Resveratrol attenuates chronic social isolation stress-induced affective disorders: Involvement of NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Social isolation stress (SIS) is associated with affective disorders (i.e., anxiety and depression) in adults. In a preclinical study, we aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol (RV) on the mood swings of rats exposed to SIS. Animals were randomized into six different groups, including control: healthy animals received normal saline (NS) as a vehicle; SIS + NS: SIS animals received NS; SIS + FL: SIS animals received fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/i.p.); SIS + RV20, SIS + RV40, and SIS + RV80: SIS animals received RV (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/i.p). SIS was induced for 4 weeks, then animals were treated with NS, FL, and RV for 4 weeks. Rats were evaluated by the behavioral tests, including the elevated plus-maze, tail suspension test, the open field test, and forced-swimming test, for mood alterations and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels, along with NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like (ASC), and proCaspase-1 were determined in the hippocampus. Behavioral tests confirmed that exposing the animals to SIS caused anxiety and depression. The highest concentrations of NLRP3, proCaspase-1, ASC, and NF-κB, were confirmed in the SIS + NS group. Compared to FL, RV showed antidepressant potential according to the behavioral tests. In particular, the administration of RV (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) revered the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis cascade in rats exposed to chronic SIS. Our findings revealed that RV attenuated anxiety and depression of SIS-exposed rats via regulation of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways. RV can be used as a potential anxiolytic agent and antidepressant.

Estimation of Diagnostic Markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory examination is a great value to confirm a diagnosis and estimate disease activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Since little research related to the diagnosis of RA and AS has been done in Iran, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnosis markers in patients with RA and AS. METHODS: This study was conducted among 104 patients with RA and 42 patients with AS in Iran during 2016. Inclusion criteria were according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Five mL blood samples were collected from all patients. Laboratory studies consisted of ESR and anti-CCP tests and also determination of the presence of RF and CRP in these patients. Finally, the statistical analysis test was conducted using SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS: The study patients with RA included 23 males (22.1%) and 81 females (77.9%) with the average age of 50.25 ± 14.34. In RA patients, 82.7% were RF positive and 17.3% were negative. Also, 49% were CRP positive and 51% were negative. The mean ESR in RA patients was 27.76 ± 20.17 mm/hour. The mean levels of anti-CCP were 109.15 ± 90.55 IU/mL. The mean ages of 42 patients with AS, including 30 male (71.4%) and 12 females (28.6%), were 38.69 ± 11.82 years. Among them, 24 patients (57.1%) were positive for CRP and 18 patients (42.9%) were negative. Only 2 patients (4.8%) were RF positive. 24 patients (57.1%) were positive for HLA-B27 and 18 patients (42.9%) were negative. The mean levels of ESR in AS patients were 30.30 ± 26.98 mm/hour. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of the Rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis can help to prevent complications and its progression and help patients to recover more quickly.

Significance of Nitric Oxide Level in Giardiasis.

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis is one of the most prevalent intestinal protozoa infections in humans. Nowadays, nitric oxide (NO) is known to be involved in the immune system against Giardia intestinalis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of NO in individuals with giardiasis in comparison to normal subjects. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted among 49 Giadia positive and 39 age and gender matched healthy volunteers. Examination of stool samples was done by wet mount technique and formol-ether concentration method. Serum samples were obtained for laboratory examination. NO production was quantified by measuring nitrite, a stable end product of NO, using the Griess reaction based on ELISA method. By using the standard curve in Excel program, the concentration of NO2- in samples was obtained. Finally, all data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Values obtained from NO assays were placed into 4 groups: ≤ 10 (decline), 10.01 - 15 (normal), 15.01 - 25 (increase), and more than 25 µM (sharp increase). The mean level of NO in patients with G. intestinalis was 32.19 ± 2.15 µM and in people without G. intestinalis was 17.1 ± 1.33 µM. Eight point two percent of patients with Giardiasis were in normal range, but 2%, 20.4%, and 69.4% were in decline, increase, and sharp increase ranges, respectively. In group 2 (without infection), 17.9% were in normal range, and 20.5%, 51.3%, and 10.3% were in decline, increase, and sharp increase ranges, respectively. There was a statistical difference in nitric oxide levels between positive and negative groups with a 95% confidence interval. (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the number of people who showed a sharp increase in NO levels was significantly higher in individuals with giardiasis as compared to the control group, and patients infected with giardiasis showed significant increase in NO levels. Therefore, we suggest that further studies are required to understand the exact function of NO in the immune system against giardiasis in humans. It will be important to offer a new therapeutic target for eliminating G. intestinalis.

Evidence for Alteration in Serum Concentrations of Leptin in Infertile Men Categorized Based on BMI.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare serum and seminal level of leptin in the context of infertility in men according to BMI. We also investigated the possible correlation of circulating level of leptin with fertility indices. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 193 men who consecutively attended a referral outpatient infertility clinic of Shariati Hospital. The leptin level in serum and seminal plasma were quantified by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in fertile men (n = 95) and infertile men (n = 98). All participant were ageand BMI-matched. Semen was also analyzed in terms of volume, sperm concentration (106/mL), motility (%), and morphology in all subjects prior to study. Based on body mass index (BMI) value, all participants were divided into three groups; lean, body mass index (BMI) 19 - 24.99kg/m2, overweight, BMI 25 - 29.99 kg/m2, and obese BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: Fertile and infertile men were significantly compatible regarding sperm concentration; however, we found no significant difference in case of the leptin level in serum and semen between the two studied groups (p-value = 0.5 and p-value = 0.1, respectively). In the infertile group, serum leptin level was significantly correlated with BMI (r = -0.291; p = 0.004 for the fertile group). Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between serum leptin level and sperm motility (r = -0.241; p = 0.014) in infertile men. Interestingly, among the infertile group, we observed an augmented serum level of leptin in obese men in comparison with lean (p = 0.009) and overweight (p = 0.07) individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings along with other studies support this concept that increased BMI is of clinical relevance in the context of infertility in men since our data revealed an inverse correlation between seminal leptin level and BMI in infertile men. Specifically, alteration in serum level of leptin was obviously different in infertile men in terms of overweight and obesity. However, more studies are required to unravel obscure issues in this regard.

Curcumin ameliorates chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced affective disorders through modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.

Objectives: Long-term infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with affective disorders (i.e., anxiety and depression) in adults. We aimed to explore the effects of curcumin (CR) on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice infected with T. gondii. Materials and Methods: Animals were studied in five groups: Control, Model, Model + CR20, 40, and 80 (with IP injection of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg CR). T. gondii infection was prolonged for four weeks. The animals were then treated with CR or vehicle for two weeks and evaluated by behavioral tests at the end of the study. Hippocampal levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase; SOD, glutathione; GSH, and malondialdehyde; MDA) and gene expression and protein levels of hippocampal proinflammatory mediators (interleukin-1ß; IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor- α; TNF-α) were determined. Results: Behavioral tests confirmed that long-term infection with T. gondii led to anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Antidepressant effects of CR were linked to modulation of oxidative stress and cytokine network in the hippocampal region of infected mice. These results showed that CR reduced anxiety and depression symptoms via regulation of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of T. gondii-infected mice. Conclusion: Therefore, CR can be used as a potential antidepressant agent against T. gondii-induced affective disorders.

COVID-19 immunotherapy: Treatment based on the immune cell-mediated approaches.

Multiple efforts are currently underway to control and treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Despite all efforts, the virus that emerged in Wuhan city has rapidly spread globally and led to a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) due to the lack of approved antiviral therapy. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 has had a significant influence on the evolution of cellular therapeutic approaches. Adoptive immune cell therapy is innovative and offers either promising prophylactic or therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19. This approach is aimed at developing safety and providing secure and effective therapy in combination with standard therapy for all COVID-19 infected individuals. Based on the effective results of previous studies on both inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, various immune cell therapies against COVID-19 have been reviewed and discussed. It must be considered that the application of cell therapy for treatment and to eliminate infected respiratory cells could result in excessive inflammation, so this treatment must be used in combination with other treatments, despite its many beneficial efforts.

Probiotics in the management of Giardia duodenalis: an update on potential mechanisms and outcomes.

Giardia duodenalis is a common cause of infection in children and travelers. The most frequent symptom is diarrhea in these patients. G. duodenalis trophozoites use a highly specialized adhesive disc to attach the host intestinal epithelium to induce intestinal damages. Pathological features of the small intestine following giardiasis include villous atrophy; infiltration of granulocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells into the lamina propria; and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. The disturbed intestinal microbiota has been observed in patients with giardiasis. Therefore, a growing body of evidence has emphasized restoring the gut microbiome by probiotics in giardiasis. This study aimed to review the literature to find the pathologic features of giardiasis and its relationship with imbalanced microbiota. Then, benefits of probiotics in giardiasis and their potential molecular mechanisms were discussed. It has been illustrated that using probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces) can reduce the time of gastrointestinal symptoms and repair the damages, particularly in giardiasis. Probiotics' capability in restoring the composition of commensal microbiota may lead to therapeutic outcomes. According to preclinical and clinical studies, probiotics can protect against parasite-induced mucosal damages via increasing the antioxidant capacity, suppressing oxidative products, and regulating the systemic and mucosal immune responses. In addition, they can reduce the proportion of G. duodenalis load by directly targeting the parasite. They can destroy the cellular architecture of parasites and suppress the proliferation and growth of trophozoites via the production of some factors with anti-giardial features. Further researches are required to find suitable probiotics for the prevention and treatment of giardiasis.

The Prevalence of Trichomoniasis in Women Referred to Clinical Centers in South of Tehran, Iran during 2015-2016.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of trichomoniasis infection among females in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted on 482 women referred to the 6 obstetrics and gynecology centers of Tehran during 2015-2016. Some information including education, occupation, and number of sexual partners was obtained and clinical signs and symptoms of the genital tract were diagnosed by clinical examination. Two swabs were collected from the posterior fornix of patients. Two laboratory techniques, wet mount, and culture were carried out. Finally, statistical analysis test was performed using SPSS software version 16.0. RESULTS: Age distribution of patients was 15-60 yr. Trichomonas vaginalis was detected in 2 out of 482 participants (0.41%). All of the infected individuals were married (0.43%) and they had unique sexual partner and all of them had clinical symptoms. Significant association was observed between incidence of T. vaginalis infection and educational levels (P= 0.03), occupation (P=0.006), clinical symptoms (P=0.001), marriage (P=0.006) and bacterial infection (P=0.018). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of trichomoniasis was low and its incidence was associated with several risk factors.

Significance of albumin and C-reactive protein variations in 300 end stage renal disease patients in Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals during year 2010.

Protein- energy malnutrition, wasting and inflammation are frequent complication among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Malnutrition is associated with cardiac co-morbidity, inflammation and poor survival in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is a well-known marker of nutrition in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is still the most commonly used nutritional marker in ESRD patients. C-reactive protein (CRP), the major acute phase response (APR) protein is elevated in these patients. High CRP levels are linked to the degree of atherosclerosis in coronary, peripheral, and extracranial brain arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutritional factor (albumin) and CRP levels in ESRD patients. In this cross- sectional study a total of 300 patients who had ESRD and had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months were selected. The laboratory tests consisted of measurement of CRP and albumin using high sensitive ELISA kits. The study patients included 157 males (52.3%) and 143 females (47.7%) with average age of 41.5 ± 14.3 years. Mean CRP level was 7.96 mg/ dl (±1.52), mean serum albumin was 4.07 g/dl (±0.19).Of 300 patients, 21 died (7%). These were patients with serum albumin <4 g/dl and CRP>9.5 mg/dl. This study showed that low albumin and high CRP levels are the main predictors for death. There was a significant difference between CRP and albumin levels in ESRD patients (P<0.0001). Measuring CRP as a marker of inflammation can be helpful in managing these patients.