 13.7%, 7.7% and 5.4% of the variance in QoL. Findings indicate that the metacognitive beliefs associated with OCD symptom severity are different from that associated with quality of life. The implications are that metacognitive therapy aimed at symptom reduction may not necessarily result in improved QoL in OCD patients.     

Primary Antibiotic Resistance to Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated From Children in Northern Iran: A Single Center Study

Background:

Initial resistance to antibiotics is the main reason for the failure of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in children.

Objectives:

As we commonly face high antibiotic resistance rates in children, we aimed to determine the susceptibility of H. pylori to common antibiotics.

Patients and Methods:

In this cross-sectional in vitro study, 169 children younger than 14 years with clinical diagnosis of peptic ulcer underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Biopsy specimens from stomach and duodenum were cultured. In isolated colonies, tests of catalase, urease, and oxidase as well as gram staining were performed. After confirming the colonies as H. pylori, the antibiogram was obtained using disk diffusion method.

Results:

Culture for H. pylori was positive in 12.3% of the specimens, urease test in 21.3%, serological test in 18.9% and stool antigen test was positive in 21.9%. We could show high specificity but moderate sensitivity of both histological and H. pylori stool antigen tests to detect H. pylori. The overall susceptibility to metronidazole was 42.9%, amoxicillin 95.2%, clarithromycin 85.7%, furazolidone 61.9%, azithromycin 81.0%, and tetracycline 76.2% with the highest resistance to metronidazole and the lowest to clarithromycin.

Conclusions:

In our region, there is high resistance of H. pylori to some antibiotics including metronidazole and furazolidone among affected children. To reduce the prevalence of this antibiotic resistance, more controlled use of antibiotics should be considered in children.     

Assessing the Biodiversity of Wood Decay Fungi in Northern Forests of Iran

Fungal diversity in the Hyrcanian forests can greatly vary due to diverse ecological conditions. The scope of the present research was to investigate the diversity of wood decay fungi at three sites in the northern forests of Iran. Fruiting bodies of fungi were collected in three plots dominated by Quercus castaneifolia C.A.M. (oak) and Carpinus betulus L. (hornbeam) in the Hyrcanian Forest. As many as 19 and 13 taxa were found on hornbeam and oak, respectively. The identification of these fungi revealed Fomes fomentarius (L.) Fr. and Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. as highly abundant on hornbeam and oak, respectively. Highest fungal abundance was observed at an altitude range of 1150-1200 meters above sea level. Diversity of macro-fungi was determined and the mean Shannon diversity index was found to be 2.52 and 1.94 for hornbeam and oak, respectively, and mean equitability was calculated as 0.84 and 0.73 for hornbeam and oak, respectively. There were no significant differences in the Shannon Diversity Index or equitability. Overall, current work showed that most of the identified fungi were classified as white rot fungi.     

Ginger and turmeric lipid-solubles attenuate heated oil-induced oxidative stress in the brain via the upregulation of NRF2 and improve cognitive function in rats

In this study, we elucidated the modulatory potentials of lipid-solubles from ginger and turmeric that may migrate to oils during heating on the brain antioxidant defense and cognitive response in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed with control diet [including native canola oil (N-CNO), and native sunflower oil (N-SFO)], or experimental diets [including heated canola oil (H-CNO), heated sunflower oil (H-SFO), heated canola oil with ginger (H-CNO + GI), heated canola oil with turmeric (H-CNO + TU), heated sunflower oil with ginger (H-SFO + GI), heated sunflower oil with turmeric (H-SFO + TU)] for 90 days. Memory parameters [Morris water maze, elevated plus maze, novel object recognition test, T-maze (spontaneous alteration)], locomotor skills (open field test and rotarod test), antioxidant defense enzymes, reactive oxygen species, NOS2, ICAM-1, and NRF-2 level in the brain were assessed. Compared to their respective controls, heated oil-fed rats, but not those fed oils heated with ginger or turmeric, showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the memory, motor coordination skills, antioxidant defense enzymes, and NRF-2 activation in the brain. Compared to their respective controls, the brain NOS-2 and ICAM-1 were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in heated oil-fed rats, but not those fed oils heated with ginger or turmeric. Chronic intake of repeatedly heated oil causes brain dysfunction by inducing oxidative stress through NRF-2 downregulation. Lipid-solubles from ginger and turmeric that may migrate to oil during heating prevent the oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction triggered by heated oils in rats.

     

Comparing Diazepam Plus Fentanyl With Midazolam Plus Fentanyl in the Moderate Procedural Sedation of Anterior Shoulder Dislocations: A Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundThe reduction of shoulder dislocation requires adequate procedural sedation and analgesia. The mixture of midazolam and fentanyl is reported in the literature, but long-acting benzodiazepines in conjunction with fentanyl are lacking.Study ObjectiveOur aim was to compar e IV diazepam with IV midazolam in moderate procedural sedation (based on the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists) for the reduction of shoulder dislocation.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted from April 2019 to December 2019 in the emergency department of a university-affiliated hospital in Tehran, Iran. Participants were adult patients (aged 18–65 years) with anterior shoulder dislocation. Group A (n = 42) received diazepam 0.1 mg/kg plus fentanyl 1 μg/kg IV and group B received midazolam 0.1 mg/kg plus fentanyl 1 μg g/kg IV. Main outcomes measured were onset of muscle relaxation, time taken to reduction, total procedure time, number of the reduction attempts, patient recovery time, the occurrence of the adverse effects, amount of the pain reported by the patients using visual analog scale, and patients and physicians overall satisfaction with the procedure using a Likert scale question.ResultsEighty-one patients were included. The mean ± standard deviation time of the onset of the muscle relaxation and time taken to reduction was shorter in the diazepam plus fentanyl group (p = 0.016 and p = 0.001, respectively). Adverse effects and pain relief were not statistically different between the two groups. Patient recovery time and total procedure time was shorter in the midazolam plus fentanyl group (p = 0.008 and p = 0.02, respectively). The overall satisfaction of patients and physicians was higher in the diazepam plus fentanyl group.ConclusionsAs compared with midazolam plus fentanyl, diazepam plus fentanyl was superior in terms of the onset of the muscle relaxation, patient and physician satisfaction, and time taken to reduction.     

Carbon Nanotube–Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Composite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Despite their indisputable clinical value, current tissue engineering strategies face major challenges in recapitulating the natural nano-structural and morphological features of native bone. The aim of this study is to take a step forward by developing a porous scaffold with appropriate mechanical strength and controllable surface roughness for bone repair. This was accomplished by homogenous dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) solution followed by a solvent casting/particulate leaching scaffold fabrication. Our results demonstrated that CNT/PLGA composite scaffolds possessed a significantly higher mechanical strength as compared to PLGA scaffolds. The incorporation of CNTs led to an enhanced surface roughness and resulted in an increase in the attachment and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Most interestingly, the in vitro osteogenesis studies demonstrated a significantly higher rate of differentiation on CNT/PLGA scaffolds compared to the control PLGA group. These results all together demonstrate the potential of CNT/PLGA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering as they possess the combined effects of mechanical strength and osteogenicity.     

Stroke as a Neurological Complication of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Incidence,Outcomes and Predictors

IntroductionCOVID-19 is a multi-system infection which predominantly affects the respiratory system, but also causes systemic inflammation, endothelialitis and thrombosis. The consequences of this include renal dysfunction, hepatitis and stroke. In this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical course, and outcomes of patients who suffer from stroke as a complication of COVID-19.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of all studies published between November 1, 2019 and July 8, 2020 which reported on patients who suffered from stroke as a complication of COVID-19.Results326 studies were screened, and 30 studies reporting findings from 55,176 patients including 899 with stroke were included. The average age of patients who suffered from stroke as a complication of COVID-19 was 65.5 (Range: 40.4–76.4 years). The average incidence of stroke as a complication of COVID-19 was 1.74% (95% CI: 1.09% to 2.51%). The average mortality of stroke in COVID-19 patients was 31.76% (95% CI: 17.77% to 47.31%). These patients also had deranged clinical parameters including deranged coagulation profiles, liver function tests, and full blood counts.ConclusionAlthough stroke is an uncommon complication of COVID-19, when present, it often results in significant morbidity and mortality. In COVID-19 patients, stroke was associated with older age, comorbidities, and severe illness.     

Potential role of Nigella sativa supplementation with physical activity in prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19: a contemporary review

Sport Sciences for Health - The widespread prevalence and mortality of coronavirus diseases-2019 (COVID-19) lead many researchers to study the SARS-CoV-s2 infection to find a treatment for this...