Selection of combination adjuvants for enhanced immunogenicity of a recombinant CelTOS vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum.

Recently, there has been significant interest in developing combination adjuvants to achieve efficient vaccines. However, it remains uncertain which combinations of adjuvants could best enhance the immune response to the recombinant antigen. In the current study, to improve the immunogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum cell traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PfCelTOS), we tested three different adjuvants: MPL, Poly I:C, and QS-21 alone or in a triple mixture (MPL/Poly I:C/QS-21; MPQ) and a dual mixture (Poly I:C/QS-21; PQ).

Manipulation of signaling pathways in bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Current knowledge, novel strategies, and future directions.

During osteogenesis, a large number of bioactive molecules, macromolecules, cells, and cellular signals are activated to induce bone growth and development. The activation of molecular pathways leads to the occurrence of cellular events, ultimately resulting in observable changes. Therefore, in the studies of bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, it is essential to target fundamental events to exploit the mechanisms involved in osteogenesis.

Cd loop fusion enhances the immunogenicity and the potential transmission blocking activity of Plasmodium falciparum generative cell specific 1 (GCS1) antigen.

TBVs are suggested to inhibit parasite transmission from humans to Anopheles mosquitoes. For the transmission of Plasmodium parasite, a variety of factors are included in gametes fusion phase. In this step, conserved male-specific generative cell specific 1 antigen is necessary for fusion of cytoplasmic membranes of micro- and macro-gametocytes and zygot formation.

Quantifying salinity in calcareous soils through advanced spectroscopic models: A comparative study of random forests and regression techniques across diverse land use systems.

Precise prediction of soil salinity using visible, and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy is crucial for ensuring food security and effective environmental management. This paper focuses on the precise prediction of soil salinity utilizing visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy, a critical factor for food security and effective environmental management. The objective is to utilize vis-NIR spectra alongside a multiple regression model (MLR) and a random forest (RF) modeling approach to predict soil salinity across various land use types, such as farmlands, bare lands, and rangelands accurately.

Long-term resilience in wastewater management: Optimizing treated wastewater allocation with a dynamic multi-agent approach.

Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to sustainable development, necessitating innovative approaches to manage limited resources efficiently. Effective water resource management involves not just the conservation and distribution of freshwater supplies but also the strategic reuse of treated wastewater (TWW). This study proposes a novel approach for the optimal allocation of treated wastewater among three key sectors (user agents): agriculture, industry, and urban green space.

CircRNA-associated ceRNA networks (circCeNETs) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic airway disorder, which is mostly brought on by cigarette smoke extract (CSE), is a leading cause of death which has a high frequency. In COPD patients, smoking cigarette could also trigger the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of airway remodeling. One of the most significant elements of environmental contaminants that is linked to pulmonary damage is fine particulate matter (PM2.

Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens toxinotypes in antibiotic-associated diarrheal (AAD) patients in Iranian hospitals; can toxinotype D serve as a possible zoonotic agent for humans?

While Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) toxinotype F is known as the cause of 15% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and sporadic diarrhea (SD) cases, the association of the other C. perfringens toxinotypes with AAD/SD is not investigated.

A comprehensive model for predicting the development of defense system of Capparis spinosa L.: a novel approach to assess the physiological indices.

Capparis spinosa L. (caper) is a halophytic plant that grows in semi-arid or arid environments. The current study used an integrated experimental and computational approach to investigate the network of inter-correlated effective variables on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, proline, and photosynthetic pigments in stressed caper.

Potential roles of inflammasomes in the pathophysiology of Psoriasis: A comprehensive review.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease whose pathophysiology is attributed to both innate and adaptive immune cells and molecules. Despite the crucial roles of the immune system in psoriasis, it cannot be categorized as an autoimmune disease because of the lack of main signs of autoimmunity, such as specific antibodies, well-defined antigens, and autoimmune genetic risk factors. The presence of some cellular and molecular properties, such as the presence of neutrophils in skin lesions and the activation of the innate immune system, attributes psoriasis to a group of diseases called autoinflammatory disorders.

The potential roles of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a T cell-mediated chronic autoimmune disease, whose pathogenesis and etiology are not entirely understood. OLP is characterized by subepithelial lymphocyte infiltration and elevated intra-epithelial lymphocytes. The majority of lamina propria lymphocytes are CD4 T cells.

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and MEFV polymorphism: A case-control association study among Iranian children.

Introduction And Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the potential influences of Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV) gene polymorphism on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a cohort of juvenile patients. A case-control study was performed on Iranian patients with a mixed ethnicity population.

Patients And Methods: Genotypes of 50 juvenile cases, and 85 healthy controls were investigated for identifying M694V and R202Q polymorphism.

Periostin level in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Periostin, a secreted adhesion molecule, is a matricellular protein secreted most in periodontal ligament and periosteum. Periostin is also needed for integrity and maturation of periodontal tissue. This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) periostin levels in subjects having periodontal disease and healthy periodontium.

Molecular epidemiology of potential candidate markers for chloroquine resistance in imported Plasmodium vivax malaria cases in Iran.

Background: The spread of Plasmodium vivax strains resistant to chloroquine (CQ) has posed a challenge to control strategies aimed at eliminating malaria. Molecular analysis of candidate resistance markers is very important for monitoring the P. vivax resistance to CQ in different endemic regions.

New non-ureolytic heterotrophic microbial induced carbonate precipitation for suppression of sand dune wind erosion.

The detrimental effects of sand storms on agriculture, human health, transportation network, and infrastructures pose serious threats in many countries worldwide. Hence, wind erosion is considered a global challenge. An environmental-friendly method to suppress wind erosion is to employ microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP).

Potential roles of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.

There is a heterogeneous group of rare illnesses that fall into the vasculitis category and are characterized mostly by blood vessel inflammation. Ischemia and disrupted blood flow will cause harm to the organs whose blood arteries become inflamed. Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most prevalent kind of vasculitis in children aged 5 years or younger.

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Complications of Uterine Artery Embolization in Comparison with Laparotomy-Myomectomy in the Treatment of Uterine Myomas: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Due to the high prevalence of uterine fibroids or leiomyomas in women of reproductive age and the many treatment options for myomas, finding the best treatment is a challenge for surgeons. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of 2 treatment options surgical interventions and uterine artery embolization (UAE) in patients with uterine myoma. The present study was a single-blind randomized clinical trial.

Immediate Catheter Drainage Versus Delayed Drainage in the Management of Infected Necrotizing Pancreatitis.

Background:  Immediate or delayed catheter drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis remains a subject of debate. The present study aimed to evaluate the optimum timing for drainage in patients with infected necrotizing pancreatitis.  Methods: A prospective, observational study was undertaken at the Department of Surgery, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (LUMHS), between 1st March 2018 and 6th July 2020.

Comparative efficacy of silibinin and nano-silibinin on lead poisoning in Male Wistar rats.

Lead (Pb) is an environmental neurotoxin that can lead to toxicity. It has shown that tissues can be exposed to oxidative stress in lead poisoning. Since silymarin is a natural agent with antioxidant effects, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and chelation effects of silibinin and nano-silibinin on the oxidative stress status in lead-poisoned rats.

A cross-sectional multicenter linkage study of hospital admissions and mortality due to methanol poisoning in Iranian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A methanol poisoning outbreak occurred in Iran during the initial months of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of the outbreak in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. A cross-sectional linkage study was conducted based on the hospitalization data collected from thirteen referral toxicology centers throughout Iran as well as mortality data obtained from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (LMO).

Tuned MWCNT/CuO/FeO/Polyaniline nanocomposites with exceptional microwave attenuation and a broad frequency band.

In this study, novel quaternary MWCNT/CuO/FeO/PANI nanocomposites were synthesized with three different weight ratios of CuO/FeO/PANI to MWCNT (1:3), (1:4), and (1:5), where all of its components were synthesized separately and then combined in specific weight ratios. CuO/FeO/PANI transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that most nanoparticles were in a CuO/FeO hybrid form, with a narrow size distribution uniformly dispersed in a polymer background. The TEM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the MWCNT/CuO/FeO/PANI nanocomposite revealed that the MWCNT was uniformly coated with CuO/FeO/PANI.

Potential Roles of Long Noncoding RNAs as Therapeutic Targets in Organ Transplantation.

Organ transplantation is the most preferred treatment option for end-stage organ diseases; however, allograft rejection is the major hurdle in successful long-term transplant survival. In spite of developing better HLA matching and more effective immunosuppressive regimen, one-year graft survival has been increased by nearly 90% and the incidence of acute rejection by one-year post-transplantation has been decreased by 12.2% in the last decades, chronic allograft rejection has remained as one of the major obstacles to the long-lasting survival of the transplanted allograft.

Macronutrients, trace metals and health risk assessment in agricultural soil and edible plants of Mahshahr City, Iran.

In this study, we evaluate the geochemistry of macro- (Fe, P, Ca, S, K, Na, Mg) and micronutrients (Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, Cd, Sr, Cr, Hg, Se), along with possible health risks of heavy metals contamination in agricultural soils and vegetables of the Mahshahr industrial port in Iran. Calculation of geochemical coefficients revealed the low pollution load of Mahshahr agricultural soils. Most of the investigated elements exhibited lower concentrations in soil than international standards.

Development and Implementation of an IoT-Enabled Optimal and Predictive Lighting Control Strategy in Greenhouses.

Global population growth has increased food production challenges and pushed agricultural systems to deploy the Internet of Things (IoT) instead of using conventional approaches. Controlling the environmental parameters, including light, in greenhouses increases the crop yield; nonetheless, the electricity cost of supplemental lighting can be high, and hence, the importance of applying cost-effective lighting methods arises. In this research paper, a new optimal supplemental lighting approach was developed and implemented in a research greenhouse by adopting IoT technology.

Effect of functional electrical stimulation combined with stationary cycling and sit to stand training on mobility and balance performance in a patient with traumatic brain injury: A case report.

Introduction And Importance: This case study investigates the effects of functional electrical stimulation, stationary cycling, and sit-to-stand training in a patient with severe chronic traumatic brain injury.

Case Presentation: The participant was a 24-year-old man with a traumatic brain injury two years prior to the intervention described in this case report. The accident caused right hemiplegia, right foot drop, aphasia, and poor coordination of movement in both upper and lower limbs.

Effect of a Low-Level Laser on Liposomal Doxorubicin Efficacy in a Melanoma Cell Line.

The cytotoxicity of chemotherapy drugs is a significant challenge in the way of surmounting cancer. Liposomal drug delivery has proven to be efficacious in increasing the function of the drugs. Its potential to accumulate drugs in the target site and enhance the efficiency of anti-cancer agents with lower doses hinders their cytotoxicity on normal healthy cells.