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Seyededeh Sedigheh Hosseini,1,2 Hamidreza Joshaghani,3 Tahereh Shokohi,4 Alireza Ahmadi,1 Zahra Mehrbakhsh5 1Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; 2Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Gorgan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; 3Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran; 4Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; 5Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IranCorrespondence: Seyededeh Sedigheh HosseiniLaboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan 4934174515, IranTel +9891137571228Fax +9832423630Email Hosseini.s@goums.ac.irPurpose: Antifungal resistance and virulence properties of Candida albicans (C. albicans) are growing health problems worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and Nystatin on SAP1-3 genes expression in C. albicans isolates of females with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) isolated from Sayad Shirazi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Northeastern Iran during 2017– 2018.Patients and Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, vaginal samples were collected from 280 VVC women. 196 (70%) of C. albicans isolates were identified by phenotypic and ITS genotypic methods. Susceptibility to Fluconazole C. albicans isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method. Detection of ERG11 gene was done by RT-PCR technique.Results: It was revealed that PCR amplified the ERG11 gene in all of the Fluconazole-resistant isolates. Real-time PCR was used to survey the effects of 3± 1.7μg/mL concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles and Nystatin on expression of SAP1-3 genes before and after treatment. 186 (95%) susceptible C. albicans and 10 (5%) Fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates from VVC were exposed to sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (Sub-MIC) of ZnO-np (range=0.02– 12 μg/mL). Sub-MIC concentration was used for each strain, which reduced the expression of SAP1-3 genes to 1.8 MIC in the vaginal swabs. The observed reduction in gene expression was significant for both ZnO nanoparticles and Nystatin (P=0.01 and P=0.07, respectively).Conclusion: ZnO as antifungal agent can well reduce the growth and gene expression of SAP1-3 in the pathogenesis of VVC.Keywords: ZnO, gene expression, pathogenesis, vulvovaginal candidiasis

Mehrdad Mohammadpour,1 Seyedeh Simindokht Hosseini,1 Masoud Khorrami-Nejad,1,2 Fatemeh Bazvand1 1Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Abstract: Microbial keratitis is a potentially blinding condition for those who do not receive rapid and proper treatment. The case of a healthy 26-year-old man who has worn extended-wear hydrogel soft contact lenses and developed a unilateral central corneal ulcer with underlying dense stromal infiltrates surrounded by subepithelial and superficial stromal opacity in a reticular pattern along with several complications is reported. Keywords: infectious keratitis, contact lens, emergency penetrating keratoplasty

Mohammad Taher Rajabi, Ali Makateb, Narges Hassanpoor, Seyedeh Simindokht Hosseini, Fatameh Bazvand, Syed Ziaeddin Tabatabaie, Mohammad Bagher Rajabi Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the different factors that an oculoplastic surgeon should consider while practicing cosmetic or reconstructive eyebrow surgery in order to have the final patient’s satisfaction.Subjects and methods: In an observational case series study, five photographs were taken from each of 60 females to show ideal eyebrow positioning with fingers. Eyebrow landmarks, including tarsal plate show (TPS) and eyebrow height, were measured in the ideal position. Brow apex position and brow apex angle were evaluated in the desired position of eyebrow.Results: The mean desired apex angle of eyebrow was measured as 135±9 mm. In all, 48.33% of our subjects preferred a wider brow angle, 28.33% a narrower one, and 23.33% a brow angle without any change. The location of brow peak was transferred to the lateral canthus in the desired position. The ideal brow peak in the lateral canthus and between lateral canthus and lateral limbus was assigned to 33.3% and 66.6% of cases, respectively. The desired eyebrow apex angle in two age groups of our subjects (>40 years and ≤40 years) was not statistically different.Conclusion: Landmarks of the eyebrow and its desired position are somehow different between different studies, which may be explained by the variation in race, gender, culture, and age. As there is not any uniform rule in planning of cosmetic surgeries of eyebrow, oculoplastic surgeons should consider the difference in culture, race, age, and desire of the patients and have their surgical plans for every individual patient distinctively. Keywords: eyebrow, tarsal plate show, brow apex angle, desired brow position, brow height

Background and Objective: The Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungi that can be pathogenic in patients suffering from diabetes and AIDS. This organism can cause various infections such as superficial of the skin and mucosa to deep tissue infections. In this study the antifungal effects of ZnO and SDS on Candida albicans in comparison with Fluconazole were investigated. Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study which evaluated the antifungal effects of biocide SDS and ZnO on Candida albicans by microbroth dilution assay in broth and agar medium. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determinated for each inhibitor during colony count in comparison with control. Results: MIC of ZnO was 1.013-296 µg/ml and for SDS and Fluconazole were 0.001-0.56 and 0.062-128 µg/ml respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated antifungal activity of ZnO can be a candidates for the elimination of candida in medicine particular in medical instruments.

A practical approach for rapid and efficient access to spirocyclic isobenzofurans is described. The reaction proceeds through the cycloaddition of 1,6-ynenone derivatives and 4-nitro-1,3-diarylbutan-1-ones, promoted by Cs 2 CO 3 in the presence of l -proline as a catalyst. The advantages of this reaction include the formation of two C-C bonds and one C-O bond as well as mild reaction conditions. Extended spirocyclic isobenzofurans are obtained with good efficiency and diastereoselectivity under these mild conditions, and this new protocol avoids the use of any transition-metal reagents.

Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes containing various fillers and additives present an effective alternative to conventional dense polymer membranes, which often suffer from low permeance (flux) and the permeability-selectivity tradeoff. Alongside the development and utilization of numerous new polymers over the past few decades, diverse additives such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), graphene oxides (GOs), and ionic liquids (ILs) have been integrated into the polymer matrix to enhance performance. However, achieving desirable interfacial compatibility between these additives and the host polymer matrix, particularly in TFC structures, remains a significant challenge. This review discusses recent advancements in TFC membranes for CO 2 /N 2 separation, focusing on material structure, polymer-additive interaction, interface and separation properties. Specifically, we examine membranes operating under dry conditions to clearly assess the impact of additives on membrane properties and performance. Additionally, we provide a perspective on future research directions for designing high-performance membrane materials.

Background: Although several genetic biomarkers have been reported in the tocilizumab (TCZ) response in rheumatoid arthritis, no studies have addressed the pharmacogenomics effect of TCZ in COVID-19., Methods: In this prospective longitudinal study, 95 individuals with severe COVID-19 were selected between 2020-2022. The recovery process was measured at 24 h, 48 h, and 10 days before and after taking TCZ. All participants were genotyped using RFLP-PCR. Different genotypes of FCGR2A rs1801274 and IL-6R rs2228145 were compared in terms of the recovery process., Results: 43.2% of patients were male and 56.8% were female with an average age of 58.20(± 16.214) years. The GA genotype for FCGR2A rs1801274 increased the risk of death (OR = 2.83, P = 0.038) and ventilation (OR = 2.71, P = 0.047) in TCZ-treated individuals. However, there was no risk of death and ventilation with IL-6R rs2228145 (P > 0.05). Additionally, docking analysis showed that not only IL6R but also FCGR2A can be a ligand for TCZ., Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the impact of genetic variations on the response rate of TCZ in COVID-19 patients. The GA genotype for FCGR2A rs1801274 was associated with poor treatment outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Heat stress from varicocele can heighten oxidative stress in the testes, impacting sperm function and male fertility. Antioxidant therapy is explored as a remedy for varicocele, while dietary factors like processed foods, sugar, and saturated fats correlate with male infertility. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), generated through glycation processes, can provoke oxidative stress, inflammation, and adverse health consequences. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a versatile antioxidant, may alleviate oxidative stress and counteract the impact of AGEs, potentially by enhancing glucose reabsorption. Alagebrium chloride (ALT711), an anti-AGE compound, exhibits promise in cardiovascular disease by disrupting AGE cross-links. This study investigates the effects of ALA and ALT-711 on testicular function in varicocele and AGEs animal models. Both AGE and varicocele were found to alter the natural trends, leading to abnormal patterns in sperm parameters, testicular functional tests, as well as the expression of CML, RAGE, and TNF-α proteins. However, the administration of ALA or ALT711 helped mitigate these effects. While ALA demonstrated a slightly greater overall benefit compared to ALT, the difference was not statistically significant., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Reliance solely on traditional approaches in health education is no longer considered sufficient, and electronic/digital education can be a complementary approach. Implementing electronic methods in health education requires identifying the requirements from the perspective of the service providers. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the experiences and perspectives of community health workers (Behvarzan) regarding the requirements for providing health education for rural people through electronic/digital means., Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted in 2022 at Alborz University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 Behvarzan from Health Houses (HH) in Karaj City. The data were analyzed using the inductive Elo & Kyngas approach and conventional content analysis facilitated with MAXQDA software., Results: After analyzing the results, we extracted 139 open codes, and by merging them for more precise coding and to facilitate the research process, we formed three main themes and ten subthemes. The themes included Technology (technical infrastructure, content production, content delivery methods, and content delivery channels), Facilities and equipment (communication equipment and electronic content repositories), and Stakeholders (training of providers, motivating providers, persuading learners and target groups, and reference groups)., Conclusion: From the perspective of rural healthcare workers, the implementation of electronic education requires necessary technology, equipment, facilities, processes, and content should be pursued and provided through specialized working groups, extending from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to local HHs. These resources should be available to the healthcare workers and their target populations. Concurrently, educational programs and incentives should be defined and offered at the university level and within health networks for rural healthcare workers and their populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The quest for candidate probiotics and prebiotics to develop novel synbiotics for sustainable and profitable fish farming remains a major focus for various stakeholders. In this study, we examined the effects of combining two fungal probiotics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger with extracts of Jerusalem artichoke and white button mushroom to develop a synbiotic formulation to improve the growth and health status of zebrafish (Danio rerio). An initial in vitro study determined the most effective synbiotic combination, which was then tested in a 60-day in vivo nutritional trial using zebrafish (80 ± 1.0 mg) as a model animal. Four experimental diets were prepared: a control diet (basal diet), a prebiotic diet with 100% selected mushroom extract, a probiotic diet with 10 7 CFU of S. cerevisiae/g of diet, and a synbiotic diet with 10 7 CFU of S. cerevisiae/g of diet and 100% mushroom extract. As readouts, growth performance, survival, digestive enzyme activity and innate immune responses were evaluated., Results: In vitro results showed that the S. cerevisiae cultured in a medium containing 100% mushroom extract exhibited the maximum specific growth rate and shortest doubling time. In the in vivo test with zebrafish, feeding them with a synbiotic diet, developed with S. cerevisiae and mushroom extract, led to a significant improvement in the growth performance of zebrafish (P < 0.05). The group of zebrafish fed with the synbiotic diet showed significantly higher levels of digestive enzyme activity and immune responses compared to the control group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicated that the combination of S. cerevisiae and mushroom extract forms an effective synbiotic, capable of enhancing growth performance and immune response in zebrafish., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Some human cancers worldwide may be related to human tumor viruses. Knowing, controlling, and managing the viruses that cause cancers remain a problem. Also, tumor viruses use ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) that can alter host cellular processes through UPS. Human tumor viruses cause persistent infections, due to their ability to infect their host cells without killing them. Tumor viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, human papillomaviruses, human T cell leukemia virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, and Merkel cell polyomavirus are associated with human malignancies. They interfere with the regulation of cell cycle and control of apoptosis, which are important for cellular functions. These viral oncoproteins bind directly or indirectly to the components of UPS, modifying cellular pathways and suppressor proteins like p53 and pRb. They can also cause progression of malignancy. In this review, we focused on how viral oncoproteins bind to the components of the UPS and how these interactions induce the degradation of cellular proteins for their survival., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest None declared., (The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ).)

This work presents the results of an investigation on the physiochemical and structural characteristics of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiltration (NF) membranes prepared using a novel concept of binary solvents for nickel (Ni) removal from wastewater streams. The thermodynamic and kinetic aspects are emphasized aiming to optimize dope formulation, membrane performance, and durability. The fabricated membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosimetry, tensile stress/strain, and flux and rejection. Results revealed that the use of an equal (1:1) mixture of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as dope solvents led to the formation of membranes with enhanced performance, offering pure water flux of 2.33 L·m -2 ·h -1 ·bar -1 and Ni rejection of 90.84%. Moreover, the incorporation of 0.5 wt.% PEG as a pore-forming agent to the dope solution further boosted pure water flux to 4.97 L·m -2 ·h -1 ·bar -1 with negligible impact on Ni rejection. Besides attractive performance, the adopted strategy offered membranes of exceptionally high flexibility with no sign of defect or failure especially during module fabrication and testing enabling smooth and hassle-free scale-up and extension to other applications. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Optimized solvent mixture: A 1:1 blend of n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents resulted in enhanced membrane performance. High flux and Ni rejection: The fabricated membranes exhibited a pure water flux of 2.33 L·m -2 ·h -1 ·bar -1 and a remarkable Ni rejection of 90.84%. PEG enhancement: Incorporating 0.5 wt.% PEG as a pore-forming agent further improved the membrane's pure water flux to 4.97 L·m -2 ·h -1 ·bar -1 , without compromising Ni rejection. Exceptional flexibility: The adopted strategy yielded membranes with exceptional flexibility, making them suitable for scale-ups and other applications., (© 2024 Water Environment Federation.)

Numerous studies have tested the hypothesis that facial identity and emotional expression are independently processed, but a solid conclusion has been difficult to reach, with the literature showing contradictory results. We argue that this is partly due to different researchers using different definitions of perceptual integration and independence, usually vague and/or simply operational, and also due to lack of proper stimulus control. Here, we performed a study using three-dimensional realistic computer-generated faces for which the discriminability of identities and expressions, the intensity of the expressions, and low-level features of the faces were controlled. A large number of participants, distributed across twelve experimental groups, performed identification tasks for the six basic emotional expressions and the neutral expression (between 2018 and 2019). A multidimensional signal detection model was utilized to analyze the data, which allowed us to dissociate between multiple formally defined notions of independence and holism. Results showed strong and robust violations of perceptual independence that were consistent across all experiments and suggest Gestalt-like perceptual integration of face identity and expression. To date, our results provide the strongest evidence for holistic/Gestalt processing found among face perception studies that have used formal definitions of independence and holism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Purpose: To evaluate the evidence for alterations of blood flow, vascular and perfusion densities in the choroid, macula, peripapillary region, and the area surrounding the optic nerve head (ONH) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) based on changes of OCTA parameters., Methods: A systematic review of Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, WOS, Cochrane, and Embase databases, including quality assessment of published studies, investigating the alterations of OCTA parameters in TAO patients was conducted. The outcomes of interest comprised changes of perfusion and vascular densities in radial peripapillary capillary (RPC), ONH, superficial and deep retinal layers (SRL and DRL), choriocapillaris (CC) flow, and the extent of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ)., Results: From the total of 1253 articles obtained from the databases, the pool of papers was narrowed down to studies published until March 20th, 2024. Lastly, 42 studies were taken into consideration which contained the data regarding the alterations of OCTA parameters including choriocapillary vascular flow, vascular and perfusion densities of retinal microvasculature, SRL, and DRL, changes in macular all grid sessions, changes of foveal, perifoveal and parafoveal densities, macular whole image vessel density (m-wiVD) and FAZ, in addition to alterations of ONH and RPC whole image vessel densities (onh-wiVD and rpc-wiVD) among TAO patients. The correlation of these parameters with visual field-associated parameters, such as Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Visual field mean defect (VF-MD), axial length (AL), P100 amplitude, and latency, was also evaluated among TAO patients., Conclusion: The application of OCTA has proven helpful in distinguishing active and inactive TAO patients, as well as differentiation of patients with or without DON, indicating the potential promising role of some OCTA measures for early detection of TAO with high sensitivity and specificity in addition to preventing the irreversible outcomes of TAO. OCTA assessments have also been applied to evaluate the effectiveness of TAO treatment approaches, including systemic corticosteroid therapy and surgical decompression., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As an aggressive malignancy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common type of brain tumor. The existing treatments have shown limited achievement in increasing the overall survival of patients. Therefore, identifying the key molecules involved in GBM will provide new potential therapeutic targets. Carmustine is an alkylating agent used as a supplementary therapeutic option for GBM. However, the extensive use of carmustine has been limited by uncertainty about its efficacy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Many aberrantly expressed miRNAs have been detected in various types of human cancer, including GBM. In this study, we evaluated the potential therapeutic effect of miR-143 in combination with carmustine on GBM cells. A172 cells were transfected with miR-143 mimics and then treated with carmustine. To assess the cell viability, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle progression, the MTT assay, Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, and flow cytometry were used, respectively. Furthermore, qRT-PCR assay was applied to evaluate the expression level of genes related to apoptosis. The obtained results evidenced that miR-143 transfection could promote the sensitivity of A172 cells to carmustine and enhance carmustine-induced apoptosis via modulating the expression levels of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2. Also, our results revealed that combination therapy could effectively diminish cell cycle progression in A172 cells. In conclusion, these results confirmed that miR-143 could enhance carmustine-mediated suppression of cell proliferation and improve the chemosensitivity of A172 cells to this chemotherapeutic agent. Therefore, miR-143 combination therapy may be a promising GBM treatment approach., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Histiocytosis is one of the most challenging diseases in medical practice. Because of the broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, systemic involvements, unknown etiology, and complex management, different types of histiocytosis are still a big question mark for us. Orbital histiocytosis is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of histiocytes in orbital tissues. It could affect the orbit, eyelid, conjunctiva, and uveal tract. Orbital histiocytosis can cause limited eye movement, proptosis, decreased visual acuity, and epiphora. In this study, we review the novel findings regarding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of different types of histiocytosis, focusing on their orbital manifestations., Method: This review was performed based on a search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases or relevant published papers regarding orbital histiocytosis on October 9th, 2023. No time restriction was proposed, and articles were excluded if they were not referenced in English., Results: 391 articles were screened, most of them being case reports. The pathophysiology of histiocytosis is still unclear. However, different mutations are found to be prevalent in most of the patients. The diagnostic path can be different based on various factors such as age, lesion site, type of histiocytosis, and the stage of the disease. Some modalities, such as corticosteroids and surgery, are used widely for treatment. On the other hand, based on some specific etiological factors for each type, alternative treatments have been proposed., Conclusion: Significant progress has been made in the detection of somatic molecular changes. Many case studies describe various disease patterns influencing the biological perspectives on different types of histiocytosis. It is necessary to continue investigating and clustering data from a broad range of patients with histiocytosis in children and adults to define the best ways to diagnose and treat these patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The increasing emergence of Staphylococcus aureus as the primary causative agent of otitis externa has been noted; however, detailed information regarding the molecular characteristics of these strains in Iran remains scarce. The current study aims to investigate both genotypic and phenotypic attributes of S. aureus strains implicated in ear infections. In the present work, we analyzed 60  S. aureus strains isolated from cases of otitis externa over a period of 45 months. The resistance patterns were determined using disk diffusion and microbroth dilution methods. All S. aureus isolates were confirmed by the nucA polymerase chain reaction assay, and their biofilm production was assessed by a microtiter plate assay. Molecular characterization of the isolates was performed using the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec, multilocus sequence typing, and staphylococcus protein A typing methods. Overall, the results indicated that 44 out of 60  S. aureus isolates (73.3 %) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Resistance to mupirocin and vancomycin was observed in 13.3 % and 1.7 % of the tested isolates, respectively. Furthermore, out of the 60  S. aureus isolates, 56 strains (93.4 %) were classified as positive biofilm strains at different levels. Twelve distinct clonal lineages were identified. The vast majority of S. aureus isolates belonged to CC30/ST30-MRSA IV/t019 (41.7 %). Among the 31 strong biofilm producers, the majority (64.5 %) belonged to CC30/ST30-MRSA IV/t019 clone. Biofilm negative isolates belonged to CC22/ST22 (2 isolates), CC8/ST585 (one isolate), and CC8/ST8 (one isolate). Our result revealed that about three-quarters of PVL-positive strains belonged to CC30/ST30. Our data confirmed the presence of MSSA strains among CC30/ST30 and CC22/ST22 isolates. The mupirocin resistant isolates (n = 8) belonged to CC8/ST585-MRSA III/t713 (37.5 %), CC8/ST239-MRSA III/t030 (25 %), CC8/ST8-MRSA IV/t008 (12.5 %), CC8/ST239-MRSA III/t037 (12.5 %), and CC22/ST22-MRSA IV/t790 (12.5 %) lineages. The VRSA strain belonged to the CC8/ST8-MRSA IV/t008 lineage, carrying the vanA determinant. iMLS B phenotypes (n = 14) were distributed across different lineages, including CC30/ST30-MRSA IV/t019 (21.5 %), CC30/ST30-MSSA/t021 (21.5 %), CC22/ST22-MSSA/t005 (14.3 %), CC8/ST239-MRSA III/t030 (14.3 %), CC22/ST22-MSSA/t1869 (7.1 %), CC22/ST22-MRSA IV/t790 (7.1 %), CC8/ST239-MRSA III/t037 (7.1 %), and CC1/ST772-MRSA IV/t10795 (7.1 %). These findings highlight significant genotypic diversity and high biofilm formation among our isolates. The frequent occurrence of the CC/ST30 clone in S. aureus strains isolated from otitis externa reflects the emergence of these lineages as a predominant clone in Iran, posing a significant public health concern., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Mehdi Goudarzi reports financial support was provided by 10.13039/501100005851Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Candida, a common oral microbiota, can cause opportunistic fungal infections. With rising Candida infections and limited effective antifungals, new treatments are needed. This study investigates carvacrol essential oil's effect on oral candidiasis, alone and with nystatin, compared to nystatin alone., Materials and Methods: In this study, oral samples were collected from dental clinic patients, especially denture users. The presence of Candida was confirmed and cultured from these samples. Candidiasis was detected by observing Candida colonies. Drug sensitivity was tested on 100 positive samples. The minimum concentration of inhibition and lethality of each isolate was evaluated using nystatin and carvacrol. The results were compared using two-way analysis of variance. Finally, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of nystatin and carvacrol was calculated individually and in combination., Results: The present study found that Candida albicans and non-albicans species were equally prevalent. Carvacrol showed significant biological activity against all Candida species, with an average MTT of 50.01%. The average MIC value of carvacrol was 24.96 µg/ml, indicating its potential to inhibit Candida growth. The mean Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) value of carvacrol was 23.48 µg/ml, suggesting its effectiveness in killing the fungi., Conclusion: The study's findings reveal that the MIC of carvacrol was significantly lower than that of nystatin and the combination of nystatin and carvacrol. This suggests that carvacrol holds potential as an effective herbal remedy for candidiasis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small regulatory non-coding RNAs, which are dysregulated through tumor progression. let-7 and MIR-145 are both tumor suppressor microRNAs that are downregulated in a wide array of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC)., Methods: This study was aimed to investigate the effect of simultaneous replacement of these two tumor suppressor miRNAs on proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of CRC cells. HCT-116 with lower expression levels of hsa-let-7a-3p and MIR-145-5p was selected for functional investigations. The cells were cultured and transfected with hsa-let-7a and MIR-145, separately and in combination. Cell viability and apoptosis rates were assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Cell cycle status was further evaluated using flow cytometry and qRT-PCR was employed to evaluate gene expression., Results: The obtained results showed that exogenous overexpression of MIR-145 and hsa-let-7a in HCT-116 cells could cooperatively decrease CRC cell proliferation and induce sub-G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, hsa-let-7a and MIR-145 co-transfection significantly increased apoptosis induction compared to separate transfected cells and control through modulating the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes including Bax , Bcl-2 , P53 , Caspase-3 , Caspase-8 , and Caspase-9 . Furthermore, qRT-PCR results illustrated that hsa-let-7a and MIR-145 combination more effectively downregulated MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression, as the important modulators of metastasis, compared to the controls., Conclusion: Taken together, considering that exogenous overexpression of MIR-145 and hsa-let-7a showed cooperative anti-cancer effects on CRC cells, their combination may be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of CRC., Competing Interests: None., (©2024 The Authors.)

Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. microRNAs are a group of regulatory non-coding RNAs that are involved in GC progression. miR-145 as a tumor suppressor and miR-21 as an oncomiR were shown to be dysregulated in many cancers including GC. This research aimed to enhance the expression of miR-145 while reducing the expression of miR-21 and examine their impact on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of GC cells., Methods: KATO III cells with high expression levels of miR-21-5p and low expression of miR-145-5p were selected. These cells were then transfected with either miR-145-5p mimics or anti-miR-21-5p, alone or in combination. Afterward, the cell survival rate was determined using the MTT assay, while apoptosis induction was investigated through V-FITC/PI and DAPI staining. Additionally, cell migration was examined using the wound healing assay, and cell cycle progression was analyzed through flow cytometry. Furthermore, gene expression levels were quantified utilizing the qRT-PCR technique., Results: The study's findings indicated that the co-replacement of miR-145-5p and anti-miR-21-5p led to a decrease in cell viability and the induction of apoptosis in GC cells. This was achieved via modulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 , major cell survival regulators. Additionally, the combination therapy significantly increased sub-G1 cell cycle arrest and reduced cell migration by downregulating MMP-9 expression as an epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker. This study provides evidence for the therapeutic possibility of the combination of miR-145-5p and anti-miR-21-5p and also suggests that they could inhibit cell proliferation by modulating the PTEN/AKT1 signaling pathway., Conclusion: Our research revealed that utilizing miR-145-5p and anti-miR-21-5p together could be a promising therapeutic approach for treating GC., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest, (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Introduction: As the most common aggressive primary brain tumor, glioblastoma is inevitably a recurrent malignancy whose patients' prognosis is poor. miR-143 and miR-145, as tumor suppressor miRNAs, are downregulated through tumorigenesis of multiple human cancers, including glioblastoma. These two miRNAs regulate numerous cellular processes, such as proliferation and migration. This research was intended to explore the simultaneous replacement effect of miR-143, and miR-145 on in vitro tumorgenicity of U87 glioblastoma cells., Methods: U87 cells were cultured, and transfected with miR-143-5p and miR-145-5p. Afterward, the changes in cell viability, and apoptosis induction were determined by MTT assay and Annexin V/PI staining. The accumulation of cells at the cell cycle phases was assessed using the flow cytometry. Wound healing and colony formation assays were performed to study cell migration. qRT-PCR and western blot techniques were utilized to quantify gene expression levels., Results: Our results showed that miR-143-5p and 145-5p exogenous upregulation cooperatively diminished cell viability, and enhanced U-87 cell apoptosis by modulating Caspase-3/8/9, Bax, and Bcl-2 protein expression. The combination therapy increased accumulation of cells at the sub-G1 phase by modulating CDK1, Cyclin D1, and P53 protein expression. miR-143/145-5p significantly decreased cell migration, and reduced colony formation ability by the downregulation of c-Myc and CD44 gene expression. Furthermore, the results showed the combination therapy of these miRNAs could remarkably downregulate phosphorylated-AKT expression levels., Conclusion: In conclusion, miR-143 and miR-145 were indicated to show cooperative anti- cancer effects on glioblastoma cells via modulating AKT signaling as a new therapeutic approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Purpose: To describe the clinicopathological features of a large cohort of patients with orbital histiocytoses and fibrohistiocytosis, such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and non-LCH disorders, and correlate patients' clinical characteristics with their pathological diagnosis., Methods: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients presenting to Farabi Eye Hospital, a tertiary eye care center in Tehran, Iran, from 2010 until 2022, were reviewed. Patients' demographics, chief complaint, location and laterality of the tumor, best-corrected visual acuity, presence of bone erosion on imaging, and their pathological diagnosis were retrieved. Excisional biopsy was performed and evaluated through light microscopy and immunohistochemistry study for their respective markers, including CD1a, CD68, CD207, and S100., Results: A total of 117 patients with 11 pathological subtypes of histiocytoses and fibrohistiocyosis were identified, with 56.4% male and 43.6% female patients. The mean age at presentation was 23.4 years (range 1.5 months-73 years). Swelling and palpable mass were the most common chief complaints. LCH was the most common pathology (32.5%), followed by juvenile xanthogranuloma (26.5%) and adult xanthogranuloma (21.4%). Age, lesion location, and bone erosion had a statistically significant difference among the various diagnosed subtypes., Conclusions: Histiocytoses and fibrohistiocytosis are diverse and rare disorders potentially involving multiple organ systems. Ophthalmic manifestations of these diseases are even more uncommon. We reviewed their orbital presentation along with their respective histopathological findings. Our results also suggested that an orbital CT scan can be of diagnostic value to discriminate LCH from other histiocytic pathologies., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background and Aims: Congenital myogenic ptosis (CMP), chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), and facial nerve palsy (FNP) are among the disorders which can seriously affect the blink dynamics of patients. Smartphone videography is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to capture eyelid movement. This study has measured and compared a variety of blink dynamics in these patients compared to healthy controls using 2-dimensional smartphone videography to enhance the utility of this method in both clinical and research settings., Methods: A total of 30 adult participants with a complaint of impaired eyelid movements including 10 with CMP, 10 with CPEO, and 10 with unilateral FNP, as well as 10 healthy controls were recruited. Using a smartphone camera with a resolution of 240 frames per second in 720 p, various blink dynamics were measured., Results: All case groups had significantly lower values of peak and average closing velocities, average opening velocity, and palpebral aperture and significantly higher values of eyelid closing duration, compared to controls. FNP participants also had significantly lower values in the full blink rate and peak opening velocity (POV) measures, and CPEO patients showed significantly lower values in the POV. Other measures were not statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls., Conclusion: Our results indicated that all patients with CMP, FNP, and CPEO had different blinking dynamics compared to healthy controls, which is consistent with previous studies. Smartphone videography has achieved sufficient resolution and frame-rate to provide valuable information and anatomic details for clinical and research purposes. Further studies could utilize smartphone videography for further investigation and confirmation of the methodology in various conditions., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study introduces a sustainable approach to simultaneously produce pectin and phenolic compounds from pistachio industrial waste and applies them in the formulation of low-phenylalanine cookies. The co-optimization process was performed using the microwave-assisted technique and a Box-Behnken design, considering four variables and two responses: pectin yield and total phenolic content (TPC). The co-optimized condition (microwave power of 700 W, irradiation time of 210 s, pH level of 1.02, and LSR of 20 mL/g) resulted in a pectin yield of 15.85 % and a TPC of 10.12 %. The pectin obtained under co-optimized condition was evaluated for its physicochemical, structural, and thermal properties and the phenolic extract for its antiradical activity. Characterization of the pectin sample revealed a high degree of esterification (44.21 %) and a galacturonic acid-rich composition (69.55 %). The average molecular weight of the pectin was determined to be 640.236 kDa. FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopies confirmed the structure of pectin, with an amorphous nature and high thermal stability observed through XRD and DSC analysis. Additionally, the extract exhibited significant antiradical activity comparable to butylated hydroxyanisole and ascorbic acid. The isolated ingredients were used to formulate low-protein, low-phenylalanine cookies for phenylketonuria patients. The addition of 0.5 % pectin and 1 mL/g extract led to increased moisture content (from 9.05 to 12.89 %) and specific volume (from 7.28 to 9.90 mL/g), decreased hardness (from 19.44 to 10.39 N × 10 2 ), and improved antioxidant properties (from 5.15 % to 44.60 % inhibition) of the cookies. Importantly, there was no significant increase observed in the phenylalanine content of the samples with pectin and extract addition. Furthermore, sensory evaluation scores demonstrated significantly higher scores for taste, odor, texture, and overall acceptability in cookies enriched with 0.5 % pectin and 1 mL/g extract, with scores of 4.53, 3.93, 4.40, and 4.60, respectively., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Increase in antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from ear infection is a serious public health problem. The objective of this investigation was to determine the antibacterial resistance profile and genetic variability of the S. aureus isolated from adult patients with otitis externa (OE) and otitis media (OM) infections, Tehran- Iran. The disk diffusion was employed to detect the susceptibility of 45 S. aureus strains. Biofilm production was evaluated by microtiter plate assay. Genetic diversity of the isolates was determined by staphylococcal cassette SCCmec, spa, and MLST techniques. Resistance to mupirocin and vancomycin were identified in 40 and 2.2% of isolates. Out of the 45 S. aureus isolates, 41 (91.2%) strains were considered as positive biofilm strains at different levels. According to our results, S. aureus isolated from OM (44.4%, 20/45) were including CC8/ST239-SCCmecIII corresponded to spa types t860, t030, t037, t234, t421 (70%, 14/20) and CC/ST30-SCCmecIV corresponded to spa types t605 and t019 (30%, 6/20) while S. aureus isolated from OE (55.6%, 25/45) were including CC/ST30-SCCmecIV corresponded to spa types t605, t345 and t1130 (52%, 13/25), CC/ST22-SCCmecIV corresponded to spa type t790 (20%, 5/25), CC8/ST8-SCCmecIV corresponded to spa type t008 (16%, 4/25), and CC/ST45-SCCmecIV corresponded to spa types t004 and t038 (12%, 3/25). This study highlighted genetic variability and strong biofilm formation ability among our isolates revealing its crucial role in enhancing the resistance of this bacteria to drugs. Thus, it is necessary to continue the epidemiological analysis to improve the control of ear infections related to S. aureus.

For many years, energy monitoring at the most disaggregate level has been mainly sought through the idea of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). Developing a practical application of this concept in the residential sector can be impeded by the technical characteristics of case studies. Accordingly, several databases, mainly from Europe and the US, have been publicly released to enable basic research to address NILM issues raised by their challenging features. Nevertheless, the resultant enhancements are limited to the properties of these datasets. Such a restriction has caused NILM studies to overlook residential scenarios related to geographically-specific regions and existent practices to face unexplored situations. This paper presents applied research on NILM in Quebec residences to reveal its barriers to feasible implementations. It commences with a concise discussion about a successful NILM idea to highlight its essential requirements. Afterward, it provides a comparative statistical analysis to represent the specificity of the case study by exploiting real data. Subsequently, this study proposes a combinatory approach to load identification that utilizes the promise of sub-meter smart technologies and integrates the intrusive aspect of load monitoring with the non-intrusive one to alleviate NILM difficulties in Quebec residences. A load disaggregation technique is suggested to manifest these complications based on supervised and unsupervised machine learning designs. The former is aimed at extracting overall heating demand from the aggregate one while the latter is designed for disaggregating the residual load. The results demonstrate that geographically-dependent cases create electricity consumption scenarios that can deteriorate the performance of existing NILM methods. From a realistic standpoint, this research elaborates on critical remarks to realize viable NILM systems, particularly in Quebec houses.

A comprehensive study was made to measure the radon concentration in bottled water available in Iran market. The 222Rn concentration in 70 bottled water samples were measured by the sniffing mode technique and RTM 1688-2 (SARAD, Germany) in immediate sampling time and 3 months later for determination of radon decay. The measured radon concentration ranged from 0.003 to 0.618 Bq L -1 in bottled water samples, which were much lower than the recommended value for radon in drinking water by WHO (100 Bq L -1 ) and United states environmental protection agency (USEPA) (11.1 Bq L -1 ). The annual effective dose of 222Rn due to ingestion bottled water was also evaluated in this research. The mean annual effective dose due to ingestion of radon in bottled water for adults, children, and infants were estimated to vary from 5.30 × 10 -4 mSv -1 , 4.90 × 10 -4 mSv -1 , and 2.15 × 10 -4 mSv -1 , respectively. Overall, this study indicated that the Iranian people receive no significant radiological risk due to exposure to radon concentration in bottled water brands common consumed in Iranian market., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Apart from chemical and allopathic drugs, several medicinal plants contain phytochemicals that are potentially useful to counter the COVID-19 pandemic. Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), which has a good effect on some viral infections, can be considered as a candidate against the virus. In the present study, thirty-nine natural compounds of Ashwagandha were investigated in terms of their binding to the important drug targets to treat the COVID-19. Although the molecular docking calculations reveal the binding affinities of the compounds to Mpro, TMPRSS2, NSP15, PLpro, Spike RBD + ACE2, RdRp and NSP12 as targets in controlling the coronavirus enzymes, Withanoside II is expected to be the most effective compound due to the high affinity in binding with many of considered targets. Furthermore, the Withanoside III, IV, V, X, and XI have favorable binding affinities as ligands with respect to the MM/GBSA calculations. The molecular dynamics simulations MD explore a stable hydrogen bond network between ligands and the active sites residues. Also, the dynamic fluctuations of the binding site residues verify their tight binding to ligands. Moreover, the stability of ligand-protein complexes is approved by the RMSD ranges lower than 0.5 Å in equilibration zone for all mentioned complexes. The TMPRSS2-Withanolide Q and Mpro-Withanoside IV complexes are the most stable pairs using the MM/GBSA calculations and MD simulation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato causes Cystic echinococcosis. This study investigated the bacterial and fungal species in the liver and lung hydatid cysts obtained from sheep, goats, cattle, and camels slaughtered in Yazd abattoir, Central Iran. In this study, 84 hydatid cysts were obtained from 20 sheep, 13 goats, 25 cattle, and 26 camels. The fertility and viability rates were assessed using light microscopy and eosin staining, respectively. The aspirated hydatid cysts were cultured to detect the presence of any bacteria and fungi. Bacterial isolates were identified by biochemical tests. DNA was also extracted from germinal layers, and then genotyping was carried out targeting the cox 1 gene. The statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 16.0. This study showed that 22.62% (19/84) of hydatid cysts had bacterial occurrence, and none of the samples had fungal species. Among the fertile cysts, 52.6% had bacterial occurrence, of which 40% were viable. Most bacteria detected in hydatid cysts included Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Escherichia coli, and S. epidermidis. Hydatid cysts with bacterial occurrence were identified as G1-G3, G5, and G6/G7. The bacterial species occurrence in hydatid cysts had no significant relationship with fertility and viability (P > 0.05), without any significant relation with viability (P > 0.05), animal species (P > 0.05), involved organ in animals (P > 0.05), and hydatid cyst genotypes (P > 0.05). It should also be mentioned that this is the first study to assess the relationship between hydatid cyst genotyping and the occurrence of fungal and bacterial species., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background and Objectives: Sternum infection increases the time of the patients stay in the hospital and, as a result, increases the treatment costs. This study aimed to evaluate the fungal and bacterial co-infection in the superficial and deep sternal wounds after open cardiac surgery and its relationship with risk factors, as sternal infection increases the time of the patient's stay in the hospital and, as a result, increases the treatment costs., Materials and Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire and sampling with two swabs after open heart surgery and hospitalization from 21 March 2018 to 20 March 2019 and sent to the laboratory for diagnosis of microorganisms effective in wound infection. Susceptibility testing for fluconazole and specific antibiotics was performed by the disk diffusion method., Results: Out of 210 patients studied, 2% of patients had deep sternal wound infections. The most common coinfection fungal and bacterial agents in sternal wounds were caused by Staphylococcus aureus with Candida glabrata 4% and Escherichia coli with Candida albicans 2%. S. aureus and E. coli showed the highest antibiotic susceptibility to the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, meropenem, and imipenem. Candida glabrata and Candida albicans had the highest rate of resistance to fluconazole., Conclusion: According to the results of this study, patients on the 7 th day in the cardiac care unit (CCU) and the 28 th day are at higher risk of getting confection of fungi with bacteria in the sternal wound. Therefore, timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy, including the use of appropriate antibiotics, can be an important step in the patient's recovery., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

To better understand the mechanisms involved in salinity stress, the adaptability of quinoa cv. Titicaca-a halophytic plant-was investigated at the transcriptome level under saline and non-saline conditions. RNA-sequencing analysis of leaf tissue at the four-leaf stage by Illumina paired-end method was used to compare salt stress treatment (four days after stress at 13.8 dsm -1 ) and control. Among the obtained 30,846,354 transcripts sequenced, 30,303 differentially expressed genes from the control and stress treatment samples were identified, with 3363 genes expressed ≥ 2 and false discovery rate (FDR) of < 0.001. Six differential expression genes were then selected and qRT-PCR was used to confirm the RNA-seq results. Some of the genes (Include; CML39, CBSX5, TRX1, GRXC9, SnRKγ1 and BAG6) and signaling pathways discussed in this paper not been previously studied in quinoa. Genes with ≥ 2 were used to design the gene interaction network using Cytoscape software, and AgriGO software and STRING database were used for gene ontology. The results led to the identification of 14 key genes involved in salt stress. The most effective hub genes involved in salt tolerance were the heat shock protein gene family. The transcription factors that showed a significant increase in expression under stress conditions mainly belonged to the WRKY, bZIP and MYB families. Ontology analysis of salt stress-responsive genes and hub genes revealed that metabolic pathways, binding, cellular processes and cellular anatomical entity are among the most effective processes involved in salt stress., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in mucormycosis cases has been observed in many countries, including Iran. However, the role of covid-19 and associated risk factors have not been thoroughly investigated., Objective: This study is designed to identify epidemiologic characteristics, risk factors, and outcome predictors of Covid-19-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis (C-ROCM)., Methods: Data of pathology proven Covid Associated ROCM cases were retrospectively obtained from 7 tertiary care centers throughout Iran from February 20, 2021, to July 22, 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using binary logistic regression to assess the effects of various factors on the outcome., Results: A total of 132 patients with C-ROCM were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 61.6 ± 13.9 (60.6% male). In 12 patients (9.1%), both eyes were involved. Diabetes was the most common comorbidity (94.7%). The mortality rate was 9.1%, higher in males (12.5%) than females (3.8%). Severe vision impairment was seen in 58 patients (43.9%). Main factors that had a negative impact on the outcome in the univariate analysis include older age (P < 0.001), higher steroid dosage (P < 0.001), higher HbA1c level (P < 0.001), Covid-19 severity (P < 0.001), and brain involvement (P < 0.001). However, in the multivariate analysis, the effects of age (P = 0.062), steroid dosage (P = 0.226), and Covid-19 intensity (P = 0.084) decreased, and the difference was no longer statistically significant. CRAO was a predictor of mortality in the univariate analysis (P = 0.008, OR = 4.50), but in the multivariate analysis, this effect decreased and was no longer significant (P = 0.125)., Conclusion: The risk of C-ROCM and its complications may increase in patients with more severe Covid-19, steroid over-prescription, ICU admission due to Covid-19, and poor glycemic control during and after Covid-19 treatment., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Membrane science and technology is growing rapidly worldwide and continues to play an increasingly important role in diverse fields by offering high separation efficiency with low energy consumption. Membranes have also shown great promise for "green" separation. A majority of the investigations in the field are devoted to the membrane fabrication and modification with the ultimate goals of enhancing the properties and separation performance of membranes. However, less attention has been paid to membrane life cycle management, particularly at the end of service. This is becoming very important, especially taking into account the trends toward sustainable development and carbon neutrality. On the contrary, this can be a great opportunity considering the large variety of membrane processes, especially in terms of the size and capacity of plants in operation. This work aims to highlight the prominent aspects that govern membrane life cycle management with special attention to life cycle assessment (LCA). While fabrication, application, and recycling are the three key aspects of LCA, we focus here on membrane (module) recycling at the end of life by elucidating the relevant aspects, potential criteria, and strategies that effectively contribute to the achievement of green development and sustainability goals.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a broad class of small, highly conserved non-coding RNAs that largely influence gene expression after transcription through binding to various target mRNAs. miRNAs are frequently dysregulated in a wide array of human cancers, possessing great value as diagnostic and therapeutic targets. miR-145, as promising tumor suppressor miRNA, also exhibits deregulated expression levels in human malignancies and participates in various processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and differentiation. In particular, miR-145 has been shown to be downregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC), which in turn leads to cell growth, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance. Furthermore, miR-145 is involved in the regulation of multiple tumor specific signaling pathways, such as KRAS and P53 signaling by targeting various genes through colorectal tumorigenesis. Therefore, considering its diagnostic and therapeutic potential, it was aimed to present the recent finding focusing on miR-145 functions to better understand its involvement in CRC incidence and progression through interplay with various signaling pathways. This study is based on articles indexed in PubMed and Google scholar until 2021., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest All authors state that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The present study aims to use enhanced ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) as an artificial muscle (a soft-active actuator) to restore eyelid movement of patients with ptosis. The previous eyelid movement mechanisms contained drawbacks, specifically in the lower eyelid. We used finite element analysis (FEA) to find the optimal mechanism among two different models (A and B). In addition to common electrodes of IPMC (gold and platinum), the bovine serum albumin (BSA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) polymers, with optimal weight percentages of carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofiller, were also utilized as non-metallic electrodes to improve the efficiency of the IPMC actuator. In both models, IPMC with nanocomposite electrodes had higher efficiency as compared to the metallic electrodes. In model A, which moved eyelids indirectly, IPMC with MCC-CNT electrode generated a higher force (25.4%) and less stress (5.9 times) as compared to IPMC with BSA-CNT electrode. However, the use of model A (even with IPMCs) with nanocomposite electrodes can have limitations such as possible malposition issues in the eyelids (especially lower). IPMC with MCC-CNT nanocomposite electrode under model B, which moved eyelids directly, was the most efficient option to restore eyelid movement. It led to higher displacements and lower mechanical stress damage as compared to the BSA-CNT. This finding may provide surgeons with valuable data to open a window in the treatment of patients with ptosis.

Objectives: Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among men worldwide. Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different types of cancer. Recent studies revealed miRNAs control various genes that influence the regulation of many biological and pathological processes such as the formation and development of cancer, chemotherapy resistance, etc., Materials and Methods: Between three PC cell lines (PC3, DU-145, LNCAP), PC3 showed the lowest miR-145 expression and was chosen for experiments. PC3 cells were treated with paclitaxel and miR-145 separately or in combination. To measure the cell viability, migratory capacity, autophagy, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis induction, the MTT assay, wound-healing assay, and Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay were used, respectively. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression level of genes involved in apoptosis, migration, and stemness properties., Results: Obtained results illustrated that miR-145 transfection could enhance the sensitivity of PC3 cells to paclitaxel and increase paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by modulating the expression of related genes, including Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2 . Also, results showed combination therapy increased cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase. miR-145 and paclitaxel cooperatively reduced migration ability and related-metastatic and stemness gene expression, including MMP-2, MMP-9, CD44, and SOX-2 . In addition, combination therapy can suppress MDR1 expression., Conclusion: These results confirmed that miR-145 combined with paclitaxel cooperatively could inhibit cell proliferation and migration and increase the chemosensitivity of PC3 cells compared to mono treatment. So, miR-145 combination therapy may be used as a promising approach for PC treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Background: Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér has traditionally been used to reduce skin inflammation, and recent studies have confirmed antioxidant compounds in the plant's extract. The present study aimed to prepare a lipogel formulation from P. graveolens hydroalcoholic extract and evaluate its efficacy on the wound healing process in an animal model., Material and Methods: The aerial part extract of P. graveolens was prepared through percolation. Additionally, plastibase was prepared by mixing 5% of low-molecular-weight polyethylene with hot mineral oil (130°C). The extract (5%) was levigated in the mineral oil (5-15%) and dispersed in the cooled plastibase. The physical properties of the lipogel, thermal stability, and microbial limits were tested. Further, the effect of the lipogel in the wound healing rate was examined among male Wistar rats, and skin tissue samples were assessed histologically., Results and Discussion: The results represented the best rheological and thermal stability characteristics in the formulation with 5% mineral oil (as the levigator). The lipogel-treated group had the least burn area compared to the silver sulfadiazine and negative control groups (p<0.05). The microscopic examination of tissue samples revealed increased collagen fiber production and maturation and significantly also faster epithelial repair among lipogel-treated rats than in the other two groups(p<0.05)., Conclusion: The results indicated the significant therapeutic effects of P. graveolens lipogelon burn healing. The suitable physicochemical properties and the low lipogel production cost facilitate further scale-up studies., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

We determine the d + 1 dimensional topological field theory, which encodes the higher-form symmetries and their 't Hooft anomalies for d -dimensional QFTs obtained by compactifying M-theory on a non-compact space X . The resulting theory, which we call the Symmetry TFT, or SymTFT for short, is derived by reducing the topological sector of 11d supergravity on the boundary ∂ X of the space X . Central to this endeavour is a reformulation of supergravity in terms of differential cohomology, which allows the inclusion of torsion in cohomology of the space ∂ X , which in turn gives rise to the background fields for discrete (in particular higher-form) symmetries. We apply this framework to 7d super-Yang Mills, where X = C 2 / Γ ADE , as well as the Sasaki-Einstein links of Calabi-Yau three-fold cones that give rise to 5d superconformal field theories. This M-theory analysis is complemented with a IIB 5-brane web approach, where we derive the SymTFTs from the asymptotics of the 5-brane webs. Our methods apply to both Lagrangian and non-Lagrangian theories, and allow for many generalisations., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) has been identified as one of the main causes of nosocomial infection all across the world. Rapid diagnosis of CDI is difficult and poses a significant challenge to physicians worldwide. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate rapid tests' diagnostic accuracy against toxigenic culture as the reference standard for CDI., Method: We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for the relevant records. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. Diagnostic accuracy measures [i.e., sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratios (NLR), and the area under the curve (AUC)] were pooled with a random-effects model. All statistical analyses were performed with Meta-DiSc (Version 1.4, Cochrane Colloquium, Barcelona, Spain) and RevMan (version 5.3; The Nordic Cochrane Centre, the Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark)., Results: We reviewed retrieved records and identified 63 studies that met the inclusion criteria. 26 were about enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (our main index test). The sensitivity of GDH and Tox A/B EIAs were 82% (95% CI: 79-84) and 75% (95% CI: 70-79), respectively. On the other hand, the specificity of GDH EIA was 91% (95% CI: 90-92) and the specificity of Tox A/B EIA was 95% (95% CI: 94-96). Among other index tests, BD Max with 92% has the most sensitivity and cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay (CCNA) has the most specificity (100%)., Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated that EIAs could be reliable methods for detecting CDI based on their sensitivity, specificity, time and cost-effectiveness, and simplicity in the procedure. Further work to improve rapid tests would benefit from improvements to the methodology., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest nor non-financial interest such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter discussed in this article., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Naturally-derived drugs have drawn much attention in recent decades. Efficiency, lower toxicity, and economic reasons are some of their advantages that justify this broad range of administration for different diseases, including cancer. If we can find a specific combination that boosts the effects of their single therapy, leading to synergism effect, increased efficiency, and decreased toxicity, they can act even better. Quercetin and fisetin, two well-known flavonoids, have been used to fight against various cancers. In this study, we investigated their possible synergism quercetin and fisetin on MCF7, MDA-MB-231, BT549, T47D, and 4T1 breast cancer cell lines. Then the optimum combined dose was used to study their impacts on wound healing abilities and clonogenic properties. The real-time qPCR was used to study the expression of their validated downstream effectors in predicted pathways. A significant synergism effect (p < .01, combination index: <1) was observed for all cell lines. Combination therapy was significantly more effective in colony formation (p < .0001) and wound healing assays (p < .001) compared to single therapies. The expression level of potential effectors was also showed a greater change. In vivo study confirmed the in vitro results and showed how significantly (p < .001) their synergism promotes their singular function in inhibiting cancer progression. The breast cancer mouse models receiving combined therapy lived longer with higher average body weight and smaller tumor sizes. These results exhibit that quercetin and fisetin inhibit cancer cell proliferation, migration and colony formation synergistically, and matrix metalloproteinase signaling and apoptotic pathways are relatively responsible for inhibitory activities., (© 2022 International Federation for Cell Biology.)

Background: As a chemoprevention agent, crocin effectively decreases the risk of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the mechanism underlying the anti-cancer effects of crocin is not entirely explained. Considering that in this study, we investigated the crocin effect on miR-143/145 and related signaling pathways in CRC cells., Methods: HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cells were treated with different concentrations of crocin and then were subjected to MTT and qRT-PCR assays to investigate cell viability and miR-143/miR-145, KRAS , and RREB1 expression, respectively. Also, western blotting was performed to evaluate gene expression at protein levels., Results: Our results showed that treating CRC cells with crocin decreases cell viability by upregulating miR-143/145 expression and reducing KRAS and RREB1 expression dose-dependently. These effects on gene expression in CRC cells were reversed by removing crocin from the media after 48 h. Furthermore, western blotting results exhibited that crocin significantly reduced the protein expression of KRAS and RREB1. Also, it was found that treatment of CRC cells by crocin led to the inactivation of AKT by decreasing its phosphorylation., Conclusions: This study suggests that crocin may inhibit CRC cell proliferation by modulating KRAS, REEB1, and AKT signaling pathways mediated through miR-143/145 upregulation., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: With production of over 6 million tonnes a year of sesame, its capsules are considered to be an unutilized waste. In this study, extraction of pectin from this novel source was optimized using a green method, and the functional and physiochemical characteristics of the resultant pectin were compared to commercial pectin., Results: In this study, the sesame capsule pectin (SCP) extraction conditions were optimized to reach maximum yield, and the results showed that the maximum pectin extraction yield (138 g kg -1 ) was obtained under optimal conditions (microwave power 700 W, irradiation time 5 min, pH 1.5, and liquid-to-solid ratio 41.8 (mL g -1 ). The results showed that the pectin was low methoxyl type with a galacturonic acid content of 670 g kg -1 . The extracted pectin had a high molecular weight (341 kDa) and surface charge (34.09 ± 1.88 mV) and exhibited 66% DPPH radical scavenging. The obtained results from 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectra validated the presence of pectin structure in the extracted sample., Conclusion: Sesame capsule pectin, when compared to commercial pectin, demonstrated better functional properties in terms of emulsifying properties, oil holding capacity, foaming capacity and antioxidant activity. SCP showed similar properties in comparison to its commercial counterpart, which suggests that it could well be considered as a new and suitable source for pectin extraction. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.)