Study of the effect of PAPA NONOate on the rate of diabetic wound healing

To investigate the effect of exogenous nitric oxide donor (PAPA NONOate) a drug which spontaneously release nitric oxide on the rate of wound healing and collagen synthesis on impaired wound healing in experimental diabetes. 12 male Sprague – Dawley rats were transferred to separate metabolic cages. Nine days before wounding, the rats were injected intraperitoneally (IP) with streptozotocin (STZ) (55 mg/kg body weight in citrate buffer 0.1 mol/L, pH 4.5) to induce diabetes. The dorsal surface of each rat was properly shaved and given full thickness dermal wound. The test group (n = 6) was treated with 100 μmole PAPA NONOate in phosphate buffer while control wounds (n = 6) received sterile phosphate buffer on the same day and every three days. Daily urine samples were collected at every 24 h intervals. To inhibit bacterial growth, 5 ml of 3 M HCl was added to each urine collection (pH = 1) and urine samples were kept frozen until analyzed (-70°C). Urinary nitrate (NO-3) was quantitated daily prior to wounding, and during wound healing (21 days) following external wound closure. The rate of wound healing was determined by video image analysis. PAPA NONOate treatment increased the rate wound healing in test group as compared to the control group. The nitric oxide donor PAPA NONOate may represent a potential treatment for impaired wound healing in diabetes by increasing the rate of collagen synthesis at the wound site.Key words: Wound healing, PAPA NONOate, diabetic wound

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, cystatin C and matrix metalloproteinase-9 as possible biomarkers in early detection of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery

Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) often occurs after open heart surgery. Today, serum creatinine is used as an indicator for identifying AKI; however, creatinine is unreliable due to delay in its elevation. Therefore, more reliable markers are required for early diagnosis of AKI. Aim: To measure the changes in Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Cystatin C (Cys C) levels and Matrix Metallo Proteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity in serum of patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted from September to October 2015 among patients referred to Cardiovascular Surgery Center at Shahid Modarres Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Urine and serum sample from 29 candidates for cardiac surgery were collected at 6 and 12 hours after surgery. On the basis of increase in serum creatinine, the patients were divided into two groups; AKI and control group. AKI group had at least 50 increase in serum creatinine; those with less than 50 increase were considered as control group. Urine NGAL and Cys C concentrations were measured using ELISA; MMP-9 activity was determined using gel zymography. Results: The results showed an increase in Cys C concentration in AKI group compared to control group after 6 and 12 hours of surgery. The comparison of Cys C concentration in AKI group between 6 and 12 hours after surgery showed no significant difference. The comparison of NGAL at 12 hours after surgery between control and AKI groups showed no significant difference. The MMP-9 activity showed a decreasing trend in AKI group compared to control group at 12 hours after surgery. Decrease in MMP-9 activity in AKI group at 6 hours after surgery was statistically different from after 12 hours of surgery. Conclusion: Present results provide evidence that Cys C and MMP-9 can be better reliable markers for early detection of AKI as compared to serum creatinine, after cardiac surgery. NGAL did not show higher sensitivity compared to creatinine in these patients. Therefore, Cys C and MMP-9 can be suggested as biomarkers for early detection of AKI after cardiac surgery. © 2018, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, cystatin C and matrix metalloproteinase-9 as possible biomarkers in early detection of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery

Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) often occurs after open heart surgery. Today, serum creatinine is used as an indicator for identifying AKI; however, creatinine is unreliable due to delay in its elevation. Therefore, more reliable markers are required for early diagnosis of AKI. Aim: To measure the changes in Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Cystatin C (Cys C) levels and Matrix Metallo Proteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity in serum of patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive study was conducted from September to October 2015 among patients referred to Cardiovascular Surgery Center at Shahid Modarres Hospital in Tehran, Iran. Urine and serum sample from 29 candidates for cardiac surgery were collected at 6 and 12 hours after surgery. On the basis of increase in serum creatinine, the patients were divided into two groups; AKI and control group. AKI group had at least 50 increase in serum creatinine; those with less than 50 increase were considered as control group. Urine NGAL and Cys C concentrations were measured using ELISA; MMP-9 activity was determined using gel zymography. Results: The results showed an increase in Cys C concentration in AKI group compared to control group after 6 and 12 hours of surgery. The comparison of Cys C concentration in AKI group between 6 and 12 hours after surgery showed no significant difference. The comparison of NGAL at 12 hours after surgery between control and AKI groups showed no significant difference. The MMP-9 activity showed a decreasing trend in AKI group compared to control group at 12 hours after surgery. Decrease in MMP-9 activity in AKI group at 6 hours after surgery was statistically different from after 12 hours of surgery. Conclusion: Present results provide evidence that Cys C and MMP-9 can be better reliable markers for early detection of AKI as compared to serum creatinine, after cardiac surgery. NGAL did not show higher sensitivity compared to creatinine in these patients. Therefore, Cys C and MMP-9 can be suggested as biomarkers for early detection of AKI after cardiac surgery. © 2018, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Clinical efficacy of convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19 infections: Results of a multicenter clinical study

Since Dec. 2019 the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions and claimed life of several hundred thousand worldwide. However, so far no approved vaccine or drug therapy is available for treatment of virus infection. Convalescent plasma has been considered a potential modality for COVID-19 infection. One hundred eighty-nine COVID-19 positive patients including 115 patients in plasma therapy group and 74 patients in control group, registered in the hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 infection, entered this multi-center clinical study. Comparison of outcomes including all-cause mortality, total hospitalization days and patients� need for intubation between the two patient groups shows that total of 98 (98.2 ) of patients who received convalescent plasma were discharged from hospital which is substantially higher compared to 56 (78.7 ) patients in control group. Length of hospitalization days was significantly lower (9.54 days) in convalescent plasma group compared with that of control group (12.88 days). Only 8 patients (7) in convalescent plasma group required intubation while that was 20 in control group. This clinical study provides strong evidence to support the efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients and recommends this treatment for management of these patients. Clinical efficacy, immediate availability and potential cost effectiveness could be considered as main advantages of convalescent plasma therapy. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

Preliminary report of a nationwide case-control study for identifying risk factors of tuberculosis following renal transplantation

Background. Tuberculosis (TB) is an important infection encountered posttransplantation, especially among patients in developing countries, where there are high incidences of morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods. One hundred and twenty subjects (1) from 15 major kidney transplantation centers in Iran from 1984 to 2003 were compared with 440 controls who were matched for operative time, treatment center, and surgical team. Results. Mean ages of research subjects and controls were 38.6 and 36.6 years (P = .04), respectively. The mean duration of pretransplantation hemodialysis was 29 months (range, 2 to 192 months) in research subjects and 20 months (range, 1 to 180 months) in controls (P = .003). Positive past history of tuberculosis was detected in 4 (3.3) research subjects and in 7 (1.5) controls (P = .2). Fifty-two research subjects (43.3) and 241 controls (54.8) had pretransplantation purified protein derivative of tuberculin less than 5 mm (P = .02). Mean dosages of initial and maintenance immunosuppressive drugs in research subjects and in controls were not significantly different. Sixty research subjects (50) and 152 controls (34.5) had rejection prior to diagnosis of TB (P = .03). Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates an increased risk of posttransplant TB by prolonged duration of pretransplant hemodialysis and number of posttransplant rejection episodes. Further study is needed to clarify these findings specifically with respect to various immunosuppressive regimens. © 2005 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Update on HHV-8-Associated Malignancies

The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the oncogenic virus associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorders, namely, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman’s disease. KS is among the most common malignancies seen in HIV-infected patients despite the decreased incidence of KS in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Advances in molecular pathology reveal HHV-8 tumorigenesis is mediated through molecular mimicry wherein viral-encoded proteins can activate several cellular signaling cascades while evading immune surveillance. This knowledge has led to the evolution of multiple therapeutic strategies against specific molecular targets. Many such therapeutic modalities have shown activity, but none have proven to be curative. Identifying possible prognostic factors is another active area of research. This review summarizes the recent developments in the fields of virus transmission, molecular biology, and treatment of HHV-8-related neoplasms

Evaluation of Silver nitrate effect on horseradish peroxidase enzyme

Background: Silver is one of the heavy metals in environment and it,s amount in the earth shell is about 0.1 g per ton. Several studies have proven silver nitrate can produce ROS (oxygen reactive species) and harm cells through a variety of mechanisms including interactions with enzymes and proteins sulphydryl groups. Major sources of Silver in surface waters is natural leaching, human activities, such as mining, manufacture of silverware and jewellery, photografic manufacturing and processing which can elevate silver levels in aquatic environments. Materials and Methods: In This study horseradish peroxidase (HRP) activity was determinded under steady-state kinetic conditions. Incubation of the enzyme with 1-100mM silver nitrate for 1-60 min in room temperature resulted in dual effects. Results: Progressive inhibition of the enzymatic activity was observed after 30-60 min enzyme incubation with 0.05-100 mM of Ag+. After 30 and 60 min incubation time, enzyme inhibition was (35-60) and (55-96), respectively. However, in low concentrations of Ag+ (0.05mM ) and 15min incubation, reverse effects was observed and enzyme activity was increased up to 14/7μM/ s. Conclusion: Results indicated that the effect of AgNo3 on HRP is time-and concentration- dependent

Serum levels of Zinc and Copper in individuals with giardiasis

Background: Trace elements regulate the key metabolic pathways, modulate the immune response, and suppress the incidence of various diseases. The most important vital elements in human body are Copper and Zinc. Zinc is necessary for the immune system functions. Zinc deficiency is associated with acute diarrhea. Copper is essential for the production of red blood cells, hemoglobin formation and absorption of iron, and for the activity of various enzymes. However, the association between trace elements and giardiasis has rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to measure the serum levels of Zinc and Copper in individuals with giardiasis in comparison with the normal subjects. Materials and Methods: Stool samples were collected in sterile clean stool cups from all volunteers. Examination of fecal samples for detection of Giardia cyst and/or trophozoite was carried out using the direct wet smear and formol-ether concentration method. Among these volunteers a total of 49 positive individuals for Giardia lamblia were enrolled as the study group. The control group consisted of 39 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Serum was obtained from both groups and kept in-70 0 C freezer for biochemical laboratory examination. Zinc and Copper levels were measured by Diagnostics Kit and colorimetric endpoint-method. Results: Zinc levels in the study group was remarkably lower than the control group (P=0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in serum copper levels between both groups (P=0.003). Conclusion: Giardiasis elevated the serum copper levels, while it decreased the serum zinc

Hyperuricemia after renal transplantation

Background: Hyperuricemia is a common complication after kidney transplantation, and may adversely affect graft survival. Objective: To assess the prevalence of and predictors for development of hyperuricemia after renal transplantation. Materials and Methods: Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration of at least 7.0 mg/dL in men and 6.0 mg/dL in women. From March 2008 to May 2010, uric acid concentration was measured in 12,767 blood samples from 2961 adult renal transplant recipients (64 male and 36 female patients). Results: Hyperuricemia was observed in 1553 patients (52.4). The disorder frequently occurred in women (P = .003) and in patients with impaired renal graft function (P = .00). After adjustment for sex, serum creatinine concentration, diabetes mellitus, cyclosporine concentration, and dyslipidemia, only female sex (P = .03) and renal allograft dysfunction (P = .05) were associated with hyperuricemia after kidney transplantation. Conclusion: Hyperuricemia is a common complication after kidney transplantation, and renal allograft insufficiency predisposes to higher uric acid concentration. © 2011 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved