Search

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disease that affects one or more joints, leading to restricted movement, pain, and eventual disability. Despite the availability of various treatments and supportive care, managing osteoarthritis symptoms remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Hydroalcoholic olive leaf extract on pain reduction and daily functioning in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis., Method: A randomized, controlled, factorial clinical trial was conducted in 2022-2023 with 100 elderly participants suffering from knee osteoarthritis. Participants were selected through consecutive sampling and randomly assigned to four groups using block-stratified randomization. In addition to routine treatment, participants in group I received topical olive leaf extract ointment, Group II received oral olive leaf extract capsules, and Group III received a combination of both treatments. The intervention was administered three times daily for eight weeks. The control group did not receive any olive leaf extract-based interventions. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale, and daily functioning and joint stiffness were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software., Results: The intervention groups showed significantly more significant reductions in mean pain scores than the control group (p < 0.05). The combination of oral capsules and topical ointment among the intervention groups demonstrated the most pronounced pain reduction. The mean score for daily functioning improved significantly over time in all groups (p = 0.007). A decrease of 1.19 units per time increment was observed in the group using the ointment, while the oral capsule group showed a decrease of 0.89 units, both statistically significant (p = 0.006)., Conclusion: Hydroalcoholic olive leaf extract effectively reduces pain and improves physical functioning in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis, offering a promising complementary treatment option for managing osteoarthritis symptoms., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Staphylococci as a nosocomial infection agent, increases the possibility of contracting diseases such as wound infection, sepsis and skin infections in humans. It was shown that Staphylococcus aureus considered as a commensal organism causing various both endemic and epidemic hospital-acquired infections. Air samples were collected from Sina Hospital, Hamadan city, which dedicated to various respiratory diseases and analysed by biochemical tests. The resistance and sensitivity of bacterial strains to the cefoxitin antibiotic were also determined. Staphylococcus aureus density (CFU/m 3 ) were measured in the air of various wards as follows: infectious 13.35 ± 7.57, poisoning 29.84 ± 33.43, emergency 8.64 ± 2.72, eye operation room 0, recovery room 6.28 ± 4.90, skin outpatient operation room 4.71 ± 2.36, respiratory isolation 0, ICU 0.79 ± 1.36, and the administrative room 6.28 ± 5.93; while the Staphylococcus epidermidis were as follows: infectious 1.57 ± 2.35, poisoning 2.35 ± 4.08, emergency 2.35 ± 2.35, eye operation room 0, recovery room 0.78 ± 1.36, skin outpatient operation room 2.35 ± 2.35, respiratory isolation 0, ICU 2.35 ± 4.08, and the administrative room 1.57 ± 1.36. The positive and negative control samples showed a concentration of 0. Moreover, among the S. aureus isolates, 33.3% were found to be resistant to cefoxitin, while 40.6% showed to be sensitive. Based on the results, the number of active people and the type and quality of ventilation are very effective in the air quality of various wards of hospital. The poisoning section showed the most contaminated air and the highest resistance and sensitivity to the cefoxitin antibiotic., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This article presents a novel and highly efficient electrocatalytic degradation method for two significant organophosphorus pesticides, fenitrothion (FEN), and methyl parathion (MPN), using a Ti/β-PbO 2 -CeO 2 modified anode (indirect oxidation). A comprehensive electrochemical investigation was also carried out to gain new insight into the redox behavior and destruction pathway of these pesticides (direct oxidation). The study also explores the effects of various operating parameters, such as initial solution pH, applied current density, and initial pesticides concentration, on the conversion-paired electrocatalytic removal process. To further enhance the degradation efficiency, a new configuration of the electrochemical cell was designed, employing two types of electrodes and two independent power supply devices. The conversion paired electrocatalytic degradation process of these pesticides involves first the direct reduction of FEN (or MPN) on a graphite cathode and then the indirect oxidation of reduced FEN (or MPN) by hydroxyl radicals electro generated on the Ti/β-PbO 2 -CeO 2 anode. The synergism of these two processes together will effectively lead to FEN (or MPN) degradation. The degradation percentages of 98% for FEN and 95% for MPN at the optimal conditions for the electrochemical degradation of these pesticides were achieved at pH = 7, initial concentration 50 mg L -1 , with a current density of 90 mA cm -2 for direct reduction and 11 mA cm -2 for indirect oxidation. Overall, this study presents a promising and efficient approach for the remediation of organophosphorus pesticide-contaminated environments, offering valuable insights into the electrochemical degradation process and highlighting the potential for practical application in wastewater treatment and environmental protection., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a major health problem worldwide, and current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are often inadequate. Various metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been widely studied for several biomedical applications, including cancer. They may potentially overcome the challenges associated with conventional chemotherapy and significantly impact the overall survival of GI cancer patients. Functionalized MNPs with targeted ligands provide more efficient localization of tumor energy deposition, better solubility and stability, and specific targeting properties. In addition to enhanced therapeutic efficacy, MNPs are also a diagnostic tool for molecular imaging of malignant lesions, enabling non-invasive imaging or detection of tumor-specific or tumor-associated antigens. MNP-based therapeutic systems enable simultaneous stability and solubility of encapsulated drugs and regulate the delivery of therapeutic agents directly to tumor cells, which improves therapeutic efficacy and minimizes drug toxicity and leakage into normal cells. However, metal nanoparticles have been shown to have a cytotoxic effect on cells in vitro. This can be a concern when using metal nanoparticles for cancer treatment, as they may also kill healthy cells in addition to cancer cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state of the field, including preparation methods of MNPs, clinical applications, and advances in their use in targeted GI cancer therapy, as well as the advantages and limitations of using metal nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer such as potential toxicity. We also discuss potential future directions and areas for further research, including the development of novel MNP-based approaches and the optimization of existing approaches., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: One of the most common complications in patients with febrile neutropenia, lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma is a bloodstream infection (BSI)., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns, virulence factors, biofilm-forming strength, and genetic linkage of Escherichia coli strains isolated from bloodstream infections (BSIs) of leukemia patients., Methods: The study conducted in Iran from June 2021 to December 2022, isolated 67 E. coli strains from leukemia patients' bloodstream infections in hospitals in two different areas. Several techniques including disk diffusion and broth microdilution were used to identify patterns of antibiotic resistance, microtiter plate assay to measure biofilm formation, and PCR to evaluate the prevalence of different genes such as virulence factors, toxin-antitoxin systems, resistance to β-lactams and fluoroquinolone antibiotics of E. coli strains. Additionally, the genetic linkage of the isolates was analyzed using the Enterobacterial Repeat Intergenic Consensus Polymerase Chain Reaction (ERIC-PCR) method., Results: The results showed that higher frequency of BSI caused by E. coli in man than female patients, and patients with acute leukemia had a higher frequency of BSI. Ampicillin and Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid showed the highest resistance, while Imipenem was identified as a suitable antibiotic for treating BSIs by E. coli. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes were present in 22% of the isolates, while 53% of the isolates were ESBL-producing with the blaCTX-M gene as the most frequent β-lactamase gene. The fluoroquinolone resistance genes qnrB and qnrS were present in 50% and 28% of the isolates, respectively. More than 80% of the isolates showed the ability to form biofilms. The traT gene was more frequent than other virulence genes. The toxin-antitoxin system genes (mazF, ccdAB, and relB) showed a comparable frequency. The genetic diversity was detected in E. coli isolates., Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that highly diverse, resistant and pathogenic E. coli clones are circulating among leukemia patients in Iranian hospitals. More attention should be paid to the treatment and management of E. coli bloodstream infections in patients with leukemia., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Gastrointestinal (GI) carcinomas are a group of cancers affecting the GI tract and digestive organs, such as the gastric, liver, bile ducts, pancreas, small intestine, esophagus, colon, and rectum. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) which are involved in regulating the expression of multiple target genes; mainly at the post-transcriptional level, via complementary binding to their 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs have critical roles in modulating of various physiological and pathological cellular processes and regulating the occurrence and development of human malignancies. Among them, miR-145 is recognized for its anti-oncogenic properties in various cancers, including GI cancers. MiR-145 has been implicated in diverse biological processes of cancers through the regulation of target genes or signaling, including, proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and therapy resistance. In this review, we have summarized the role of miR-145 in selected GI cancers and also its downstream molecules and cellular processes targets, which could lead to a better understanding of the miR-145 in these cancers. In conclusion, we reveal the potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of miR-145 in GI cancer, and hope to provide new ideas for its application as a biomarker as well as a therapeutic target for the treatment of these cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Nowadays, several engineering applications and academic investigations have demonstrated the significance of heat transfers in general and mixed convection heat transfer (MCHT) in particular in cavities containing obstacles. This study's main goal is to analyze the MCHT of a nanofluid in a triangular cavity with a pentagonal barrier using magneto hydrodynamics (MHD). The cavity's-oriented walls are continuous cold temperature, whereas the bottom wall of the triangle and all pentagonal obstacle walls are kept at a constant high temperature. For solving governing equations, we utilized the Galerkin's finite element approach. Four dimensionless factors, Richardson number (0.01 ≤ Ri ≤ 5), Reynolds number (10 ≤ Re ≤ 50), Buoyancy ratio (0.01 ≤ Br ≤ 10) and Hartmann number (0 ≤  Ha ≤20) are examined for their effects on streamlines, isotherms, concentration, velocity, and the Nusselt number. Also, with the help of Taguchi method and Response Surface Method (RSM) the optimization of the studied dimensionless parameters has been done. The optimum values of Ri, Re, Ha and Br are obtained 4.95, 30.49,18.35 and 0.05 respectively. Ultimately, a correlation has been extracted for obtaining the optimum average Nusselt number ( Nu ) in mentioned cavity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Key Clinical Message: Austrian Syndrome classically consists of meningitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumonia bacteremia. A literature review, however, does not show variants of this triad. Our case highlights a unique variant of Austrian Syndrome with mastoiditis, meningitis, and endocarditis which requires immediate recognition and treatment to prevent devastating patient outcomes., Abstract: Streptococcus pneumonia is responsible for more than 50% of all bacterial meningitis and has a case fatality rate of 22% in adults. In addition, Streptococcus pneumonia is also one of the most common causes of acute otitis media, a known cause of mastoiditis. However, in conjunction with bacteremia and endocarditis, limited evidence is able to be identified. This sequence of infections also closely relates to Austrian syndrome. Otherwise known as Osler's triad, Austrian syndrome is a rare phenomenon of meningitis, endocarditis, and pneumonia secondary to Streptococcus pneumonia bacteremia that was first delineated by Robert Austrian in 1956. The incidence of Austrian syndrome is reported to be less than <0.0001% per year and has decreased significantly since the initial usage of penicillin in 1941. Despite this, the mortality rate of Austrian syndrome is still around 32%. Despite an extensive literature review, we were unable to find any reported cases of variants of Austrian syndrome that include mastoiditis as the primary insult. As such, we present a unique presentation of Austrian syndrome with mastoiditis, endocarditis, and meningitis with complex medical management that led to resolution for the patient. To discuss the presentation, progression, and complex medical management of a previously undiscussed triad of mastoiditis, meningitis, and endocarditis occurring in a patient., Competing Interests: Authors state no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Case Reports published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Taxis pose a higher threat to global climate change and human health through air emissions. However, the evidence on this topic is scarce, especially, in developing countries. Therefore, this study conducted estimation of fuel consumption (FC) and emission inventories on Tabriz taxi fleet (TTF), Iran. A structured questionnaire to obtain operational data of TTF, municipality organizations, and literature review were used as data sources. Then modeling was used to estimate fuel consumption ratio (FCR), emission factors (EFs), annual FC, and emissions of TTF using uncertainty analysis. Also, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic period was considered on the studied parameters. The results showed that TTF have high FCRs of 18.68 L/100 km (95% CI=17.67-19.69 L/100 km), which are not affected by age or mileage of taxis, significantly. The estimated EFs for TTF are higher than Euro standards, but the differences are not significant. However, it is critical as can be an indication of inefficiency of periodic regulatory technical inspection tests for TTF. COVID-19 pandemic caused significant decrease in annual total FC and emissions (9.03-15.6%), but significant increase in EFs of per-passenger-kilometer traveled (47.9-57.3%). Annual vehicle-kilometer-traveled by TTF and the estimated EFs for gasoline-compressed natural gas bi-fueled TTF are the main influential parameters in the variability of annual FC and emission levels. More studies on sustainable FC and emissions mitigation strategies are needed for TTF., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers arise in the GI tract and accessory organs, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. GI cancers are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Exosomes act as mediators of cell-to-cell communication, with pleiotropic activity in the regulation of homeostasis, and can be markers for diseases. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), can be transported by exosomes derived from tumor cells or non-tumor cells. They can be taken by recipient cells to alter their function or remodel the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, due to their uniquely low immunogenicity and excellent stability, exosomes can be used as natural carriers for therapeutic ncRNAs in vivo . Exosomal lncRNAs have a crucial role in regulating several cancer processes, including angiogenesis, proliferation, drug resistance, metastasis, and immunomodulation. Exosomal lncRNA levels frequently alter according to the onset and progression of cancer. Exosomal lncRNAs can therefore be employed as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Exosomal lncRNAs can also monitor the patient's response to chemotherapy while also serving as potential targets for cancer treatment. Here, we discuss the role of exosomal lncRNAs in the biology and possible future treatment of GI cancer., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Roshani, Baniebrahimi, Mousavi, Zare, Sadeghi, Salarinia, Sheida, Molavizadeh, Sadeghi, Moammer, Zolfaghari and Mirzaei.)

Natural product compounds have lately attracted interest in the scientific community as a possible treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, due to their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. There are many preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies, suggesting that the consumption of polyphenol compounds, which are abundant in vegetables, grains, fruits, and pulses, may help to prevent various illnesses and disorders from developing, including several GI cancers. The development of GI malignancies follows a well-known path, in which normal gastrointestinal cells acquire abnormalities in their genetic composition, causing the cells to continuously proliferate, and metastasize to other sites, especially the brain and liver. Natural compounds with the ability to affect oncogenic pathways might be possible treatments for GI malignancies, and could easily be tested in clinical trials. Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol and a natural stilbene, acting as a phytoestrogen with anti-cancer, cardioprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol has been shown to overcome resistance mechanisms in cancer cells, and when combined with conventional anticancer drugs, could sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Several new resveratrol analogs and nanostructured delivery vehicles with improved anti-GI cancer efficacy, absorption, and pharmacokinetic profiles have already been developed. This present review focuses on the in vitro and in vivo effects of resveratrol on GI cancers, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of action., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Background: A hospital consumes a large amount of health resources, and investigating hospital performance can increase hospital efficiency., Method: This retrospective descriptive research analyzed data on performance of 6 hospitals in Abadan, Iran, during a five-year period (2015-2019), based on Graphical Model of Pabon Lasso., Results: Findings suggested 16% of studied hospitals were in Zone 1, 50% were in Zone 3, and 33% were in Zone 4 of the Model. None of the hospitals were in Zone 2., Conclusion: As the hospitals in this study did not perform efficiently, concerns related to more efficiently use of available resources are crucial.

Background: Escherichia coli has appeared as an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections in patients with immunodeficiency, particularly in leukemia patients. New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase is an enzyme originally found in Enterobacteriaceae., Case Presentation: In this study, 80 isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were collected over the course of 2 years from two medical centers in Tehran, Iran. Production of carbapenemase was detected in the isolates using modified Hodge test. New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification with specific primers. Two New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing Escherichia coli strains were isolated from two Iranian patients with leukemia. These two patients were 6 and 15 years old, one female and the other male, from two oncology centers in Iran. The isolates were resistant to carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem), and two isolates were positive for carbapenemase production by modified Hodge test., Conclusions: The emergence of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing Escherichia coli is a threat for leukemia patients in oncology and hematology departments. We conclude that the incidence of multidrug resistant pathogens has increased among patients with leukemia and is life threatening., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

By introducing biomaterials and stem cells into Parkinson's disease (PD), therapeutic approaches have led to promising results due to facilitating brain targeting and blood-brain barrier permeation of the drugs and genes. Here, after reviewing the most recent drug- and gene-delivery vehicles including liposomes, exosomes, natural/synthetic polymeric particles/fibers, metallic/ceramic nanoparticles and microbubbles, used for Parkinson's disease treatment, the effect of stem cells as a reservoir of neurotrophic factors and exosomes is provided.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed significant public health problems for the human populations worldwide after the 1918 influenza A virus (IVA) (H1N1) pandemic. Although numerous efforts have been made to unravel the mechanisms underlying the coronavirus, a notable gap remains in our perception of the COVID-19 pathogenesis. The innate and adaptive immune systems have a pivotal role in the fate of viral infections, such as COVID-19 pandemic. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known as short noncoding RNA molecules and appear as indispensable governors of almost any cellular means. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that miRNAs participate in essential mechanisms of cell biology, regulation of the immune system, and the onset and progression of numerous types of disorders. The immune responses to viral respiratory infections (VRIs), including influenza virus (IV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus (RV), are correlated with the ectopic expression of miRNAs. Alterations of the miRNA expression in epithelial cells may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic and acute airway infections. Hence, analyzing the role of these types of nucleotides in antiviral immune responses and the characterization of miRNA target genes might contribute to understanding the mechanisms of the interplay between the host and viruses, and in the future, potentially result in discovering therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of acute COVID-19 infection. In this article, we present a general review of current studies concerning the function of miRNAs in different VRIs, particularly in coronavirus infection, and address all available therapeutic prospects to mitigate the burden of viral infections., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The presence of ambient particulate matter (PM) poses more dangers to human health than that of other common air pollutants such as Carbon dioxide (Co2) and ozone.  Epidemiologic studies show a direct correlation between PM and the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The immune system seems to play a critical role in the process of these diseases. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of Tehran particulate matter in two aerodynamic diameters (PM2.5 and PM10) on alveolar macrophages (AM) from C57/BL6 mice. To evaluate the inflammatory effects of PMs, cultured alveolar, and peritoneal macrophages were treated with PM2.5 and PM10 (concentrations of 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10 (representatives of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, respectively) were assessed in the culture supernatant by ELISA. Expression of arginase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes was carried out by quantitative real-time PCR. Different functional types of cultured alveolar macrophages (M1, M2) were also determined in this study. Our results suggest that PM2.5 induces M1 inflammatory phenotype in comparison with PM10. We found Also, an increase in TNF-α and M1-related gene expression (iNOS), as well as a decrease in both IL-10 and M2 phenotype genes (Arginase). Moreover, a reduction in phagocytic capacity and increased apoptosis function of macrophage cells were detected. PM2.5 as a major component in hydrocarbons has a considerable effect on polarizing the alveolar macrophages to an inflammatory phenotype and eliciting lung inflammation in mice.

In this paper, X-ray tube is introduced as a potential alternative for radioisotope sources used in radiation based liquid-gas two-phase flowmeters. X-ray tubes have lots of advantages over the radioisotope sources such as having an adjustable emitting photon's energy, being safer from point of view of radiation health physics during the transportation of the source, having ability to generate a high flux photon beam, and etc. The proposed radiation based system in this study composes an X-ray tube with a tube voltage of 150 kV and a 2.5 mm aluminum filter as the radiation source and one sodium iodide crystal as the photon detector. A pipe was positioned between the X-ray tube and the detector. Two main flow regimes of annular and stratified with different void fractions were modelled inside the pipe. Artificial neural network model of multi-layer perceptron (MLP) was also used in this study for analyzing the obtained data. The output spectrum of sodium iodide detector with 150 samples was applied as the input of multi-layer perceptron network and void fraction was considered as its output. The root mean squared error of proposed measuring system was 4.13 which shows the X-ray tube can be implemented as a promising alternative for radioisotope in radiation based two phase flow meters., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this work, a novel biosensor was fabricated for detection of DNA damage induced by 4-nonylphenol (NP) and also determination of NP. To achieve this goal, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with chitosan (Chit), gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and DNA-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (DNA-MWCNTs). Then, the DNA-MWCNTs/Au NPs/Chit/GCE was incubated with methylene blue (MB) to obtain MB-DNA-MWCNTs/Au NPs/Chit/GCE in which MB was used as the redox indicator. The modifications applied to the GCE were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDS) and theoretical evidence. MB is a derivative of anthraquinone which can intercalate into double helix structure of DNA. By treating MB-DNA-MWCNTs/Au NPs/Chit/GCE with NP, a higher R ct was observed because the insertion of the NP may result in a more negative charge environment on the DNA surface which hinders accessibility of [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3-/4- anion to the electrode surface. Change in the EIS response of the biosensor in the presence of NP was used to develop a novel system for monitoring the DNA damage induced by NP. The EIS technique was also used to develop a sensitive electroanalytical method for determination of NP., (© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Lichen planus is a dermatologic chronic inflammatory disease that usually involved the skin and mucosa. Esophageal lichen planus with stricture is rare presentation of this disease. It is usually associated with oral mucosal involvement and commonly presenting in middle-age female. In present case, we describe a 48-year-old woman with history of oral lichen planus who referred to us for progressive dysphagia for solid food .She had not history of other causes of dysphagia. Upper endoscopy revealed a benign stricture located in proximal of esophagus that comparable with lichen planus features. The patient underwent three sessions of wireguided bougie dilation that improved her symptoms totally. Lichen planus has to be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with dysphagia., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this work.

Background: Understanding the metabolic syndrome has been the center of attention in recent years as a major risk factor of many diseases. Given the rising incidence of this disease and as the patient can compete against this disease with choosing healthy lifestyle, in the present study, we investigated the predictors of metabolic syndrome, based on Walker's health-promoting lifestyle in two large cities in Iran, in 2016., Methods: This cross-sectional study used two-stage cluster sampling to select 1128 patients, among patients who referred to health centers in Isfahan and Yazd. Data were gathered by Walker lifestyle questionnaire that evaluates health-promoting behavior (nutrition, physical activity, health responsibility, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management) by self-report that were completed by interviews for illiterate and semi-literate individuals. Data analysis was performed by SPSS statistical software., Results: In this study, 576 women and 454 men participated with mean age of 56.19±12.11years and mean weight of 73.90±14.45kg., Results: showed that the highest mean score for different health-promoting behaviors was related to social responsibility (25.53±5.65) and the lowest was related to nutritional status (15.18±5.79). Regarding the strongest predictor of lifestyle, the results of regression analysis showed that the most direct impact was related to stress management (R 2 =0.343) and the least direct impact was related to social responsibility (R 2 =0.243). Among the structures, physical activity with overall effect of R 2 =0.621 was the strongest predictor of lifestyle based on Walker's pattern., Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, the greater emphasis in planning and interventions to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome should be spotted on physical activity and stress management in patients with the metabolic syndrome., (Copyright © 2017 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To assess the implementation and evaluation phases of strategic plans in selected hospitals., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of implementation and evaluation of strategic plan in 24 hospitals in 2015, using a questionnaire which consisted of two separate sections for strategic implementation and strategic evaluation. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 18., Results: Nearly one-third of hospitals claimed that they allocate their budget based on priorities and strategic goals. However, it turned out that although goals had been set, no formal announcements had been made. Most of the hospitals stated that they used measures when evaluating the plan. For hospital staff, clarifying the hospital's priorities was the most important advantage of a strategic plan., Conclusion: There is no clear definition for strategic management in Iranian hospitals, which results in chaotic implementation and control of strategic planning., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Changes of fluid properties (especially density) strongly affect the performance of radiation-based multiphase flow meter and could cause error in recognizing the flow pattern and determining void fraction. In this work, we proposed a methodology based on combination of multi-beam gamma ray attenuation and dual modality densitometry techniques using RBF neural network in order to recognize the flow regime and determine the void fraction in gas-liquid two phase flows independent of the liquid phase changes. The proposed system is consisted of one 137 Cs source, two transmission detectors and one scattering detector. The registered counts in two transmission detectors were used as the inputs of one primary Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network for recognizing the flow regime independent of liquid phase density. Then, after flow regime identification, three RBF neural networks were utilized for determining the void fraction independent of liquid phase density. Registered count in scattering detector and first transmission detector were used as the inputs of these three RBF neural networks. Using this simple methodology, all the flow patterns were correctly recognized and the void fraction was predicted independent of liquid phase density with mean relative error (MRE) of less than 3.28%., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Pregnancy is a natural process that may create some changes in different parts of the body including the oral cavity. These changes will lead to oral diseases if enough and timely care of oral cavity is not taken. Women may experience increased gingivitis or pregnancy gingivitis beginning in the second or third month of pregnancy that increases in severity throughout the duration of pregnancy. To motivate the patient toward oral health and implement the needed prophylactic measures, a longitudinal study was planned to observe the effect of oral health education during pregnancy on knowledge, attitude, practice, oral health status, and treatment needs (TNs) of pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups., Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted among 112 pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups to assess the effect of oral health education on knowledge, attitude, practice, oral health status, and TNs. The demographic details, knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women, and oral health status were collected through a predesigned questionnaire by a principal investigator through an interview. Oral health examination was carried out to assess oral health status using revised World Health Organization Proforma 1997, and oral health education was given through PowerPoint presentation to the participants in local language, i.e., Marathi, after collecting the baseline data. Reinforcement of oral health education and blanket referral was done at 14th week, and follow-up data were collected at 28th week of gestation. The demographic details, such as age, sex, education, occupation, income, and the questions based on knowledge, attitude, and practice among participants were analyzed using number, percentage, and mean., Results: At baseline, knowledge was limited, attitude was positive, while the practice was poor regarding oral health care during pregnancy in pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups. After oral health education and blanket referral, at 28th week of gestation, knowledge regarding oral health care improved drastically, attitude toward oral health became more positive, whereas practice did not change much among all the pregnant women belonging to different socioeconomic groups, probably indicating sociocultural influences., Conclusion: Intensive oral health education during pregnancy leads to drastic improvement in knowledge and attitude. Practice, gingival health, and the number of filled teeth also improved to some extent., Clinical Significance: Regular oral health education programs should be conducted at community level among pregnant woman to reduce the burden of oral diseases.

Introduction: Mishri is one of the form of smokeless tobacco, which is a roasted, powdered preparation made by baking tobacco on a hot metal plate until it is uniformly black, after which it is powdered. It is noted that mishri use is more commonly used by the women of low socioeconomic status, hence the need was felt to conduct this study among women mishri users of slums. Also, the consequences of mishri use are little known, hence an effort is made to find out its ill-effect on oral health., Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among women using mishri regarding its effects on their oral and general health., Materials and Methods: A 6-month KAP study was conducted among 100 women who were using mishri. Snowball sampling was used. Oral examination of the participants was also done for oral potentially malignant disorders, such as leukoplakia, erythroplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and hyperkeratinized pouch., Results: About 61% of the population used mishri for cleaning the teeth and others used it as quid; 0.85% of the total participants knew that the use of mishri may lead to precancerous lesions/conditions. Only 17% knew that mishri use can cause gum disease; 84% of the population was willing to quit the habit of using mishri., Conclusion: It is concluded that all the participants had poor knowledge. Attitude toward quitting mishri use was found to be good. About 4% of the participants reported about quitting the habit., Clinical Significance: There is need to create awareness regarding harmful effects of mishri usage in this particular area to improve oral health status.

Introduction: Peptic ulcer is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Considering its global prevalence finding new approach for treating is important., Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on gastric and duodenal ulcer treatment., Materials and Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was done on 90 patients who were admitted to the gastrointestinal endoscopy clinic of Tohid hospital in Sanandaj, Iran. All patients were diagnosed with gastric and duodenal ulcers. They were randomly divided into two-intervention and control groups, using block randomization with block sizes of 4. Patients and researcher were unaware of the grouping. To assess the level of zinc, blood samples were taken. In case of positive Rapid Urease Test (RUT), triple therapy regimen including amoxicillin, clarithromycin and omeprazole was administered for two weeks. For intervention group in addition to "triple therapy", an oral dose of Zinc Sulfate 220mg capsules were administered daily, while the control group received placebo capsules., Results: A total of 54.5% and 57% of the patients in the intervention and control groups had gastric ulcer respectively. The Rapid Urease Test (RUT) result of 72.7% of intervention group and 83.3% of control group was positive (p = 0.24). Serum zinc level of 20.9% of intervention group and 35.7% of control group was lower than the normal level (p = 0.13). The mean of serum zinc level of intervention group and control group were 81.9 and 78.9 mg dL respectively (p = 0.4). After intervention, peptic ulcer in 81.8% of the intervention group and 83.3% of the control groups were improved (p= 0.85). Response to treatment were higher in patients with normal zinc levels compared to patients with abnormal levels (77.5% vs. 22.5%, p=0.019)., Conclusion: A daily dose of 220mg zinc sulfate was not significantly effective on peptic ulcer. However, patients with normal zinc levels had better ulcer treatment.

Introduction: This study designed to use remote ischemic post conditioning (RIPC) as a protective strategy during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to reduce myocardial cells damage due to reperfusion injury. Methods: Sixty-one patients were divided into test group (32 patients) receiving RIPC and control group (29 patients). Patients were included with first MI who had 20-80 years old. The RIPC protocol was applied on patients arm in three successive episodes during the opening of infarct-related artery (IRA). Whole blood sample were taken from patients after the first episode before IRA opening and after the third episode after IRA opening. The serums were extracted and stored in the freezer -70˚C to determine the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: The levels of GPX and SOD after the first episode of RIPC were significantly higher in test group than control group ( P < 0.001). Similar alterations of these enzymes were obtained after IRA opening (after third episode). In addition, the levels of TAC remained unchanged in control patients but it was significantly increased after the third episode of RIPC in test patients ( P < 0.001). Finally, the MDA level was increased in control group in comparison with test group, and administration of RIPC in test group prevented the enhancement of MDA levels significantly ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results indicated that RIPC protocol has protective properties in patients with STEMI through enhancing the antioxidant potentials and decreasing lipid peroxidation.

Helicobacter pylori as the second most common cause of gastric cancer in the world infects approximately half of the developed countries population and 80% of the population living in developing countries. Integrons as genetic reservoirs play major roles in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report carriage of class 1 and 2 integrons and associated gene cassettes in H. pylori isolates from Iran. This crosssectional study was conducted in Tehran among 110 patients with H. pylori infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for H. pylori strains were assessed by the micro broth dilution method. Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected using PCR. In order to determine gene cassettes, amplified fragments were subjected to DNA sequencing of both amplicon strands. The prevalence of resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, rifampin, and levofloxacin were 68.2% (n=75), 25.5% (n=28), 24.5% (n=27), 19.1% (n=21), 18.2% (n=20) and 16.4% (n=18), respectively. Frequency of multidrug resistance among H. pylori isolates was 12.7%. Class 2 integron was detected in 50 (45.5%) and class 1 integron in 10 (9.1%) H. pylori isolates. The most predominant gene cassette arrays in class 2 integron bearing H. pylori were included sateraaadA1, dfrA1sat2aadA1, blaoxa2 and, aadB whereas common gene cassette arrays in class 1 integron were aadBaadA1cmlA6, aacA4, blaoxa2, and catB3. The high frequency of class 2 integron and multidrug resistance in the present study should be considered as a warning for clinicians that continuous surveillance is necessary to prevent the further spread of resistant isolates.

Conversion disorders are among common psychological problems. Pseudoptosis is an uncommon presentation of this category of disorders. Herein, the authors report 2 cases of psychogenic pseudoptosis. The first case is a 21-year-old man who presented with sudden onset of ptosis in his OS 2 weeks previous. The patient reported episodes of left upper eyelid drooping during the last 7 months. The second case is a 10-year-old girl with ptosis onset 6 months previously, after a viral conjunctivitis. In both patients, specific presentations in favor of nonorganic ptosis were observed; all neurological and paraclinical evaluations were normal, and considerable familial or social stressors were found. Both patients received psychological treatment, and no recurrence was observed afterward.

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate a possible association between H. pylori infection and CSR., Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common infections worldwide. Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (CSR) is a serious macular detachment that usually affects young people. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is still not completely understood., Patients and Methods: A prospective study was performed and we evaluated a total of 35 CSR patients and control group of138 patients who referred to gastroenterology research center of Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Central serous chorioretinopathy was diagnosed on the basis of findings in ophthalmic examinations and confirmed by fluoresce in angiogram. All patients underwent a 13C-urea breath test (UBT) to detect H. pylori infection. Patients were defined as H. pylori infected, if breath test was positive., Results: The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was8.3± 2.5 days. Overall, no statistically significant difference was found between left and right eyes, bilateral CSR was observed in 5 patients (14.2%).The incidence of H. pylori infection was 85.7% in CSR patients and 55.1% in control subjects (p=0.001). Odd's ratio was 4.895., Conclusion: These results indicate that the prevalence of H. pylori infection is significantly higher in patients with CSR than in controls. No effect of age or sex was seen on H.pylori test results. Further multiple centers, randomized, case control trials are necessary to confirm the potential contributory role of the H. pylori infection in the pathogenesis of CSR as a possible association between infectious agents and endothelial dysfunction.

Objective: Based on Problem Based Theory, this study investigated a broad array of putative protective factors associated with psychopathological symptoms and prosodical behaviour., Methods: Participants were 140 orphan adolescent girls and boys living in foster care homes in Tehran, chosen with convenience sampling procedures. Using a cross-sectional design this study examined the individual and interactive properties of protective factors in this high-risk population., Results: Findings with theoretically derived multi-item subscales indicated a high degree of association specificity based on type of psychopathology and depending on gender. RESULTS with the whole sample indicated that theoretically derived individual protective factor scales associations were obtained mainly for conduct problems and emotional symptoms, and with girls only., Conclusion: The present study provides introductory information on the identification of protective factors that can be utilized in educational, interventional and preventive public health programs for this high-risk population. One innovative contribution of the present research is to provide an introductory validation of a theory-based model of adolescent protection and resilience, for which there is ample empirical support, in a high-risk population of Iranian adolescents living in foster homes centers in a metropolitan urban setting.

Nine different β-thioxoketones of general formula R(1)C(=O)CH2C(=S)R(2) (R(1) = C6H5, R(2) = C6H5L1; R(1) = C6H5, R(2) = p-CF3C6H4L2; R(1) = p-MeOC6H4, R(2) = C6H5L3; R(1) = p-MeOC6H4, R(2) = p-CF3C6H4L4; R(1) = C5H4N, R(2) = C6H5L5; R(1) = p-IC6H4, R(2) = C6H5L6; R(1) = C6H5, R(2) = p-IC6H4L7; R(1) = C6H5, R(2) = C10H7L8 and R(1) = CH3, R(2) = C6H5L9) and their tris-substituted bismuth(III) complexes having the general formula [Bi{R(1)C(=O)CHC(=S)R(2)}3] were synthesised and fully characterised. The solid state structure of [Bi{C5H4NC(=O)CHC(=S)C6H5}3] B5 was determined by crystallography and revealed that the three β-thioxoketonato ligands are bound to bismuth(III) centre in a bidentate fashion through O and S atoms. The bismuth(III) complexes and the corresponding thioxoketones were assessed for their activity against H. pylori. All of the bismuth(III) complexes were highly active against H. pylori having a MIC of greater than or equal to 3.125 μg mL(-1), while the free acids were essentially not toxic to the bacteria. The anti-leishmanial activity of all the bismuth(III) β-thioxoketonates and the corresponding free acids were assessed against L. major promastigotes. The toxicity towards human fibroblast cells was also assessed. All of the free β-thioxoketones were selectively toxic to the L. major promastigotes displaying some potential as anti-leishmanial agents. Among these [C6H5C(=O)CH2C(=S)C6H5] L1 and [C5H4NC(=O)CH2C(=S)C6H5] L5 showed comparable activity to that of Amphotericin B, killing about 80% of the L. major promastigotes at a concentration of 25 μM (6.0 μg mL(-1)). The bismuth(III) β-thioxoketonate complexes were toxic to both the L. major promastigotes and fibroblast cells at high concentrations, but gave no improvement in anti-leishmanial activity over the free β-thioxoketones.

Background and Objectives: Group B Streptococci (GBS) is a major cause of neonatal and maternal infections. The aim of this study was to determine the serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance profile of GBS strains isolated from pregnant women in Ardabil., Materials and Methods: Antibiotic resistance of 56 GBS isolates was investigated using E-test strips and disk-diffusion method. Serotyping was performed using capsular antiserum., Results: The results of MIC tests showed all isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, vancomycin and penicillin. One isolate (1.7%) showed reduced susceptibility pattern to penicillin (MIC; 0.25 µg/ml). There were 3 (5.3%) isolates semi-sensitive (0.25-1 µg/ml) to erythromycin (2; 0.5 µg/ml and 1; 0.38 µg/ml) and 2 (3.5%) isolates to clindamycin (1; 0.5 µg/ml, 1; 0.38 µg/ml). Additionally, 2 (3.5%) isolates were resistant to clindamycin (1; 16 µg/ml, 1; 2 µg/ml). According to the disk diffusion test, 47 (83.9%), 8 (14.2%) and 7 (12.5%) isolates were resistant to Co-trimoxazole, ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone respectively. Serotypes V (19.6%), II (12.5%) and IV (12.5%) were the most frequent followed by serotypes III (10.7%) and VI (10.7%), Ib (8.9%), Ia (7/1%), VII (5/3%) and VIII (5/3%); 7.1% of strains were nontypeable., Conclusions: In this study, most isolates were sensitive to common antibiotics, but increased resistance to other antibiotics indicates the importance of monitoring of antibiotic resistance in group B streptococci over time.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin and gabapentin for reducing post-photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) pain., Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 150 subjects undergoing PRK were allocated into 3 groups. In addition to the routine regimen, pregabalin 75 mg, gabapentin 300 mg, and placebo were administered 3 times daily for 3 days, in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Subjects could take acetaminophen-codeine 300/10 mg tablets every 4 hours as needed. Patients completed a pain assessment survey (visual analogue scale ranging from 0 = no pain to 10 = most severe pain) 7 times in the first 3 days following PRK and also recorded the number of consumed acetaminophen-codeine tablets., Results: Age, sex, refractive error, ablation depth, and mitomycin-C (MMC) application were similar in the 3 study groups (all p values>0.05). Overall pain scores in the placebo group were 0.9 and 1 unit higher than the pregabalin (p=0.029) and gabapentin (p=0.023) groups, respectively. Severe pain (score >7) was more frequent in the placebo group on the morning of the first postoperative day (p=0.043). The difference in the number of consumed acetaminophen-codeine tablets was statistically borderline (p=0.061) and less in the pregabalin (7.9 ± 5.2) and gabapentin (9.0 ± 4.1) groups in comparison to the placebo group (10.3 ± 5.6)., Conclusions: Pregabalin and gabapentin seem to be helpful in alleviating post-PRK pain when combined with other measures. Depending on availability, either compound can be used as an adjuvant for pain control in this setting.

Aim: We investigated whether the level of IL8 was different in patients with chronic and acute Toxoplasma gondii infection during the pregnancy compared with control group., Background: It is well established that T.gondii infection induces a strong cell-mediated immune response., Patients and Methods: ELISA was used to determine the level of IL8 in sera of 568 pregnant women. Patients were divided into three groups according to a T.gondii serology. The first group included 202 women with positive IgG titres, the second group was 66 women with IgM and negative IgG T.gondii serology; and the third group comprised the sera of 300 healthy pregnant women with negative T.gondii serology and served as controls., Results: The level of IL8 in group I was within normal range similar to control group. However, the level of IL8 was increased in those pregnant patients with positive IgM T.gondii serology., Conclusion: The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL8 seem to be increased in patients with serological evidence of acute T.gondii infection.

Fascioliasis is a worldwide zoonotic infection with Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The zoonoses are particularly endemic in sheep-raising countries and are also endemic in Iran. Typical symptoms that may be associated with fascioliasis can be divided by phases of the disease, including the acute or liver phase, the chronic or biliary phase, and ectopic or pharyngeal fascioliasis. Cholestatic symptoms may be absent, and in some cases diagnosis and treatment may be preceded by a long period of abdominal pain, eosinophilia and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. We report a case with epigastric and upper quadrant abdominal pain for the last 4 years, with imaging suggesting cholangiocarcinoma. Considering a new concept of endoscopic ultrasonography, at last F. hepatica was extracted with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.

Background and Study Aims: Uraemic patients show susceptibility to gastrointestinal mucosal lesions and colonisation by Helicobacter pylori (HP). Antibiotic resistance constitutes a problem in treatment and bismuth preparations are toxic in uraemic patients. This study aimed to assess the correlation between creatinine clearance (CrCl) and eradication of HP infection with new sequential and standard triple therapeutic regimens., Patients and Methods: A total of 120 HP-positive patients with renal function impairment and 60 control patients with HP infection were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into four groups on the basis of CrCl and were randomly assigned to one of the two different regimens: A 14-day standard triple therapy with 20mg omeprazole bid, 1000mg amoxicillin bid and 500mg clarithromycin bid and a new sequential regimen with 20mg omeprazole bid and 1000mg amoxicillin bid both for 14 days, 500mg ciprofloxacin bid for the first 7 days and 200mg furazolidone bid for the last 7 days. Doses of amoxicillin, clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin were reduced to 50% in the cases of CrCl <30mgdl(-1)., Results: One hundred and sixty two out of 180 HP-positive patients (54.3% male, 51.6±12.1 years) completed treatment in the four groups and were studied. According to renal function they were classified into group A (n=39), haemodialysis (HD) patients; group B (n=37), CrCl <30mgdl(-1) without HD; group C (n=36), CrCl between 30 and 60mgdl(-1); and group D (n=50), control subjects with CrCl >90mgdl(-1). HP was successfully eradicated in 77.7% of patients with standard triple therapy and in 81.4% of patients with the sequential therapy. There was no significant difference among the study groups in the rate of HP-infection eradication with both regimens., Conclusion: HP eradication rates did not differ with both sequential and standard therapeutic regimens in uraemic and non-uraemic patients. We, therefore, prefer the standard triple therapy due to its simplicity and reported., (Copyright © 2011 Arab Journal of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Elevated serum level of bilirubin is a common manifestation which is occurred in several diseases. Hyperbilirubinemia can manifest either conjugated or unconjugated. Conjugated or direct hyperbilirubinemia usually are caused by hepatocellular diseases or cholestatic liver diseases. Merely conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is the main manifestation of two congenital syndromes, including Dubin-Johnson and rotor syndrome; however it can be seen in some patients with recurrent benign intrahepatic cholestasis. This article reports a patient with Dubin- Johuson syndrome as a benign and rare condition.

Aim: The aim of this survey was to compare four DNA extraction methods from Iranian sheep strain E.granulosus isolates., Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode of the dog tapeworm Echinococcus spp., is a global zoonotic infection which is economically important and constitutes a major threat to public health in many countries. Strains characterization is essential for the establishment of a preventive and control strategy in every endemic area., Patients and Methods: Forty five infected organs from cattle, sheep and goat were collected from different abattoirs of Iran. All cysts were examined by microscopic observation of protoscoleces. For each cyst, protoscoleces were aspirated and DNA of each cyst was extracted with 4 different methods including tissue Kit extraction, modified Cinnagen extraction kit, Phenol-chloroform (Sambrook1999) and modified Phenol chloroform methods. Efficiency of the DNA was determined by degree of success in PCR amplification., Results: Cinnagen modified extraction and modified Phenol chloroform methods were equally effective and superior to other methods after DNA electrophoresis and PCR reaction. Inhibition was observed in PCR with DNA isolated from protoscoleces, and a 1/100 dilution was able to alleviate this problem with DNA extracted., Conclusion: The result of this study show that the quality of extracted DNA using modified Cinnagen extraction kit and modified phenol-chloroform are very high and gave identical results after RCR reaction using 12S rRNA gene. Further evaluation is required for its utilization in other clinical specimens.

In the title compound, C(14)H(13)N(7), inter-molecular N-H⋯N and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into infinite one-dimensional chains along (100). A C-H⋯π inter-action also occurs in the crystal.

Purpose: To study the agreement between ultrasound (US) and Orbscan II (Bausch & Lomb) measurements with different ranges of central thickness in normal corneas., Setting: Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Tehran, Iran., Methods: The central corneal thickness was measured first by the Orbscan II and then with a US pachymeter in 177 right eyes. Data were compared in 3 thickness groups: less than 500 microm, 500 to 600 microm, and more than 600 microm. In all cases, uncorrected Orbscan II data were used. For each range, a correction factor was calculated through regression analysis, which was then used in a new set of analyses. To study the agreement between the 2 methods, the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and intraclass correlations coefficients (ICC) were determined., Results: The mean interdevice difference was 2.7 +/- 16.9 (SD) in the less than 500 microm group (P = .365), 21.3 +/- 3.1 in the 500 to 600 microm group (P = .0001), and 27.2 +/- 20.9 in the more than 600 microm group (P = .0001). No clinically acceptable LoA were found in any group. The application of regression equations to the Orbscan II readings improved the agreement in the less than 500 microm group better than the other 2 groups. The ICC was 0.76, 0.61, and 0.43 in the less than 500 microm, 500 to 600 microm, and more than 600 microm groups, respectively., Conclusions: The Orbscan corneal thickness readings had relatively lower validity than US measurements. The 2 devices should not be used interchangeably, especially when the validity of the measurement is vital. In patient screening for corneal surgery, it is advisable to recheck corneal thickness with a US pachymeter.

The recent development of 64-channel multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has resulted in noninvasive coronary artery imaging improvement. This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of 64-slice MSCT in a relatively unselected group of 143 patients with presentations suggestive of coronary artery disease, including those with unstable angina pectoris, who underwent both coronary computed tomographic angiography and invasive coronary angiography. No arrhythmia was considered an exclusion criterion except for atrial fibrillation or frequent extrasystoles. In patients with fast heart rates, a beta blocker was administered orally. Data were obtained using electrocardiography gated 64-slice MSCT. Computed tomographic angiography and invasive coronary angiography findings of each coronary segment were compared to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MSCT in the detection of their normalcy or insignificant (<50% diameter decrease) stenosis versus significant (>or=50% diameter decrease) stenosis or total occlusion. In per-patient assessment, the calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MSCT were 96%, 67%, 91%, and 83%, respectively. These values in per-artery evaluation were 94%, 94%, 87%, and 97%, and corresponding values in per-segment analysis were 92%, 97%, 77%, and 99%, respectively. In conclusion, computed tomographic angiography has high diagnostic performance in the assessment of significant coronary artery disease in most patients in a daily routine practice, including those presenting with unstable angina pectoris symptoms.

Monospecific antibodies were raised against a synthetic peptide K159 (SQGVVESMNKELKKIIGQVRDQAEHLKTA) reproducing the segment 147-175 of HIV-1 integrase (IN). Synthesis of substituted and truncated analogs of K159 led us to identify the functional epitope reacting with antibodies within the C-terminal portion 163-175 of K159. Conformational studies combining secondary structure predictions, CD and NMR spectroscopy together with ELISA assays, showed that the greater is the propensity of the epitope for helix formation the higher is the recognition by anti-K159. Both the antibodies and the antigenic peptide K159 exhibited inhibitory activities against IN. In contrast, neither P159, a Pro-containing analog of K159 that presents a kink around proline but with intact epitope conformation, nor the truncated analogs encompassing the epitope, were inhibitors of IN. While the activity of antibodies is restricted to recognition of the sole epitope portion, that of the antigenic K159 likely requires interactions of the peptide with the whole 147-175 segment in the protein [Sourgen F., Maroun, R.G., Frère, V., Bouziane, A., Auclair, C., Troalen, F. & Fermandjian, S. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 240, 765-773]. Actually, of all tested peptides only K159 was found to fulfill condition of minimal number of helical heptads to achieve the formation of a stable coiled-coil structure with the IN 147-175 segment. The binding of antibodies and of the antigenic peptide to this segment of IN hampers the binding of IN to its DNA substrates in filter-binding assays. This appears to be the main effect leading to inhibition of integration. Quantitative analysis of filter-binding assay curves indicates that two antibody molecules react with IN implying that the enzyme is dimeric within these experimental conditions. Together, present data provide an insight into the structure-function relationship for the 147-175 peptide domain of the enzyme. They also strongly suggest that the functional enzyme is dimeric. Results could help to assess models for binding of peptide fragments to IN and to develop stronger inhibitors. Moreover, K159 antibodies when expressed in vivo might exhibit useful inhibitory properties.

The secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) microscope is able to map chemical elements in tissue sections. Although absolute quantification of an element remains difficult, a relative quantitative approach is possible for soft tissue by using carbon (12C) as an internal reference present at large homogeneous and constant concentration in specimen and embedding resin. In this study, this approach is used to standardize the signal of an SIMS microscope for the quantification of halogens (9F-, 35Cl- and 79Br-) and calcium (40Ca+). Standard preparation was determined based on homogeneity and stability criteria by molecular incorporation (halogens) or mixing (calcium) in methacrylate resin. Standard measurements were performed by depth analysis on areas of 8 microns (halogens) and 150 microns (calcium) in diameter for 10-30 min, under Cs+ (halogens) or Ox+ (calcium) bombardment. Results obtained from 100-120 measurements for each standard dilution show that the relationship between the signal intensity measured and the elemental concentration (micrograms/mg of wet tissue or mM) is linear in the range of biological concentrations. This quantitative approach was applied firstly to bromine of the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) used as nuclear marker of rat hepatocytes in proliferation. The second model concerns depletion of calcium concentration in cortical compartment in Paramecium tetraurelia during exocytosis. Then signal standardization in SIMS microscopy allows us to correlate quantitative results with those obtained from other methods.