Acta Medica Iranica
Volume:61 Issue: 4, Apr 2023

Knowledge of other Coronaviruses has contributed to the development of a vaccine for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). As soon as the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 was released, intense global activity around different vaccine platform technologies started. Among these platforms, the viral vectored chimpanzee adenovirus Oxford1 (ChAdOx1)-previously studied for various indications, including for the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) vaccine, and currently is adapted for the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (novel Coronavirus-19). Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the potential of the ChAdOx1 platform for the development of a vaccine for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, the Lethal Human-Coronaviruses (Lh-CoVs). For this purpose, a highly sensitive literary search was conducted through electronic databases that reached 1,445 related articles, of which, eight articles were elected according to previous eligibility criteria. The gathering of the articles demonstrated that the previous approaches, referring to the ChAdox1 platform, have contributed to the development of vaccines against Lh-CoVs and, that thus far, ChAdOx1 (nCoV-19 and MERS) vaccines are safe and immunogenic. However, it is important to emphasize that further studies are needed to ensure the effectiveness of vaccines in humans.

Accurate diagnosis of the cause of infertility assists in the choice of treatment modalities and amelioration of the associated psychosocial problems. The research was carried out using 75 infertile males and 75 males with proven fertility as controls. The anthropometrics (weight, height) were measured and body mass index (BMI) computed. Venous blood was collected from each participant, allowed to clot, and centrifuged to obtain the serum which was analysed for testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations. Semen was collected by masturbation and analysed for sperm quality, seminal fructose concentration, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities. A non-significant difference (P>0.05) in weight, height, and BMI; a significant increase (P<0.05) in ejaculated volume, serum LH, FSH, seminal fructose concentrations and HDAC activities; and a decrease in sperm count, sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration was observed among subgroups of infertile men. A direct and significant correlation exists between seminal HDAC activities and fructose concentration. Also, an inverse non-significant correlation exists between HDAC activities and spermatozoa motility. Base on the result obtained from this study, it can be concluded that measuring seminal fructose and HDAC activities in addition to routine biochemical and biophysical parameters will assist in diagnostic work up in subgroups of male infertility.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy with a variable clinical course. We investigated the prognostic role of routine laboratory factors including CBC indices and serum vitamin D levels to predict MM recurrence after receiving an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). 29 patients were enrolled. Before ASCT, demographic data and CBC, serum Cr, and Vit D levels were obtained. Patients underwent bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and biopsy (BMB) before ASCT and pretransplant plasma cell counts were also evaluated. Patients were followed for 6 months and BMA and biopsy were done in the 3rd and 6th month of the follow-up to detect recurrence. Overall, 9 patients were reported to have recurrence. The patient's WBC count mean was 13.3±11.6. WBC count was lower in patients with overall recurrence (P=0.005). Patients were divided into 2 groups according to WBC count (<5.5 109/L and ≥5.5 109/L) and we found that WBC count <5.5 109/L was associated with increased risk of recurrence by 15.2 times (Odds ratio: 15.2, 95%CI: 1.4-168, P=0.005). We also evaluated Wbc to Hb ratio (Wbc/Hb) and found that Wbc/Hb <1 had a significant statistical relationship with overall recurrence (P=0.026) as patients with WBC/Hb <1 were in 9.8 times increased risk of recurrence (Odds ratio:9.8, 95% CI: 2-93.5, P=0.026). pretransplant WBC <5.5 109/L and WBC/Hb <1 were associated with 9.8 and 15.2 times increased risk of myeloma recurrence and could be useful predictive factors for a patient's short-term recurrence.

Many studies have shown that bone marrow (BM) stem/progenitor cells have the highest probability of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Regarding the major role of C-kit+ BM stem cells in cell therapy of patients with heart disease and getting cells with higher differentiation potential, this study aimed to investigate the capacity and effect of L-carnitine (LC) on cardiomyogenic differentiation of C-kit+ BM cells through MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. For this purpose, C-kit+ was enriched from the BM mononuclear cell population using a magnetic activating cell sorting technique. The purity of the separated C-kit+ cells was then evaluated by flow cytometry. In the next step, C-Kit+ cells were treated in a cardiomyogenic differentiation culture medium for 21 days once in the presence and once in the absence of 0.2 µM LC (the experimental and control groups). To evaluate the cardiomyogenic differentiation potential of C-kit+ cells, the Desmin cell marker was determined by immunocytochemistry. The expressions of both GATA4 and ERK proteins were measured using western blotting and flow cytometry, respectively. The results show that 95.7 percent of the cells separated by the MACS technique expressed a C-kit+ cell marker. Additionally, it was found that 0.2 mM LC significantly increased the expression of GATA4 protein in the cardiomyogenic differentiated cells. The expression of ERK protein also suggested a significant increase of about 1.60 times in the experimental group in comparison with the control group (*P˂0.05). In brief, it was found that treating C-kit+ BM cells with LC increases cardiomyogenic differentiation by increasing the expression of GATA4. Notably, this effect can take place through MARK/ERK signaling pathway. The results of this research can be valuable in suggesting a treatment solution for cardiovascular diseases.

L-asparaginase is recognized as a first-line anticancer drug for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, low-substrate specificity and exhibiting glutaminase activity cause various off-target toxicities on normal cells. In the following study, we functionalized wild-type asparaginase with the TMTP1 targeting peptide which specifically targets a variety of hematological and metastatic cancer cells. The peptide sequence was genetically added to the N-terminal end of the asparaginase using the restriction endonuclease-free cloning method. Wild-type and engineered asparaginases were expressed in E. coli and purified by Nickel affinity chromatography column. The in vitro activity of both types of enzymes was evaluated by Nessler’s method. The sequencing results showed that the TMTP1 sequence was added in the correct frame to the asparaginase. Wild-type and TMTP1-fused asparaginases were produced in a soluble state with the specific activity of 172 U/mg and 153 U/mg, respectively. The evidence from this study suggests that TMTP1-fused asparaginase could preserve its solubility and activity compared to the wild-type species and can be proposed for future research in anticancer therapies.

Osteoporosis is one of the primary causes of disability and mortality in the elderly. If osteoporosis's significant features can be identified, the risk of developing this disease will be reduced. In recent years, data mining approaches have become a suitable tool for medical researchers. This study applied data mining methods to identify osteoporosis’s significant features. This study applied data from women having osteoporosis or osteopenia in the period 2011-2019 in the Osteoporosis Diagnosis Center, Isfahan, Iran. Data mining methods such as linear regression, naïve bayes, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, and neural network were implemented on the dataset. This study consisted of 8258 patients’ information, of which 1482 had osteoporosis. The results showed that the support vector machine, decision tree, neural network are the best method based on accuracy, precision, and AUC measures. Six candidate features were age, weight, back pain, low activity, menopause date, and previous fracture. Support vector machine, decision tree, and neural network are the best candidate techniques for predicting osteoporosis. Thin older people are more at risk of osteoporosis than other people. Yet, people with middleweight and middle age are at lower risk of osteoporosis.

Obesity is becoming a concerning disease in developing countries. Like other multifactorial diseases, genetics plays a substantial role in the development of this disease. We tried to investigate genetic variations (mutation/polymorphism) of GLP-1R gene in children diagnosed with obesity and to identify their possible connections with obesity and other conditions. Genomic DNA was extracted from 162 overweight/obese patients and 100 controls. Later, full exon sequencing and association studies were carried out. Three polymorphisms and one mutation were detected in the fourth and fifth exons of the GLP-1R gene. Some variations were detected in three cases from which 1/3 had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but none showed insulin resistance (IR). There were also statistically meaningful results for ‘Odds Ratio’ among different genotypes and allele frequencies in groups with NAFLD and/or IR. In addition, there was an increase in risk for NAFLD and a decrease in risk for IR. In the homozygous group, also the prospect of IR was double declined. Patients with the A allele of this polymorphism showed a drop in risk for IR as well. GLP-1R polymorphisms could influence obesity and diabetes and thus the functional analysis of the GLP-1R polymorphisms is benevolent.

A 52‐year‐old woman developed progressive infiltrated purple and hyperpigmented cutaneous lesions in the face, thighs, armpits, chest, and abdomen evolving forone year. Histopathological examination showed large histiocytes exhibiting intact inflammatory cells in their cytoplasm (emperipolesis). Immunohistochemical analyses showed that the histiocyte population was positive for S100 and CD68, but negative for CD1a. Based on the clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings, we made the diagnosis of Rosai Dorfman disease (RDD). Our patient didn’t manifest any other extra-cutaneous involvement and all the biological and radiological investigations were normal. This form of pure cutaneous RDD (P-CRDD) with multifocal lesions has been rarely reported. RDD is very rare and hardly recognized in the absence of lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of this entity involves a combination of histology and immunohistochemistry. To date, there is no standard treatment.

A tracheal bronchus is a congenital anomaly that is often asymptomatic but can be associated with a respiratory infection and chest pain. It is more common in men and the right lung and is seen between the carina and the cricoid cartilage. If it is asymptomatic, it does not need treatment and may be associated with other disorders such as Down syndrome. It is often diagnosed accidentally in bronchoscopy and bronchography. The left tracheal bronchus is often associated with brain abnormalities. In this study, we report a 37-year-old man who was referred to a hospital with coronavirus disease, and CT scans revealed RT tracheal bronchus abnormalities.

Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressing fatal neurodegenerative disease and can manifest with a rapidly progressive cognitive decline, ataxia, behavioral changes, visual disturbances and myoclonus. In our case report, we described a 68-year-old woman presented with rapid cognitive decline, gait disturbance, and cerebellar symptoms. Her laboratory and CSF examinations were found within normal limits. EEG examination revealed generalized periodic sharp and slow wave complexes. She underwent MRI examination including DWI. On DWI, restricted diffusion was detected at bilateral fronto-parietal and temporo-occipital lobes involving cingulate gyrus and bilateral basal ganglia and thalamic regions. The typical bilateral restricted diffusion areas in the medial pulvinar nuclei of the medial called as pulvinar sign or hockey stick sign were also found. DWI plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of CJD, because restricted diffusion abnormalities could be detected within a couple of weeks after the onset of disease symptoms and even before the manifestation of periodic triphasic waves on EEG. Hence, in this case report, we would like to emphasize the invaluable role of DWI in the early diagnosis of CJD cases.