[Comparison of four different types of carriers for the growth of vero cells and propagating rabies virus for production of human rabies vaccine]

In this study, capability of Vero cells for growth on FibraCel disks were compared on 3 kinds of microcarriers including Cytodex-1, Cutodex-3, and Sigma Solohill in 500 ml Spinner flasks in both serum contained medium [DMEM+10% Fetal Calf Serum, FCS] and serum-free medium [VP-SFM]. The propagation of fixed PV [Pasteur Virus] strain of rabies in Vero cells, for production of rabies vaccine, grown under the above conditions were studied and compared. Stepwise perfusion mode in growth phase and batch mode were applied in the virus production step by the use of M199 +0.2% Bovine Serum Albumin [BSA] and VP-SFM as serum containing and serum-free media, respectively. The available surface area provided by the carriers, and primary cell density in the experiments were assumed the same [about 12,000 cm[2] and 12,500 cells/cm[2], respectively]. The highest cell density was achieved on FibraCel disks in DMEM equal to 7.1 +/- 0.7_10[6] cells /ml on day 9, while the lowest cell density was obtianed on Cytodex-3 in VP-SFM equal to 2.91 +/- 0.2_10[6] cells/ml. The highest virus titer [55.18 +/- 4.4_10[6] Fluorescent Focus Unit, FFU/ml] was gained in VP-SFM containing FibraCel disks, and the lowest titer [3.66 +/- 0.4 _10[6] FFU/ml] was resulted on Cytodex-3 in M199. In these experiments, FibraCel disks supported the growth of Vero cells better than the microcarriers, and the use of DMEM for propagation of Vero cells and VP-SFM for proliferation of rabies virus showed better results. The experimental vaccine prepared by collected virus from VP-SFM has an acceptable potency of 2.75 IU. Based on these results and to the relative ease for making FibraCel disks, we recommend the use of this carrier for propagation of Vero cells and production of rabies virus

[Suicidal ideations and the level of blood cholesterol]

This project compared the level of blood cholesterol in hospitalized psychiatric patients with suicidal ideations with that of similar patients with no suicidal thoughts. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the level of blood cholesterol of 374 patients [247 males, 127 females] admitted at Iran Psychiatric Education-Treatment Center was evaluated. The patients were divided in two groups of patients with and without suicidal ideations; the level of their respective blood cholesterol was compared with one another. These subjects had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of schizophrenia [157 patients], bipolar [192 patients], major depression [68 patients], and other psychiatric disorders. To analyze the data, t-statistical test was used. There was no significant difference between suicidal with non-suicidal patients' level of basal cholesterol. Level of blood cholesterol probably is not a biological marker, or a risk factor for suicide in hospitalized psychiatric patients