Mercury in saliva, milk, and hair of nursing mothers in southeastern Iranian mothers: levels, distribution and risk assessment.

This research is on lactating mothers in the city of Chah Bahar in Iran. This descriptive-analytical and questionnaire study selected a random sample of 80 mothers to examine mercury levels in their hair, milk, and saliva. The average concentration of mercury in milk, hair and saliva of mothers was 1.

AI-based Computational Methods in Early Drug Discovery and Post Market Drug Assessment: A Survey.

Over the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in drug discovery and development (DDD), revolutionizing many aspects of the process. This survey provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in AI applications within early drug discovery and post-market drug assessment. It addresses the identification and prioritization of new therapeutic targets, prediction of drug-target interaction (DTI), design of novel drug-like molecules, and assessment of the clinical efficacy of new medications.

Occurrence and patterns of metals in mangrove forests from the Oman Sea, Iran.

Concentrations of selected metals were investigated in roots, stems, leaves and sediments from mangrove forests situated along the coast of the Oman Sea, Iran. Results showed that the overall average concentrations of lead, nickel, copper, and zinc in sediments were 47.90, 54.

Using Computer Vision to Improve Endoscopic Disease Quantification in Therapeutic Clinical Trials of Ulcerative Colitis.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic assessment of ulcerative colitis (UC) typically reports only the maximum severity observed. Computer vision methods may better quantify mucosal injury detail, which varies among patients.

Methods: Endoscopic video from the UNIFI clinical trial (A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Ustekinumab Induction and Maintenance Therapy in Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis) comparing ustekinumab and placebo for UC were processed in a computer vision analysis that spatially mapped Mayo Endoscopic Score (MES) to generate the Cumulative Disease Score (CDS).

Systemic delivery of specific and efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting HPV16 oncogenes using LL-37 antimicrobial peptide in C57BL/6 mice.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 is the most common sexually transmitted virus related to cervical cancer. Among different types of advanced novel therapies, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas-mediated gene editing holds great promise for cancer treatment. In this research, optimal gRNA sequences targeting HPV16 E5, E6, E7, and p97 promoter for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing were designed by in silico prediction.

Comparison of Cd, Cu, Se, and Zn Concentration in the Muscle and Hepatopancreas of Sepia pharaonis and Uroteuthis duvauceli in the North of Persian Gulf (Iran).

The objective of this research was to examine and contrast the levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in the muscle and hepatopancreas tissues of two species, namely pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) and Indian squid (Uroteuthis duvauceli), from the Persian Gulf. A total of thirty individuals of each species were gathered in January 2009 from the northern waters of the Persian Gulf. The metal concentrations were significantly higher in muscle tissue (p < 0.

AI-Based Decision Support System for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Survey.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Rapid and precise clinical assessment and decision-making are essential to improve the outcome and the resulting complications. Due to the size and complexity of the data analyzed in TBI cases, computer-aided data processing, analysis, and decision support systems could play an important role.

Detrimental effects of vitrification on integrin genes (α9 and β1) and in vitro fertilization in mouse oocytes.

Objective: Integrins are known as key molecules that importantly involve in fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate effects of vitrification on fertilization rate and expression of integrin genes, α9 and β1, on mice oocytes in GV and MІІ stages.

Materials And Methods: From the ovarian tissue and fallopian tube of NMRI mice, germinal vesicle (GV, n = 200) and metaphase II (MII, n = 200) oocytes were obtained.

Trehalose and carnosic acid induced LC3I, LC3II ratio, P62 down-regulation and cleaved caspase 3 expression in neural stem cells.

Background: Using neural stem cells (NSCs) in cell therapy and regenerative medicine is a growing knowledge. In this study, the protective role of carnosic acid and trehalose against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in autophagy induction and apoptosis inhibition in NSCs was investigated.

Material And Methods: The bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated from the femur of the rat and differentiated into NSCs using basic fibroblast and epidermal growth factors (bFGF and EGF), and B27 serum free media.

The Effect of bisphenol A and Photobiomodulation Therapy on Autophagy-Related Genes Induction in Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells.

As adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can divide rapidly and be prepared non-invasively, they have extensively been used in regenerative medicine. On the other hand, a new method of therapy, known as photobiomodulation (PHT), has been used to treat many diseases, such as inflammatory conditions, wound healing and pain. Besides, exposure to chemical substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), at low levels, can lead to autophagy.

Effects of Placenta-Derived Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells on the Wound Healing Process and TGF-β Induced Scar Formation in Murine Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury Model.

Background: Pressure ulcers (PUs), a result of ischemic reperfusion (IR) injuries, are prevalent skin problems which show refractoriness against standard therapeutic approaches. Besides, scar formation is a critical complication of ulcers that affects functionality and the skin's cosmetic aspect. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of placenta-derived human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs), as important agents of regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy, on accelerating the healing of IR ulcers in mice.

Role of sperm apoptosis and oxidative stress in male infertility: A narrative review.

Activation of caspase, externalization of phosphatidyl serine, change in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation are apoptosis markers found in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Also, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in the different types of male infertility. In this review, data sources including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Science Direct were searched for publications with no particular time restriction to get a holistic and comprehensive view of the research.

Hydrogen sulfide attenuates induction and prevents progress of the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonism in rat through activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels and suppression of ER stress.

Purpose: Studies argue in favor of hydrogen sulfide (HS) as the next potent therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases. In present study, we investigated the effect of long term treatment with NaHS (as donor of HS) on induction and progress of the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) -induced Parkinsonism in rat.

Methods: The 6-OHDA was injected into medial forebrain bundle of right hemisphere by stereotaxic surgery.

Functional differences of Toll-like receptor 4 in osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Multipotent human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are promising candidates for bone and cartilage regeneration. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is expressed by hMSCs and is a receptor for both exogenous and endogenous danger signals. TLRs have been shown to possess functional differences based on the species (human or mouse) they are isolated from therefore, the effects of knockdown of TLR4 were evaluated in humans during the differentiation of MSCs into bone, fat and chondrocyte cells in vitro.

Enhanced removal of humic acid from aqueous solution by combined alternating current electrocoagulation and sulfate radical.

Application of alternating current in electrocoagulation and activation of persulfate (AEC-PS) for the effective removal of humic acid (HA) from aqueous solution was evaluated. In order to optimize the removal efficiency HA by the AEC-PS process, several influencing parameters such as pH, reaction time, PS dose, current density (CD), concentration of NaCl, initial concentration of HA, and coexisting cations and anions influence were investigated. From the batch experiments, the highest HA removal efficiency obtained was 99.

Microarray analysis identification of key pathways and interaction network of differential gene expressions during osteogenic differentiation.

Background: Adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into three lineages. They are suitable sources for cell-based therapy and regenerative medicine applications. This study aims to evaluate the hub genes and key pathways of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to osteogenesis by bioinformatics analysis in three different days.

Trehalose Neuroprotective Effects on the Substantia Nigra Dopaminergic Cells by Activating Autophagy and Non-canonical Nrf2 Pathways.

Trehalose, as a natural disaccharide, is known as an autophagy inducer. The neuroprotective effects of trehalose in the rat model of Parkinson's disease were the aim of the present study. Parkinson's disease model was induced by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the striatum of male Wistar rats.

Alterations in some physiological processes of Bactrocera oleae Rossi (Diptera: Tephritidae) following pyridalyl treatment.

Pyridalyl is one of the recently discovered insecticides which has shown toxicity against several insect pests with slight- or non-lethal effects against natural enemies. Cytotoxicity and prevention of protein synthesis have been reported as pyridalyl mode of action. In the current study, adults of Bacterocera oleae, as a major pest of olive, were fed on protein hydrolysate diet containing LC concentration of pyridalyl to determine the possible mode of action through gene expression and amino acid profile.

Neural stem cells neuroprotection by simvastatin via autophagy induction and apoptosis inhibition.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Simvastatin (SIM), a member of statin family, on the cellular antioxidant system, autophagy and apoptosis in NSCs exposed to hydrogen peroxide.

Background: Reduction in cellular oxidative stress increases the survival of neural stem cells (NSCs) after transplantation into the damaged area of the affected central nervous system.

Material And Methods: NSCs derived from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were exposed to H2O2 (100 μM) for 48 hours after pretreatment with SIM (2 μM).

Resistance of human primary mesenchymal stem cells to cytotoxic effects of nutlin-3 in vitro.

Background: The small-molecule nutlin-3 was found to be an effective therapeutic compound and p53 activator, and acts as a murine double minute 2 antagonist, although these findings need to be clinically confirmed. The essential components of the bone marrow include mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which play a key role in protecting, regenerating, and proliferating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This feature is vital for HSC after exposure to myelotoxic anticancer agents; nevertheless, the effects of nutlin-3 on MSCs remain to be disclosed.

A critical role for miR-184 in the fate determination of oligodendrocytes.

Background: New insights on cellular and molecular aspects of both oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelin synthesis pathways are potential avenues for developing a cell-based therapy for demyelinating disorders comprising multiple sclerosis. MicroRNAs (miRNA) have broad implications in all aspects of cell biology including OL differentiation. MiR-184 has been identified as one of the most highly enriched miRNAs in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs).

17 β-Estradiol Oxidative Stress Attenuation and Autophagy-Induced Dopaminergic Neuroprotection.

Objective: Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain stem is the main pathological aspect of Parkinson's disease (PD). 17 β-estradiol (E2) has neuroprotective effects on substantia nigra, however, the underlined mechanism is not well-known. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of E2 in the ovariectomized 6-hydroxydopamine- (6-OHDA) rat model of PD.

The effects of Nutlin-3 on morphology, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis in rat primary mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: Nutlin-3 is a powerful antagonist of murine double minute 2/p53 interaction demonstrating promising therapeutic anticancer activity, which has not been clinically approved yet. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important part of the bone marrow niche and support regeneration and proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells after exposure to myelotoxic anticancer agents; however, the effect of Nutlin-3 compounds on MSCs themselves remains to be elucidated.

Materials And Methods: Rat-derived bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) were cultured and treated with different concentrations (5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 μM) and times (24, 48, and 72 hr) of Nutlin-3.

SMER28 Attenuates Dopaminergic Toxicity Mediated by 6-Hydroxydopamine in the Rats via Modulating Oxidative Burdens and Autophagy-Related Parameters.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to cellular autophagy deficiency and the accumulation of alpha-synuclein in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of the brainstem. The SMER28 (also known as 6-Bromo-N-prop-2-enylquinazolin-4-amine) is an autophagy inducer. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of SMER28 were evaluated on autophagy induction, antioxidant system activation, and microgliosis attenuation.