Prevalence of substance use among Iranian male adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and aims: Substance use among adolescents is one of the most challenging behavioral disorders with direct consequences. It is of the essence (that) the prevalence of substance use is investigated among Iranian male adolescents. Methods: The present study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. All published articles titled "prevalence of substance use among Iranian adolescents" authored in Persian and English from 2004 to 2020 on Pub Med, Scopus, SID, and Google Scholar, a top list of academic research databases, were reviewed. Thirty-three out of 805 articles, hinge on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were eligible. Statistical analysis carried out in STATA 14.0.Q index, I2 index, and χ 2 test were applied. Results: Overall prevalence reported with (95% confidence interval) for substance use 7% (4%-11%), methamphetamine 4% (3%-6%), tobacco 10% (3%-19%), and any addictive substances 4% (2%-7%) among male adolescents respectively. Besides, overall prevalence of alcohol consumption reported 10% (8%-11%). Conclusion: The prevalence of substance use among male adolescents is high, so it is indispensable for researchers to pay special attention to this issue.

Iranian patients co-infected with COVID-19 and mucormycosis: the most common predisposing factor, clinical outcomes, laboratory markers and diagnosis, and drug therapies.

BACKGROUND: The newly emerged pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is the world's main health challenge because infected patients become vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess clinical outcomes, diagnosis, utilized drug therapies, and ongoing COVID-19 practices in Iranian cases co-infected with COVID-19 and mucormycosis. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A case-series analysis was conducted in the presence of 10 patients with COVID-19 and mucormycosis co-infection (two men and eight women; mean age of 48.8 years) from March to October 2020. Demographic variables, signs/symptoms, and comorbidities of all patients were recorded. COVID-19 was confirmed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT)_ scans. RESULTS: All patients had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Eight patients had a history of diabetes, while three of them exhibited a hypertension history. Remarkable laboratory findings were elevated fasting blood sugar in 6 cases and anaemia in four patients. A rhino-orbital-cerebral of mucormycosis in all patients was detected based on HR-CT scans and otorhinolaryngological or ophthalmological examinations. Neurological disorders including facial, trigeminal, optic, and oculomotor nerve involvement resulted in paraesthesia, pain, ptosis, no light perception, blurred vision, and papilledema in five cases. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were the most common sites of involvement. CONCLUSION: Vulnerable COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, any facial involvements, or treated by excessive doses of glucocorticoids and antibiotics should undergo precise examinations during the appearance of early signs and hospitalization to diagnose and treat mucormycosis using the standard care and antifungal treatments.

A 16-year Remained UroLume Stent without any Complication; a Case Report.

Lumen diameter reduction which is called urethral stricture has several causative agents including iatrogenic, inflammatory, traumatic, and idiopathic factors. The main treatment options are transurethral or open surgical interventions.The UroLume which was introduced around 33 years ago is an intraurethral stent and as a temporary treatment approach has a maximum 9-month durability, but here we present the first ever reported forgotten 16-year remained UroLume without any complication.

The possible double-edged sword effects of vitamin D on COVID-19: A hypothesis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gains access to host cells by attaching to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Vitamin D (VitD) can upregulate ACE2 and has an antagonistic effect on Renin, which exerts a vasodilatation and anti-inflammatory effect against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it may also facilitate viral entry by increasing ACE2 as the main SARS-CoV-2 receptor and mediates ROS production through NADPH oxidase, as a double-edged sword effect. Lung function and the immune system are also influenced by VitD through several mechanisms, including increased natural antibiotics (Defensin and Cathelicidin) and upregulated transforming growth factor-ß. A higher IgA, Th2/Th1 ratio, and T-regulatory cells are attributable to VitD effects on the immune cells, while these changes may also be a double-edged sword in COVID-19. Although VitD supplementation might be highly recommended in COVID-19, the administration's dosage and route could be challenging. Furthermore, this issue has not been mentioned in various studies so far. So, the report aimed to explain the current challenges with the application of VitD in COVID-19.

Comparison the effects of two monocyte isolation methods, plastic adherence and magnetic activated cell sorting methods, on phagocytic activity of generated dendritic cells.

OBJECTIVE: It is believed that monocyte isolation methods and maturation factors affect the phenotypic and functional characteristics of resultant dendritic cells (DC). In the present study, we compared two monocyte isolation methods, including plastic adherence-dendritic cells (Adh-DC) and magnetic activated cell sorting- dendritic cells (MACS-DC), and their effects on phagocytic activity of differentiated immature DCs (immDCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: : In this experimental study, immDCs were generated from plastic adherence and MACS isolated monocytes in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) in five days. The phagocytic activity of immDCs was analyzed by fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated latex bead using flow cytometry. One way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis of differences among experimental groups, including Adh-DC and MACS-DC groups. RESULTS: We found that phagocytic activity of Adh-DC was higher than MACS-DC, whereas the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of phagocytic cells was higher in MACS-DC (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: : We concluded that it would be important to consider phagocytosis parameters of generated DCs before making any decision about monocyte isolation methods to have fully functional DCs.

Phenotypic and functional comparison between flask adherent and magnetic activated cell sorted monocytes derived dendritic cells.

BACKGROUND: Generation of an effective dendritic cell (DC) based cancer vaccine depends on appropriate differentiation of monocytes in vitro. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of monocyte separation methods, flask adherence (Flask-DC) and magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS-DC), on phenotypic and functional characteristics of resultant DCs. METHODS: DCs from healthy volunteers were generated from plastic adherence and MACS isolated monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 as well as TNF-α and monocyte conditioned medium (MCM) in 7 day cultures. Mature DCs were then subjected to phenotypic analysis using anti-CD14, anti-CD83 and HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies. Functional and cytokine release assays were carried out using [3H] thymidine uptake test and commercially available ELISA kits for the determination of IL-12, IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-4, respectively. RESULTS: We found that MACS-DCs were more homogenous and the yield and viability were fairly higher than Flask-DCs. MACS-DCs expressed higher levels of CD83 and HLA-DR as well as CD14 compared to the Flask-DCs. Induction of T cell proliferative responses were higher in Flask-DCs and also they elicited higher levels of IL-12: IL-10 and IFN-γ: IL-4 ratios in cytokine generation assays. CONCLUSION: MACS method was superior for mass production of viable homogenous and fully mature DCs but their cytokine profile had the potential to polarize the immune system toward Th2 type immune response.