The role of HLA genetic variants in COVID-19 susceptibility, severity, and mortality: A global review.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound global impact, with variations in susceptibility, severity, and mortality rates across different regions. While many factors can contribute to the spread and impact of the disease, specifically human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic variants have emerged as potential contributors to COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS: In this comprehensive narrative review, we conducted a thorough literature search to identify relevant studies investigating the association between HLA genetic variants and COVID-19 outcomes. Additionally, we analyzed allelic frequency data from diverse populations to assess differences in COVID-19 incidence and severity. RESULTS: Our review provides insights into the immunological mechanisms involving HLA-mediated responses to COVID-19 and highlights potential research directions and therapeutic interventions. We found evidence suggesting that certain HLA alleles, such as HLA-A02, may confer a lower risk of COVID-19, while others, like HLA-C04, may increase the risk of severe symptoms and mortality. Furthermore, our analysis of allele frequency distributions revealed significant variations among different populations. CONCLUSION: Considering host genetic variations, particularly HLA genetic variants, is crucial for understanding COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. These findings have implications for personalized treatment and interventions based on an individual's genetic profile. However, further research is needed to unravel the precise mechanisms underlying the observed associations and explore the potential for targeted therapies or preventive measures based on HLA genetic variants.

Application of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and zeolite nanoparticles for simultaneous preconcentration of codeine and tramadol in saliva prior to HPLC determination.

In this work, a dispersive micro-solid phase extraction technique along with high-performance liquid chromatography-UV detection was developed for simultaneous preconcentraion and determination of trace levels of codeine and tramadol in human saliva. This method is based on the adsorption of codeine and tramadol on a mixture of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes and zeolite Y nanoparticles with 1:1 ratio as an efficient nanosorbent. Various analytical parameters influencing the adsorption step including the amount of adsorbent, the pH of the sample solution, the temperature, the stirring rate, the contact time of the sample solution, and the adsorption capacity were investigated. Based on the results, 10 mg adsorbent, sample solutions with pH = 7.6, temperature of 25 °C, stirring rate 750 rpm and contact time 15 min, in the adsorption step shows the best results for both drugs. Then the effective parameters on the analyte desorption stage such as the type of desorption solution, pH of the desorption solution, desorption time and desorption volume were investigated. Studies have shown that water/methanol (50:50 v/v) as desorption solution, pH = 2.0, desorption time of 5 min and desorption volume of 2 ml gives the best results.Chromatographic separation was performed on a RP-Shim-pack CLC-ODS-C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) with isocratic mode. The mobile phase contained of acetonitrile:phosphate buffer (18:82, v/v) at pH = 4.5 and the flow rate was 1 ml.min-1. The wavelength of UV detector was adjusted at 210 nm and 198 nm for codeine and tramadol, respectively.Under optimum conditions, the extraction efficiencies of 98.5% and 99.2% were achieved for codeine and tramadol respectively. Enrichment factor of 13, detection limit of 0.3 µg L-1, relative standard deviation of 4.07 for codeine; and an enrichment factor of 15, a detection limit of 0.15 µg L-1, and standard deviation of 2.06 for tramadol were calculated. The linear range of the procedure for each drug was 1.0 to 1000 µg L-1. This method was successfully applied for the analysis of codeine and tramadol in saliva samples.

Insight into the corrosion inhibition of Biebersteinia multifida root extract for carbon steel in acidic medium.

In this project, the protective effect of Biebersteinia multifida root extract (BMRE) against corrosion of 1018 low carbon steel (1018LCS) in HCl solutions was appraised by assessing weight loss, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and polarization at 25 °C. The maximum inhibitory efficacy for the concentration of 1 g/l of the BMRE was 92.8% at 25 °C after 2 h and increased to 95.3% after 24 h of immersion. Polarization experiments have shown that the extract in acidic solutions can act as a mixed corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitory efficacy of BMRE decreased with increasing temperature, and at all temperature settings studied, the adsorption of BMRE molecules on 1018 LCS was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed the protection of 1018 LCS in the acidic solution containing BMRE extract. Quantum chemistry studies of four main constituents of the extract called vasicinone, umbelliferon, scopoletin, and ferulic acid were performed by density functional theory, DFT, in neutral and protonated states. Calculated quantum parameters were used to investigate the active sites and donor-receptor interactions of molecules.

Exploring the physical activity of Iranian migrant women in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This article explores the role migration has on the physical activity of Iranian migrant women living in the United Kingdom. METHOD: This qualitative study includes 22 first-generation Iranian migrant women, aged 24-64, residing in London. Data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews and was analyzed thematically. RESULTS: The findings show that for those women from traditional backgrounds, migration corresponds with liberation from social and cultural pressures experienced in Iran and greater motivation to adopt a physically active lifestyle. However, for Iranian women who had arrived in the UK more recently and had a higher social standing in Iran, migration was associated with the loss of their careers, sources of income, and social networks. These issues were compounded by a lack of cohesion in Iranian migrant communities and poor access to local physical activity resources. This resulted in diminishing motivation and the subsequent de-prioritisation of the women's physical activity, even though they had regularly engaged in physical activity in Iran. CONCLUSION: Despite migration leading to improving physical activity for some Iranian women, for others, migration leads to marginality in Britain. Local authorities and Iranian community organizations need to adopt innovative strategies to reach out to recent Iranian migrant women.

Spectroscopic and docking molecular study of new anticancer Pt complex binding with human serum albumin.

After synthesizing and identifying the nature of the new complex based on platinum metal, [Pt(NH3)2(butylgly)]NO3, the interaction of this complex with human serum albumin (HSA) was performed by spectroscopy and molecular docking methods at two temperatures of 27 and 37 °C and under physiological conditions of the body. The toxicity test of this complex was performed on the MCF-7 cell line (IC50 = 300 µM). Enthalpy, entropy, Gibbs free energy, binding constant, number of complex binding sites on the HSA, Scatchard diagrams, Hill coefficient, and Hill constant were calculated and then plotted via UV/Vis. According to the Gibbs free energy obtained at two temperatures of 27 and 37 °C (-20.6, -21.2 kJ mol-1), the interaction was done spontaneously. Moreover, the melting temperature of human serum albumin with this complex; and the kinetics of this interaction (the second-order) were calculated. Using fluorescence at three temperatures of 25, 27, and 37 °C, the binding constant (2.9 × 104, 1.0 × 104, and 5.7 × 103 M-1), the quenching constant, average aggregation number of HSA, and the number of binding sites of the complex on the protein were obtained. As well, the static quenching mechanism was also observed. Molecular docking results showed that the site of binding of this complex to the HSA, is the site II subdomain IIIA, and the hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds are superior.

Dietary practices of Iranian migrant women in the United Kingdom.

This research investigates the role of migration on the dietary practices of Iranian migrant women in the United Kingdom. It takes into account previous studies that migration leads to poorer socio-economic status of women that limits their food choices. Conversely, a study in Britain reveals that Iranian migrants continue with their traditional Iranian food practices. This qualitative study was informed by social practice theory, which posits that practices depend on the integration of three key elements: materials, competences and meanings. The study participants were 22 first generation Iranian migrant women aged 24-64 residing in London. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews and were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal that despite the diminished socio-economic status of some recent migrant women, the widespread multicultural food stores (materials), the affordable food prices, coupled with the women's cooking skills and improved knowledge of healthy food (greater competences) result in colonizing their energy, time, skills and budget (competences) in preparing healthy foods amongst those living with family members. At a personal level, most single women without children acknowledged their improved knowledge as the key to eating a healthy diet in Britain. Some women, however, recognize resorting to overeating to cope with the psychological demands of migration. Future studies need to focus on identifying the best possible supports for the Iranian migrant women in Britain from the early stages of their migration.

The Changes of Brain Edema and Neurological Outcome, and the Probable Mechanisms in Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury Induced in Rats with the History of Exercise.

Since no definitive treatment has been suggested for diffuse traumatic brain injury (TBI), and also as the effect of exercise has been proven to be beneficial in neurodegenerative diseases, the effect of endurance exercise on the complications of TBI along with its possible neuroprotective mechanism was investigated in this study. Our objective was to find out whether previous endurance exercise influences brain edema and neurological outcome in TBI. We also assessed the probable mechanism of endurance exercise effect in TBI. Rats were randomly assigned into four groups of sham, TBI, exercise + sham and exercise + TBI. Endurance exercise was carried out before TBI. Brain edema was assessed by calculating the percentage of brain water content 24 h after the surgery. Neurological outcome was evaluated by obtaining veterinary coma scale (VCS) at - 1, 1, 4 and 24 h after the surgery. Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl and histopathological changes were evaluated 24 h after the surgery. Previous exercise prevented the increase in brain water content, MDA level, histopathological edema and apoptosis following TBI. The reduction in VCS in exercise + TBI group was lower than that of TBI group. In addition, a decrease in the level of serum IL-1ß and the content of brain protein carbonyl was reported in exercise + TBI group in comparison with the TBI group. We suggest that the previous endurance exercise prevents brain edema and improves neurological outcome following diffuse TBI, probably by reducing apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress.

A carbon paste electrode modified with Al2O3-supported palladium nanoparticles for simultaneous voltammetric determination of melatonin, dopamine, and acetaminophen.

The authors have modified a carbon paste electrode with Al2O3-supported palladium nanoparticles (PdNP@Al2O3) to obtain a sensor for simultaneous voltammetric determination of melatonin (MT), dopamine (DA) and acetaminophen (AC). The PdNP@Al2O3 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra. The sensor can detect DA, AC, MT and their mixtures by giving distinct signals at working voltages of typically 236, 480 and 650 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. Differential pulse voltammetric peak currents of DA, AC and MT increase linearly in the 50 nmol L-1 - 1.45 mmol L-1, 40 nmol L-1 -1.4 mmol L-1, and 6.0 nmol L-1 - 1.4 mmol L-1 concentration ranges. The limits of detection are 36.5 nmol L-1 for DA, 36.5 nmol L-1 for AC, and 21.6 nmol L-1 for MT. The sensor was successfully used to detect the analytes in (spiked) human serum and drug samples. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of Al2O3-supported palladium nanoparticles (PdNP@Al2O3) for modification of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) to develop a voltammetric sensor for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA), acetaminophen (AC) and melatonin (MT).

A nanoporous gold-based electrochemical aptasensor for sensitive detection of cocaine.

The increasing application of aptamers in bioassays has triggered a lot of research interest for development of highly sensitive and selective sensing platforms. Herein, we report on the design of a sensitive cocaine biosensor by immobilizing the 5'-disulfide-functionalized end of an aptamer sequence on a nanoporous gold (NPG) electrode followed by the conjugation of its 3'-amino-functionalized end to 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) as the redox probe. In the presence of cocaine, the aptamer undergoes a conformational change from an open unfolded state to a closed conformation, which reduces the distance between DHBA and the electrode surface, resulting in the enhanced electron-transfer efficiency. Using square wave voltammetric method and under the optimal conditions, the cocaine aptasensor presented two linear responses in the concentration ranges between 0.05-1 and 1-35 µM, with an excellent detection limit of 21 nM. The proposed aptasensor provides a simple and low-cost method for cocaine detection with good reproducibility and accuracy. Furthermore, it could be regarded as a general model to investigate the unique function of aptamer-functionalized nanostructured electrodes to stablish highly advanced electrochemical biosensors for various target analytes of diagnostic importance.

Simultaneous voltammetric sensing of acetaminophen, epinephrine and melatonin using a carbon paste electrode modified with zinc ferrite nanoparticles.

A highly selective electrochemical sensor was fabricated based on a modified carbon paste electrode with zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs). The nanocomposite has attractive properties such as high surface-to-volume ratio and good electrocatalytic activity towards the drugs acetaminophen (AC), epinephrine (EP), and melatonin (MT), best at working voltages of 0.35, 0.09 and 0.55 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The linear ranges (and detection limits) are 6.5-135 (0.4) µmol L-1 for AC, 5-100 (0.7) µmol L-1 for EP, and 6.5-145 (3) µmol L-1 for MT. Graphical abstract A novel electrochemical sensor based on a modified carbon paste electrode with zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4) for the simultaneous detection of the acetaminophen, epinephrine and melatonin was fabricated.