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Zinat Yazdani,1 Zahra Mousavi,2 Alireza Moradabadi,1 Gholamhossein Hassanshahi1,3 1Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; 2Department of Hematology and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran; 3Molecular Medicine Research Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Research, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, IranCorrespondence: Gholamhossein HassanshahiDepartment of Hematology and Blood Banking, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranTel +98 391 5234 0035Fax +98 391 522 5209Email ghassanshahi@gmail.comAbstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is defined as an aggressive disorder which is described by accumulation of immature malignant cells into the bone marrow. Chemokine-receptor axes are defined as factors involved in AML pathogenesis and prognosis. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 along with its ligand, CXCL12 fit in important players that are actively involved in the cross-talk between leukemia cells and bone marrow microenvironment. Therefore, according to the above introductory comments, in this review article, we have focused on delineating some parts played by CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in various aspects of AML malignancy. Targeting both leukemic and stromal cell interaction is nowadays accepted as a wide and attractive strategy for improving the outcome of treatment in AML in a non-cell autonomous manner. This strategy might be employed in a wide variety of AML patients regardless of their causative mutations. In addition to several potential targets involved in the disruption of malignant leukemic cells from their specific protective niches, compounds which interfere with CXCL12/CXCR4 axis have also been explored in multiple early-phase established clinical trials. Moreover, extensive research programs are exploring novel leading mechanisms for leukemia-stromal interactions that appear to find out novel therapeutic targets within the near future.Keywords: SDF-1α, CXCL12, CXCR4, chemokine axis, AML

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance as a result of prolonged strenuous exercise leads to poor thermoregulation and impaired muscle performance. Thus, appropriate rehydration during and after exercise with a solution that has a balanced combination of nutrients including electrolytes, carbohydrates and proteins is crucial in preventing the side effects of dehydration. Yogurt drink as a traditional drink with an appropriate nutritious content could be used as an alternative to expensive commercially available drinks for rehydrating athletes after long exercises in warm and humid environments and in developing countries. In this cross-over trial we examined the rehydration potential of yogurt drink in comparison to water and a commercial drink after a strenuous exercise (cycling) session in a hot and humid environment. Blood measurements included blood osmolality, serum glucose, hematocrit and serum electrolytes. Urine measurements included urine volume, osmolality and electrolyte concentrations. The results showed that early after rehydration Yogurt drink compared to water significantly increased urine sodium (mmol/L) (138.8 ± 93.4 vs. 90.0 ± 50.7, P < 0.01), urine potassium (mmol/L) (105.6 ± 55.1 vs. 35.8 ± 22.0, P < 0.05) and urine chloride (mmol/L) (113.2 ± 28.4 vs. 35.8 ± 25.1 P < 0.01). This degree of improvement was the same as with the commercial drink for urine sodium, potassium, and chloride. Yogurt drink prevented dehydration-induced changes in the blood as it stabilized the hematocrit and serum sodium, potassium and osmolality within the normal range after exercise. Finally, our results indicated that yogurt drink, as a natural and affordable rehydration option, can be considered to restore fluid and electrolyte losses after strenuous exercises in hot and humid environments.

In this paper, the Ti2SC MAX phase was used as a reinforcement to produce 60/40 brass surface composites using friction stir processing (FSP). The effect of FSP and Ti2SC MAX phase reinforcement particles on the electrochemical behavior of the brass alloy and its surface composite was studied in NaCl solution (3.5 wt.%). Microstructural features of the specimens were assessed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Also, the corrosion behavior of the base metal and FSPed samples with and without Ti2SC particles was examined by different electrochemical methods such as cyclic polarization, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The FSP caused grain refinement and homogeneous distribution of Ti2SC particles in the brass matrix. The results revealed that the presence of reinforcement particles and the number of FSP passes had considerable effects on the corrosion resistance of the specimens. For FSPed samples with or without reinforcement particles, corrosion resistance decreased by increasing the pass number from 1 to 3. The corrosion current density of brass alloy was 12.5 µA.cm−2, while this value exceeded 30 µA.cm−2 for all FSPed samples after FSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, production of a probiotic drink based on jujube extract by means of fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus delbrueckii as probiotic lactic acid bacteria was studied. The fermentation was performed for 72 hours at 37°C. The changes in microbial population, pH and titratable acidity as well as sugar and organic acid metabolism during the fermentation period were evaluated. In addition, before and after fermentation, the changes in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the extract were also investigated. Eventually, different drink formulations were developed employing fermented and non-fermented jujube extract, carbonatation, and sour cherry concentrate. Then, sensory properties of the formulated drinks were evaluated. Appropriate growth of L. plantarum and L.delbruckii resulted in an increase in acidity to 1.86 and 1.75, and a decline in pH to 3.4 and 3.56, respectively, after 72 hours. Glucose and fructose were significantly consumed by the strains. Citric acid concentration dropped to 1.12 and 5.8 g L-1 in the extract fermented by L. plantarum and L. delbrueckii, respectively, after 72 hours. At the end of fermentation, 23.8 and 11.4 g L-1 lactic acid was produced by L. plantarum and L. Delbrueckii, respectively. The contents of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in jujube extract after fermentation were significantly increased.The results of sensory evaluation of different drink formulations showed that the carbonated drink containing jujube extract fermented by L.plantarum mixed with sour cherry concentrate obtained the highest score among different drink formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Suicide is one of the biggest medical and social problems of the world. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the epidemiology of suicide in Asadabad city during 2011-2017. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, demographic and epidemiologic data of suicide attempts and complete suicide were extracted using special forms of suicide archived in the Asadabad Health Network during the years of 2011-2017. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The overall prevalence of suicide was 797/100000 people (804 cases), the prevalence of successful suicide (death) 21/100000 people (21 cases) and unsuccessful 776/100000 people (n783). Women (934/100000 people, n=466), single people (1548/100000 people, n=374), persons with secondary degree (3889/100000 people, n=258), unemployeds (790100000 people, n=577), residents of the city (792/100000 people, n=289) and season fall (240/100000 people, n=243) had the highest prevalence of suicide. The most important reason for committing suicide was, family fights and disputes (53.7%, n=432) and the most common method was pill consumption (72.4%, n=582). Conclusion: Considering that the main cause of suicide is family disputes and the most common form of suicide is the use of pills; Suicide outbreaks can be reduced by implementing appropriate interventions, such as establishing family counseling centers and adequate education for vulnerable families and gro ups, as well as reducing access to suicide devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2017 April 5 M w 6 Sefid Sang earthquake occurred east-northeast of the town of Fariman between the Binalud Mountains, at the northeast boundary of the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone, and the Doruneh Fault which defines the northern limit of the Lut Block. The pattern of present-day deformation in this area is not well understood. We combine results from studies of earthquake location, focal mechanism solutions and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to investigate the coseismic displacements. The active deformation of the source region is investigated through a synthesis of the structural geology, complimented by geological fieldwork. Our results reveal that the mainshock nucleated at a depth of ∼15 km on a reverse fault plane dipping north-northeast, with a component of dextral faulting. Rupture in the mainshock was almost unidirectional towards the southeast. The temporal growth of the 24-km long aftershock cloud reflects migration of seismicity towards the southeast. Analysis of ascending and descending interferograms of TOPS S1 SAR images show a maximum of 9 and 11 cm of surface deformation, respectively. A rupture model based on the inversion of the InSAR interferograms features a maximum slip of 83 cm on the NNE-dipping fault plane. Inversion of fault-slip data from earthquake focal mechanisms and geological field measurements indicates a contemporary regional transpressional tectonic regime characterized by a NE-trending maximum compression (mean direction of N020°E for seismological slip data and N029°E for geological fault kinematics). This implies a transpressional active kinematics according to which the Central Iran–Eurasia convergence is taken up by reverse dextral faulting on several NW-striking faults such as the eastern termination of the Doruneh fault and the southeast termination of the Chakaneh-Neyshabur fault systems. Our seismological, geodetic and geological results consistently indicate accommodation of active deformation by oblique-slip reverse faulting that is distributed in the region connecting the distinct block-bounding fault systems of northeast and eastern Iran. We propose a transpressional relay zone structural model to explain the nature, kinematics and structural pattern of the boundary of the collision zone between the Doruneh Fault and the Binalud Mountains. Our observations and results could shed light on structural aspects of other intracontinental collision zone boundaries, where deformation is taken up by discontinuous continental block boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]