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Objective To investigate the incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Iranians vaccinated with either AZD1222 Vaxzevria, CovIran[R] vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated (lnCoV) or Sputnik V. Methods We enrolled individuals 18 years or older receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine dose between April 2021 and January 2022 in seven Iranian cities. Participants completed weekly follow-up surveys for 17 weeks (25 weeks for AZD1222) to report their COVID-19 status and hospitalization. We used Cox regression models to assess risk factors for contracting COVID-19, hospitalization and death. Findings Of 89 783 participants enrolled, incidence rates per 1 000 000 person-days were: 528.2 (95% confidence interval, CI: 514.0-542.7) for contracting COVID-19; 55.8 (95% CI: 51.4-60.5) for hospitalization; and 4.1 (95% CI: 3.0-5.5) for death. Compared with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), hazard ratios (HR) for contracting COVID-19 were: 0.70 (95% CI: 0.61-0.80) with AZD1222; 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.86) with Sputnik V; and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63-0.86) with Covlran[R]. For hospitalization and death, all vaccines provided similar protection 14 days after the second dose. History of COVID-19 protected against contracting COVID-19 again (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.69-0.84). Diabetes and respiratory, cardiac and renal disease were associated with higher risks of contracting COVID-19 after vaccination. Conclusion The rates of contracting COVID-19 after vaccination were relatively high. SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell) provided lower protection against COVID-19 than other vaccines. People with comorbidities had higher risks of contracting COVID-19 and hospitalization and should be prioritized for preventive interventions. [phrase omitted] [phrase omitted] Objectif Analyser l'incidence des cas, hospitalisations et deces lies a la maladie a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) chez les Iraniens vaccines avec Vaxzevria AZD1222, CovIran[R], le vaccin contre le SARS-CoV-2 (cellule Vero), le vaccin inactive (lnCoV) ou Spoutnik V. Methodes Nous avons recrute des individus de minimum 18 ans ayant recu leur premiere dose de vaccin contre la COVID-19 entre avril 2021 et janvier 2022 dans sept villes iraniennes. Les participants ont rempli des enquetes de suivi hebdomadaires pendant 17 semaines (25 semaines pour AZD1222) afin de communiquer sur leur statut COVID-19 et leur hospitalisation. Nous avons utilise des modeles de regression de Cox pour evaluer les facteurs augmentant les risques de contracter la COVID-19, d'etre hospitalise et de mourir. Resultats Sur 89 783 participants recrutes, le taux d'incidence pour 1 000 000 jours-personnes etait de 528,2 (intervalle de confiance de 95%, IC: 514,0-542,7) en termes d'infection a la COVID-19; de 55,8 (IC de 95%: 51,4-60,5) en termes d'hospitalisation; et de 4,1 (IC de 95%: 3,0-5,5) en termes de deces. Compare au vaccin contre le SARS-CoV-2 (cellule Vero), le rapport de risque (RR) de contracter la COVID-19 s'elevait a 0,70 (IC de 95%: 0,61-0,80) avec AZD1222; a 0,73 (IC de 95%: 0,62-0,86) avec Spoutnik V; et a 0,73 (IC de 95%: 0,63-0,86) avec CovIran[R]. Concernant l'hospitalisation et le deces, tous les vaccins offraient un niveau de protection similaire 14 jours apres la seconde dose. Avoir contracte la COVID-19 par le passe premunissait contre une reinfection (RR: 0,76; IC de 95%: 0,69-0,84). Le diabete et les maladies respiratoires, cardiaques et renales entrainaient un risque accru de contracter la COVID-19 apres la vaccination. Conclusion Le taux d'infection a la COVID-19 apres la vaccination etait relativement eleve. D'autre part, le vaccin contre le SARS-CoV-2 (cellule Vero) s'est revele moins efficace que les autres vaccins. Enfin, les personnes souffrant de comorbidites avaient plus de risques de contracter la COVID-19 et d'etre hospitalisees; elles devraient donc etre prioritaires lors des interventions preventives. [phrase omitted] Objetivo Analizar la Incidencia de los casos, hospitalizaciones y muertes a causa de la enfermedad por coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) en los iranies vacunados con Vaxzevria AZD1222, la vacuna CovIran[R], la vacuna contra el SARS-CoV-2 (celula Vero), la vacuna inactivada (lnCoV) o la Sputnik V. Metodos Se inscribieron personas de 18 anos o mas que recibieron su primera dosis de la vacuna contra la COVID-19 entre abril de 2021 y enero de 2022 en siete ciudades iranies. Los participantes completaron encuestas de seguimiento semanales durante 17 semanas (25 semanas para AZD1222) para informar sobre su estado de la COVID-19 y la hospitalizacion. Se utilizaron modelos de regresion de Cox para valorar los factores de riesgo de contraer la COVID-19, de ser hospitalizado y de morir. Resultados De los 89 783 participantes inscritos, las tasas de incidencia por 1 000 000 de dias-persona fueron 528,2 (intervalo de confianza del 95 %, IC: 514,0-542,7) en el caso de contraer la COVID-19; 55,8 (IC del 95 %: 51,4-60,5) en el caso de hospitalizacion; y 4,1 (IC del 95 %: 3,0-5,5) en el caso de muerte. En comparacion con la vacuna contra el SARS-CoV-2 (celula Vero), los cocientes de riesgos instantaneos (CRI) de contraer la COVID-19 fueron 0,70 (IC 95 %: 0,61-0,80) con AZD1222; 0,73 (IC 95 %: 0,62-0,86) con Sputnik V; y 0,73 (IC 95 %: 0,63-0,86) con CovIran[R]. En cuanto a la hospitalizacion y la muerte, todas las vacunas proporcionaron una proteccion similar 14 dias despues de la segunda dosis. Los antecedentes de la COVID-19 protegieron contra la contraccion de la COVID-19 de nuevo (CRI: 0,76; IC 95 %: 0,69-0,84). La diabetes y las enfermedades respiratorias, cardiacas y renales se asociaron a un mayor riesgo de contraer la COVID-19 despues de la vacunacion. Conclusion Las tasas de contraer la COVID-19 despues de la vacunacion fueron relativamente altas. La vacuna contra el SARS-CoV-2 (celula Vero) proporciono una menor proteccion contra la COVID-19 que otras vacunas. Las personas con comorbilidades tenian un mayor riesgo de contraer la COVID-19 y de ser hospitalizadas, por lo que deberian ser prioritarias para las intervenciones preventivas., Introduction To end the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is imperative to have safe and effective vaccines that can provide immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome [...]

Synaptic plasticity, including long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD), is an essential phenomenon in memory formation as well as maintenance along with many other cognitive functions, such as those needed for coping with external stimuli. Synaptic plasticity consists of gradual changes in the biochemistry and morphology of pre‐ and postsynaptic neurons, particularly in the hippocampus. Consuming marijuana as a primary source of exocannabinoids immediately impairs attention and working memory‐related tasks. Evidence regarding the effects of cannabinoids on LTP and memory is contradictory. While cannabinoids can affect a variety of specific cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and nonspecific receptors throughout the body and brain, they exert miscellaneous systemic and local cerebral effects. Given the increasing use of cannabis, mainly among the young population, plus its potential adverse long‐term effects on learning and memory processes, it could be a future global health challenge. Indeed, the impact of cannabinoids on memory is multifactorial and depends on the dosage, timing, formula, and route of consumption, plus the background complex interaction of the endocannabinoids system with other cerebral networks. Herein, we review how exogenously administrated organic cannabinoids, CBRs agonists or antagonists, and endocannabinoids can affect LTP and synaptic plasticity through various receptors in interaction with other cerebral pathways and primary neurotransmitters. Significance statement: Synaptic plasticity, including LTP and LTD, is an essential phenomenon in memory formation and maintenance, along with many other cognitive functions. Consuming marijuana as a primary source of exocannabinoids immediately impairs attention and working memory‐related tasks. Cannabinoids can affect a variety of specific and nonspecific receptors throughout the body and brain, they exert anxiolytic, anti‐inflammatory, psychoactive, and cognitive effects. Given the increasing use of cannabis, mainly among the young population plus its potential adverse long‐term effects on learning and memory processes, it could be a future global health challenge. In this work, we review how exogenously administrated cannabinoids, CBRs agonists or antagonists, and endocannabinoids can affect LTP and synaptic plasticity through various receptors in interaction with other cerebral pathways and primary neurotransmitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare deadly progressive neurological disease that primarily affects the upper and lower motor neurons with an annual incidence rate of 0.6 to 3.8 per 100,000 people. Weakening and gradual atrophy of the voluntary muscles are the first signs of the disease onset affecting all aspects of patients' lives, including eating, speaking, moving, and even breathing. Only 5-10% of patients have a familial type of the disease and show an autosomal dominant pattern, but the cause of the disease is unknown in the remaining 90% of patients (Sporadic ALS). However, in both types of disease, the patient's survival is 2 to 5 years from the disease onset. Some clinical and molecular biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood or urine test, muscle biopsy, and genetic testing are complementary methods for disease diagnosis. Unfortunately, with the exception of Riluzole, the only medically approved drug for the management of this disease, there is still no definitive cure for it. In this regard, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment or management of the disease has been common in preclinical and clinical studies for many years. MSCs are multipotent cells having immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and differentiation ability that makes them a good candidate for this purpose. This review article aims to discuss multiple aspects of ALS disease and focus on MSCs' role in disease management based on performed clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to improve the curcumin bio-stability and brain permeability by loading in bare niosome (BN) and chitosan-coated niosome (ChN). Span 60, tween 60, and cholesterol were optimized as niosome shell components to attain the highest encapsulation efficiency (EE), besides the lowest particle size, using the mixture design method. The resulting optimized BN had a mean diameter of 80 ± 0.2 nm and surface charge of −31 ± 0.1 mv, which changed to 85 ± 0.15 nm and 35 ± 0.12 mv, respectively, after applying the chitosan layer. The EE% in bare niosome were about 80 ± 0.2, which changed to 82 ± 0.21 in ChN. The optimized formulation displayed sustained release, following the Hixson–Crowell model. Wistar rats were subjected to intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of BN and ChN to evaluate the blood-brain barrier permeability of the curcumin. In this regard, ChN significantly increased curcumin concentration in different parts of the liver, plasma, and central nervous system (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and stratum), compared with BN. Altogether, our results showed that ChN could be used as a promising delivery system for the treatment of some neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to now, numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined various drugs as possible treatments for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the results were diverse and occasionally even inconsistent with each other. To this point,we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the comparative effectiveness of pharmacological agents in published RCTs. A literature search was performed using PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases. RCTs evaluating mortality and the average length of hospital stay to standard of care (SOC)/placebo/control were included. RCTs mainly were classified into five categories of drugs, including anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiparasitic, antibody and antibiotics. Meta-analysis was done on 5 drugs classes and sub-group meta-analysis was done on single drugs and moderate or severe stage of disease. Mortality and the average length of hospital stay of COVID-19 patients were significantly reduced with anti-inflammatory drugs (odds ratio [OR]: 0.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69 to 0.85, P<0.00001, and mean difference [MD]: −1.41, CI:-1.75 to −1.07, P<0.00001, respectively) compared to SOC/control/placebo. Furthermore, antiparasitic was associated with reduced length of hospital stay (MD: −0.65, CI: −1.26 to −0.03, P<0.05) in comparison to SOC/placebo/control. However, no effectiveness was found in other pharmacological interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]