Silk Fibroin Nanoadjuvant as a Promising Vaccine Carrier to Deliver the FimH-IutA Antigen for Urinary Tract Infection.

In this study, the silk fibroin nanoparticle (SFNP) was used as a nanoadjuvant in combination with a multiepitope-based vaccine for urinary tract infection (UTI). Nanoparticles containing the fusion protein were analyzed for physicochemical properties, toxicity, release profile, and in vivo potency. The synthesized nanovaccine showed a spherical shape with a mean particle size of 180 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 88%.

LCST polymers with UCST behavior.

In this study, temperature dependent behavior of dense dispersions of core crosslinked flower-like micelles is investigated. Micelles were prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of two ABA block copolymers with PEG B-blocks and thermosensitive A-blocks containing PNIPAM and crosslinkable moieties. At a temperature above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), self-assembly of the polymers resulted in the formation of flower-like micelles with a hydrophilic PEG shell and a hydrophobic core.

Short- and long-term associations of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation with left atrial structure and function: A cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Background: The effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation on the left atrium (LA) are poorly understood.

Objectives: To examine short- and long-term associations of AF catheter ablation with LA function using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).

Methods: Fifty-one AF patients (mean age 56 ± 8 years) underwent CMR at baseline, 1 day (n = 17) and 11 ± 2 months after ablation (n = 38).

Radiofrequency ablation: technological trends, challenges, and opportunities.

More than three decades have passed since utilization of radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Although several limitations and challenges still exist, with improvements in catheter designs and delivery of energy the way we do RF ablation now is much safer and more efficient. This review article aims to give an overview on historical advances on RF ablation and challenges in performing safe and efficient ablation.

Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale: Translation, Test, and Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to translate, test and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES) in Persian language.

Methods: Participants consisted of two samples: a clinical sample of 120 patients (58%) with insomnia disorder meeting DSM-5 criteria for insomnia and a non-clinical sample of 110 participants (42%) with normal sleep. Both samples completed the following measures: GSES, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale-10, Pre Sleep Arousal Scale-cognitive subscale, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21 and sleep diary.

Author Correction: Dynamic response of the nonlocal strain-stress gradient in laminated polymer composites microtubes.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Local and distant tumor dormancy during early stage breast cancer are associated with the predominance of infiltrating T effector subsets.

Background: Although breast cancer mortality is a result of distant recurrences associated with the establishment of tumor dormancy, current clinical practice guidelines recommend a wait and watch approach for tumor recurrences. This is because of our limited understanding of tumor dormancy and insufficient evidence in support of immunological control of tumor dormancy.

Methods: We used FVBN202 transgenic mice expressing rat neu oncogene in the mammary glands, and their parental FVB strain lacking neu expression.

The protective effect of hypothermia on postoperative cognitive deficit may be attenuated by prolonged coronary artery bypass time: Meta-analysis and meta-regression.

There is controversy about whether hypothermia during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is effective in reducing postoperative cognitive deficit (POCD). The objective of this study was to determine the effect of hypothermia on POCD and to undertake a meta-regression to determine whether moderator variables mediate the relationship between hypothermia and POCD. We searched the Web of Science, PubMed database, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library database (up to June 2017), and systematically reviewed a list of retrieved articles.

Neutrophilic inflammation in the respiratory mucosa predisposes to RSV infection.

The variable outcome of viral exposure is only partially explained by known factors. We administered respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to 58 volunteers, of whom 57% became infected. Mucosal neutrophil activation before exposure was highly predictive of symptomatic RSV disease.

In silico analysis and in vivo assessment of a novel epitope-based vaccine candidate against uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are common pathogens in urinary tract infections (UTIs), which show resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, there is a need for a vaccine to reduce susceptibility to the infection. In the present study, bioinformatics approaches were employed to predict the best B and T-cell epitopes of UPEC virulence proteins to develop a multiepitope vaccine candidate against UPEC.

Utility of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Versus Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography for Risk Stratification for Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis.

Abnormalities on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and positron emission tomography (PET) predict ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). Little is known whether concurrent abnormalities on CMR and PET increases the risk of developing VA. Our aim was to compare the additive utility of CMR and PET in predicting VA in patients with CS.

Pure fat grafting for breast reconstruction: An alternative autologous breast reconstruction.

Plastic surgeons offer various options for breast reconstruction based on patient preference, underlying disease, and comorbidities. An alternative form of breast reconstruction exists, which includes tissue expansion with tissue expander and subsequent fat grafting without the use of implant or flap. We retrospectively reviewed the breast cancer patients who underwent breast reconstruction at our institution to identify those with pure fat grafting.

Microplastic distributions in a domestic wastewater treatment plant: Removal efficiency, seasonal variation and influence of sampling technique.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve as an important route of microplastics (MPs) to the environment. Therefore, more effective MPs sampling and detection methodologies, as well as a better understanding of their influence on MPs occurrence and distributions in WWTP effluents, are needed for better removal and control. In this work, the efficiency of a municipal WWTP to remove MPs was assessed by collecting samples from raw to tertiary effluent during a 12-month sampling campaign (season-based) using different sampling methods (containers, 24-h composite and large grab samples).

Paget Disease of the Breast in Pregnancy and Lactation.

Paget's disease of the breast (PDB) is a rare breast carcinoma believed to arise from an underlying in situ or invasive ductal cancer that migrates through the epidermis causing characteristic skin changes including scaling, redness, and itching of the nipple, areola, and sometimes the surrounding skin. Although Paget's may mimic benign conditions such as contact or allergic eczema and mastitis, it should remain a strong consideration in the differential diagnosis , especially in peripartum women for whom benign conditions such as bacterial mastitis from breastfeeding are common. The workup of Paget's should focus on both making the diagnosis with nipple/skin scrape cytology or punch biopsy as well as evaluating any underlying mass with mammogram, breast ultrasound , and also a core needle biopsy , if required.

Concerns of Hereditary Breast Cancer in Pregnancy and Lactation.

Genetic testing should be offered to all women less than 40 years of age who are diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with PABC are generally among them. However, there is no specific study about these cases, and whether genetic testing should be carried out during or after pregnancy is not known. Generally, testing before delivery should only be performed if positive results change management plans, such as undergoing fetal testing and choosing mastectomy instead of breast conserving surgery.

Investigating the relationship between ccfDNA concentration, its integrity, and some individual factors in an Iranian population.

Introduction: Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) increases in some pathologic conditions like cancer. We aimed to investigate the correlation between some individual factors and the ccfDNA level in peripheral blood of Iranian in relation to prostate cancer.

Material And Method: 30 patients with prostate cancer (PCa), 40 with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), and 30 controls were studied.

The Effect of Supernatant and Cell Mass on the Proliferation Potential of Rat Bone Marrow-Derived Stromal Cells.

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used to treat various diseases, however, their proliferative potential reduces after a number of passages. It has been shown that some probiotics such as () affect the proliferation of various cell lineages. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of on the proliferation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) and to develop a method for compensating their proliferation reduction after some passages.

Impact of two different dehydration methods on saffron quality, concerning the prevalence of Saffron latent virus (SaLV) in Iran.

The dehydration process is a prerequisite to preserve saffron for a long time. According to this process, saffron shows differences in the main compounds responsible for its quality (colour, taste, aroma, and flavonol content). At present, the freeze-drying method obtains dried products with the highest quality.

Effect of Acupressure on Dynamic Balance in Elderly Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Balance disorders are common in the elderly and are a major cause of falls. This study aimed to determine the effect of acupressure on dynamic balance in elderly women.

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 72 elderly women in Qazvin, Iran.

School health assessment tools: a systematic review of measurement in primary schools.

Background: This systematic review aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the school health's assessment tools in primary schools through COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. We examined the studies that have addressed the measurement properties of school-health instruments to give a clear overview of the quality of all available tools measuring school health in primary schools. This systematic review was registered in PROPERO with the Registration ID: CRD42020158158.

Characteristics and transmission dynamics of COVID-19 in healthcare workers at a London teaching hospital.

Background: Healthcare worker (HCW)-associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is of global concern due to the potential for nosocomial spread and depletion of staff numbers. However, the literature on transmission routes and risk factors for COVID-19 in HCWs is limited.

Aim: To examine the characteristics and transmission dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in HCWs in a university teaching hospital in London, UK.

Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness and Its Relationship with Spiritual Wellbeing in Iranian Cancer Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychosocial adjustment to illness and its relation with spiritual health in cancer patients.

Methods: This study was conducted in 2019 in Iran. It was a descriptive study with a sample of 124 cancer patients.

Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Insomnia Diurnal Impact Scale (IDIS).

Background: Insomnia disorder is characterized by nighttime and daytime symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Persian version of the Insomnia Diurnal Impact Scale (IDIS) as a screening tool to evaluate diurnal effects of sleep fragmentation in Iranians.

Methods: Of 300 individuals recruited, 150 had insomnia disorder based on DSM-5 criteria and 150 were good sleepers based on research diagnostic criteria.