Progress and prospects on vaccine development against monkeypox infection.

The monkeypox virus (MPOX) is an uncommon zoonotic illness brought on by an orthopoxvirus (OPXV). MPOX can occur with symptoms similar to smallpox. Since April 25, 2023, 110 nations have reported 87,113 confirmed cases and 111 fatalities. Moreover, the outspread prevalence of MPOX in Africa and a current outbreak of MPOX in the U.S. have made it clear that naturally occurring zoonotic OPXV infections remain a public health concern. Existing vaccines, though they provide cross-protection to MPOX, are not specific for the causative virus, and their effectiveness in the light of the current multi-country outbreak is still to be verified. Furthermore, as a sequel of the eradication and cessation of smallpox vaccination for four decades, MPOX found a possibility to re-emerge, but with distinct characteristics. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggested that nations use affordable MPOX vaccines within a framework of coordinated clinical effectiveness and safety evaluations. Vaccines administered in the smallpox control program and conferred immunity against MPOX. Currently, vaccines approved by WHO for use against MPOX are replicating (ACAM2000), low replicating (LC16m8), and non-replicating (MVA-BN). Although vaccines are accessible, investigations have demonstrated that smallpox vaccination is approximately 85% efficient in inhibiting MPOX. In addition, developing new vaccine methods against MPOX can help prevent this infection. To recognize the most efficient vaccine, it is essential to assess effects, including reactogenicity, safety, cytotoxicity effect, and vaccine-associated side effects, especially for high-risk and vulnerable people. Recently, several orthopoxvirus vaccines have been produced and are being evaluated. Hence, this review aims to provide an overview of the efforts dedicated to several types of vaccine candidates with different strategies for MPOX, including inactivated, live-attenuated, virus-like particles (VLPs), recombinant protein, nucleic acid, and nanoparticle-based vaccines, which are being developed and launched.

Recent advances on high-efficiency of microRNAs in different types of lung cancer: a comprehensive review.

Carcinoma of the lung is among the most common types of cancer globally. Concerning its histology, it is categorized as a non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) and a small cell cancer (SCLC) subtype. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a member of non-coding RNA whose nucleotides range from 19 to 25. They are known to be critical regulators of cancer via epigenetic control of oncogenes expression and by regulating tumor suppressor genes. miRNAs have an essential function in a tumorous microenvironment via modulating cancer cell growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, metabolism, and apoptosis. Moreover, a wide range of information produced via several investigations indicates their tumor-suppressing, oncogenic, diagnostic assessment, and predictive marker functions in different types of lung malignancy. miRNA mimics or anti-miRNAs can be transferred into a lung cancer cell, with possible curative implications. As a result, miRNAs hold promise as targets for lung cancer treatment and detection. In this study, we investigate the different functions of various miRNAs in different types of lung malignancy, which have been achieved in recent years that show the lung cancer-associated regulation of miRNAs expression, concerning their function in lung cancer beginning, development, and resistance to chemotherapy, also the probability to utilize miRNAs as predictive biomarkers for therapy reaction.

The expression of Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid (TIAs) pathway genes in Catharanthus roseus in response to salicylic acid treatment.

Vinblastine and vincristine are two important anti-cancer drugs that are synthesized by the Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids (TIAs) pathway in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). The major challenge in the pharmaceutical industry is the low production rate of these Alkaloids. TIA pathway is affected by elicitors, such as salicylic acid (SA). This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern of some key genes in TIAs pathway under SA treatment. Foliar application of SA (0.01 and 0.1 mM) was used and leaves samples were taken at 0, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h after the treatment. qRT-PCR was used to investigate the expression pattern of Chorismate mutase (Cm), tryptophan decarboxylase (Tdc), Geraniol-10-hydroxylase (G10h), Secologanin synthase (Sls), Strictosidine synthase (Str), Desacetoxyvindoline-4-hydroxylase (D4h) and Deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (Dat) genes, following the SA treatment. The results of this experiment showed that transcript levels of Tdc, G10h, Sls, Str, D4h and Dat genes were significantly up-regulated in both SA concentration treatments. Furthermore, the highest transcript levels of Dat was observed after 48 h of the SA treatments. qRT-PCR results suggests that SA induces transcription of major genes involved in Alkaloids biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus. It can be concluded that up-regulation of Tdc, G10h, Sls, Str, D4h and Dat genes can result in a higher production rate of Vinblastine and vincristine Alkaloids.

Absence of FLT3 mutations in Iranian adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma patients.

Background: Adult T cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare disease, significantly linked to the infection by the human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1(HTLV-1). ATLL is typically preceded by decades of clinical latency during which infected cells accumulate selectable traits leading to a malignant transformation. Amongst all the HTLV-1 infected carriers only about 3-5% will develop ATLL. Despite the intensive attempt to improve the overall survival, ATLL remains one of worse prognosis among the hematologic malignancies. FMS like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations are mutations which are frequent among leukemic patients. We aimed to investigate the frequency of FLT3 mutation status in patients with acute type of ATLL which has not been studied yet. Methods: In this case control study 38 patients with acute type of ATLL were retrospectively analyzed between February 2015 and February 2017. Forty HTLV-1 positive patients were also used as control cases. Genomic DNA was extracted according to phenolchloroform protocol and two restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) PCR reactions were set up to detect FLT3/ ITD and FLT3/TKD mutations. Differences between variables were evaluated by the chi-square test and t test for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. SPSS software v. 15 was used for statistical analysis. All P values were two sided and values less than 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: No FLT3 mutations were detected in acute type of ATLL patients. So far, not many studies have shown the frequency of FLT3 mutation in ATLL patients Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude that although FLT3 mutations are rather unusual in the acute type of ATLL patients, but other alternative mechanisms associated with ATLL remain to be further investigated. This study was a novel project regarding the analysis of FLT3 mutation in the field of ATLL research.

An updated overview of the application of CAR-T cell therapy in neurological diseases.

Genetically modified immune cells, especially CAR-T cells, have captured the attention of scientists over the past 10 years. In the fight against cancer, these cells have a special place. Treatment for hematological cancers, autoimmune disorders, and cancers must include CAR-T cell therapy. Determining the therapeutic targets, side effects, and use of CAR-T cells in neurological disorders, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, is the goal of this study. Due to advancements in genetic engineering, CAR-T cells have become crucial in treating some neurological disorders. CAR-T cells have demonstrated a positive role in treating neurological cancers like Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and use diverse targets. However, CAR-T cell therapy for MS diseases is being researched and could be a potential treatment option. This study aimed to access the most recent studies and scientific articles in the field of CAR-T cells in neurological diseases and/or disorders.

Impact of COVID-19 on mental health of infertile couple: A rapid systematic review.

Infertile couples experience a lot of psychological stress due to the inability to achieve the desired social role. Couples who decide to continue assisted reproductive therapy (ART) during the epidemic also experience the psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, which affects their daily lives due to social isolation, quarantine, travel restrictions, and cancellation of treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the mental health of infertile couple pausing or delaying their treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Research Gate, and the World Health Organization databases and websites were systematically searched for original studies concerning abortion in the era of COVID-19 pandemic published by August 15, 2021. We used the following keywords: "COVID-19 Corona virus, infertility, reproductive technique, fertilization, assisted reproduction, pregnant termination, psychological, in vitro mental status, depressive symptoms, and anxiety." In sum, after automatically and manually search and excluding duplicates, 269 articles were found. In final, after screening, 18 articles were selected. Most patients experienced negative emotions during the COVID-19 epidemic. When reproductive services were re-established, participants showed higher levels of anxiety and lower quality of life than before quarantine. Women who thought pregnancy was more important than getting COVID-19 had higher levels of anxiety than women who thought otherwise (P < 0.05). The COVID-19 pandemic has negative impacts on the mental health and quality of life of patients seeking fertility services and coping with it requires timely and appropriate psychological intervention, accurate information, and social and organizational support.

De Novo transcriptome assembly and differential expression analysis of catharanthus roseus in response to salicylic acid.

The anti-cancer vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids can only be naturally found in periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Both of these alkaloids' accumulations are known to be influenced by salicylic acid (SA). The transcriptome data to reveal the induction effect (s) of SA, however, seem restricted at this time. In this study, the de novo approach of transcriptome assembly was performed on the RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) data in C. roseus. The outcome demonstrated that SA treatment boosted the expression of all the genes in the Terpenoid Indole Alkaloids (TIAs) pathway that produces the vinblastine and vincristine alkaloids. These outcomes supported the time-course measurements of vincristine alkaloid, the end product of the TIAs pathway, and demonstrated that SA spray had a positive impact on transcription and alkaloid synthesis. Additionally, the abundance of transcription factor families including bHLH, C3H, C2H2, MYB, MYB-related, AP2/ ERF, NAC, bZIP, and WRKY suggests a role for a variety of transcription families in response to the SA stimuli. Di-nucleotide and tri-nucleotide SSRs were the most prevalent SSR markers in microsatellite analyses, making up 39% and 34% of all SSR markers, respectively, out of the 77,192 total SSRs discovered.

Relation of hypertension with episodic primary headaches and chronic primary headaches in population of Rafsanjan cohort study.

Headache has a variety of types, such as episodic primary headaches (EPH) and chronic primary headache (CPH) in its primary form. There is a positive correlation between these two types of headaches and hypertension (HTN), but in some works this correlation has been reported negatively. Therefore, we planned to study HTN-CPH as well as HTN-EPH correlation in our population. A sample of Rafsanjan population (10,000 individuals) entered the cohort study, as one of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). We compared the frequency of HTN categories in CPH and EPH cases with a normal population. Out of 9933 participants (46.6% males and 53.4% females) about 29% had EPH and 7.5% had CPH. HTN was found in 24.27% of EPH cases and 31.98% of CPH cases. HTN was also found to be associated with EPH and CPH in the crude model. Two Categories of HTN (Long controlled and uncontrolled) were not associated with EPH. On the other hand, CPH showed associations with all of the HTN categories. After included all variables and confounders, EPH and CPH had association with HTN without any considerable changes. There is strong HTN-EPH as well as HTN-CPH correlations in the studied population.

The Effect of Combined Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lemon and Peppermint on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are almost inevitable features of pregnancy which have a serious impact on the quality of life of pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the effects of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The parallel randomized clinical trial was conducted on 90 pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting of pregnancy referred to health centers in Birjand-Iran- from February 2015 to August 2016. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The combined lemon and peppermint essential oils were used as an inhaler for the intervention and the placebo for the control group. Both groups were trained to place three drops of the solution onto a cotton ball and keep it in a 3-cm distance of their nose. The intensity of nausea, vomiting and fatigue was assessed through 24-hour Pregnancy Unique Quantization of Emesis (PUQE-24) questionnaire and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively. RESULTS: Mean (SD) scores of nausea and vomiting intensity before the intervention and on the first day of intervention were not significantly different between the two groups, but became significant on the second, third, and fourth days of intervention. The results showed that the effect of time on the mean intensity of nausea and vomiting was significant in the aromatherapy group (F2,84 = 22.92, p < 0.001) but was not significant in the placebo group (F2,78 = 0.26, p = 0.836). CONCLUSIONS: The combined lemon and peppermint aromatherapy could reduce mild to moderate intensity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

The Association of Family Support After Childbirth With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women With Preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Stressful situations and life-threatening issues such as preeclampsia can lead to Post-traumatic stress disorders [PTSD]. It seems that within social supports, family support has more effect on mental health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the association between family supports in the postpartum period with occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder following preeclampsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this descriptive longitudinal study, 100 women with preeclampsia admitted in government hospitals of Mashhad were selected using convenience sampling. Post-traumatic stress disorder was diagnosed by psychiatrist interview and perinatal posttraumatic stress questionnaire (PPQ) in sixth week postpartum and family support was measured by family support scale (FSS) in second and sixth weeks postpartum. Data analyzed by SPSS 16 using Spearman correlation coefficient, paired sample T-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: A reverse significant association was found between family support in weeks 2 and 6 (92.6 ± 22.6, 83.7 ± 21.6, respectively) and PTSD (mean score of 4.8 ± 2.5) (respectively, P = 0.010 and P =0.011). The most important variables affecting PTSD with presence of family support in weeks 2 and 6 were postpartum depression in week 6 as well as trait anxiety at the time of admission. CONCLUSIONS: The more support in weeks 2 and 6 postpartum, the less PTSD occurs. Therefore, it is suggested to health care providers who face mothers after delivery to evaluate the support received by mothers and help those with inadequate or inappropriate support.

Depression and anxiety in pregnancy and postpartum in women with mild and severe preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Risk for anxiety and depression is increased in women with high-risk pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate anxiety and depression in women with mild and severe preeclampsia at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cohort study, 122 preeclamptic women who were admitted to the Public hospital and Tamin Ejtemaee hospital of Mashhad were included. Selection was done by convenience sampling method. Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were completed at admission and 6 weeks after delivery. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 using Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Repeated measurement. RESULTS: The mean depression score was 4.81 ± 4.09 at admission and 11.17 ± 5.5 at 6 weeks postpartum. The mean of trait anxiety was 42.5 ± 10.5 at admission and 32.3 ± 6.5 at 6 weeks postpartum, and the mean of state anxiety score at admission was 43.09 ± 9.5 and at 6 weeks postpartum was 31.99 ± 5.9. There was a significant difference between the scores of depression (F = 3.8, P < 0.001), state anxiety (F = 1.52, P < 0.001), and trait anxiety (F = 1.5, P < 0.001) at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. No significant differences were found between severity of preeclampsia and the scores of depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety at admission and 6 weeks postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The mean score of state and trait anxiety decreased significantly in preeclamptic women from admission to 6 weeks postpartum, but the mean score of depression increased. Severity of preeclampsia was not an independent risk factor of depression and anxiety.