Application of two novel anionic peroxidases from L. var roots in labeling antibodies and developing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

HRP, or horseradish peroxidase, is a reporter enzyme with extensive use in biotechnological applications. We previously reported the purification and characterization of two anionic peroxidases from L. var (black radish) roots.

Design and construction of a phage-displayed Camelid nanobody library using a simple bioinformatics method.

Background: Rational design of synthetic phage-displayed libraries requires the identification of the most appropriate positions for randomization using defined amino acid sets to recapitulate the natural occurrence. The present study uses position-specific scoring matrixes (PSSMs) for identifying and randomizing Camelidae nanobody (VHH) CDR3. The functionality of a synthetic VHH repertoire designed by this method was tested for discovering new VHH binders to recombinant coagulation factor VII (rfVII).

The burden of premature adult mortality associated with lack of access to electricity in India.

Background: The impact of electricity access on all-cause premature mortality is unknown.

Methods: We use a national dataset from India to compare districts with high access to electricity (>90% of households) to districts with middle (50-90%) and low (<50%) access to electricity and estimate the effect of lack of electricity access on all-cause premature mortality.

Results: In 2014, out of 597 districts in India, 174 districts had high access, 228 had middle access, and 195 had low access to electricity.

Investigating the Relationship between Electroconvulsive Therapy and Heart Rate Variability: A Systematic Review.

Physical therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may result in higher response and recovery rates, especially in patients who have treatment-resistant depression. Various studies have reported different changes in heart rate variability (HRV) parameters before and after depression treatment with ECT. Therefore, the present study reviews systematically the evidence describing changes in HRV parameters and the cardiac autonomic nervous system associated with ECT.

Validation and reliability of the Persian version of the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: One of the applicable tools introduced as a specific tool for assessing claudication in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis is the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ). This questionnaire has been validated in different populations of patients. The present study aimed to determine the validation status of the Persian version of ZCQ.

Impact of the gut microbiome on nicotine's motivational effects and glial cells in the ventral tegmental area in male mice.

A link between gut dysbiosis and the pathogenesis of brain disorders has been identified. A role for gut bacteria in drug reward and addiction has been suggested but very few studies have investigated their impact on brain and behavioral responses to addictive drugs so far. In particular, their influence on nicotine's addiction-like processes remains unknown.

Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Image Denoising: A Comparative Study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different filters in improving the quality of myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images. Data were collected using the Siemens Symbia T2 dual-head SPECT/Computed tomography (CT) scanner. Our dataset included more than 900 images from 30 patients.

In vitro assessment of Thimerosal cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity.

Background: Thimerosal (Merthiolate) is a well-known preservative used in pharmaceutical products, the safety of which was a matter of controversy for decades. Thimerosal is a mercury compound, and there is a debate as to whether Thimerosal exposure from vaccination can contribute to the incidence of mercury-driven disorders. To date, there is no consensus on Thimerosal safety in Vaccines.

Comparing Different Algorithms for the Pseudo-Coloring of Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Images.

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images can significantly help physicians in diagnosing patients with coronary artery or suspected coronary artery diseases. However, these images are grayscale with qualities that are not readily visible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different pseudo-coloring algorithms of myocardial perfusion SPECT images.

Co-Administration of Vitamin E and Atorvastatin Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Expression in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Background: Negative effects of statins on glucose metabolism have been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of co-administration of vitamin E and atorvastatin on glycemic control in hyperlipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted at Vali-e-Asr Teaching Hospital (Zanjan, Iran) from July 2017 to March 2018.

Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Two Anionic Peroxidase Isoenzymes from Raphanus sativus L. var niger Roots.

Peroxidase is a commonly used enzyme with a wide range of applications. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is the most well-known source of peroxidase enzyme. Peroxidases extracted from other plant sources have also been proved as useful, sometimes even superior, comparing to traditional horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

Clinical Evaluation of the Torq Zero Delay Centrifuge System for Decentralized Blood Collection and Stabilization.

Blood sample collection and rapid separation-critical preanalytical steps in clinical chemistry-can be challenging in decentralized collection settings. To address this gap, the Torq™ zero delay centrifuge system includes a lightweight, hand-portable centrifuge (ZDrive™) and a disc-shaped blood collection device (ZDisc™) enabling immediate sample centrifugation at the point of collection. Here, we report results from clinical validation studies comparing performance of the Torq System with a conventional plasma separation tube (PST).

Core-shell hydrogel microcapsules enable formation of human pluripotent stem cell spheroids and their cultivation in a stirred bioreactor.

Cellular therapies based on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer considerable promise for treating numerous diseases including diabetes and end stage liver failure. Stem cell spheroids may be cultured in stirred bioreactors to scale up cell production to cell numbers relevant for use in humans. Despite significant progress in bioreactor culture of stem cells, areas for improvement remain.

Facial nerve paralysis in malignant otitis externa: comparison of the clinical and paraclinical findings.

Background: Malignant otitis externa is an uncommon but critical challenging disease with some degree of cranial nerve involvement.

Aim/objective: to examine the factors leading to facial paralysis in these patients and clarify indications for aggressive treatment in the group most at risk.

Material And Methods: In a case-control study, demographic, clinical, laboratory, audiometric, imaging, and treatment characteristics of 139 patients in groups with and without facial paralysis were analysed.

Medullary thyroid cancer is associated with high serum vitamin D level and polymorphism of vitamin D receptors.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Studies have observed an anti-cancer effect for vitamin D and found that polymorphisms of vitamin D receptors can influence the prevalence of various cancers. The present study investigated the serum level of vitamin D and FokI, BsmI and Tru9I polymorphisms of vitamin D receptors.

"Infection prevention and control idea challenge" contest: a fresh view on medical education and problem solving.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) challenge modern medicine. Considering their high prevalence in Iran, we aimed to provide knowledge on the subject, and to teach about the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC) to a broad audience of pre-graduate healthcare professionals, focusing on education as the cornerstone of IPC.

Main Body: We invited Iranian medical students to present ideas on "how to reduce HAIs.

Developing a new target design for producing Mo in a MTR reactor.

Mo is an important radioisotope and mainly produced using uranium fission reaction in a nuclear reactor. Investigation for probable improvements, especially on target geometry and in-core location of target is the main goal of this research. This is for producing more efficient of Mo in a typical Material Testing Reactors (MTRs).

4t-CHQ a Spiro-Quinazolinone Benzenesulfonamide Derivative Induces G/G Cell Cycle arrest and Triggers Apoptosis Through Down-Regulation of Survivin and Bcl2 in the Leukemia Stem-Like KG1-a Cells.

Objective: Many experiments have revealed the anti-tumor activity of spiro-quinazolinone derivatives on different cell types. Exposing KG1-a cells to (4t-CHQ), as an active sub-component of spiroquinazolinone benzenesulfonamides, the experiment investigated the possible mechanisms that manifest the role of 4t-CHQ in leukemic KG1-a progenitor cells. Mechanistically, the inhibitory effects of 4t-CHQ on KG1-a cells emerge from its modulating function on the expression of Bax/Bcl2 and survinin proteins.

Microencapsulated Immunoassays for Detection of Cytokines in Human Blood.

Cytokines are produced by leukocytes in blood and may be used as indicators of malignancies or infections. The objective of this study was to develop a strategy for immunosensing cytokines in whole, unprocessed human blood. Microfluidic droplet generation was employed to fabricate ∼400 μm diameter microcapsules with a hydrogel shell and an aqueous core containing sensing microbeads.

Cobalt chromium-Titanium rods versus Titanium-Titanium rods for treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; which type of rod has better postoperative outcomes?

Objective: Compare the outcome of spinal deformity correction between Ti-Ti and CrCo-Ti rods for the treatment of spinal Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) using rods mentioned with all pedicle screws and translation technique.

Method: 59 patients operated for spinal deformity (Lenke 1 or 2) AIS. The patients were divided into two groups by random allocation using Ti-Ti rods (n = 29) and CrCo-Ti rods (n = 30) and the alone difference among them in the surgical procedure was rod material (Ti-Ti or CrCo-Ti rods) and finally, radiological outcomes were compared preoperatively, postoperatively and at last follow-up for 12 months.

A Review on the Insecticide Resistance of Three Species of Cockroaches (Blattodea: Blattidae) in Iran.

In Iran, there are four pest domestic species of cockroaches: Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), Blatta orientalis (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), Blattella germanica (Linnaeus, Blattodea: Blattidae), and Supella longipalpa (Fabricius, Blattodea: Blattellidae). The aim of this study was to compile and review studies conducted on insecticide resistance of domestic cockroaches in Iran to assess the current knowledge and gaps. Twenty insecticides were used in susceptibility testing of cockroaches.

[Inhibition of Histone Deacetylases Reverses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells through a Slug Mediated Mechanism].

High metastatic ability and poor clinical outcome are the most known clinical features of the triple-negative breast tumors. Given that the tumor cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) often gain malignant and invasive features, we have investigated the possibility of EMT reversal in triple-negative breast cancer cells by targeting the epigenetic-modifying enzymatic complexes named histone deacetylases (HDACs) and examined the possible mechanism underlying the HDACs-based inversion in model MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were treated with a maximal tolerable 200 nM concentrations of classical HDACs inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) for 48 h and afterwards the invasiveness and immigration of the cells were evaluated in TransWell Invasion Scratch Wound Healing assays.

A New Case of Chanarin-Dorfman Syndrome with a Novel Deletion in ABHD5 Gene.

Chanarin-Dorfman syndrome (CDS) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by mutations in gene encoding the domain-5 of α/β-hydrolase enzyme (ABHD5). It is known as a natural lipid storage disorder arising from impaired lipid metabolism often characterized by hepatomegaly, myopathy, ataxia, non-bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma, hearing loss, and mental retardation. In the present study, we report two affected 28-month-old monozygotic twin boys as new cases of CDS.

Diffuse gliomas classified by 1p/19q co-deletion, TERT promoter and IDH mutation status are associated with specific genetic risk loci.

Recent genome-wide association studies of glioma have led to the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 25 loci influencing risk. Gliomas are heterogeneous, hence to investigate the relationship between risk SNPs and glioma subtype we analysed 1659 tumours profiled for IDH mutation, TERT promoter mutation and 1p/19q co-deletion. These data allowed definition of five molecular subgroups of glioma: triple-positive (IDH mutated, 1p/19q co-deletion, TERT promoter mutated); TERT-IDH (IDH mutated, TERT promoter mutated, 1p/19q-wild-type); IDH-only (IDH mutated, 1p/19q wild-type, TERT promoter wild-type); triple-negative (IDH wild-type, 1p/19q wild-type, TERT promoter wild-type) and TERT-only (TERT promoter mutated, IDH wild-type, 1p/19q wild-type).