Contribution of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in BALB/c mice.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a tropical disease that can cause chronic lesions and leave life-long scars, leading to social stigmatization and psychological disorders. Using growth factors and immunomodulatory agents that could accelerate wound healing and reduce the scar is highly demanded. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an essential role in wound healing.

Evaluation of the consumption pattern and efficacy of Linezolid in COVID-19 hospitalized patients in a hospital in Tehran-Iran.

Background: The inappropriate use of antibiotics increases the costs of treatment, antibiotic resistance, increased disease length and duration of hospital stay.

Objectives: The aim of this study was investigating the pattern of use and effectiveness of the Linezolid in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional analytical study was carried out from February 2020 (from the beginning of the pandemic in Iran) to the end of September 2020, 32 COVID-19 patients that used Linezolid were included.

The brain selectively allocates energy to functional brain networks under cognitive control.

Network energy has been conceptualized based on structural balance theory in the physics of complex networks. We utilized this framework to assess the energy of functional brain networks under cognitive control and to understand how energy is allocated across canonical functional networks during various cognitive control tasks. We extracted network energy from functional connectivity patterns of subjects who underwent fMRI scans during cognitive tasks involving working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, in addition to task-free scans.

Evaluating binding behavior of quercetin to human serum albumin and calf thymus DNA: Insights from molecular dynamics, spectroscopy, and apoptotic pathway regulation.

In this work, we sought to apprehend quercetin binding affinity and its interaction behavior in complex with human serum albumin (HSA) and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) through multi spectroscopy and molecular dynamics and also evaluated its effects on colorectal cancer. The binding constants of ctDNA-quercetin and HSA-quercetin complexes at 298 K, which were calculated to be (2.67 ± 0.

Characterizing the tool wear morphologies and life in milling A520-10%SiC under various lubrication and cutting conditions.

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are lightweight and widely used materials constantly applied in various industries. Such material's structural and functional properties change under the contributions of various reinforcing particles and base materials. Multiple technologies are used in the manufacturing and machining these materials, and numerous studies are oriented toward this domain through academic and industrial projects.

Comparison between statistical and machine learning methods to detect the hematological indices with the greatest influence on elevated serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Introduction: Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD)s. Furthermore, studies have revealed an association between indices of the complete blood count (CBC) and dyslipidemia. We aimed to investigate the relationship between CBC parameters and serum levels of LDL.

Novel antimicrobial peptides based on Protegrin-1: In silico and in vitro assessments.

The development of antibiotic resistance has caused significant health problems. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered next-generation antibiotics. Protegrin-1 (PG-1) is a β-hairpin AMP with a membrane-binding capacity.

Bimodal substrate binding in the active site of the glycosidase BcX.

Bacillus circulans xylanase (BcX) from the glycoside hydrolase family 11 degrades xylan through a retaining, double-displacement mechanism. The enzyme is thought to hydrolyze glycosidic bonds in a processive manner and has a large, active site cleft, with six subsites allowing the binding of six xylose units. Such an active site architecture suggests that oligomeric xylose substrates can bind in multiple ways.

Science development study for the Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST): Solar and stellar observations.

Observations at (sub-)millimeter wavelengths offer a complementary perspective on our Sun and other stars, offering significant insights into both the thermal and magnetic composition of their chromospheres. Despite the fundamental progress in (sub-)millimeter observations of the Sun, some important aspects require diagnostic capabilities that are not offered by existing observatories. In particular, simultaneously observations of the radiation continuum across an extended frequency range would facilitate the mapping of different layers and thus ultimately the 3D structure of the solar atmosphere.

Targeted delivery of SN38 to breast cancer using amphiphilic diblock copolymers PHPMA-b-PBAEM as micellar carriers with AS1411 aptamer.

Breast cancer treatment can be challenging, but a targeted drug delivery system (DDS) has the potential to make it more effective and reduce side effects. This study presents a novel nanotherapeutic targeted DDS developed through the self-assembly of an amphiphilic di-block copolymer to deliver the chemotherapy drug SN38 specifically to breast cancer cells. The vehicle was constructed from the PHPMA-b-PEAMA diblock copolymer synthesized via RAFT polymerization.

Anhedonia as a Potential Transdiagnostic Phenotype With Immune-Related Changes in Recent-Onset Mental Health Disorders.

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation is observed across mental disorders and is associated with difficult-to-treat-symptoms of anhedonia and functional brain changes, reflecting a potential transdiagnostic dimension. Previous investigations have focused on distinct illness categories in people with enduring illness, but few have explored inflammatory changes. We sought to identify an inflammatory signal and the associated brain function underlying anhedonia among young people with recent-onset psychosis and recent-onset depression.

Spectroscopy and molecular simulation on the interaction of Nano-Kaempferol prepared by oil-in-water with two carrier proteins: An investigation of protein-protein interaction.

In this work, the interaction of human serum albumin (HSA) and human holo-transferrin (HTF) with the prepared Nano-Kaempferol (Nano-KMP) through oil-in-water procedure was investigated in the form of binary and ternary systems by the utilization of different spectroscopy techniques along with molecular simulation and cancer cell experiments. According to fluorescence spectroscopy outcomes, Nano-KMP is capable of quenching both proteins as binary systems by a static mechanism, while in the form of (HSA-HTF) Nano-KMP as the ternary system, an unlinear Stern-Volmer plot was elucidated with the occurrence of both dynamic and static fluorescence quenching mechanisms in the binding interaction. In addition, the two acquired K values in the ternary system signified the existence of two sets of binding sites with two different interaction behaviors.

Assessing the quantity of neuropeptide Y in the serum of patients referred to Baqiyatallah Hospital with covid-19 concerning inflammatory factors following steroid therapy.

Purpose: With the extensive presence of Covid-19, it is imperative to find compounds that can obstruct the virus's inflammatory activity and perhaps even stop the inflammatory phase from occurring. Several neuropeptides act as immune system regulators, which nerve terminals release as co-transmitters. It has been suggested that Neuropeptide Y (NPY) may be involved in inflammatory diseases through its ability to regulate the function of inflammatory cells.

New Perspective on the Interaction Behavior Between Riboflavin and β Lactoglobulin-β Casein Complex by Biophysical Techniques.

Riboflavin (RF) is a vitamin that only exists in plants and microorganisms and must be procured externally by humans. On the other hand, there are two major allergic factors in cow's milk, including β-lactoglobulin (βLG) and β-casein (βCN), while their allergic properties can be eliminated by binding to micronutrients. In this regard, we examined the binding process of RF to βLG and βCN in the binary and ternary systems by different spectroscopies such as zeta potential, electric conductivity, and molecular modeling.

Structure, Function, and Physicochemical Properties of Pore-forming Antimicrobial Peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of antimicrobial agents, possess considerable potential to treat various microbial ailments. The broad range of activity and rare complete bacterial resistance to AMPs make them ideal candidates for commercial development. These peptides with widely varying compositions and sources share recurrent structural and functional features in mechanisms of action.

Prenatal diagnosis of Sex determining region Y -box transcription factor 2 anophthalmia syndrome caused by germline mosaicism using next-generation sequencing: A case report.

Background: Sex determining region Y box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) mutations lead to bilateral anophthalmia with autosomal dominant human inheritance. SOX2 mutations could result in severe ocular phenotypes usually associated with variable systemic defects. Most patients described with SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome possessed de novo mutations in this gene.

Effects of Two Exercise Programs on Neck Proprioception in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of specific neck muscle training and general neck-shoulder exercises on neck proprioception, pain, and disability in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic non-specific neck pain were recruited into this preliminary single-blinded randomized clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to either a specific neck exercise (n = 13, mean aged 24 years) or a general neck exercise group (n = 12, mean aged 25 years).

Functional stirred yogurt manufactured using co-microencapsulated or free forms of grape pomace and flaxseed oil as bioactive ingredients: Physicochemical, antioxidant, rheological, microstructural, and sensory properties.

Functional stirred yogurt samples were manufactured with combinations of grape pomace (GP) and flaxseed oil (FO) in microencapsulated or free forms (2% w/w) and quality characteristics of yogurts were investigated during 21 days of storage. The incorporation of GP and FO in microencapsulated or free forms caused a significant decrease in pH, syneresis, and a significant increase in acidity, water holding capacity, and viscosity of stirred yogurt ( < .05).

Exploring the binding behavior mechanism of vitamin B to α-Casein and β-Casein: multi-spectroscopy and molecular dynamic approaches.

The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior interaction of α-Casein-B and β-Casein-B complexes as binary systems through the methods of multiple spectroscopic, zeta potential, calorimetric, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Fluorescence spectroscopy denoted the role ofBas a quencher in both cases of α-Casein and β-Casein fluorescence intensities, which also verifies the existence of interactions. The quenching constants of α-Casein-B and β-Casein-B complexes at 298 K in the first set of binding sites were 2.

Endogenous enzymatic antioxidant status of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) following exposure to sublethal concentrations of silver nanoparticles.

Immunotoxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was assessed using redox-status orchestrating enzymes. To this end, the shrimp was exposed to sublethal AgNPs concentrations (0 % LC: control; 25 % LC: 0.97 mg/L; 50 % LC: 1.

Amino acid-mPEGs: Promising excipients to stabilize human growth hormone against aggregation.

Objectives: Today, the non-covalent PEGylation methods of protein pharmaceuticals attract more attention and possess several advantages over the covalent approach. In the present study, Amino Acid-mPEGs (aa-mPEGs) were synthesized, and the human Growth Hormone (hGH) stability profile was assessed in their presence and absence.

Materials And Methods: aa-mPEGs were synthesized with different amino acids (Trp, Glu, Arg, Cys, and Leu) and molecular weights of polymers (2 and 5 KDa).

Discovery of New Ligand with Quinoline Scaffold as Potent Allosteric Inhibitor of HIV-1 and Its Copper Complexes as a Powerful Catalyst for the Synthesis of Chiral Benzimidazole Derivatives, and Anti-HIV-1 Studies.

In this paper, the novel Schiff base ligand containing quinoline moiety and its novel copper chelate complexes were successfully prepared. The catalytic activity of the final complex in the organic reaction such as synthesis of chiral benzimidazoles and anti-HIV-1 activity of Schiff base ligand and the products of this reaction were investigated. In addition, green chemistry reactions using microwaves, powerful catalyst synthesis, green recovery and reusability, and separation of products with economic, safe, and clean methods (green chemistry) are among the advantages of this protocol.

Multi spectroscopic and molecular simulation studies of propyl acridone binding to calf thymus DNA in the presence of electromagnetic force.

Here, the interaction behavior between propyl acridones (PA) and calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) has been investigated to attain the features of the binding behavior of PA with ct-DNA, which includes specific binding sites, modes, and constants. Furthermore, the effects of PA on the conformation of ct-DNA seem to be quite significant for comprehending the medicine's mechanism of action and pharmacokinetics. The project was accomplished through means of absorbance studies, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, viscosity measurement, thermal melting, and molecular modeling techniques.

The Effect of 12 Hz Extremely Low-frequency Electromagnetic Field on Visual Memory of Male Macaque Monkeys.

Introduction: Today, humans live in a world surrounded by electromagnetic fields. Numerous studies have been conducted to discover the biological, physiological, and behavioral effects of electromagnetic fields on humans and animals. Given the biological similarities between monkeys and humans, The present research aimed to examine Visual Memory (VM), hormonal, genomic, and anatomic changes, in the male rhesus macaques exposed to an Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF).

Drug-related Death low Registration in Iran: A Mixed Method Approach for Causes, Recommendations to Solve This Problem and Geographical Evaluation of an Intervention.

Background: The death registration is conducted by different systems in Iran. The drug-related death registration is exclusively conducted by Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and Legal Medicine Organization (LMO). This study investigates the causes of undercounting drug-related deaths (DRDs) in Iran, provides recommendations for addressing this issue, and provides a geographical evaluation of the integrity and quality of drug-related mortality registration (2014-2017).