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Background: Decitabine (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, DAC) is a deoxycytidine analog currently used as an effective drug against myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. Although various studies have pointed out the epigenetic effects of this drug, its epigenetic mechanisms in different leukemic cell lines are not specified. In this lab trial study, possible epigenetic effects of decitabine on leukemia cell lines Hl-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia) and Nalm-6 (acute pre-B cell lymphoblastic leukemia) vs. normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are compared. Materias and Methods: At the logarithmic phase of growth, the cultured cells Hl-60 and Nalm-6 obtained from Tehran Pasteur Institute, Iran, were treated for 24 hr with 1 µM of decitabine, a dose selected from literature and the MTT viability assay. Normal PBMCs were obtained from a pool of 3 healthy adult volunteer males, and cultured simultaneously in the same manner. The gene expressions of epigenetic enzymes DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) were assessed with the real-time PCR technique before and after treatment. The GAPDH gene expression served as the calibrator, while normal PBMCs were used for comparison. Results: The expressions of DNMT1 and DNMT3B in lymphoblasts were significantly (p=0.0017 and p=0.0489, respectively) decreased after treatment with decitabine, while the expression of DNMT3A was significantly (p=0.0022) increased. In leukemic promyelocytes the expressions of DNMT1 and DNMT3B in lymphoblasts were significantly (p=0.0222 and p=0.0452, respectively) decreased after treatment with decitabine, while the expression of DNMT3A was significantly (p=0.0013) increased. Conclusion: One of the mechanisms by decitabine to inhibit the proliferation of both myeloid and lymphoid acute leukemia cells maybe by altering the gene expression of DNMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can manifest as systemic infections that affect multiple organs and show laboratory manifestations. We aimed to analyze laboratory findings to understand possible mechanisms of organ dysfunction and risk stratification of hospitalized patients in these epidemics. Methods . This retrospective study was conducted among patients admitted to COVID-19 referral treatment center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran, from April 21 to November 21, 2021. It was the fifth peak of COVID-19 in Iran, and Delta (VOC-21APR-02; B.1-617.2) was the dominant and most concerning strain. All cases were positive for COVID-19 by RT-PCR test. Lab information of included patients and association of sex, age, and outcome were analyzed, on admission. Results . A total of 466 COVID-19 patients were included in the study, the majority of whom were women (68.9%). The average age of hospitalized patients in male and female patients was 57.68 and 41.32 years, respectively ( p < 0.01). During hospitalization, abnormality in hematological and biochemical parameters was significant and was associated with the outcome of death in patients. There was incidence of lymphopenia, neutrophilia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The changes in neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) and hematocrit/albumin (Het/Alb) ratio and potassium and calcium levels were significant. Conclusion . Based on these results, new biochemical and hematological parameters can be used to predict the spread of infection and the underlying molecular mechanism. Viral infection may spread through blood cells and the immune system., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Fatemeh Sadeghi-Nodoushan et al.)