Safety and efficacy of Favipiravir in moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

Background: We examined the safety and efficacy of a treatment protocol containing Favipiravir for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: We did a multicenter randomized open-labeled clinical trial on moderate to severe cases infections of SARS-CoV-2. Patients with typical ground glass appearance on chest computerized tomography scan (CT scan) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) of less than 93 were enrolled. They were randomly allocated into Favipiravir (1.6 gr loading, 1.8 gr daily) and Lopinavir/Ritonavir (800/200 mg daily) treatment regimens in addition to standard care. In-hospital mortality, ICU admission, intubation, time to clinical recovery, changes in daily SpO2 after 5 min discontinuation of supplemental oxygen, and length of hospital stay were quantified and compared in the two groups. Results: 380 patients were randomly allocated into Favipiravir (1 9 3) and Lopinavir/Ritonavir (1 8 7) groups in 13 centers. The number of deaths, intubations, and ICU admissions were not significantly different (26, 27, 31 and 21, 17, 25 respectively). Mean hospital stay was also not different (7.9 days SD = 6 in the Favipiravir and 8.1 SD = 6.5 days in Lopinavir/Ritonavir groups) (p = 0.61). Time to clinical recovery in the Favipiravir group was similar to Lopinavir/Ritonavir group (HR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.75 � 1.17) and likewise the changes in the daily SpO2 after discontinuation of supplemental oxygen (p = 0.46) Conclusion: Adding Favipiravir to the treatment protocol did not reduce the number of ICU admissions or intubations or In-hospital mortality compared to Lopinavir/Ritonavir regimen. It also did not shorten time to clinical recovery and length of hospital stay. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

Chloroplast Microsatellites Markers to Assess Genetic Diversity in Wild and Cultivated Grapevines of Iran

To assess the haplotype diversity and genetic relationship between them, A set of 69 Iranian cultivated accessions, six European cultivars and an accession of Vitis labrasca along with 63 wild grapevine individuals were studied using chloroplast microsatellite markers. Results showed that among analyzed cpssr loci only ccmp 3 and ccmp10 were polymorphic within cultivars and only ccmp3 was polymorphic in wild grape individuals. The size variants of both loci combine in a total of 4 different haplotypes. All the 4 haplotype are displayed in the cultivars while only 2 are presented in wild grapes. Sultani or keshmeshi Bidane cultivar has the haplotype III that there is not this haplotype among the wild grapes of studied regions. Concerning to existence of both haplotypes I and II in the number of Iranian cultivated and wild grapes, it is possible to consider that the wild grapes are ancestor of some of our native cultivars

The use of AFLP and morphological markers to study Iranian grapevine germplasm to avoid genetic erosion

Molecular and morphological analyses have been used to define and clarify the relationships among the 54 most representative grapevine cultivars in Iran. A total of 459 scorable AFLP fragments, across all the accessions analysed, were detected. Among these, 185 (40.3%) were polymorphic. Values of genetic diversity, calculated by the Nei and Li index, ranged from 0 - 0.3. Our results highlight cases of different cultivars displaying the same AFLP profile and similar morphological characteristics, proving the occurrence of synonyms in Iranian germplasm. Combining AFLP results and morphological descriptions two cases of wrong attribution were also observed: 'Saghal Solian-2' was renamed 'Mosli' and 'Khalili Qermez' was now called 'Khalili Sefid'. Morphological characterisation conducted using the IPGRI descriptors, showed large variability among the accessions analysed mainly in young shoot and leaf colour, and in bunch size. Although synonyms were detected and genomic similarities were verified, genetic differences and the richness observed in Iranian grapevine germplasm were not high, in contrast with their morphological characteristics. Wehypothesise that many Iranian morphotypes have been derived from mutation events in a few ancient genotypes; however, the system of selection may result in the biodiversity of Iranian grapevine being endangered. For this reason, our molecular and morphological characterisation will help in the development of conservation plans and in the re-organisation of local germplasm collections

the use of AFLP and morphological markers to study iranian grapevien germplasm to avoid genetic erosion

Molecular and morphological analyses have been used to define and clarify the relationships among the 54 mostrepresentative grapevine cultivars in Iran. A total of 459 scorable AFLP fragments, across all the accessions analysed,were detected. Among these, 185 (40.3%) were polymorphic.Values of genetic diversity, calculated by the Nei and Liindex, ranged from 0 \u2013 0.3. Our results highlight cases of different cultivars displaying the same AFLP profile andsimilar morphological characteristics, proving the occurrence of synonyms in Iranian germplasm. Combining AFLPresults and morphological descriptions, two cases of wrong attribution were also observed: \u2018Saghal Solian-2\u2019 wasrenamed \u2018Mosli\u2019; and \u2018Khalili Qermez\u2019 was now called \u2018Khalili Sefid\u2019. Morphological characterisation, conductedusing the IPGRI descriptors, showed large variability among the accessions analysed, mainly in young shoot and leafcolour, and in bunch size. Although synonyms were detected, and genomic similarities were verified, geneticdifferences and the richness observed in Iranian grapevine germplasm were not high, in contrast with theirmorphological characteristics. We hypothesise that many Iranian morphotypes have been derived from mutationevents in a few ancient genotypes; however, the system of selection may result in the biodiversity of Iraniangrapevine being endangered. For this reason, our molecular and morphological characterisation will help in thedevelopment of conservation plans and in the re-organisation of local germplasm collections