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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent of cervical cancer among women worldwide. Serological and molecular tests are commonly used to detect and identify HPV, but all the detection methods for HPV have some limitations. Nowadays, considerable advancements in nanosensors have enabled monitoring of hybridization procedures dynamically for HPV detection. Biosensors, as effective, quick, economical, and highly sensitive tools, can be used in the diagnosis of HPV as an alternative technique instead of other detection methods. Biosensor detection methods of HPV in use from 2000 to 2021 were investigated using several databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and the Scientific Information Database. Furthermore, a manual search of the references of the retrieved articles was performed. On analyzing the most recently developed biosensors for HPV identification, we observed that three biosensor systems, electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric systems, are the main transducers used in the development of HPV biosensors. The aim of this review is to examine recent research on biosensors for the detection of HPV and perform a comparison with other diagnostic methods. Considering the importance of rapid HPV detection in the control of infection and development of public health measures, improvement of biosensors as an economical and quick method can be very useful in the diagnosis of HPV.

PurposeAcute and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common and progressive lung disease that makes breathing difficult over time and can even lead to death. Despite this, there is no definitive treatment for it yet. This study aims to evaluate the studies on single and combined herbal interventions affecting COPD.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, all articles published in English up to 2020 were extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) database and collected using Boolean tools based on keywords, titles and abstracts. Finally, the data required for bibliographic analysis, such as the author(s), publication year, academic journal, institution, country of origin, institution, financial institution and keywords were extracted from the database.FindingsA total of 573 articles were analyzed. The number of papers in the lung disease field showed an upward trend from 1984 to 2021, and there was a surge in paper publications in 2013. China, Korea and Brazil published the highest number of studies on COPD, and Chinese medical universities published the most papers. Three journals that received the highest scores in this study were the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, International Immunopharmacology and Plos One. In the cloud map, expression, activation and expression were the most frequently researched subjects. In the plus and author keywords, acute lung injury was the most commonly used word. Inflammation, expression of various genes, nitric oxide-dependent pathways, NFkappa B, TNFalpha and lipopolysaccharide-dependent pathways were the mechanisms underlying COPD. Scientometric analysis of COPD provides a vision for future research and policymaking.Originality/valueThis study aimed to evaluate the studies on single and combined herbal interventions affecting COPD.

Cornea injury of sulfur mustard (SM) is considered as the most devastating injuries to the eye. This study aimed to evaluate the single and combined effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and doxycycli...

Aim: Chemical injuries can potentially lead to the necrosis anterior segment of the eye, and cornea in particular. Inflammatory cytokines are the first factors produced after chemical ocular injuries. Inflammation via promoting the angiogenesis factor tries to implement the wound healing mechanism in the epithelial and stromal layer of the cornea. Methods: Narrative review.Results: In our review, we described the patterns of chemical injuries in the cornea and their molecular mechanisms associated with the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, the effects of inflammation signals on angiogenesis factors and CNV were explained. Conclusion: The contribution of inflammation and angiogenesis causes de novo formation of blood vessels that is known as the corneal neovascularization (CNV). The new vascularity interrupts cornea clarity and visual acuity. Inflammation also depleted the Limbal stem cells (LSCs) in the limbus causing the failure of normal corneal epithelial healing and conjunctivalization of the cornea.

Background & Aims of the Study: Although industrial development has raised living standards, it has increased the rate of incidents. To cope with the adverse effects of these incidents, multiple infrastructures are needed, such as the training of professionals. The present study aimed to formulate training topics needed by chemical accident teams. Materials and Methods: This qualitative applied research was conducted based on the content analysis method in 2020. In this research, the needed competencies were determined based on the human resource competency model and using the opinion of experts and standards. Thereafter, the training topics of were designed with an emphasis on the health of the operational teams. The needed data were collected through library studies and semi-structured interviews. The validity of the training courses was also assessed using the Content validity index. Results: The required training topics which were identified in three groups were as follows: Oreintation with hazardous chemicals, effects of hazardous chemicals on the body, detoxification, safety principles in hazardous chemical accidents, advanced personal equipment, behavior of hazardous chemicals, determining the health status of operational teams, Oreintation with the needs of the body during operations, as well as the assessment of scene and casualties of hazardous chemical accidents. Conclusion: It is expected that team members will acquire the necessary skills to protect themselves and others after attending the training courses. Moreover, based on the findings, some constructive suggestions were put forward to boost the chemical defense system which can be of great help for future researchers and management policymakers.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged as a health problem worldwide. It seems that COVID-19 is more lethal for Iranian veterans with a history of exposure to mustard gas. There are some similarities in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and mustard gas in immune system disruption and pulmonary infection. SARS-CoV-2 and mustard gas inducing oxidative stress, immune system dysregulation, cytokine storm, and overexpression of angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptor in lungs that act as functional entry receptors for SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, Iranian survivors of mustard gas exposure are more susceptible and vulnerable to COVID-19. It is suggested that the principles of COVID-19 infection prevention and control be adhered to more stringently in Iranian survivors of mustard gas exposure than others who have not been exposed to mustard gas. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the different pathologic aspects of lung injury caused by mustard gas and also the relationship between this damage and the increased susceptibility of Iranian mustard gas exposed survivors to COVID-19.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a widespread neurological disorder mainly characterized by gradual death of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. In our study, we compared the effects of curcumin (Curc) as a herbal medicine and those of allopregnanolone (Allo) as a synthetic drug on arsenic(Ars-)-induced toxicity in an SH-SY5Y in vitro model of PD. Cell survival was determined by the MTT assay; intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and the mitochondrial potential were assessed by a fluorescence probe. Furthermore, immunoblotting was applied to determine the biomarkers of cells apoptosis. As was found, Ars decreases the cell survival rate and enhances the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The mean contents of intracellular ROSs, amount of c-Fos, and caspase-3 ratio significantly increased in Ars-exposed cells. Pretreatment of cells with Allo (250 μM) and Curc (5 μM) significantly decreased mean levels of these factors in Ars-treated cells. Although Curc showed a greater protective effect than Allo, the respective difference was statistically insignificant. The neuroprotective effects of Allo and Curc are probably related to their antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, which suggests their therapeutic potential in PD treatment.

The aim of this study was to analyze the single and combined effects of

Although tremendous advancements in cancer therapy over the last several years, cancer still is a complex illness to cure. Traditional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, have a poor therapeutic effect, emphasizing the significance of employing innovative treatments like activated cell therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell is one of the most prevalent types of activated cell therapy have been developed to direct T lymphocytes toward cancers (CAR-T cells). CAR-T cells therapy has illustrated poor impact versus solid tumors despite the remarkable success in patients suffering from hematological malignancies. CAR-T cells must overcome various hurdles to obtain full responses to solid tumors, including growth, stability, trafficking, and destiny inside tumors. As a result, novel treatment methods will entail overcoming the challenges that CAR-T cells face in solid tumors. The use of CAR-T cells in combination with other therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immuno-checkpoint inhibitors, and oncolytic viruses can promote the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of solid tumors. However, more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. CAR-T cell treatment success rates vary by type of disease, but are predicted to reach up to 90% in patients with leukemia. However, since this kind of immunotherapy is still in its infancy, there is much to learn about its efficacy. This review provided an in-depth examination of CAR-T cell therapy and its success and failure as a cancer treatment approach. We also discuss combination therapies with CAR-T Cell.

Background: COVID-19 is an infectious disease which caused a pandemic with many diseases and fatalities. This new variant of coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 and is primarily characterized by respiratory symptoms. There are some data indicating that LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely correlated to disease severity and could act as a predictor for disease progression and unfavorable prognosis. However, the results of some other studies do not confirm this. This current study aimed to provide an answer to this question. ----- Methods: This prospective, single-center study analyzed 367 confirmed COVID-19 patients to find whether there are any differences in plasma lipoproteins between survivors and non-survivors patients or between the patients with a "duration of ≤10 days intensive unit care (ICU) stay" and patients with a "duration of >10 days ICU stay". ----- Results: No association between any lipid/lipoprotein parameter and the severity of COVID-19 could be found but survivors and non-survivors did differ concerning total cholesterol and LDL-C levels. ----- Conclusion: Multivariate cox regression analysis could not prove any association between lipids/lipoproteins and severe events in COVID-19 patients. Significantly less non-survivors with COVID-19 were taking atorvastatin than survivors which is consistent with the majority of previous findings.

The exaggerated host response to Sars-CoV-2 plays an important role in COVID-19 pathology but provides a therapeutic opportunity until definitive virus targeted therapies and vaccines become available. Given a central role of endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation, repurposing ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), statins, and aspirin has been of interest. In this retrospective, single-center study, we evaluated the primary outcomes of mortality and ICU admission in 587 hospitalized patients with documented COVID-19 with or without ACEIs, ARBs, statins, and aspirin. Atorvastatin was associated with reduced mortality, which persisted after adjusting for age, lockdown status, and other medications (OR: 0.18. 95% CI: 0.06-0.49, P = 0.001). ACEIs were also associated with reduced mortality in the crude model (OR: 0.20, CI: 0.06-0.66, P = 0.008), as ACEIs and ARBs were combined as a single group (OR: 0.35, CI: 0.16-0.75, P = 0.007), although ARBs alone did not reach statistical significance. There was no association between any medications and risk of ICU admission. Aspirin only achieved a significant association of reduced mortality in a subgroup of patients with diabetes in the crude model (OR: 0.17, CI: 0.04-0.80, P = 0.02). The reduced mortality observed with atorvastatin is consistent with other literature, and consideration should be given to atorvastatin as a COVID-19 treatment. While there was suggested benefit of ACEIs and ARBs in the present study, other studies are varied and further studies are warranted to recommend employing these medications as a treatment strategy. Nevertheless, this study combined with others continues to give credibility that ACEIs and ARBs are safe to continue in the setting of COVID-19.

Vincristine (VCR) is an important anti-cancer drug, which is highly toxic for the liver. This study aimed at evaluating the protective effect of alcoholic extract of saffron stigma against vincristine hepatotoxicity in the rat. A total number of 50 rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, including controls, rats receiving 0.25 mg/kg (A group), 0.5 mg/kg (B group), 0.75 mg/kg (C group) VCR, 0.25 mg/kg VCR + 0.5 mg/kg saffron (D group), 0.5 mg/kg VCR + 0.5 mg/kg saffron (E group), 0.75 mg/kg VCR + 0.5 mg/kg saffron (F group), 0.25 mg/kg VCR + 1mg/kg saffron (G group), 0.5 mg/kg VCR + 1 mg/kg saffron (H group), and 0.75 mg/kg VCR + 1 mg/kg saffron (I group) groups. Serum level of liver enzymes, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin were measured using specific kits at the end of the experimental period. Serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) values were measured using ferric reducing antioxidant of power (FRAP) and thiobarbituric acid reaction (TBAR) methods, respectively. Administration of VCR, especially at the concentration of 0.75mg/kg, caused severe hepatic injury with significant increase in the levels of AST (582.0±39.45 UI), ALT (124.0±5.92 UI), ALP (939.8±89.8 UI) enzymes and bilirubin (0.17±0.008). VCR administration also significantly increased the serum MDA level (0.49±0.021 nmol/ml), while TAC value was declined significantly (241.27±18.27 μmol/l). These effects were dose-dependent. Treatment with saffron extract decreased the activity of liver enzymes and MDA values in hepatotoxic rats with a significant enhancement in serum TAC content. These effects were notable for rats that received 1mg/kg plant extract. Administration of saffron, especially at higher concentration, can reduce VCR-induced hepatotoxicity, antioxidant depletion and lipid peroxidation, presumably due to its antioxidative properties.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a mutagenic compound that targets various organs. Although it causes a wide range of abnormalities, cellular and molecular mechanisms of its action are not-well-understood. Oxidation of DNA, proteins, lipids, as well as depletion of cellular nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), antioxidants and increase of intracellular calcium are the hypothesized mechanisms of its action at the acute phase of injury. In this review, the proteome analysis of SM toxicity has been considered. We selected articles that considered proteomics analysis of SM toxicity with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) followed by mass spectrometry. Our search yielded nine related articles, four original in vitro and five human studies. The results of these studies have revealed a change in expression pattern of various proteins such as haptoglobin, amyloid A1, surfactant proteins, S100 proteins, apolipoprotein, Vit D binding protein, transferrin, alpha 1 antitrypsin, protein disulfide isomerase and antioxidant enzymes in patients who were exposed to SM about 30 years ago. Most of these proteins are up- or down-regulated in response to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS). There is a tight link between the expression pattern of these proteins with accumulation of leukocytes, inflammatory conditions, antioxidant depletion, mitochondrial deficiency, as well as increased expression or activity of several proteases such as caspases and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Therefore, excessive production of ROS and OS along with chronic inflammatory may be the long-term toxic effects of SM following acute exposure.

Cornea injury of sulfur mustard (SM) is considered as the most devastating injuries to the eye. This study aimed to evaluate the single and combined effects ofThe right cornea of male Sprague-Dawley rats was subjected to 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulfide (CEES). Rats were topically treated with a single and combined of 0.5% NAC and 12.5 μg/ml doxycycline and examined at 3rd, 15th, and 21st days. The activity of three antioxidant enzymes was analyzed in the cornea of different groups. Real-time PCR was performed to measure gene expression of inflammatory factors (The activity of antioxidant enzymes significantly declined 3 days after the CEES damage. NAC eye drop recovered the enzyme activity on the 21st day of treatment (NAC and doxycycline eye drop could improve the CNV complication. Also, NAC was an effective treatment against the inflammatory pathway involved in CEES-injured cornea.

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.

We aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Iranian patients with COVID-19.In this single-center and retrospective study, patients with confirmed COVID-19 infections were enrolled. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to explore the risk factors associated with outcomes.Of 179 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, 12 remained hospitalized at the end of the study and 167 were included in the final analysis. Of these, 153 (91.6%) were discharged and 14 (8.38%) died in hospital. Approximately half (50.9%) of patients suffered from a comorbidity, with diabetes or coronary heart disease being the most common in 20 patients. The most common symptoms on admission were fever, dyspnea, and cough. The mean durations from first symptoms to hospital admission was 8.64 ± 4.14 days, whereas the mean hospitalization time to discharge or death was 5.19 ± 2.42 and 4.35 ± 2.70 days, respectively. There was a significantly higher age in non-survivor patients compared with survivor patients. Multivariate regression showed increasing odds ratio (OR) of in-hospital death associated with respiratory rates20 breaths/min (OR: 5.14, 95% CI: 1.19-22.15, p = 0.028) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)19 mg/dL (OR: 4.54, 95% CI: 1.30-15.85, p = 0.017) on admission. In addition, higher respiratory rate was associated with continuous fever (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 1.18-14.08, p = 0.026) and other clinical symptoms (OR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.05-11.87, p = 0.04).The potential risk factors including high respiratory rate and BUN levels could help to identify COVID-19 patients with poor prognosis at an early stage in the Iranian population.

There is data from individual clinical trials suggesting that procalcitonin (PCT) may be a prognostic factor in the severity of COVID-19 disease. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate PCT levels in severe COVID-19 patients. We searched Embase, ProQuest, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and ISI/Web of Science for studies that reported the level of PCT of patient with severe COVID-19. We included all studies regardless of design that reported the level of PCT in patients with severe COVID-19. We excluded articles not regarding COVID-19 or not reporting PCT level, studies not in severe patients, review articles, editorials or letters, expert opinions, comments, and animal studies. Nine studies were included in the analysis. The odds of having more severe COVID-19 disease was higher in subjects with elevated PCT (≥0.05 ng/mL) compared with those having low procalcitonin (0.05 ng/mL) [n = 6, OR(95% CI) = 2.91(1.14, 7.42), p = 0.025). After estimating the mean and standard deviation values from the sample size, median, and interquartile range, a pooled effect analysis indicated higher serum PCT concentrations in patients with severe versus less severe disease [n = 6, SMD(95% CI) = 0.64(0.02, 1.26), p = 0.042]. The results of this study showed that PCT is increased in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

Background: It is generally believed that the anticholinesterase effect is induced by the organophosphate insecticide parathion only through its bioactive metabolite (i.e., paraoxon) that is created in the liver. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the intrinsic anticholinesterase effect of parathion, compared to its main metabolite. Methods: This study has been conducted to prepare the isolated chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle using the twitch tension recording method. Results: According to the results, paraoxon (0.1 µM) induced a highly significant increase (more than 100%) in the twitch height, while higher concentrations (0.3 and 1 µM) induced partial or total contractures. Furthermore, parathion induced almost the same percentage of increase in the twitch height at 1 µM and partial or total contractures at 3 and 10 µM. It should be noted that pralidoxime (2-PAM), at 300 µM, reversed the effects of paraoxon and its parent (i.e., parathion). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that both parathion and its metabolite inhibit the acetylcholinesterase enzyme which can be reactivated by pralidoxime, whereas parathion is about 10 times less potent, compared to its metabolite. Therefore, the intrinsic toxic effects of parathion, regardless of its metabolite, should be considered in future studies.

Aim We aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Iranian patients with COVID-19.

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.

The exaggerated host response to Sars-CoV-2 plays an important role in COVID-19 pathology but provides a therapeutic opportunity until definitive virus targeted therapies and vaccines become available. Given a central role of endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation, repurposing ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), statins, and aspirin has been of interest. In this retrospective, single-center study, we evaluated the primary outcomes of mortality and ICU admission in 587 hospitalized patients with documented COVID-19 with or without ACEIs, ARBs, statins, and aspirin. Atorvastatin was associated with reduced mortality, which persisted after adjusting for age, lockdown status, and other medications (OR: 0.18. 95% CI: 0.06-0.49, P = 0.001). ACEIs were also associated with reduced mortality in the crude model (OR: 0.20, CI: 0.06-0.66, P = 0.008), as ACEIs and ARBs were combined as a single group (OR: 0.35, CI: 0.16-0.75, P = 0.007), although ARBs alone did not reach statistical significance. There was no association between any medications and risk of ICU admission. Aspirin only achieved a significant association of reduced mortality in a subgroup of patients with diabetes in the crude model (OR: 0.17, CI: 0.04-0.80, P = 0.02). The reduced mortality observed with atorvastatin is consistent with other literature, and consideration should be given to atorvastatin as a COVID-19 treatment. While there was suggested benefit of ACEIs and ARBs in the present study, other studies are varied and further studies are warranted to recommend employing these medications as a treatment strategy. Nevertheless, this study combined with others continues to give credibility that ACEIs and ARBs are safe to continue in the setting of COVID-19.

There is data from individual clinical trials suggesting that procalcitonin (PCT) may be a prognostic factor in the severity of COVID-19 disease. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate PCT levels in severe COVID-19 patients. We searched Embase, ProQuest, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and ISI/Web of Science for studies that reported the level of PCT of patient with severe COVID-19. We included all studies regardless of design that reported the level of PCT in patients with severe COVID-19. We excluded articles not regarding COVID-19 or not reporting PCT level, studies not in severe patients, review articles, editorials or letters, expert opinions, comments, and animal studies. Nine studies were included in the analysis. The odds of having more severe COVID-19 disease was higher in subjects with elevated PCT (≥0.05 ng/mL) compared with those having low procalcitonin (

Background An outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran has spread throughout the country. Identifying the epidemiological characteristics of this disease will help to make appropriate decisions and thus control the epidemic. The aim of this study was characterization of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in Iran. Methods In this retrospective study, data related to the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 19 February 2020 to 15 April 2020 have been analyzed and reported. Patient characteristics including age, gender and underlying diseases were investigated. Data were collected through patient records. Sex ratio, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and daily trend of cases were also determined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to assess affecting factors on mortality. Results From February 19, 2020 to April 15, 2020, 12870 patients referred to the hospital emergency department, of which 2968 were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority of cases were in the age group of 50 to 60 years of old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.93:1. A total of 239 deaths occurred among all cases for an overall CFR of 1.85% based on the total number of patients (both outpatient and inpatient) and 8.06% among hospitalized patients. Out of all patients 10.89% had comorbidity. Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic Kidney diseases and cancer were the most common comorbidities with 3.81, 2.02 , 1.99 , 1.25, 0.60 and 0.57 %, respectively. Male gender (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.96), older age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.06) and having underlying diseases (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.04-2.24) were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusions The results of this study showed that Male gender, older age and having comorbidities were significantly associated with the risk of death among COVID-19 patients. It is important to pay special attention to male elderly patients with underlying diseases.

Visual impairment and blindness is a major health burden worldwide, and major ocular diseases causing visual impairment pertain to the anterior segment of the eye. Anterior segment ocular diseases are common, yet complex entities. Although many treatment options and surgical techniques are available for these ailments, the underlying cause and pathogenesis is still unclear. Finding ways to fundamentally treat these patients and rectify the underlying dysregulations leading to the disease may help cure patients completely without major complications. Proteomics approaches are a novel way to distinguish dysregulated proteins in a variety of biological tissues in a hypothesis-free manner, thus helping to find the responsible pathways leading to a certain disease. The aim of the current study is to review the available knowledge in scientific literature regarding the proteomics studies done on anterior segment eye diseases and suggest potential clinical implications to exploit the results of these studies. SIGNIFICANCE: Anterior segment ocular diseases are responsible for a major proportion of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Although ophthalmologists have several treatment options that can alleviate or control the progression of these diseases, no definite cure is available for most of them. Moreover, because these diseases are progressive, prompt diagnosis is of utmost important. Proteomics studies enable us to identify and quantify the dysregulated proteins in a biological specimen in a hypothesis-free manner. Understanding the dysregulated protein pathways shines a light on the pathogenesis of the disease. Moreover, these dysregulated proteins may act as biomarkers to help in diagnosis and treatment follow-up. Hence, in this article we sought out to review the available scientific literature regarding the proteomics studies of anterior segment ocular diseases and to identify potential applications of proteomic studies in clinic.

Introduction: Although some countries have set up predetermined programs and specialized teams to deal with hazardous materials (Hazmat) induced events, in other countries including Iran there are many weaknesses in this regard. Objective: We aimed to develop the necessary indicators for the formation of teams to deal with Hazmat accidents in the health system based on existing standards and resources as well as the indigenous conditions of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in two stages from 2018 to 2020. In the first stage, the literature review was performed and the current guidelines, standards, and models presented in other countries were reviewed and related items were extracted. In the second stage, semi-structured and purposeful interviews by managers and physicians specialized in Hazmat incidents working in Iran, were conducted. The interviews were recorded and later the recordings were transcribed and simultaneously the categorizing and coding of the interviews were performed. Results: In the first stage, searching through the available resources for the present study identified 12 published references through which 10 indicators to develop a Hazmat team were ultimately extracted. In the second stage, a total of 10 interviews were conducted and data saturation occurred. Based on the results of the content analysis for the main indicators of designing and developing teams, 8 categories and 19 sub-categories were developed. Conclusions: The results of this project outline 10 key indicators for designing a Hazmat team of the health system. Emergency Response Program, Personal Protective Equipment Program, Medical Surveillance Program, Training of Hazmat Team Members, Hazmat Team’s Structure and Response, Hazmat Team Dispatch, Team’s Position in Incident Command System, Hazmat Team Equipment, Hazmat Team certification and Maintenance of Certificate is a key element for team formation.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical compound that preferentially targets ocular, cutaneous and pulmonary tissues. Although pathologic effect of SM has been extensively considered, molecular and cellular mechanism of its toxicity, especially at the chronic phase of injury is not well-understood. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS) appears to be involved in SM-induced injuries. SM may trigger several molecular and cellular pathways linked to OS and inflammation that can subsequently result in cell death and apoptosis. At the acute phase of injury, SM can enhance ROS production and OS by reducing the activity of antioxidants, depletion of intercellular glutathione (GSH), decreasing the productivity of GSH-dependent antioxidants, mitochondrial deficiency, accumulation of leukocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Overexpression of ROS producing enzymes and down-regulation of antioxidant enzymes are probably the major events by which SM leads to OS at the chronic phase of injury. Therefore, antioxidant therapy with potent antioxidants such as N-acetylcysteine and curcumin may be helpful to mitigate SM-induced OS damages. This review aims to discuss the proposed cellular and molecular mechanisms of acute and delayed SM toxicity, the importance of OS and mechanisms by which SM increases OS either at the acute or chronic phases of injuries along with research on antioxidant therapy as a suitable antidote.

Zinc (Zn) is necessary for the normal function of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa. Although influences of zinc deficiency on impaired spermatogenesis and male infertility have been widely considered, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these abnormalities are not well understood. General abnormalities, including hypogonadism, Leydig cells damage, deficiency of sex hormone production and impaired spermatogenesis, as well as inflammation, antioxidant depletion, sperm death and male infertility can be observed during zinc deficiency. However, it is not obvious which pathways are relevant to the pathogenesis of zinc deficiency. Oxidative stress (OS) induced by reactive oxygen species is likely as the main mechanism of zinc deficiency which is associated with sperm DNA fragmentation, decrease in sperm membrane integrity, apoptosis, depletion of antioxidants, and consequently poor sperm quality and male infertility. Therefore, identification of these pathways will give valuable information regarding the mechanisms of zinc deficiency on the male reproductive system and the potential way for developing a better clinical approach. In this review, we aim to discuss the proposed cellular and molecular mechanisms of zinc deficiency on the male reproductive system, the importance of OS and mechanisms by which zinc deficiency induces OS and depletion of other antioxidants.

Background & Objective: Neurodegenrative diseases are among the most widespread lifethreatening disorders around the world in elderly ages. The common feature of a group of neurodegenerative disorders, called tauopathies, is an accumulation of microtubule associated protein tau inside the neurons. The exact mechanism underlying tauopathies is not well-understood but several factors such as traumatic brain injuries and genetics are considered as potential risk factors. Although tau protein is well-known for its key role in stabilizing and organization of axonal microtubule network, it bears a broad range of functions including DNA protection and participation in signaling pathways. Moreover, the flexible unfolded structure of tau facilitates modification of tau by a wide range of intracellular enzymes which in turn broadens tau function and interaction spectrum. The distinctive properties of tau protein concomitant with the crucial role of tau interaction partners in the progression of neurodegeneration suggest tau and its binding partners as potential drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion: This review aims to give a detailed description of structure, functions and interactions of tau protein in order to provide insight into potential therapeutic targets for treatment of tauopathies.

Dysregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is now considered as one of the main toxicity effects of sulfur mustard (SM). Numerous studies have found overexpression of MMPs, but the m...

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a lipophilic and reactive chemical compound that targets human airway system.Glutathione (GSH) depletion, oxidative stress (OS) status, and changes in expression of GSH-dependent antioxidant enzymes were considered in human mustard lungs.Lung biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were collected from non-exposed (n = 10) individuals and SM-exposed patients (n = 12). Alterations in expression of GSH-dependent enzymes were studied using RTMean TAC (0.142 ± 0.027 µmol/l) and GSH (4.98 ± 1.02 nmol/l) in BAL fluids of control group was significantly higher (p .05) than those in SM-exposed patients (TAC = 0.095 ± 0.018 µmol/l and GSH= 3.09 ± 1.02 nmol/l), while MDA level in BAL fluids of these patients (0.71 ± 0.06 nmol/l) was significantly (p = .001) higher than that in controls (0.49 ± 0.048 nmol/l). Glutathione peroxidases (GPXs), glutathione-s-transferases (GSTs), and glutathione synthetase (GSS) enzymes were overexpressed in mustard lung biopsies, while glutathione reductase (GSR) was significantly downregulated (14.95-fold).GSH depletion induced by GSR downregulation may be a major mechanism of SM toxicity on human lung. Despite overexpression of GSTs and GPXs genes, GSH depletion may decline the productivity of these enzymes and total antioxidants capacity, which is associated with OS.

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical alkylating compound that primary targets lung tissue. It causes a wide variety of pathological effects in respiratory system such as chronic bronchitis, bronchiolitis obliterans, necrosis of the mucosa and inflammation, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary fibrosis. However, molecular and cellular mechanisms for these pathologies are still unclear. Oxidative stress (OS) induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is likely a significant mechanism by which SM leads to cell death and tissues injury. SM can trigger various molecular and cellular pathways that are linked to ROS generation, OS, and inflammation. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress, reduced activity of enzymatic antioxidants, depletion of intercellular glutathione (GSH), decreased productivity of GSH-dependent antioxidants, mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of leukocytes and proinflammatory cytokines, and increased expression of ROS producing-related enzymes and inflammatory mediators are the major events in which SM leads to massive production of ROS and OS in pulmonary system. Therefore, understanding of these molecules and signaling pathways gives us valuable information about toxicological effects of SM on injured tissues and the way for developing a suitable clinical treatment. In this review, we aim to discuss the possible mechanisms by which SM induces excessive production of ROS, OS, and antioxidants depletion in lung tissue of exposed patients.