In vivo effects of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of acute ischemic kidney injury

Objective(s): Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) as a severe condition of acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most common clinical problem with high mortality rates of 35-60% deaths in hospital. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) due to unique regenerative characteristics are ideal candidates for the treatment of the ischemic injuries. This work is focused on the administration of MSC to IRI-induced AKI Wistar rats and evaluating their significance in AKI treatment. Material and Methods: Animals underwent surgical procedure and AKI was induced by 40 min bilateral renal pedicle clamping. Immediately after reperfusion, 2×106 rat bone marrow derived MSCs were injected via intra-parenchymal or intra-aortic route. Results: Animals subjected to AKI after days 1 and 3 showed significant increase in the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration along with a declined glomerular filtration rate (GFR) when compared with non-ischemic animals. On the other hand, treated animals showed a significant enhanced regeneration as compared to ischemic animals in both administration route groups. Conclusion: According to the results concluded from the renoprotective effects of MSC in IRI/AKI, MSCs could be considered as promising therapeutic approach for AKI in clinical applications

Identification of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin Genes of sea, seb and sec among Healthy Carriers in Ardabil City

Background and Aims: Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic, and facultative anaerobic bacterium, which is colonized in anterior part of the human nasal cavity. The carriers' individuals working in the food industry are the main source of spreading food-borne diseases. Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are the key virulence factors in the staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP). The aim of this study was to identify the S. aureus enterotoxin genes of sea, seb and sec among healthy carriers. Materials and Methods: In the current descriptive cross-sectional study, 136 nasal swab samples were collected from the personnel working at butchers, dairy stores, and fast food restaurants through Ardabil city. The samples were cultured and then confirmed using the biochemical tests. The DNA of S. aureus isolates was extracted to detect sea, seb and sec genes as markers for SEA, SEB and SEC enterotoxins using the PCR method. Results: Among the 136 nasal swab samples, 46 (33.8%) were positive for S. aureus, that were confirmed by the presence of femA gene. Out of 46 isolates, the sea, seb and sec genes were found in 11 (23.9%), 6 (13%) and 5 (10.8%) isolates, respectively. Conclusions: According to the findings, a significant percentage of the food-chain personnel were nasal carriers of enterotoxigenic S. aureus. Therefore, for prevention and distribution of Staphylococcal infections, screening program and control of such carriers are recommended

The Study of Irrational Beliefs, Defense Mechanisms and Marital Satisfaction in Fertile and Infertile women

Objective: This study aimed to compare irrational beliefs, defense mechanisms and marital satisfaction in fertile and  infertile women. Materials and methods: This study was a causal comparative survey performed on 30 fertile and 30 infertile women chosen by available and simple random sampling out of the whole clients referred to Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center from February 2009 to September 2009. The instruments of measurement included 3 questionnaires: Jones irrational beliefs, defense mechanisms and ENRICH marital satisfaction which were performed on samples. Data were analyzed by SPSS-16 software. Results: The scale of subtests of Jones irrational beliefs, defense mechanisms and marital satisfaction were significantly different in fertile and infertile women. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that infertile women use irrational beliefs and defense mechanisms more than fertile women and their marital satisfaction is less than fertile women

Knowledge, attitude, and self-efficacy regarding internet addiction among female students

Use of the internet has regarded as an advantageous breakthrough which sometimes has led to over usage so-called "internet addiction". Increased prevalence of internet addiction among students and the necessity of acquiring information to design interventions have compelled us to design the present study on knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy of students regarding the Internet addiction. This study was two‑stage cluster sampling consisted of 160 girl participants who were residing in selected dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire including demographic, knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy questions regarding the Internet addiction and. 49 participants (30.6 %) were at risk of the Internet addiction. Majority of the students were on the average national levels of knowledge (48.1%), attitude (49.1%), and self-efficacy (61.2%). We also found a statistically significant association between mean score of attitude with educational degree (p<0.003), and between the average daily hours of the Internet use with user type (p<0.001). Given the importance of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy on the adaptation of healthy behaviors, the findings of this study revealed that extra educational interventions aiming to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and self-efficacy regarding internet use has a paramount importance

The Real Story of the Fifth Nerve Neurinoma: A Review of Our Learning Curve about Surgical Approaches and Associated Shortcomings

Background and Importance: Our learning curve during two decades of neurosurgical practice has been changed from an abstractive to a more meaningful and conductive state. In cases of fifth nerve neurinoma, pre-operative anatomopathologic diagnosis could lead us to a pre-planned program during and after the surgery to get the safe surgical result. Case Presentation: Representation of two complex fifth nerve neurinoma cases, untoward happenings and the way to manage patient safety. Review of literature to find a wise approach for maximum benefit is included here. Conclusion: Both of our patients have developed iatrogenic unilateral corneal anesthesia, one of them warned of it and the second one not. We have had more problems in the way of preservation of the cornea in the warned case. We have reviewed the factors influencing safe corneal preservation after the operation of fifth nerve neurinoma which are included following items: surgical approach, Anatomopathologic location of the tumor (pre-ganglionic, ganglionic or post-ganglionic), simultaneous damage of V and VII nerve including vidian nerve, preserved corneal sensation, any combination of injury to physiologic and mechanical protectors. The cornerstones to have a safe cornea following such surgeries are pre-operative exam of fifth and 7th nerve in all aspects and also early post-operative evaluation of them including the state of the tear secretion. We encounter corneal anesthesia and epithelial defect. Iatrogenic damage of vidian nerve depending to approach selected seems to be considerable. Simultaneous damage of V and VII nerve during the surgery of large neurinoma are expected and noteworthy

Computational Design of a Potential Therapeutic Peptide Against Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 entrance to the host cells is started by the interaction between receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike (S) protein on the virus with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor which is very important in the onset of viral infection. Interference with this interaction can be a promising way to prevent Covid-19 infection. In this study, a novel potential therapeutic peptide was designed in silico based on the key interacting amino acids of ACE2 against SARS-CoV-2 S protein. In our computational analysis, a peptide consisting of residues 19-48 of ACE2 was chosen as the wild-type peptide. Based on this peptide, six mutant peptides (Mu-P1-6) were designed and then assessed in term of interaction with S protein. The result of protein-peptide docking by HADDOCK web server and then immunological analysis by SVMTriP epitope prediction tool leads to choose Mu-P3 as the best mutant. Molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type peptide-S protein complex and Mu-P3-S protein complex, showed Mu-P3 has better interaction with S protein than wild type peptide (interaction energies -897.14 vs. -784.13 (kJ/mol)) which can be a potential therapeutic peptide for Covid-19 pandemic

Herbal medicines as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the result of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Understanding molecular pathogenesis is an essential factor for the allocation of effective preventive measures and the development of targeted therapeutics against COVID-19. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes structural and nonstructural proteins, which can be targets for compounds with potential therapeutic ability. On the other hand, the virus life cycle has stages susceptible to targeting by drug compounds. Many natural antiviral compounds have been studied and evaluated at the cellular and molecular levels with antiviral potential. Meanwhile, many studies over the past few months have shown that plant polysaccharides have good ability to target proteins and stages of the virus life cycle. In this regard, in this review study, the virus specifications and infectious process and structural and functional components of SARS-CoV-2 will be reviewed, and then the latest studies on the effect of plant compounds with more focus on polysaccharides on viral targets and their inhibitory potential on the infectious process of COVID-19 will be discussed. Keywords: Alkaloids; COVID-19; Herbal medicines; Polyphenols; Polysaccharides; SARS-CoV-2; Terpene

Vaccine design and delivery approaches for COVID-19

COVID-19 is still a deadly disease that remains yet a major challenge for humans. In recent times, many large pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical companies have invested a lot of time and cost in fighting this disease. In this regard, today's scientific knowledge shows that designing and producing an effective vaccine is the best possible way to diminish the disease burden and dissemination or even eradicate the disease. Due to the urgent need, many vaccines are now available earlier than scheduled. New technologies have also helped to produce much more effective vaccines, although the potential side effects must be taken into account. Thus, in this review, the types of vaccines and vaccine designs made against COVID-19, the vaccination programs, as well as the delivery methods and molecules that have been used to deliver some vaccines that need a carrier will be described