The association between micronutrients and the SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in convalescent patients.

BACKGROUND: Various micronutrients play key roles in the immune responses to viral infection, antibody synthesis, and susceptibility to infection. This study aimed to investigate the role of micronutrients on the immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: To evaluate humoral immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, the levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM and IgG, as well as the concentrations of different micronutrients, were determined in 36 convalescent COVID-19 patients 60 days after infection. Furthermore, the correlation between biochemical and hematological parameters, clinical features, and the changes in adiposity with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 38.8% and 83.3% of recovered patients after 60 days of COVID-19 infection, respectively. The values of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG were negatively correlated with the number of the platelet. Moreover, the values of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM were positively correlated with LDH and the vitamin B12 concentration. Furthermore, a gender-specific association of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgM with vitamins D as well as with B9 and zinc was observed. A significant negative correlation was observed between the values of IgG with vitamin D in male participants and a positive correlation was detected between IgG values and B9 in female participants. Moreover, IgM levels with serum zinc values in females were negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the potential role of micronutrients in gender-specific humoral immunity following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are required with a greater sample of subjects to substantiate the validity and robustness of our findings.

Epilepsy lifetime prevalence in Iran: a large population- based national survey.

Epilepsy has garnered increased public health focus because patients who suffer from epilepsy experience pronounced and persistent health and socioeconomic disparities despite treatment and care advances. The epidemiology of epilepsy is diverse in different countries and regions. This nationwide population-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the life time prevalence and health related factors of epilepsy for the first time in Iran through a two-phase door-to-door survey method. In phase I, a screening for epilepsy was performed on 68,035 people. Then in phase II, after the neurological evaluation of participants and reviewing medical records, 1130 subjects with epilepsy was confirmed. The life time prevalence of epilepsy was achieved to be 16.6 per 1000 people (95% CI 15.4-17.8) with the average age onset 19.1 ± 21.1 (active prevalence 9.5 per 1000 people). Focal seizure (59.3%), generalized epilepsy (38%) and unknown types of epilepsy (2.7%) were detected among participants. The overall life time prevalence of febrile convulsion was 4.1 per 1000 people. The frequency of attacks per year and per month were 3.0 ± 1.6 and 0.5 ± 0.1, respectively. Age-specific life time prevalence was highest among the age group of 15-19 years old [32.7 per 1000 persons (95% CI 29.1-36.8)] and it was higher in male (53.8%) than female (46.2%) participants. Our results showed that the life time prevalence of epilepsy in Iran is higher than worldwide average.

Comparison of Two Validation Nutrition Tools in Hospitalized Elderly: Full Mini Nutritional Assessment and Short-form Mini Nutritional Assessment.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine validity, reliability, and cutoff of full-mini nutritional assessment (MNA) and MNA-short form (SF) also which one was better for the screening of malnutrition in the Iranian hospitalized elderly. METHODS: In this cross-sectional validation study, 96 hospitalized elderly ≥60 years selected from two hospitals in Tehran. Anthropometric measures (body mass index [BMI], mid-arm circumference [MAC], calf circumference [CC], abdomen, and waist skinfold thickness) and laboratory tests (albumin and hemoglobin levels, and red blood cell count were performed. Nutrition tools (full-MNA and MNA-SF), cognition tool (mini-mental state examination, depression scale (Geriatric Depression Scale15 and activities of daily living (ADL) index (Modified Barthel-ADL) were administered. RESULTS: The full-MNA scores were significantly correlated to measures of MAC, BMI, waist, and CC. The MNS-SF scores were significantly related to measures of MAC, waist, and CC. Serum albumin showed a poor correlation with both tools. At cutoff 24 in full-MNA had a sensitivity 75% and specificity 77.8% and the MNA-SF considered 62.5% sensitivity and 65.3% specificity at cutoff 10.50 to detect well-nourished from malnourished subjects. The internal consistencies of both tools were >90%. In exploratory factor analysis, six components found for full-MNA and two components for MNA-SF. Known group validity of full-MNA was reflected significant differences between geriatric patients with expected higher full-MNA scores and patients with expected lower scores (BMI ≥24 vs. BMI <24 or bed ulcer or assisted food intake). CONCLUSIONS: It seems the Persian version of full-MNA is more appropriate in comparison to MNA-SF for screening malnutrition in the Iranian hospitalized elderly patients.

Comparing Diagnostic Accuracy of Direct Questioning Versus Schematic Evaluation of Chronic Pain Localization.

None of the previous studies localized pain in comparison with graphic scheme. Our aim was to investigate the validity of direct questioning about the main pain localization in comparison with schematic evaluation. In this cross-sectional study, 331 patients, mean age 49.4±10.72 years, localized their main pain site anatomically with manikin and by direct questioning. Two methods were employed to localize pain: direct questioning and schematic evaluation (manikin). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and odds ratio (OR) were used to compare these two methods. Study patients answered in both methods. The sensitivity and PPV were mostly in a weak range, while accuracy, specificity and NPV were mostly in good range. Kappa index was in the marginal reproducibility range. Pain in the left part of the body had a higher OR (OR=9). PLR for pain in the right part of the body was 28.03. NLR for all questions was located in the small and rarely important change probability group. Negative answer in direct questioning was more reliable than a positive one. Pain localization in the left side of the body was more reliable.

The antiangiogenic and antitumor activities of the N-terminal fragment of endostatin augmented by Ile/Arg substitution: The overall structure implicated the biological activity.

The antiangiogenic and antitumor activities of the 27-amino acid fragment corresponding to the N-terminal domain of endostatin were shown to be dependent on a Zn-binding loop in the N-terminus. To investigate whether the regions outside of the N-terminal loop play a role in the peptide function, the structure and function of a variant containing Ile26Arg mutation (ES-R) were compared with those of the native peptide (ES-Zn). Structural analysis using far-UV CD, intrinsic fluorescence and molecular dynamics simulation provided information regarding the overall changes upon the mutation. In addition, the docking simulations predicted a higher affinity of ES-R to integrins αvß3 and α5ß1 than ES-Zn and a profound reorganization of the binding residues throughout the sequence. In Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs), ES-R inhibited the tube formation and activated caspase-3 more strongly than do ES-Zn. Based on in vivo studies, the growth of breast tumor and expression of CD31, Bcl-2 and nonfunctional p53 were inhibited more effectively by ES-R than by ES-Zn. We conclude that the C-terminal region is involved in the peptide function through some global structural effects.

Anxiety and depression in patients with amputated limbs suffering from phantom pain: a comparative study with non-phantom chronic pain.

BACKGROUND: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is approximately a common condition after limb amputation, which potentially affects the quality of life. We aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression in patients with amputated limbs suffering from PLP and to compare these psychological dysfunctions with that of patients with non-phantom chronic pain. METHODS: A total number of 16 male amputees with PLP and 24 male age-matched patients with non-phantom chronic pain were recruited in this study, which was performed at Khatam-Al-Anbia Pain Clinic, Tehran, Iran. A validated Persian version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was used to compare two psychological dysfunctions - anxiety and depression - between the two groups of study. RESULTS: The mean of total anxiety score was significantly lower in patients with PLP (8.00 ± 3.93 vs. 11.25 ± 5.23; P = 0.041) and the prevalence of anxiety caseness (HADS-A score ≥ 11) was also lower in the PLP group (25% vs. 58.3%; P = 0.112, power = 31.7%). The mean of total depression score was 7.69 ± 5.51 and 9.38 ± 6.11 in patients of PLP and chronic pain groups, respectively (P = 0.340, power = 15%). Consequently, the prevalence of depression caseness (HADS-D score ≥ 11) was lower in PLP patients (37.5% vs. 50%; P = 0.710, power = 8%). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that depression and anxiety are not more common in PLP patients, whereas they are more prevalent in subjects with non-phantom chronic pain. These lower levels of anxiety and depression in PLP compared with chronic pain is a new finding that needs to be evaluated further, which may lead to new insights into the pathogenesis of phantom pain in further studies.

High prevalence of alpha 1 antitrypsin phenotypes in viral hepatitis B infected patients in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global public health problem. Approximately 2 billion people are infected worldwide and more than 350 million of these individuals are chronic carriers of HBV. Approximately 15-40% of infected patients will develop cirrhosis, liver failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is one of many factors that may be involved in abnormalities such as liver and lung disease, inflammatory joint diseases, and inflammatory eye diseases. In the present study, the role played by AAT in HBV infected individuals is analyzed. METHODS: AAT phenotyping and trypsin inhibitory capacity (TIC) experiments were performed on 281 HBV infected patients who were referred to Tehran and Zahedan Hepatitis Center for a period of 3 years from June 2001 to September 2003. The same tests were performed on 257 individuals who did not suffer from any systemic diseases (control group). The case group was subdivided into three groups: carrier (36.7%), chronic (50.5%), and cirrhotic (12.8%). RESULTS: The results showed that AAT phenotypes, MS, MZ, M(1)Z, and M(1)S, were significantly higher in the HBV group (p<0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in AAT phenotypes (MS, MZ, and M(1)Z) among inactive carriers and individuals in the chronic and cirrhotic group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of moderate AAT (MS, M(1)S, and MV) and severely deficient (MZ and M(1)Z) phenotypes in Iranian HBV individuals. In addition, AAT deficiency might be a risk factor for infected HBV individuals progressing from the carrier stage to chronic and cirrhotic stages.