COVID-19 is a systematic disease that frequently implies neurological and non-neurological manifestations, predominantly by inducing hypoxia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key factor in regulating functions of nervous and respiratory systems and has been strongly related to hypoxia. Therefore, this study planned to investigate BDNF association with the COVID-19 manifestations especially neurological impairments and the infection-induced hypoxia. We enrolled sixty-four COVID-19 patients and twenty-four healthy individuals in this study. Patients were divided into two groups, with and without neurological manifestations, and their serum BDNF levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). COVID-19 patients had significantly lower BDNF levels than healthy individuals ( p = 0.023). BDNF levels were significantly lower in patients with neurological manifestations compared to healthy individuals ( p = 0.010). However, we did not observe a statistically significant difference in BDNF levels between patients with and without neurological manifestations ( p = 0.175). BDNF’s levels were significantly lower in patients with CNS manifestations ( p = 0.039) and higher in patients with fever ( p = 0.03) and dyspnea ( p = 0.006). Secondly, BDNF levels have a significant negative association with oxygen therapy requirement ( p = 0.015). These results strongly suggest the critical association between dysregulated BDNF and hypoxia in promoting COVID-19 manifestations, particularly neurological impairments. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12031-022-02039-1.

The neuroprotective impact of curcumin and the role of CREB-BDNF signaling in this way was evaluated in methamphetamine (METH)-induced neurodegeneration in rats. Sixty adult male rats were randomly split into 6 groups. While normal saline and 10 mg / kg METH were administered intraperitoneally in Groups 1 and 2, Groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 received METH (10 mg/kg) and Curcumin (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg respectively) simultaneously. Morris Water Maze (MWM), oxidative hippocampal, antioxidant, inflammatory, apoptotic, and CREB and BDNF were assessed. We've found that METH disturbs learning and memory. Concurrent curcumin therapy (40 and 80 mg / kg) decreased cognitive disturbance caused by METH. Multiple parameters, such as lipid peroxidation, oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Bax, increased by METH therapy, although the reduced type of glutathione (GSH), Bcl-2, P-CREB and BDNF concentrations in the hippocampus decreased. Different doses of curcumin adversely attenuated METH-induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation, but enhanced concentrations of P-CREB and BDNF. Curcumin-caused neuroprotection against METH-induced neurodegeneration is conducted by P-CREB / BDNF signaling pathway activation.

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Background: Individuals with alexithymia have a limited ability to adapt to stressful situations, leading to high levels of psychological distress, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of insecure attachment in psychological distress within Islamic Azad Universities of Tehran in 2020 by mediating alexithymia. Methods: The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used as the primary research method in this study. The study population included all university students between 20- and 40-years old studying at the Islamic Azad Universities of Tehran in the 2019 - 20 academic year. A total of 305 students was selected as samples using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. Several research tools were used, including the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The data were analyzed using a correlation matrix in SPSS statistical software Version 24 and structural equation modeling (SEM) in Amos-26. Results: The results indicated that the insecure attachment style had a direst positive effect on the states of psychological distress (anxiety, stress, and depression) (P < 0.001). Alexithymia also played a mediating role in insecure attachment affecting psychological distress (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Results revealed in the correlation between insecure attachment and states of psychological distress mediated by the alexithymia. Given the importance of attachment style and alexithymia in the development of anxiety, stress, and depression, therapists are recommended to take these variables into account.

Study about the mechanical energy balance and the energy loss of 3-D turbulent flows in open-channels has its own complexities. The governing equation of the mechanical energy in turbulent flows has been previously known and includes turbulence parameters that their calculations or measurements are not easy. In this study, a form of the total mechanical energy equation that leads to a number of significant physical insights is analytically investigated, from which analytical relationships for the energy loss estimation in 3-D turbulent flows are defined. The effect of different turbulence parameters is reflected on the new relationships and analyzed by equalizations replacing unknown correlations with closure approximations using the numerical turbulence simulation. In order to investigate the application of the analytical relationships, numerical simulations are performed by using OpenFOAM software to solve the Navier-Stokes equations with the RSM turbulence model in open-channels with different geometries. Then, the contribution of the turbulence parameters to the total mechanical energy balance is evaluated in uniform and nonuniform turbulent flows and their difference is analyzed, that leads to identify the parameters affecting the friction and local losses. The results demonstrate that the magnitudes of the turbulent diffusion, the work done by the viscous stresses pertaining to the mean motion and the viscous diffusion of the turbulence energy are substantially smaller than the other terms of the total energy equation for turbulent flows in open-channels with different geometries, while the effect of the variations of the turbulence kinetic energy and the work done by the turbulence stresses, that has not been considered in the previous mechanical energy equations, is more important in complex flows. From a practical viewpoint, in order to study the details of the total mechanical energy balance and the energy loss in 3-D turbulent flows with the presence of the secondary currents, the proposed method can be useful.