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A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), causing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), is a member of the Coronaviridae family. The benefits of the primary COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks. Nevertheless, the risks associated with too early and too frequent boosters should be considered, especially when vaccines have immune-mediated effects like myocarditis, which is more commonly associated with the second dose of some mRNA vaccines. Booster vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 are needed because of either reduced immunity to the original vaccine or evolved viruses producing immunity to the initial vaccine antigens. So, the aim of this study was to detect the difference in neutralizing anti-RBD antibodies between the third and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A study was performed among 29 eligible participants in Birjand (Iran). Blood samples were taken from all participants 2–4 weeks after the third dose. In the next step, humoral responses were assessed with a kit detecting neutralization of SARS-CoV-2. SPSS software version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to analyze the data. The mean age of cases was 35.62±8.72 years, with a range of 21–53 years. The obtained results showed that all vaccines significantly had a higher efficacy in the third dose than the second. Participants who received Vaxzevria in the second dose and PastoCovac Plus in the third dose had more immunogenicity. According to the results of this study, a third dose of the vaccine should be given to persons aged ≥20 years to provide an increased level of protection against COVID-19. Especially, participants who received Sputnik-V and Vaxzevria in the second dose and PastoCovac Plus in the third dose showed a more effective immune response against the virus.

A new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), causing COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), is a member of the Coronaviridae family. The benefits of the primary COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks. Nevertheless, the risks associated with too early and too frequent boosters should be considered, especially when vaccines have immune-mediated effects like myocarditis, which is more commonly associated with the second dose of some mRNA vaccines. Booster vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 are needed because of either reduced immunity to the original vaccine or evolved viruses producing immunity to the initial vaccine antigens. So, the aim of this study was to detect the difference in neutralizing anti-RBD antibodies between the third and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A study was performed among 29 eligible participants in Birjand (Iran). Blood samples were taken from all participants 2–4 weeks after the third dose. In the next step, humoral responses were assessed with a kit detecting neutralization of SARS-CoV-2. SPSS software version 22.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to analyze the data. The mean age of cases was 35.62±8.72 years, with a range of 21–53 years. The obtained results showed that all vaccines significantly had a higher efficacy in the third dose than the second. Participants who received Vaxzevria in the second dose and PastoCovac Plus in the third dose had more immunogenicity. According to the results of this study, a third dose of the vaccine should be given to persons aged ≥20 years to provide an increased level of protection against COVID-19. Especially, participants who received Sputnik-V and Vaxzevria in the second dose and PastoCovac Plus in the third dose showed a more effective immune response against the virus.

Better evaluation of existing health programmes, appropriate policy making against emerging health threats, and reducing inequalities in Iran rely on a comprehensive national and subnational breakdown of the burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors.

Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus) is one of the endangered species, and understanding its different biological aspects may be useful in preserving it. Therefore, the present study was carried out to establish selected hematological and blood biochemical reference intervals for the softshell turtle. The results of hematological and biochemical data are as follows: Erythrocytes: 0.48 × 106cells mm−3, leukocytes: 3.77 × 103cells mm−3, hemoglobin: 10.67 g dl−1, hematocrit: 31.41%, mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes: 673.27 fl, mean corpuscular hemoglobin: 228.93 pg, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration: 34.00%, and total alternative complement: 59.5 U ml−1, lysozyme: 9.3 U min−1, AST: 75.9 U L−1, ALT: 13.5 U L−1, LDH: 418.9 U L−1, GGT: 15.5 U L−1, ALP: 103.9 U L−1, and glucose: 53.80 mg dL−1, creatinine: 1.54 mg dL−1, cholesterol: 114.27 mg dL−1, triglyceride: 115.73 mg dL−1, total protein: 4.91 g dL−1, albumin: 2.27 g dL−1, globulins: 2.64 g dL−1, urea: 38.17 mg dL−1, phosphorus: 5.36 mg dL−1. There was no significant difference between male and female turtles in most biochemical and hematological parameters. The present results showed that some of the biochemical parameters measured in the serum of R.euphraticuswere similar to the blood biochemical parameters in the freshwater and marine turtles. However, there was a significant difference in some parameters. The results of this study could enhance our knowledge of the Euphrates softshell turtle (R.euphraticus) biology.

Background:Invariant natural killer T cells iNKT are a small subset of T lymphocytes which are involved in a wide variety of immune responses. Human studies have reported a wide variation in the number of circulating iNKT cell among healthy donors as well as in some immunologic disorders while there is no or little data about the factors which affect the pool of circulating iNKT cells in human.Given the importance of iNKT cells in immunologic responses and variation in the number and phenotype of iNKT cells, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of circulating iNKT cells in a cohort of healthy Iranian adults.Methods:The number of circulating iNKT cells was measured among PBMC in a group of healthy Iranian adults by flow cytometry. iNKT cells were identified by using 6B11 monoclonal antibody or by coexpression of TCR Vα24 and Vβ11 chain.Results:The mean frequency of 6B11iNKT cells and Vα24Vβ11 iNKT cells among T lymphocytes, were 0.54 and 0.31, respectively. Fortyfive percent of 6B11iNKT cells were CD4 positive, and there was a weak but significant inverse correlation between total 6B11iNKT cells and their CD4positive subset. There was no significant difference in the frequency of iNKT cells between males and females.Conclusions:Results of this study show that the frequency of iNKT cells is fairly high among the Iranian population and suggest matching of study population for age, sex, and ethnic background in iNKTrelated research. More studies are necessary to understand the factors that can affect the variation in the number of iNKT cells in healthy humans. © 2009 Clinical Cytometry Society

Abstract: Background: Allergic disorders are common ailments, which cause socioeconomic problems. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of allergic disorders and symptoms suggestive of asthma in Mashhad city, Northeast Iran. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey in a randomly selected representative sample of the Mashhad population. A questionnaire was used based on the standard questionnaire of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). The questionnaires asked about allergy-related symptoms including nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, atopic dermatitis symptoms, confirmed asthma, asthma-related symptoms, and nonspecific allergic symptoms. Some of the environmental triggers of allergic reactions such as pollen, dried plant, dust, drugs, food, fruit, condiments, makeup, perfume, jewelry, latex gloves, and keeping a pet were considered in the questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of allergic disorders in this study was found to be 27.5% in the city of Mashhad. According to our definitions, the rates detected of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, and asthma were 22.4, 6.6, 13.5, 9.5, and 2.3%, respectively. Half of the allergic group suffered from rhinorrhea and other symptoms were significantly higher than in the non-allergic group. Dust and pollen were found to be the most important triggers of allergic reactions in the allergic group. Conclusion: This report may be useful to understand the factors contributing to asthma and allergic disorders and may help in management and control of these problems.

Abstract: Background: Knowledge about the prevalence, risk factors and triggers of allergic disorders among populations of different geographical areas is important for the development of preventative strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical pattern and triggers of allergic disorders among the inhabitants of the rural town, Boshrooye, in Iran. Methods: A written symptoms questionnaire derived from the standard questionnaire of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) in the Farsi language was used. Results: The prevalence of atopy, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis and physician-diagnosed asthma was 18.1%, 15.5%, 11.5%, 8.2% and 0.3%, respectively. Rhinorhea, sneezing and nose blockage were the most frequent symptoms among atopic cases (37.7%, 33% and 28.8%, respectively). Dust and pollen were the most important triggers of allergic symptoms. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate a low to moderate prevalence of allergic disorders in a rural area in Iran and emphasize the importance of dust and pollens as the main triggers of allergic symptoms.