Sensitivity and specificity of chest computed tomography scan based on RT-PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis

Purpose: COVID-19 is a novel, severely contagious and progressive infection occurring worldwide. The diagnosis of the disease is based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and computed tomography (CT) scan, even though they are still controversial methods. Material and methods: We studied 54 patients with suspected COVID-19 and the two mentioned methods were compared with each other. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of the abnormal chest CT scan, ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation opacity, and both of GGO and consolidation were also surveyed based on RT-PCR. The results showed that RT-PCR assay was negative in 23 (42.6%) patients and positive in 31 (57.4%) cases. Also, the patients with an abnormal chest CT scan comprised 37 (68.5%). The sensitivity and specificity of abnormal CT scan were 78.6% and 42.3%, respectively, based on the RT-PCR method. Conclusions: Other techniques alongside CT scan and RT-PCR are advocated for accuracy of the COVID-19 diagnosis

Survey on helminthic and protozoan contaminations in alimentary canal of ostrich at Tehran Province slaughterhouses

Ostrich- farming has been prevalent in South Africa as the main habitat of this bird since several centuries ago and the flocks of ostrich have been reared similar to other herds or tame animals and flocks of birds. It can be also possibly reared in other countries of the world. At present, whereas skin, flesh, and other organs of this bird are consumed thus farming of this bird is vitally important in the world.With respect to growing population of ostrich flocks in Tehran Province and the affiliated towns and importance of this issue in terms of providing meat and protein for the consuming market and in order to improve production yield it requires for diagnosis of and prophylaxis of the related common diseases for this animal particularly the parasitic diseases. It was tried to study by referring to 16 ostrich farming centers and visiting and sample from 55 carcasses of and or fatalities of the animal for this purpose. Then, after washing the contents of intestine of this bird and passing of those through screen (100) and staining with loop they were analyzed. Also lamella was prepared from intestinal wall and after staining the probability of existing protozoans was explored. No helminthic parasite was observed in the samples and Emeria oocyte was seen in three cases.Keywords: Helminthic and protozoan parasites, Ostrich, Tehran Provinc

Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on PLLA scaffold coated with Wharton's jelly

Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) electrospun nanofiber scaffold is one of the most commonly used synthetic polymer scaffolds for bone tissue engineering application. However, PLLA is hydrophobic in nature, hence does not maintain proper cell adhesion and tissue formation, moreover, it cannot provide the osteo-inductive environment due to inappropriate surface characteristic and the lack of surface motives participating in the first cellular events. To modify these shortcomings different approaches have been used, among those the most commonly used one is coating of the surface of the electrospun nanofiber with natural materials. In this work Wharton’s jelly (WJ), a tissue which surrounds the umbilical cord vessels, reaches in high amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) components mainly; collagen, hyaluronic acid and several sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were used to cover the surface of electrospun PLLA nanofiber scaffolds. The surface morphology of the nanofiber scaffold was evaluated via scanning electron microscope, and the in vitro osteogenic differentiation potential was determined by MTT assay and common osteogenic marker tests such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium deposition tests. Coating of WJ could not change the surface morphology and diameter of the nanofibers. However, WJPLLA scaffolds showed higher proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) than tissue culture plate (TCP) and pristine PLLA scaffolds, moreover, WJ-PPLA scaffold demonstrated significant alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium mineralization than either TCP or PLLA nanofiber scaffolds

Comparison of acid–base and electrolyte imbalances between normal saline and 1.4% sodium bicarbonate intravenous fluids therapy during cervical and lumbar laminectomy

peer reviewedIntroduction Large amounts of normal saline infused in surgeries can cause hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Aim This study was designed to evaluate electrolyte and acid–base imbalances in the common fluid therapy method (normal saline) and the use of 1.4% sodium bicarbonate with normal saline fluid therapy during surgical laminectomy. Material and methods In this double-blind randomized clinical trial patients from 35 to 70 years in age, having American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I–II, candidation for cervical and lumbar laminectomy in Baqiyatallah Hospital (Tehran, Iran) in 2015 were enrolled. Patients were randomized into either two groups receiving 1.4% sodium bicarbonate and normal saline intravenous solutions for deficit fluid therapy during the surgery. Hemodynamics, arterial blood gases, and electrolytes levels were measured before and after surgery. Data were compared between the groups by SPSS. Results and discussion Forty patients with a mean age of 49.9 ± 12.7 years were evaluated. There were no significant differences in demographic data, mean surgery duration, blood loss, urine output, and infused fluid volumes between the two groups (P > 0.05). The mean PCO2 and HCO3 values significantly increased in the bicarbonate group, whereas they decreased significantly in the normal saline group. The mean serum lactate increased significantly in the bicarbonate group while the mean serum Cl− increased significantly in the normal saline group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study showed the superiority of 1.4% sodium bicarbonate fluid in controlling acid–base and electrolyte imbalances during this kind of surgery, but it should be verified by further studies

The Effects of Social Support on Pregnant Women's Choice of Delivery Method: Application of an Expanded Theory of Planned Behavior

Objectives: The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has been used in pregnant women’s choice of delivery method and other health-related behaviors. This study extended TPB to predict the role of social support in pregnant women’s choice of delivery method. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted on pregnant women referred to Fatimah hospital in Hamadan, Iran, from 2015 to 2016. A total of 206 nulliparous pregnant women, who referred to Fatimah hospital, completed a self-report questionnaire including measures of intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and social support. These women were followed up until the end of their pregnancy. Results: On the basis of structural equation modeling, adding social support variable improved the indices of the model slightly, but this variable cannot be regarded as a predictor of behavior. A gap between intention and behavior and other factors together with social factor may be the reason. The perceived behavioral control of the individuals was a signifcantly effective predictor for selecting the type of delivery. Conclusions: Attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and social support were distinguished as signifcant predictors of the choice of delivery type. Therefore, it seems that designing an intervention with emphasis and focus on making changes in these variables and considering different dimensions of social support can increase people’s intention towards natural delivery by providing facilities in the childbirth environment

Acute and post-acute phase of COVID-19: Analyzing expression patterns of miRNA-29a-3p, 146a-3p, 155-5p, and let-7b-3p in PBMC

Background: When a new pathogen, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, appears all novel information can aid in the process of monitoring and in the diagnosis of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The aim of the current study is to elucidate the specific miRNA profile which can act as new biomarkers for distinguishing acute COVID-19 disease from the healthy group and those in the post-acute phase of the COVID-19 disease. Methods: The expression level of selected miRNAs including let-7b-3p, miR-29a-3p, miR-146a-3p and miR-155-5p were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COVID-19 patients, in both the acute and post-acute COVID-19 phase of the disease and healthy groups, by real-time PCR assays. Specificity and sensitivity of miRNAs was tested by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis in COVID-19 patients. Results: The expression level of all miRNAs in COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than in the healthy group. Therefore, the expression pattern of miR-29a-3p, miR-146a-3p and let-7b-3p in the post-acute COVID-19 phase was significantly different from the acute COVID-19 phase. ROC analyses demonstrated that miR-29a-3p, -155-5p and -146a-3p may serve as the novel biomarker for COVID-19 diagnosis with high specificity and sensitivity. In addition, miR-29a-3p, and -146a-3p can maybe act as novel biomarkers for distinguishing acute from post-acute phase of COVID-19 disease. Discussion: The difference in miRNA expression pattern between COVID-19 patients and those in the healthy group, and between acute COVID-19 with post-acute COVID-19, suggested that cellular miRNAs could be used as promising biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

Subnational mapping of HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15–49 years in sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–18 : a modelling study

Background: High-resolution estimates of HIV burden across space and time provide an important tool for tracking and monitoring the progress of prevention and control efforts and assist with improving the precision and efficiency of targeting efforts. We aimed to assess HIV incidence and HIV mortality for all second-level administrative units across sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: In this modelling study, we developed a framework that used the geographically specific HIV prevalence data collected in seroprevalence surveys and antenatal care clinics to train a model that estimates HIV incidence and mortality among individuals aged 15–49 years. We used a model-based geostatistical framework to estimate HIV prevalence at the second administrative level in 44 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for 2000–18 and sought data on the number of individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) by second-level administrative unit. We then modified the Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) to use these HIV prevalence and treatment estimates to estimate HIV incidence and mortality by second-level administrative unit. Findings: The estimates suggest substantial variation in HIV incidence and mortality rates both between and within countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with 15 countries having a ten-times or greater difference in estimated HIV incidence between the second-level administrative units with the lowest and highest estimated incidence levels. Across all 44 countries in 2018, HIV incidence ranged from 2 ·8 (95% uncertainty interval 2·1–3·8) in Mauritania to 1585·9 (1369·4–1824·8) cases per 100 000 people in Lesotho and HIV mortality ranged from 0·8 (0·7–0·9) in Mauritania to 676· 5 (513· 6–888·0) deaths per 100 000 people in Lesotho. Variation in both incidence and mortality was substantially greater at the subnational level than at the national level and the highest estimated rates were accordingly higher. Among second-level administrative units, Guijá District, Gaza Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV incidence (4661·7 [2544·8–8120·3]) cases per 100000 people in 2018 and Inhassunge District, Zambezia Province, Mozambique, had the highest estimated HIV mortality rate (1163·0 [679·0–1866·8]) deaths per 100 000 people. Further, the rate of reduction in HIV incidence and mortality from 2000 to 2018, as well as the ratio of new infections to the number of people living with HIV was highly variable. Although most second-level administrative units had declines in the number of new cases (3316 [81· 1%] of 4087 units) and number of deaths (3325 [81·4%]), nearly all appeared well short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths between 2010 and 2020. Interpretation: Our estimates suggest that most second-level administrative units in sub-Saharan Africa are falling short of the targeted 75% reduction in new cases and deaths by 2020, which is further compounded by substantial within-country variability. These estimates will help decision makers and programme implementers expand access to ART and better target health resources to higher burden subnational areas