The promising outcomes of immune-checkpoint based immunotherapies in cancer have provided a proportional perspective ahead of exploiting similar approaches in allotransplantation. Belatacept (CTLA-4-Ig) is an example of costimulation blockers successfully exploited in renal transplantation. Due to the wide range of regulatory

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This study showed that PH, RC, and UD extracts, especially their combination, had significant antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and liver and renal damage recovering effects.

Introduction Management of vulnerable patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic requires careful precautions. Hemodialysis patients constitute a large group of at‐risk patients that not only suffer from a compromised immune system but also are at a higher risk due to frequent admission to healthcare units. Therefore, a better understanding on the pathogenesis and possible risk factors of COVID‐19 in hemodialysis patients is of high importance. Methods A total of 670 maintained hemodialysis patients from all dialysis units of the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran, including 44 COVID‐19 patients were included in the present study. Possible associations between the backgrounds of patients and the incidence of COVID‐19 were assessed. Also, hemodialysis patients with COVID‐19 were compared to 211 nonhemodialysis COVID‐19 patients. Findings Chronic glomerulonephritis patients and those with blood group A demonstrated a higher incidence of COVID‐19. On the other hand, patients with blood group AB + and those with hypertension etiology of kidney failure demonstrated a lower incidence of COVID‐19. Hemodialysis patients with COVID‐19 had higher counts of polymorphonuclears (PMNs) in their peripheral blood compared to other COVID‐19 patients. Discussion A better comprehension on the risk factors associated with COVID‐19 in hemodialysis patients can improve our understanding on the pathogenesis of COVID‐19 in different situations and help the enhancement of current therapeutics for COVID‐19 in hemodialysis patients.

Obtaining a better outcome in assisted reproductive technology remains to be attained. In the case of in vitro fertilization (IVF), oocyte maturity is paramount for achieving a successful pregnancy. Maternal serum supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) medium can increase the rate of oocyte IVM. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of whole and charcoal-stripped serum supplementation on IVM and the activity index of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) in cumulus cells enclosing the oocyte as a molecular indicator of oocyte quality. Cumulus cells and germinal vesicle immature oocytes were collected from 76 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome during an IVF cycle. Serum samples were pooled from healthy women and were applied as whole or charcoal-stripped serum supplements. SCD1 expression and activity were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gas-liquid chromatography, respectively. Charcoal-stripped serum at an amount of 10% showed a higher potency in increasing the SCD1 expression and activity index than whole serum (>1.5 fold, p < 0.001). An increase in the IVM rate was also observed in oocytes cultured in the presence of 10% charcoal-stripped serum compared to the control group (1.9 fold, p = 0.031). Therefore, charcoal-based lipid depletion as a simple and preparative strategy may increase the beneficial effect of serum supplementation in oocyte IVM culture.