The stochastic frontier analysis technique in measuring the technical and economic efficiency of hospital diagnostic laboratories: a case study in Iran.

An inefficient health system wastes scarce resources even if it makes considerable gains in accountability and equity. Such a system is expected to perform better. Therefore, it is vital to examine the current performance of health systems and their constituents and assess how to reach their maximum potential.

Plasmapheresis, Anti-ACE2 and Anti-FcγRII Monoclonal Antibodies: A Possible Treatment for Severe Cases of COVID-19.

In March 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 disease as a pandemic disease. There have been studies on the COVID-19 to find a certain treatment, but yet, there is no certain cure. In this article, we present a possible way to treat severe cases of COVID-19.

Hsp90 Inhibitor; NVP-AUY922 in Combination with Doxorubicin Induces Apoptosis and Downregulates VEGF in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line.

Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies and leading causes of females' mortality worldwide. Because of resistance to various treatment options, new treatments based on molecular targeting has introduced as noticeable strategies in cancer treatment. In this regard, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors are proposed as effective anticancer drugs.

Sero-epidemiology of Hydatidosis Among General Population of Jolfa County, Northwestern Iran Using IHA, ELISA and Western Blot (2017-2018).

Background: Human hydatidosis is mostly a latent and neglected disease with known endemicity in Iran.

Aims: Due to the importance of this infection in the country and its latent nature, we aimed to evaluate the serological status of hydatid cyst in northwestern Iran.

Objectives: Herein, we evaluated the serological status of hydatid cyst in urban and rural inhabitants of Jolfa county, northwestern Iran during 2017-2018.

The economic efficiency of clinical laboratories in public hospitals: A case study in Iran.

Introduction: Clinical laboratories are identified as one of the most important and expensive units of the health system. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to these units' cost efficiency. This study purpose was to evaluate the economic efficiency of hospitals' laboratory units affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences (UMSU), in order to assess their performance.

The Increase in Protein and Plasmid Yields of with Optimized Concentration of Ampicillin as Selection Marker.

is still the common host for ing and heterologous protein expression. Various strategies have been employed to increase protein expression in , but, it seems that external factors such as selection marker concentration can drastically affect the yield of protein and plasmid. Alterations of protein expression and plasmid yields of in different concentrations of ampicillin, as selection marker, will be determined.

Expression and purification of biologically active recombinant rabbit monocyte chemoattractant protein1 in Escherichia coli.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) with recruiting monocytes is an important factor at the beginning of inflammatory disorders such as atherosclerosis which seems its blocking preclude this process and help improvement of related diseases. To perform clinical research in this field, MCP1 protein is required but firstly, animal studies should be done. As the rabbit is a suitable model for many inflammatory disorders, and Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) (BL21) cell is a high-efficiency host for protein expression, we decided to produce recombinant rabbit MCP1 (rRMCP1) in BL21/pET28a system.

Expression of biologically active murine interleukin-18 in Lactococcus lactis.

The food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis is increasingly used for heterologous protein expression in therapeutic and industrial applications. The ability of L. lactis to secrete biologically active cytokines may be used for the generation of therapeutic cytokines.

Effect of Probiotic Soy Milk on Serum Levels of Adiponectin, Inflammatory Mediators, Lipid Profile, and Fasting Blood Glucose Among Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Probiotic therapies are going to be an effective alternative therapeutic strategy in the treatment and management of diabetes. The mechanism behind the essential effects of probiotic therapies in diabetic patients was not fully understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic soy milk containing Lactobacillus planetarum A7 on inflammation, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and serum adiponectin among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to pre-eclampsia in Iranian women: A case-control study.

Objectives: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) is an important replicated PE candidate gene, and few studies have evaluated the direct association of TGF-β polymorphisms and risk to PE. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between three SNPs of TGF-β1 and serum level of this cytokine in PE patients and controls.

Augmented plasma adiponectin after prolonged fasting during ramadan in men.

Background: Intermittent fasting during Ramadan entails major changes in metabolism and energy expenditure. This study sought to determine effect of the Ramadan fasting on serum levels of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as two inter-related peptides involved in cells sensitivity to insulin and glucose metabolism.

Methods: Total of seventy healthy men, with age range equal or greater than 30, with at least three type2 diabetes mellitus (DM) risk factors were selected.

Promoter region polymorphisms in the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1) gene and serum TGFβ1 concentration in preeclamptic and control Iranian women.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy associated disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, which causes neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The Th1/Th2 cytokine paradigm of the immune adaptation in pregnancy is now expanded to include Th1/Th2/Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Among cytokines, TGFβ1 has properties that justify evaluation of its role in PE etiopathology.