Inactivation of airborne SARS-Co-V2 using NTP-UVGI hybrid process.

Indoor environments such as healthcare centers are known as one of the key centers in the outbreak of viral infectious diseases. In the present study, the pathogenic agents' treatment system (PATS) was designed by the combination of non-thermal plasma (NTP) with the ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) processes. Then, the treatment efficiency of PATS was measured for the "SARS-Co-V2." The exhaled air of the confirmed case of "COVID-19" was considered as the viral source of "SARS-Co-V2" and directed to the upstream of PATS. The treatment process was done by passing directed air through two steps of treatment (NTP and UVGI). The treatment efficiency of PATS was measured by sampling at the sampling points (before and after the treatment process). According to the energy emission pattern (corona discharge, UV rays) in the designed system, during two steps, the high efficiency of treatment for the collected pathogens was achieved. Based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results, the CT value was lower than 29 (CTs < 29), and after the treatment using PATS was upper than 40 (CTs > 40) confirming the highest removal efficiency of "SARS-Co-V2." Also, the treatment efficiency of each reactor in individual operation was at the optimum level. The findings suggested, the present PATS may eliminate the viral pathogens with hospital sources and also, be applicable in the other intensive care unit (ICU) wards with the same risk thus, significantly reducing the possible exposure risk of healthcare and sick companions, and preventing the outbreak of infectious diseases.

Occupational exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles in the intensive care unit of Tehran hospital.

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has attracted much attention to study its possible presence and airborne transmission. The possibility of COVID-19 airborne transmission in indoor environments is debatable. The present study examined the concentration of viral RNA-containing particles produced directly or indirectly by breathing or coughing of confirmed COVID-19 patients or by carriers without symptoms. Some studies do not accept this method of transmission (COVID-19 airborne transmission). The present study aimed to measure the possible exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles that may have been suspended in the air to respond to the hypothesis of COVID-19 airborne transmission. Airborne particle sampling was performed using impingement method based on NIOSH (chapter BA) and ASHRAE. Selection of sampling sections was in line with the WHO guidelines. The samples were analyzed using RT-PCR technique. Based on the given results, airborne particles of COVID-19 may present in the air and affect the health of hospital personnel. In fact, the analysis of gene expression in ambient conditions and thereby aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air is possible and may lead to occupational exposure of health care personnel. Furthermore, it was found that airborne emission of COVID-19 through the breathing zone of patients, particularly in ICU wards with confirmed cases of COVID-19, may be higher than in other ICU wards. Also, the demonstrated results showed that there is a possibility of reaerosolization (reintroduction) of previously airborne SARS-CoV-2 particles into the atmosphere due to health care personnel frequently walking between different wards and stations of ICU.

Intractable airsickness associated with COVID-19: A case report.

A 29-yr-old male Melicopter co-pilot with high flight hours in air transport missions of the patients with COVID-19 tested positive for his RT-PCR due to clinical suspicion. With the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, he was treated based on the national protocol and stayed in the home quarantine for two weeks. Having been released for flying, he faced nausea, vomiting, facial cold sweat and pallor, dizziness, and imbalance that eventually caused flying avoidance during the three first flights. He has never had a similar problem or any predisposing factors during his pilot's training and afterwards. All the probable reasons ruled out after a complete assessment. Following the diagnosis of moderate airsickness, he was abstained from flying and treated with different prevention and rehabilitation techniques. None of them had enough clinical efficacies, applying the United States Air Force Preventive Airsickness Protocol as the last choice. Despite the three separate consecutive therapeutic courses, no significant clinical improvement was observed, and could not return to fly, yet. That is the first reported case of intractable airsickness in a flight crew that may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Un varón de 29 años de edad, copiloto de helicóptero médico, con gran número de horas de vuelo en misiones de transporte aéreo de los pacientes de COVID-19, dio positivo en las pruebas rápidas de PCR, debido a sospecha clínica. Diagnosticándose SARS-CoV-2, fue tratado sobre la base del protocolo nacional, permaneciendo en cuarentena domiciliaria durante dos semanas. Habiendo sido eximido de volar, padeció náuseas, vómitos, sudores fríos y palidez facial, mareos y falta de equilibrio, que le abstuvieron de volar durante las primeras tres semanas. No había tenido nunca un problema similar ni factores predisponentes durante su formación como piloto, ni después de esta. Tras un reconocimiento completo se descartaron todas las causas probables. Al diagnosticarse mareo moderado al volar, se le recomendó que se abstuviera de viajar en avión, tratándosele con diferentes técnicas de prevención y rehabilitación. Ninguna de ellas tuvo eficacia clínica suficiente, aplicándose el protocolo para la prevención de mareo al volar de las Fuerzas Aéreas de los Estados Unidos como última elección. A pesar de realizar los tres cursos terapéuticos separados consecutivos no se observó una mejora clínica significativa, y no pudo volver a volar. Se trata del primer caso reportado de mareo al volar irresoluble en una tripulación de vuelo, que puede estar asociado a la infección por SARS-CoV-2.

Study of Structural stability and formation mechanisms in DSPC and DPSM liposomes: A coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation.

Liposomes or biological vesicles can be created from cholesterol, phospholipid, and water. Their stability is affected by their phospholipid composition which can influence disease treatment and drug delivery efficacy. In this study, the effect of phospholipid type on the formation and stability of liposomes using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations is investigated. For this purpose, the simulation study of the DSPC (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and DPSM (Egg sphingomyelin) lipids were considered. All simulations were carried out using the Gromacs software and Martini force field 2.2. Energy minimization (3000 steps) model, equilibrium at constant volume to adjust the temperature at 400 Kelvin and equilibrium at constant pressure to adjust the pressure, at atmospheric pressure (1 bar) have been validated. Microsecond simulations, as well as formation analysis including density, radial distribution function, and solvent accessible surface area, demonstrated spherical nanodisc structures for the DPSM and DSPC liposomes. The results revealed that due to the cylindrical geometric structure and small-size head group, the DSPC lipid maintained its perfectly spherical structure. However, the DPSM lipid showed a conical geometric structure with larger head group than other lipids, which allows the liposome to form a micelle structure. Although the DSPC and DPSM lipids used in the laboratory tests exhibit liposome and micelle behaviors, the simulation results revealed their nanodisc structures. Energy analysis including overall energy, Van der Waals interaction energy, and electrostatic interaction energy showed that DPSM liposome is more stable than DSPC liposome.

Pretreatment with Ultrasonication Reduces the Size of Azelaic Acid-Chitosan Nanoparticles Prepared by Electrospray.

Nowadays, electrospray is becoming a favourable approach for preparing monodispersed nanoparticles. However, this approach is quite recent and requires further works to optimize control over physicochemical properties of its products. This study aimed to determine the possible effects of sonication as a pretreatment to reduce the size of azelaic acid-chitosan particle before using electrospray. The results showed that sonication treatment can produce submicron particles of azelaic acid-chitosan. By diluting the solution and increasing sonication time and amplitude, smaller particles were obtained with the smallest one at 516 nm, sized by dynamic light scattering. The pretreated solution was then electrosprayed to reduce the size of nanoparticles to 80 nm, indicating that sonication may play an important role in reducing the size of electrosprayed nanoparticles. The electrosprayed nanoparticles were nearly monodispersed and almost spherical in shape.

Pentoxifylline mitigates detrimental impact of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis on sperm characteristics, reproductive hormones and histopathology in rats.

The protective role of pentoxifylline (PTX) on sperm characteristics, reproductive hormones and histopathology following carrageenan-induced chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) was investigated in male Wistar rats. Thirty-six rats were grouped into six rats per group. Group 1 (control) received saline normal. Group 2 received a single intraprostatic dose of 3% carrageenan (50 µl) on day 1 (CNP). Groups 3 and 5 received cernilton (standard drug) and PTX orally at 100 and 50 mg/kg for 14 consecutive days respectively. Groups 4 and 6 received a single dose of 3% carrageenan (50 µl) intraprostatically on day 1 followed by cernilton and PTX orally at 100 and 50 mg/kg on the eighth day for 14 consecutive days respectively. Prostatic index, serum prostatic specific antigen, malondialdehyde, testosterone and luteinising hormone levels were significantly increased (p < .05), whereas serum follicle-stimulating hormone, sperm count, motility and viability were significantly decreased (p < .05) in CNP group. Histopathology of prostate revealed leucocyte infiltration, large involutions and projection into the lumen in CNP group and these aberrations were improved by PTX. According to these findings, we concluded that PTX effectively mitigated detrimental impact of CNP on sperm characteristics, reproductive hormones and histopathology in rats.

Pharmacogenetics: A strategy for personalized medicine for autoimmune diseases.

For many years, a considerable number of patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs) have suffered from a lack of drug response and drug-related toxicity. Despite the emergence of new therapeutic options such as biological agents, patients continue to struggle with these problems. Unfortunately, new challenges, including the paradoxical effects of biological drugs, have complicated the situation. In recent decades, efforts have been made to predict drug response as well as drug-related side effects. Thanks to the many advances in genetics, evaluation of markers to predict drug response/toxicity before the initiation of treatment may be an avenue toward personalizing treatments. Implementing pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics in the clinic could improve clinical care; however, obstacles remain to effective personalized medicine for ADs. The present study attempted to clarify the concept of pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics for ADs. After an overview on the pathogenesis of the most common types of treatments, this paper focuses on pharmacogenetic studies related to the selected ADs. Bridging the gap between pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine is also discussed. Moreover, the advantages, disadvantages and recommendations related to making personalized medicine practical for ADs have been addressed.

Ethosomal Curcumin Promoted Wound Healing and Reduced Bacterial Flora in Second Degree Burn in Rat.

Background: Curcumin is well known in biomedical investigations with an extensive antimicrobial properties and wound repair effect. However, clinical criteria recommend curcumin should be formulated for topical medication. Material and method: In this study, we prepared Ethosomal curcumin (Etho-cur) formulation for wound healing and bacterial flora assessments in treated rats which were subjected to second degree burn under a standard procedure. Results: Applying once daily of Etho-cur (0.2%) topically on rat's dorsal for 14 days significantly recovered main aspects of wound repair including re-epithelization (P<0.01), neovascularization (P<0.01), collagen synthesis (P<0.001), granulation tissue formation (P<0.001) compared with control. Considerable wound contraction was occurred by Etho-cur treatment sooner than other groups and after 16 days it was completed with a significant (P<0.001) value. Furthermore, ethosomal formulation of curcumin similar to silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream 1% potentially inhibited (P<0.001) growth of the burn bacterial flora including Pseudomonas aeruginosa as predominant bacteria among experimental isolations during 14 days treatment. Also, antibacterial activity of Etho-cur was estimated approximately 11% more potent than free curcumin in reduction of the burn bacterial flora. Conclusion: Regarding the results, ethosomal curcumin efficiently fights against wound infection and promotes wound repair in burn injuries in rats.

Study of defensive methods and mechanisms in developmental, emotional (internalization), and disruptive behavior (externalization) disorders.

We need to find a way for adaptation with inherent unpleasantness of being human condition and conflicts that it caused, as we did not fail. Methods that we used for adaptation are named defense. This research have performed with the aim of study and compare defensive mechanisms and methods of Developmental, Emotional (Internalization), and Disruptive behavior (Externalization) disorders. Method, sample of this research included 390 family that are by available sampling method are selected. Tools of research were structured clinical interview of forth cognitive and statistical guide of psychopathic disorders for axis I and the way used for assess defensive mechanisms is defensive method 40 question's questionnaires of Andrews (1993). The data are compared by statistical methods comparison of averages and one way variance analysis and HSD tests and results show that undeveloped defensive mechanisms in by developmental disorder family (25.2 ± 3.7) mean and standard deviation, it is most used mechanism and in disruptive behavior disorder family by (11.2 ± 1.9) mean and standard deviation is used least mechanism and in developed mechanism of emotional disorder family by (7.8 ± 3.1) mean and standard deviation is most used mechanism and in developmental disorder family by (4.3 ± 1.5) mean and standard deviation is least mechanism in neuroticism patient, social phobia affected emotional disorder family (15.6 ± 2.6) and disruptive behavior disorder family have least mean and standard deviation (9.2 ± 1.7) (p< 0.005). Recent research shows significant of study defensive mechanism in psychopathic family of disorder children that affecting on the way of life of persons and interpersonal and intrapersonal relations and method of solving problem in family of them in life, so defensive mechanisms require more attention.

Living or deceased donor kidney transplantation: a comparison of results and survival rates among Iranian patients.

OBJECTIVE: Kidney transplantation is the selective treatment of end-stage renal disease. Although most previous studies have concluded that living kidney donation achieves better graft survival, some factors may limit this type of donation. This study investigated the survival rates of living and deceased donor kidney transplantations among Iranian patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of kidney transplantations up to year 2005 were used to compare 50 deceased (group I) with 50 living donor transplants (group II). The recipients were matched by transplantation time. We used SPSS version 15 software to analyze the data. RESULTS: Group I patients included 28 males and 22 females of mean age of 38 +/- 13 years, while 26 males and 24 females in group II had a mean age of 34.6 +/- 14 years. The rejection and graft nephrectomy rates were significantly higher among group I than group II (P = .01, P = .02). The first-year graft survival was higher in group II (P = .001). The graft survival was significantly lower in recipients who needed a biopsy or dialysis (P = .006 and P = .02, respectively) and higher among those who had a urine volume >4200 mL within the first 24 hours after transplantation (P = .003). Patient survivals were not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Living donor kidney transplantations showed higher graft survival and lower acute rejection rates compared with those from deceased donors.