Identification of biomarkers for the early detection of non-small cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lung cancer (LC) causes few symptoms in the earliest stages, leading to one of the highest mortality rates among cancers. Low-dose computerised tomography (LDCT) is used to screen high-risk individuals, reducing the mortality rate by 20%. However, LDCT results in a high number of false positives and is associated with unnecessary follow-up and cost. Biomarkers with high sensitivities and specificities could assist in the early detection of LC, especially in patients with high-risk features. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragments and cancer antigen 125 have been found to be highly expressed during the later stages of LC but have low sensitivity in the earliest stages. We determined the best biomarkers for the early diagnosis of LC, using a systematic review of eight databases. We identified 98 articles that focussed on the identification and assessment of diagnostic biomarkers and achieved a pooled area under curve of 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.088), indicating that the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers when combined was excellent. Of the studies, 30 focussed on single/antigen panels, 22 on autoantibodies, 31 on miRNA and RNA panels, and 15 suggested the use of circulating DNA combined with CEA or neuron-specific enolase (NSE) for early LC detection. Verification of blood biomarkers with high sensitivities (Ciz1, exoGCC2, ITGA2B), high specificities (CYFR21-1, antiHE4, OPNV) or both (HSP90α, CEA) along with miR-15b and miR-27b/miR-21 from sputum may improve early LC detection. Further assessment is needed using appropriate sample sizes, control groups that include patients with non-malignant conditions, and standardised cut-off levels for each biomarker.

Durable Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni-Fe-S Nanosheets Supported on a Ni-S Three Dimensional Pattern as Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution and Urea Oxidation Reactions.

This study aims to establish easy-to-fabricate and novel structures for the synthesis of highly active and enduring electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Gradient electrodeposition and four different time regimes were utilized to synthesize Ni-S 3D patterns with the optimization of electrodeposition time. Pulse electrodeposition was employed for the synthesis of Ni-Fe-S nanosheets at three different frequencies and duty cycles to optimize the pulse electrodeposition parameters. The sample synthesized at 13 min of gradient electrodeposition with a 1 Hz frequency and 0.7 duty cycle for pulse electrodeposition demonstrated the best electrocatalytic performance. The optimized electrode further showed remarkable performance for HER and UOR reactions, requiring only 54 mV and 1.25 V to deliver 10 mA cm-2 for HER and UOR, respectively. Moreover, the overall cell voltage of the two-electrode system in 1 M KOH and 0.5 M urea was measured at 1.313 V, delivering 10 mA cm-2. Constructing Ni-Fe-S nanosheets on 3D Ni-S significantly increased the electrochemical surface area from 51 to 278 for the Ni-S and Ni-Fe-S layers. Tafel slopes were measured as 138 and 182 mV dec-1 for the HER and UOR for the Ni-S coating layer and 97 mV dec-1 for the HER and 131 mV dec-1 for the UOR for the optimal Ni-Fe-S nanosheets on Ni-S. Minimal changes in the potential were observed at 100 mA cm-2 in 50 h regarding the HER and UOR, signifying exceptional electrocatalytic stability. This study provides economically viable, highly active, and long-lasting electrocatalysts suitable for HER and UOR applications.

Modeling heart rate of individual and team manual handling with one hand using generalized additive mixed models.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the fact that team manual handling is common in different working environments, the previous studies in this regard, particularly those with a physiological approach are quite limited. The present study is an attempt to model the heart rate (HR) of individual and team manual handling with one hand. METHODS: Twenty-five young men (aged 21.24±1.42 year) volunteered for this study. The experiments included individual and two-person handling of the load with three different weights with and without height difference. The participants' HR was registered at the end of the route by a chest-strap pulse monitor and a polar watch according to the manufacturer's recommendation. A multivariate Generalized Additive Mixed Model (MGAMM) was used for modeling heart rate based on explanatory variables of workload, carry method, HRrest, body weight, height, knee height, shoulder height, elbow height, and hand height. The significance level of the tests was considered as <0.05. RESULTS: Based on the MGAMM, the average HR (bpm) of participants increased as the workload increased (P<0.001). Handling the load with a taller person increased the HR compared to shorter partner (P<0.001). Moreover, the nonlinear associations of the resting HR (P<0.001), body weight (P<0.001), height (P<0.001), and the height of elbow, hand and knee (P<0.001) were statistically significant. The adjusted R2 of the model was 0.89 indicating that about 90 percent of the variations observed in HR could be explained by the variables in the model. This was greater than the model considering only linear effects (R2 =0.60). CONCLUSION: The model obtained in this study can predict the heart rate of individual and team one-handed handling with high validity. The MGAMM can be used in modeling heart rate in manual handling.

Genetic variations in IKZF3, LET7-a2, and CDKN2B-AS1: Exploring associations with metabolic syndrome susceptibility and clinical manifestations.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of atherosclerosis and diabetes, but there are no approved predictive markers. This study assessed the role of specific genetic variations in MetS susceptibility and their impact on clinical manifestations. METHOD: In this study, a genotype-phenotype assessment was performed for IKZF3 (rs907091), microRNA-let-7a-2 (rs1143770), and lncRNA-CDKN2B-AS1 (rs1333045). RESULTS: Analyses indicate that while rs907091 and rs1143770 may have potential associations with MetS susceptibility and an increased risk of atherosclerosis and diabetes, there is an observed trend suggesting that the rs1333045 CC genotype may be associated with a decreased risk of MetS. The genotypes and allele frequencies of rs1333045 were significantly different between studied groups (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.38-0.81, p = 0.002, and OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.55-0.92, p = 0.008), with the CC genotype displaying increased levels of HDL. Furthermore, the rs907091 TT genotype was associated with increased triglyceride, cholesterol, and HOMA index in MetS patients. Subjects with the CC genotype for rs1143770 had higher HbA1c and BMI. In silico analyses illustrated that rs907091 C remarkably influences the secondary structure and the target site of a broad spectrum of microRNAs, especially hsa-miR-4497. Moreover, rs1333045 creates a binding site for seven different microRNAs. CONCLUSION: Further studies on other populations may help confirm these SNPs as useful predictive markers in assessing the MetS risk.

Safety and efficacy of a polyherbal formulation from traditional Persian medicine in patients with calcium kidney stones: A randomized, double-blinded clinical trial.

Background: 10%-15% of the world's population suffers from kidney stones. Nearly 50% increase was observed in diagnosing and treating nephrolithiasis in the last decades. Effective medical treatment for the disease is not yet well established. Moreover, there is an increasing global demand to manage diseases using complementary and alternative medicine. This study aimed to formulate and assess the safety and efficacy of a multi-ingredient formulation from traditional Persian medicine (TPM) known as Mofatet powder in patients suffering from calcium kidney stones. Materials and Methods: The aqueous extract of Mofatet powder was prepared, freeze-dried, and formulated as capsules. 26 patients in the drug group and 25 patients in the placebo group used 500 mg capsules of the drug/placebo twice daily for 5 weeks. Ultrasonography/kidney, ureter and bladder imaging, urine analysis, and biochemical parameters were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: The imaging results showed a 60.73% decrease (P < 0.001) in stone size in the drug group. Moreover, the urinary calcium decreased (P = 0.02) and the urinary magnesium increased (P < 0.001) in the drug group. No remarkable changes were observed in the placebo group in these parameters. No significant effect was observed in aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels in none of the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that Mofatet powder was effective in reducing calcium kidney stones size with no potential nephro/hepatotoxicity. After confirming these results in larger clinical trials with longer duration, this formulation can be considered a treatment for nephrolithiasis.

Formalin and ferric chloride inactivated Pasteurella multocida type a adjuvanted with bacterial DNA and alum as a new vaccine candidate in sheep pasteurellosis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate humoral and cellular immune responses in sheep inoculated with inactivated P. multocida antigen with alum and bacterial DNA adjuvant by identifying IgG and cytokines from serum and cell culture. Sheep were immunized with iron and formalin-inactivated antigens at an interval of 2 weeks. These immunogens were mixed with alum adjuvant and P. multocida type A DNA (AbDNA). After injection and blood sampling, the serum antibody titer and cellular immune responses (IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) on serum samples and lymphocyte cell were tested by ELISA. The ELISA results showed a higher antibody titer in the bDNA adjuvant group compared to the alum adjuvant group and the control group. In general, the level of IgG in the serum of immunized animals was significantly increased compared to the control group. The peak antibody titer (1.794) was observed on the 28th day of injection in the IIV-AbDNA group. After immunization, inactivation with iron and bDNA adjuvant increased cytokine production compared to other experimental and control groups. High levels of lymphocyte and serum titers of IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were also obtained in the IIV-AbDNA group. The findings showed that killed P. multocida type A antigens formulated with bacterial DNA as an adjuvant are candidates for new immunogens against P. multocida infections in sheep. The inactivation of bacteria with iron also enhanced proper immune responses.

Application of cupric or ferric ions as environmentally benign oxidants to the chloride leaching of platinum from spent reforming catalysts.

Recovery of precious metals has been considered due to their limited availability and resources, and the reduction of environmental hazards. In this study, the environmentally friendly chloride leaching method was used to recover platinum (Pt) from a spent reforming catalyst. Hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride were applied as the complexing agent and ferric or cupric chloride (FeCl3, CuCl2) was used as oxidants. Response surface methodology was implemented to investigate the influences of acid concentration (1-3 M), oxidant concentration (0.5-1.3 M), and temperature (70-90 °C) on the Pt extraction at a fixed duration of 3 h using two separate Box-Behnken experimental designs. Increasing temperature and acid concentration improved the Pt recovery from ∼52% to ∼89% in the presence of 1 M FeCl3, and from ∼29% to 94% in the presence of 0.75 M CuCl2. Generally, at low acid concentrations, ferric chloride was more efficient in Pt dissolution, while, at high acid concentrations, cupric chloride performed better. Finally, the platinum content of the pregnant leach solution was precipitated by adding a saturated ammonium chloride solution. According to the results of the X-ray diffraction analysis, the obtained precipitate was mainly composed of ammonium hexachloroplatinate, sodium chloride, and ammonium chloride. Also, the Pt assay of the powder was determined as 21%.

Probabilistic human health risk assessment and Sobol sensitivity reveal the major health risk parameters of aluminum in drinking water in Shiraz, Iran.

Overuse of aluminum salts (a.k.a., alum) in coagulation and flocculation processes in water treatment raises concerns about increased levels of aluminum (Al) in drinking water. In this study, we present a probabilistic human health risk assessment (HRA) for non-cancerogenic risks, with Sobol sensitivity analysis, to vet the concern of increased health risk from Al in drinking water in Shiraz, Iran, for children, adolescents, and adults. The results show that the concentration of Al in the drinking water in Shiraz varies significantly between winter and summer seasons and varies considerably spatially across the city irrespective of the season. However, all concentrations are below the guideline concentration. The HRA results show that the highest health risk is for children in summer, and the lowest is for adolescents and adults during winter, with generally higher health risks for younger age groups. However, Monte Carlo results for all age groups suggest no adverse health effects due to Al exposure. The sensitivity analysis shows that the sensitive parameters vary across age groups. For example, the Al concentration and ingestion rate pose the most risk for adolescent and adult groups, and children group, respectively. More importantly, the interaction of Al concentration with ingestion rate and body weight is the controlling parameters for evaluating HRA rather than Al concentration alone. We conclude that while the HRA of Al in Shiraz drinking water did not indicate significant health risk, regular monitoring and optimal operation of the coagulation and flocculation processes are essential.

Editors' statement on the responsible use of generative AI technologies in scholarly journal publishing.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform many aspects of scholarly publishing. Authors, peer reviewers, and editors might use AI in a variety of ways, and those uses might augment their existing work or might instead be intended to replace it. We are editors of bioethics and humanities journals who have been contemplating the implications of this ongoing transformation. We believe that generative AI may pose a threat to the goals that animate our work but could also be valuable for achieving those goals. In the interests of fostering a wider conversation about how generative AI may be used, we have developed a preliminary set of recommendations for its use in scholarly publishing. We hope that the recommendations and rationales set out here will help the scholarly community navigate toward a deeper understanding of the strengths, limits, and challenges of AI for responsible scholarly work.

Care providers' experiences regarding barriers to maternal participation in neonatal pain management.

BACKGROUND: Mothers' involvement in the pain management of infants admitted to the intensive care unit can alleviate the infants' pain. Despite International guidelines, maternal involvement in neonatal pain management is low. Hence, investigating the perspectives of care providers (CPs) on barriers to maternal participation can be helpful in developing practice guidelines. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of CPs on barriers to maternal involvement in neonatal pain management in the intensive care unit. DESIGN: In this study, a qualitative design based on the content analysis approach was used. METHOD: We included 24 nurses and physicians in the neonatal intensive care unit from February to September 2020. Data were collected through conducting 11 individual interviews and two focus group discussions with eight and five participants, respectively. RESULTS: Three main categories and seven sub-categories were found, including maternal barriers (inadequate emotional readiness and unfamiliarity with role), CPs' barriers (time pressure, fear of family-care provider tension, and insufficient knowledge), and organizational barriers (neglected joint decision-making and restricted organizational participative policies). CONCLUSIONS: The identified barriers could be classified into those related to mothers, care providers, and organizations. The lack of appropriate interaction and cooperation between parents and care-providers can affect the emergence of barriers related to the mothers and staff. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: There is a lack of knowledge regarding neonatal pain management in the health care team and mothers. Educating mothers and CPs about the benefits and ways of mothers' participation can increase readiness and capabilities. Providing clear guidelines about family-centred care and promoting parent-CPs' interactions can increase the mothers' participation.

ACER3-related leukoencephalopathy: expanding the clinical and imaging findings spectrum due to novel variants.

BACKGROUND: Leukodystrophies are the main subgroup of inherited CNS white matter disorders which cause significant mortality and morbidity in early years of life. Diagnosis is mostly based on clinical context and neuroimaging findings; however, genetic tools, particularly whole-exome sequencing (WES), have led to comprehending the causative gene and molecular events contributing to these disorders. Mutation in Alkaline Ceramidase 3 (ACER3) gene which encodes alkaline ceramidase enzyme that plays a crucial role in cellular growth and viability has been stated as an uncommon reason for inherited leukoencephalopathies. Merely only two ACER3 mutations in cases of progressive leukodystrophies have been reported thus far. RESULTS: In the current study, we have identified three novel variants in ACER3 gene in cases with new neurological manifestations including developmental regression, dystonia, and spasticity. The detected variants were segregated into family members. CONCLUSION: Our study expands the clinical, neuroimaging, electroencephalographic, and genetic spectrum of ACER3 mutations. Furthermore, we reviewed and compared the findings of all the previously reported cases and the cases identified here in order to facilitate their diagnosis and management.

Characterization and Optimization of Salep Mucilage Bionanocomposite Films Containing Allium jesdianum Boiss. Nanoliposomes for Antibacterial Food Packaging Utilization.

This research aimed to characterize and compare the properties of nanoliposome (NLP)-loaded Salep mucilage-based bionanocomposite films containing free and encapsulated Allium jesdianum Boiss. essential oil (AEO). The mean size of nanoliposome containing Allium jesdianum Boiss. essential oil (NLP/AEO) was around 125 nm, the zeta potential value was about -35 mV, and the entrapment effectiveness was over 70% based on an evaluation of NLP prepared using the thin-film hydration and ultrasonic approach. Morphological studies further corroborated the findings of the Zetasizer investigation. When NLP/AEO has added to Salep mucilage-based bionanocomposite films, the tensile strength (TS), water solubility (WS), water content (WC), and water vapor permeability (WVP) were found to decrease. In contrast, the contact angle and oxygen permeability (O2P) elongation at break (EAB) increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images indicated that Salep mucilage-based bionanocomposite films added with NLP/AEO had a disordered inner network in the cross-section and a rough structure on the surface compared to the control film. Finally, an increase in antibacterial activity and a decrease in AEO release rate was observed for the Salep mucilage-based bionanocomposite films incorporated with NLP/AEO. Our results indicated that NLP/AEO, as an innovative sustained-release system, had the potential for using the developed antibacterial food packaging base on Salep mucilage for the shelf life extension of perishable food products.

Caring for the Bereaved Parents in the NICU: Fathers-The Missing Piece of the Puzzle.

PURPOSE: Grief after infant death is a common experience of bereaved parents often seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The NICU staff tend to focus more on the mother's support, and fathers are often not treated equally as mothers. This study aimed to investigate the circumstance of caring for parents facing infant death in NICUs. METHODS: Twenty-eight face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted between March 2018 and April 2019 in the northwest of Iran. Participants were selected via purposive sampling. An inductive thematic approach was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes and 7 subthemes were extracted. The main themes were: "the father-the missing piece of the puzzle in the mourning process," "restricted presence of fathers due to religious and traditional beliefs," and "the father-the patience stone." CONCLUSION: Due to cultural-religious backgrounds, traditional beliefs, structural problems, and organizational restrictions, fathers in NICUs do not receive adequate support, particularly when faced with their infant's death. Bereaved fathers need to receive more support and attention from healthcare providers. Therefore, there is a need for changing the care providers' attitudes regarding the role of fathers and the quality of support that fathers should receive in the Muslim populations.

An Ethical Exploration of Increased Average Number of Authors Per Publication.

This article explores the impact of an Increase in the average Number of Authors per Publication (INAP) on known ethical issues of authorship. For this purpose, the ten most common ethical issues associated with scholarly authorship are used to set up a taxonomy of existing issues and raise awareness among the community to take precautionary measures and adopt best practices to minimize the negative impact of INAP. We confirm that intense international, interdisciplinary and complex collaborations are necessary, and INAP is an expression of this trend. However, perverse incentives aimed to increase institutional and personal publication counts and egregious instances of guest or honorary authorship are problematic. We argue that whether INAP is due to increased complexity and scale of science, perverse incentives or undeserved authorship, it could negatively affect known ethical issues of authorship at some level. In the long run, INAP depreciates the value of authorship status and may disproportionately impact junior researchers and those who contribute to technical and routine tasks. We provide two suggestions that could reduce the long-term impact of INAP on the reward system of science. First, we suggest further refinement of the CRediT taxonomy including better integration into current systems of attribution and acknowledgement, and better harmony with major authorship guidelines such as those suggested by the ICMJE. Second, we propose adjustments to the academic recognition and promotion systems at an institutional level as well as the introduction of best practices.

Ethical Issues in Social Science Research Employing Big Data.

This paper analyzes the ethics of social science research (SSR) employing big data. We begin by highlighting the research gap found on the intersection between big data ethics, SSR and research ethics. We then discuss three aspects of big data SSR which make it warrant special attention from a research ethics angle: (1) the interpretative character of both SSR and big data, (2) complexities of anticipating and managing risks in publication and reuse of big data SSR, and (3) the paucity of regulatory oversight and ethical recommendations on protecting individual subjects as well as societies when conducting big data SSR. Against this backdrop, we propose using David Resnik's research ethics framework to analyze some of the most pressing ethical issues of big data SSR. Focusing on the principles of honesty, carefulness, openness, efficiency, respect for subjects, and social responsibility, we discuss three clusters of ethical issues: those related to methodological biases and personal prejudices, those connected to risks arising from data availability and reuse, and those leading to individual and social harms. Finally, we advance considerations to observe in developing future ethical guidelines about big data SSR.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced oxidative stress in individuals living near restaurants: a cross-sectional study in Shiraz, Iran.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are environmental pollutants caused by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of urinary PAHs and their health effects in individuals living near restaurants. This cross-sectional study was done on 57 individuals who were living near 36 restaurants, and 30 individuals as the control group. Five urinary metabolites of PAHs (1-OH pyrene, 1-OH naphthalene, 2-OH naphthalene, 2-OH fluorine, and 9-OH phenanthrenen) were monitored. The total anti-oxidation capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine were also measured. The mean concentration of the sum of urinary PAHs (ΣOH-PAHs) was 1973.7, and 1687.61 ng/g creatinine in people living near restaurants and control group, respectively. Among the metabolites, the highest mean concentration was related to 1-OH Pyrene in the two study groups. In the individuals living near restaurants, the concentration of PAH metabolites was directly related to MDA and TAC (p < 0.05 for both). The present study findings revealed no significant correlation between PAH metabolites and CRP in the two study groups (P > 0.05). People living near restaurants are more exposed to components in cooking fumes, which may adversely affect their health. Further researches are required to elucidate the effect of PAHs exposure on these individuals' health status.

Prediction of Mortality in the Medical Intensive Care Unit with Serial Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Score in Elderly Patients.

BACKGROUND: Advanced age is one of the key risk factors for mortality and morbidity in intensive care units. The full outline of unresponsiveness (FOUR) score has been developed and introduced to address the limitations of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The current study aimed to evaluate the ability of the FOUR score in predicting the outcomes (survivors, nonsurvivors). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study of 168 consecutive elderly patients admitted to medical intensive care during the 14 months carried out prospectively. FOUR score in the 24, 48, and 72 hours of admission, and demographic characteristics of all elderly patients were calculated, then recorded. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, logistic regression, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test were used (95% confidence interval) for statistical analysis. RESULTS: FOUR scores in 24, 48, and 72 hours between survivors and nonsurvivors (p <0.0001, p <0.0001, and p <0.0001, respectively) were statistically different. The discrimination power of FOUR score 24 hours of admission was excellent [area under ROC (AUC): 85.7% [standard error (SE)]: 2.8%]; it was acceptable for 48 and 72 hours of admission [AUC: 76.3% (SE: 3.6%), AUC: 75/0% (SE: 3.8%), respectively]. The FOUR score of 24 and 48 hours (x2 = 10.06, p = 0.261, x2 = 6.82, p = 0.448, respectively) showed acceptable calibration. CONCLUSIONS: The FOUR score is a suitable scoring system for prognostication of outcomes in critically ill elderly patients. The FOUR score 24 hours of admission was superior in terms of discrimination power than 48 and 72 hours, but better calibration power belonged to FOUR score 48 hours. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Ramazani J, Hosseini M. Prediction of Mortality in the Medical Intensive Care Unit with Serial Full Outline of Unresponsiveness Score in Elderly Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(1):94-99.

Optogenetic control of neural differentiation in Opto-mGluR6 engineered retinal pigment epithelial cell line and mesenchymal stem cells.

In retinal degenerative disorders, when neural retinal cells are damaged, cell transplantation is one of the most promising therapeutic approaches. Optogenetic technology plays an essential role in the neural differentiation of stem cells via membrane depolarization. This study explored the efficacy of blue light stimulation in neuroretinal differentiation of Opto-mGluR6-engineered mouse retinal pigment epithelium (mRPE) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). mRPE and BMSCs were selected for optogenetic study due to their capability to differentiate into retinal-specific neurons. BMSCs were isolated and phenotypically characterized by the expression of mesenchymal stem cell-specific markers, CD44 (99%) and CD105 (98.8%). mRPE culture identity was confirmed by expression of RPE-specific marker, RPE65, and epithelial cell marker, ZO-1. mRPE cells and BMSCs were transduced with AAV-MCS-IRES-EGFP-Opto-mGluR6 viral vector and stimulated for 5 days with blue light (470 nm). RNA and protein expression of Opto-mGluR6 were verified. Optogenetic stimulation-induced elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels in mRPE- and BMS-treated cells. Significant increase in cell growth rate and G1/S phase transition were detected in mRPE- and BMSCs-treated cultures. Pou4f1, Dlx2, Eomes, Barlh2, Neurod2, Neurod6, Rorb, Rxrg, Nr2f2, Ascl1, Hes5, and Sox8 were overexpressed in treated BMSCs and Barlh2, Rorb, and Sox8 were overexpressed in treated mRPE cells. Expression of Rho, Thy1, OPN1MW, Recoverin, and CRABP, as retinal-specific neuron markers, in mRPE and BMS cell cultures were demonstrated. Differentiation of ganglion, amacrine, photoreceptor cells, and bipolar and Muller precursors were determined in BMSCs-treated culture and were compared with mRPE. mRPE cells represented more abundant terminal Muller glial differentiation compared with BMSCs. Our results also demonstrated that optical stimulation increased the intracellular Ca2+ level and proliferation and differentiation of Opto-mGluR6-engineered BMSCs. It seems that optogenetic stimulation of mRPE- and BMSCs-engineered cells would be a potential therapeutic approach for retinal degenerative disorders.

Kawasaki or Kawasaki-like disease? A debate on COVID-19 infection in children.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory syndrome which is generally observed among children. Considering the significant number of COVID-19-positive children presenting with the manifestations of typical/atypical KD, it has been mentioned as a possible complication of COVID-19 infection among the children. However, many of the reported cases do not completely fill the clinical diagnostic criteria, which has made some researchers use the term "Kawasaki-like disease" instead of KD for this state. The current manuscript aims to review the key studies in the field, address the ongoing conflict, and indicate the objective requirements of the further studies.

Central nervous system vasculopathy associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): a novel case report from Iran.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents respiratory symptoms as the most common clinical manifestations. Similar to some other viral infections, it can cause severe neurological damages. Here, we describe a 40-year-old man case who initially was admitted to a major hospital with presenting 7 days with weak flu-like symptoms (cough) and fever then presented neurology signs for 3 days. Physical examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cerebral vasculopathy. Molecular testing was performed on nasopharyngeal swab by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) which was positive for SARS-CoV-2. The patient received supportive cares and was treated with routine antiplatelet therapy. He was improved and discharged 10 days after admission with no symptoms. Our findings report a 40-year-old man with flu-like symptoms that indicate cerebral vasculopathy that was discharged with no symptoms. Therefore, physicians should be monitor patients with worsening or progressive central nervous system results. The pathobiology of this virus is still incompletely known; therefore, extensive studies are needed to reveal the effect of COVID-19 on the nervous system.