Climate effects on the COVID-19 outbreak: a comparative analysis between the UAE and Switzerland

The main aim of the present study is to disclose the similarities or differences of the climate effects on the COVID-19 outbreak in two countries, which have different climatic conditions. Using the correlation modeling, the results revealed that some climatic factors, such as the ULR, temperature, and CH₄ in the UAE and aerosol index and NO₂ in Switzerland have positive lagged correlations with the outburst of COVID-19 by intensifying role within − 9, − 7, and − 2 days. The mitigating role was also observed for ozone/solar radiation and temperature/long-wave radiation in the UAE and Switzerland, respectively. The initial hypotheses of the research have confirmed the correlations between new cases of COVID-19 and ULR and aerosol indices in the UAE and Switzerland. However, the main finding revealed that the climate effects on the COVID-19 outbreak show different roles in the different countries, locating in dissimilar climatic zones. Accordingly, the COVID-19 can be intensified by increases of the ULR and temperature in an arid region, while it can be exactly mitigated by increases of these factors in a temperate area. This finding may be useful for future researches for identifying the essential influencing factors for the mitigating COVID-19 outbreak.

The Anti-apoptotic Mechanism of Metformin Against Apoptosis Induced by Ionizing Radiation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

BACKGROUND

In a previous article, we showed that metformin (MET) can reduce ionizing radiation (IR) induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, the anti-apoptotic mechanism of MET against IR remains unclear. The present study attempts to investigate the mechanism of action of MET in limiting X-ray induced apoptosis in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mononuclear cells were treated with MET for 2 hours and irradiated with 6 MV X-rays. The gene expression levels of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 were determined 24 hours post irradiation using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique. Furthermore, the protein levels of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 were analyzed by Western blotting assay.

RESULTS

Radiation exposure increased the expressions of BAX and CASP3 genes, and decreased the expression of BCL2 gene in mononuclear cells. Conversely, an increase in BCL2 gene expression along with a decrease in BAX and CASP3 genes expression was observed in MET plus irradiated mononuclear cells. It was found that radiation increased BAX/BCL2 ratio, while MET pretreatment reduced these ratios. Also, treatment with MET without irradiation did not change the expressions of BAX, CASP3 and BCL2 genes. On the other hand, downregulated expression of BCL2 protein and upregulated expressions of BAX and CASP3 proteins were found in 2 Gy irradiated mononuclear cells, while pretreatment with MET significantly reversed this tendency.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that MET can protect mononuclear cells against apoptosis induced by IR through induction of cellular anti-apoptotic signaling.Key words: ionizing radiation - metformin - apoptosis - genes - proteins - blood cells.

Combined Effect of Iodine Contrast Media, Cisplatin and External Beam Radiotherapy on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells

INTRODUCTION

The current study investigated the combination of high Z atoms (iodine-, platinium-based drugs) with using low energy irradiation (120kvp) in Anaplastic Thyroid cancer cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For this purpose, eight groups were designed: control (CNT), different concentrations of Iodine contrast media (ICM), irradiation with various doses, Cis-platin (CDDP) with different concentrations, (ICM + CDDP), (ICM + RAD), (CDDP + RAD) and (ICM + CDDP + RAD). The viability was measured by MTT and Colony assay. In MTT assay, the viability of 8305c cells RAD (2 Gy)+ICM (10mg/mL) group was significantly lower than those treated with RAD or ICM alone. CDDP +ICM+RAD group significantly decreased the viability. In colony assay, cells in ICM + RAD (2 Gy) group reduced the number of colonies more significant than RAD group. The difference of colony forming ability between CDDP and CDDP + RAD (2 Gy) was significant. The difference of ICM + CDDP + RAD (2 Gy) and CDDP +RAD (2 Gy) group was significant. All data were statistically analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Chafe's multi-comparisons tests. All data were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS 16). Significance was considered to be p<0.05.

RESULTS

In MTT assay, the viability of 8305c cells RAD (2 Gy) + ICM (10mg/mL) group was significantly lower than those treated with RAD or ICM alone. CDDP + ICM + RAD group significantly decreased the viability. In colony assay, cells in ICM + RAD (2 Gy) group reduced the number of colonies more significantly than RAD group. The difference of colony forming ability between CDDP and CDDP + RAD (2 Gy) was significant. The difference of ICM + CDDP + RAD (2 Gy) and CDDP + RAD (2 Gy) group was significant.

CONCLUSION

Exposure of ATC to ICM in the presence of CDDP increases tissue X-rays absorbance by Auger electrons and photo electrons leading to more fatal effects against the tumour.

Radioprotective Effects of Sulfur-containing Mineral Water of Ramsar Hot Spring with High Natural Background Radiation on Mouse Bone Marrow Cells

BACKGROUND

We intend to study the inhibitory effect of sulfur compound in Ramsar hot spring mineral on tumor-genesis ability of high natural background radiation.

OBJECTIVE

The radioprotective effect of sulfur compounds was previously shown on radiation-induced chromosomal aberration, micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells and human peripheral lymphocyte. Ramsar is known for having the highest level of natural background radiation on Earth. This study was performed to show the radioprotective effect of sulfur-containing Ramsar mineral water on mouse bone marrow cells.

METHOD

Mice were fed three types of water (drinking water, Ramsar radioactive water containing sulfur and Ramsar radioactive water whose sulfur was removed). Ten days after feeding, mice were irradiated by gamma rays (0, 2 and 4 Gy). 48 and 72 hours after irradiating, mice were killed and femurs were removed. Frequency of micronuclei was determined in bone marrow erythrocytes.

RESULTS

A significant reduction was shown in the rate of micronuclei polychromatic erythrocyte in sulfur-containing hot spring water compared to sulfur-free water in hot spring mineral water. Gamma irradiation induced significant increases in micronuclei polychromatic erythrocyte (MNPCE) and decreases in polychromatic erythrocyte/polychromatic erythrocyte + normochromatic erythrocyte ratio (PCEs/PCEs+NCEs) (P < 0.001) in sulfur-containing hot spring water compared to sulfur-free hot spring mineral water. Also, apparently there was a significant difference between drinking water and sulfur-containing hot spring water in micronuclei polychromatic erythrocyte and polychromatic erythrocyte/polychromatic erythrocyte+ normochromatic erythrocyte ratio.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that sulfur-containing mineral water could result in a significant reduction in radiation-induced micronuclei representing the radioprotective effect of sulfur compounds.

Potent radioprotective effects of combined regimens of famotidine and vitamin C against radiation-induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow erythrocytes

To investigate the radioprotective effect of the combination of famotidine and vitamin C against radiation-induced micronucleus formation in mouse bone marrow erythrocytes, various doses of famotidine or vitamin C or combinations thereof were administered intraperitoneally to adult male NMRI mice 2 h before 2 and 4 Gy γ-irradiation. The frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MnPCEs) was scored in 5,000 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs), and the cell proliferation ratio [PCE/(PCE + NCE); NCE = normochromatic erythrocytes] was also calculated for each treatment group. Data were statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA test. The results show that pretreatment with various doses of famotidine and vitamin C before γ-irradiation significantly reduced the frequency of MnPCEs with a protection factor (PF) of 2 and 1.7, respectively. Pretreatment with vitamin C also significantly increased the cell proliferation ratio, while famotidine had no effect. Combination of famotidine and vitamin C was more effective in reducing MnPCEs than each compound alone, leading to a PF of 4.3 after irradiation. Cell proliferation ratio was also significantly improved by the combination compared with the irradiated control groups. Both famotidine and vitamin C are potent scavengers of free radicals and reactive oxygen species, especially OH(·). The combination of the two compounds probably further enhances this activity, thus leading to high bone marrow protection.

The radiotracer (99m)Tc-MIBI is not genotoxic for human peripheral blood lymphocytes at diagnostic radioactive dose

The radiotracer technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile ((99m)Tc-MIBI) has been widely used for myocardial blood flow imaging. We investigated the genotoxicity of (99m)Tc-MIBI in cultured human lymphocytes at the same concentration used in patients. Radioactivity doses were determined in whole blood at 5 min post-injection of 20 mCi (99m)Tc-MIBI in patients. Subsequently, whole blood of human volunteers was incubated with 1, 2.3, 4 or 8 microCi (99m)Tc-MIBI. After a 30-min incubation, the lymphocytes were stimulated with a mitogen to assay for micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked binucleated cells. The frequency of micronuclei in samples treated with this radiopharmaceutical up to 2-fold (8 microCi) the concentration of (99m)Tc-MIBI normally found in the blood of patients was not more than in control lymphocyte cultures. We concluded that there is no increased induction of micronuclei in lymphocytes incubated with (99m)Tc-MIBI at the radioactivity doses used for diagnostic purposes.

Ecological study in forest reserve of Ghasemloo (Shohada) valley and it's adjacent areas, Urmia-Iran

Forest reserve of Ghasemloo valley (Shohada) and it's adjacent areas with 577 hectare surface area has located in south of Urmia and is known as an important natural plant station of Urmia. It is studied with respect the important factors which influencing vegetation cover in whole, particularly, with refer to composition and Formation of plant communities. To study the area, Brown-Blanquet's method was used. Plant samples were collected from 77 sample plots. The study resulted in recognition of four herbaceous types and seven shrub communities in study area. In addition, the investigation led to the fact that the most important factors which influencing the vegetation cover, are: geographical orientation, altitude, gradient and soil texture. More over, the study also resulted to preparation ofa colour vegetation map with 1/20000 scale.

Floristic study of Ghasemloo (Shohada) Valley Forest reserve and adjacent area

In this survey flora of protected region of Ghasemloo valley Forest reserve and adjacent areas has been studied. The study area includes about 577 ha and is located at south of Urmia. The method which used for plant collection is the same as regional floristic studies. Collected plants were recognized and determined as families, genera and species by using of indispensable references. Alphabetical list of taxa in this region was provided on the base of families, genera and species. The life form of plant species was determined by using of Raunckier's method and chorotype of plant species was determined by indispensable references. In this research 50 family, 165 genera and 204 species were identified. The largest plant family is Compositae with 21 genera and 26 species and the largest genera is Astragalus from Papilionaceae family with 6 species. The main biological forms respectively are: Therophytes and hemichryptophytes. The most extended chorotype with 61.28% is related to Irano-Turanian.

Vegetation cover plays the most important role in soil erosion control

To obtain, characteristics and behaviors of soil erosion phenomena, to control it's harms and reduce it's risks, realistic data from soil erosion rates are necessary. Mean while, measuring soil erosion rates particularly in large scale is a time consuming and expensive task. Moreover, spatial and temporal changes of soil erosion increase this problem. Therefore, to find out a certain way of creating capable methods which easily and quickly be able to estimate soil erosion rate, is quite logical. So, different models are widely used, but, may be the most important consideration with this regard is that, these models should be previously, tested and adopted to defined areas to stop probability of causing some huge and meaningful errors. Therefore, to achieve the above mentioned aim, different methods are used. Anyway, conditions which resulted to create a suitable model, should be considered in a defined area where, model is applied, unless, model application can leads to huge risks. This study is an attempt with this refer, that is, with comparing measured soil loss rates and predicted soil erosion rates from a defined catchment area, created a reasonable relationship between them and achieved the main aim of the study. That is, one of the small upland catchments of Emam kandi of Urmia with 75 ha area which is part of the Urmia lake catchment area and under layned by calcareous parent material, is selected as a study site. Selected catchment has natural pasture and has closured during the recent years. To calculate sediment yield the following processes were done: first, estimating the volume of trapped sediments, then, surveying the catchment area, for calculating sediment yield. Measured sediment yield is 6.19 t ha(-1) year(-1) which leads to soil loss rate of 13.76 t ha(-1) year(-1) by using Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR). Also, inside the measurement of sediment yields and calculation of soil loss rates, two models of MUSLE and PSIAC were used respectively after exclosure and before exclosure to predict soil loss rates. Predicted soil loss rates by MUSLE and PSIAC respectively are 12.80 and 26.5 t ha(-1) year(-1). Finally, Comparisons and statistical analysis and scientific discussions were made.