Evaluation of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder risk factors.

Background. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among children. The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors for ADHD in children.

Formulation of abalone hemocyanin with high antiviral activity and stability.

Hemocyanin has been shown to have potential antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type-1. However, current liquid formulations have short shelf life and high risk of bacterial contamination. The aim of our study was to develop a stable functional formulation.

Impact of MACC1 on human malignant glioma progression and patients' unfavorable prognosis.

Background: Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) has been established as an independent prognostic indicator of metastasis formation and metastasis-free survival for patients with colon cancer and other solid tumors. However, no data are available concerning MACC1 expression in human astrocytic tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent primary brain tumor of adulthood, and due to its invasive and rapid growth, patients have unfavorable prognoses.

Designing of an intensification process for biosynthesis and recovery of menaquinone-7.

A nutritional food rich in menaquinone-7 has a potential in preventing osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. The static fermentation of Bacillus subtilis natto is widely regarded as an optimum process for menaquinone-7 production. The major issues for the bulk production of menaquinone-7 are the low fermentation yield, biofilm formation and the use of organic solvents for the vitamin extraction.

A sugar-based phase-transitioning delivery system for bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering approaches commonly involve the delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMPs). However, there are limitations associated with the currently used carriers, including the need for surgical implantation and the associated increase in infection risk. As an alternative to traditional porous collagen sponge, we have adopted a solution of the injectable sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB) as a carrier for rhBMP-2.

Coculture system with an organotypic brain slice and 3D spheroid of carcinoma cells.

Patients with cerebral metastasis of carcinomas have a poor prognosis. However, the process at the metastatic site has barely been investigated, in particular the role of the resident (stromal) cells. Studies in primary carcinomas demonstrate the influence of the microenvironment on metastasis, even on prognosis(1,2).

Vitamin K series: current status and future prospects.

The Vitamin K series, particularly menaquinone, have been attracting research attention, due to the potential in reducing both osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. This review provides an overview of the types of vitamin K and their health benefits. This is followed by a critical review of the various biotechnological approaches used in the production of menaquinone, including solid and liquid state fermentations, extraction and recovery.

The G protein-coupled receptor 55 ligand l-α-lysophosphatidylinositol exerts microglia-dependent neuroprotection after excitotoxic lesion.

Searching for chemical agents and molecular targets protecting against secondary neuronal damage reflects one major issue in neuroscience. Cannabinoids limit neurodegeneration by activation of neuronal G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 ) and microglial G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2 ). However, pharmacological experiments with CB1 /CB2 -deficient mice unraveled the existence of further, so-called non-CB1 /non-CB2 G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) subtypes.

The effect of propolis as a biological storage media on periodontal ligament cell survival in an avulsed tooth: an in vitro study.

Objective: Both the length of extra-alveolar time and type of storage media are significant factors that can affect the long-term prognosis of replanted teeth. This study aims to compare propolis 50%, propolis 10%, Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS), milk and egg white on periodontal ligament (PDL) cell survival for different time points.

Materials And Methods: : In this in vitro experimental study, we divided 60 extracted teeth without any periodontal diseases into five experimental and two control groups that consisted each experimental group with 10 and each control group with 5 teeth.

Nanoscale chemical interaction enhances the physical properties of bioglass composites.

Bioglasses are favorable biomaterials for bone tissue engineering; however, their applications are limited due to their brittleness. In addition, the early failure in the interface is a common problem of composites of bioglass and a polymer with high mechanical strength. This effect is due to the phase separation, nonhomogeneous mixture, nonuniform mechanical strength, and different degradation properties of two compounds.

Electrospun scaffolds for tissue engineering of vascular grafts.

There is a growing demand for off-the-shelf tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) for the replacement or bypass of damaged arteries in various cardiovascular diseases. Scaffolds from the decellularized tissue skeletons to biopolymers and biodegradable synthetic polymers have been used for fabricating TEVGs. However, several issues have not yet been resolved, which include the inability to mimic the mechanical properties of native tissues, and the ability for long-term patency and growth required for in vivo function.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the screen for child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED).

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Persian translation of the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders-child version (SCARED-C) in a community sample of 557 children, aged 9-13 years, in the city of Isfahan, Iran. In addition to the SCARED-C, all the participants completed the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The SCARED-C demonstrated moderate to high internal consistency (alpha=0.

Carcinoma cells misuse the host tissue damage response to invade the brain.

The metastatic colonization of the brain by carcinoma cells is still barely understood, in particular when considering interactions with the host tissue. The colonization comes with a substantial destruction of the surrounding host tissue. This leads to activation of damage responses by resident innate immune cells to protect, repair, and organize the wound healing, but may distract from tumoricidal actions.

Engineering functional epithelium for regenerative medicine and in vitro organ models: a review.

Recent advances in the fields of microfabrication, biomaterials, and tissue engineering have provided new opportunities for developing biomimetic and functional tissues with potential applications in disease modeling, drug discovery, and replacing damaged tissues. An intact epithelium plays an indispensable role in the functionality of several organs such as the trachea, esophagus, and cornea. Furthermore, the integrity of the epithelial barrier and its degree of differentiation would define the level of success in tissue engineering of other organs such as the bladder and the skin.

Overexpression of the Hedgehog signalling pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Overexpression of the Hedgehog (HH) signalling pathway has been described in several malignancies and is associated with a poor prognosis. HH signalling blockade reduces tumour growth in vitro and in vivo. We aimed to determine whether head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) express HH proteins in comparison to healthy mucosa.

Organotypic slice cultures of human glioblastoma reveal different susceptibilities to treatments.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common lethal brain tumor in human adults, with no major therapeutic breakthroughs in recent decades. Research is based mostly on human tumor cell lines deprived of their organotypic environment or inserted into immune-deficient animals required for graft survival. Here, we describe how glioblastoma specimens obtained from surgical biopsy material can be sectioned and transferred into cultures within minutes.

Molecular interactions in coupled PMMA-bioglass hybrid networks.

Organic-inorganic hybrids were produced by chemical bonding of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and bioglass using the silane coupling agent (3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate (MPMA)). The effects of MPMA : PMMA molar ratio and volume fraction of polymer solution on the characteristics of hybrids were assessed. H, C and Si solid state NMR analyses were used to investigate the structural features at molecular level to better understand the impact of coupling agent on the network structure of hybrids.

Intrinsic up-regulation of 2-AG favors an area specific neuronal survival in different in vitro models of neuronal damage.

Background: The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) acts as a retrograde messenger and modulates synaptic signaling e. g. in the hippocampus.

Comparison of Q-Switched 1064-nm Nd: YAG laser and fractional CO2 laser efficacies on improvement of atrophic facial acne scar.

Background: Acne scarring is treatable by a variety of modalities. Ablative carbon dioxide laser (ACL), while effective, is associated with undesirable side effect profiles. Newer modalities using the principles of fractional photothermolysis (FP) produce modest results than traditional carbon dioxide (CO(2)) lasers but with fewer side effects.

Parenting Self Efficacy in Mothers of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder vs. Normal Children.

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to compare parenting self efficacy between mothers of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mothers of normal children.

Method: One hundred twenty mothers including 60 mothers of children with ADHD and 62 mothers of normal children were selected. In each group the participants were allocated between three subgroups of preschool, first and second grade of primary school.

Effect of combined density gradient centrifugation on X- and Y- sperm separation and chromatin integrity.

Background: It has been claimed that by using different washing methods, the sperms can be separated according to size, motility, density, chromosomal content and surface markings and charge. These methods also reduce sperm chromatin deficiencies and screen the sperms before applying in assisted reproduction techniques.

Objective: This study compared simple density gradient methods and a combined method with albumin density gradient and PureSperm separation (alb/PureSperm) for sex preselection by double fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) versus chromomycin A3 staining to determine chromatin integrity.

Effect of biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis natto on menaquinone-7 biosynthesis.

Bacillus subtilis natto is the key microorganism for the industrial production of menaquinone-7. The fermentation of this bacterium in static culture is associated with biofilm formation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of biofilm formation on menaquinone-7 production to develop a suitable bio-reactor for the production of menaquinone-7.

Propidium iodide staining: a new application in fluorescence microscopy for analysis of cytoarchitecture in adult and developing rodent brain.

Immunohistochemical visualization of antigens in specimen has evolved to an indispensable technique in biomedical research for investigations of cell morphology and pathology both in bright field and fluorescence microscopy. While there are couple of staining methods that reveal entire cytoarchitecture in bright field microscopy such as Nissl or hemalaun-eosin, there are still limitations in visualizations of cytoarchitecture in fluorescence microscopy. The present study reports a simple staining method that provides the required illustration of cell allocations and cellular composition in fluorescence microscopy in adult and in developing rodent central nervous system using the fluorophore propidium iodide (PI, 5μg/mL).

Time dependent neuroprotection of mycophenolate mofetil: effects on temporal dynamics in glial proliferation, apoptosis, and scar formation.

Background: Immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) have the capacity to inhibit microglial and astrocytic activation and to reduce the extent of cell death after neuronal injury. This study was designed to determine the effective neuroprotective time frame in which MMF elicits its beneficial effects, by analyzing glial cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.

Methods: Using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs), temporal dynamics of proliferation and apoptosis after N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated excitotoxicity were analyzed by quantitative morphometry of Ki-67 or cleaved caspase-3 immunoreactive glial cells.

Site-specific and time-dependent activation of the endocannabinoid system after transection of long-range projections.

Background: After focal neuronal injury the endocannabinioid system becomes activated and protects or harms neurons depending on cannabinoid derivates and receptor subtypes. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) play a central role in controlling local responses and influencing neural plasticity and survival. However, little is known about the functional relevance of eCBs in long-range projection damage as observed in stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI).