1.Manipulated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Applications in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Seyyed omid SADATPOOR ; Zahra SALEHI ; Dariush RAHBAN ; Ali SALIMI
International Journal of Stem Cells 2020;13(1):24-45
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have multilinear differentiation and self-renewal abilities. These cells are immune-privileged as they express no or low level of class-II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) and other costimulatory molecules. Having neuroprotective and regenerative properties, MSCs can be used to ameliorate several intractable neurodegenerative disorders by affecting both innate and adaptive immune systems. Several manipulations like pretreating MSCs with different conditions or agents, and using molecules derived from MSCs or genetically manipulating them, are the common and practical ways that can be used to strengthen MSCs survival and potency. Improved MSCs can have significantly enhanced impacts on diseases compared to MSCs not manipulated. In this review, we describe some of the most important manipulations that have been exerted on MSCs to improve their therapeutic functions and their applications in ameliorating three prevalent neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.
2.Protective Effects of Statins against Alzheimer Disease
Leila REZAKHANI ; Zahra SALIMI ; Fatemeh ZAREI ; Farshad MORADPOUR ; Mohammad Rasool KHAZAEI ; Mozafar KHAZAEI ; Maryam POURJALILI
The Ewha Medical Journal 2023;46(4):e17-
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by memory impairment, dementia, and diminished cognitive function. This disease affects more than 20 million people worldwide. Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are important pathological markers of AD. Multiple studies have indicated a potential association between elevated cholesterol levels and increased risk of AD, suggesting that lowering the cholesterol level could be a viable strategy for AD treatment or prevention. Statins, potent inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis, are widely used in clinical practice to decrease the plasma levels of LDL cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia. Statins are known to play a neuroprotective role in limiting Aβ pathology through cholesterol-lowering therapies. In addition to Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the brains of AD patients exhibit signs of oxidative stress, neuroinflammatory responses, and synaptic disruption.Consequently, compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and/or neuroprotective properties could be beneficial components of AD treatment strategies. In addition to lowering LDL cholesterol, statins have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in various forms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. These properties of statins are potential mechanisms underlying their beneficial effects in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this review was conducted to provide an overview of the protective effects of statins against AD.
3.The role of risk perception, risk communication, and demographic factors in COVID-19 preventive behaviors: an online survey in Iran
Mansour REZAEI ; Nader Rajabi GILAN ; Ali ALMASI ; Mehdi KHEZELI ; Fatemeh Jamshidi NAZAR ; Zahra Jorjoran SHUSHTARI ; Yahya SALIMI ; Farid NAJAFI ; Neda SARABI ; Shahram SAEIDI ; Saeid SAEIDI
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives 2022;13(4):282-289
Objectives:
This study investigated preventive behaviors toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related factors in a Kurdish Iranian sample.
Methods:
This online survey was conducted among the population aged 18 and above in Kermanshah Province, in western Iran, in April 2020. Samples were invited and recruited through social media. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 4 sections (questions on demographic variables, risk perception, risk communication, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors) and analyzed using Stata ver. 8.
Results:
The Pearson correlation test showed that risk communication was significantly correlated with COVID-19 preventive behaviors (r = 0.320, p < 0.01). In the final model, where the explanatory power increased with the entry of the risk communication variable, the variables explained a total of 14% of variance in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Sex (β = −0.482), risk perception (β = 0.047), and risk communication (β = 0.662) were significant determinants.
Conclusion
Risk communication and risk perception related to COVID-19, as well as being a woman, were determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors.
4.Social determinants of adherence to COVID-19 preventive guidelines: a comprehensive review
Zahra Jorjoran SHUSHTARI ; Yahya SALIMI ; Sina AHMADI ; Nader RAJABI-GILAN ; Marzieh SHIRAZIKHAH ; Akbar BIGLARIAN ; Ali ALMASI ; Mohammad Ali Mohammadi GHAREHGHANI
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives 2021;12(6):346-360
Adherence to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive guidelines (ACPG) is an important strategy to control the COVID-19 pandemic effectively. The present study aimed to identify and summarize the social determinants of ACPG among the general population. A comprehensive review was performed from December 2019 to February 2021 through searching electronic databases. Two independent reviewers assessed and selected relevant studies. Next, the characteristics and main findings of the included studies were summarized. Finally, the World Health Organization’s conceptual framework of social determinants of health was used to synthesize the identified social determinants of ACPG. Forty-one of 453 retrieved articles met the inclusion criteria. The study results showed different patterns of ACPG among various communities. Furthermore, 84 social determinants were identified and categorized into structural and intermediary determinants. ACPG is a set of complex behaviors associated with different individual sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics; living and working conditions; COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions; exposure to sources and information level; leisure activities; social support; trust; social norms; psychosocial well-being; socio-economic position; and the socio-economic and political context. Interventions to promote ACPG among the general population should consider the identified social determinants of ACPG.
5.Comparison of chest CT scan findings between COVID-19 and pulmonary contusion in trauma patients based on RSNA criteria: Established novel criteria for trauma victims.
Hossein ABDOLRAHIMZADEH FARD ; Salahaddin MAHMUDI-AZER ; Qusay ABDULZAHRAA YAQOOB ; Golnar SABETIAN ; Pooya IRANPOUR ; Zahra SHAYAN ; Shahram BOLANDPARVAZ ; Hamid Reza ABBASI ; Shiva AMINNIA ; Maryam SALIMI ; Mohammad Mehdi MAHMOUDI ; Shahram PAYDAR ; Roham BORAZJANI ; Ali TAHERI AKERDI ; Masome ZARE ; Leila SHAYAN ; Mohammadreza SASANI
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2022;25(3):170-176
PROPOSE:
In this study, we re-assessed the criteria defined by the radiological society of North America (RSNA) to determine novel radiological findings helping the physicians differentiating COVID-19 from pulmonary contusion.
METHODS:
All trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma and subsequent pulmonary contusion, COVID-19-related signs and symptoms before the trauma were enrolled in this retrospective study from February to May 2020. Included patients (Group P) were then classified into two groups based on polymerase chain reaction tests (Group Pa for positive patients and Pb for negative ones). Moreover, 44 patients from the pre-pandemic period (Group PP) were enrolled. They were matched to Group P regarding age, sex, and trauma-related scores. Two radiologists blindly reviewed the CT images of all enrolled patients according to criteria defined by the RSNA criteria. The radiological findings were compared between Group P and Group PP; statistically significant ones were re-evaluated between Group Pa and Group Pb thereafter. Finally, the sensitivity and specificity of each significant findings were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the radiological findings between Group P and Group PP.
RESULTS:
In the Group PP, 73.7% of all ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and 80% of all multiple bilateral GGOs were detected (p < 0.001 and p = 0.25, respectively). Single bilateral GGOs were only seen among the Group PP. The Chi-square tests showed that the prevalence of diffused GGOs, multiple unilateral GGOs, multiple consolidations, and multiple bilateral consolidations were significantly higher in the Group P (p = 0.001, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.003, respectively). However, GGOs with irregular borders and single consolidations were more significant among the Group PP (p = 0.01 and 0.003, respectively). Of note, reticular distortions and subpleural spares were exclusively detected in the Group PP.
CONCLUSION
We concluded that the criteria set by RSNA for the diagnosis of COVID-19 are not appropriate in trauma patients. The clinical signs and symptoms are not always useful either. The presence of multiple unilateral GGOs, diffused GGOs, and multiple bilateral consolidations favor COVID-19 with 88%, 97.62%, and 77.7% diagnostic accuracy.
COVID-19
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Contusions/diagnostic imaging*
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Humans
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Lead
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Lung/diagnostic imaging*
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Lung Injury/etiology*
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Retrospective Studies
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SARS-CoV-2
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*