Application of the path analysis model to evaluate the role of distress, mental health literacy and burnout in predicting self-care behaviors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Mental complications of diabetes are one of the main obstacles to the implementation of self -care behaviors that have been less studied. Therefore, this study was conducted to survey the effective factors in predicting burnout and self-care behaviors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this Path analysis, 1280 patients with type 2 diabetes were selected from Mashhad (Iran) in 2023 to 2024.

Competitive Ability Effects of L. and L. on the Development of Maize () Seeds.

The objective of this study was to explore the physical properties of maize seeds in competition with weeds. The basic and complex geometric characteristics of seeds from maize plants, competing with L. (DS) or (XS) at different weed densities, were studied.

Host-Induced Silencing of Some Important Genes Involved in Osmoregulation of Parasitic Plant Phelipanche aegyptiaca.

Broomrape is an obligate root-parasitic weed that acts as a competitive sink for host photoassimilates. Disruption of essential processes for growth of broomrape using host plant-mediated systemic signals can help to implement more specific and effective management plans of this parasite. Accordingly, we tested the possibility of transient silencing three involved genes (PaM6PR, PaCWI, and PaSUS1) in osmoregulation process of broomrape using syringe agroinfiltration of dsRNA constructs in tomato.

Developmental patterns of enzyme activity, gene expression, and sugar content in sucrose metabolism of two broomrape species.

A better understanding of broomrape physiological features opens up new perspectives for developing specific management strategies. For this purpose, activities of key enzymes involved in osmoregulation (SAI1, CWI, M6PR, and SUS1) were considered at developmental stages of two important broomrape species (Egyptian and branched broomrape) on tomato. While Egyptian broomrape tubercles had high activities of invertases, branched broomrape shoots revealed high activities of M6PR and SUS1 during both pre- and post-emergence stages except for M6PR at post-emergence stages of P.

Synthesis of nano-sized cyanide ion-imprinted polymer via non-covalent approach and its use for the fabrication of a CN(-)-selective carbon nanotube impregnated carbon paste electrode.

Nano-sized CN(-)-imprinted polymer was synthesized by the copolymerization of methyl methacrylic acid (MAA), vinyl pyridine (VP) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of cyanide ion. The obtained polymeric nanoparticles were incorporated with carbon paste electrode (CPE) to produce a CN(-)-selective electrode. Functional monomer kind had crucial influence on the efficiency of the sensor.

The effect of maternal employment on the elementary and junior high school students' mental health in Maku.

Background & Objective: Most experts view the childhood period as a foundation for shaping the individuals' fundamental future characteristics and behaviors. They believe that parents' personality and behavior quality exert a greater effect on the development of a child's personality than other factors. Given the mothers' role in children's mental health and considering the fact that children are a nation's future makers, the present study was designed to investigate the impact of maternal employment on students' mental health in Maku.

Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) is upregulated by Acanthamoeba plasminogen activator (aPA) and induces proinflammatory cytokine in human corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: Acanthamoeba plasminogen activator (aPA) is a serine protease elaborated by Acanthamoeba trophozoites that facilitates the invasion of trophozoites to the host and contributes to the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). The aim of this study was to explore if aPA stimulates proinflammatory cytokine in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells via the protease-activated receptors (PARs) pathway.

Methods: Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites were grown in peptone-yeast extract glucose for 7 days, and the supernatants were collected and centrifuged.

Pathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba are recognized by TLR4 and initiated inflammatory responses in the cornea.

Free-living amoebae of the Acanthamoeba species are the causative agent of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a sight-threatening corneal infection that causes severe pain and a characteristic ring-shaped corneal infiltrate. Innate immune responses play an important role in resistance against AK. The aim of this study is to determine if Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on corneal epithelial cells are activated by Acanthamoeba, leading to initiation of inflammatory responses in the cornea.

Significance of arachidonic acid in ocular infections and inflammation.

Innate immune responses in the cornea mainly play an important role to mobilize multiple interrelated pathways of corneal lipid, which involve in inflammatory corneal diseases. Signaling lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid (AA) control cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and migration, are known as eicosanoids, phosphoinositides, sphingolipids, and fatty acids. Emerging evidences have highlighted the implication of lipid mediators in both injury and repair mechanisms in the cornea.

Role of protease-activated receptors 2 (PAR2) in ocular infections and inflammation.

Protease-activated receptors (PARs) belong to a unique family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are cleaved at an activation site within the N-terminal exodomain by a variety of proteinases, essentially of the serine (Ser) proteinase family. After cleavage, the new N-terminal sequence functions as a tethered ligand, which binds intramolecularly to activate the receptor and initiate signaling. Cell signals induced through the activation of PARs appear to play a significant role in innate and adoptive immune responses of the cornea, which is constantly exposed to proteinases under physiological or pathophysiological conditions.

Role of phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) inhibitors in attenuating apoptosis of the corneal epithelial cells and mitigation of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

The aim of this study is to determine if the mannose-induced protein (MIP-133) from Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites induces apoptosis of corneal epithelial cells through a cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α)-mediated pathway. The efficacy of cPLA2α inhibitors to provide protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis was examined in vivo. Chinese hamster corneal epithelial (HCORN) cells were incubated with or without MIP-133.

Acanthamoeba-cytopathic protein induces apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokines in human corneal epithelial cells by cPLA2α activation.

Purpose: We have shown that Acanthamoeba interacts with a mannosylated protein on corneal epithelial cells and stimulates trophozoites to secrete a mannose-induced 133 kDa protease (MIP-133), which facilitates corneal invasion and induces apoptosis. The mechanism of MIP-133-induced apoptosis is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if MIP-133 induces apoptosis and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines in human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells via the cytosolic phospholipase A(2α) (cPLA(2α)) pathway.

Inhibition of chemokine receptor expression on uveal melanomas by CXCR4 siRNA and its effect on uveal melanoma liver metastases.

Purpose: To determine whether blocking the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 using siRNA inhibits chemotactic responses of human uveal melanoma cells to liver-derived factors and prevents liver metastases.

Methods: Human uveal melanoma cells were transfected with CXCR4 siRNA or control siRNA and tested in vitro for chemotactic and invasive behavior in response to soluble factors produced by human liver cells. The effect of CXCR4 siRNA transfection on the formation of liver metastases was tested by injecting transfected melanoma cells into the spleen capsules of NOD-SCID mice, and metastases were quantified by measuring the human housekeeping gene hHPRT in livers.

Amoebicidal activities of alexidine against 3 pathogenic strains of acanthamoeba.

Objectives: Effective pharmacotherapy for Acanthamoeba keratitis has been hampered because of the marked resistance of various stains to a variety of antimicrobial agents. In view of the fact that topical Brolene (propamidine isethionate) and neosporin are currently considered to be the first-line medical treatment of choice in Europe, we sought to determine whether Alexidine is equally effective, because the latter drug is more readily available in the United States.

Methods: Trophozoites and cysts from 3 pathogenic corneal isolates (A.

PD-L1 expression on human ocular cells and its possible role in regulating immune-mediated ocular inflammation.

Purpose: To assess the expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on human ocular cells and their potential to regulate ocular inflammation.

Methods: Five categories of human ocular cells were evaluated for PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression by RT-PCR and flow cytometry. Three normal eyes and an inflamed eye from a patient with sympathetic ophthalmia were examined by immunohistochemistry for in situ PD-L1 expression.

Modulation of corneal and stromal matrix metalloproteinase by the mannose-induced Acanthamoeba cytolytic protein.

The involvement of the mannose-induced Acanthamoeba cytopathic protein (MIP-133) in tissue injury and activation of metalloproteinase of corneal and stromal cells was examined in vitro. Activation of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 induced by MIP-133 on human corneal epithelial and stromal cell cultures was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA. MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 mRNA were expressed in both cultured human corneal epithelial and stromal cells.

PD-L1: PD-1 interaction contributes to the functional suppression of T-cell responses to human uveal melanoma cells in vitro.

Purpose: To assess the expression of PD-L1 on human uveal melanomas and its potential to suppress T-cell function.

Methods: A panel of primary and metastatic uveal melanoma cell lines was evaluated for PD-L1 expression by RT-PCR and flow cytometric analysis. Uveal melanoma-containing eyes were examined for PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry.

Differential expression of chemokine receptors on uveal melanoma cells and their metastases.

Purpose: To determine the expression of the chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR7 on human uveal melanoma cells and their metastases and the effect of liver-borne factors on the chemotactic responses of uveal melanoma cells.

Methods: Four human uveal melanoma cell lines and three cell lines of uveal melanoma metastases were examined by RT-PCR and flow cytometry for their constitutive expression of CXCR4 and CCR7. The effect of the liver and liver-borne factors on the expression of CXCR4 and CCR7 was determined after intracameral, intrasplenic, and subcutaneous transplantation of uveal melanoma cells in nude mice.

Role of activated macrophages in Acanthamoeba keratitis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether activating the conjunctival macrophages would affect the course of Acanthamoeba spp. keratitis in a Chinese hamster model of this disease. Chinese hamster spleen cells were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) -containing supernatants were collected 24 hr later.

Effect of immunization with the mannose-induced Acanthamoeba protein and Acanthamoeba plasminogen activator in mitigating Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose: The mannose-induced cytopathic protein (MIP-133) and Acanthamoeba plasminogen activator (aPA) play key roles in the pathogenesis of Acanthamoeba keratitis by inducing a cytopathic effect on the corneal epithelial and stromal cells and by production of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate the invasion of trophozoites through the basement membrane. The goal of the present study was to gain insight into the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba infection as well as to determine whether oral immunization with aPA and MIP-133 produce an additive protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Methods: MIP-133 and aPA were isolated by chromatography.

Ocular immune privilege is circumvented by CD4+ T cells, leading to the rejection of intraocular tumors in an IFN-{gamma}-dependent manner.

Although intraocular tumors reside in an immune-privileged site, they can circumvent immune privilege and undergo rejection, which typically follows one of two pathways. One pathway involves CD4(+) T cells, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), and the culmination in ischemic necrosis of the tumor and phthisis (atrophy) of the eye. The second pathway is DTH-independent and does not inflict collateral injury to ocular tissues, and the eye is preserved.

Intracorneal instillation of latex beads induces macrophage-dependent protection against Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Purpose: Instillation of sterile 1.0 microM latex beads into the central corneal epithelium renders Chinese hamsters resistant to corneal infection with Acanthamoeba castellanii. By contrast, activation of the adaptive immune response by subcutaneous immunization with A.

Downregulation of survivin expression enhances sensitivity of cultured uveal melanoma cells to cisplatin treatment.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a novel anti-apoptotic gene, survivin, on the resistance and susceptibility of human uveal melanoma cells to apoptosis induced by cisplatin. The sensitivity of human uveal melanoma cell lines to apoptosis induced by cisplatin was analyzed by caspase-3 assays. The expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, survivin, was examined by flow cytometry.

Ocular surface restoration using non-surgical transplantation of tissue-cultured human amniotic epithelial cells.

Purpose: To assess the effect of tissue-cultured human amniotic epithelial cells (AECs) in restoring the ocular surface, transplanted using a collagen shield seeded with AECs supported by a soft contact lens.

Design: Prospective interventional single-institutional case series with crossover controls.

Methods: Three eyes in three patients were identified with persistent corneal epithelial defects (PEDs) refractory to medical therapy.