Co-Infection Rates between SARS-CoV-2 and RSV in Oropharyngeal, Nasopharyngeal Aspirate and Saliva Samples of COVID-19 Patients, Shiraz, South of Iran

Statement of the Problem: Determining the prevalence of respiratory viruses' coinfection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential to defining its true clinical influence.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate co-infection rates between severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infected patients in Shiraz, south of Iran.Materials and Method: In a cross-sectional descriptive study, oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA), and saliva samples of 50 COVID-19 patients who were referred to Ali-Asghar hospital (Shiraz, Iran) from March to August 2020, were collected. A control group consisted of age and sex-matched healthy participants. The nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal aspirates were collected by sterile swabs. All cases were hospitalized, and all SARS-CoV-2 patients had a fever and respiratory symptoms. The samples were packed in a vial with 1 mL of transport medium and transported to the Valfagre specialty laboratory, where they were tested for RSV using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: 100 nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal aspirates and saliva samples including 50 healthy controls (24 females, 26 males) and 50 COVID-19 patients' samples (27 males and 23 females) were studied. There was no significant difference regarding age as well as gender between both groups (P>0.05). None of the healthy subjects was infected with RSV; however, 5(10%) patients from COVID-19 group were infected with the RSV virus. Chi-square test did not show a significant difference between RSV infection in COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects.Conclusion: The outcome of present research showed that concurrent RSV with COVID 19 infection might be seen in hospitalized patients in Shiraz Southwest of Iran. For more reliable findings, further research on bigger populations, including more pathogens in several places around the country, and considering the severity of symptoms is required

Comparative Study of High Powerful Magnet with Conventional Repair of Suture in the Intestinal Anastomosis of Rats

Background In this study, given the importance of gastrointestinal anastomosis in surgical procedures, attempts have been made to compare the results of employing magnetic compression anastomosis and magnetic coils in intestinal anastomosis of rats. Materials and Methods This study was an experimental trial on 60 rats which had been randomly divided into two experiment (30) and control (30) groups. First, the rat intestine was cut off from a relatively fixed point and then magnet anastomosis was performed at the both ends of bowel in the control group and manual suture in the experiment group.  Anastomosis was then examined 10 days after the surgery for possible complications with a histological analysis of the indices of tissue repair. Results The mean time required for performing anastomosis of the rat intestine was 735 and 366 seconds for the control and experiment groups, respectively. Also, the laparotomy performed 10 days after the first operation did not show any significant difference between two groups in terms of surgical complications such as infiltration factor of inflammatory cell and fibroblast activity (P>0.05). The microscopic examination indicated that the tissue reaction in the anastomosis site was better in terms of tissue repair of neo-angiogenesis intestine and collagen deposition in the magnet group(P>0.05).   Conclusion Given the shorter duration of the anastomosis by magnets and more favorable histological results reported in the experiment group, as well as the lack of any significant difference in complications of the two techniques, magnetic compressive anastomosis can be used as a new technique for intestinal surgeries and pertaining anastomosis. Although, we recommend that study will be done with large sample size to obtain reliable results

Evaluation of mandibular inferior cortex changes in patients candidate for liver and kidney transplantation using panoramic view

Background: The number of patients with chronic liver failure (CLF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) referred to dental clinics are increasing. However, there are few studies about the effect of these diseases on jaw bones. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inferior mandibular cortex changes of the patients with CLF and CKD that are candidate for liver and kidney transplantation, in panoramic views. Patients and Methods: Panoramic radiographs were obtained from 83 patients with a history of CLF and 43 patients with CKD who were undergoing the assessment for transplantation and also 126 control cases. The mean was calculated for the width of inferior mandibular cortex. The relationship between the thicknesses of the inferior mandibular cortex with the duration of disease was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test. T and chisquare tests were used for evaluating the inferior cortex of the mandible according to age and sex, respectively. Results: Compared with the control group, the means of the cortical thickness in CLF and CRF patients were significantly different (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between cortical thickness and gender in CLF (P = 0.007) and CRF patients (P = 0.029). Neither the duration of the disease and nor age was associated with mandibular thickness changes in CLF and CRF patients (P = 0.79). Thickness of the inferior mandibular cortex in premolar area was more than that in molar area and thickness of molar was greater than that of the mandibular angle in CKD and CLF patients. This latter was similar to that in normal subjects. Conclusion: Compared with normal population, a decrease in the thickness of inferior mandibular cortex is observed in CKD and CLF patients. This decrease is not affected by age and duration of the disease but is meaningfully related to sex, especially females

β-radiating radionuclides in cancer treatment, novel insight into promising approach.

Targeted radionuclide therapy, known as molecular radiotherapy is a novel therapeutic module in cancer medicine. β-radiating radionuclides have definite impact on target cells via interference in cell cycle and particular signalings that can lead to tumor regression with minimal off-target effects on the surrounding tissues. Radionuclides play a remarkable role not only in apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest, but also in the amelioration of other characteristics of cancer cells. Recently, application of novel β-radiating radionuclides in cancer therapy has been emerged as a promising therapeutic modality. Several investigations are ongoing to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of β-radiating elements in cancer medicine. Based on the radiation dose, exposure time and type of the β-radiating element, different results could be achieved in cancer cells. It has been shown that β-radiating radioisotopes block cancer cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, physical characteristics of the β-radiating element (half-life, tissue penetration range, and maximum energy) and treatment protocol determine whether tumor cells undergo cell cycle arrest, apoptosis or both and to which extent. In this review, we highlighted novel therapeutic effects of β-radiating radionuclides on cancer cells, particularly apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest

Rhenium Perrhenate (¹⁸⁸ReO₄) Induced Apoptosis and Reduced Cancerous Phenotype in Liver Cancer Cells

Recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after conventional treatments is a crucial challenge. Despite the promising progress in advanced targeted therapies, HCC is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Radionuclide therapy can potentially be a practical targeted approach to address this concern. Rhenium-188 (188Re) is a β-emitting radionuclide used in the clinic to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation. Although adherent cell cultures are efficient and reliable, appropriate cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) contact is still lacking. Thus, we herein aimed to assess 188Re as a potential therapeutic component for HCC in 2D and 3D models. The death rate in treated Huh7 and HepG2 lines was significantly higher than in untreated control groups using viability assay. After treatment with 188ReO4, Annexin/PI data indicated considerable apoptosis induction in HepG2 cells after 48 h but not Huh7 cells. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting data also showed increased apoptosis in response to 188ReO4 treatment. In Huh7 cells, exposure to an effective dose of 188ReO4 led to cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase. Moreover, colony formation assay confirmed post-exposure growth suppression in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Then, the immunostaining displayed proliferation inhibition in the 188ReO4-treated cells on 3D scaffolds of liver ECM. The PI3-AKT signaling pathway was activated in 3D culture but not in 2D culture. In nude mice, Huh7 cells treated with an effective dose of 188ReO4 lost their tumor formation ability compared to the control group. These findings suggest that 188ReO4 can be a potential new therapeutic agent against HCC through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibition of tumor formation. This approach can be effectively combined with antibodies and peptides for more selective and personalized therapy

Trial design: The effect of high-dose rosuvastatin on echocardiographic parameters in patients with intermediate- and high-risk pulmonary embolism – A randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background: It has been shown recently that a considerable burden of pulmonary embolism (PE) roots from an inflammatory response. The activated inflammatory cascade will be responsible for the final fibrotic response of pulmonary vascular bed, creating further mechanical obstruction which results in subsequent right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, influencing functional capacity and future prognosis. Although anticoagulants represent the cornerstone treatment of PE, the drug class has a minimal effect on the mentioned pathology. Study Design: The present study is a single-center randomized, double-blind, parallel group controlled trial with placebo which will evaluate the effect of high-intensity statin – rosuvastatin 20 mg daily on patients with intermediate-to-high-risk PE. Study population will be selected from patients for whom statin is not otherwise indicated. Primary end point of the present trial will be echocardiographic measures of RV function. We believe that the mentioned indexes represent an accurate surrogate for the functional capacity and prognosis. Our secondary end point will be the composites of PE recurrence and exertional capacity measured by 6-minute walk test. Conclusions: The result of the present trial might influence the complimentary treatment of acute PE