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This study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of wild lowbush blueberry on CIRI in rats. Accordingly, CIRI and reperfusion were induced in rats for 60 min and 24 h, respectively. Then, the mechanisms of the neuroprotective effects of BBE were investigated in the injury through evaluating miR-146a, miR-21, and their targets in a CIRI rat model. After that, the BBE (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg b.wt) was intraperitoneally injected for 14 days, then CIRI was induced by BCCAO for 60 min for ischemic stroke and reperfusion for 24 h. Several parameters including the oxidative stress levels in the hippocampus and serum were measured 24 h after the CIRI. The findings showed that the BBE significantly decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and increased ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels in the hippocampus and serum following the stroke. The BBE also maximized the miR-146a and miR-21 expressions and moderated iNOS and TNF-α expressions in the hippocampus. Likewise, the BBE enlarged the CA1 and CA3 domains of the post-stroke pyramidal cell layers of the hippocampus. Overall, the results revealed that BBE had potent neuroprotective efficacy against CIRI via the effective modulation of neuroinflammatory cascades and protected neurons against ischemic death.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that has been reported to be associated with immune system dysfunction. On the other hand, the effect of Vitamin D as an immune modulator and its relation with several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases has been previously investigated. Moreover, several studies have reported the polymorphisms of VDR and VDBP genes can change the functions of these molecules. Therefore, these polymorphisms may be influential on endometriosis pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the association between VDR gene (FokI (F/f), BsmI (B/b), ApaI (A/a), TaqI (T/t)), and VDBP gene (GC*1S, GC*1F, and GC*2) polymorphisms with endometriosis in Iranian women population. This case-control study was performed on 120 women with endometriosis and 110 healthy women. ARMS-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods were used to inspect polymorphisms in VDR and VDBP genes, respectively. Based on the results, there was no statistically significant difference between the cases with endometriosis and control subjects in terms of genotypes and allele frequencies of VDR and VDBP gene polymorphisms. These data suggest that VDR and VDBP gene polymorphisms may have no role in endometriosis susceptibility in Iranian women.

Up to the present, nanofibers have been prepared from an assortment of materials, such as natural polymers, carbon-based nanomaterials, semiconducting nanomaterials, and composite nanomaterials. Producing composite nanofibers from biological template materials (e.g. peptides, proteins, polymers, carbohydrate, virus, bacteral cellulose etc.) as novel nanostructures and biological materials has attracted researchers due to their potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, biosensing, sensors, and filter air pollutants, and also because of their unique properties such as the high surface area and porosity and good biocompatibility. In this sense, there has been a great focus on the catalytic activity of nanofibers due to the unique properties i.e. high catalytic efficiency, stabilizing metal nanoparticles, preventing aggregation of the nanoparticles and high specific surface area. Thus, in this review, we focus on two topics: (1) the preparation methods of nanofibers, nanorods and whiskers (2) the investigations of various nanofibers, nanorods and whiskers catalytic materials in the electrocatalyst, photocatalyst, organo catalyst, thermal catalysis and morphology as well as related catalytic mechanisms are summarized and discussed.

Considering environmental pollution caused by the non-biodegradable polymers used in food packaging, developing and enhancing the properties of biodegradable films seem to be necessary. For this aim, in the present study, kefiran-whey protein isolate bionanocomposite films were prepared and the impact of different concentrations (1, 3 and 5% w/w) of Al2O3 (alumina) nanoparticles on their physical, morphological, thermal and mechanical properties was studied. Based on the obtained results, an increase in the nanoparticles content led to a significant decrease (p 2O3 to kefiran-whey protein isolate matrix. By considering all results, the concentration of 3% was proposed as the appropriate concentration of Al2O3 for the nano-reinforcement of kefiran-whey protein isolate bionanocomposites.

Brain malfunction is common in diabetic patients. On the other hand, a growing body of research points to the beneficial effect of medicinal plants and exercise training on insulin sensitivity and brain function. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of swimming training and Plantago psyllium (mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 5%) on learning and memory impairment and glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic rats. For this purpose, 10 healthy and 40 rats with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to five groups: healthy sedentary control group (Con), sedentary diabetic group (D), diabetic group subjected to swimming training (D + Tr), diabetic group receiving P. psyllium (D + Ps), and diabetic group subjected to swimming training and receiving P. psyllium (D + Ps + Tr). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide (120 mg/kg) and streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) separately with 15 min intervals. Experimental groups were treated with swimming training and P. psyllium independently and simultaneously for 12 weeks. Lipid profile and food intake were measured and also, glucose tolerance was evaluated by glucose area under the curve (AUCg) using an oral glucose tolerance test. Passive avoidance learning (PAL) and memory were evaluated by shuttle box test and cognitive memory was assessed by novel object recognition (NOR) and elevated plus-maze (EPM) tests. Diabetic rats exhibited a significant increase in food intake, lipid profile, and AUCg compared to healthy rats. Step-through latency in the PAL acquisition trial (STL-a) and retention test (STL-r) were significantly lower in diabetic rats than in the control group. In the diabetic group without treatment, time spent in the dark compartment increased compared to the control group in the shuttle box test. Discrimination index and distance traveled reduced in diabetic rats. On the other hand, swimming training and P. psyllium alleviated food intake, lipid profile, and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Also, the STL-a, STL-r, discrimination index, and distance travelled in the D + Ps + Tr group were significantly more than the diabetic group. Results showed that 12 weeks of swimming training and receiving P. psyllium improved memory deficit in streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats possibly through hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effects. These results suggest that the administration of swimming training and P. psyllium simultaneously might be an effective intervention for the treatment of diabetes-induced behavioral deficits.

An optical chemical sensor was constructed by incorporating the thionine (TN) dye molecules into a sol–gel silica matrix and it was used for determination the pH of the aqueous solutions. Entrapment of TN dye into the silica matrix was made via an acid-catalyzed sol–gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and the thionine molecules. The thionine molecules in the immobilized form, showed a different spectral behavior than its solution form. After optimizing the experimental conditions, the fabricated optical sensor showed a fast response to pH changes in the range of 11–13 with a response time about one minute. Also, the obtained results indicate that the proposed pH sensor, has a good reproducibility, reversibility, stability and low leaching and a long lifetime of over 7 months.

Resveratrol is a phytochemical with anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. The present study has evaluated the effect of resveratrol on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as factors related to endometriosis progression. Thirteen eutopic (EuESCs) and 8 ectopic (EESCs) endometrial stromal cells from women with endometriosis and 11 control endometrial stromal cells (CESCs) were treated with resveratrol (100 µM) for 6, 24 and 48 h. The gene and protein expression levels of VEGF, TGF-β, and MMP-9 were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA methods, respectively. Results showed that the basal gene and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-9 were higher in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P VEGF gene expression was statistically more noticeable in EESCs compared to EuESCs and CESCs (P

Medicinal plants with antibacterial effects have been used by humans for centuries. In the recent decade, due to the development of antibiotic resistant strains, many studies have focused on the use of natural compounds as feed additives in livestock. Ginger, among all, have repetitively shown numerous biological activities, antibacterial, and antibiotic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of ginger root powder (GP) on the performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of Japanese quail. A total of 240 10-weeks old female quails were used in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments, 4 replicates, and 15 birds per replicate. Dietary treatment were basal diet (control) and basal diet containing 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg of ginger root powder. Growth performance and exterior and interior quality of egg were measured biweekly over eight-week period. At the end of experiment blood parameters were evaluated. The results showed that diet supplementation with different levels of GP had no significant effect on egg production, egg mass weight, and egg weight (p &gt, 0.05). However, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were significantly lower in the treatment group than the control in the whole period (p &lt, 0.05). Egg Quality traits (shape index, albumen index, the percentage of albumen, yolk and shell, yolk pH, and shell thickness and strength) were not affected by the supplements in the whole trial period. Addition of GP significantly increased the albumen height, Haugh unit, and albumen pH in comparison with the control treatment (p &lt, 0.05). GP reduced blood triglyceride level yet was ineffective on blood total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with GP, could improve productive performance and the egg quality of Japanese quails. Nonetheless a comprehensive study needs to be performed in order to evaluate the impact of quail dietary ginger supplementation on productive performance and egg quality and their stability during storage time for commercial use.

Phyco-remediation of dyestuffs in textile wastewaters is of economic, industrial, and environmental importance. We evaluated the remediation of the textile dye, Direct Green 6 (DG6), by Spirulina platensis, and investigated the novel possibility that DG6 treatment enhances production of the biopolymer, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). We showed that both live and dead cells of Spirulina were capable of DG6 remediation, but live cells could be re-used with no loss of remediation efficiency. Furthermore, DG6 remediation by live cells resulted in increased algal biomass and trichome lengths, and stimulated production of valuable metabolites, including PHB, antioxidants, carbohydrates and pigments (phycobilins and astaxanthin). We determined the optimal conditions for DG6 remediation and an artificial neural network (ANN) accurately modeled the experimental data and predicted the concentration of dye as the most and algal turbidity as the least important parameters for DG6 removal efficiency. A DG6 concentration of 60 mg L−1 resulted in the highest simultaneous co-production of PHB (12.7 ± 1.7% DW) and increase of astaxanthin (194%), carotenoids (50%), phenol (51%), carbohydrates (27%) total phycobilin (43%), together with the enhancement of biomass and trichome lengths (95%). Oxidative stress indices and enzyme activities such as peroxidases and laccase (involved in dye removal/antioxidant functions) were also increased by dye dosage. On the basis of our results, we propose that S. platensis may use DG6 dye as a nitrogen/carbon source for co-accumulation of valuable bioplastic and metabolites.

Vitamin D (Vit D), as an immunomodulator, has been hypothesized to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Thus, in this study, we evaluated whether there is an association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and susceptibility to endometriosis in Iranian women.Women at reproductive age, including 56 healthy women and 54 patients with endometriosis, were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of 25(OH)D, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and peritoneal fluid (PF) levels of 25(OH)D were assessed.The serum and PF levels of 25(OH)D in the patients with endometriosis were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Subjects with serum levels of 25(OH)D lower than 20 ng/mL had a 2.7 times higher risk of endometriosis than people with 25(OH)D serum levels higher than 20 ng/mL (non-deficient) (OR = 2.7, 95 % confidence interval: 1.24-5.80, P = 0.01). The serum levels of calcium and PTH were significantly lower and higher in patients with endometriosis compared with controls, respectively (P0.001, P = 0.02, respectively). Also, the serum levels of 25(OH)D were lower in stages I-II endometriosis than stage III-IV; however, no significant difference was observed.Our findings showed that people with Vit D deficiency are at higher risk of endometriosis.

Li‐rich layered Mn‐based oxide (LMO) cathode materials, with the formation of Li2MnO3, have attracted much attention due to their potential in various applications with high energy density. However, these cathode materials for Lithium‐ion batteries still suffer from drawbacks such as poor rate capability and voltage decay, which makes further investigation vital and rational. Here, the doping strategy is employed to investigate the effect of TM = Ti, Cu, and Zn on Li2Mn0.5TM0.5O3 cathode materials for improving electrochemical performances of Li2MnO3. Electrochemical properties such as voltage, electrical conductivity, safety, structural stability, and kinetics and mechanism of Li‐ion diffusion are evaluated and compared. All doped cathodes decrease the voltage reduction and improve the electrical conductivity coefficient in comparison with LMO. Doping Cu notably increases the electrical conductivity of LMO by 77%. Ti doping exhibits the potential to increase the maximum voltage of LMO and structural stability. Doping Zn and Cu elements can delay the oxygen loss significantly, which leads to a higher life cycle and safety. In addition, doping Zn is expected to have a higher Li‐ion diffusion coefficient due to its low energy barrier and partial charge of oxygen atoms in its cathode structure. This first‐principle study of doping effects of TM = Ti, Cu, and Zn with α = 0.5 in Li2Mn0.5TMαO3 may be a useful leading study for further investigation into the synthesis of lithium‐rich materials with enhanced electrochemical performance.

In large quantities, water is detrimental to lead halide perovskite solar cells, mainly because of the decomposition of the perovskite layer. In contrast, the presence of small quantities of water has been observed to play a key role in the crystallization of the perovskite and in the performance of the corresponding devices. However, the exact role of water during the operation of perovskite solar cells is still under debate. In this paper, impedance spectroscopy is used to analyze the changes produced by environmental humidity in the electronic properties of methylammonium lead triiodide perovskite. Our results show that water absorbed from environmental humidity induces a huge increase in the capacitance of this material. This capacitance can reach values as large as the accumulation capacitance found in devices based on perovskite, which is responsible for the characteristic large hysteresis observed between forward and reverse J–V curves. In parallel to this outstanding rise of the capacitance, water absorption produces a significant rise of the conductivity, in agreement with previous reports in the literature. An activation energy of 0.52 eV is found for electronic transport, a value in line with the activation energy of ionic transport found in the literature, which suggests ambipolar diffusion as the transport mechanism that links these two phenomena.

The advantage of employing a model of iron (Fe)-doped carbon-20 fullerene cage (C) for delivery of tioguanine (TG) anticancer drug was investigated in this work by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The models were optimized and corresponding electronic and structural features were evaluated to analyze the model systems of this work. Based on examining relaxation of TG at the C surface, two configurations of TG@C1 and TG@C2 were obtained regarding the orientation of sulfur-mediated TG from six-member ring or five-member ring towards the Fe-doped region of C surface. The calculations indicated that both models could be stabilized with more favorable features in energy and molecular orbitals for TG@C2 model than TG@C1 model. Further analyses of molecular orbital features also indicated mechanism of bimolecular formations. Additionally, the calculated atomic quadrupole coupling constants (QCC) approved achievements of molecular features to recognize TG@C2 as more favorable model for proposing for further investigations.

In this research paper, efficient and economical protocols for the synthesis of symmetrical sulfides and 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles have been reported using Fe3O4@SBTU@Ni(II) as a heterogeneous an...

Considering harmful effects of the environmental pollution and increased concerns about the synthetic polymers, kefiran has been introduced as a biodegradable polymer due to its nontoxicity. This edible biopolymer and its structural derivations play specific roles in a large number of applications including scaffolds, the reserve materials, and the encapsulation for drug delivery, thanks to its amazing properties such as the protective features, the bifidogenic effects and the antimicrobial activity against some microorganisms. The aim of the present review was to focus on the methods of producing kefiran, its properties and finally its applications, bringing significant changes in various fields.

Natural compounds can be used as a complementary or alternative medicine for many diseases, such as osteoporosis. Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound and the major active component of turmeric, is reported to play important roles in bone health and osteoporosis. By affecting proliferation, differentiation, lifespan, and activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, curcumin can directly modulate bone tissue hemostasis. Due to its insignificant side effects and several therapeutic properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antirheumatic, it could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent and treat osteoporosis. This review aimed to summarize the most important findings of in vitro, animal, and human studies in an effort to clarify the possible effects of curcumin on osteoporosis and to explain the exact molecular mechanism by which curcumin exerts its action. [GMJ.2021;10:e2129]

An efficient method for the deoxygenation of sulfoxides into their corresponding sulfides at room temperature using NaHSO3 in the presence of catalytic I2 has been reported.

An efficient procedure to reduce sulfoxides using ascorbic acid has been developed. Using this procedure structurally diverse sulfoxides were reduced by treating with ascorbic acid in the presence ...

An efficient method for the deoxygenation of sulfoxides into their corresponding sulfides at room temperature using NaHSO3 in the presence of catalytic I2 has been reported.