Mohsen Keshavarz

Introduction: Elderly individuals, due to the negative impact of accompanying and underlying health conditions, face a higher risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and if infected, their risk of mortality is significantly elevated. This study aimed to investigate COVID- 19 mortality risk factors in an elderly cohort in Bushehr. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program. A total of 329 individuals were included in the study, of which 165 were hospitalized and 164 were outpatients. Through a reliable questionnaire, participants’ demographic and clinical data were obtained. Using 10 cc of venous blood, laboratory tests were performed. Results: Overall, among demographic factors, age significantly impacted patient mortality. Regarding underlying diseases, cardiovascular disease and hypertension had a significant effect on mortality (p-value = 0.05 and p-value = 0.012, respectively). Hospitalization status was also an influential factor in mortality, with hospitalized individuals experiencing significantly higher mortality rates than those treated on an outpatient basis (p-value = 0.001). The results indicate that biochemical parameters, including blood pressure, BUN (p-value = 0.006), and creatinine, are influential factors in patient mortality (p-value = 0.000). Discussion: Age, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease significantly increase COVID- 19 mortality risk. This finding aligns with existing research. Study limitations include the unavailability of complete patient details and potential observational bias. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that individuals with a history of hospitalization, hypertension, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, along with advanced age, are at a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19.

BK virus is a childhood virus that can reactivate in immunocompromised individuals, particularly organ transplant recipients, causing transplant rejection due to BK virus-associated nephropathy. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of BK virus infection in kidney transplant recipients, examine the relationship between demographic and laboratory factors and active infection, evaluate the impact of reducing immunosuppressive drug doses on BK virus reactivation, and explore the genotyping of BK virus strains in this population. This cross-sectional study utilized 245 serum samples from kidney transplant recipients. Viral DNA was extracted from these samples, and initially, Nested PCR was employed for screening to ensure accuracy, with primers targeting a segment of the VP1 gene used to detect the BK virus genome. Real-Time PCR was subsequently performed on positive samples to measure viral load more precisely. The prevalence of BK virus infection among kidney transplant recipients was 5.3%. Out of 245 kidney transplant recipients, 13 individuals were diagnosed with active BK virus infection. Genotype I was the most prevalent, accounting for 90% of the cases. The relationship between demographic factors (gender and age) and laboratory parameters (fasting blood glucose, creatinine, hemoglobin, and platelet count) was examined in both kidney transplant recipients with and without active BK virus infection. The results revealed that a reduction in immunosuppressive drug dosages, particularly tacrolimus, was associated with a decrease in BK viral load, potentially contributing to a lower incidence of active BK virus infections. Additionally, hematological analysis showed a significant decrease in hemoglobin levels in kidney transplant recipients with active BK virus infection, accompanied by a significant increase in serum creatinine levels. Balancing immunosuppressive therapy, especially reducing tacrolimus, helps control BK virus reactivation and preserve graft function. Regular monitoring of hematological parameters and viral load is crucial for optimal management in kidney transplant recipients.

Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extracted from milk thistle. It has potent immunomodulatory effects and can inhibit the replication of influenza A virus (IAV). The present study aimed to determine the inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokine secretion patterns in mice before and after silibinin treatment. For this, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were collected from the thoracic cavity 5 days after the intervention, and viral quantification was performed using TaqMan Real‐time PCR. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate IFN‐γ and IL‐10 levels in serum and BAL samples. Finally, pathological damage to lung tissue was assessed by pathologists. The results reveal that silibinin pretreatment exhibits a dose‐dependent immunomodulatory effect on IFN‐γ and IL‐10 levels. After the virus challenge, silibinin reduced immune cell infiltration in mouse BAL fluid. These data similarly suggest a remarkable immunomodulatory effect of silibinin. Silibinin also decreased lung damage following the virus challenge in the post‐treatment group, but its lung protective properties seem to be due to a different mechanism than when it was administered before infection. Finally, high doses of silibinin (post‐treatment) significantly reduced viral load in BAL fluid compared to the virus challenge group. These results support the idea that therapies aimed at moderating immune and inflammatory responses are essential to decrease the mortality rate caused by IAV infection. Silibinin has strong immunomodulatory properties, can inhibit IAV infection, and reduces lung tissue damage in a dose‐dependent manner.

Background: The antiviral properties of metal nanoparticles against various viruses, including those resistant to drugs, are currently a subject of intensive research. Recently, the green synthesis of nanoparticles and their anti-viral function have attracted a lot of attention. Previous studies have shown promising results in the use of Arabic gum for the green synthesis of nanoparticles with strong antiviral properties. In this study we aimed to investigate the antiviral effects of MnO₂ nanoparticles (MnO₂-NPs) synthesized using Arabic gum, particularly against the influenza virus. Methods: Arabic gum was used as a natural polymer to extract and synthesize MnO₂-NPs using a green chemistry approach. The synthesized MnO₂-NPs were characterized using SEM and TEM. To evaluate virus titration, cytotoxicity, and antiviral activity, TCID50, MTT, and Hemagglutination assay (HA) were performed, respectively. Molecular docking studies were also performed to investigate the potential antiviral activity of the synthesized MnO₂-NPs against the influenza virus. The molecular docking was carried out using AutoDock Vina software followed by an analysis with VMD software to investigate the interaction between Arabic gum and the hemagglutinin protein. Results: Simultaneous combination treatment with the green-synthesized MnO₂-NPs resulted in a 3.5 log HA decrement and 69.7% cellular protection, which demonstrated the most significant difference in cellular protection compared to the virus control group (p-value < 0.01). The docking results showed that binding affinities were between − 3.3 and − 5.8 kcal/mole relating with the interaction between target with MnO₂ and beta-D-galactopyranuronic acid, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the MnO₂-NPs synthesized with Arabic gum had significant antiviral effects against the influenza virus, highlighting their potential as a natural and effective treatment for inhibition of respiratory infections.

Skin rash is one of the most common complications during childhood. Viral agents play an essential role in the development of such symptoms. Present study aims to determine the prevalence and genetic variability of Human Herpesvirus 6 and 7 (HHV‐6 and HHV‐7) infections and their subtypes in children under 5 years of age with skin rash and negative for rubella and measles. We used serum and throat swap samples from 196 children with skin rash and fever. ELISA and IFA tests were performed to detect antibodies against HHV6/7. Sequencing was performed using Sanger sequencing, and BioEdit and MEGA10 software were used for sequence analysis. According to the results, 66% and 40% of cases were positive for HHV‐6 IgM and HHV‐7 IgM, respectively. According to the molecular analysis, HHV‐6 Nested‐PCR was positive in 18% of cases, however, HHV‐7 Nested‐PCR was positive in 7.7% of cases. On the other hand, HHV‐6 IgG and HHV‐7 IgG were positive in 91% and 55% of study cases, respectively. For HHV‐6, we found some genetic variabilities resulting in antigenic changes compared to reference strains. HHV‐7 isolates showed no genetic differentiation and had a stable gene sequence. Based on the results, the detection of some cases of HHV6/7 primary infection and the presence of specific symptoms of roseola in the study population needs continuous evaluation of HHV6/7 frequency and distribution, also genetic variabilities of HHV6. This can pave the way for investigating HHV6 immune evasion and vaccine research and studying the relationship between viral genetic variations and other factors like disease severity. Furthermore, it is necessary to determine the relation between HHV6 genetic changes and latent infection to be considered in possible future vaccines and antiviral drug development.