Lovastatin attenuates glyoxal-induced toxicity on rat liver mitochondria.

Alpha-dicarbonyls such as glyoxal (GO) trigger mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in the development of different diabetic complications. The present study investigated the effects of lovastatin against GO-induced toxicity on rat liver mitochondria. The rat liver mitochondria (0.5 mg protein/mL) were treated with various concentrations of lovastatin (1, 5, 10 µM) at 37°C for 30 min and then exposed to GO (3 mM) at 37°C for 30 min. Oxidative stress markers including MDA, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and protein carbonylation (PC) level were measured. Mitochondrial complex II activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed for evaluating mitochondrial function. Glyoxal significantly increased the level of ROS, PC and MDA. This effect was associated with the reduction of MMP, complex II activity and GSH content. Pre-treatment with lovastatin potentially reversed GO-induced mitochondrial toxicity. These results suggest that lovastatin have a protective effect against GO-induced toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria.

Occupational exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles in the intensive care unit of Tehran hospital.

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has attracted much attention to study its possible presence and airborne transmission. The possibility of COVID-19 airborne transmission in indoor environments is debatable. The present study examined the concentration of viral RNA-containing particles produced directly or indirectly by breathing or coughing of confirmed COVID-19 patients or by carriers without symptoms. Some studies do not accept this method of transmission (COVID-19 airborne transmission). The present study aimed to measure the possible exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles that may have been suspended in the air to respond to the hypothesis of COVID-19 airborne transmission. Airborne particle sampling was performed using impingement method based on NIOSH (chapter BA) and ASHRAE. Selection of sampling sections was in line with the WHO guidelines. The samples were analyzed using RT-PCR technique. Based on the given results, airborne particles of COVID-19 may present in the air and affect the health of hospital personnel. In fact, the analysis of gene expression in ambient conditions and thereby aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air is possible and may lead to occupational exposure of health care personnel. Furthermore, it was found that airborne emission of COVID-19 through the breathing zone of patients, particularly in ICU wards with confirmed cases of COVID-19, may be higher than in other ICU wards. Also, the demonstrated results showed that there is a possibility of reaerosolization (reintroduction) of previously airborne SARS-CoV-2 particles into the atmosphere due to health care personnel frequently walking between different wards and stations of ICU.

Comparison of the effect of vanadium and deferoxamine on acetaminophen toxicity in rats.

AIM: Acetaminophen (APAP) can change to toxic metabolites at high dose; if these metabolites are in high amounts, the body will be unable to neutralize them, and several tissues including liver will be damaged. In the present study, the effect of vanadium was compared with deferoxamine on hepatotoxicity and also kidney function during APAP administration in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was done in 5 groups (5 rats in each group): group I to V, respectively, received normal saline, APAP, APAP + deferoxamine, APAP + vanadium, and vanadium. At the end of the study, blood was collected and serum was separated for laboratory tests. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, and potassium were determined. The liver of the rats were separated for tissue processing and light microscopic examination. RESULTS: APAP significantly increased; ALT level and deferoxamine and vanadium prevented its elevation. Also, deferoxamine and vanadium prevented increase of AST by APAP. The change of factors, which are related to the kidney function, i.e., BUN, creatinine, sodium, and potassium were not considerable. CONCLUSION: Thus, it was observed that vanadium had better effect than deferoxamine in the prevention of hepatotoxicity induced by APAP.