Search

Considering menstruation as a crucial factor in females' health and fertility, any factor that could change its cycle is important. This study was conducted from April 2021 to October 2022 on females who got 3 doses of vaccines against SARS‐CoV‐2 through different platforms. The participants were requested to provide the trained experts with any changes regarding menstrual cycles after each dose of the vaccine up to 6 months after the booster shots. The disturbances related to the vaccines were identified by the adverse events committee to find possible associations with the applied vaccines. Of 308 women who participated until the end of the study, 22 (7.1%) complained about at least one abnormality in their menstrual patterns. The most common disturbance was metrorrhagia as 10 (48%) incidences followed by menorrhagia as 6 events (24.2%). Notably, the identified complaints were persistent in 59% of the patients. In addition, 14 studied cases developed COVID‐19 infection after menstrual disorders. In these cases, COVID‐19 could also play a role in the persistence of postvaccine menstrual disturbances. COVID‐19 vaccination could affect menstrual cycle in women with no remarkable previous medical history. More longitudinal studies are required regarding this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Lipoarabinomannan is one of the components of the significant structural cell surfaces of mycobacteria and serves as an immunostimulatory factor. TNF-a and IL-12 are two examples of the anti-bacterial inflammatory cytokines that are activated and induced during infection. Materials and Methods: In this study, mannan was extracted and processed, and then Bulb/c female mice were used in three groups, one group was given BCG vaccine, the other group was given BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant, and a non-injected group was used as a control group. Inflammatory factors interleukin-12, TNF-a, IgG and IgM were measured in mouse serum. Results: The levels of the inflammatory factors interleukin-12 and TNF-a in the serum isolated from mice receiving the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant showed a significant difference compared to the group that received only the BCG vaccine and the control group [IL-12] and, with P=0.05. The examination of the level of IgG immune factors in these three groups revealed a significant difference. The group that received the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant showed a marked contrast compared to the group that received only the BCG vaccine and the control group, with P=0.05. The level of IgM was higher in the group that received the BCG vaccine alone compared to the adjuvant vaccine group and the control group, with P=0.05. Conclusion: Our results indicated that mice receiving the BCG vaccine with mannan adjuvant had significantly higher serum levels of IL-12, TNF-a, and IgG than the group receiving BCG alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: There are still risks of contamination of seafood by the common pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, despite significant achievements in the food security and environmental protection in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic viruses linked to the seafood hygiene in the raw seafood samples collected from the seafood retailers in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: In general, 200 samples (100 fish and 100 shrimps) were collected from the seafood retailers in Tehran, Iran. For the RNA viruses, the RNA was extracted from the samples and subjected to cDNA synthesis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the target genes. For the adenovirus, DNA genome was extracted and directly used in PCR. Data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 29.0.10. Results: From 100 fish samples, 48, 24, 32, 35, 56 and 55 samples were contaminated with adenovirus, astrovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, rotavirus and norovirus, respectively. From 100 shrimp samples, 51, 47, 28, 47, 49 and 47 samples were contaminated with adenovirus, astrovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, rotavirus and norovirus, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, raw seafood can still be a major public health concern. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to use the organized monitoring systems and improved hygiene measurements to decrease the risks of the seafood contaminations and hence foodborne diseases and outbreaks in consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PastoCovac is a subunit protein vaccine against COVID-19 which contains the tetanus toxoid as a carrier conjugated to SARS-CoV-2 RBD. The primary goal of the tetanus application was to elicit a stronger specific response in the individuals. However, conjugate vaccines have the potency to generate anticarrier antibodies in addition to the target antigen. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the PastoCovac vaccine in the humoral immune induction against tetanus. Six groups of individuals, including those who received one, two, or three doses of the PastoCovac vaccine, Td vaccine, and also the controls who received other COVID-19 vaccines (except PastoCovac), were investigated. The anti-tetanus IgG was assessed by an ELISA assay in all vaccinated groups. The antibody persistency against tetanus in the group who received one dose of the PastoCovac vaccine was also assessed on day 60, 90, and 180 after the last injection. The anti-tetanus antibody titer in the three groups of PastoCovac recipients was positive, though additional doses of the vaccine led to a significant antibody rise (p = 0.003). Notably, the comparison of the mean antibody titer between the Td recipients and those who received one/two doses of PastoCovac showed that the mean rise in the antibody titer before and after the injection was not significant. Although the antibody titer on day 180 decreased to a lower level than on day 21, it was still estimated to be highly positive against tetanus. Eventually, none of the PastoCovac recipients presented vaccine side-effects during the follow-up. The current data indicate that the tetanus conjugate vaccine against COVID-19, PastoCovac, could induce immune responses against tetanus, which can persist for at least 6 months. Combination vaccine formulae containing TT and DT as carriers for conjugate vaccines could be considered instead of TT and/or DT boosters in adults if they are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the possible effects of blood types on coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) vaccine immunogenicity and antibody (Ab) persistency. Five different vaccinated groups against COVID‐19 were investigated at Pasteur Institute of Iran from April 2021 to December 2022. Anti‐Spike IgG and neutralizing Ab rise were tracked on Day 21 as well as the humoral immune persistency assessment 180 after booster shots. Late adverse events up to 6 months after the booster dose were collected. The results showed that blood type A, led to a significantly higher anti‐Spike Ab rise in AstraZeneca primed recipients in comparison with Sinopharm primed ones in heterologous regimens (p: 0.019). Furthermore, blood type O was a great co‐effector in homologous AstraZeneca recipients regarding neutralizing Ab rise (0.013). In addition, blood type O led to a better anti‐Spike Ab persistency in the Sinopharm homologous group whereas type A had the best effect on neutralizing Ab durability in the same vaccine group. What is more, Rh‐positive individuals in AstraZeneca + PastoCovac Plus group had a higher rate of anti‐Spike Ab rise (p = 0.001). Neutralizing Ab rise was also induced in AstraZeneca homologous and heterologous regimens of Rh‐positive individuals significantly higher than Sinopharm primed cases. The present study showed the potential impact of blood types A/O and Rh‐positive on a better humoral immune responses and Ab persistency. It is proposed that blood type A and Rh‐positive could increase the Ab rise in AstraZeneca vaccinated individuals. Moreover, blood type O might be a better co‐effector of anti‐Spike Ab persistency in Sinopharm recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The effect of nanoherbal substances in the treatment of infectious diseases before mating or during pregnancy must be evaluated. Saponin has adverse effects on a pregnant mother and her fetal through complex mechanisms. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the toxic effects of saponin encapsulated by ferritin nanoparticles (Nanosaponin) on fetal lung development in female mice with Streptococcus pneumonia. METHODS: Extraction of crude saponin from licorice roots was done by the powder heating and using 20 % ethanol and diethyl ether. Then, n-butanol and 5 % sodium chloride solution were added to the aqueous layer. The mice were divided into five groups of 10 including control, pneumonia, pneumonia treated with ferritin, pneumonia treated with saponin, and pneumonia treated with nanosaponin. Then, two groups of untreated pregnant pneumonia and pregnant pneumonia treated with nanosaponin were separated. In this study, tumor necrosis factor alpha (IFN-y), heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), Methyl-CpG binding domain 2 (MBD-2), and kruppel like factor 2 (KLF-2) genes were evaluated in the maternal lungs, and TNF-a level was evaluated using ELISA method in the fetal lungs. Maternal tissue, uterus tissue, and fetal lung were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and maternal body tissue was examined by trichromason staining and Oxidative stress parameters were investigated. RESULTS: Nano saponin decreased the expression of IFN-Y (۶<0.05) (۶<0.01), MBD-2 (۶<0.05) and HBEGF genes, KLF-2 protein level and TNF-a levels in fetal lung. The thickness of uterine myometrium and blood flow of endometrium increased the number of live embryos and the rate of successful pregnancy. In addition, Nano saponin effectively improved the oxidative stress response in the fetus without any harmful effect on the mother's liver tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The nanosaponin has no toxic effects on the sudy organs of the mother and fetus. It has therapeutic effects on the fetal lung development process after the infection of mother with Streptococcus pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to determine a correlation between differential TRIM56 expression levels and severe infections of COVID-19 between the Alpha, Delta and Omicron BA.5 variants. Materials & methods: This study was performed on 330 COVID-19 patients, including 142 with severe and 188 with mild infections, as well as 160 healthy controls. The levels of TRIM56 gene expression were determined using a qPCR. Results:TRIM56 gene showed significantly lower mRNA expression in the severe and mild groups compared with healthy individuals. Our finding indicated the high and low reduction of TRIM56 mRNA expression in Delta and Omicron BA.5 variant, respectively. Conclusion: Further research is needed to characterize the impact of TRIM proteins on the severity of COVID-19. Scientists looked at a protein called TRIM that helps fight viruses to see if a specific TRIM protein, TRIM56, was linked to how poorly people became with COVID-19. The study looked at the blood samples of 330 patients and found that COVID-19 patients had less TRIM56 than healthy people, especially those who were particularly ill. #Tavakoli et al. discovered that the TRIM56 gene, which plays a crucial role in the body's immune response to viruses, is likely associated with severe COVID-19 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, one of the issues that matter in infertility is abortion or teratogenicity of embryos, followed by environmental pollution. Additionally, the continuous use of pesticides as the requirements of modern agriculture can increase the number of released radicals, which ultimately affects cell membranes and cell death via apoptosis pathway. NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups: (1) Chlorpyrifos received group, (2) DMSO received as the sham group, (3) Control group. The mice were mated and euthanized 10 days post gestation. The number of embryos, progesterone and estradiol hormones and the liver enzymes levels of mouse mothers were evaluated in each group. The apoptosis pathway genes (Bax and Bcl2) and protein expressions (Caspase3 and Caspase9) were evaluated in the embryos of each group by qPCR and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. The number of embryos in the experimental group was significantly lower than from the other groups. The liver enzymes and hormone levels were higher in CPF induced mice in comparison to the others. The mRNA expression of Bax in the embryos was significantly higher in the CPF group compared to sham and control groups. Caspase3 and Caspase9 protein expression revealed a higher rate of apoptosis in CPF group embryos. Continuous use of Chlorpyrifos can be regarded as having a negative effect on pregnancy as well as raising the mechanism of apoptosis in the development of embryos that may contribute to abortion or the birth of teratogenic disorders embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]