Comparison of flagellin and an oil-emulsion adjuvant in inactivated Newcastle disease vaccine in stimulation of immunogenic parameters.

The present study was designed to investigate the potential application of native (N) and recombinant (truncated modified [tmFliC] and full-length [flFliC]) flagellin proteins along with inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Fifty six SPF chickens were immunized twice with PBS (control), inactivated NDV (Ag), inactivated NDV/flFliC (AgF), inactivated NDV/tmFliC (AgT), inactivated NDV/N (AgN), commercial vaccine containing Montanide (Vac) and Vac/N (VacN), with a two-week interval. Blood was collected weekly and spleens were harvested after chickens were sacrificed.

Supplement Usage Pattern in a Group of COVID- 19 Patients in Tehran.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection, causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and was spread throughout the world in early 2020. The effects of vitamin and micronutrient supplements on the prevention and treatment of COVID- 19 seems challenging in scientific considerations. On the other side generally, experts warn against over-consumption of these supplements.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Study of Yeast-Brachyury Vaccine (GI-6301) in Combination with Standard-of-Care Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced, Unresectable Chordoma.

Background: Brachyury is a transcription factor overexpressed in chordoma and is associated with chemotherapy resistance and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. GI-6301 is a recombinant, heat-killed Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast-based vaccine targeting brachyury. A previous phase I trial of GI-6301 demonstrated a signal of clinical activity in chordomas.

TCR-engineered T cells targeting E7 for patients with metastatic HPV-associated epithelial cancers.

Genetically engineered T cell therapy can induce remarkable tumor responses in hematologic malignancies. However, it is not known if this type of therapy can be applied effectively to epithelial cancers, which account for 80-90% of human malignancies. We have conducted a first-in-human, phase 1 clinical trial of T cells engineered with a T cell receptor targeting HPV-16 E7 for the treatment of metastatic human papilloma virus-associated epithelial cancers (NCT02858310).

Pattern of Uveitis in Iran: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: Uveitis is the third leading cause of blindness worldwide. This study aimed to summarize the pattern of uveitis in Iran through a systematic review.

Methods: This review was conducted according to the guidelines for systematic reviews in the following four steps: literature search, study selection and assessment, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and statistical analysis.

Diagnostic Value of Plasma miR-145 and miR-185 as Targeting of the APRIL Oncogene in the B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most common hematologic malignancy in adults worldwide. This cancer has a poor prognosis at different stages. So, the identification of new biomarkers is important for diagnosis of B-CLL.

Lyophilization stabilizes clinical-stage core-crosslinked polymeric micelles to overcome cold chain supply challenges.

Background: CriPec technology enables the generation of drug-entrapped biodegradable core-crosslinked polymeric micelles (CCPM) with high drug loading capacity, tailorable size, and drug release kinetics. Docetaxel (DTX)-entrapped CCPM, also referred to as CPC634, have demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and enhanced tumor uptake in patients. Clinical efficacy evaluation is ongoing.

and Studies on HPMA-Based Polymeric Micelles Loaded with Curcumin.

Curcumin-loaded polymeric micelles composed of poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(-2-benzoyloxypropyl methacrylamide) (mPEG--p(HPMA-Bz)) were prepared to solubilize and improve the pharmacokinetics of curcumin. Curcumin-loaded micelles were prepared by a nanoprecipitation method using mPEG--p(HPMA-Bz) copolymers with varying molecular weight of the hydrophobic block (5.2, 10.

Should all patients with hypertension be worried about developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

Background: Hypertension, the most common comorbidity among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, is accompanied by worse clinical outcomes, but there is lack of evidence about prognostic factors among COVID-19 patients with hypertension. We have come up with some prognostic factors to predict the severity of COVID-19 among hypertensive patients. In addition, epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory differences among COVID-19 patients with and without underlying hypertension were evaluated.

Flow cytometric Immunophenotyping and Hematological Findings at Diagnosis and Relapse of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common pediatric leukemia caused by lymphoid precursor proliferation. We analyzed immunophenotyping and hematological findings, as the risk of relapse, of pediatric ALL patients at diagnosis and relapse.

Methods: Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of 30 pediatric ALL patients were collected at diagnosis and at relapse.

Diversity of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria in the largest seasonal hypersaline lake (Aran-Bidgol-Iran).

Purpose: In this study, the culturable halophilic and halotolerant bacterial diversity was determined in Aran-Bidgol as a thalassohaline seasonal hypersaline lake in Iran.

Methods: Thirty water, soil, sediments, coastal mud, multi-color brines and salt crystals samples were extracted and cultured using different media and incubation conditions. Totally 958 isolates were obtained and 87 isolates were selected for further studies, based on morphological, physiological and biochemical tests, representing different morphotypes.

Palmitoylation of Membrane-Penetrating Magainin Derivatives Reinforces Necroptosis in A549 Cells Dependent on Peptide Conformational Propensities.

Anticancer lipopeptides (ACLPs) are considered promising alternatives to combat resistant cancer cells, but the influence of peptide conformational propensity alone on their selectivity and mechanism remains obscure. In this study, we developed -palmitoylated MK5E (P1MK5E) and MEK5 (P1MEK5) that have the same composition of 23 residues undergoing the pH-dependent structural alterations but differ in the conformational tendency of their amino acid composites. Nonlipidated peptides were readily accumulated in the A549 cell nucleus by the direct membrane translocation and the heparan sulfate-mediated endocytosis than the lipid-raft-dependent pathway.

Are Epitopic Sites of 3AB and 3D Nonstructural Proteins Sufficient for Detection of Foot and Mouth Disease?

An efficient method for detection of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and, particularly, differentiation of vaccinated from infected animals is the use of nonstructural (NS) proteins as antigens in Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kits. In this study, only epitopic regions of 3AB and 3D NS proteins were used for recombinant protein production, as a cost-effective method instead of peptide synthesis, for application in in-house ELISA diagnostic kits. Specific primers were designed according to the antigenic regions of 3AB (C-terminus of 3A and the whole 3B) and 3D (N-terminus) proteins, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was performed.

Ultrasonic-assisted production of zero-valent iron-decorated graphene oxide/activated carbon nanocomposites: Chemical transformation and structural evolution.

Nanotechnology has revolutionized many fields and produced nanostructures are promising materials for different industries. Nanoadsorbents as an emerging class of nanostructures can have potential applications for the separation and removal of both hazardous materials (such as heavy metals from water) and useful ingredients (such as vitamins and natural pigments from food wastes). The present study introduces a novel nanoadsorbent based on the ternary combination of zero valent iron/graphene oxide/active carbon (nZVI/GO-AC) with different formulations and using ultrasonication for improved physical properties.

Investigating plant uptake of organic contaminants through transpiration stream concentration factor and neural network models.

Uptake of seven organic contaminants including bisphenol A, estriol, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), carbamazepine, acetaminophen, and lincomycin by tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

Tuning Size and Morphology of mPEG--p(HPMA-Bz) Copolymer Self-Assemblies Using Microfluidics.

The careful design of nanoparticles, in terms of size and morphology, is of great importance to developing effective drug delivery systems. The ability to precisely tailor nanoparticles in size and morphology during polymer self-assembly was therefore investigated. Four poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(-2-benzoyloxypropyl methacrylamide) mPEG--p(HPMA-Bz) block copolymers with a fixed hydrophilic block of mPEG 5 kDa and a varying molecular weight of the hydrophobic p(HPMA-Bz) block (A: 17.

Estimating the whole-body effective dose and health risks as well as introducing a new easy method for eye lens dosimetry in interventional cardiology procedures.

This study aimed to introduce a new method for eye lens thermo-luminescent dosimetry and also estimate the dose associated with induced cancer risk due to the ionizing radiation exposure received by physicians and other staff cooperating in interventional cardiology (IC) procedures. The measurements were performed with six TLDs (thermoluminescent dosimeters): four TLDs for eye lens dosimetry (2 positioned on respiratory/surgical mask under the eye region as the new method; and 2 near the outside border of the eye as the common method) and two TLDs for whole-body dosimetry. Whole-body doses were used to calculate the cancer risks induced by IC procedures.

Zinc Protects against MDMA-Induced Apoptosis of Sertoli Cells in Mouse via Attenuation of Caspase-3.

Background: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) disrupts function of the endocrine system and different organs such as heart, blood vessels, kidney, liver and nervous systems. This revision was conducted to evaluate impact of MDMA on apoptosis and Zinc in the MDMA-induced apoptosis of cultured Sertoli cells by measuring gene expression.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, Sertoli cells were incubated with MDMA (0, 0.

Zinc attenuates ecstasy-induced apoptosis through downregulation of caspase-3 in cultured TM3 cells: An experimental study.

Background: 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly known as the most famous amphetamine derivative.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of zinc on MDMA-induced apoptosis and caspase- 3 gene expression in Leydig cell line (TM3).

Materials And Methods: Leydig cells were studied in differenet treatment groups regarding MDMA (0, 0.

Postoperative Outcomes and Advantages of Hand-Sewn Laparoscopic One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: Experience on 805 Patients.

Purpose: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is a novel laparoscopic approach. The anastomosis of OAGB can be sewn either with a stapler or manually. The aim of this study is to determine the outcome of hand-sewn OAGB.

Molecular dynamics analysis predicts ritonavir and naloxegol strongly block the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-hACE2 binding.

The rapid emergence of COVID-19 pandemics has posed humans particularly vulnerable to the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since drug discovery is both expensive and time-consuming, drug repurposing approaches are believed to be of particular help. The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein is known to attach human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (hACE2) through its receptor-binding domain (RBD).

Discrimination of Two-Class Motor Imagery in a fNIRS Based Brain Computer Interface.

The purpose of this study was to discriminate between left- and right-hand motor imagery tasks. We recorded the brain signals from two participants using a fNIRS system and compared different feature extraction (mean, peak, minimum, skewness and kurtosis) and classification techniques (linear (LDA) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression, K-nearest-neighbor (KNN), and neural networks with Levenberg-Marquardt (LMA), Bayesian Regularization (BRANN) and Scaled Conjugate Gradient (SCGA) training algorithms). The results showed poor classification accuracies (<; 58%) when skewness and kurtosis were used.