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Abstract Objective Streptococcus agalactiae is an important pathogen in neonates and pregnant women. Neonatal invasive infections due to S. agalactiae are life-threatening and preventive strategies for this challenge of human have become a concern. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of rectovaginal colonization, related risk factors and antibiotic resistance pattern of S. agalactiae among pregnant women in Iran. Methods The present study was performed on 240 pregnant women. Vaginal and rectal swabs were obtained from all of the women and then were transferred to the laboratory. The isolation and identification of S. agalactiae was performed by standard microbiological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect ermB and mefA genes in erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates. Results Out of 240 pregnant women, 16 cases (6.7%) were colonized by S. agalactiae. There is no significant association between demographic-obstetric factors and maternal S. agalactiae colonization in the pregnant women. Linezolid, vancomycin and ampicillin were the most effective antibiotics against S. agalactiae. The ermB gene was present in 6 (35.29%) S. agalactiae isolates. However, the mefA gene was not detected in any of the isolates. Conclusion Given the relatively significant prevalence of S. agalactiae colonization in the pregnant women in the present study and the risk of serious neonatal infections, the screening of pregnant mothers for the bacteria seems necessary. Our findings highlight the importance of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis during pregnancy for the prevention of early onset S. agalactiae-neonatal infection and comorbidity.

Background: The use of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is on the rise throughout the world, especiallyamong young people and even athletes. There is a belief among consumers that exercise prevents the harmfuleffects of hookah smoke on the body. We examined this belief by evaluation of lung injury following toconcurrent WTS and swimming endurance training in male Wistar rats.Methods: Animals were randomly divided to sedentary control (CTL) group, exercise training group(Ex group), sedentary WTS (S) group, and exercise plus WTS (S + Ex) group.Findings: 8 weeks of WTS was associated with significant increase in serum level of cotinine, lung damage,reduction in alveolar number AN/SA (mm2) and increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level of lung tissue.Combination of exercise with WTS significantly decreased these negative effects; however, it could not fullyprotect the lung from smoking damage. Waterpipe smoking (WPS) also significantly increased the proinflammatory cytokines of lung tissue such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P < 0.001), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) (P < 0.010), and IL-6 (P < 0.050) in comparison with CTL group. Exercise training to somedegree reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the level of IL-10 as an antiinflammatory IL and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in animals exposed to WTS.Conclusion: It is suggested that combination of mild to moderate exercise with WTS may attenuate thehookah smoking-induced lung damage. This effect partly is mediated through balancing of pro/antiinflammatory and redox systems

Background and Aim We need the next-generation of whole-inactivated influenza vaccines to create stronger cross-protection against different influenza subtypes. This research aimed to apply the inactivation process of the influenza virus through gamma radiation as a candidate for the development of whole-inactivated vaccines. Methods and Materials The influenza virus strain A/PR/8/34 (A/Puerto Rico/8/34 [H1N1]) was propagated in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells. After ultrafiltration, the virus infectivity titer was calculated by 50% Tissue Culture Infectious Dose (TCID 50%) method based on the Karber formula. Alternatively, the gamma cell-220 was applied for virus inactivation via gamma rays. The D10 value factor and optimum dose of virus inactivation were calculated based on the dose/survival curve and the initial viral titer. In addition, antigenic properties of irradiated viruses compared to un-irradiated viruses and complete inactivation of the irradiated samples with optimum dose were also evaluated by hemagglutination assay and safety test, respectively. Ethical Considerations The Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Iran approved this study (Code: IR.IAU.TMU.REC.1397.309). Results According to the concentrated virus titer (TCID50: 105.75/ml) and dose/survival curve, the D10 value factor and optimum dose of virus inactivation were calculated at 4.878 and 28.048 kGy, respectively. On the other hand, owing to the results obtained from the safety test and hemagglutination assay, the optimum dose of virus inactivation was determined to be 28 kGy by maintaining the antigenic properties. Conclusion Gamma radiation appears to be a good candidate for vaccine development through maintaining the antigenic structures.

Background: There is an increasing popularity of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) in youth and even inathletes worldwide. Despite the existence of evidence of the harmful effects of hookah smoke on varioussystems of the body, especially the cardiovascular system, its simultaneous effect with exercise training hasnot been well studied. We assessed the effects of WTS exposure with/without swimming exercise on bloodpressure (BP), and heart histology and mechanical performance in male Wistar rats.Methods: The animals were divided into 4 groups of sedentary control (CTL), waterpipe tobacco smoking (S),mild endurance swimming exercise training (Ex), and waterpipe smoking plus exercise (S + Ex). Theduration of WTS and exercise was 8 weeks.Findings: BP and heart rate (HR) did not show a significant difference among the groups. WTS increased theTNF-α level of the heart (P < 0.05 vs. CTL) and cardiac tissue lesions (P < 0.05 vs. CTL), and reduced +dP/dtmax, -dp/dt max, and heart contractility indices (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively, vs. CTL andEx groups). It also increased the Tau index (P < 0.05 vs. CTL; P < 0.01 vs. Ex groups) of the left ventricle.However, the combination of exercise and WTS reduced the TNF-α level, improved the heart activity ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzymes, and prevented the negative effects of smoking on heartfunction and morphology.Conclusion: Mild exercise prevents WTS-induced left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction partly viaimprovement of antioxidants and attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Background and Objectives: Actinomycetes are Gram-positive and filamentous bacteria that are the major microorganism in soil. According to studies, three quarters of all known antibiotics are produced by actinomycetes. The present study aimed to investigate actinomycetes in farming saline soils of different regions of Qom province in terms of antibacterial property. Methods: In this experimental study, first, Actinomycetes were collected and isolated from farming saline soils of Qom province, then, primary screening was carried out using culture and secondary screening by agar diffusion method against pathogenic bacteria. For molecular identification, genomic DNA of all isolates was extracted, then their 16SrRNA gene was sequenced by PCR technique, replicated, and positive samples, were sequences and the obtained results were analyzed phylogenetically. Results: In this study, out of 100 collected soil samples, 23 isolates of Actinomycetes were isolated. Also, in addition to microbiological tests, 10 samples were sequenced using the PCR method based on the 16 SrRNA, and the isolates were 100% and 99% similar to Streptomyces and Actinomycetes. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that new isolates exist in the soil sample of Qom province, which are able to produce new antibacterial agents and could be used in the field of industry.

Background and Objectives: Multi-drug-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes is associated with various infectious diseases that cannot be easily treated by antibiotics. However, bacteriophages have potential therapeutic applications in the control of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. In this study, we aimed to isolate and characterize of a lytic bacteriophage that can lyse specifically the multi-drug-resistant (MDR) E. aerogenes. Materials and Methods: Lytic bacteriophage was isolated from Qaem hospital wastewater and characterized morphologically and genetically. Next-generation sequencing was used to complete genome analysis of the isolated bacteriophage. Results: Based on the transmission electron microscopy feature, the isolated bacteriophage (vB-Ea-5) belongs to the family Myoviridae. vB-Ea-5 had a latent period of 25 minutes, a burst size of 13 PFU/ml, and a burst time of 40 min. Genome sequencing revealed that vB-Ea-5 has a 135324 bp genome with 41.41% GC content. The vB-Ea-5 genome codes 212 ORFs 90 of which were categorized into several functional classes such as DNA replication and modification, transcriptional regulation, packaging, structural proteins, and a host lysis protein (Holin). No antibiotic resistance and toxin genes were detected in the genome. SDS-PAGE of vB-Ea-5 proteins exhibited three major and four minor bands with a molecular weight ranging from 18 to 50 kD. Conclusion: Our study suggests vB-Ea-5 as a potential candidate for phage therapy against MDR E. aerogenes infections.

Introduction: Klotho allele status is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension. Objectives: To determine if serum klotho level was lower among diabetic and hypertensive patients compared to control group. Patients and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 90 participants. Thirty pure diabetic patients and 30 participants with pure hypertension were compared with the healthy control group. Multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the association between serum klotho and diabetes and hypertension. We also tested the cut off point of serum klotho to predict hypertension and diabetes by using ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve. Results: The level of serum klotho was significantly lower in diabetic and hypertensive patients. Participants with higher klotho were less likely to have diabetes and hypertension [OR: 0.48, 95% CI (0.22-0.81)] even after adjustment for covariates. ROC curve for diabetes and hypertension indicated 0.8 area under the curve which was statistically significant. Conclusion: This study found that serum klotho was associated with lower odds of diabetes and hypertension. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm this finding.

The synthesis of heterocyclic compounds has been a topic of significant interest because of their broad applications. In this research an effective and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis 1,4-dihydropyridines has been developed via the four-component reactions of arylamines, acetylenedicarboxylates, aromatic aldehydes and ethyl acetoacetate in the presence of Fe3O4@SiO2@OSO3H nanocomposite under solvent-free conditions. The advantages of this method involve the green reaction conditions, simple workup, broad substrates, excellent yields and the reuse of the nanocatalyst. One of the indicators to measure antimicrobial activity is Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) that this measure and heterocyclic compounds synthesis inhibition zone diameter was measured on examined bacteria using well diffusion, disc diffusion and determination of antibiotic susceptibility. The results of all three methods suggested the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to synthesized heterocyclic compounds. It can be concluded from the results that these compounds have high antibiotic properties and can be useful in other research and biomedical applications.

Introduction: The Rhizobium-legume interaction leads to biological nitrogen-fixation and increases nitrogen of soil. The aim of this study was to characterize the properties of Sinorhizobium isolates from the roots of alfalfa plantsin Iran. Materials and methods: Bacteria were isolated in yeast extract mannitol Agar and confirmed by plant infection test. After evaluation from the point of morphological and biochemical properties, a fragment of 16S rDNA gene with a size of approximately 1500 base pair was amplified using fD1 and rD1 primers. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) products were analyzed for digestion pattern by Taq1 endonuclease. Results: 63 bacteria were isolated from homogenized nodules. 42 isolates generated nodules in three replicates in infection test. Of the 42 isolates 8, were resistant to salinity. Seven isolates had better growth than others at pH 4. All isolates were resistant to CuCl2 (0.5 mmol), CdCl2 (0.65 mmol), MnSO4 (0.75 and 1.5 mmol) and ZnSO4 (0.125 mmol). Isolates S3Q and S22K were more resistant to salinity, acidity, temperature and heavy metals stresses. PCR products of all bacteria had the same restricted profile after digestion by Taq1 nuclease. Discussion and conclusion: The results showed that among isolated bacteria, there were some differences in the resistance to salinity, acidity, temperature and heavy metals stresses. Identification of native strains of rhizobia, especially strains resistant to salinity, temperature, heavy metals and acidity could be valuable due to their potentiality for using biological fertilizers in harsh conditions.

• Doxorubicin and Sildenafil citrate were co-loaded in nanostructured lipid carriers. • Arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid containing nanoparticles promote uptake of drugs. • Sildenafil citrate causes higher accumulation of Doxorubicin into cells. • Sildenafil citrate reduces expression of ABCC1 and Nrf2 in cancerous cells. Resistance to anticancer agents is considered as the main cause of chemotherapy failure. This study is aimed to prepare and optimize [Doxorubicin (Dox) + Sildenafil citrate (SC)]-coloaded Arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD)-containing nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC-RGD) to overcome multidrug resistance limitation and improve cancer treatments. Consequently, [DOX + SC]-coloaded NLC-RGD were fabricated by homogenization method and characterized by several techniques. Then, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, apoptosis, and expression level of some multi-drug resistance related genes were evaluated in [DOX + SC]-coloaded NLC-RGD treated cells. As results, particles with nano-size, narrow size distribution and suitable encapsulation efficiency (∼56% for DOX and ∼81% for SC) were prepared. Our Results also demonstrated that co-delivery of DOX and SC by NLC-RGD promotes uptake and accumulation of drugs by integrin mediated endocytosis and possible ABC transporter inhibition. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis experiments revealed that co-delivery of DOX and SC by NLC-RGD is more effective approach for induction of apoptosis in comparison to individual treatment and delivery. Gene expression experiments revealed that SC reduces expression of ABCC1 and Nrf2. These findings indicated that NLC-RGD can be considered as an appropriate delivery system for co-delivery of DOX and SC to overcome DOX resistance to improve treatment efficacy in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Objective: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a recently proposed exercise protocol, which is time-effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HIIT for 8 weeks on the lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and anthropometric parameters of young women who do not exercise. Methods: In this study, 20 young physically inactive women performed HIIT workouts for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The training protocol consisted of 10-times treadmill running for 15 seconds at maximum effort and then 30 seconds of resting. Blood samples were taken while fasting, a day before and after the training and then the considered parameters were measured. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the obtained data. Results: HIIT significantly reduced FBS, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein /cholesterol ratio and CRP while increasing the HDL levels. There was a significant difference in the weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, abdominal circumference and chest circumference of the subjects before and after the training (p

ABSTRACT Cuminum cyminum L. (CM), Zataria multiflora Boiss. (ZM) and Mentha piperita L. (MP) are traditional medicinal plants with various pharmacological properties. This study was designed to assess the role of gamma irradiation -a modern decontamination method- in hepatoprotective effects of their essential oil (E.Os) in septic rats induced by experimental cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model. The rats were divided into 20 groups; sham-operated (SOP); CLP; CLP + CM, ZM and MP (E.Os) (100 & 200 mg/kg b.w) and CLP + gamma irradiated (10 and 25 kGy) E.Os (100 & 200 mg/kg b.w) as treatment groups. All E.Os were injected i.p immediately after sepsis induction. 24 hour after CLP, the rats were sacrificed and the liver tissue was examined considering lipid peroxiation (LP), glutathione (GSH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The results indicated that CLP operation caused significant (P

Background and Objectives: Accumulation of toxic oxyanion of potassium tellurite, which has increased in the environment due to industrial activities, can cause complications in human, such as skin irritation, dermatitis, anorexia, tremor, nausea, vomiting, nervous system stimulation, convulsion, and respiratory arrest. The purpose of this research was to isolate tellurite-resistant bacteria, determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and evaluate bioreduction of tellurite in strains.Methods: MIC was measured by agar dilution method in 84 resistant strains isolated from wastewater. QWTm6 strain with tolerance of tellurite concentration of 6684μg/ml was selected as superior strain. Toleration of this level of tellurite has not been reported yet. Results: According to biochemical, phenotypic, and physiological characteristics, QWTm6 was initially classified into Staphylococcus genus. Using the spectrophotometric technique and DDTC reagent (A340nm & sodium diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate), maximum elimination was seen in 0.4mM concentration of potassium tellurite in 24 hours. The strain showed high ability in the elimination of toxic oxyanion of potassium tellurite under a wide range of factors such as pH=(5-11), temperature (15-50◦C), blender speed (50, 100, 150, and 200rpm), various oxyanion concentrations (0.04-1mM), and different percentages of NaCl (0-20%). This strain was also resistant to penicillin, cefixime, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, neomycin, erythromycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that QWTm6 could be introduced in the international societies as an acceptable candidate for bioremediation, because of its high ability in removal and reduction of potassium tellurite.

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the relative frequency of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in patients at a university hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, analytic study was conducted on 162 patients hospitalized in various wards of Alzahra Hospital (an 800-bed teaching hospital) of Isfahan during October 2009 to March 2010. Fecal samples of patients who suffered from diarrhea after receiving antibiotics were collected. Microbial analysis was performed to determine the existence of C. difficile. C. difficile toxins (A and B) were detected by ELISA method. The obtained data was statistically analyzed using chi-square test in SPSS at a significance level of P < 0.05. Findings: C. difficile toxins were detected in 36 (22.2%) patients. The frequency of toxins occurrence was significantly higher in men (P ≤ 0.005). In addition, a large number of individuals infected by C. difficile toxins were children under 4 years of age. Ceftriaxone caused many cases of diarrhea in our studied population. Conclusion: In general, based on our results, wrong prescription and antibiotics abuse can cause infection with C. difficile in patients receiving antibiotics. Therefore, the physicians must pay more attention to the recovery of patients with antibiotics.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate mental health status in physical education teachers (PET) and non-physical education teachers (NPET) based on demographic characteristics. 403 teachers consisting of 105 PETs and 298 NPETs from West Azerbaijan province were selected by multiphase cluster sampling method and completed mental health inventory (MHI). The results of the study revealed that PETs scored higher in psychological well-being than NPETs. Male teachers (PETs and NPETs) had higher scores in psychological well-being and lower scores in psychological distress than female teachers. Having a second job was negatively associated with psychological well-being in both PETs and NPETs. Married teachers showed lower psychological well-being than single teachers. Employed teachers had higher scores in psychological well-being than non-employed teachers. Male teachers who had an employed spouse showed lower psychological well-being than male teachers who had a non-employed spouse. No significant association was found between number of jobs, marital status, and employment status with psychological distress.

There are several human viruses with known potential for causing cancers including, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus, Human T-cell lymphotropic virus, Human papillomavirus, and Merkel cell polyomavirus. Cancer is the second leading cause of death that affects humans worldwide, especially in developing countries. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy can cure about 60% of humans with cancer but recurrent and metastatic diseases remain a major reason for death. In recent years, understanding the molecular characteristics of cancer cells has led to the improvement of therapeutic strategies using novel emerging therapies. Oncolytic viruses with the potential of lysing cancer cells defined the field of oncolytic virology, hence becoming a biotechnology tool rather than just a cause of disease. This study mainly focused on targeting cell proliferation and death pathways in human tumor-inducing viruses by developing innovative therapies for cancer patients based on the natural oncolytic properties of reovirus. To kill tumor cells efficiently and reduce the chance of recurrence both the direct ability of reovirus infection to lyse the tumor cells and the stimulation of a potent host immune response are applied. Hence, bioengineered stem cells can be used as smart carriers to improve the efficacy of oncolytic reovirus and safety profiles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Selenium is essential for biological systems at low concentrations and toxic at higher levels. Heavy metals and metalloids such as selenium are major contaminants in 40% of hazardous waste sites. Thus, bioremediation has been considered as an effective means of cleaning up of selenium-contaminated sites. Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 strains were isolated from wastewater samples collected from seleniumcontaminated sites in Qom, Iran using the enrichment culture technique. One bacterial strain designated QW4, identified as Proteus hauseri by morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was studied for its ability to tolerate different concentrations of sodium selenate (100-800 mM). Also, the disk diffusion method was performed to determine resistance to some antibiotics. Results: Strain QW4 showed maximum minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to selenate (760 mM). The maximum selenate removal was exhibited at 35 ºC, while the removal activity reduced by 30.7% and 37% at 25 ºC and 40 ºC, respectively. The optimum pH and shaking incubator for removal activity was shown to be 7.0 and 150 rpm, with 60.2% and 60.3%, respectively. This bacterial strain was resistant to some antibiotics. Conclusion: The concentration of toxic sodium selenate (1000 μg/ml) in the supernatant of the bacterial culture medium decreased by 100% after 2 days and the color of the medium changed to red due to the formation of less toxic elemental selenium. Also, our results imply that heavy metal pollution may contribute to increased antibiotic resistance through indirect selection.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide with many subsequent medical complications. An important complication of diabetes is microalbuminuria which is an important indication for development of diabetic nephropathy. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes has been estimated to be 47%. Since the disorder initiates with microalbuminuria, early detection and prevention are of vital importance. Helicobacter pylori infection is more prevalent in diabetic patients due to their low immune tolerance. The cagA positive genotype is reported to be effective in microalbuminuria development in type 2 diabetic patients. In this study, we investigated the relation of H. pylori cagA virulence factor with microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This study included 88 patients with type 2 diabetes. Microalbuminuria was present in 60 subjects and absent in the other 28. Stool samples were collected from all patients and DNA was extracted using QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit. In order to detect H. pylori infection, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed and all H. pylori positive samples were genotyped for cagA positivity. Findings: Overall, 16 patients (18.2%) were detected to be H. pylori positive out of whom 12 had microalbuminuria (75%) and 4 (25%) did not. CagA positivity was detected in 3 subjects who belonged to the group with microalbuminuria. Conclusion: In the population studied and the sample size used, no correlation was found between cagA gene and microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, CagA genotype, Microalbuminuria, Type 2 diabetes, Stool DNA

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide with many subsequent medical complications. An important complication of diabetes is microalbuminuria which is a major indication for development of diabetic nephropathy. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients has been estimated to be 47%. Since the disorder initiates with microalbuminuria, its early detection and prevention are vital. On the other hand, helicobacter pylori infection is more common in diabetic patients due to their low immune tolerance. The vacA positive genotype is reported to be effective in microalbuminuria development in type 2 diabetic patients. In this study, we investigated the relation between H. pylori vacA and microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: This study included 88 type 2 diabetic patients among whom 60 had microalbuminuria. Stool samples were collected from all patients and DNA was extracted using QiaAmp Stool DNA Extraction Minikit. In order to detect H. pylori infection, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed and all H. pylori positive samples were genotyped for cagA positivity. Findings: Overall, 16 patients (18.2%) were detected to be H. pylori positive out of whom 12 had microalbuminuria (75%). VacA positivity was detected in one patient without microalbuminuria. Conclusion: We could not establish a relationship between vacA positivity and microalbuminuria in the studied type 2 diabetic patients. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, VacA, Polymerase chain reaction, Type 2 diabetes, Microalbuminuria

Hydroxyapatite nanorods were synthesized with a new strategy by mixing hydrogen (15%) and argon (85%) gas injected into hydrothermal autoclave. Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions were used as precursors. These materials were mixed together to maintain Ca/P ratio of 1.67. The final solution pH was adjusted with ammonia solution and transferred to the autoclave for hydrothermal process. The temperature and pH were set to 180 o C and 11 respectively. Powder synthesis was carried out once without gas injection, which was 10 h. The powders synthesized at 5, 10, and 15 h by injecting the gas mixture. The synthesized powders were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that use of injected gas increased crystallinity and crystallite size. Also, the use of gas injection has increased the hardness and elastic modulus. Unlabelled Image • The crystallinity of the hydroxyapatite nanorods was increased. • Dimensions of the synthesized powders are in the nanometric range. • Gas injection caused the growth rate to increase in all directions. • Gas injection increased the elastic modulus and hardness of consolidated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is potentially pathogenic and causes severe symptoms; in addition to respiratory syndromes, patients might experience other severe conditions such as digestive complications and liver complications injury. The abnormality in the liver is manifested by hepatobiliary dysfunction and enzymatic elevation, which is associated with morbidity and mortality. The direct cytopathic effect, immune dysfunction, cytokine storm, and adverse effects of therapeutic regimens have a crucial role in the severity of liver injury. According to aging and immune system alterations, cytokine patterns may also change in the elderly. Moreover, hyperproduction of cytokines in the inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 can lead to multi-organ dysfunction. The mortality rate in elderly patients, particularly those with other comorbidities, is also higher than in adults. Although the pathogenic effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver has been widely studied, the impact of age and immune-mediated responses at different ages remain unclear. This review discusses the association between immune system responses in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients of different ages and liver injury, focusing on cytokine alterations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Aghamohamadi, Shahba, Zarezadeh Mehrabadi, Khorramdelazad, Karimi, Falak and Emameh.)

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a powerful biocatalyst for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) mineralization, of which immobilization is usually used for maintaining its catalytic activity against harsh external stimuli. However, the incorporated materials for CA immobilization would commonly increase the internal diffusion resistance during the catalytic process, thereby decreasing the catalytic efficiency. In our study, poly-L-glutamic acid (PLGA) as the structure regulator was used to induce the synthesis of CA@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (CA@ZIF-8) biohybrids. The introduction of PLGA that could coordinate with Zn 2+ interfered the crystallization of ZIF-8, thereby changing the morphological structure of CA@ZIF-8 biohybrids. With the increase of PLGA amount from 0 to 60 mg, PLGA(x)-CA@ZIF-8 biohybrids were gradually transformed from a dodecahedron structure to a 3D lamellar nano-flower structure, which caused elevated exposed surface area. Accordingly, the loading ratio was increased from 34.6 to 49.8 mg g cat -1 , while the catalytic activity was elevated from 20.6 to 23.4%. The CO 2 conversion rate was enhanced by nearly two folds compared to PLGA(0)-CA@ZIF-8 under the optimized condition. The final CaCO 3 yield could reach 5.6 mg mg cat -1 , whereas the reaction system could remain above 80% of the initial reaction activity after 8 cycles., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are known as genetic disorders with an overall prevalence of 1 per 7700 live births. Sphingolipidosis, which is a subgroup of LSDs, is resulted from mutations in the coding genes of specific enzymes of sphingolipid hydrolases. The current study aimed to provide additional knowledge on the genotype of sphingolipidoses disease among Iranian patients affected by the disease. In this research, we studied 68 unrelated Iranian patients diagnosed with one kind of sphingolipidoses from 2014 to 2019. Thereafter, genomic DNA was isolated from their peripheral blood leukocytes samples in EDTA in terms of the manufacturer's protocol. All the coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of the related genes were sequenced and then analyzed using the NCBI database. Finally, they were reviewed using some databases such as the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) and ClinVar ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/clinva ). By studying 22 MLD patients, 18 different variations of the ARSA gene were found, one of which was new including, named as c.472 T > G p. (Cys158Gly). Out of 15 Sandhoff disease (SD) patients, 11 different variations of the HEXB gene were found. Correspondingly, the c.1083-2delA was not reported earlier. By investigating 21 Iranian patients with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD), one new variant was found as c.622delG. The study of 10 Niemann-Pick disease A/B (NPDA/B (patients has led to the identification of 9 different SMPD1 gene variations, among which 3 variations were novel mutations. The results of the present study can be expanded to the genotypic spectrum of Iranian patients with MLD, SD, TSD, and NPD diseases and also used to innovate more effective methods for the detection of genetic carriers as well as diagnosing and counseling of Iranian patients affected with these disorders., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is the main limitation of cancer therapy. The combination use of chemotherapeutic agents and galangin (a naturally active flavonoid) amplifies the effectiveness of cancer treatment. This study aimed to prepare arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) containing nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC-RGD) to improve the bioavailability of galangin and explore its ability in improving the cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin (DOX). Galangin-loaded NLC-RGD was prepared by hot homogenization method and characterized by diverse techniques. Then, cytotoxicity, uptake, and apoptosis induction potential of prepared nanoparticles beside the DOX were evaluated on A549 lung cancer cells. Finally, the expression level of some ABC transporter genes was evaluated in galangin-loaded NLC-RGD-treated cells. Nanoparticles with appropriate characteristics of the delivery system (size: 120 nm, polydispersity index: 0.23, spherical morphology, and loading capacity: 59.3 mg/g) were prepared. Uptake experiments revealed that NLC-RGD promotes the accumulation of galangin into cancerous cells by integrin-mediated endocytosis. Results also showed higher cytotoxicity and apoptotic effects of DOX + galangin-loaded NLC-RGD in comparison to DOX + galangin. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that galangin-loaded NLC-RGD downregulates ABCB1, ABCC1, and ABCC2 more efficiently than galangin. These findings indicated that delivery of galangin by NLC-RGD makes it an effective adjuvant to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Although human toxocariasis can lead to serious complications including neurological, ocular and visceral complications, there is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological information about the seroprevalence of Toxocara species in humans. In the present study, we analysed and reviewed the overall seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in Iran. The data collection was systematically undertaken on published articles using the PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. A total of 27 studies from the past two decades reporting seroprevalence of human toxocariasis met our eligibility criteria. The pooled proportion of Toxocara infection was estimated as 6.58% (95% confidence interval = 3.98-9.77). A wide variation between different studies was observed (Q statistic = 799.37, df = 26, P  < 0.0001, and I 2  = 96.7%). The seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis in the Iranian population is relatively high; contamination of the environment by eggs from the host as well as from household dogs and cats should be blamed.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are classified as a group of transcripts which regulate various biological processes, such as RNA processing, epigenetic control, and signaling pathways. According to recent studies, lncRNAs are dysregulated in cancer and play an important role in cancer incidence and spreading. There is also an association between lncRNAs and the overexpression of some tumor-associated proteins, including carbonic anhydrases II, IX, and XII (CA II, CA IX, and CA XII). Therefore, not only CA inhibition, but also lncRNA modulation, could represent an attractive strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. Experimental studies have suggested that herbal compounds regulate the expression of many lncRNAs involved in cancer, such as HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA), H19, MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1), PCGEM1 (Prostate cancer gene expression marker 1), PVT1, etc. These plant-derived drugs or phytochemicals include resveratrol, curcumin, genistein, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-galate, camptothcin, and 3,3'-diindolylmethane. More comprehensive information about lncRNA modulation via phytochemicals would be helpful for the administration of new herbal derivatives in cancer therapy. In this review, we describe the state-of-the-art and potential of phytochemicals as modulators of lncRNAs in different types of cancers.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the network productions and research collaborations on toxoplasmosis worldwide., Materials and Methods: A bibliometric research was carried out using the Web of Science (WOS) database. The analysis unit was the original research articles about toxoplasmosis published between 2000 and 2016 (17 years)., Results: Totally, 6,550 articles about toxoplasmosis were indexed in the WOS with the following information: (A) 18,410 researchers played a role in drafting the articles; (B) 33 different countries have contributed in the toxoplasmosis studies; (C) the USA was ranked at the first place with 2,162 publications about toxoplasmosis; and (D) "Dubey JP" was compiled and participated in 401 articles from the USA, as the highest number and main core of publications in the toxoplasmosis network., Conclusion: The main focus of the toxoplasmosis research activities in the world was article production in the indexed journals in WOS. Hence, it is necessary to strengthen the collaboration networks to improve the quality of articles. Furthermore, the priority would be the identification of institutions with a higher number of research article productions in WOS, to perform toxoplasmosis collaborative original researches according to the strategic roadmap and scientific plan of each country.