Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses

To understand neurological complications of COVID-19 better both acutely and for recovery, we measured markers of brain injury, inflammatory mediators, and autoantibodies in 203 hospitalised participants; 111 with acute sera (1-11 days post-admission) and 92 convalescent sera (56 with COVID-19-associated neurological diagnoses). Here we show that compared to 60 uninfected controls, tTau, GFAP, NfL, and UCH-L1 are increased with COVID-19 infection at acute timepoints and NfL and GFAP are significantly higher in participants with neurological complications. Inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-12p40, HGF, M-CSF, CCL2, and IL-1RA) are associated with both altered consciousness and markers of brain injury. Autoantibodies are more common in COVID-19 than controls and some (including against MYL7, UCH-L1, and GRIN3B) are more frequent with altered consciousness. Additionally, convalescent participants with neurological complications show elevated GFAP and NfL, unrelated to attenuated systemic inflammatory mediators and to autoantibody responses. Overall, neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely.

CRISPR-Cas Technology as a Revolutionary Genome Editing tool: Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications

Programmable nucleases are powerful genomic tools for precise genome editing. These tools precisely recognize, remove, or change DNA at a defined site, thereby, stimulating cellular DNA repair pathways that can cause mutations or accurate replacement or deletion/insertion of a sequence. CRISPR-Cas9 system is the most potent and useful genome editing technique adapted from the defense immune system of certain bacteria and archaea against viruses and phages. In the past decade, this technology made notable progress, and at present, it has largely been used in genome manipulation to make precise gene editing in plants, animals, and human cells. In this review, we aim to explain the basic principle, mechanisms of action, and applications of this system in different areas of medicine, with emphasizing on the detection and treatment of parasitic diseases.

Atypical B cells and impaired SARS-CoV-2 neutralization following heterologous vaccination in the elderly

Suboptimal responses to a primary vaccination course have been reported in the elderly, but there is little information regarding the impact of age on responses to booster third doses. Here, we show that individuals 70 years or older (median age 73, range 70-75) who received a primary two-dose schedule with AZD1222 and booster third dose with mRNA vaccine achieve significantly lower neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus compared with those younger than 70 (median age 66, range 54-69) at 1 month post booster. Impaired neutralization potency and breadth post third dose in the elderly is associated with circulating "atypical" spike-specific B cells expressing CD11c and FCRL5. However, when considering individuals who received three doses of mRNA vaccine, we did not observe differences in neutralization or enrichment in atypical B cells. This work highlights the finding that AdV and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine formats differentially instruct the memory B cell response.

Accelerated waning of the humoral response to COVID-19 vaccines in obesity

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and mortality. COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of serious COVID-19 outcomes; however, their effectiveness in people with obesity is incompletely understood. We studied the relationship among body mass index (BMI), hospitalization and mortality due to COVID-19 among 3.6 million people in Scotland using the Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 (EAVE II) surveillance platform. We found that vaccinated individuals with severe obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) were 76% more likely to experience hospitalization or death from COVID-19 (adjusted rate ratio of 1.76 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.60-1.94). We also conducted a prospective longitudinal study of a cohort of 28 individuals with severe obesity compared to 41 control individuals with normal BMI (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). We found that 55% of individuals with severe obesity had unquantifiable titers of neutralizing antibody against authentic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus compared to 12% of individuals with normal BMI (P = 0.0003) 6 months after their second vaccine dose. Furthermore, we observed that, for individuals with severe obesity, at any given anti-spike and anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibody level, neutralizing capacity was lower than that of individuals with a normal BMI. Neutralizing capacity was restored by a third dose of vaccine but again declined more rapidly in people with severe obesity. We demonstrate that waning of COVID-19 vaccine-induced humoral immunity is accelerated in individuals with severe obesity. As obesity is associated with increased hospitalization and mortality from breakthrough infections, our findings have implications for vaccine prioritization policies.

Brain injury in COVID-19 is associated with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses

COVID-19 is associated with neurological complications including stroke, delirium and encephalitis. Furthermore, a post-viral syndrome dominated by neuropsychiatric symptoms is common, and is seemingly unrelated to COVID-19 severity. The true frequency and underlying mechanisms of neurological injury are unknown, but exaggerated host inflammatory responses appear to be a key driver of COVID-19 severity. We investigated the dynamics of, and relationship between, serum markers of brain injury [neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and total tau] and markers of dysregulated host response (autoantibody production and cytokine profiles) in 175 patients admitted with COVID-19 and 45 patients with influenza. During hospitalization, sera from patients with COVID-19 demonstrated elevations of NfL and GFAP in a severity-dependent manner, with evidence of ongoing active brain injury at follow-up 4 months later. These biomarkers were associated with elevations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the presence of autoantibodies to a large number of different antigens. Autoantibodies were commonly seen against lung surfactant proteins but also brain proteins such as myelin associated glycoprotein. Commensurate findings were seen in the influenza cohort. A distinct process characterized by elevation of serum total tau was seen in patients at follow-up, which appeared to be independent of initial disease severity and was not associated with dysregulated immune responses unlike NfL and GFAP. These results demonstrate that brain injury is a common consequence of both COVID-19 and influenza, and is therefore likely to be a feature of severe viral infection more broadly. The brain injury occurs in the context of dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune responses, with no single pathogenic mechanism clearly responsible.

Assessment of maternal dietary patterns and their relationship with c-reactive protein in pregnancy

Background

Inflammation during pregnancy including elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Understanding relationships between CRP and modifiable factors such as dietary patterns is key to identifying opportunities for pregnancy intervention. This study assessed change in adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean diet (MED-diet) from early to late-pregnancy and the relationship between adherence to both dietary patterns at early-pregnancy with plasma CRP at early and late-pregnancy.

Methods

Women (n = 215) attending antenatal clinics at Monash Health, Melbourne were recruited at 10-20 weeks gestation. Medical history and blood samples were collected at 5 antenatal visits. Adapted DASH and MED-diet scores were calculated from Food Frequency Questionnaires completed at early ([mean±SD] 15±3 weeks) and late (36±1 week) pregnancy. CRP was measured in maternal plasma samples collected at early and late-pregnancy. Adjusted linear regression assessed associations of early-pregnancy DASH and MED-diet scores with early and late-pregnancy plasma CRP.

Results

DASH score at early (23.5±4.8) and late (23.5±5.2) pregnancy was not significantly different (p = 0.971). There was no statistically significant change in MED-diet score from early (3.99±1.6) to late-pregnancy (4.08±1.8) (p = 0.408), however, MED-diet adherence and plasma CRP at early pregnancy were significantly and inversely associated (β= -0.14 [95%CI= -0.27, -0.01], p = 0.039).

Conclusions

Adherence to the MED-diet in early pregnancy may be beneficial in reducing inflammatory markers and assisting optimal pregnancy outcomes. Assessment of dietary patterns is important to assist identifying modifiable factors which impact maternal and child health.

Key messages

SARS-COV-2 antibody responses to AZD1222 vaccination in West Africa

Real-world data on vaccine-elicited neutralising antibody responses for two-dose AZD1222 in African populations are limited. We assessed baseline SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and levels of protective neutralizing antibodies prior to vaccination rollout using binding antibodies analysis coupled with pseudotyped virus neutralisation assays in two cohorts from West Africa: Nigerian healthcare workers (n = 140) and a Ghanaian community cohort (n = 527) pre and post vaccination. We found 44 and 28% of pre-vaccination participants showed IgG anti-N positivity, increasing to 59 and 39% respectively with anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG-specific antibodies. Previous IgG anti-N positivity significantly increased post two-dose neutralizing antibody titres in both populations. Serological evidence of breakthrough infection was observed in 8/49 (16%). Neutralising antibodies were observed to wane in both populations, especially in anti-N negative participants with an observed waning rate of 20% highlighting the need for a combination of additional markers to characterise previous infection. We conclude that AZD1222 is immunogenic in two independent West African cohorts with high background seroprevalence and incidence of breakthrough infection in 2021. Waning titres post second dose indicates the need for booster dosing after AZD1222 in the African setting despite hybrid immunity from previous infection.

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Stabilized in the Closed State Induces Potent Neutralizing Responses

The majority of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in use or advanced development are based on the viral spike protein (S) as their immunogen. S is present on virions as prefusion trimers in which the receptor binding domain (RBD) is stochastically open or closed. Neutralizing antibodies have been described against both open and closed conformations. The long-term success of vaccination strategies depends upon inducing antibodies that provide long-lasting broad immunity against evolving SARS-CoV-2 strains. Here, we have assessed the results of immunization in a mouse model using an S protein trimer stabilized in the closed state to prevent full exposure of the receptor binding site and therefore interaction with the receptor. We compared this with other modified S protein constructs, including representatives used in current vaccines. We found that all trimeric S proteins induced a T cell response and long-lived, strongly neutralizing antibody responses against 2019 SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern P.1 and B.1.351. Notably, the protein binding properties of sera induced by the closed spike differed from those induced by standard S protein constructs. Closed S proteins induced more potent neutralizing responses than expected based on the degree to which they inhibit interactions between the RBD and ACE2. These observations suggest that closed spikes recruit different, but equally potent, immune responses than open spikes and that this is likely to include neutralizing antibodies against conformational epitopes present in the closed conformation. We suggest that closed spikes, together with their improved stability and storage properties, may be a valuable component of refined, next-generation vaccines. IMPORTANCE Vaccines in use against SARS-CoV-2 induce immune responses against the spike protein. There is intense interest in whether the antibody response induced by vaccines will be robust against new variants, as well as in next-generation vaccines for use in previously infected or immunized individuals. We assessed the use as an immunogen of a spike protein engineered to be conformationally stabilized in the closed state where the receptor binding site is occluded. Despite occlusion of the receptor binding site, the spike induces potently neutralizing sera against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibodies are raised against a different pattern of epitopes to those induced by other spike constructs, preferring conformational epitopes present in the closed conformation. Closed spikes, or mRNA vaccines based on their sequence, can be a valuable component of next-generation vaccines.

In vitro effect of some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors against HSV-1 replication

OBJECTIVE

The current study was designed to investigate the effects of some nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on HSV-1 infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Initially, the SwissTargetPrediction server was used to predict the interactions between HSV-1 thymidine kinase and acyclovir, stavudine, zidovudine, didanosine, and entecavir. The effect of each component on Vero cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay. After treatment, the cell supernatants were collected, and HSV-1 replication was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The qPCR results revealed that viral titers were reduced 41, 40, 19, 44, and 31-fold in the presence of acyclovir, zidovudine, stavudine, didanosine, and entecavir, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that NRTIs significantly reduce HSV-1 replication in cell culture.

A thermostable, closed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 mediates receptor binding and cell entry and is the dominant target of the immune system. It exhibits substantial conformational flexibility. It transitions from closed to open conformations to expose its receptor-binding site and, subsequently, from prefusion to postfusion conformations to mediate fusion of viral and cellular membranes. S-protein derivatives are components of vaccine candidates and diagnostic assays, as well as tools for research into the biology and immunology of SARS-CoV-2. Here we have designed mutations in S that allow the production of thermostable, disulfide-bonded S-protein trimers that are trapped in the closed, prefusion state. Structures of the disulfide-stabilized and non-disulfide-stabilized proteins reveal distinct closed and locked conformations of the S trimer. We demonstrate that the designed, thermostable, closed S trimer can be used in serological assays. This protein has potential applications as a reagent for serology, virology and as an immunogen.

Effects of Plantar Flexor Muscles Fatigue on Postural Control during Quiet Stance and External Perturbation in Healthy Subjects

BACKGROUND

The maintenance of postural control is a key component in dynamic physical activity, especially during muscle fatigue and against external forces. Despite many studies in this field, there is no consensus regarding the effects of plantar flexor muscles fatigue on postural control during different postural tasks.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of plantar flexor muscles fatigue on postural control during quiet stance and external perturbation in healthy subjects.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty four healthy individuals (20-35 years) participated this interventional study. The foot center of pressure data was measured using a single force platform, and then the postural control parameters, including the center of pressure displacement and velocity in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral direction and also path length calculated under two conditions; quiet and perturbed stance, before and after plantar flexor muscles fatigue.

RESULTS

The statistical analysis demonstrated that mean displacement and velocity of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction and also path length increased after the fatigue protocol in the perturbed condition. However, fatigue had no significant effects on postural control parameters in the quiet standing condition.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that the effects of muscle fatigue on postural control depend on the difficulty of the task and the relevance of proprioceptive information. The postural control system appears to use distinct control strategies in different situations such as quiet and perturbed stance conditions, and these strategies may be differentially altered by fatigue. In conclusion, due to the potential risk of loss of balance, it is important to take the role of plantar flexor muscle fatigue into account during more difficult postural tasks.

Efficient Conversion of Oxiranes to Thiiranes with Ammonium Thiocyanate Catalysed with LiBF4

Oxiranes are efficiently converted into the corresponding thiiranes by ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of catalytic amounts of LiBF4 in excellent yields under mild and non-aqueous conditions

Fine probing the effect of replacing [PF6]- with [PF3(C2F5)3]- on the local structure and nanoscale organization of [bmim]+-based ionic liquids using MD simulation

Comparative all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the microscopic local structure and interionic interactions of two ionic liquids (ILs) composed of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, [bmim]+, coupled with the hexafluorophosphate, [PF6]-, or tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, [FAP]-, anions. Respective distribution functions clearly reveal that the structural correlations between the cation and anion decrease when (i) replacing [PF6]- with [FAP]-, (ii) scaling the partial atomic charges, and (iii) considering the anion's structural flexibility versus rigidity. Replacement of [PF6]- with [FAP]- expands the nonpolar domains totally and causes the decreasing of the three-dimensional polar networks as well as the diminishing of the nano-aggregation of cation side chains. Current simulations show that with increasing the anion size and its charge delocalization, the probability of the in-plane cation-anion conformation, its related hydrogen bond acceptor ability, and the cation-cation π-π interaction decreases in accordance with the fluidity enhancements of the corresponding imidazolium-based IL. Hence, structural findings can explain and justify rationally the origins of the observed trends in the simulated dynamical properties of these ILs in our previous report. A complete understanding of the microscopic structure of ILs is necessary to control the outstanding properties of ILs as designer solvents that will support experimentalists for the best engineering design and a breakthrough efficiency of IL-related processes.

Correlation between Trunk-Pelvis Inter-Segmental Coordination Parameters during Walking and Disability Level in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) disability has been particularly frustrating because its treatment has been a great therapeutic challenge. Disability has been suggested to depend on different factors that should be found and considered in the medical management. The inter-segmental coordination is often impaired in CLBP subjects; however, to the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence about the relationship between the existence of coordination problems and disability in CLBP patients.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the correlation between sagittal plane trunk-pelvis inter-segmental coordination parameters during walking and disability level in CLBP patients.

METHODS

Kinematic data were collected from 16 non-specific CLBP (18-40 years) volunteers during walking. Sagittal plane time-normalized segmental angles and velocities were used to calculate continuous relative phase for each data point. Coordination parameters, mean absolute relative phase (MARP) and deviation phase (DP) were derived to quantify the trunk-pelvis coordination pattern and variability during gait cycles, respectively. The disability level was quantified through Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) questionnaire. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find the probable correlation between coordination parameters and disability level.

RESULTS

The analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between sagittal plane MARP or DP and disability level (%ODI) in CLBP subjects during walking (r= -0.806 P<0.001 and r= -0.856, P<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the lower the MARP (more in-phase pattern) and DP (less variable pattern) in the CLBP subjects, the more disability existing in such patients. The results suggest that clinicians should look beyond pain management when prescribing rehabilitation for CLBP and consider interventions that target segmental coordination improvement to manage CLBP induced disability.

Capturing the effect of [PF3(C2F5)3]−vs. [PF6]−, flexible anion vs. rigid, and scaled charge vs. unit on the transport properties of [bmim]+-based ionic liquids: a comparative MD study

Effect of [PF₃(C₂F₅)₃]⁻vs. [PF₆]⁻, flexible anion vs. rigid, and scaled charge vs. unit on the transport properties of ILs.

Ziziphus Jujube: a review study of its anticancer effects in various tumor models invitro and invivo

The growing rate of cancer incidences and inefficiency of current therapies have made scientists to find novel agents such as medicinal plants. Ziziphus jujube is one of these plants whose pharmaceutical effects have been studied for a long time. Recent investigations have proved that bioactive compounds of Ziziphus jujube including triterpenic acids, flavonoids, cerebrosides, phenolic acids, α tocopherol, β carotene, and polysaccharides have anti-proliferative effects on several cancerous cell lines and animals. The present study aimed to cover all previous invitro and invivo findings and some of molecular mechanisms of its anticancer property.

EFFECTS OF ARNEBIA EUCHROMA EXTRACT ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS: A STEREOLOGICAL STUDY

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered as an important health confounder in our world, which necessitates its better management by new methods. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of oral Arnebia Euchroma (AE) extract on different stereological parameters of the pancreas as well as blood glucose in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats.

METHODS

We divided 48 Wistar rats into 4 groups: C1 including normal rats, C2 not-treated diabetic rats, E1 with diabetic rats receiving 100 mg/kg AE extract orally, and E2 including diabetic rats treated with 300 mg/kg AE extract. Stereological study was done and the levels of blood glucose were also estimated and compared between experimental and control groups.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in volumes of pancreatic islets, β cell populations, blood glucose levels in AE treated groups compared with not-treated diabetic group.

CONCLUSION

Although AE did not completely prevent or heal the pancreatic damage, its oral administration showed promising effects on maintaining the population of beta cells, the main insulin secreting cells, after STZ-induced injury and also lowered blood glucose levels compared to the not-treated diabetic group.

Sperm DNA methylation of H19 imprinted gene and male infertility

Infertility affects up to 15% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide, with male factor being detected in 40%-50% of the cases. Proper sperm production is associated with the establishment of appropriate epigenetic marks in developing germ cells. Several studies have demonstrated the association between abnormal spermatogenesis and epigenetic disturbances with the major focus on DNA methylation. Imprinted genes are expressed in a parent-of-origin-specific manner, and the role of their DNA methylation in proper spermatogenesis has been documented recently. The existing evidence along with the absence of relevant data in south of Iran prompted us to study the methylation of H19 imprinted gene in spermatozoa of idiopathic infertile patients (males with abnormalities in sperm parameters) and healthy controls by Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis. According to our results, the lowest methylation percentage of H19 imprinted gene belongs to three cases with sperm characteristics under normal range (two cases Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and one case Oligoteratozoospermia). However, our results show that the median of methylation percentage for H19 is not statistically significant between case and control groups. Our results and those of others introduce DNA methylation as a potential marker of fertility and should be investigated with more patients in future studies.

Risk assessment of gas oil and kerosene contamination on some properties of silty clay soil

Soil and ground water resource pollution by petroleum compounds and chemical solvents has multiple negative environmental impacts. The aim of this research was to investigate the impacts of kerosene and gas oil pollutants on some physical and chemical properties, breakthrough curve (BTC), and water retention curve (SWRC) of silty clay soil during a 3-month period. Therefore, some water-saturated soils were artificially contaminated in the pulse condition inside some glassy cylinders by applying half and one pore volume of these pollutants, and then parametric investigations of the SWRC were performed using RETC software for Van Genukhten and Brooks-Corey equations in the various suctions and the soil properties were determined before and after pollution during 3 months. The results showed that gas oil and kerosene had a slight effect on soil pH and caused the cumulative enhancement in the soil respiration, increase in the bulk density and organic matter, and reduction in the soil porosity and electrical and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, gas oil retention was significantly more than kerosene (almost 40%) in the soil. The survey of SWRC indicated that the contaminated soil samples had a little higher amount of moisture retention (just under 15% in most cases) compared to the unpolluted ones during this 3-month period. The parametric analysis of SWRC demonstrated an increase in the saturated water content, Θ s, from nearly 49% in the control sample to just under 53% in the polluted ones. Contaminants not only decreased the residual water content, Θ r, but also reduced the SWRC gradient, n, and amount of α parameter. The evaluation of both equations revealed more accurate prediction of SWRC's parameters by Van Genukhten compared to those of Brooks and Corey.

IRF6 Is a Marker of Severity in Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip/Palate

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without palate (CL/P) is thought to be caused by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and this has thus hindered the process of identifying genetic causative factors. Numerous studies in the past decade have implicated IRF6 in CL/P, but this has not often been replicated in other populations. In specific, the only etiologic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identified in the IRF6 locus (rs642961) has recently been shown not to be associated with CL/P in diverse populations. We therefore used a genewide tagging SNP (tagSNP) haplotyping approach (including rs642961 as a tagSNP) to detect all potential risk-conferring haplotypes and combined this with detailed subphenotyping of CL/P cases ( N = 150) according to severity. We observed a significant overrepresentation of a tagSNP haplotype carrying the rs642961 risk allele in the most severe subphenotype of CL/P (complete bilateral CL/P; P = 0.008, odds ratio = 4.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.33 to 18.46). It was recently shown that >80% of IRF6 mutations in syndromic CL/P occur on the same haplotype background. We therefore suggest that IRF6 is a marker of CL/P severity.

Tissue engineering using human mineralized bone xenograft and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells allograft in healing of tibial fracture of experimental rabbit model

BACKGROUND

Bone healing and its reconstruction in fractures, especially in long bones are of particular importance in regenerative medicine. This study compares the bone healing rate after a human xenograft of mineralized bone and together with an allograft of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in an experimental tibial bone fracture rabbit model.

METHODS

In fall 2009, twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 2 equal groups. In both groups, a 5 mm segmental defect was created in the right tibia. In group A, a scaffold pin was seeded with allogenic rabbit MSCs and was placed in the defect area and in group B, the defect was filled with an unseeded pin human mineralized bone xenograft. An untreated defect was induced in the left tibia of all animals serving as the control. After 4-8 weeks, the segmental defects were histologically evaluated and also by a compressive test.

RESULTS

In groups A and B, healing and formation of new bony tissue were significantly more than the control group and with a significant less inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Tissue engineering of mineralized bone xenograft and MSCs allograft may be significant steps in bone healing and regenerative medicine.

The healing effect of arnebia euchroma in second degree burn wounds in rat as an animal model

BACKGROUND

Finding more efficient agents with fewer side effects for treatment of burns has always been a concern for researchers. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD), apparently due to its antimicrobial effect, is still one of the most common prescribed agents. Previous studies suggested that Arnebia euchroma (AE) has shown antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigates the healing effect of AE extract in comparison with SSD in second degree burn wounds.

METHODS

Fort eight female Wistar rats (220±20 g) were divided into four groups. Standard second degree burn wounds were induced on the back of their necks. One group was treated with SSD; two groups were treated with AE cream at concentrations of 10% (AE10) and 20% (AE20) and the control group which received no treatment. The duration of treatment was 28 days.

RESULTS

This study revealed that AE and SSD noticeably improved re-epithelization, fibroblasts proliferation, and collagen bundle synthesis and had a noticeable anti-inflammatory effect compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION

Results of the present study revealed that Arnebia euchroma herbal extract was an effective treatment for second degree burn wounds when compared with SSD.

P01-340-Title: comparing of psychiatric co- morbidity disorders in primary school students with adhd subtypes (attention deficit, hyperactivity, combined) in academic year of 2009–2010 in arak-iran

Introduction

ADHD is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in children.

Objective

ADHD have co-morbidity with many other psychiatric disorders.

Aims

Aim of this study was Comparing of prevalence of three subtypes of ADHD with psychiatric Co- morbidity in primary school students of Arak-Iran.

Methods

This study was a descriptive analytic, cross- sectional one, which carried on 2000 (960 girls and 1040 boys)primary school students in 1st state of Arak in academic year of 2009–2010, which screened by Intelligence Raiven scale and 48 Canner’s questionnaire (parents and teachers)and if there were existed of any subtypes of ADHD, we have done K-SADS-E questionnaire(Schedule for Affective disorder and Schizophrenia -epidemiological version)for them, then data were analyzed by using descriptive- statistical methods and Logistic- regression for obtaining R. R.

Results

2.3, 3.5 and 2.7 percent of children have one of the subtypes of ADHD. The findings showed that prevalence of hyperactivity and attention deficit subtypes decreased while combined type increased by increasing age. The prevalence of two subtypes of hyperactivity and attention deficit in boys and girls were not significantly different but combined type was significantly different. Finally, there were differences between ADHD subtypes and Co morbidity of psychiatric disorders such as conduct, depressive,enuresis, tic, schizophrenia, oppositional, obsessive- compulsive, manic and social phobia, but these differences were not significant between girls and boys.

Conclusions

Prevalence of subtypes of the ADHD were different between age and gender but there were not significant differences between Co morbidity of ADHD subtypes and psychiatric disorders.

A comparative study of antigen and antibody detection in visceral leishmaniasis using serum and urine-based ELISA

An antigen-based ELISA system was evaluated for diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Urine samples from confirmed VL cases were tested by the system in comparison with urine samples from patients with non-VL infectious disease and patients with non-infectious diseases. Antigen was detected in urine of 21 out of 35 (60%) of VL cases. No cross reaction was found with samples from healthy individuals except in 3 samples from non-VL infectious diseases. Two samples from cutaneous leishmaniasis patient and one from patient with toxoplasmosis. The results obtained with the antigen-based ELISA were compared to those obtained with direct agglutination test (DAT), an antibody-based ELISA and indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) revealed that the antigen-based ELISA is comparable in terms of specificity (91.2%; 95% CI=75.2-97.7%) but with a lower sensitivity (60%; 95% CI=42.2-75.6%). These results suggest that the antigen detection in urine by the noninvasive antigen-based ELISA system might offer a useful method for diagnosis of VL.

Effect of Azotobacter chroococcum application on quantity and quality forage of rapeseed cultivars

The study was conducted to determine the effect of Azotobacter chroococcum (Azotobacter) application on quality and quantity forage of the rapeseed cultivars (RGS 003, Hyolla 401 and Hyolla 330) and the possibility of cultivation the rapeseed forage in summer. The experimental design was spilt plot laid out in randomized complete block with three replications. Different levels of Azotobacter (zero and one kg hal) and cultivars were randomized to main plot and sub plot units, respectively. Results showed that Azotobacter significantly affected on all quantity traits except plant height. There were significant differences among cultivars for dry matter, biomass, sub branch number, plant height and forage glucosinolate concentration. Therefore Azotobacter can be considered as growth promoting for rapeseed in the future studies. Also, RGS003 cultivar was better than other cultivars when Azotobacter was applied.

Anti-infarct effect of magnesium is not mediated by adenosine A1 receptors in rat globally ischaemic isolated hearts

1. The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of magnesium (Mg) on cardiac function and infarct size and to compare it effects with those of adenosine. The mechanism of Mg-mediated cardioprotection was explored by combined use of Mg and a selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist. 2. Rat isolated hearts were used for Langendorff perfusion. Hearts were either non-preconditioned or preconditioned with Mg (6 mmol/L) or adenosine (1 mmol/L) before 30 min sustained ischaemia followed by 120 min reperfusion. Within each of these protocols, hearts were divided into two groups; one group was exposed to the A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; 200 nmol/L). Infarct size was measured by the triphenyltetrazolium chloride method. Left ventricular function was assessed by left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), the product of heart rate x LVDP and coronary flow (CF). 3. The administration of Mg had an anti-infarct effect independent of its effect on postischaemic functional recovery in rats. Both Mg and adenosine equipotently reduced infarct size, but this effect of Mg was not blocked by the simultaneous administration of DPCPX. Cardiac function was improved by both adenosine and Mg and blockade of adenosine A(1) receptors attenuated these effects for both agents. 4. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that stimulation of adenosine A(1) receptors is not responsible for the anti-infarct effect of Mg in ischaemic myocardium in rats, but that the Mg-mediated protection of postischaemic functional recovery in rats is mediated by these receptors.

High-rate acidophilic ferrous iron oxidation in a biofilm airlift reactor and the role of the carrier material

In this study, the feasibility and engineering aspects of acidophilic ferrous iron oxidation in a continuous biofilm airlift reactor inoculated with a mixed culture of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans bacteria were investigated. Specific attention was paid to biofilm formation, competition between both types of bacteria, ferrous iron oxidation rate, and gas liquid mass transfer limitations. The reactor was operated at a constant temperature of 30 degrees C and at pH values of 0-1.8. Startup of the reactor was performed with basalt carrier material. During the experiments the basalt was slowly removed and the ferric iron precipitates formed served as a biofilm carrier. These precipitates have highly suitable characteristics as a carrier material for the immobilization of ferrous iron-oxidizing bacteria and dense conglomerates were observed. Lowering the pH (0.6-1) resulted in dissolution of the ferric precipitates and induced granular sludge formation. The maximum ferrous iron oxidation rate achieved in this study was about 145 molFe(2+)/m(3).h at a hydraulic residence time of 0.25 h. Optimal treatment performance was obtained at a loading rate of 100 mol/m(3).h at a conversion efficiency as high as 98%. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) studies showed that when the reactor was operated at high ferrous iron conversion (>85%) for 1 month, the desirable L. ferrooxidans species could out-compete A. ferrooxidans due to the low Fe(2+) and high Fe(3+) concentrations.