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Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is a life-threatening malignant neoplasm of CD4 + T cells resulted from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). Tax1 protein of HTLV-I can induce malignant proliferation of T-cells by modulating the expression of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Here, we aimed to investigate the proviral load (PVL) of HTLV-I in ATL and also to evaluate the mRNA expression of B chain of PDGF and PDGF-β receptors in ATL patients and HTLV-I-infected healthy carriers. To this end, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by using Ficoll-Histophaque density centrifugation. The mean of HTLV-I PVL in ATL patients (42,759 ± 15,737 copies/10 4 cells [95% CI, 9557-75962]) was significantly (p = .01) higher than that in healthy carriers (650 ± 107 copies/10 4 cells [95% CI, 422-879], respectively. The HTLV-I PVL in ATL patients exhibited a significant correlation with PBMC count (R = .495, p = .001). The mRNA expression of Tax, B chain of PDGF, and PDGF-β receptor genes was significantly higher in healthy carriers than in patients with ATL. In conclusion, the expression of the canonical PDGFβ and its receptor, and their correlation with Tax expression cannot be a suitable indicator and/or prognostic factor for progression of ATL in HTLV-I carriers., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a zoonotic disease with 1 to 1.5 million annual incidences. Microscopic examination of the Giemsa stained slides is the most common diagnostic method for CL. However, this method cannot distinguish leishmania species. Hence the present study was conducted to identify leishmania species by high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis in the newly emerged foci of CL in Sabzevar, northeast of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, fifty patients with suspicious cutaneous lesions referring to the designated health center for diagnosis and treatment of CL in Sabzevar during 2017-2018, were recruited. All collected samples and prepared slides were stained for microscopic examination and then undergone HRM real-time PCR (HRM-PCR) assay to identify species of Leishmania parasites. The results of HRM-PCR technique showed that Leishmania major ( L. major ) was the dominant causative parasite in the newly emerged foci whereas L. tropica ( L. tropica ) was positive only in two patients. This was the first time that 7SL RNA-HRM-PCR assay was performed to precisely identify leishmania parasites in the northeast of Iran. We proved the newfound foci in which both L. major and L. tropica were present. In contrast to the recent studies which identified only L. major in the region, we showed that L. tropica was still present., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Indian Society for Parasitology 2020.)

Gut microbiota has essential roles in the prevention and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The association between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system (CNS) or immune system response of MS patients has been documented in many studies. The composition of the gut microbiota could lead to sensitization or resistance against promotion and development of MS disease. Probiotics are the major part of gut microflorapopulation and could be substituted with tolerogenic probiotics that protect the CNS against autoimmune responses. Tolerogenic probiotics with anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory properties have effects on intestinal flora and can reestablish regulatory mucosal and systemic immune responses. Probiotics are able to prevent and restore excessive activation of inflammatory responses, especially autoreactive T cells and inflammatory cytokines. Tolerogenic probiotics, through induction of regulatory T cells and increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines, play a crucial role in controlling inflammation and maintaining tolerance and hemostasis. Therefore, probiotics can be considered as a preventive or therapeutic tool in MS. In the present review, we focus on the immunoregulatory effects of tolerogenic probiotics on the severity of disease, as well as Th1, Th2, and Treg populations in different experimental and human studies of MS.

Experimental and clinical studies have confirmed safety and the medical benefits of probiotics as immunomodulatory medications. Recent advances have emphasized the critical effect of gastrointestinal bacteria in the pathology of inflammatory disorders, even, outside the gut. Probiotics have shown promising results for curing skin-influencing inflammatory disorders through modulating the immune response by manipulating the gut microbiome. Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory skin disease, which exhibits a microbiome distinct from the normal skin. In the present review, we considered the impact of gastrointestinal microbiota on the psoriasis pathogenesis, and through literature survey, attempted to explore probiotic species utilized for psoriasis treatment., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Linum usitatissimum is a candidate as a remedy to treat prostate problems in some folklore medicines. In this study, we have reported the phenolic and flavonoid constituents, antioxidant activity, and potential of the plant extract against prostate cancer cells. The phenolic and flavonoid compound profile of the extract were established using HPLC analysis. While the total phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC) were analyzed using classic methods. The antioxidant activity of the extract was also evaluated. MTT assay and flow cytometry technique was used to evaluate antiproliferation activity and induction apoptosis of the plant extract on prostate cancer cells of LNCaP. We also evaluated the gene expression of Bax and caspase-3 using the real-time qPCR assay. HPLC result revealed that L. usitatissimum extract (LUE) was rich in phenolic acids such as gallic, ferulic, and vanillic acid with the amount of 3.56, 2.12, 1.24 μg/g extract respectively. 383.4 mg GAE/g and 47.1 mgRuE/g were calculated for total phenolic and flavonoid content. LUE exhibited radical scavenging activity with IC 50  = 19.3 ± 1.1 µg/mL. LUE chelated ferrous ions with IC 50  = 121.1 ± 1.3 µg/mL. LUE showed anti-proliferative activity on LNCaP cells with the IC 50 values of 8.3, 6.3, and 5.4 μg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h treatment. LUE also increased cell mortality by inducing apoptosis (15.3-29.8%). The real-time qPCR results exhibited an increase in gene expression of Bax and caspase-3. Our in vitro study demonstrates that L. usitatissimum can be considered as an effective agent to inhibit the growth and invasion the human prostate cancer cells.

Intestinal protozoa infections are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality, especially where the exposed population suffers from a lack of drinking water and sanitation facilities. In this study, the association between the lack of safe drinking water and sanitation (toilet) facilities with intestinal Entamoeba spp infection in the children (5-11 years), adult (18-55 years), and all age (5-55 years) were assessed. For this purpose, some of the international databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were screened to up to 7 June 2019 in order to retrieve the related citations. Also, the pooled odds ratios (ORs) following 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Twenty-nine articles with 36 studies were included while the OR extracted or calculated by using 2 × 2 contingency tables. However, the ingestion of contaminated water insignificantly can increase the odds ratio (OR) of Entamoeba spp infection (OR 1.01, (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.58 to 1.43), no access to sanitation (toilet) facilities significantly can increase odds of Entamoeba spp infection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.32). The meta-regression analysis showed that over time, odds of intestinal Entamoeba spp infection increased in both lack of safe drinking water (Coefficient: 3.24, P-value < 0.01) and sanitation (toilet) facilities (Coefficient: 2.36, P-value < 0.05) subgroups. Considering the findings, lack of safe drinking water resulted in a further increase in intestinal Entamoeba spp infection among adult (OR: 2.76), children (OR = 0.57) and all age groups (OR: 1.50), and also lack of sanitation (toilet) facilities resulted in further increase intestinal Entamoeba spp infection in children (OR: 1.06), adult (OR: 1.26) and all age (OR: 1.16). In this context, the lack of safe drinking water and sanitation facilities (toilet) was associated with a high risk of intestinal Entamoeba spp infection. Further attempts to providing public health facilities can control the prevalence of intestinal Entamoeba spp., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background and Aim: Stated in previous studies, physicians are typically prescribing methylphenidate (MPH), commonly known as Ritalin, for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, researchers have not still understood mechanisms of this stimulant medication. Research has also found an association between apoptosis signaling pathway, neurological disorder, as well as treatment targets for neurological diseases. Therefore, the present study investigated effects of 3-week Ritalin oral (20 mg/kg) administration versus vehicle therapy on cerebellar morphology and function in adult male rats., Materials and Methods: A total number of 30 adult male rats were randomly but equally divided into control and treatment groups. In fact, the treatment group was administered by Ritalin at doses of 20 mg/kg for 21 days and the control group only received saline. At the end of weeks 1, 2, and 3 following drug treatment, rotarod performance test was fulfilled. Once the study ended, tissues of the cerebellum were separated; then, inflammation parameters (i.e. tumor necrosis factor [TNF- α] and interleukin 1 beta [IL-1β]), pro-apoptotic genes (that is, bcl-2-associated X [bax] and caspase-8 proteins), along with histological changes were analyzed., Results: According to the findings, Ritalin with the high dose of 20 mg/kg could remarkably enhance the levels of bax and caspase-8 genes compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). It should be noted that treatment with Ritalin could significantly increase TNF-α and IL-1β levels in isolated cerebellar cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, 20 mg/kg of Ritalin decreased mean volumes of granular layer, white matter, as well as molecular layers. It also reduced the number of Purkinje cells compared with those in control rats. In addition, lower coordination movement was observed in the group receiving Ritalin., Conclusion: Data analysis showed that chronic treatment with increased dose of Ritalin could possibly lead to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the cerebellum of adult rats., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Thimerosal (THIM) is a common preservative used in many pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, cosmetics and many other products. Today, it was somewhat clear that Thimerosal (THIM) is a neurotoxicant preservative. We aimed to use of a suitable agent for preventing of THIM side effects on brain. Therefore, in this research, the protective effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), against THIM-induced brain cell loss, changes in neuroimmune cell and enzymatically contents were examined. Male Wistar rats (n = 60) were randomly distributed into five groups: 1- THIM group; this group received THIM at dose of 300 μg /kg on 7, 9, 11, 15 days after birth 2- ALA group; received ALA (20 mg/kg) in the same order. 3- THIM & ALA group; this group received ALA in the same dose, 30 min before THIM administration.4& 5; Saline and ALA vehicle groups were also included. At 56th postnatal day, samples of the prefrontal cortex were collected and prepared for stereological, immune-histochemical, and enzymatic evaluations. The result showed that ALA, prevents the adverse effects of THIM on brain cell loss, abnormal changes in neuroimmune cells (p < 0.05), prefrontal cortex volume (p < 0.05), and the glutathione content of prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05). In conclusion, neonatal exposure to THIM can induce abnormal alterations in neuroimmune cells and brain cell density as well as prefrontal cortex volume & glutathione content, and ALA can ameliorate these abnormalities., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Considering that the common osteogenic growth factors cannot be transplanted with stem cells to the patients, many studies are underway to find a replacement for these factors. Recently, it has been determined that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived conditioned medium (CM) contains effective factors in the bone formation process. In the current study, the synergistic effect of adipose-derived MSC's CM, and polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was investigated on the osteogenic differentiation potential of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). After scaffold fabrication by electrospinning and characterization by scanning electron microscopy, iPSCs proliferation in the presence of CM, PCL, and both was evaluated using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide. Then, iPSCs osteogenic differentiation was investigated while cultured on tissue culture plate and PCL under CM compared with the osteogenic medium using alizarin red staining, calcium content, alkaline phosphatase activity and gene and protein expression analysis. Proliferation rate of the iPSCs was increased while cultured under CM and its effect was synergistically enhanced by culture on PCL. Evaluation of the osteogenic markers was showed CM alone could induce osteogenic differentiation into the iPSCs and this potential was significantly increased while combined with PCL nanofibrous scaffold. According to the results, it was demonstrated that CM has an osteogenic induction property almost the same of the common osteogenic medium and it can also be used potentially with stem cells when transplant to the patients. CM can also help by prolonging cell survival at the site of the defect as well as accelerating healing process., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background and Aim: In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has become a major worldwide problem that can exert harmful effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sex- and age-related prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in people from Mashhad, northeastern Iran., Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 1 year (2015-2016), 7504 subjects who referred to Mashhad medical centers were randomly enrolled in the study. The study population was divided into four groups based on sex and age, as following: group 1, 6 to 18 years; group 2, 19 to 35 years; group 3, 36 to 50 years; and group 4, 51 to 65 years. Since vitamin D levels <10, 10 to 20, and 20 to 30 ng/mL are considered as severe, moderate, and mild deficiency, respectively, we used these criteria for categorizing our population., Results: Of the total population in our study, 65.26% (4902; 57.81% of men and 72.07% of women) showed some degree of vitamin D deficiency. In addition, we found that vitamin D deficiency was common in all age groups (6-18, 19-35, 36-50, and 51-65 years), and more common in women (58.5%, 80.12%, 63.83%, and 88.44%, respectively) than men (41.66%, 59.86%, 44.97%, and 84.75%, respectively)., Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is a major health problem in all age groups and is more common in women. This information would help to provide a progressive prevention program to maintain health and manage some of the vitamin-related disorders and diseases that especially affect women., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Renal failures treatment has been faced with several problems during the last decades. Kidney tissue engineering has been created many hopes to improve treatment procedures with scaffold fabrication that can modulate kidney cells/stem cells migration to the lesion site and increase the survival of these cells at that site with imitating the role of the kidney extracellular matrix. In this study, bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) as a vital factor for kidney development and regeneration was incorporated in the polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers and after morphological, mechanical, and biocompatible characterization, proliferation, and survival of the human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) were investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and gene expression while cultured on scaffolds. Mechanical properties of the PCL nanofibers modulated after combining with BMP7 and hydration degree, protein adsorption and cell adhesion were enhanced in PCL-BMP7 compared to the pure PCL. Proliferation rate and growth increased significantly in HEK cells cultured on PCL-BMP7 when compared with that of PCL and tissue culture plate, whereas these data were also confirmed via significant decrease in apoptotic genes expression level in HEK cell cultured on PCL-BMP7. According to the results, PCL-BMP7 demonstrated positive effects on the survival and proliferation rate of the kidney cells and showed has also a great potential to use as a bioimplant for kidney tissue engineering applications., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The increased incidence of allergic disorders may be the result of a relative fall in microbial induction in the intestinal immune system during infancy and early childhood. Probiotics have recently been proposed as viable microorganisms for the prevention and treatment of specific allergic diseases. Different mechanisms have been considered for this probiotic property, such as generation of cytokines from activated pro-T-helper type 1 after bacterial contact. However, the effects of its immunomodulatory potential require validation for clinical applications. This review will focus on the currently available data on the benefits of probiotics in allergy disease., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: In patients with breast cancer, HER2 gene expression is of a great importance in reacting to Herceptin treatment. To evaluate this event, immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been done routinely on the basis of scoring it and so the patients were divided into 4 groups. Lately, as there have been disagreements about how to treat score 2 patients, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and florescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are introduced. Since CISH method is more convenient than FISH for gene amplification study, FISH has been substituted by CISH., Aim: The current study is conducted in order to investigate whether using CISH is a better method comparison to IHC method for determines HER2 expression in patients with breast cancer in., Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, information of 44 female patients with invasive ductal breast cancer were gathered from Imam Reza and Omid Hospital in Mashhad. IHC staining was done for all patients in order to determine the level of HER2 expression, and after scoring them into 4 groups of 0, +1, +2 and +3, CISH staining was carried out for all 4 groups. At the end, results from both methods were statistically evaluated using SPSS software V.22.0., Results: The average age of patients was 50.2 with the standard deviation of 10.96. Using IHC method was observed that 2.6% (1 patient), 26.3% (10 patients), 65.8% (25 patients) and 5.3% (2 patients) percentage of patients had scores of 0, +1, +2 and +3. On the other hand, CISH method showed 36 patients (90%) with no amplifications and 4 (10%) with sever amplifications. In a comparative study using Fisher's exact test (p = 0.000), we found a significant relation between IHC method and CISH method indicating that all patients showing severe amplifications in CISH method, owned scores of +2 and +3 in IHC method., Conclusion: According to the present study and comparing the results with similar previous studies, it can be concluded that CISH method works highly effective in determining HER2 expression level in patients with breast cancer. This method is also able to determine the status of patients with score +2 in IHC for their treatment with herceptin.

Aim and Objective: Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) catalyzes the fourth stage of the biosynthesis of pyrimidines in cells. Hence it is important to identify suitable inhibitors of DHODH to prevent virus replication. In this study, a quantitative structure-activity relationship was performed to predict the activity of one group of newly synthesized halogenated pyrimidine derivatives as inhibitors of DHODH., Materials and Methods: Molecular structures of halogenated pyrimidine derivatives were drawn in the HyperChem and then molecular descriptors were calculated by DRAGON software. Finally, the most effective descriptors for 32 halogenated pyrimidine derivatives were selected using bee algorithm., Results: The selected descriptors using bee algorithm were applied for modeling. The mean relative error and correlation coefficient were obtained as 2.86% and 0.9627, respectively, while these amounts for the leave one out-cross validation method were calculated as 4.18% and 0.9297, respectively. The external validation was also conducted using two training and test sets. The correlation coefficients for the training and test sets were obtained as 0.9596 and 0.9185, respectively., Conclusion: The results of modeling of present work showed that bee algorithm has good performance for variable selection in QSAR studies and its results were better than the constructed model with the selected descriptors using the genetic algorithm method., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)