Search

Background: Oxidative stress that occurs as a consequence of the imbalance between antioxidant activity and free radicals can contribute in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Antioxidant therapies have been proposed as possible approaches to treat and attenuate diabetic complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential antioxidant effects of trehalose on oxidative indices in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model., Methods: Diabetic rats were divided randomly into five treatment groups (six rats per group). One test group received 45 mg/kg/day trehalose via intraperitoneal injection, and another received 1.5 mg/kg/day trehalose via oral gavage for 4 weeks. Three control groups were also tested including nondiabetic rats as a normal control (NC), a nontreated diabetic control (DC), and a positive control given 200 mg/kg/day metformin. Levels of thiol groups (-SH), and serum total antioxidant capacity were measured between control and test groups. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme activities were assessed., Results: In both oral and injection trehalose-treated groups, a marked increase was observed in serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (p > 0.05) and thiol groups (-SH) (p < 0.05). Also, SOD and GPx activities were increased after 4 weeks of treatment with trehalose., Conclusion: In conclusion, the present results indicate ameliorative effects of trehalose on oxidative stress, with increase antioxidant enzyme activities in STZ-induced diabetic rats., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

COVID-19 is now pandemic throughout the world, and scientists are searching for effective therapies to prevent or treat the disease. The combination of curcumin and piperine is a potential option for the management of COVID-19 based on several mechanisms including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antifibrotic, and antioxidant effects. Here, we describe the probable mechanism of curcumin-piperine against COVID-19. Administration of curcumin-piperine combination appears as a potential strategy to counterbalance the pathophysiological features of COVID-19 including inflammation. The optimal dose and duration of curcumin-piperine supplementation should be determined in the future., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing global disturbances and creating many questions in every aspect of life. Since it influences health in multiple ways, including sexual and reproductive health, publishing in all of these areas has increased lately. One aspect that requires basing on scientific evidence is breastfeeding. There are some controversies in the literature on the breastfeeding management in confirmed COVID-19 mothers. Breast milk is excellent for the infant's nutritional needs and growth, because it includes all of the nutrients an infant requires. It promotes the immature immune system of the infant and reinforces defense mechanisms against infectious and other agents during the breastfeeding period. While limited clinical research is available, we can build on what we know about breastfeeding and previous similar outbreaks to plan and manage this crisis. The aim of this chapter is to provide pediatricians with further guidance on breastfeeding and associated safety measures during the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in instances where a mother has or may have COVID-19. This will also be a benefit to future epidemics and pandemics., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Aim The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has not only had an impact on physical health but also on psychological health. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence and severity of psychological distress in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in February and March 2020 in Tehran, Iran. We analyzed demographic characteristics and assessed depression, anxiety, and stress levels in 241 people using convenience sampling and the DASS-21 questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using R. Results The study population included 241 community-dwelling participants, of whom 145 were women and 96 were males. The mean age was 49.16 ± 8.01 years. Approximately two-thirds of participants (n = 158) reported no history of comorbid illness. The mean scores of depression and stress were at a "severe" level, while anxiety levels were at an "extremely severe" level. The prevalence of severe and extremely severe depression readings was 51.45 and 38.17%, respectively. In the anxiety subscale, the prevalence of severe and extremely severe depression was 95.90 and 4.1%, and in the stress subscale the prevalence was 48.97 and 4.98%, respectively. Conclusion In this study, people reported experiencing severe and extremely severe psychological distress. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement mental health intervention policies to cope with this ongoing challenge. We suggest that the incorporation of molecular biomarker tests into the algorithm could aid in assessment of patients and guide the most appropriate therapeutic response.

COVID-19 is a pandemic and acute respiratory disease. Every day, all around the world, researchers are endeavoring to find effective or potential adjuvant therapies. Studies illustrate that essential oils from cinnamon and derivatives such as cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid possess numerous biological activities. In this paper, we have reviewed the possible mechanisms of cinnamon on the inflammatory cascade as a potential alternative therapy to decrease oxidative stress and inflammation in COVID-19 patients., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is responsible for the current pandemic which has already resulted in considerable mortality worldwide. This systematic review was conducted to summarize the results of the published articles assessing the incidence of heart diseases in patients infected with COVID-19. The electronic databases Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, Science Direct, and ProQuest were used to search for potentially relevant articles. Articles published from Dec 2019 to April 2020 were included. All cross-sectional, retrospective or prospective observational cohort and case-control studies were selected which reported the incidence or prevalence of myocardial injury, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular disease in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Based on the inclusion criteria, 12 articles were selected. The incidence of cardiac injury was reported in 8 articles and 8 articles focused on the cardiovascular outcomes of COVID-19 infection. The incidence of new cardiac injury was reported to be 7.2-77% in live and dead patients, respectively. The results showed that patients with cardiac injury had worse outcomes including higher mortality than those without cardiac injury. The most common cardiac injury outcomes were shock and malignant arrhythmias. The most common radiographic findings in patients with cardiac injury were multiple mottling and ground-glass opacities in the lungs (64.6%). A significant number of patients with cardiac injury required noninvasive mechanical ventilation (46.3%) or invasive mechanical ventilation (22.0%). Acute respiratory distress syndrome was seen in 58.5%, acute kidney injury in 8.5%, electrolyte disturbances in 15.9%, hypoproteinemia in 13.4%, and coagulation disorders in 7.3% of patients with cardiac injuries. In addition, survival days were negatively correlated with cardiac troponin I levels (r = -0.42, 95%, p = 0.005). The results of this review showed that myocardial injury in patients with COVID 19 has a poor prognosis. Hence, cardiac investigation and management in these patients are crucial.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a fatal complication of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19 disease. This scoping review was carried out with international, peer-reviewed research studies and gray literature published up to July 2020 in Persian and English languages. Using keywords derived from MESH, databases including Magiran, IranMedex, SID, Web of Sciences, PubMed, Embase via Ovid, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched. After screening titles and abstracts, the full texts of selected articles were evaluated, and those which passed the criteria were analyzed and synthesized with inductive thematic analysis. Study quality was also evaluated using a standard tool. The overall prevalence of ARDS was estimated using a random-effects model. This led to identification of 23 primary studies involving 2880 COVID-19 patients. All articles were observational with a cross-sectional, retrospective, case report, and cohort design with moderate to strong quality. The main findings showed that COVID-19-related ARDS has a high prevalence and is different to ARDS due to other etiologies. Elderly and patients with comorbidities and organ failure should be closely surveyed for respiratory organ indications for several weeks after the onset of respiratory symptoms. There is currently no definitive treatment for ARDS in COVID-19 disease, and supportive therapies and their effects are somewhat controversial.

Following the outbreaks of SARS-CoV in 2002 and MERS-CoV in 2012, the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has become an increasing threat to human health around the world. Numerous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 appears similar to the SARS-CoV as it uses angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor to gain entry into cells. The main aims of this scoping review were to identify the primary hosts of coronaviruses, the relationship between the receptor binding domain of coronaviruses and ACE2, the organ specificity of ACE2 expression compared with clinical manifestations of the disease, and to determine if this information can be used in the development of novel treatment approaches for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints, which is prevalent in about 0.5-1.0% of the world population. Newer therapies for RA have only minimal efficacy in some cases and some adverse effects. Curcumin with anti-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties might have beneficial effects on RA. We have carried out a systematic review with the main aim of estimating the effect of curcumin supplementation on RA. A systematic search of the medical databases, PubMed, Scopus, ISI, and Google Scholar was performed up to March 21, 2020 to identify clinical trials assessing the effect of turmeric or curcumin on RA. Six studies, comprising 259 patients with RA of 6-12 weeks duration, were included. Disease activity was assessed using 28 joints (DAS-28), visual analog scale (VAS), and American College of Rheumatology (ACR-20) scores. Treatment with curcumin significantly reduced DAS-28 scores in four out of five studies and VAS scores for pain in all three studies and significantly increased ACR-20 scores in all three studies in which it was measured. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and circulating C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed in six and five studies, respectively, out of which four studies reported significant reductions in these parameters in response to curcumin treatment. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was significantly reduced after consumption of curcumin in all three relevant studies. None of the studies reported serious adverse effects with curcumin consumption. The present systematic review suggests that curcumin could be used as a safe agent to treat RA. Thus, further validation is justified., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the world for more than 1 year now and has resulted in over 77 million cases and 1.7 million related deaths. While we await the rollout of the vaccines, new treatments are urgently needed to reduce the effects of this devastating virus. Here, we describe a number of preclinical studies which show promising effects of the polyphenol resveratrol., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a fatal complication of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which causes COVID-19 disease. Here, we performed a scoping review and meta-analysis including clinical studies on patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection with data on AKI assessment and characteristics, and the overall prevalence of AKI was estimated using a random-effects model. We identified 21 articles which passed the search criteria. All were quantitative observational studies which used a cross-sectional, retrospective, case report, or cohort methodology. This showed that aging, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, previous chronic disease, and other comorbidities were risk factors of AKI. Although the prevalence of proteinuria, hematuria, and increased serum creatinine was reported for up to 60% of the patients with COVID-19, the overall prevalence of AKI was estimated to be 8%. We conclude that although approximately two-thirds of patients with COVID-19 had symptoms of kidney damage, most of these did not meet the diagnostic criteria for AKI. Further studies should be performed to validate biomarkers for improved AKI diagnosis in COVID-19 patients and new treatment options are required to reduce the rate of mortality.

In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, children experience mild symptoms compared to adults. However, the precise explanations for this disparity are not clear. Thus, we attempted to identify rational explanations about age-related differences as reported in different studies. Given the incomplete data on SARS-CoV-2, some information has been gathered from other studies of earlier coronavirus or influenza outbreaks. Age-related differences in disease severity are important with regard to diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections. In addition, these differences impact social distancing needs, since pediatric patients with mild or asymptomatic are likely to play a significant role in disease transmission., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The new coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), turned into a pandemic affecting more than 200 countries. Due to the high rate of transmission and mortality, finding specific and effective treatment options for this infection is currently of urgent importance. Emerging technologies have created a promising platform for developing novel treatment options for various viral diseases such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Here, we have described potential novel therapeutic options based on the structure and pathophysiological mechanism of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the results of previous studies on similar viruses such as SARS and MERS. Many of these approaches can be used for controlling viral infection by reducing the viral damage or by increasing the potency of the host response. Owing to their high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, siRNAs, aptamers, nanobodies, neutralizing antibodies, and different types of peptides can be used for interference with viral replication or for blocking internalization. Receptor agonists and interferon-inducing agents are also potential options to balance and enhance the innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Solid evidence on the efficacy and safety of such novel technologies is yet to be established although many well-designed clinical trials are underway to address these issues.

Aim: The outbreak of COVID-19 has laid unprecedented psychological stress on healthcare workers (HCWs). We aimed to assess the immediate psychological impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the HCWs at Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran., Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of HCWs using questionnaires in February and March 2020 in Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran. We evaluated depression, stress, and anxiety levels using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Participants were selected by using census sampling. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.5.1., Results: The study population included 217 HCWs (111 male, 116 female) and the mean age of the study group was 39.6 years old. Approximately two-thirds of the HCWs stayed in the hospital for 2-3 weeks. The mean scores of depression and stress were at a "severe" level, while anxiety scores were at an "extremely severe" level. The prevalence of severe scores was 38.71%, 2.30%, and 48.97% for depression, anxiety, and stress, and the prevalence of extremely severe scores was 46.54%, 97.24%, and 4.98% depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. In stress subscale, moderate stress was 47.46%. Female HCWs reported higher levels of depression compared with males., Conclusion: In this study, HCWs reported experiencing severe and extremely severe psychological burdens. Timely interventions to promote mental health in HCWs exposed to patients with COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented, with female nurses requiring particular attention. This process could be facilitated via tests for molecular biomarkers in accessible body fluids, such as saliva, plasma, and serum.

In December 2019, a respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) began in Wuhan, China, and quickly became a pandemic. In such situations, pregnant women are suspected of being among the vulnerable groups. The aim of this study was to report clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and obstetrical complications, maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women. We searched the Cochrane library, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Web of Sciences from their inception to April 5, 2020. Any study involving pregnant women with COVID-19 which evaluated the effect of the disease on pregnancy outcomes and fetal and neonatal complications was included in the study. The outcomes were the symptoms and laboratory findings, obstetrical complications, mode of delivery, and maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. The search resulted in 69 titles and abstracts, which were narrowed down to 12 studies involving 68 women. The three most common symptoms of patients were fever, cough, and fatigue. The most common laboratory findings were an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) and lymphopenia. The most common obstetrical complication was preterm labor (33.3%). No maternal deaths were reported. The Cesarean section rate was 83.3% and the vertical transition rate was 2.23%. The findings showed that the clinical symptoms and laboratory measures of pregnant women affected by COVID-19 did not differ from the general population. In general, the prognosis of mothers who suffered from COVID-19 and their newborns was satisfactory. However, there is a need for further rigorous studies to confirm these findings as the pandemic progresses.

Aim The COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in early 2020 and is associated with high public anxiety all over the world. The healthcare community is at the highest risk of infection and thereby prone to most distress. The aim of this study was to explore and evaluate the degree of depression, anxiety, and stress levels among medical college students during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in February and March 2020, 3 weeks after the first reported COVID-19 infection was identified in Iran. All medical college students who entered clinical courses were eligible for the study. Depression, stress, and anxiety were evaluated in these students using the DASS-21 questionnaire. Participants were selected by using availability sampling. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.5.1. Results The total number of participants was 207, with 143 males and 64 females. More than half of the participants (57.97%) were married. The mean duration of working experience among students with COVID-19 infection and experience in a medical ward was 3.00 ± 1.27 days and 17.40 ± 7.26 months, respectively. The majority of students had 2 or 3 days working experience with COVID-19 infection. The mean anxiety score of participants was 28.56 ± 4.68, the depression score was 29.36 ± 4.42, and the stress score was 28.99 ± 4.53. Our findings indicated that the mean scores of depression were at an "extremely severe" level, while stress and anxiety were at "severe" levels. The prevalence of "severe" symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety was 69.57%, 60.87%, and 99.04%, respectively. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression among medical students who were exposed to COVID-19-infected patients. Our results highlight the need to establish psychological support programs, training, and self-care for medical college students in relation to mental health. We recommend incorporation of molecular biomarker tests into an algorithm to aid in assessments and consideration of the appropriate therapeutic responses.

Depressive and anxiety disorders affect a significant proportion of the global population and constitute one of the highest disease burdens worldwide. Conventional pharmacological treatments are traditionally the first line of therapy for individuals affected by these conditions although these are only successful approximately half of the time and are often associated with undesirable side effects. This review describes the use of the natural substance curcumin as a potential alternative treatment of these mental disorders. With this in mind, we analyzed the effects of curcumin in eight clinical studies of depression and five studies of anxiety and assessed these using psychiatric symptom scores and molecular biomarker readouts., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

There have been recent encouraging reports about the development of vaccines for COVID-19. Given the scale and effects of this pandemic on public health and economies worldwide, there has been an unprecedented approach across the globe, leading to the emergence of vaccine candidates many times faster than the normal process would allow. This review gives up-to-date information as of November 28, 2020, on the latest developments in this area and covers the plans to roll out the most promising vaccines across the entire world to halt the spread of this devastating virus., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in worldwide research efforts to recognize people at greatest risk of developing critical illness and dying. Growing numbers of reports have connected obesity to more severe COVID-19 illness and death. Although the exact mechanism by which obesity may lead to severe COVID-19 outcomes has not yet been determined, the mechanisms appear to be multifactorial. These include mechanical changes of the airways and lung parenchyma, systemic and airway inflammation, and general metabolic dysfunction that adversely affect pulmonary function and/or response to treatment. As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, clinicians should carefully monitor and manage obese patients for prompt and targeted treatment.

Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide formed by two glucose molecules. It has been shown that trehalose can protect proteins and cellular membranes against the adverse effects of different types of stress, such as dehydration, cold, heat, and oxidation. Chronic liver disease has emerged as an important cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. This disaccharide has received attention for its hepatoprotective activities against liver damage. The main mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective action of trehalose are reducing inflammatory signaling, enhancing antioxidant defense, and induction of autophagy., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Plant extracts have been used to treat a wide range of human diseases. Curcumin, a bioactive polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa L., exhibits therapeutic effects against diabetes while only negligible adverse effects have been observed. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin are the main and well-recognized pharmacological effects that might explain its antidiabetic effects. Additionally, curcumin may regulate novel signaling molecules and enzymes involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes, including glucagon-like peptide-1, dipeptidyl peptidase-4, glucose transporters, alpha-glycosidase, alpha-amylase, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Recent findings from in vitro and in vivo studies on novel signaling pathways involved in the potential beneficial effects of curcumin for the treatment of diabetes are discussed in this review., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Recent events regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated the importance of healthcare workers around the world and the stressful working conditions that are often associated with their profession. The severity of stress can be influenced by a number of factors such as age, seniority gender, family status, and position in the wards. Thus, it is important to monitor signs of stress and other psychiatric symptoms in order to understand the mediating factors and guide appropriate interventions. Here, we describe a cross-sectional study of 17,414 nurses from 31 Iranian cities carried out from 2011 to 2015, using a 22-item tool of work stressors. The tool examined interactive, managerial, and situational domains and the main objective was to identify the main background variables associated with the stress of nurses in critical care settings.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic condition, which carries considerable morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that curcumin could modulate glucose homeostasis and improve vascular risk in patients with T2DM. The aim of this systematic review was to study the effect of curcumin on glycemic indices in patients with diabetes. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar up to March 5, 2020, to identify randomized control trials investigating the effect of curcumin supplementation on glycemic indices including fasting blood glucose (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Eleven articles comprising 1131 individuals with T2DM were included in the study. Treatment with curcumin significantly reduced the level of FBS and HbA1c in 8 and 7 studies, respectively. HOMA-IR was evaluated in five studies, and this was reduced significantly by curcumin supplementation in three of those studies. Patients who took curcumin supplementation over longer periods (≥12 weeks) showed a significant reduction in glycemic indices. The current systematic review showed that curcumin can improve glycemic control in patients with T2DM. However, further studies are required to determine the optimum conditions for these effects of curcumin, particularly regarding readouts of insulin resistance., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Infectious diseases (IDs) are life-threatening illnesses, which result from the spread of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. IDs are a major challenge for the healthcare systems around the world, leading to a wide variety of clinical manifestations and complications. Despite the capability of frontline-approved medications to partially prevent or mitigate the invasion and subsequent damage of IDs to host tissues and cells, problems such as drug resistance, insufficient efficacy, unpleasant side effects, and high expenses stand in the way of their beneficial applications. One strategy is to evaluate currently explored and available bioactive compounds as possible anti-microbial agents. The natural polyphenol curcumin has been postulated to possess various properties including anti-microbial activities. Studies have shown that it possess pleiotropic effects against bacterial- and parasitic-associating IDs including drug-resistant strains. Curcumin can also potentiate the efficacy of available anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic drugs in a synergistic fashion. In this review, we summarize the findings of these studies along with reported controversies of native curcumin and its analogues, alone and in combination, toward its application in future studies as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic agent., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Aim: Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection can develop several psychological consequences. Epidemiological data on mental health and psychological disorder inpatients infected with COVID-19 pneumonia are not available in Iranian patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anxiety, stress, and depression of patients with COVID-19., Material and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2020. All confirmed patients with COVID-19 were included in the study by census sampling. Assessment of depression, stress, and anxiety was performed using the DASS-21 questionnaire. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.5.1., Results: The questionnaires were completed by 221 patients with COVID-19 infection (204 males, 17 females). The mean age was 45.90 ± 7.73 years. Our results indicated that the mean scores of depression and anxiety were at "extremely severe" levels, while stress levels were "severe." The prevalence of "extremely severe" symptoms of depression and anxiety was 54.29% and 97.29%, respectively. The prevalence of severe stress was 46.61%., Conclusion: In this study, patients infected with COVID-19 reported severe and extremely severe experience psychological distress. Further studies should focus on the combined use of psychological and molecular biomarker testing to increase accuracy. Overall, the findings demonstrate the necessity of special intervention programs for the confirmed patients with emerging infectious disease COVID-19 to promote mental health needs.

The Middle East is known as the cradle of civilization. It was the crossroads of ancient empires and the birthplace of major world religions. Today, it is the center of many world issues due to economic, religious, and political reasons. Although it has lagged behind many other regions of the world in medicinal research, this has increased dramatically in recent years with increasing numbers of relevant publications. Much of this research has focused on increasing our understanding of the aging process and attempting to identify biomarkers and natural products to improve the human health span. This review provides a brief overview of the research conducted in the Middle East on the health benefits of curcumin, a phytochemical derived from the famous spice turmeric. These efforts have been mainly spearheaded by Iran., (© 2021. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Importance: The prevalence and severity of long-term health complications after exposure to sulfur mustard are unknown., Objective: To investigate the long-term health outcomes among survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective cohort study, late-onset health complications of 64 190 Iranian survivors exposed to sulfur mustard during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988 were investigated using descriptive statistics. Data involving affected organs and symptom severity were extracted from the Veterans and Martyr Affair Foundation (VMAF) database from 1980 to 2019. Assessments were conducted across 3 groups depending on whether survivors were (1) evacuated and admitted (EA) to a hospital; (2) not evacuated or admitted (NEA) to a hospital; or (3) evacuation or admission status was not documented., Exposures: Analysis of chronic symptom severity following exposure to sulfur mustard., Main Outcomes and Measures: Mild, moderate, or severe rankings of symptoms in lungs, eyes, and skin of survivors exposed to sulfur mustard using data from the VMAF database., Results: Of 64 190 chemical survivors registered in the VMAF database, 60 861 met the inclusion criteria. Of the included survivors, 98.0% were male, and the mean (SD) age was 23.5 (7.7) years. Most survivors (53 675 [88.2%]) had no symptoms or mild lesions, and 7186 survivors (11.8%) had moderate or severe complications. Moderate to severe lung (6540 [10.7%]), eye (335 [0.6%]), or skin (725 [1.2%]) injuries were documented in the exposed population. The proportion of moderate plus severe late complications in eyes was 3 times as high in male survivors compared with female survivors (0.6% [95% CI, 0.53%-0.65%] vs 0.2% [95% CI, 0.09%-0.73%]; P < .001), whereas dermal complications were significantly more common in female survivors (3.9% [95% CI, 2.92%-5.11%] vs 1.14% [95% CI, 1.06%-1.23%]; P < .001). Mild lung lesions were more prevalent in the NEA group than in the EA group (73.9% [95% CI, 73.4%-74.4%] vs 11.0% [95% CI, 10.6%-11.3%]; P < .001). In the NEA group, 83.2% (n = 23 866) developed lung injuries that were mostly mild or moderate, whereas 77% (n = 24 766) of the EA group did not develop lung injuries (P < .001)., Conclusions and Relevance: The present study found sex differences in the frequencies of eye and skin complications following sulfur mustard exposure, and lung complications were more prevalent years after sulfur mustard exposure than soon after exposure. Mild lung lesions were observed more frequently among sulfur mustard-exposed survivors who had not been evacuated or hospitalized than among those who had been evacuated or hospitalized. These differences may be due to physiological response or dose of exposure. Close monitoring over an extended period may be required for detection of late pulmonary complications in individuals exposed to sulfur mustard.

Antipsychotics are the main line of treatment for schizophrenia. Even though there are significant rates of medication drop out due to side effects and limited response of approximately 50% of patients. This is likely due to incomplete knowledge in how these drugs act at the molecular level. To improve treatment efficacy during the critical early stages of schizophrenia, we aimed to identify molecular signatures at baseline (T0) for prediction of a positive response to the atypical antipsychotics olanzapine and risperidone after 6 weeks (T6) treatment. Blood plasma samples were processed and analyzed by label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics using two-dimensional nano-liquid chromatography, coupled online to a Synapt G2-Si mass spectrometer. Data were obtained in MS E mode (data-independent acquisition) in combination with ion-mobility (HDMS E ). We were able to identify a potential panel of proteins that might predict a positive outcome to olanzapine and risperidone treatment. The proteins found to be differentially abundant between T0 and T6 in good responders compared to poor responders were analyzed in silico for enrichment pathways and found to be mostly involved with immune system functions. This data can contribute to better understand the biochemical signaling mechanisms peripherally triggered by antipsychotic medication and eventually used to develop surrogate biomarker tests to help improve treatment outcomes and guide development of new treatment approaches. SIGNIFICANCE: The application of proteomics to the study of the atypical antipsychotic effects on the blood plasma proteome from schizophrenia patients could help in the search for new targets to improve the current therapies, as well as in the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this original article, we provided clues that atypical antipsychotics might be associated with good response by modulating proteins that play a role in inflammation and/or immune system pathways. In addition, the proteins with differential abundance found in the comparison between good and poor responders at the baseline might compose a signature for prediction of response effectiveness., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Atypical antipsychotics are widely used to manage schizophrenia symptoms. However, these drugs can induce deleterious side effects, such as MetS, which are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk to patients. Lipids play a central role in this context, and changes in lipid metabolism have been implicated in schizophrenia's pathobiology. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that lipidome changes may be related to antipsychotic treatment response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipidome changes in blood plasma samples of schizophrenia patients before and after 6 weeks of treatment with either risperidone, olanzapine, or quetiapine. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis showed changes in the levels of ceramides (Cer), glycerophosphatidic acids (PA), glycerophosphocholines (PC), phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), phosphatidylinositols (PI), glycerophosphoglycerols (PG), and phosphatidylserines (PS) for all treatments. However, the treatment with risperidone also affected diacylglycerides (DG), ceramide 1-phosphates (CerP), triglycerides (TG), sphingomyelins (SM), and ceramide phosphoinositols (PI-Cer). Moreover, specific lipid profiles were observed that could be used to distinguish poor and good responders to the different antipsychotics. As such, further work in this area may lead to lipid-based biomarkers that could be used to improve the clinical management of schizophrenia patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest “The authors have declared no conflict of interest”., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Innate immunity has been linked to initiation of Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Moreover, risk of first-episode psychosis (FEP) and schizophrenia (Sz) is increased after various infections in predisposed individuals. Thus, we hypothesized an analogous role of innate immunity with increased C-reactive protein (CRP) in non-affective psychosis. Differential blood count, CRP, neutrophil and monocyte-macrophage activation markers, cortisol and psychotic symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]) were assessed in controls (n = 294) and acutely ill unmedicated FEP (n = 129) and Sz (n = 124) patients at baseline and after 6 weeks treatment. Neutrophils, monocytes, and CRP were increased in patients vs controls at baseline (P < .001), and neutrophil and monocyte counts correlated positively with activation markers. Eosinophils were lower at baseline in FEP (P < .001) and Sz (P = .021) vs controls. Differences in neutrophils (P = .023), eosinophils (P < .001), and CRP (P < .001) were also present when controlling for smoking and cortisol, and partially remitted after antipsychotic treatment. FEP patients with high neutrophils (P = .048) or monocytes (P = .021) had higher PANSS-P scores at baseline but similar disease course. CRP correlated with PANSS-P at baseline (ρ = 0.204, P = .012). Improvement of positive symptoms after treatment correlated with declining neutrophils (ρ = 0.186, P = .015) or CRP (ρ = 0.237, P = .002) and rising eosinophils (ρ = -0.161, P = .036). In FEP, normalization of neutrophils (ρ = -0.231, P = .029) and eosinophils (ρ = 0.209, P = .048) correlated with drug dosage. In conclusion, innate immune system activation correlated with PANSS-P, supporting the immune hypothesis of psychosis. Neutrophil and monocyte counts and CRP levels may be useful markers of disease acuity, severity, and treatment response., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center.)

A major hurdle faced by most schizophrenia patients is the poor efficacy of current antipsychotic medications. This stems from a poor understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and the lack of biomarkers for the prediction of a positive medication response. By employing state-of-the-art proteomic analysis of blood plasma from 58 patients who were either drug-naive or drug-free at the time of sample collection, we identified potential biomarkers that were predictive of a positive response after 6 weeks of treatment with antipsychotics. Complement and coagulation cascades were the most over-represented biological pathways among these proteins, consistent with the importance of these processes in schizophrenia. Although preliminary, these findings are novel and may drive future efforts in the development of predictive tests for medication efficacy and thereby have a positive influence on disease outcome.

The pituitary gland is involved in multiple physiological functions, including growth, development, reproduction, stress adaptation, osmotic balance, body composition, skin pigmentation, and aging. Advancing age is characterized by dysfunctions in multiple physiological signaling mechanisms, concomitant with perturbed patterns of pituitary hormone release as well as disrupted rhythmic secretion of virtually all pituitary hormones. This chapter presents a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) protocol for analysis of the protein content in post-mortem pituitary glands. It was of special interest to determine if proteins previously linked with aging and age-related disorders could be identified to support further studies in this field using proteomic profiling approaches. This included hormones, hormone-processing enzymes, histones, oxidation-reduction enzymes, and others.

This chapter describes the application of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DGE) combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in the analysis of rat eye lens proteins. The main purpose was to identify proteins that may serve as potential biomarkers in age-related cataract formation. This includes the family of proteins known as the crystallins. Structural proteins and enzymes involved antioxidant activities. In addition, we also analyzed lenses from other species to illustrate the potential of using this technique in clinical and preclinical biomarker studies.

This chapter describes the application of multiplex immunoassay of hormones which are known to be present at different levels during aging and may therefore be precipitous in age-related diseases. As an example, we have analyzed serum from 12-week-old rats using multiplexes for the hormones insulin, leptin, growth hormone, corticosterone, and testosterone, which have been implicated in sarcopenia. The same technique can be used in the investigation of other sarcopenia biomarkers as well as in other disease cases involving both clinical and preclinical biomarker studies.

The increase in the human lifespan has not been paralleled by an increase in healthy life. With the increase in the proportion of the aged population, there has been a natural increase in the prevalence of age-related disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, frailty, and various other disorders. A continuous rise in these conditions could lead to a widespread medical and social burden. There are now considerable efforts underway to address these deficits in preclinical and clinical studies, which include the use of better study cohorts, longitudinal designs, improved translation of data from preclinical models, multi-omics profiling, identification of new biomarker candidates and refinement of computational tools and databases containing relevant information. Such efforts will support future interdisciplinary studies and help to identify potential new targets that are amenable to therapeutic approaches such as pharmacological interventions to increase the human healthspan in parallel with the lifespan.

This chapter describes a protocol for proteomic profiling of the rat hippocampal proteome using a combination of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and data analysis to determine the cellular location of the identified proteins. In the example given, many of these proteins were localized in the plasma membrane and nucleus. These could be of interest in further studies of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders linked with hippocampal dysfunction, such as aging, major depression, and Alzheimer's disease.

This chapter presents a protocol for assessing the effects dietary seafood consumption on depressive symptoms. We designed a cross-sectional study of 206 participants recruited in two Torres Strait Island communities. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the adapted Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (aPHQ-9), diet was analyzed with a structured questionnaire, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations were measured via a capillary dried blood spot system, and plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were measured by gas-phase chromatography. Finally, we tested the relationship between seafood consumption, blood lipid concentrations, and depression scores using independent samples t-tests and a logistic and quantile regression model.

Cardiovascular-related accidents such as stroke are currently ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide, and the risk of stroke increases dramatically with age. Aging results in structural and functional alterations of the oligodendrocytes which lead to loss of neuronal connectivity, cognitive deficits, and increased susceptibility to ischemic damage. Here, we have carried out proteomic profiling of MO3.13 oligodendrocyte cells following treatment with NMDA channel blocker MK-801 to increase our understanding of the mechanisms involved in brain aging, as well as those which render it more susceptible to ischemic damage. The main objective was to identify potential biomarkers which could be used to track disease or therapeutic effects.

Many age-related diseases are associated with metabolic abnormalities, and dietary interventions may have some benefit in alleviating symptoms or in delaying disease onset. Here, we review the commonly used best practices involved in applications of the ketogenic diet to facilitate its translation into clinical use. The findings reveal that better education of physicians is essential for applying the optimum diet and monitoring its effects in clinical practice. In addition, investigators should carefully consider potential confounding factors prior to commencing studies involving a ketogenic diet. Most importantly, current studies should improve their reporting on ketone levels as well as on the intake of both macro- and micronutrients. Finally, more detailed studies on the mechanism of action are necessary to help identify potential biomarkers for response prediction and monitoring, and to uncover new drug targets to aid the development of novel treatments.

Aging of the brain can result in excessive glucocorticoid secretion, potentially due to chronic stress and related situations. This can lead to dysfunction of brain areas involved in control of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis, growth, and metabolism, as well as areas associated with cognition and mood regulation. This chapter presents a protocol for two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis of hypothalamus and hippocampus tissue obtained from mice following exposure to high levels of corticosterone for 14 days. The chapter also presents a method for identification of the affected proteins in these brain regions using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry.

A number of physiological changes are known to occur with aging, including increased fat mass, increased insulin resistance, and changes in the levels of circulating biomarkers such as lipids, growth factors, and hormones. Here, we present protocols for physiometric assessments, as well as measurements of circulating biomarkers of hormonal and growth factor function in individuals over the age range of 18-52 years. We also test for potential gender differences in the outcome measures.

There have been repeated failures of clinical studies in the development of new efficacious treatments for Alzheimer's disease. This may be due to the fact that Alzheimer's disease is a heterogeneous disorder caused by person-to-person differences in genetic background, epigenetic profiles, environmental triggers, or the presence of other diseases. Furthermore, most Alzheimer's disease patients are diagnosed in the middle to late stages of the illness, when irreversible damage to the brain has already occurred. With this in mind, a strategy is presented involving identification and implementation of biomarker tests for diagnosis during the prodromal or early stages of the disease. In addition, it is proposed that targeting specific components of the amyloid deposition, tau oligomerization and neuroinflammation pathways may lead to improved outcomes in clinical studies.

Psychiatric disorders such as major depression are linked to early mortality, and patients affected by these conditions are at an increased risk of developing other diseases that are characteristic of the old and very old. Antidepressants are prescribed in the treatment of depression, although the mechanism of how they exert their therapeutic effects is only partly understood. To shed further light on their mode of action, this chapter presents a protocol using two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for identifying a proteomic signature in guinea pig brains after treatment with the antidepressant, fluoxetine. As this signature pointed toward changes in synaptic structure, we also present a protocol for Western blot analysis targeting selected proteins identified by the combined 2D-DIGE-MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry procedure. Such validation experiments are critical for the translation of putative biomarkers into preclinical and clinical studies.

Perineuronal oligodendrocytes (pn-Ols) are located in the cerebral gray matter in close proximity to neuronal perikarya and less frequently near dendrites and neurites. Although their morphology is indistinguishable from that of other oligodendrocytes, it is not known if pn-Ols have a similar or different cell signature from that of typical myelinating oligodendroglial cells. In this review, we discussed the potential roles of these cells in myelination under normal and pathophysiologic conditions as functional and nutritional supporters of neurons, as restrainers of neuronal firing, and as possible players in glutamate-glutamine homeostasis. We also highlighted the occurrences in which perineuronal oligodendroglia are altered, such as in experimental demyelination, multiple sclerosis, cerebral ischemia, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder.

There is evidence for insulin resistance in drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (Sz) patients. We have tested whether impaired insulin homeostasis is also present in first-episode patients with major depression (MD) and if this can be discerned from stress-related and medication effects. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined in a cross-sectional cohort study of acute first-episode drug-naïve patients with MD (n = 18) or Sz (n = 24), and healthy controls (C, n = 43). Morning cortisol and catecholamine metabolites were assessed to control for hormonal stress axis activation. Subjects were matched for sex, age, body mass index and waist-hip ratio to exclude the possibility that overweight and visceral adiposity were potential confounding factors. HOMA-IR did not differ between MD and controls, but was increased in Sz compared to MD (p = 0.002) and controls (p = 0.012). Catecholamine metabolites were elevated in both patient groups, indicating presence of hormonal stress axis activation. However, diagnosis-related changes of HOMA-IR were independent from this. Impaired insulin sensitivity was absent in MD, but specifically related to the early disease course of Sz. Thus, considering previous studies in this field, MD may be related to impaired glucose/insulin homeostasis in the long-term but not in early disease stages.

Major depressive disorder is a multifactorial disease, with molecular mechanisms not fully understood. A breakthrough could be reached with a panel of diagnostic biomarkers, which could be helpful to stratify patients and guide physicians to a better therapeutic choice, reducing the time between diagnostic and remission. This review brings the most recent works in proteomic biomarkers and highlights several potential proteins that could compose a panel of biomarkers to diagnostic and response to medication. These proteins are related to immune, inflammatory, and coagulatory systems and may also be linked to energy metabolism, oxidative stress, cell communication, and oligodendrogenesis.

The secretory granules of pancreatic beta cells are specialized organelles responsible for the packaging, storage and secretion of the vital hormone insulin. The insulin secretory granules also contain more than 100 other proteins including the proteases involved in proinsulin-to insulin conversion, other precursor proteins, minor co-secreted peptides, membrane proteins involved in cell trafficking and ion translocation proteins essential for regulation of the intragranular environment. The synthesis, transport and packaging of these proteins into nascent granules must be carried out in a co-ordinated manner to ensure correct functioning of the granule. The process is regulated by many circulating nutrients such as glucose and can change under different physiological states. This chapter discusses the various processes involved in insulin granule biogenesis with a focus on the granule composition in health and disease.

The elevated plus maze test is used to measure anxiety-like behavior in rodents. It can be used to gain insight into conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions marked by anxious behavior. It can also be used as a component in screening of novel compounds for anxiolytic properties. This model is based on aversion to open spaces, which is seen as the animal spending more time in the enclosed arms of the maze. This chapter describes the steps necessary for setting up and conducting the test, along with interpretation of the results.