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Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone function to regulate the production of red blood cells. Deficiency of EPO is known to cause anemia in chronically infected renal patients and they require regular blood transfusion. Availability of recombinant EPO has eliminated the need for blood transfusion and now it is extensively used for the treatment of anemia. Glycosylation of erythropoietin is essential for its secretion, stability, protein conformation and biological activity. However, maintenance of human like glycosylation pattern during manufacturing of EPO is a major challenge in biotechnology. Currently, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line is used for the commercial production of erythropoietin but this cell line does not maintain glycosylation resembling human system. With the trend to eliminate non-human constituent from biopharmaceutical products, as a preliminary approach, we have investigated the potential of human emberyo kidney cell line (HEK293) to produce recombinant EPO. Methods: Initially, the secretory signal and Kozak sequences was added before the EPO mature protein sequence using overlap extension PCR technique. PCR-amplified cDNA fragments of EPO was inserted into mammalian expression vector under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and transiently expressed in CHO and HEK293 cell lines. After RT-PCR analysis, ELISA and Western blotting was performed to verify the immunochemical properties of secreted EPO. Results: Addition of secretory signal and Kozak sequence facilitated the extra-cellular secretion and enhanced the expression of EPO protein. Significant expression (P < 0.05) of EPO was observed in the medium from HEK293 cell line. Conclusions: HEK293 cell line has a great potential to produce glycosylated EPO, suggesting the use of this cell line to produce glycoproteins of the therapeutic importance resembling to the natural human system.

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  Background: The innate immunity plays an important role in the host response to transplantation by Toll-like receptors and results in development of acute allograft rejection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of TLR2 and CD14 (co-receptor) gene polymorphisms with acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients.   Methods : The study was conducted in a population of 239 subjects consisting of 71 patients with acute rejection, 71 patients without acute rejection (SGF) and 97 Healthy Control (HC). The allele and genotype frequencies of TLR2 (R753Q, rs5743708) and CD14 (-159 C>T, rs2569190) polymorphisms were genotyped by Real-time PCR in the study groups. Results : Genotype distribution of CD14 -159 polymorphism was significantly different in AR vs. SGF and HC. CD14 -159 TT genotype was more prevalent in rejection than SGF and HC (P<0.0001, P<0.007, respectively). Also Graft loss, defiened as need of dialysis after acute rejection, was occurred in 24 patients (33.8%) from AR group. The frequencies of three genotype in CD14 (TT, CT, CC) in rejection With Graft loss were 75.0%, 20.8% and 4.1% respectively, While 25.5%, 31.9% and 42.5% in rejection without Graft loss (P<0.0001 for TT vs. CT, CC). Many recipients with AR were involved with graft loss had CD14 -159 TT genotype, whereas only a few recipients without graft loss had TT genotype (p<0.0001). Conclusion : Therefore, due to the importance of CD14 polymorphism (-159 C/T, rs2569190) in disease progression and also as a biomarker, could be considered as a crucial therapeutic target in early prognosis of acute rejection

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The effects of pyrene on gill, liver and kidney of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were examined by exposing 30 fish (140 ±10 g to pyrene at sublethal concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 µg/l for 35 days. Samples were taken from the organs and fixed in bouin fixative; then, dehydrated, cleared, parafinated and cut by microtome according to the standard method. Afterwards, all sections were studied by light microscope. In gill tissue, lamella hyperemia, hyperplasia, S shaped, and clubbing were observed, while lamella fusion and necrosis were observed in higher concentration of pyrene. Hepatocytes vacculation, congestion of sinusoids, macrophages loaded with hemosiderin were seen in the liver, while in higher concentrations of pyrene, picnotic and kariolized nuclei, and tissue necrosis were seen. Tubule casts, hyperemia, degenerating tubules were seen in kidney exposed to lower concentrations of pyrene, while hemosiderin-laden macrophages, degenerating tubules with greater intensity as well as necrosis was observed in higher concentrations. The results indicated that pyrene may have negative effects on homeostasis, fish health and vital organs in short time exposure due to histological changes, while it could have greater impacts in long term exposure and higher concentrations.

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       In this study, 270 samples of liver, muscle and kidney of broiler were collected from 90 farms in Tehran province during a year and analyzed for enrofloxacin residue by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).      Results showed that all the samples are contained enrofloxacin and in 22(24.44%) of farms enrofloxacin residue was higher than maximum residue level. The enrofloxacin residue in 8 samples of muscle (8.88%), 12 samples of liver (13.33%) and 22 samples of kidney (24.44%) was higher than maximum residue level. The mean value of enrofloxacin concentration in muscle, liver and kidney were respectively:      In conclusion, this study confirmed widespread misuse of enrofloxacin in farms and lack of implementation of recommended withdrawal times. Moreover this  study  stresses,  the  need  for  stricter  regulation  for  the  use  of  antimicrobial  drugs  in  the  poultry  industry  as  well  as  the  inspection  of  chicken  for  residues  prior  to  marketing.

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Backgrounds: Currently, clinical details of immunosuppressed patients suffering from COVID-19 are limited. Some studies have shown no more severe diseases among them, but others have highlighted that immunosuppressed patients may have high levels of viral load and impaired immune responses. Herein, this study aimed to specifically address the symptoms, prognosis, laboratory tests, clinical course, and the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infected immunocompromised patients at a tertiary referral center.
Materials & Methods: Clinical and laboratory information of 75 non-congenital immunosuppressed patients with COVID-19 disease was obtained at a referral center for immunodeficiency diseases and infectious disorders in Tehran, Iran. Three groups of immunocompromised patients were evaluated, including patients with a history of organ transplantation, autoimmune patients receiving medical therapy, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Findings: Among 75 immune-deficient patients with COVID-19, there were 32 patients with a kidney transplant, 23 patients with malignancies, and 19 patients with autoimmune disorders. One patient had both malignancy and multiple sclerosis. The mean length of hospitalization was 10.82 days. By the end of the study, 24 (32%) patients were dead, and 51 (68%) patients were discharged. Dyspnea was the most common (64%) symptom. Low levels of O2 saturation and lymphopenia at admission time significantly affected the mortality rate of patients.
Conclusion: This study showed that mortality rate among immunocompromised patients was 32%. It seems that COVID-19 has a worse outcome and a more severe clinical course in immunocompromised patients regardless of age, gender, and underlying diseases.

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Aims: This study aimed to examine the challenging experience of parents with hospitalized chronic kidney disease children in the nephrology department.
Participants & Methods: Using the content analysis approach, a qualitative study was carried out on 19 parents with chronic kidney disease children. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. For data gathering, in-depth, semi-structured, and face-to-face interviews were carried out and the collected data were analyzed through conventional content analysis.
Findings: Data analyses revealed two overarching categories of “confusion and the lack of support” and “chronic illness challenges.” The subcategories of category 1 were “insufficient information in parents and others” and “inadequate support.” Category 2 included the subcategories of “chronic nature of the disease” and “hard to manage the disease.”
Conclusion: Through creating a proper communication and supportive environment, the health team members can significantly assist parents.

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This study was conducted to investigate the effect of adding Bacillus subtilis (IS02) to the diet on survival, biochemical indices, and histological alternations of juvenile wild common carp, Cyprinus carpio, exposed to salinity stress. Juvenile common carp (about 1.1 g) were fed diets containing 0 (control), 2.5 × 10⁸ (pro-8), and 2.5 × 10⁹ (pro-9) cfu/g probiotic for 15 days and then transferred directly to brackish water (13 g/L) and sampled after 3 and 10 days. Diet and sampling time had no significant effect on fish survival, which was above 96% in all treatments. Body moisture and potassium were only affected by sampling time, with moisture decreasing significantly after salinity stress while potassium increased significantly. Whole body sodium in pro-8 treatment did not change significantly during salinity stress, and probiotic treatments had lower chloride levels than the control before and after salinity stress. Adding probiotic to the diet increased glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase activity, and reduced glutathione concentration, while decreasing malondialdehyde concentration. Probiotics caused white blood cells infiltration in the kidney tissue. No significant tissue damage was observed in the gill and kidney, compared to the control after salinity stress. This study shows that juvenile wild common carp can tolerate direct transfer to the Caspian Sea without dietary probiotic supplementation. However, probiotic stimulates the kidney immunity, enhances ionoregulation, and increase antioxidant capacity in fish, which can have beneficial effects under field conditions.
 

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The extraction of proteins from plant sources, in areas of the world where access to animal protein is limited, because of cost and availability is very important. Kidney beans are good sources of protein and contain a good profile of amino acids that can be used in this field. In this study the effect of different ratios of water to flour (5, 10 and 15 times) and different pH (8, 10 and 12) in alkaline extraction step on the physicochemical properties of the protein was investigated. The results showed significant effect (P <0.05) independent variables on efficiency, Purity, emulsifying properties, water and fat absorption and also total color change of produced protein. Process optimization showed that the use of water to flour ratio of 15 times, and pH of 8.8 to produce the extraction of proteins from kidney beans with 12.76 percent efficiency, which contains a 84.95 percent purity, power emulsifying 21.5 percent, 2.9 percent fat absorption, water absorption 1.2% and 46.26 of overall color change in the 0.700 level of desirability.

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Antibiotic residues in meat and other foods of animal origin have adverse effects on consumer health. In this study, first, penicillin residues of 45 samples (15 meat samples, 15 liver samples and 15 kidney samples) randomly collected from Tehran retailers were evaluated by ELISA method. Based on ELISA results, from total 45 samples, 43 cases were diagnosed as contaminated sample for antibiotic residues. The highest penicillin amount was observed for liver samples but there was no significant difference between kidney and liver samples (p=0.895). Subsequently, samples with equal amounts of penicillin were removed and other samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) regarding penicillin G, ampicillin and amoxicillin. Penicillin G had the most value among other penicillin groups followed by ampicillin and amoxicillin, respectively. Liver samples showed higher levels of penicillin groups compared to meat and kidney samples, but no significant difference was found among them. Also, there was good correlation between ELISA and HPLC results and R² of all samples was greater than 0.99. Moreover, it was demonstrated that antibiotic residues of some samples were above the maximum residue limit (MRL) stated by world standards. Obtained results show the necessity of monitoring antibiotic residues in food of animal origin by related organizations especially the institute of standards & industrial research of Iran and veterinary organization.

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In the real world, dispersion of suppliers and demanders prevents market formation. Kidney market is a true example of such markets that is not formed due to thin features. To tackle the problem, one needs to design a mechanism that can both revive the market and ensure the most efficient supply-demand matching. A matching is efficient when no other matching can allocate agents to a better place, or cannot strongly allocate an agent to a better place. To this end, the mechanism should be designed to allocate agents to their highest preferences, so that agents cannot make another better choice. In this study, information on 20 patient-donor pairs was recorded at a clearing house in Hamedan province in 2016. After processing data, the patients’ preferences were ordered in terms of matching blood group, illness period, donor’s age, kinship relationship with donor, and gender of donor. Then, a mechanism was designed to match 17 patients with the most efficient kidneys. When patient i^th matches donor i^th and registers at the clearing house, the mechanism can offer her/his the most efficient kidney. If a given patient finds a donor better than his/her peer donor, then he/she will leave his/her peer donor. Otherwise, he/she matches her paired donor.
 

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Kidney transplantation is one of the best treatment methods for people with chronic kidney failure, and a large number of kidney transplants are performed worldwide every year. Pathogens that commonly infect kidney transplant recipients are viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Among these, viruses are considered one of the biggest life-threatening factors in kidney transplant recipients. The reactivation of herpesviruses from the latent state often occurs in conditions of weakening the immune system, including after kidney transplantation. Infection with herpesviruses is still one of the main causes of complications and death for most kidney transplant recipients. Rapid diagnosis of active infection of these viruses in kidney transplant patients has a significant impact on the use of appropriate treatment strategies to reduce complications and transplant rejection.  For this reason, this review aims to provide information about the preventive strategies, diagnosis, and treatment of herpesviruses infections in kidney transplant recipients. In this brief review, we have updated the information presented in previous articles and adjusted it based on recent advances, updated clinical guidelines, and common post-transplant tactics to minimize the risk of infection.
 

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Introduction: Corona damage a wide range of organs and their functions So, the purpose of this study is to compare the function of kidneys and livers in COVID-19-infected people and people who were in the recovery phase after about five months from the onset of the infection.
Methods: This study was carried out in Samarra General Hospital (COVID-19 epidemic center) in Salahuddin province Iraq from the 1st of January 2022 till the end of December 2022. In The case-control study 100 subjects (men and women 20-80 years), 40 adult people as control with negative RT-PCR or CT-Scan for COVID-19 and no apparent chronic diseases, and 60 subjects (n=30). The blood urea, creatinine as markers of kidney function, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and C-reactive protein as markers of liver function by special kits were assessed.
Results: In COVID-19-infected subjects and in subjects in the recovery stage, the markers of kidney function, blood urea, and creatinine increased significantly (p<0.001), and in this regard, no difference was seen between the two genders. Similarly, the evaluation of compounds related to liver function, including ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and C-reactive protein, was significantly higher in both affected and recovering patients (p<0.001) compared to healthy individuals. In this case, there was no difference between the two genders.
Conclusion: It seems that not only in COVID-19-infected subjects but also in subjects who have recovered from corona, in both men and women, there are relatively permanent failures in the function of kidneys and liver.
 

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Introduction: Diazinon is an organophosphate pesticide that has widespread applications in both agriculture and household settings. Diazinon poisoning can have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to diazinon on histological features of the liver and kidney of rats.
Materials and Methods: Twenty adult male Wistar rats, aged 10 - 12 weeks and weighing 150-200 grams, were purchased and divided into two groups of 10. In the treatment group, diazinon was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day to each animal for 3 months, while the control group was maintained on a normal diet and drinking water. After 12 weeks of exposure, the animals were prepared for H & E staining, and the samples were examined under a light microscope.
Findings: The structural integrity of the liver and kidney was preserved in the diazinon-treated group compared to the control group, but mild effects of diazinon were observed in the liver tissue, such as foci of inflammation and hyperplasia of Kupffer cells, and in the kidney, such as the presence of epithelial cells in the distal tubule and cell detachment from the basement membrane.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the rats exposed to diazinon did not show significant changes in histological features in the liver and kidney, and these changes were subtle, possibly indicating a need for higher doses or longer exposure durations to diazinon.