Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Associated Risk Factors in Cerebral Palsy,

Objective: To compare prevalence of 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in cerebral palsied (CP) with healthy control children and to evaluate possible correlations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and severity of CP and motor function.Materials & Methods: In this case control study, serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were evaluated in 65 children with CP and compared with 65 healthy children. Blood samples were taken to measure levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. Regarding 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, patients were classified as sufficient (≥30 ng/ml), insufficient (20-30 ng/ml) and deficient (<20 ng/ml).Results: Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were 28.03±24.2 ng/ml in patients and 30±1.94 ng/ml in control group. 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency was seen in 44.6% of CP and 18.5% of healthy children. There was no significant difference in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels between boys and girls, CP types and use of antiepileptics in case group. There was significant negative correlation between age and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The correlation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Gross Motor Function Classification System was not significant.   Conclusion: 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency is common in children with CP in comparison with healthy children. There was significant negative correlation between age and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels .Routine measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and its proper treatment is recommended to prevent its deficiency and subsequent consequences

Electropolymerized Fluorinated Aniline-Based Fiber for Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatographic Determination of Benzaldehyde in Injectable Pharmaceutical Formulations

In this study, a simple method was developed and validated to detect trace levels of benzaldehyde in injectable pharmaceutical formulations by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–flame ionization detector. Polyaniline was electrodeposited on a platinum wire in trifluoroacetic acid solvent by cyclic voltammetry technique. This fiber shows high thermal and mechanical stability and high performance in extraction of benzaldehyde. Extraction and desorption time and temperature, salt effect and gas chromatography parameters were optimized as key parameters. At the optimum conditions, the fiber shows good linearity between peak area ratio of benzaldehyde/3-chlorobenzaldehyde and benzaldehyde concentration in the range of 50–800 ng/mL with percent relative standard deviation values ranging from 0.75 to 8.64% (n 5 3). The limits of quantitation and detection were 50 and 16 ng/mL, respectively. The method has the requisite selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy and precision to assay benzaldehyde in injectable pharmaceutical dosage forms

Vowel Reduction in Kermani Accent

The purpose of the present study is to explore the process of vowel reduction in Kermani accent. The process of vowel reduction occurs in unstressed syllables which shifts vowels toward other vowels. In this study, 5 male and 5 female native speakers of Kermani accent, pronounced 24 words in 3 repetitions containing six simple vowels in stressed and unstressed syllables. The participants’ productions were recorded using Shure microphone and were analyzed using Praat software (Ver. 5.2.24). A text grid was made for each word. Then, duration, F1, F2 and F0 of vowels were measured and compared in stressed and unstressed syllables. Overall, the obtained results confirmed that the duration and F0 of vowels decreases in unstressed syllables and the amount of F1 of all the vowels and the F2 of the vowels [ɑ, e, o, u] have a tendency towards the F1 and F2 of /ǝ/. Results also indicated that the process of vowel reduction is centripetal in Kermani accent

CDK9 Regulates Apoptosis of Myoblast Cells by Modulation of microRNA-1 Expression

Cdk9 is the catalytic core of the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and regulates transcriptional elongation factors by phosphorylation of RNA pol II. Apart from its role on myogenic gene expression, Cdk9 regulation of muscle-specific microRNAs in the early stage of cardiomyogenesis is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Cdk9 not only regulates myogenic transcription factors, but also controls muscle-specific microRNAs. During cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells, high Cdk9 expression preceded up-regulation of miR-1. To investigate potential regulatory roles of Cdk9 on cardiac microRNAs and myogenesis genes, we overexpressed Cdk9 in myoblast C2C12 cells, which resulted in significant induction of miR-1 and miR-206, while miR-133 was downregulated. Moreover, expression levels of MyoD and Srf, key regulators of myogenesis, also increased in cells with overexpression of Cdk9. We further observed Cdk9-mediated apoptosis in C2C12 cells corresponding to induction of miR-1 expression levels. Thus, Cdk9 plays a complex role in myocyte progenitor differentiation and apoptosis by regulating myogenic protein and muscle-specific microRNA expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 119: 547–554, 2018

Immunogenicity and safety of RAZI recombinant spike protein vaccine (RCP) as a booster dose after priming with BBIBP-CorV: a parallel two groups, randomized, double blind trial

Abstract Background The immunity induced by primary vaccination is effective against COVID-19; however, booster vaccines are needed to maintain vaccine-induced immunity and improve protection against emerging variants. Heterologous boosting is believed to result in more robust immune responses. This study investigated the safety and immunogenicity of the Razi Cov Pars vaccine (RCP) as a heterologous booster dose in people primed with Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Coronavirus Vaccine (BBIBP-CorV). Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial in adults aged 18 and over primarily vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV, an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive a booster dose of RCP or BBIBP-CorV vaccines. The primary outcome was neutralizing antibody activity measured by a conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT). The secondary efficacy outcomes included specific IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1 and receptor-binding domain, RBD) antigens and cell-mediated immunity. We measured humoral antibody responses at 2 weeks (in all participants) and 3 and 6 months (a subgroup of 101 participants) after the booster dose injection. The secondary safety outcomes were solicited and unsolicited immediate, local, and systemic adverse reactions. Results We recruited 483 eligible participants between December 7, 2021, and January 13, 2022. The mean age was 51.9 years, and 68.1% were men. Neutralizing antibody titers increased about 3 (geometric mean fold increase, GMFI = 2.77, 95% CI 2.26–3.39) and 21 (GMFI = 21.51, 95% CI 16.35–28.32) times compared to the baseline in the BBIBP-CorV and the RCP vaccine groups. Geometric mean ratios (GMR) and 95% CI for serum neutralizing antibody titers for RCP compared with BBIBP-CorV on days 14, 90, and 180 were 6.81 (5.32–8.72), 1.77 (1.15–2.72), and 2.37 (1.62–3.47) respectively. We observed a similar pattern for specific antibody responses against S1 and RBD. We detected a rise in gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and interleukin 2 (IL-2) following stimulation with S antigen, particularly in the RCP group, and the flow cytometry examination showed an increase in the percentage of CD3 + /CD8 + lymphocytes. RCP and BBIBP-CorV had similar safety profiles; we identified no vaccine-related or unrelated deaths. Conclusions BBIBP-CorV and RCP vaccines as booster doses are safe and provide a strong immune response that is more robust when the RCP vaccine is used. Heterologous vaccines are preferred as booster doses. Trial registration This study was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial at www.irct.ir , IRCT20201214049709N4. Registered 29 November 2021

Additional file 1 of Immunogenicity and safety of RAZI recombinant spike protein vaccine (RCP) as a booster dose after priming with BBIBP-CorV: a parallel two groups, randomized, double blind trial

Additional file 1: Table S1. Geometric mean and 95% CI of specific antibody responses (AUC) to S1, RBD and Neutralizing antibody titer in the BBIBP-CorV and RCP groups over the predefined study time schedule. Tables S2-S4. Geometric mean, Geometric mean ratio, Geometric mean fold increase and Seroconversion and their 95% CI for Neutralizing antibodies, anti-RBD, and anti-S1 specific IgG antibodies in the BBIBP-CorV and Razi Cov Pars groups in the participants who received primary vaccination 3, 4, 5 and 6 month before booster dose over the predefined study time schedule. Table S5. Unsolicited adverse events with Not Related, Unlikely, Suspected/Possible, Probable and not assessable relationship to the BBIBP-CorV and Razi Cov Pars vaccines within one-month post-vaccination using ICD-10 code. Table S6. Unsolicited adverse events with probable/suspected relationship to the BBIBP-CorV and Razi Cov Pars vaccines using ICD-10 code. Figure S1. Gating strategy for CD3/CD4/CD8 and IFN-γ flow cytometry data analysis. Figure S2. Comparison of the baseline antibody levels and post-booster antibody responses among the four tested groups with different prime-boosting intervals (3, 4, 5 and 6 months before booster dose) on days 0 and 14