Study of Mental Illness in Rat Model of Sodium Azide Induced Oxidative Stress

Aim: Oxidative stress is known as Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation that is caused by reactive ROS and antioxidants imbalance that could be due to decreased antioxidant levels. Oxidative stress is often related to aging, Oxygen metabolism and redox imbalance in cells and tissues. It is a cellular state in which oxidants levels e.g. superoxide (O-2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or nitric oxide (NO) in biological metabolisms exceed the oxidants scavenging capacity of cells. Oxidative stress in brain leads to depression, anxiety, memory impairment and behavioral deficits associated with them. Method: 24 male albino wistar rats were allocated into test and controls groups administered with sodium azide (5 mg/kg bodyweight) (i.p.) and water (p.o.) respectively for 14 days. Behaviors were monitored weekly after 24 hours of sodium azide administration in light/dark box, elevated plus maze, Open field and Morris water maze. Results: Test animals that were administered with sodium azide significantly decreased entries and time spent in illuminated area of light dark box and elevated plus maze while increased latency and fewer square crossed were observed with decreased learning acquisition and memory retention. Conclusion: All the data collected and results analysis determine oxidative stress could cause mood disorders learning disabilities. Sodium azide induced oxidative stress produce behavioral deficits and memory impairment validated it as a neurotoxin

Neutralizing Antibody Response to BBIBP-CorV in Comparison with COVID-19 Recovered, Unvaccinated Individuals in a Sample of the Pakistani Population

Fifty five percent of the Pakistani population is still unvaccinated with the two-dose protocol of COVID-19 vaccines. This study was undertaken to determine the seroconversion rate and antibody titers following the two-dose BBIBP-CorV protocol, and to compare these variables in unvaccinated, COVID-19 recovered individuals (total n = 180) at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi. Pseudotyped lentivirus antibody neutralization assays and SARS-CoV-2 IgG Quant II (Abbott) immunoassays were performed 4-8 weeks following the second dose of the BBIBP-CorV or PCR positivity/onset of symptoms of COVID-19. Seroconversion rate, using neutralization assays, in vaccinated individuals was lower (78%) than that in unvaccinated, COVID-19-recovered individuals with moderate to severe infection (97%). Prior PCR positivity increased serocoversion rate to 98% in vaccinated individuals. Immunoassays did not, however, reveal significant inter-group differences in seroconversion rates (≥95% in all groups). Log10 mean antibody neutralizing titers following the two-dose BBIBP-CorV protocol (IC50 = 2.21) were found to be significantly less than those succeeding moderate to severe COVID-19 (IC50 = 2.94). Prior SARS-CoV-2 positivity significantly increased post-vaccination antibody titers (IC50 = 2.82). Similar inter-group titer differences were obtained using the immunoassay. BBIBP-CorV post-vaccination titers may, thus, be lower than those following natural, moderate to severe infection, while prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure increases these titers to more closely approximate the latter