The Effect of Female Sex on Hepatitis C Incidence Among People Who Inject Drugs: Results From the International Multicohort InC3 Collaborative.

Background: The objective of this study was to assess differences in hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence by sex in people who inject drugs (PWID), using a large international multicohort set of pooled biological and behavioral data from prospective observational studies of incident human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HCV infections in high-risk cohorts (the InC3 Collaborative).

Methods: HCV infection date was estimated based on a hierarchy of successive serological (anti-HCV), virological (HCV RNA), and clinical (symptoms and/or liver function tests) data. We used a Cox proportional hazards model to calculate the crude and adjusted female to male (F:M) hazard ratio (HR) for HCV incidence using biological sex as the main exposure.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation for reconstruction of a patch-repaired right ventricular outflow tract.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is nowadays an accepted treatment option to repair post-surgical conduit dysfunction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). In addition, many patients need a pulmonary valve to reconstruct a hemodynamically incompetent native or conduit free outflow tract. Based on our experience with percutaneous stent-valve placement in a cohort of 125 patients, we report here transvenous reconstruction of a conduit-free, patch repaired outflow tract by utilizing balloon-expandable stent-valves in 23 patients with a median age of 22 years (5-60 years).

Integrative model of leukocyte genomics and organ dysfunction in heart failure patients requiring mechanical circulatory support: a prospective observational study.

Background: The implantation of mechanical circulatory support devices in heart failure patients is associated with a systemic inflammatory response, potentially leading to death from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Previous studies point to the involvement of many mechanisms, but an integrative hypothesis does not yet exist. Using time-dependent whole-genome mRNA expression in circulating leukocytes, we constructed a systems-model to improve mechanistic understanding and prediction of adverse outcomes.

The effect of peer support groups on family adaptation from the perspective of wives of war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of peer group support on family adaptation of wives of war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Design And Sample: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 wives of war veterans with PTSD were incorporated, and selected participants were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups (n = 40 per group). The intervention group was divided into four subgroups, with each participating in eight weekly based 1.

Synthesis of a novel structure for the oral delivery of insulin and the study of its effect on diabetic rats.

Common materials used for drug delivery in the body are: liposomes, micelles, polymer capsules, dendrimers, nanoparticles, porous materials, etc. Drug delivery system should be inert, biodegradable, have high biocompatibility and the ability to load large amounts of the drug with known concentration while having a simple and economical sterilizing process. In this study we produced mesoporous silica nanostructures coated with polyamide amine dendrimer that were placed in chitosan-gelatin scaffolds.

The Preparation of Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles from Aspicilia lichens Using Bifido Bacteria for Help in the Treatment of Diabetes in Rats In Vivo.

Many common herbs and spices are claimed to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of diabetes. The main of compounds of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa), rhubarb (Rheum ribes), membrane inner of egg shell, wool of sheep, human fingernail (unguis), hyaluronic acid produced by the Bifidobacterium, and usnic acid of Aspicilia lichen were extracted by different methods. All compounds of the extract were divided into five groups.

Performance comparison of two herbal and industrial medicines using nanoparticles with a starch/cellulose shell and alginate core for drug delivery: In vitro studies.

In this study, the performance of two kinds of industrial and herbal drugs encapsulated in nanoparticles with a shell of starch and cellulose and an alginate core were examined as a new technique for nanoparticle drug delivery. The test method involved creating a suspension of starch and alginate, which was then dried, mixed with cellulose, and heated to form core-shell nanoparticles. The industrial drug calcitonin and an extract of the herb Amaranthus retroflexcus L.

Optimization, synthesis, and characterization of coaxial electrospun sodium carboxymethyl cellulose-graft-methyl acrylate/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers for potential drug-delivery applications.

In this study, nanofiber drug carriers were fabricated via coaxial electrospinning, using a new, degradable core-shell nanofiber drug carrier fabricated via coaxial electrospinning. Fabrication of the shell was carried out by graft polymerization of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) with methyl acrylate (TCMC) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was used as a drug model incorporated within the nanofibers as the core, and their performance as a drug carrier scaffold was evaluated.

Iron oxide nanoparticles may damage to the neural tissue through iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation.

Background: In the recent decade, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been proposed for several applications in the central nervous system (CNS), including targeting amyloid beta (Aβ) in the arteries, inhibiting the microglial cells, delivering drugs, and increasing contrast in magnetic resonance imaging. Conversely, a notable number of studies have reported the role of iron in neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study has reviewed the recent studies to determine whether IONPs iron can threaten the cellular viability same as iron.

Human brain metastatic stroma attracts breast cancer cells via chemokines CXCL16 and CXCL12.

The tumor microenvironment is composed of heterogeneous populations of cells, including cancer, immune, and stromal cells. Progression of tumor growth and initiation of metastasis is critically dependent on the reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and stroma. Through RNA-Seq and protein analyses, we found that cancer-associated fibroblasts derived from human breast cancer brain metastasis express significantly higher levels of chemokines CXCL12 and CXCL16 than fibroblasts from primary breast tumors or normal breast.

Investigation of composition extracts, biological activities and optimization of Solanum nigrum L. extraction growing in Iran.

Raw materials including medicinal plants are gaining popularity for the production of reliable and safe medicines suitable for human. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is a collection of mathematical and statistical techniques used for solving the optimization problems. Using the RSM method, compounds, extracts, antioxidant and antibacterial agents of methanol, hexane, chloroform and water extracts of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) found in Iran, had been studied for this research.

Electrospinning of thermoplastic carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers for use in drug-release systems.

Polymeric delivery systems using electrospun nanofibers have been developed for many applications, notably for drug delivery and tissue engineering in the healthcare industry. In this study, a nanofiber drug carrier was fabricated via two different electrospinning processes, blend and coaxial, using a new degradable thermoplastic carboxymethyl cellulose (TCMC) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). The TCMC was synthesized by graft copolymerization with methyl acrylate.

Home use of a bihormonal bionic pancreas versus insulin pump therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes: a multicentre randomised crossover trial.

Background: The safety and effectiveness of a continuous, day-and-night automated glycaemic control system using insulin and glucagon has not been shown in a free-living, home-use setting. We aimed to assess whether bihormonal bionic pancreas initialised only with body mass can safely reduce mean glycaemia and hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 diabetes who were living at home and participating in their normal daily routines without restrictions on diet or physical activity.

Methods: We did a random-order crossover study in volunteers at least 18 years old who had type 1 diabetes and lived within a 30 min drive of four sites in the USA.

Optimization of in vitro release of an anticonvulsant using nanocapsule-based thermogels.

Controlling the release rate of anticonvulsant drugs can have a significant effect on the efficacy of these drugs and the safety with which they can be administered to patients. This study investigated in vitro release of the anticonvulsant ethosuximide from nanocapsule-based N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan and hyaluronan-methylcellulose hydrogels using two experimental designs: a one-factor-at-a-time method and an optimization method employing a Taguchi design. Using the first method, the release rate of the drug was significantly reduced compared with other delivery systems.

Effects of Training Load and Leg Dominance on Achilles and Patellar Tendon Structure.

Purpose: Detrimental changes in tendon structure increase the risk of tendinopathies. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of individual internal and external training loads and leg dominance on changes in the Achilles and patellar tendon structure.

Methods: The internal structure of the Achilles and patellar tendons of both limbs of 26 elite Australian footballers was assessed using ultrasound tissue characterization at the beginning and the end of an 18-wk preseason.

Rapid upregulation of the hippocampal connexins 36 and 45 mRNA levels during memory consolidation.

Gap junction channels are implicated in learning and memory process. However, their role on each of the particular stages of memory formation has been studied less. In this study, the time profile of the expression levels of hippocampal connexins 36 and 45 (Cx36 and Cx45) mRNAs was measured during memory consolidation, in a passive avoidance paradigm.

Higher incidence of HCV in females compared to males who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Women who inject drugs have been shown to have higher incidence of HIV and risk behaviours than men, but there are conflicting reports about hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence. We systematically reviewed the literature to examine the female-to-male (F:M) HCV incidence in female and male persons who inject drugs (PWID), and also to explore the heterogeneity (i.e.

Probiotics in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Systematic Review and Evidence Synthesis of Benefits and Risks.

People living with human immunodeficiency virus frequently use dietary supplements, including probiotics, but concern exists about ingesting live organisms. We performed a systematic review of the benefits of probiotics and a meta-analysis of sepsis risk. We undertook a protocol-driven, comprehensive review to identify all relevant studies, assess their quality, and summarize the evidence.

Comparative Accuracy of 17 Point-of-Care Glucose Meters.

Background: The accuracy of point-of-care blood glucose (BG) meters is important for the detection of dysglycemia, calculation of insulin doses, and the calibration of continuous glucose monitors. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of commercially available glucose meters in a challenging laboratory study using samples with a wide range of reference BG and hemoglobin values.

Methods: Fresh, discarded blood samples from a hospital STAT laboratory were either used without modification, spiked with a glucose solution, or incubated at 37°C to produce 347 samples with an even distribution across reference BG levels from 20 to 440 mg/dl and hemoglobin values from 9 to 16 g/dl.

Optimization of process parameters for removal of heavy metals by biomass of Cu and Co-doped alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles.

In this study, the efficiency of alginate-coated chitosan nanoparticles (Alg-CS-NPs) for removal of heavy metals from industrial effluents was investigated. To this end, the researchers constructed a reactor containing biomass, using response surface methodology (RSM) for process optimization. Reactor tests were carried out with both synthetic and industrial effluents containing nickel.

Increasing thermal stability and catalytic activity of glutamate decarboxylase in E. coli: An in silico study.

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is an enzyme that converts l-glutamate to gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) that is a widely used drug to treat mental disorders like Alzheimer's disease. In this study for the first time point mutation was performed virtually in the active site of the E. coli GAD in order to increase thermal stability and catalytic activity of the enzyme.

Transient expression of recombinant ACKR4 (CCRL1) gene, an atypical chemokine receptor in human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells.

ACKR4 also called CCX-CKR, CCRL1 as a member of atypical chemokine receptors, regulates the biological responses by clearance or transporting homeostatic chemokines such as CCL19, CCL21, CCL25, and CXCL13. Since these chemokines are involved in cancer development and metastasis, ACKR4 could have inhibition roles in cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Forming complexes with chemokine receptors by ACKR4 as in the case of hCXCR3 which lead to chemotaxis prevention is the other function of this protein is.

A Biodesigned Nanocomposite Biomaterial for Auricular Cartilage Reconstruction.

Current biomaterials for auricular replacement are associated with high rates of infection and extrusion. The development of new auricular biomaterials that mimic the mechanical properties of native tissue and promote desirable cellular interactions may prevent implant failure. A porous 3D nanocomposite scaffold (NS) based on POSS-PCU (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocage into polycarbonate based urea-urethane) is developed with an elastic modulus similar to native ear.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of novel α, β unsaturated amides.

Three derivatives of α,β unsaturated amides have been successfully synthesized via Ugi-four component (U-4CR) reaction. The interactions of the amides with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ct-DNA) have been investigated in the Tris-HCl buffer (pH=7.4) using viscometric, spectroscopic, thermal denaturation studies, and also molecular docking.