Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts a neuroprotective effect and may have a therapeutic value for treating neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective activity of H2S in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, on the neuroprotective activity of H2S in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of Parkinson's disease. 6-OHDA was administered by stereotaxic surgery into the medial forebrain bundle. Sodium hydrosulfate (NaHS, 3 and 5.6 mg/kg), as a donor of H2S, alone or in combination with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), was daily injected for 7 days starting 1-2 h before the stereotaxic surgery. After an apomorphine-induced rotational test, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta was determined by immunofluorescence. The striatal dopamine level and oxidative stress markers were also measured in brain homogenates. Pretreatment with NaHS significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced motor asymmetry in the rotational test. Histological and biochemical evaluations demonstrated that NaHS, especially at high dose, increased the survival of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and reduced the decreasing effect of 6-OHDA on striatal dopamine levels. However, co-administration of glibenclamide reversed the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective effects of NaHS. However, glibenclamide did not change the reducing effect of NaHS on 6-OHDA-induced overproduction of malondialdehyde. Our data show that ATP-sensitive potassium channels are involved in the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective effects of H2S in the 6-OHDA animal model of Parkinson's disease.

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Introduction: Hematological parameters are raised for classification and determining of prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the relation between severity of the illness and serum level of red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR) in patients with COVID-19 focusing on severe and critically ill patients. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional investigation, we examined the correlation between severity of disease and value of RDW, PDW, P-LCR and MPV in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Velayat hospital, located in Qazvin province in Iran from November 2020 to March 2021. According to the clinical characteristics, the patients were divided into two group of severe and critically ill. Patients’ data including age, gender, and the value of RDW, PDW, P-LCR and MPV were extracted from the health information system of our hospital. Then, these parameters were analyzed and compared among the groups. Results: The data of 59 patients were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 62.07 years and 59.3% of these patients were female. Around 64.4 percent of the patients were critically ill. The median the value of RDW in the critically ill group was significantly higher than the severe group (P = 0.009). The value of RDW had a significant positive correlation with the severity of the disease (correlation coefficient: 0.341, P = 0.008). Conclusion: Our data showed that RDW might be helpful to differentiate the critically ill patient with COVID-19 from severe one.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a key neurogenic cause of disability among young populations. Assessing the parameters affecting MS severity is vital to reduce the disease burden. the objective of this study is to determine the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and MS severity among Iranian young adults.Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted by 180 patients (142 females and 38 males) with MS selected by a non-probability and consecutive sampling was conducted during September 2018-2019. The socio-demographic and primary clinical data were collected by a self-developed questionnaire and face-to-face interviews, respectively. The expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was used to assess the physical disability degree and the overall neurological function of patients.Results: The mean age of patients and MS onset was 27.54 and 35.58 years, respectively. The majority of patients were married (68.3%) while were living in cities (74.4%). The mean values of unemployment, homeownership, and monthly income were determined to be 54.4%, 71.7%, and 11,078,330 IRR, respectively. The mean EDSS was 2.80±1.79 points. A weak positive correlation between EDSS and patients' age (P = 0.001, r = 0.246) and number of children (P = 0.001, r = 0.250) was found. There was no significant difference between EDSS and SES factors (i.e., disease onset age, treatment cost, and monthly income).Conclusions: As SES was not related to the MS severity, there is no need to take special treatment measures in patients with poor SES.

Objective In Iran, road traffic accidents were responsible for 14716 deaths in 2015. This study aimed to compare the initial resuscitation of traumatically injured patients to the internationally recognized ATLS standards. Materials and methods As a cross-sectional study, 506 traumatically injured patients who were referred to the tertiary referral major trauma center in Poursina Hospital during the study period, were evaluated. All therapeutic interventions were compared to the ATLS standards. Data on mortality by demographic was compared to those in whom the ATLS standards were met and in those whom it was not met Results Mean age of the patients was 37.37 ± 19.72 and motorcycle was the most common cause of accidents (40.9%). ATLS guideline interventions were completely performed in 18.2% of the patients in their primary hospital, and in rest of 414 cases (81.8%), ATLS algorithms were not fully carried out. The mortality rate was significantly higher in the second group: 10.86% vs 32.36%, respectively. Conclusion Application of ATLS principles in multiple trauma patients can reduce the mortality rate.