Effects of choline supplementation in mothers with hypothyroidism on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression changes in pre-pubertal offspring rats.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hormones play a vital function in the maturation in the course of mind development. Regarding the well-known effects of choline on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the study examined the effects of choline on hippocampal BDNF gene expression in maternal hypothyroidism rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: To induce the hypothyroidism, 6-propyl-2-thiouracil was introduced to the ingesting water from the sixth day of gestation to twenty-first postnatal day (PND). Choline-treatment started twice a day on the first day of gestation until PND 21. On PND28, pups were sacrificed. The expression of BDNF gene was evaluated after the hippocampus was harvested. Our results demonstrated that both male and female pre-pubertal offspring rats' BDNF gene expression was decreased by developmental hypothyroidism. Choline increases the ratio of relative gene expression of BDNF in the hippocampus of males and females in the control/hypothyroidism group, especially in males. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that maternal choline supplementation on the first day of gestation until PND 21 improves brain development and cognitive function in pre-pubertal offspring rats regarding control/hypothyroidism groups.

Melatonin Sensitizes OVCAR-3 Cells to Cisplatin through Suppression of PI3K/Akt Pathway.

This study examined the effect of melatonin on oxidative stress, expression of pro-apoptotic protein, anti-apoptotic proteins, and the activity of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the human ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR3). OVCAR3 cells were treated with cisplatin, melatonin, cisplatin + melatonin, and siRNA Akt. Reactive oxygen species levels were assessed. The expression of the proteins was determined by Western blot. Melatonin administration significantly increased intracellular ROS generation, the cleavage of caspase 3 and decreased phosphorylation of Akt. Combination therapy of cisplatin and melatonin increases apoptosis in the OVCAR-3 cells by inhibiting of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and exacerbating oxidative stress.

Evaluation of interleukin-17 receptor (IL-17RA) gene expression in PBMCs of patients with premature coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES: Present study has been carried out to analyze the IL-17R gene expression in PBMCs of patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to normal controls. BACKGROUND: Premature CAD results in disability and lack of quality of life over the years and consequent mortality. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has global distribution. In 2022, CAD is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and Iran. IL-17 cytokine family plays an important role in promoting inflammation and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases. METHODS: Entirely, 60 subjects were entered into this examination. The case group consisted of 30 subjects with CAD as well as the control group which consisted of 30 healthy persons. The real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay was used to find out, the relative expression (fold) level of IL-17R gene. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that, the relative expression (fold) level of IL-17R gene in the patients group showed an increased level as compared to the control group. The analysis of findingsobtained in this study showed that the patient group is significantly different from the control group regarding the IL-17R mRNA level (fold) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: It has been concluded that IL-17R plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CAD. It follows that superior understanding of IL-17/IL-17R signaling way will be vital for innovating novel therapeutic targets that will facilitate the designing of new drugs for the management of patients (Ref. 40).

Association of MMP-1 (rs1799750)-1607 2G/2G and MMP-3 (rs3025058)-1612 6A/6A Genotypes With Coronary Artery Disease Risk Among Iranian Turks.

The study was conducted to evaluate the association between MMP-1 (rs1799750)-1607 1G/2G and MMP-3 (rs3025058)-1612 5A/6A polymorphisms/haplotypes and coronary artery disease (CAD) risk among Iranian Turks. Totally, 102 patients with CAD and 102 healthy subjects joined the study. Genomic DNA isolation was carried out using "salting out" method from 3 to 4 mL of whole blood samples. The MMP-1 (-1607 2G/1G) and MMP-3 (-1612 5A/6A) promoter gene polymorphisms were detected via polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. Our results indicated that the frequencies of the MMP-1 (-1607) 2G alleles and 2G/2G genotypes and the MMP-3 (-1612) 6A alleles and 6A/6A genotypes were higher in CAD patients older than 50 years than in healthy controls (P < 0.05). We failed to show statistically significant differences between the CAD patients younger than 50 years and controls concerning MMP-1 -1607 ins/delG (1G > 2 G, rs1799750) and MMP-3 -1612 ins/delA (5A/6A, rs3025058) polymorphisms (P > 0.05). The frequencies of MMP-3/MMP-1 haplotypes were not statistically different among tested groups (P > 0.05). This examination, as the first study of its own kind in Iranian Turks, reported association between MMP-1 (rs1799750) -1607 2G/2G and MMP-3 (rs3025058) -1612 6A/6A genotypes and CAD risk in patients older than 50 years.

Ideal Adsorption Isotherm Behavior for Cooling Applications.

Purely heat-driven refrigeration has the potential for high primary-energy efficiency, especially when powered by waste heat or solar thermal sources. This paper presents a novel expression for the ideal adsorption step location as a function of operating conditions. This methodology is then applied to a hypothetical stepwise material to evaluate its intrinsic efficiency. This analysis technique is then extended to allow facile efficiency comparisons for any adsorbent-refrigerant pair using an adsorbent's isotherm and heat of adsorption properties. This work focuses on limitations to efficiency due to the equilibrium thermodynamics. It is found that a stepwise adsorbent can have a single-effect intrinsic efficiency of as high as about 85% of Carnot, assuming typical adsorbent specific heats and uptake capacity. Using these tools, we analyze the maximum ratio of cooling to heat input (coefficient of performance) for two adsorption pairs, zeolite 13X-water and UiO-66-water, which are found to have maximum coefficients of performance of 0.52 and 0.88 for a cold-side temperature of 10 °C and an ambient temperature of 30 °C, respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum fraction of Carnot cooling is 37% for zeolite 13X-water and 67% for UiO-66-water. Moreover, these peak fractions of Carnot occur at much higher regeneration temperatures for 13X (196 °C) than for UiO-66 (60 °C). These two materials could be coupled in a two-stage cascading triple-effect adsorption cycle that operates with a combined coefficient of performance of 1.50 at a regeneration temperature of 196 °C, a cold-side temperature of 10 °C, and an ambient temperature of 30 °C.

The association of FokI and ApaI polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor gene with autoimmune thyroid diseases in the northwest of Iran.

Background: Some genetic factors are involved in the etiology of Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves' disease as autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). Effects of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms in AITDs development have already been investigated in some previous studies. However, no study has been done on the association between VDR FokI and ApaI polymorphisms and AITDs in an Iranian population. In this study, the possible effects of FokI and ApaI polymorphisms on AITDs were investigated in the population of northwest of Iran. Methods: A total of 121 AITDs adult patients and 117 healthy controls matched by age and sex in the same population were included in this study. FokI and ApaI polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Chi-square test and odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI were used to analyze the data. Results: FokI and ApaI genotypes frequencies were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p= 0.06, p= 0.73, respectively). However, FokI "CC" and "CT" genotypes were related to AITDs risk (p= 0.03; OR= 3.75; 95% CI, 1.16-12.17 and p= 0.04; OR= 3.41; 95% CI, 1.03-11.28, respectively). Conclusion: These data suggest that FokI polymorphisms are involved in AITDs susceptibility in the population of northwest of Iran.

Association of altered gut microbiota composition with chronic urticaria.

BACKGROUND: An altered gut microbiota composition has recently been linked to some types of allergies. OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative amounts of Akkermansia muciniphila, Clostridium leptum, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Enterobacteriaceae as members of gut microbiota among patients with chronic urticaria (CU) and healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with CU and 20 healthy individuals matched by age and sex participated in the study. Fresh fecal samples were collected, and DNA extracted from stool samples was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the qualitative and quantitative assays of the so-called bacteria. RESULTS: The frequencies of A muciniphila, C leptum, and F prausnitzii in healthy controls' stool samples were significantly more than those of patients with CU (P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively), whereas the Enterobacteriaceae family was detected in all patients and healthy controls' stool samples. The relative amounts of A muciniphila in healthy control positive samples were significantly higher than those of samples from patients with CU (P < .001). Furthermore, there was a corresponding increase of relative amounts of C leptum and F prausnitzii in healthy control positive samples compared with those of patients with CU (P = .09 and P = .08, respectively). The mean of the relative amounts of Enterobacteriaceae family in the stool samples from patients with CU was more than that of healthy controls; however, the difference was nearly significant (P = .12). CONCLUSION: The results reveal a change of frequency and relative amounts of A muciniphila, C leptum, and F prausnitzii in patients with CU compared with healthy controls. This is the first study, to our knowledge, to show the change of microbiota composition in patients with CU.

Association between SNPs at IL-17A and IL-17F and susceptibility to accelerated silicosis.

The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin (IL)-17 gene and silicosis has been evaluated in different populations. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association between SNPs at IL-17A (-832A/G) and IL-17F (+7488A/G) and susceptibility to accelerated silicosis in the Iranian Kurdish population. We studied 48 patients with accelerated silicosis and 62 controls. Genomic DNA was isolated using the "salting out" method. PCR-RFLP was performed for all SNPs typing. The frequencies of A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes at IL-17A (-832A/G) were 4 (8.33%), 23 (47.92%), and 21 (43.75%) in patients and 5 (8.06%), 35 (56.45%), and 22 (35.48%) in controls, respectively. The frequencies of A and G alleles at IL-17 (-832A/G) were 31 (32.29%) and 65 (67.71%) in patients, and 45 (36.29%) and 79 (63.71%) in the controls, respectively. The frequencies of A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes at IL-17F (+7488A/G) were 1 (2.08%), 47 (97.92%), and 0 (0%) in patients, and 11 (17.74%), 51 (82.26%), and 0 (0%) in the controls, respectively. The frequencies of A and G alleles at IL-17F (+7488A/G) were 49 (51.04%) and 47 (48.96%) in patients, and 73 (58.87%) and 51 (41.13%) in the controls, respectively. IL-17F (+7488A/G) genotype was more frequent among the cases compared with controls (97.92% vs. 82.26%). The frequency of the IL-17F (+7488A/G) genotype was significantly greater in patients with accelerated silicosis (odds ratio = 10.13 95%; confidence interval = 1.2-81.5; p = 0.008). The IL-17F (+7488A/G) genotype revealed a significantly increased risk of accelerated silicosis ( p < 0.05). The IL-17F (+7488 G) allele was associated with an increased risk of accelerated silicosis, but in the case of the IL-17A (-832A/G) polymorphism, a significant association was not observed.

Transport Mode Selection for Toxic Gases: Rail or Road?

A significant majority of hazardous materials (hazmat) shipments are moved via the highway and railroad networks, wherein the latter mode is generally preferred for long distances. Although the characteristics of highway transportation make trucks the most dominant surface transportation mode, should it be preferred for hazmat whose accidental release can cause catastrophic consequences? We answer this question by first developing a novel and comprehensive assessment methodology-which incorporates the sequence of events leading to hazmat release from the derailed railcars and the resulting consequence-to measure rail transport risk, and second making use of the proposed assessment methodology to analyze hazmat transport risk resulting from meeting the demand for chlorine and ammonia in six distinct corridors in North America. We demonstrate that rail transport will reduce risk, irrespective of the risk measure and the transport corridor, and that every attempt must be made to use railroads to transport these shipments.

Zinc Supplementation Reduces ROS Production and Prevents MDMA-Induced Apoptosis in TM3 Leydig Cells via the Inhibition of Pro-Apoptotic Proteins.

MDMA can cause serious adverse effects on vital organs such as the heart, brain, and liver. Additionally, MDMA consumption can also potentially cause various endocrine system dysfunctions. The previous study has shown that pre-treatment of zinc can reduce the cytotoxicity of MDMA on the Leydig cell line (TM3). In this study, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the treatment with MDMA on the apoptosis of TM3 cells and the effects of zinc pre-treatment on reducing the apoptotic effects of MDMA. TM3 cells were incubated with MDMA (5 mM), zinc (8 µM), and zinc (8 µM) prior to MDMA (5 mM) for 48 h. The cells were pre-treated with zinc for 24 h prior to the administration of MDMA, and the total culture time was 48h. The effect of different treatment groups in causing oxidative stress and apoptosis in TM3 cells was measured by DCF, TUNNEL, and western blot tests, respectively. Our results revealed that the number of DCF and tunnel-positive cells increases as a result of MDMA treatment. In addition, the treatment with MDMA increased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins caspase 3, Bax, and p53. Conversely, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased. Zinc pre-treatment significantly decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and the number of tunnels and DCF-positive cells compared to the MDMA-only group. It is concluded that MDMA has a toxic effect and causes apoptosis on TM3 cells, and also, pre-treatment with zinc mitigates the ROS production and toxic effect of MDMA and MDMA-induced apoptosis in TM3 cells.

The effects of choline supplementation in mothers with hypothyroidism on the alteration of cognitive-behavioral, long-term potentiation, morphology, and apoptosis in the hippocampus of pre-pubertal offspring rats.

The mother's thyroid hormone status during gestation and the first few months after delivery can play a crucial role in maturation during the brain development of the child. Transient abnormalities in thyroid function at birth indicate developmental and cognitive disorders in adulthood. Choline supplementation during gestation and the perinatal period in rats causes long-lasting memory improvement in the offspring. However, it remains unclear whether choline is able to restore the deficits in rats with maternal hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of choline supplementation on the alteration of cognitive-behavioral function, long-term potentiation (LTP), and morphological changes as well as apoptosis in pre-pubertal offspring rats. To induce hypothyroidism, 6-propyl-2-thiouracil was added to the drinking water from the 6th day of gestation to the 21st postnatal day (PND). Choline treatment was started twice a day on the first day of the gestation until PND 21 via gavage. LTP recording and Morris water maze (MWM) test were conducted at PND 28. Then, the rats were sacrificed to assess their brains. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP (both: P < 0.001). Choline treatment alleviated LTP (P < 0.001), as well as learning and memory deficits (P < 0.01) in both male and female hypothyroid rats. However, no significant changes were observed in the number of caspase-3 stained cells in choline-receiving hypothyroid groups. The results revealed that developmental thyroid hormone deficiency impaired spatial learning and memory and reduced LTP. Choline treatment alleviated LTP, as well as learning and memory deficits in both male and female hypothyroid rats.

Interleukin-18, interleukin-8, and CXCR2 and the risk of silicosis.

Molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of silicosis are not fully understood. Exposure to crystalline silica leads to the activation of signaling pathways controlling the production and secretion of inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory cytokines are noted as important candidate genes for fibrotic lung diseases. Cytokines, chemokines, and variations of their genes have been associated with upregulation or downregulation of chronic inflammatory mediators. Variations in the interleukin (IL)-18, IL-8 and chemokine receptor CXCR2 genes are believed to influence the risk of silicosis in stone-grinding factory workers in Iran. Allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure was carried out for IL-18 -137 and IL-18 -607, meanwhile touchdown PCR was performed for IL-8 -251 and CXCR2 +1208 genotyping. Variation in genotypic and allelic frequencies was not statistically different among cases versus controls (p > 0.05). These findings indicated for the first time that IL-18 -137, IL-18 -607, IL-8 -251, and CXCR2 +1208 are suggested not to influence the risk of silicosis in tested occupational group.

Detection of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by TaqMan Real-Time PCR in Iran.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known as a positivesense single-strand RNA virus and leads to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Coronaviruses significantly impact the human respiratory tract. Coronavirus disease is potentially fatal and transmissible in the world. In this study we evaluated the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 in 220 patients with un-explained pneumonia by TaqMan real-time PCR assay regarding open reading frame (ORF1ab) and nucleocapsid (N) protein genes. Materials and methods: Totally, 224 patients entered the study. Upper and lower respiratory tract secretion samples were obtained during 2020 from patients. Samples contained nose and throat swabs with viral transport medium. RNA was isolated from clinical samples with the GenePure Plus fully automatic Nucleic Acid Purification System, NPA-32+ (Hangzhou Bioer Technology Co. Ltd, Hangzhou, China). Outcomes: 72.32% of cases were positive for COVID-19. All positive cases had the most common symptoms of illness regarding fatigue, dry cough, dyspnea, headache, abdominal pain, nausa, vomiting and myalgia. Fever was observed in 50% of positive cases. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan of all tested patients indicated two-sided chest involvement. Conclusion:Detection of COVID-19 by TaqMan real-time PCR seems to be a powerful method for the screening and detection of novel corona virus infection.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene variations with coronary artery disease in the Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene (I/D) variations in CAD patients and healthy controls in an Iranian population (West Azerbaijan province of Iran). METHOD: This cross-sectional study included 95 CAD patients and 203 healthy controls. ACE I/D polymorphisms were assessed using PCR, and their frequency was determined. RESULTS: There were 298 people, 95 CAD patients, and 203 controls, with an average age of 50.96±3.45 and 51.14±10.20. We discovered that the frequency of the D allele was significantly higher in CAD patients than in controls (P = 0.0009). In contrast, the frequency of the I allele was significantly higher in controls than in CAD patients (P = 0.0009). The D allele carriers genotypes (DD + ID) were more frequent in the CAD patients than in the control group (P = 0.008). The ACE II genotype-state carriers were more common in the control group than in CAD patients (P = 0.008). However, in the case of the ACE ID genotype, no significant differences were not found in the tested groups (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that individuals with the ACE DD genotype are predisposed to CAD, whereas individuals with the ACE II genotype state are protected.

The association of TGF-ß1 codon 10 polymorphism with suicide behavior.

Many risk factors have been identified for suicide behavior and although a role for cytokines has been suggested in specific psychiatric conditions and suicide behavior, this role is not well-defined. Since some polymorphisms can alter the expression of cytokines, in this study we attempted to assess the role of TGF-ß1 codon 10 (T/C) polymorphisms (rs1982073) in suicide behavior. A total of 145 individuals with suicide behavior as well as 200 control participants (without any history of suicide behavior) were included in the study. TGF-ß1 codon 10 polymorphism was determined using allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction. Our results demonstrated that the TGF-ß1 codon 10 T/T genotype was significantly more prevalent in individuals with suicide behavior (41.7%), in comparison with the controls (27%). The findings of this study demonstrated an association between TGF-ß1 (codon 10) T/C polymorphisms and suicide behavior.

PI3K Inhibition Sensitize the Cisplatin-resistant Human Ovarian Cancer Cell OVCAR3 by Induction of Oxidative Stress.

Background: This study evaluates the effect of simultaneous AKT inhibition and cisplatin therapy in changes of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production, apoptosis induction, and cell survival in cisplatin-resistant OVCAR3 cell. Methods: OVCAR3 cancer cells were treated with cisplatin, Ly 294002 (LY), and cisplatin+Ly to investigate the cytotoxicity effect of the mentioned groups via MTT assay. Then, DCFH-DA (2', 7'-dichlorodihydro fluorescein diacetate) assay kit is used to assess the potential of treated groups in intracellular ROS generation. Protein expression levels of caspase-3, cleaved caspase 3, PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, XIAP, and Survivin are estimated through immunoblotting assay in all three experimental groups. Results: The results showed that all three treated groups, including cisplatin and Ly alone and co-administration of cisplatin+Ly, could reduce the cell vitality of OVCAR3 cancer cells, induced intracellular production of ROS and increased the expression level of activated caspase 3 and Akt protein, whereas down-regulated the phosphorylation of Akt protein. However, the effect of combination therapy was more tangible compared to single therapy and control groups. In contrast, the expression amount of XIAP, Survivin, and PI3K did not show detectable changes in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: The results showed that the AKT inhibition by Ly could sensitize the OVCAR3 cancer cells to the cisplatin and lower the effective dose of cisplatin through hyperactivation of oxidative stress.

Factor V Leiden G1691A and factor II G20210A point mutations and pregnancy in North-West of Iran.

PURPOSE: The roles of several hereditary predispositions for venous thromboembolism have been evaluated in women with habitual abortion. We studied the prevalence of FV Leiden G1691A and FII G20210A mutations in women with habitual abortion and healthy controls. METHODS: 60 unrelated fertile females, as controls, and 70 unrelated women with at least three consecutive pregnancy losses entered at the present study. MAS-PCR was carried out for detection of FV Leiden G1691A and FII G20210A mutations. RESULTS: FV Leiden G1691A mutation was not found in the studied cases and controls, that is, all of the cases and the controls had normal FV Leiden 1691GG genotype. FII 20210AA genotype was not found in any of patients or controls. 2.5% of alleles (3 out of 120 chromosomes) in controls and 15.714% of alleles (22 out of 140 chromosomes) in cases had FII 20210A mutation. The FII G20210A allele frequency was 0.157 in cases and 0.025 in controls. Regarding FII G20210A mutation, the distribution of GG, GA and AA genotypes were 48 (68.57%), 22 (31.43%) and 0 (0%) in the cases and 95 (95%), 5 (5%) and 0 (0%) in the controls, respectively. Significant differences in both FII G20210A alleles and FII G20210A genotypes frequencies were observed in the cases versus the controls. CONCLUSION: FII G20210A mutation is significantly associated with habitual abortion.

Association of angiotensin-1-converting enzyme gene variations with silicosis predisposition.

Interactions between several genes and environmental factors occur in silicosis and other dust-mediated pulmonary fibrosis. It has been suggested that several genes play role in individual susceptibility to silicosis. The aim of this study was to determine the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) gene (I/D) variations in patients with silicosis and healthy controls in Iranian Kurdish population. Forty-one male workers with silicosis and 41 healthy male controls were entered in the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was carried out for allele and genotype typing. Our finding showed that the frequencies of D and I alleles were 0.65 and 0.35 in the silicotic patients compared to 0.52 and 0.48 in the controls. The frequencies of ACE D/D, D/I, and I/I genotypes were 15 (36.59%), 23 (56.1%), and 3 (7.31%) in patients, and 14 (34.15%), 15 (36.59%), and 12 (29.27%) in the controls, respectively. The results indicate that the frequency of ACE D/D+D/I genotypes were higher in the patients group (92.7% vs. 70.73%) (OR: 5.24, 95% CI: 1.35-20.30, P = 0.01). Also, ACE I/I genotype frequency was lower in patients (7.32% vs. 29.27%) (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.04-0.73, P = 0.01). It can be concluded that ACE D/D and I/D genotypes may play a role in the susceptibility to silicosis; on the contrary, ACE I/I genotype may have protective effect.

Involvement of endocannabinoid system, inflammation and apoptosis in diabetes induced liver injury: Role of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.

Confident relationships between diabetes andliver damagehave previously been established. This study was designed to evaluate hepaticinflammation, apoptosis, and endocannabinoid system alterations in diabetes with or withouttropisetrontreatment. Rats were assigned to five equal groups: control, tropisetron, diabetes, tropisetron+diabetes, and glibenclamide+diabetes (n = 7 in each group). Rats were treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg) and glibenclamide (1 mg/kg) as a positive control for two weeks after type 1 diabetes induction.Inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 6 (TNF-α and IL-6) levels, apoptotic cells, and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme, at both transcriptional and protein levels increased, while the gene expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and its protein level decreased in the diabetic liver compared to the control. Treatment with tropisetron reversed TNF-α, apoptotic index, and endocannabinoid system components. These effects were equipotent with glibenclamide, indicating that tropisetroncan protect liver tissue against diabetic disturbances. These findings strongly support the idea that diabetes-induced liver abnormality is mediated by inflammatory reactions, apoptosis, and endocannabinoid system, and that these effects can be alleviated by using tropisetron as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Role of Screening for COVID-19 in Hemodialysis Wards, Results of a Single Center Study.

INTRODUCTION: Seven months after the emergence of SARS-COV-2 virus, there is paucity of data regarding the epidemiology of the virus in hemodialysis patients. We aim to present the results of the screening program implied after outbreak of COVID-19 in a referral hemodialysis ward. METHODS: We started clinical screening and obligatory mask wearing for dialysis patients and personnel on 20-Feb-2020. However 11 symptomatic COVID-19 patients emerged till day +36. On days +39 and +40 a screening program was implied including measurement of SARS-COV-2 PCR and immunoglobulin G and M (IgG/IgM) and chest computerized tomography (CCT) scan. The results of CCT scan, classified according to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS) classification; as with very low (grade 1-normal), low, indeterminate, high, and very high likelihood of COVID-19 (grades 2, 3, 4, and 5; respectively), were used for compartmentalization of patients. RESULTS: Among 178 patients (68.2% male, mean age = 58.7 ± 16.6 years), 11 got COVID-19 before screening, two of whom died. CCT scans were normal in 71.3% and grade 2, 3, 4, and 5 in 7.9%, 4.5%, 5.6%, and 10.7%; respectively. PCR and IgG and/or IgM were positive in 27 and 32 patients. Eighty-three patients had evidence of COVID-19 infection, who were significantly older (62.2 ± 16.6 vs. 56.1 ± 16.02, P < .05). There was no difference in the rate of infection considering gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and different blood groups. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic SARS- COV 2 infection may affect a large number of dialysis patients. We highly recommend a screening strategy whenever the number of patients is increasing.