Social vulnerabilities among immigrants and refugees in emergencies and disasters: a systematic review.

Background: Due to cultural, economic, and societal factors, immigrants and refugees are pivotal groups in dealing with social vulnerability in disasters. Ignoring or inadequate attention to those groups in preparing for and responding to disasters and health emergencies could decrease the effectiveness of efforts. This article aims to identify the most basic social vulnerabilities among immigrants and refugees and provide effective solutions to alleviate or eliminate these vulnerabilities. Methods: This systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The main keywords include Social Vulnerabilities, Immigrants, Refugees, and Disasters. All articles published up to February 2023 were reviewed regardless of language and location. A total of 575 articles were extracted from SCOPUS, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases, and finally, 14 articles were selected for full-text analysis. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) was used to evaluate the quality of the selected articles. Results: Fourteen articles including 4 qualitative and 10 quantitative articles were selected and analyzed in this review. The findings showed: 1. According to the consensus of the studies, the most vulnerable people who need urgent care during an epidemic due to their special conditions are immigrants and refugees; 2. In most countries, no database provides reliable, up-to-date, and accurate statistics about these people; 3. Refugees usually hesitate to express their vulnerability and receive services due to the fear of deportation; and 4. The main challenges faced by refugees are socio-economic problems such as language problems, lack of emotional and social support, and living in crowded places. Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of migration among countries, it is essential to identify the social problems and vulnerabilities of immigrants and provide effective solutions to cope with their challenges, especially during crises and emergencies. Systematic review registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier CRD42022371345.

Increased expression of PD-1 in CD8 + CD3 + T cells correlates with EBV viral load in MS patients.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the common autoimmune diseases. The exact etiology of MS is still unclear, but recent studies have shown the possibility of infectious agent involvement such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in MS pathophysiology. In this study, CD3 + CD8 + T cells of 25 new case MS patients were compared with healthy donors for expression of exhaustion marker, PD-1, using flow cytometry. Also, the expression of the EBV gene, BRCF-1, in PBMCs was analyzed using real-time PCR. Results revealed a lower frequency of CD3 + CD8 + T cells in MS patients. Also, increased expression of PD-1 was observed on CTLs which correlated with higher viral loads. Therefore, a lower frequency of CD8 + T cells but a higher exhaustion marker in MS patients reveals a new mechanism of EBV pathogenesis in MS development. The results suggest that inefficient immune control of EBV in patients with MS may cause exacerbation of the disease. Future studies on the mechanism of T cell exhaustion and chronic infections may aid in a better understanding of the disease and the design of effective therapies.

Characterization of contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements: A critical review of measurement methods, reclaimed asphalt pavement, porous asphalt, and waste-modified asphalt mixtures.

In recent years, the pavement industry has been seeking sustainable development through recycling reclaimed asphalt pavement and reusing other waste materials as replacements for asphalt mixture constituents. Incorporating waste material into asphalt mixture and the presence of pollutants such as exhaust fumes and gasoline due to vehicle traffic may lead to contaminants leaching from asphalt pavements to underlying soil layers and groundwater aquifers, posing serious risks to ecosystems and the environment. To cast light on contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements, this article presents a comprehensive review of the literature that is divided into four research areas: evaluation of leaching measurement methods, leaching from recycled asphalt materials, leaching characteristics of porous asphalt pavements, and waste-modified asphalt mixtures. Moreover, a critical discussion of bibliometric data, literature content and knowledge gaps in this domain is provided to help highway agencies and environmental scientists address contaminant leaching from asphalt pavements. Finally, some potential research directions are suggested for future research works.

Expression of proapoptotic receptors Fas/Fas-L on sperm cells and levels of their soluble forms in seminal fluid from patients with varicocele.

Varicocele is a condition in which the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum dilates abnormally during puberty, affecting testicular growth and semen parameters, and is thought to be a major cause of male infertility. The findings of researches on the presence of the Fas system in sperm are controversial. As the main triggers of apoptosis in the semen of patients with varicocele, in this study, we examined the expression of Fas/Fas-L on sperm cells and also the levels of their soluble forms in seminal plasma. Semen samples were taken from 45 patients with varicocele (study group) and 45 healthy subjects without varicocele (control group) after 3-5 days of ejaculatory abstinence. Flow cytometry was used to examine the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (Fas-L) on Sperm cells. Furthermore, soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas-Ligand (sFas-L) levels in the seminal fluid were determined using an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The presence of Fas and Fas-L proteins on the sperm ejaculation surface was not found in the patients with varicocele or the control groups. However, in the case group (3.32 ± 0.31 ng/mL), sFas seminal concentrations were slightly lower than in the control group (5.50 ± 0.36 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). In varicocele patients, there was a strong negative association between seminal sFas and sperm motility. Apoptosis effects through this system on key sperm parameters were not found based on our findings. In varicocele, a reduction in sperm count and motility does not seem to be due to Fas-related mechanisms, but rather to other mechanisms.

The effect of bio ethical principles education on ethical attitude of prehospital paramedic personnel.

BACKGROUND: Ethical attitude of paramedic personnel is one of the most important factors in their effective and useful performance. Therefore, according to the importance of this issue and immense effect of religious culture on the formation of ethics, this study aimed to effect bio-ethical principles teaching on moral attitude of paramedic emergency personnel in Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was an experimental study carried out in 2020 on 60 of paramedic emergency personnel. Samples were available, randomly selected and assigned to two groups of control and intervention. The intervention was performed for a 2-h workshop of bioethical principles in 4 day based on Quran verses. Moral attitude of both groups was studied before and after each intervention. Data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Simonov, Chi-square, t-test, one-way, and paired t-test with SPSS version 16 (P ≤ 0/05). RESULTS: Ethical attitude means for both groups of control and intervention demonstrated that ethical attitude has meaningfully increased after the workshop. Demographic variables such as age, gender, and work experience of participants in workshops were not different between these two groups (P < 0/05). The study of these two groups showed that there is no relationship among work experience, gender, marital status, age, and ethical attitude. CONCLUSION: Prehospital emergency is quite different from the other occupations in health-care system and the ethical issues of this field are more important. Therefore, teaching in workplace and through ethical principles based on religious teachings will have a profound effect on improving biological ethics of paramedic prehospital staffs.

Distribution of Myeloid and Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood of Hyperprolactinemic Women.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play key roles in regulating the immune response using the specialized function of processing and presenting antigens. Prolactin (PRL), a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, participates in DC maturation and function. The present study was aimed to determine the frequencies of peripheral blood DC subpopulations of myeloid DC (MDC) and plasmacytoid DC (PDC) in hyperprolactinemic (HPRL) women compared to normal healthy volunteers. This study was conducted on 70 women, including 35 HPRL patients and 35 matched healthy controls, whose PRL serum levels were in the normal range (lower than 25 ng/mL). Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured in both groups as an indicator of normal thyroid function. The electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method was applied to measure the serum levels of TSH and PRL. The frequencies of MDC and PDC in the peripheral blood samples of both groups were determined by flow cytometry. The mean serum PRL levels in the HPRL patients and healthy individuals were 46.41±21.96 and 13.75±11.19, respectively (p<0.0001); however TSH levels in both groups were similar and within the normal range (0.4-4.5 mIU/mL) (p=0.2). The frequencies of both MDC and PDC subpopulations in the peripheral blood of HPRL patients were significantly lower than they were in the healthy controls. However, the ratio of MDCs/PDCs in HPRL patients was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.8). Our study revealed that an increased level of serum PRL may lead to a reduction in the number of MDC and PDC subpopulations. These results could help clarify the complex relationship between the immune system and the neuroendocrine axis and may be of potential use in understanding the pathogenesis of endocrine and immune disorders.

Association of IL-17 and IL-23 follicular fluid concentrations and gene expression profile in cumulus cells from infertile women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

This study determined the association between the levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 in follicular fluid (FF), as well as their mRNA levels in cumulus cells from infertile women at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In this case-controlled study, the control group (n = 40) was infertile women whose partners had male factor infertility, whereas the case group (n = 40) was infertile women at risk of OHSS. IL-17 and IL-23 concentrations in FF were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, whereas the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 of cumulus cells were determined using RT-PCR. Significantly higher levels of IL-17 were seen in the case group (p = 0.04), whereas there was no significant difference in IL-23 concentrations between the two groups (p = 0.3). The mRNA levels of IL-17 and IL-23 showed no significant differences. In the case group, there was a positive significant correlation between the IL-23 concentration in FF and the oocyte maturation rates (p = 0.01). In the case group, the number of follicles, MII oocytes, immature oocytes, fertilized oocytes and number of embryos were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Our findings showed that the mRNA expressions of IL-17 and IL-23 were similar in the two groups, and IL-17 was increased in the case group.

Natural Killer Cells Exhibit an Activated Phenotype in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Renal Allograft Rejection Recipients: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVES: A growing body of evidence has revealed the role of innate immune cells in transplantation; however, the nature of natural killer cell involvement in rejection is still elusive. Here, we aimed to determine the impact of natural killer cell activities in acute and chronic renal transplant rejection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This preliminary case-control study included 63 participants: 19 were patients with kidney allograft rejection (8 patients with acute rejection and 11 patients with chronic rejection) and 44 comprised the control group (22 patients who had well-functioning grafts posttransplant and 22 healthy subjects). In addition to natural killer cell frequency, we also measured intracellular interferon-? production and surface expression of CD107a as cytotoxic activity using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We observed a significant increase in CD107a expression (P = .021) in patients with acute rejection versus those with well-functioning grafts. Moreover, production of interferon-? in patients with chronic rejection was significantly increased compared with patients with well-functioning grafts (P = .003). Finally, natural killer cell frequency was decreased in patients with rejection versus control groups; however, this reduction was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the increase in natural killer cell cytotoxicity is correlated with rejection in kidney transplant recipients and might be considered as a predictive marker in prevalence of graft rejection.

Sodium Butyrate as a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Affects Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines.

We assessed the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene expression levels, in low TLR4 expressing (HCT116) and high TLR4 expressing (SW480) colorectal cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of SB was assessed by culturing SW480 and HCT116 cell lines using a broad spectrum of times and concentrations of SB. The MTT assay was done to check the cytotoxic properties of different SB concentrations. Gene expression levels of TLR4 was then evaluated for non-cytotoxic SB concentrations. Morphological analysis and MTT assay confirmed that SB concentrations equal to or less than 5mM were not cytotoxic for both cell lines. At 5mM concentration of SB in SW480 cell line and 1mM concentration of SB in HCT116 cell line, TLR4 gene expression level significantly increased from 24 to 48 hrs and decreased significantly from 48 to 72 hrs with an "early increased and late decreased pattern". At 1mM concentration of SB in SW480 cell line and 5mM concentration of SB in HCT116 cell line, TLR4 expression had a "gradually increased pattern". This study focuses on the dose-time-effect of SB in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. SB alters the expression level of TLR4 in colorectal cancer cells. This effect may depend on the cell type, treatment duration and SB concentration. The alterations in TLR4 expression may be due to the direct effect of SB on TLR4 and/or the expression changes of in other genes which may indirectly affect the TLR4 expression. Abbreviations: TLR4: Toll-like receptor 4; HDACi: histone deacetylase inhibitor; SB: sodium Butyrate; CRC: colorectal cancer; SCFA: short-chain fatty acid; hrs: hours.

Evaluation of Lymphocyte Migration to Induced Paederus Dermatitis: An Experimental Study in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Paederus dermatitis (PD) is a blistering disorder that is caused by a small insect of the genus Paederus, especially Paederus fuscipes. This study aimed to investigate the reaction of the adaptive immune system regarding the recruitment of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 markers, which are specifically expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 female rats were divided into two groups: the test and the negative control. In the test group, PD was induced by making insects in contact with shaved rat skin. Biopsies were obtained 24, 72, and 120 h after induction. In the negative control group, physiological saline was applied. Specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining method. Antibodies against CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 were used. Distribution and staining intensities of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 markers were estimated by the H-score index and findings were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon statistical tests. RESULTS: Based on the results of immunohistochemistry, the expression of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 in the test group at 24, 72, and 120 h compared to the control group showed significant increase (P = 0.0006, P = 0.001, and P < 0.0001), respectively. The peak of expression of all markers was at 72 h after exposure. Hematoxylin and eosin staining also confirmed the fact that the majority of the lymphocyte infiltration occurred at 72 h postexposure. CONCLUSION: The expression of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 on cells present in PD lesions could indicate that T-lymphocytes are recruited to the site of inflammation by chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions and hence provide evidence for the response by the adaptive immune system following a PD.

Association of reduced count of interleukin-13-producing cells in breast milk with atopic dermatitis in infancy.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common pathologic conditions of skin in children. The effect of breastfeeding on the risk of AD remains controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the counts of cytokine-producing cells in the mothers' breast milk of infants with and without AD to assess association, if any. METHODS: Breast milk samples (10 ml) were obtained from mothers of 25 infants with AD and of 26 healthy infants as a control group. The number of cytokine-producing cells including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-13 (IL-13) and IL-4 in the milk samples was determined using an enzyme-linked immunospot assay technique. RESULTS: The mean of IL-13-producing cells in milk was significantly lower in mothers of AD-affected infants in comparison with mothers of normal infants (324.91±255.45 vs. 538.93±465.39, P<0.05). There were no significant differences between mothers of infants with and without AD regarding milk count of IFN-γ-, TNF-α- and IL-4-producing cells. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed lower number of IL-13-producing cells in milk of mothers of infants with AD. Therefore, lower count of IL-13-producing cells in mothers' milk may confer a susceptibility to AD. Further studies with a large number of samples need to be done to confirm our findings.