ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is a severe condition in pregnant women. Previous studies have suggested that anti-COVID-19 antibodies may be able to be transmitted from mother to fetus, which in itself is a protective factor in infants against the disease. However, few studies have been done in this area. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the presence of anti-COVID-19 antibodies in infants born to symptomatic and asymptomatic mothers with positive COVID-19 test. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed in 2021 in Abadan on neonates, born to symptomatic and asymptomatic mothers with positive COVID-19 test. All pregnant women over the age of 38 weeks with positive PCR tests for COVID-19 were included. We collected five cc of blood from the umbilical cord of neonates immediately after birth. The samples were sent to the laboratory in laboratory tubes to measure the anti-COVID-19 IgM and IgG levels. RESULTS: We evaluated data of 20 neonates born to mothers with symptomatic COVID-19 and 10 neonates born to asymptomatic mothers with positive COVID-19 tests. In symptomatic groups, sixteen neonates (80%) had positive IgG antibodies and the mothers of all these neonates had positive antibodies. The mean IgG levels in infants was 73.26 ± 12.54 RU/ml and the mean IgM levels were 14.29 ± 3.71 RU/ml. Among neonates born to mothers with no symptoms, 7 neonates (70%) had positive IgG antibody. All mothers had positive antibodies. The mean IgG levels in infants were 74.50 ± 11.37 RU/ml and the mean IgM levels was 12.49 ± 2.88 RU/ml. There were no significant differences between two groups of neonates regarding positivity of IgG and antibody levels (P>0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: 80% of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 pneumonia had positive IgG levels that were in line with the previous reports.
ABSTRACT
Cancer is a primary cause of mortality around the world and imposes a significant physiological, psychological, and financial burden on patients. Lipids regulate cell cycle progression and affect cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Therefore, alterations in serum lipid levels might contribute to carcinogenesis. In this article, we review the relationships between triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and different types of cancer. Then, we examine the association between cancer and familial hypercholesterolemia. Finally, we evaluate the impact of statins on different types of cancer. Increased total cholesterol has been reported to increase cellular proliferation and angiogenesis in tumors and inhibit apoptosis. Increased LDL-C has been reported to induce inflammation and increase susceptibility to oxidative damage. HDL-C has anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties. Increased levels of serum TG can induce oxidative stress and a chronic inflammatory state and therefore contribute to the proliferation and progression of cancer cells. Statins decrease downstream products of cholesterol synthesis that are crucial in cell proliferation and growth. Thus, lipid components can have prognostic value in cancer and management of serum lipid levels through lifestyle changes and medical therapy can be beneficial in cancer prevention and treatment.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is a comparison of Valsalva, lidocaine, and Valsalva with administration of lidocaine to reduce the pain associated with administration of etomidate. METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial study. The number of samples in each group was 30 and a total of 90 people were selected. This study was a clinical trial and the subjects were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1: Valsalva, 2: Lidocaine, 3: Valsalva and Lidocaine. Pain due to etomidate was rated on a VAS from 1 (painless) to 3 (worst imaginable pain) and their information was recorded. The collected information was entered into SPSS 22 and analyzed with appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: A total of 90 subjects participated in the present study and were divided into 3 groups: Valsalva, lidocaine, and Valsalva with lidocaine. No significant difference was observed between demographic variables in the study groups. There was a significant relationship between severity of pain in the three groups. According to the results, the highest pain intensity was in the Valsalva group and the lowest pain intensity was in the Valsalva with lidocaine group. CONCLUSIONS: Valsalva with lidocaine reduces the severity of pain caused by etomidate to a greater extent than other groups.
ABSTRACT
Background. Gentamicin (GM) induced nephrotoxicity may be sex hormones related. The effects of sex hormones on GM induced nephrotoxicity in gonadectomized rats were investigated. Methods. Ovariectomized rats received 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg/week of estradiol (ES) alone or accompanied with 10 mg/kg/week of progesterone (Pro) for two weeks followed by GM (100 mg/kg/day) for 9 days. Castrated rats were also treated with 10, 50, or 100 mg/kg/week of testosterone (TS) for two weeks and then received GM. In addition, a single castrated group received 0.25 mg/kg/week of ES plus GM. Results. GM increased the serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) and kidney tissue damage score (KTDS) (P < 0.05). TS had no effect on the serum levels of BUN and Cr and KTDS, while low dose of ES intensified these parameters in male (P < 0.05). ES (0.5 mg/kg) without Pro ameliorated KTDS in female (P < 0.05) while ES (1 mg/kg) with or without Pro exacerbated the BUN values and Cr values, KTDS, and body weight loss (P < 0.05). Conclusion. ES (0.5 mg/kg) without Pro ameliorated kidney damage induced by GM in female while neither TS nor ES had beneficial effect on nephrotoxicity induced by GM in male, although ES aggravated it.
