Background. In December, 2019, China, has experienced an outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 . Coronavirus has now spread to all of the continents. We aimed to consider clinical characteristics, laboratory data of COVID-19 that provided more information for the research of this novel virus. Methods.We performed a retrospective cohort study on the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings of a series of the 100 confirmed patients with COVID-19. These patients were admitted to the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences (Ayatollah Rohani, ShahidBeheshti and Yahyanejad hospitals) form 25 February 2020 to 12 March 2020. Results.Nineteen patients died during hospitalization and 81 were discharged. Non-survivor patients had a significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD: 46.37, 95% CI: 20.84, 71.90; P= 0.001), white blood cells (WBCs) (MD: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.53, 4.67; P< 0.001) and lower lymphocyte (MD: -8.75, 95% CI: -12.62, -4.87; P< 0.001) compared to survivor patients Data analysis showed that comorbid conditions (aRR: 2.99, 95%CI: 1.09, 8.21, P= 0.034), higher CRP levels (aRR: 1.02, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.03, P= 0.044), and lower lymphocyte (aRR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.73, 0.93, P= 0.003) were associated with increased risk of death. Conclusions.Based on our findings, most non-survivors are elderly with comorbidities. Lymphopenia and increased levels of WBCs along with elevated CRP were associated with increased risk of death. Therefore, it is best to be regularly assessed these markers during treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder and an acute immune-mediated demyelinating neuropathy that causes reduced signal transmissions, progressive muscle weakness, and paralysis. The etiology of the syndrome still remains controversial and uncertain. GBS can be initiated and triggered by respiratory tract infections such as influenza, and intestinal infections such as Campylobacter jejuni. In addition, there is considerable evidence suggesting links between influenza vaccination and GBS. As reported previously, the incidence of GBS in individuals receiving swine flu vaccine was about one to two cases per million. Despite the influenza vaccine efficacy, its association with an immune-mediated demyelinating process can be challenging as millions of people get vaccinated every year. In this review we will discuss the association between influenza infection and vaccination with GBS by focusing on the possible immunopathological mechanisms.

Oxidative stress may play an important role in the onset and development of oral inflammatory and dental decay diseases. The aim of this study was to compare total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in the unstimulated whole saliva of children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and caries-free children. In this case-control study, 80 children aged 3-5 years from nursery schools in Babol, northern Iran were the subjects of the study. The S-ECC group contained 40 children with dmfs ≥4 (age 3), ≥5 (age 4) or ≥6 (age 5) and the control group contained 40 caries-free children (dmfs = 0). Out of consideration for growth pattern and general health, the clinical examinations of the chosen children were conducted by a physician. These two groups were age and sex matched. TAC was measured by the FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power) method and total protein in unstimulated whole saliva was evaluated spectrophotometrically. According to the normal distribution of data, statistical tests including the t test and Pearson's correlation test were used; p < 0.05 was considered significant in the difference between the two groups. TAC levels and salivary total protein increased in children with S-ECC compared with caries-free children (p = 0.025 and p = 0.033, respectively). Moreover, salivary TAC showed a significant positive correlation with total protein concentration and dmfs in the S-ECC group (p < 0.001, r = 0.685 and r = 0.902, respectively). The significant increment of salivary TAC in S-ECC may represent a compensatory mechanism against oxidative stress in S-ECC.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen of huge public health significance to human beings. Although majority of infections are benign with self-limiting symptoms, the recent outbreak has established an association with the increased incidence of some congenital anomalies such as microcephaly. In other words, due to the large extent of the virus and mosquito vectors, the infection has become a thoughtful health problem for human societies, though now, there are no antiviral therapies or vaccines against this virus. In spite of extensive research carried out by scientists, not so much information has been gathered about this viral infection. In the current review, we prepared an overview of the remarkable progress made in understanding about the epidemiology, immunology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis methods of ZIKV infection.

Background and PurposezzRegular exercise can result in changes in the levels of oxidative stress in the hippocampus; however, little attention has been paid to physical-activity-induced neuronal protection to exposure to lead compounds. This study investigated the effects of regular treadmill exercise on a DNA oxidative-damage marker [8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)] and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of hippocampal tissue in lead-acetate exposed rats.MethodszzThis study investigated the effects of 8 weeks of regular treadmill exercise on 8-OHdG and the TAC of hippocampal tissue in lead-acetate-exposed rats. Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: baseline, sham (control), lead, and exercise+lead. The exercise program involved running on a treadmill with increasing intensity five times a week for 8 weeks. Animals in the lead and exercise+lead groups received lead acetate at 20 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally three times weekly for 8 weeks. Animals in the sham group received solvent (ethyl oleate) at 30 mg/kg body weight three times weekly for 8 weeks. TAC and 8-OHdG were measured by spectrophotometric and ELISA techniques, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test with a significance cutoff of p≤0.05.ResultszzThe level of 8-OHdG and the TAC were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the lead group than in the baseline and sham groups (p<0.01). However, the 8-OHdG level and TAC value in hippocampal tissue were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in the exercise+lead group relative to the lead group (p<0.05).ConclusionszzThe TAC of hippocampal tissue may be directly associated with neural protection mechanisms of exercise following lead acetate injection, and the beneficial effects of regular exercise in preventing hippocampal neuronal damage could be due to decreased hippocampal oxidative stress such as reflected by a lower 8-OHdG level and increased TAC.

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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and liver diseases. In the event of seroclearance or seroconversion, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may be cleared or reduced to levels below the detection limit but very low quantities of viral DNA may be detectable as occult HBV infection (OBI). Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of HBV DNA in the serum and PBMCs of individuals with HBsAg loss, with or without anti-HBs. Methods: Sixty out of 1116 patients who referred to the private clinic were selected and divided into two groups: serocleared and seroconverted. Serological markers of HBV were measured by ELISA assay and HBV DNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were measured by quantitative real time PCR. Results: A total of sixty cases (38 males, 22 females) with chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. The mean age of serocleared and seroconverted groups was 50.5 ± 13.1and 49 ± 11, respectively. Among the serocleared and seroconverted subjects, 3 and 2 became HBsAg positive, respectively. HBV DNA was detected in the PBMCs of four out of 27 serocleared patients (14.8%) and three out of 28 seroconverted (10.7%). By multivariate analysis, age, gender, duration of disease and serological situation of patients had no effects on patients' relapse (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In patients with CHB, who became HBsAg negative if the serum antibody is formed, there is a possibility of disease recurrence. Moreover, recurrence may be predicted considering the viral load in PBMCs.

Background: Hepatitis B is a viral disease that can be chronic. The Treg population during hepatitis appears to have an important role in controlling disease progression. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the level of Tregs in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) at different stages of the disease. Methods: This study was carried out on 90 patients with CHB followed-up for an average of 10 years and divided into hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag+), seroconverted (HBs Ag- and hepatitis B surface antibody [HBs Ab+]), and serocleared (HBs Ag- and HBs Ab-) groups. Then, 5 ml of the blood sample was taken, and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated using Ficoll. The surface markers, including CD4, CD25, and CD127, and FoxP3 intracellular marker were measured in the PBMCs. Isotype was considered the control for each sample. The samples were read by the FACSCalibur 4-color flow cytometer (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA) and analyzed using FlowJo software. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, α-fetoprotein, platelets, white blood cells, and hemoglobin were extracted from the patients’ records. Results: The mean age values of the HBs Ag+ (n=35), seroclearance (n=27), and seroconversion (n=28) groups were 43.97±11.86, 47.26±12.95, and 47.39±10.40 years, respectively. The frequency of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ (Treg) was higher in the HBs Ag+ group than that reported for the other two groups. The Treg population demonstrated a significant difference between the serocleared and seroconverted groups; however, the Treg frequency was higher in the seroconverted group in comparison to that of the other two groups. The Treg/T-Activator ratio was significantly higher in the HBs Ag+ group than those reported for the two other groups. Conclusions: CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T cells are the important subgroups of Treg cells affecting immune suppression.