Anticonvulsant effect of celecoxib on pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion: Modulation by NO pathway

This study aimed to examine whether celecoxib influences clonic seizure thresholds through modulation of nitric oxidergic (NO) pathway. The effect of celecoxib (1-5 mg per kg, p.o.) was investigated on clonic seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 50 and 80 mg per kg, i.p.) in male Swiss mice. The interaction of celecoxib-induced effects with NO pathway was examined using a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 20 and 50 mg per kg, i.p.) and a NOS substrate, L-arginine (100 and 200 mg per kg, i.p.). The criteria for the development of seizure activity were the possibility for appearance of generalized clonus and prolongation of latency to the onset of convulsions following administration of 50 and 80 mg per kg of PTZ, respectively. Pretreatment with celecoxib (2.5 and 5 mg per kg) or L-NAME (50 mg per kg) induced anticonvulsant effect on the PTZ-induced clonic seizures. L-arginine at the dose of 200 mg per kg had proconvulsant effect. A sub-effective dose of celecoxib (1 mg per kg) induced an additive anticonvulsant effect when co-administered with L-NAME (20 mg per kg). Although L-arginine (100 mg per kg) per se did not influence PTZ-induced convulsion, it could attenuate the anticonvulsant effect of celecoxib (5 mg per kg). Our results indicate that celecoxib induces an anticonvulsant effect on clonic seizure threshold that may involve NO pathway.     

COVID-19 and hematology findings based on the current evidences: A puzzle with many missing pieces

In December 2019, a new type of coronavirus was detected for the first time in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. According to the reported data, the emerging coronavirus has spread worldwide, infecting more than fifty-seven million individuals, leading to more than one million deaths. The current study aimed to review and discuss the hematological findings of COVID-19. Laboratory changes and hematologic abnormalities have been reported repeatedly in COVID-19 patients. WBC count and peripheral blood lymphocytes are normal or slightly reduced while these indicators may change with the progression of the disease. In addition, several studies demonstrated that decreased hemoglobin levels in COVID-19 patients were associated with the severity of the disease. Moreover, thrombocytopenia, which is reported in 5%-40% of patients, is known to be associated with poor prognosis of the disease. COVID-19 can present with various hematologic manifestations. In this regard, accurate evaluation of laboratory indicators at the beginning and during COVID-19 can help physicians to adjust appropriate treatment and provide special and prompt care for those in need.     

The effect of lifestyle-based education to women and their husbands on the anxiety and depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lifestyle-based education to women and their husbands on anxiety and depression during pregnancy.

Method: This controlled trial was conducted on 189 pregnant women. Participants were allocated into three groups through block randomization. In the first intervention group, both women and their husbands, and in the second one, only women received the lifestyle-based education. In the control group, women received only the routine care. Edinburgh depression and Spielberger anxiety questionnaires were completed at baseline and 8 weeks after it.

Results: Compared to the control group, significant reductions were observed in the scores of depression (adjusted difference: ?4.7; 95% CI: ?5.9 to ?3.4), state anxiety (?8.1; ?11.3 to ?4.9) and trait anxiety (?8.3; ?11.9 to ?5.0) in the first intervention group, and in the scores of depression (?2.9; ?4.1 to ?1.6), state anxiety (?4.3; ?7.5 to ?1.1) and trait anxiety (?5.5; 95% CI: ?8.7 to ?2.3) in the second intervention group. Comparing the two intervention groups, mean scores of depression and state anxiety were significantly lower in the first group.

Conclusion: Results suggested the positive effect of lifestyle education to women and their husbands on depression and anxiety during pregnancy.     

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation affects pregnancy outcomes in gestational diabetes: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

Objective: This study was designed to assess the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on inflammatory factors, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 56 women with GDM. Subjects were randomly selected to receive either 1000?mg omega-3 fatty acid supplements (containing 180?mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 120?mg docosahexanoic acid) (n?=?27) or a placebo (n?=?27) for 6 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at study baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention to quantify biochemical variables. Newborn’s weight, height, head circumference, Apgar score, and hyperbilirubinemia were determined.

Results: At the end of the 6 weeks, taking omega-3 fatty acid significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (change from baseline: ?245.1?±?1570.5 versus?+?913.9?±?2329.4?ng/mL, p?=?0.03) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations (?0.4?±?1.3 versus?+?0.6±2.3, p?=?0.04) compared with the placebo. Supplementation with omega-3 had a low incidence of hyperbilirubinemiain newborns (7.7% versus 33.3%, p?=?0.02) and decreased newborns’ hospitalization rate (7.7% versus 33.3%, p?=?0.02).

Conclusions: Taken together, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in GDM women had beneficial effects on maternal serum hs-CRP, plasma MDA levels, incidence of newborn’s hyperbilirubinemia, and hospitalization.     

Association between the DRD2 A1 allele and opium addiction in the Iranian population.

Dysfunction of the central dopaminergic neurotransmission has been suggested to play an important role in the etiology of certain neuropsychiatric disorders such as drug abuse. It has been shown that the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) gene dysfunction is associated with multi-drug addiction. Addiction to opium is the most common form of drug abuse in Iran. We studied the allelic association between DRD2 Taq I A polymorphism in 100 opium-dependent Iranian patients and 130 unrelated controls. A 310 bp (base pair) region surrounding Taq I site at the DRD2 locus was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the PCR product was incubated with Taq I restriction enzyme. The A1 allele remained intact while the A2 allele was cut. Significant association was observed between A1 allele and addiction in the patients group (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the frequency of A1A1 genotype was significantly higher in opium users than controls (P < 0.0001). Our result indicates that DRD2 might be involved in the pathophysiology of opium addiction.     

Pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients

Background: Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is the most characteristic feature of asthma, which is reported in COPD patients and smokers. Increased airway responsiveness to ?-agonists is also demonstrated in asthmatics as well as smokers. However, there is no report regarding AHR to ?-agonist drugs in COPD patients. Therefore, in this study pharmacologic bronchodilation response to salbutamol in COPD patients was examined. Materials and Methods: The threshold concentrations of inhaled salbutamol required for a 20% change in forced expiratory flow in 1 sec (FEV 1 ) as PC 20 , or a 35% change in specific airway conductance (sGaw) as PC 35 was measured in 14 COPD patients and 14 normal subjects. Results: Airway responsiveness to salbutamol in COPD patients (PC 20 = 14.14 ± 1.62 and PC 35 = 9.70 ± 1.48 mg/l) was significantly lower than normal subjects (PC 20 = 224.57 ± 16.62 and PC 35 = 81.87 ± 8.16 mg/l, P < 0.001 for both cases). The values of FEV 1 and sGaw in COPD patients (56.43 ± 14.45 and 0.081 ± 0.120 respectively) were significantly lower than those of normal subjects (104.07 ± 5.72 and 0.194 ± 0.041 respectively), (P < 0.001 for FEV 1 and P < 0.005 for sGaw). There was a significant correlation between FEV 1 with PC 20 salbutamol (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). The correlations between PC 20 and PC 35 was also statistically significant (r = 0.862, P < 0.001). Conclusion: These results showed increased airway responsiveness of most COPD patients to salbutamol which was highly correlated to airway caliber.     

Cellular expression of CD markers in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: implications for prognosis

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder associated with platelet destruction. Abnormalities in frequency and function of different immune cells can play a crucial role in this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of CD markers’ expressions by immune cells in ITP. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 25 ITP patients before and after treatment. The expression of CD markers was evaluated by flow cytometry technique. The expression of CD38 and CD56 was significantly lower before treatment than after it (p = 0.025 and p = 0.036, respectively). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between CD38 expression with platelet count before (r = 0.496, p = 0.012) and after treatment (r = 0.404, p = 0.045). No significant relationship was found between this marker and platelet count while CD4 expression was higher before treatment than after it (p = 0.002). In conclusion, CD38 may have independent prognostic value in ITP and we suggest that it can be a prognostic marker for this disease.     

Distinct Biomarker Profiles in Ex Vivo T Cell Depletion Graft Manipulation Strategies: CD34+ Selection versus CD3+/19+ Depletion in Matched Sibling Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Various approaches have been developed for ex vivo T cell depletion in allogeneic stem cell transplantation to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Direct comparisons of T cell depletion strategies have not been well studied, however. We evaluated cellular and plasma biomarkers in 2 different graft manipulation strategies, CD3⁺CD19⁺ cell depletion (CD3/19D) versus CD34⁺ selection (CD34S), and their associations with clinical outcomes. Identical conditions, including the myeloablative preparative regimen, HLA-identical sibling donor, GVHD prophylaxis, and graft source, were used in the 2 cohorts. Major clinical outcomes were similar in the 2 groups in terms of overall survival, nonrelapse mortality, and cumulative incidence of relapse; however, the cumulative incidence of acute GVHD trended to be higher in the CD3/19D cohort compared with the CD34S cohort. A distinct biomarker profile was noted in the CD3/19D cohort: higher levels of ST2, impaired Helios^? FoxP3⁺Treg reconstitution, and rapid reconstitution of naïve, Th2, and Th17 CD4 cells in the early post-transplantation period. In vitro graft replication studies confirmed that CD3/19D disproportionately depleted Tregs and other CD4 subset repertoires in the graft. This study confirms the utility of biomarker monitoring, which can be directly correlated with biological consequences and possible future therapeutic indications.