Relation between parvovirus B19 infection and fetal mortality and spontaneous abortion

Background: Infection with parvovirus B19 may cause fetal losses including spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death and non-immune hydrops fetalis. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of parvovirus B19 in formalin fixed placental tissues in lost fetuses using real-time PCR method. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 formalin fixed placental tissues with unknown cause of fetal death were determined using real-time PCR method after DNA extraction. Results: Six out of 100 cases (6%) were positive for parvovirus B19 using real-time PCR. Gestational age of all positive cases was less than 20 weeks with a mean of 12.3 weeks. Three cases have a history of abortion and all of positive cases were collected in spring. Mean age of positive cases were 28 years. Conclusion: Parvovirus B19 during pregnancy can infect red precursor cells and induces apoptosis or lyses these cells that resulting in anemia and congestive heart failure leading to fetal death. Management of parvovirus B19 infection in pregnant women is important because immediate diagnosis and transfusion in hydropsic fetuses can decrease the risk of fetal death

Serum Hepcidin and Ferritin Have Not Correlation With Inflammatory Markers in Kidney Transplant Patients

In renal transplant patients, increased ferritin is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, transplant rejection, and mortality. Serum ferritin elevates in renal transplant patients due to blood product transfusion, inflammation, and malignancies. Hepcidin is also a peptide hormone produced in the liver in response to anemia, hypoxia, or inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ferritin, hepcidin, iron, TIBC, and serum inflammatory markers in renal transplant patients. The cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 60 renal transplant patients referred to Hazrat-Rasool and Imam-Ali clinics and Al-Mahdi Laboratory of Shahrekord selected by convenience sampling method. Serum ferritin, hepcidin, iron, TIBC, and inflammatory markers levels were determined by standard kits by ELISA. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Serum iron had a significant negative correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=-0.418, P=0.001) and a negative correlation with C reactive protein (CRP) (r=-0.243, P=0.061). TIBC had a significantly negative association with ferritin (r=-0.27, P=0.037). Ferritin, hepcidin, and TIBC were not significantly correlated with inflammatory factors. The results of the study showed no significant relationship between ferritin, hepcidin, and TIBC with inflammatory factors in renal transplant patient

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

The effect of estrogen on the expression of cartilage-specific genes in the chondrogenesis process of adipose-derived stem cells

Background: During adolescence, sex hormones play an important role in regulating proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and the scheduled death of chondrocytes. Although some studies have reported the regulatory role of estrogen in the development and progression of cartilage, some of the mechanisms still remain unclear, including the role of estrogen in the expression of cartilage-specific genes in chondrogenesis process, which we cover in this study. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we used adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to differentiate into cartilage. Differentiated cartilage cells were used in the control (without estrogen E2 in the culture medium) and experimental (with estrogen in the culture medium) groups to evaluate the expression of type II collagen and aggrecan as chondrogenic genes markers, with -real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: Our results indicated that estrogen leads to inhibition of type II collagen gene expression and reduction of aggrecan gene expression. Conclusion: Therefore, estrogen probably has negative effects on chondrogenesis process of ADSCs

Effectiveness of Educational Intervention Based on Peer Education on Knowledge, Attitude and Behavioral Intention Related to HIV/AIDS in the High School Female Students in the Region 14 of Tehran

Background and Objectives: AIDS is a health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was the survey of the effectiveness of educational intervention based on peer education on knowledge, attitude and behavioral intention related to HIV/AIDS in high school female students in region 14 of Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 330 female students were selected by multistage random sampling from 18 schools. For data collection, a reliable and valid questionnaire was used. Before the intervention, pretest were taken from both intervention and control groups and required information about knowledge, attitude and behavioral intention about HIV preventive behaviors were obtained for the design and implementation of intervention. Then, the educational intervention was implemented and after three months, the questionnaires were completed again to measure the impact of intervention. SPSS 21 statistical software and statistical tests of independent t, paired t, chi-squared, Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. The level of significance was considered P < 0.05. Results: After the training, significant changes in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude and behavior was observed in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Age with attitude and behavioral intention with knowledge and attitude had direct significant correlations. Knowledge and attitude were able to predict 41% of changes in behavioral intention. Conclusions: The findings of current study showed that the use of peer education can be effective in educational interventions to increase knowledge and to improve attitude and behavioral intention about HIV preventive behaviors

Investigation on the effect of endurance training on blood circulating levels of Mir-146a and plasma levels of il-6 in sedentary elderly women

Introdution: Ageing is associated with systemic inflammation. MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) is a critical negative regulator of inflammation and its level was found to decrease with ageing. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of regular brisk walking on blood circulating levels of miR-146a and plasma levels of Interlukine-6 (IL-6) in sedentary elderly women.  Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 aged women (63.5±3.9 years) were randomly allocated to the endurance training (n=10), and control groups (n=10). Training group (TG) walked at 70-75% maximum heart rate reserve (HRRmax), three times a week for twelve weeks. Control group remained untrained during the study period. Blood samples were collected before and 72 hours after the last session of endurance training for measuring concentration of miR-146a and IL-6.  Independent T-test, Paired T-test, Mann Whitney, and Wilcoxon were used after the data analysis base on normalization. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and the significant level was set at P≤0.05. Results: The results revealed that the levels of miR-146a increased (P=0.027) and the levels of IL-6 decreased (P=0.001) significantly in response to the endurance training protocol, and these changes were associated with a decrease in body mass index (BMI) (P=0.002). Conclusion: According to the result of the present study, brisk walking training may be considered as an effective training mode for helping to decrease the blood inflammatory factors. The findings also suggest that microRNAs can be improved, after regular walking, in old adul

Multifunctional PEGylated Niosomal Nanoparticle-Loaded Herbal Drugs as a Novel Nano-Radiosensitizer and Stimuli-Sensitive Nanocarrier for Synergistic Cancer Therapy

Nowadays, radiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer. In order to overcome the radioresistance of cancer cells, radio-sensitizing agents can be used combined with irradiation to increase the therapeutic efficiency. Curcumin can enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells and decrease their viability by the accumulation of these cells in the G2 phase. The encapsulation of curcumin in a nanoniosomal delivery system increases aqueous solubility and bioavailability, resulting in increased radio sensitivity. The present study aimed to enhance the radio-sensitizing effect of the curcumin-containing nanoniosome (Cur-Nio) when combined with irradiation. Thus, curcumin (0.5 mg ml−1) was loaded on a PEGylated nanoniosome containing Tween 60, cholesterol, DOTAP, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly(ethylene glycol) (DSPE-PEG) (at ratios of 70:30:10:5, respectively) by the thin-film hydration method. The particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and drug-release rate of formulated nanoniosomes were determined. In order to assess cytotoxicity and apoptosis, different doses of irradiation along with various concentrations of free curcumin and Cur-Nio (single or in combination with irradiation) were treated with breast cancer cells. The particle size and zeta potential of Cur-Nio were reported to be 117.5 nm and −15.1 mV, respectively. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) and loading capacities were 72.3% and 6.68%, respectively. The drug-release rate during 6 h was 65.9%. Cell survival in the presence of curcumin at doses of 1 and 3 Gy showed a significant reduction compared with cells irradiated at 48 h and 72 h (p < 0.000). Also, the rate of cytotoxicity and apoptosis was significantly higher in cells treated with the combination of curcumin-containing nanoniosomes and irradiation in comparison with those treated with free curcumin. These findings indicate that the efficacy of pre-treatment with Cur-Nio as a radiosensitizer during radiotherapy enhances irradiation-induced breast cancer cell apoptosis and is a useful strategy to increase the effectiveness of breast cancer therapy