The Comparative Effects of Schwann Cells and Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells on the AIM2 Inflammasome Activity in an Experimental Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

Inflammasome activation and the consequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the development of sensory/motor deficits following spinal cord injury (SCI). Immunomodulatory activities are exhibited by Schwann cells (SCs) and Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs). In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two cell sources in modulating the absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome complex in rats with SCI. The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) test, Nissl staining, and Luxol fast blue (LFB) staining were performed to evaluate locomotor function, neuronal survival, and myelination, respectively. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to analyze the gene and protein expressions of inflammasome components, including AIM2, ASC, caspase-1, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-18. Both gene and protein expressions of all evaluated factors were decreased after SC or WJ-MSC treatment, with a more pronounced effect observed in the SCs group (P < 0.05). Additionally, SCs promoted neuronal survival and myelination. Moreover, the administration of 3 × 105 cells resulted in motor recovery improvement in both treatment groups (P < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, these effects were more prominent in the SC-treated animals. In conclusion, SC therapy demonstrated greater efficacy in targeting AIM2 inflammasome activation and the associated inflammatory pathway in SCI experiments compared to WJ-MSCs.

Ambient temperature and Covid-19 transmission: An evidence from a region of Iran based on weather station and satellite data.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic is primarily transmitted by direct contact between infected and uninfected people, though, there are still many unknown factors influencing the survival and transmission of the virus. Air temperature is one of the main susceptible factors. This study aimed to explore the impact of air and land surface temperatures on Covid-19 transmission in a region of Iran. METHOD: Daily Land Surface Temperature (LST) measured by satellite and Air Temperature measured by weather station were used as the predictors of Covid-19 transmission. The data were obtained from February 2020 to April 2021. Spatio-temporal kriging was used in order to predict LST in some days in which no image was recorded by the satellite. The validity of the predicted values was assessed by Bland-Altman technique. The impact of the predictors was analyzed by Distributed Lag Non-linear Model (DLNM). In addition to main effect of temperature, its linear as well as non-linear interaction effect with relative humidity were considered using Generalized Additive Model (GAM) and a bivariate response surface model. Sensitivity analyses were done to select models' parameters, autocorrelation model and function of associations. RESULTS: The dose-response curve revealed that the impact of both predictors was not obvious, though, the risk of transmission tended to be positive due to low values of temperatures. Although the linear interaction effect was not statistically significant, but joint patterns showed that the impact of both LST and AT tended to be different when humidity values were changed. CONCLUSION: However the findings suggested that both LST and AT were not statistically important predictors, but they tended to predict the Covid-19 transmission in some lags. Because of local based evidence, the wide confidence intervals and then non-significant values should be cautiously interpreted.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Mandibular Morphology and Upper Airway Dimensions.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, the authors aimed to perform a novel and extensive analysis, based on the most applicable correlations between the mandibular and upper airway parameters, using cone beam computed tomography across all malocclusion classes. The authors also focused on gender-dependent differences in an Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Images were acquired from adult patients using cone beam computed tomography. The patients were classified into three groups of malocclusion classes (class I: 13 males and 27 females, class II: 13 males and 27 females, and class III: 25 males and 15 females). For each patient, 10 parameters for the mandible and 23 parameters for the pharynx, pyriform aperture, and nasal cavity were evaluated in the images. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficient showed significant correlations between the mandibular morphology and upper airway dimensions in each malocclusion class. In females, the menton angle had a significant correlation with pharyngeal dimensions in all malocclusion classes. In males, the bigonial width, bicondylar width, and symphyseal height of the mandible were correlated with pharyngeal dimensions in all classes. The greatest correlation between the mandible and upper airways was observed in class III malocclusions, and the lowest correlation was observed in class I malocclusions. In addition, the mandibular parameters had relationships with the nasal cavity and pyriform aperture. CONCLUSION: It is important to consider the knowledge of the relationship between some characteristics of the mandible and airways in various clinical approaches.

The incidence of traumatic brain injury in Tehran, Iran.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To assess the demographics, causes, treatment and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Tehran, Iran. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a major trauma centre in south of Tehran using clinical data registry of 3818 traumatic patients who admitted to the hospital from 2009 to 2013. The main factors measured were the external cause of trauma, the type of TBI, and treatment outcome. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The highest rate of TBIs occurred in age categories 21‒30 (31.5%), 31‒40 (19.2%) and 41‒50 (12.3%) years. Transport accidents were the most common cause of TBIs (2915 cases, 76.4%). The most frequent types of head injuries were subarachnoid (1676, 43.9%) subdural (1140, 29.8%), and epidural haemorrhage (974, 25.5%). A binomial logistic regression showed that mortality (612 patients, 16%) was significantly associated with the external cause of TBI, the type of main and additional head injuries, cervical spine injury, intra-abdominal organ injury, having a brain or abdominal surgery, and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of TBI, the type of head injuries, and accompanying spine and abdominal injuries were significant prognostic factors in traumatic patients.