Tocilizumab Failed to Reduce Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Patients: Results from a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

The severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased levels of blood interleukin (IL)-6. Therefore, it is hypothesized that modulating the levels or effects of IL-6  could diminish airway inflammation and alter the course of COVID-19. We conducted a controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial on hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 in Iran.

Effect of quercetin on steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis in ovary of mice with experimentally-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic Ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects the health of many women around theworld. Apart from fundamental metabolic problems connected to PCOS, focus of our study is on the role of quercetin on genes relevant to steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis.

Methods: Eighteen mature parkes strain mice (4-5 weeks old) weighing18-21 g were randomly divided into three groups of six each as follows: Group I serves as the control and was given water and a regular chow diet ad lib for 66 days; group II was given oral gavage administration of letrozole (LETZ) (6 mg/kgbw) for 21 days to induce PCOS and was left untreated for 45 days; For three weeks, Group III received oral gavage dose of LETZ (6 mg/kg), after which it received Quercetin (QUER) (125 mg/kg bw orally daily) for 45 days.

Target-specificity of different amyrin subunits in impeding HCV influx mechanism inside the human cells considering the quantum tunnel profiles and molecular strings of the CD81 receptor: a combined in silico and in vivo study.

HCV is a hepatotropic RNA virus recognized for its frequent virulence and fatality worldwide. Despite many vaccine development programs underway, researchers are on a quest for natural bioactive compounds due to their multivalent efficiencies against viral infections, considering which the current research aimed to figure out the target-specificity and therapeutic potentiality of α, β, and δ subunits of amyrin, as novel bioactive components against the HCV influx mechanism. Initially, the novelty of amyrin subunits was conducted from 203 pharmacophores, comparing their in-silico pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles.

High-dose Intravenous Vitamin C in Early Stages of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Double-blind, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: Based on previous studies in the sepsis population, Vitamin C could prevent injuries when administered in high doses and before the damage is established. This study aimed to evaluate the protective potentials of high-dose Vitamin C in the progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Examining the competencies required by evaluation capacity builders in community-based organizations.

Increasing demand for evidence generated through program evaluation has led many community-based organizations (CBOs) to seek external support for evaluation capacity building (ECB). However, studies have yet to explore the essential competencies required by evaluation capacity builders working in the community sector. Our qualitative study aimed to examine the perceptions of ECB practitioners (n = 12) regarding essential competencies for building evaluation capacity in this sector.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Among Health Care Workers in Major Private and Public Hospitals With COVID-19 Patient's Referral in Tehran, Iran.

Estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seropositivity among health care workers (HCWs) is crucial. In this study, the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs of five hospitals of Tehran, Iran with high COVID-19 patient's referrals from April to June, 2020, was assessed. In this cross-sectional study, HCWs from three public and two private hospitals, selected randomly as a pilot, were included.

Polysaccharide Chemistry in Drug Delivery, Endocrinology, and Vaccines.

Polysaccharides, due to their outstanding properties, have attracted the attention of researchers, working in the biomedical field and especially of those working in drug delivery. Modified/functionalized polysaccharides further increase the importance for various applications. Delivery of therapeutics for diverse ailments in different endocrine glands and hormones safely, is a focal point of researchers working in the field.

Two seriously ill neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 pneumonia- a case report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a highly contagious viral disease has spread from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China to all over the world from its first recognition on December 2019. To date, only a few neonatal early-onset sepsis by SARS-COV-2 has been reported worldwide.

Case Presentation: In this report, we present two seriously ill neonates who were born from mothers with stablished COVID-19 pneumonia.

Incorporation of T-cell epitopes from tetanus and diphtheria toxoids into in-silico-designed hypoallergenic vaccine may enhance the protective immune response against allergens.

Objectives: New generation of allergy vaccines is capable of promoting the development of protective IgG and blocking the functionality of allergen-specific IgE. We incorporated universal and powerful T-cell epitopes from tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (TD epitope) into recombinant Che a 2, the well-known allergic profilin of , to determine its immunological properties.

Materials And Methods: The sequence and accordingly the structure of the recombinant Che a 2 was altered to generate a hypoallergenic variant (rChe a 2.

Comparison home care service hospital-based care ulcer economic evaluation study.

Introduction: Providing health care to patients at home could be causing the mortality and readmission rates reduction in addition to satisfaction of both patients and health care providers increase. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of home care service compared to hospital based care in patients with diabetic foot ulcer.

Methods: An economic evaluation study and a trial study were simultaneously conducted in Iran.

Endocrine roles of vitamin K-dependent- osteocalcin in the relation between bone metabolism and metabolic disorders.

Obesity and diabetes are important metabolic diseases and a major public health problem among the world, they have serious health and economic complications. Overweight and obesity are increased risk for deficiency of vitamin particularly shortage of fat soluble-vitamins. Studies reported that vitamin K supplementation reduces oxidative stress and metabolic risk biomarkers for diabetes, as well as reduces progression of insulin resistance.

Chronic neurodegeneration by aflatoxin B1 depends on alterations of brain enzyme activity and immunoexpression of astrocyte in male rats.

Aflatoxin B1 poses the greatest risk among the mycotoxins to target-organisms particularly human, however, no studies addressed the neurotoxicity of chronic exposure of aflatoxin. The oral dose level 1/600th of LD50 for 30, 60, and 90 days was used for three aflatoxin groups, respective to negative and vehicle control groups. Activity levels of brain antioxidants viz: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase significantly decreased in the three experimental durations in time-dependent trend, in contrast, lipid peroxidation showed a significant increase compared to controls.

Pressure Ulcer Rate in Multidisciplinary Hospital Units After Multifactorial Intervention: A Stepped-Wedge, Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of interventions in decreasing the rates of pressure ulcer in a general hospital setting.

Methods: Sixteen units in a general hospitals in Iran participated in this stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial during a 45-week study period. This trial has a one-sided crossover design from control to intervention.

In Vitro Comparison Of Fluoride Gel Alone and in Combination With Er,Cr:YSGG Laser on Reducing White Spot Lesions in Primary Teeth.

Laser therapy has been suggested as a method for caries-prevention, and ErCr:YSGG laser is increasingly used in dentistry. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of fluoride gel alone and in conjunction with Er,Cr:YSGG laser for remineralization of white spot lesions (WSLs) in primary teeth. This study was conducted on 20 primary teeth with WSLs extracted for orthodontic reasons.

Preventing blood transfusion failures: FMEA, an effective assessment method.

Background: Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) is a method used to assess the risk of failures and harms to patients during the medical process and to identify the associated clinical issues. The aim of this study was to conduct an assessment of blood transfusion process in a teaching general hospital, using FMEA as the method.

Methods: A structured FMEA was recruited in our study performed in 2014, and corrective actions were implemented and re-evaluated after 6 months.

Susceptibility of Five Sugar Beet Cultivars to the Black Bean Aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae).

The black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the important pests of sugar beet. The relative impact of resistance, including antibiosis and antixenosis of five sugar beet cultivars (Doroti, Perimer, Pershia, Rozier and 006) on A. fabae was studied under laboratory conditions using clip cages.

Comparison of Flexural Strength of Resin Cements After Storing in Different Media and Bleaching Agents.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different storage media and bleaching treatments on the flexural strength of two resin cements (Panavia and BisCem). One hundred rectangular-shaped specimens were prepared with two resin cements and were stored in five media types (n = 10): distilled water (DW), lactic acid (LA), sodium hydroxide (NH), in-office bleaching (OB) and home bleaching (HB). There was significant interaction between the solutions and cements (p < 0.

Don't underestimate fournier's gangrene: report of 8 cases in 10 month survey.

Background: Fourniers gangrene caused by synergic aerobic and anaerobic organism is a life threatening disorder.

Methods: The medical records of 8 among 839 patients admitted to imam ali general hospital Zahedan university of Medical Sciences with fourniers gangrene during the 10 months period between 2012 and 2013 were reviewed.

Results: The most common etiology and presentation were abscess and perianal pain respectively.

Effect size of contributory factors on adverse events: an analysis of RCA series in a teaching hospital.

Background: One of the most important concerns of health care systems in the world is the patient safety issues. Root Cause Analysis is a systematic process for identifying root causes and contributory factors of problems or events. The objective of this study is to review RCA reports to determine the effect size of contributory factors on adverse events through an organizational perspective.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, 12 years after renal transplantation.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systematic disease which accounts for 10-15% of patients receiving dialysis or renal transplantation. It has a statistically significant association with malignancy in renal transplant recipients. We report a 47-year-old ADPKD female who developed a large renal tumor in the right kidney 12 years after kidney transplantation.