Origin of Tar Balls Along the Beaches of Genaveh Region, Persian Gulf.

Oil spills and tarballs are significant pollutants in marine environments, and identifying their sources is crucial for mitigating environmental impacts. This study aims to determine the primary sources of petroleum spills and tarballs along the shores of Genaveh (northwest of the Persian Gulf) by employing chemical fingerprinting techniques and biomarkers. Specifically, petroleum hydrocarbons were analyzed in 19 tarball samples, 13 surface sediment samples from the Genaveh coast, and reference oil samples from 21 offshore oil platforms located in the Bahregan, Khark, Lavan, Siri, and Hendurabi regions.

Lysyl Oxidase-like 2 Dysregulation Increases the Risk of Post-Operative Fibrotic Scars Formation in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Novel Therapeutic Target to Reduce Fibrogenesis.

The formation of fibrotic bands in female reproductive system, including the uterus, after abdominal and pelvic surgeries, is an important medical challenge associated with many complications, including infertility and pain. Investigating the role of different molecules involved in fibrosis and adhesion formation may help in the development of new drugs to prevent this disorder. Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LoxL2) is a copper-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the cross-linking of collagen and elastin fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM) to stabilize ECM.