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Background: Tinea incognito is a fungal infection with bizarre presentation due to the topical use of steroids or calcineurin inhibitors. Herein, we present a case of tinea incognito infection. Case Report: A 9-year-old girl complaining of pruritic non-scaly erythematous papulopustular lesions and a 3-month history of use of clobetasol propionate 0.05% referred to our dermatology clinic. In the examination, papules, erythematous plaques, and pustules were found diffusely on her face, neck, arm, and dorsum of the hand. The smear and culture of the lesions confirmed the diagnosis of tinea incognito. The patient was treated completely with fluconazole capsules, ketoconazole shampoo, and clotrimazole cream. Conclusion: Due to widespread and improper use of steroids, the incidence of tinea incognito infection has increased. Oral antifungals can be used safely and effectively in treatment of these patients.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a prevalent parasitic infection in humans. According to the reports published in several localities across the world, leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in certain regions in Iran. Leishmaniasis is transmitted through sandfly bites and is often diagnosed through the smear examination of the affected area using a microscope. The treatments of choice for leishmaniasis involve the use of pentavalent antimony compounds, such as meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. However, other medications have been proposed for the treatment of leishmaniasis, and there is ongoing research for effective, less harmful treatments. This narrative review aimed to summarize various systemic treatments for leishmaniasis.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most common types of human cancer. Since oxidative stress is believed to be one of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in BCC formation, understanding the probable relation of inflammatory, oxidative factors, such as serum protein carbonyl and total antioxidant capacity, to BCC can help identify other pathogenic aspects of this tumor. Forty cases of BCC and forty cases of healthy controls without BCC or any other systemic disease were included in this study. After 5-ml venous blood samples were obtained from each patient, the separated serum fractions were stored at -70° C until analysis. Serum protein carbonyl level in the BCC group was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls ((5.86±3.25 µM vs. 0.86±0.20 µM, P

Introduction: Cationic polymers have the potential to be modified to achieve an ideal gene vector lacking viral vector defects. The aim of the present study was to improve polyallylamine (PAA) transfection efficiency and to reduce cytotoxicity by incorporating of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). Methods: To prepare the peptide-based polyplexes, PAA (15 kDa) was modified with 2 peptides (TAT and CyLoP-1) by covering the 0.5% and 1% of amines. Buffer capacity and DNA condensation ability of modified polymer, particle size and zeta potential of nanoparticles, cell viability, and transfection activity of vectors were evaluated. Results: In low carrier to plasmid (C/P) weight ratios such as 0.5 and 1, the unmodified polymer was more capable to condense the DNA compared to the synthesized vectors. In C/P ratio of 2, the plasmid was fully condensed in all vectors. The size of polyplexes ranged from 195 to 240 nm. The zeta potential was almost as the same as PAA and varied from 25 to 27 mV. All polyplexes increased the buffer capacity compared to PAA. The transfection efficiency was improved compared to unmodified polymer especially in the vectors modified with 1% of TAT or CyLoP-1 peptides in C/P ratio of 2. The cytotoxicity of prepared vectors was less than PAA. In most ratios, the cytotoxicity of the CyLoP-1 modified samples was less than the TAT modified ones. Conclusion: Modification of PAA with CPPs improved the transfection activity of vector.

Because of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer potential, Salvia chorassanica Bunge (Lamiaceae) has been considered as a popular herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Previous studies have shown remarkable cytotoxic properties of the methanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane extract of S. chorassanica on human cervical cancer cells. To seek the therapeutic potentials of S. chorassanica, this study was undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic activities of various extracts of this plant on human breast MCF-7 and prostate cancer DU 145 cells. The DU 145 cells were exposed to different concentrations of plant extracts (1-200 μg/ml). Cytotoxic activities were examined using alamarBlue ® assay and apoptosis was assessed by acridine orange/propodium iodide double staining and evaluation of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry. Our findings indicated that n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts had more cytotoxic activities against DU 145 and MCF-7 cell lines compared with other extracts (P

Objectives: 7-prenyloxycoumarins are a group of secondary metabolites that are found mainly in plants belonging to the Rutaceae and Umbelliferae families. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of 7-prenyloxycoumarin compounds and herniarin on MCF-7, a breast carcinoma cell line. Materials and Methods: Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and incubated with different concentrations of auraptene, herniarin, umbelliferone, and umbelliprenin. Cell viability was quantified by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were determined using propidium iodide staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1peak). Bax protein expression was detected by western blot to investigate the underlying mechanism. Results: Doses which induced 50% cell growth inhibition (IC50) against MCF-7 cells with auraptene, herniarin, umbelliferone, and umbelliprenin were calculated (59.7, 207.6, 476.3, and 73.4 µM), respectively. Auraptene induced a sub-G1 peak in the flow cytometry histogram of treated cells compared to control cells, and DNA fragmentation suggested the induction of apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that auraptene significantly up-regulated Bax expression in MCF-7 cells compared to untreated controls. Conclusion: Auraptene exerts cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in breast carcinoma cell line and can be considered for further mechanistic evaluations in human cancer cells. These results candidate auraptene for further studies to evaluate its biosafety and anti-cancer effects.

The continuous Petri net is a model in which the number of marks in the places are real numbers instead of integers. This kind of Petri Nets is useful for modeling of systems that have one flux variable. Thus, changes in variables such as electrical current, water flow, electrical power flow, etc can be modeled by continuous Petri nets. Petri nets with the elements in it are not responsive to modeling of systems that are based on two or more variables (Such as electronic circuit). In this paper a new method based on continuous Petri nets for modeling and analysis of electrical circuits is introduced. In this approach, the new types of arcs, called control arcs, which control the speed of Petri nets transition, are presented. By adding these arcs, the possibility of linear systems modeling is provided.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer with potential risks for metastasis and recurrence if left untreated or incompletely excised. This case series study was designed to determine the frequency of incompletely excised SCCs and the related risk factors. A total of 273 SCCs (253 patients) excised in Razi dermatology hospital of Tehran from 2006-2008, were evaluated and were analyzed by Chi-square or t-test. The incidence of incomplete excision was 17.58 % and deep margin involvement was observed in 73% of lesions. Risk factors associated with incomplete excision of SCCs were being female, location of the tumors (in particular the lesions on lateral canthus, upper lip, foot, forehead, cheek, neck, nose and ear), large lesions and grafting method of repair. There was no statistically significant difference for the age, degree of histological differentiation, childhood history of radiotherapy for tinea capitis and the type of anesthesia. More care should be taken for high risk SCCs as complete excision avoids potential risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Abstract In order to study the effect of limitation of source and sink on yield and yield components of cumin, an experiment was conducted in complete randomized block design in Research Field of Agriculture Faculty of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during the years 2006-2007. The treatments were control, defoliation of 100% of leaves, defoliation of 50% of leaves and removing of 50% of umbrellas. The result indicated that in first sampling (10 days after treatments), dry matter and green area of plant significantly influenced by removing of leaves and umbrellas, in a way that increasing in defoliation cause reduction of dry matter accumulation and total green area of plant. In second sampling (24 days after treatments) defoliation of leaves and umbrellas imposed a significant effect on dry matter and total green area of plant. Leaf weight, stem weight and reproductive organs weight influenced by defoliation and umbrellas removing and in each three component the highest amount was observed in control treatment. In maturity stage, only the number of umbrellas per plant influenced by defoliation and umbrellas treatments. In control and defoliation of 50% of umbrellas, there was no significant difference between grain yield and biological yield. The highest grain weight and harvest index obtained at control and removing 50% of umbrellas. The lowest grain yield observed in 50% of umbrellas removing, whereas, the lowest biological yield observed in 100% defoliation. Moreover, the results indicated that when plant exposed with complete defoliation, accumulates more dry matter in reproductive organs and when exposed with half of umbrellas removing, dry matter partitioning pattern shift to vegetative organs. Keywords: Defoliation, Cuminum cyminum, Yield, Yield components, Source limitation, Sink limitation

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer with potential risks for metastasis and recurrence if left untreated or incompletely excised. This case series study was designed to determine the frequency of incompletely excised SCCs and the related risk factors. A total of 273 SCCs (253 patients) excised in Razi dermatology hospital of Tehran from 2006-2008, were evaluated and were analyzed by Chi-square or t-test. The incidence of incomplete excision was 17.58 % and deep margin involvement was observed in 73% of lesions. Risk factors associated with incomplete excision of SCCs were being female, location of the tumors (in particular the lesions on lateral canthus, upper lip, foot, forehead, cheek, neck, nose and ear), large lesions and grafting method of repair. There was no statistically significant difference for the age, degree of histological differentiation, childhood history of radiotherapy for tinea capitis and the type of anesthesia. More care should be taken for high risk SCCs as complete excision avoids potential risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Because of antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer potential, Salvia chorassanica Bunge (Lamiaceae) has been considered as a popular herb in Iranian traditional medicine. Previous studies have shown remarkable cytotoxic properties of the methanol, n-hexane and dichloromethane extract of S. chorassanica on human cervical cancer cells. To seek the therapeutic potentials of S. chorassanica, this study was undertaken to evaluate the cytotoxic activities of various extracts of this plant on human breast MCF-7 and prostate cancer DU 145 cells. The DU 145 cells were exposed to different concentrations of plant extracts (1-200 μg/ml). Cytotoxic activities were examined using alamarBlue® assay and apoptosis was assessed by acridine orange/propodium iodide double staining and evaluation of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry. Our findings indicated that n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts had more cytotoxic activities against DU 145 and MCF-7 cell lines compared with other extracts (P<0.05). The acridine orange/propodium iodide staining showed apoptogenic properties of n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts which was consequently confirmed by flow cytometric histogram that exhibited an increase in sub-G1 peak in treated cells as compared with untreated cancer cell lines. Taken together, these observations demonstrated cytotoxic effects of S. chorassanica extracts on MCF-7 and DU 145 cell lines which is most likely exerted via apoptosis cell death. Therefore, further investigations on S. chorassanica extracts as potential chemotherapeutic agents are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: 7-prenyloxycoumarins are a group of secondary metabolites that are found mainly in plants belonging to the Rutaceae and Umbelliferae families. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of 7- prenyloxycoumarin compounds and herniarin on MCF-7, a breast carcinoma cell line. Materials and Methods: Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and incubated with different concentrations of auraptene, herniarin, umbelliferone, and umbelliprenin. Cell viability was quantified by MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were determined using propidium iodide staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1peak). Bax protein expression was detected by western blot to investigate the underlying mechanism. Results: Doses which induced 50% cell growth inhibition (IC50) against MCF-7 cells with auraptene, herniarin, umbelliferone, and umbelliprenin were calculated (59.7, 207.6, 476.3, and 73.4 µM), respectively. Auraptene induced a sub-G1 peak in the flow cytometry histogram of treated cells compared to control cells, and DNA fragmentation suggested the induction of apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that auraptene significantly up-regulated Bax expression in MCF-7 cells compared to untreated controls. Conclusion: Auraptene exerts cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in breast carcinoma cell line and can be considered for further mechanistic evaluations in human cancer cells. These results candidate auraptene for further studies to evaluate its biosafety and anti-cancer effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]