P5 HER2/neu-derived peptide conjugated to liposomes containing MPL adjuvant as an effective prophylactic vaccine formulation for breast cancer.

Vaccines containing synthetic peptides derived from tumor-associated antigens (TAA) can elicit potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response if they are formulated in an optimal vaccine delivery system. The aim of this study was to develop a simple and effective lipid-based vaccine delivery system using P5 HER2/neu-derived peptide conjugated to Maleimide-PEG2000-DSPE. The conjugated lipid was then incorporated into liposomes composed of DMPC:DMPG:Chol:DOPE containing Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) (Lip-DOPE-P5-MPL).

Effective induction of anti-tumor immunity using p5 HER-2/neu derived peptide encapsulated in fusogenic DOTAP cationic liposomes co-administrated with CpG-ODN.

Cationic liposomes have been used as efficient antigen delivery systems for cancer vaccination. The current study has investigated whether the incorporation of the helper-fusogenic lipid dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in cationic liposomes composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP)-cholesterol enhances the cytosolic delivery of p5 HER-2/neu derived peptide (p5) and promotes cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) response. The p5, which is a very hydrophobic peptide, was encapsulated into liposomes by using three different methods and characterized for their colloidal properties.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy success rate and complications in patients with previous open stone surgery.

Purpose: To determine the effect of previous single or multiple open stone surgeries on percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) results and complications.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed medical records of 1422 patients who had been undergone PCNL in our institute between 1998 and 2011 by the same surgeon. Patients were divided into 3 groups.

Salvage of the thiamin pyrimidine moiety by plant TenA proteins lacking an active-site cysteine.

The TenA protein family occurs in prokaryotes, plants and fungi; it has two subfamilies, one (TenA_C) having an active-site cysteine, the other (TenA_E) not. TenA_C proteins participate in thiamin salvage by hydrolysing the thiamin breakdown product amino-HMP (4-amino-5-aminomethyl-2-methylpyrimidine) to HMP (4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine); the function of TenA_E proteins is unknown. Comparative analysis of prokaryote and plant genomes predicted that (i) TenA_E has a salvage role similar to, but not identical with, that of TenA_C and (ii) that TenA_E and TenA_C also have non-salvage roles since they occur in organisms that cannot make thiamin.

Fabrication of corona-free nanoparticles with tunable hydrophobicity.

A protein corona is formed at the surface of nanoparticles in the presence of biological fluids, masking the surface properties of the particle and complicating the relationship between chemical functionality and biological effects. We present here a series of zwitterionic NPs of variable hydrophobicity that do not adsorb proteins at moderate levels of serum protein and do not form hard coronas at physiological serum concentrations. These particles provide platforms to evaluate nanobiological behavior such as cell uptake and hemolysis dictated directly by chemical motifs at the nanoparticle surface.

The Correlation between Echocardiographic Findings and QT Interval in Cirrhotic Patients.

Background: Although many electrocardiographic abnormalities have been reported previously, prolonged QTC interval represented as the most important ECG finding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Echocardiography can detect structural cardiac abnormalities in cirrhotic patients.

Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the correlation between QTC prolongation and echocardiographic findings in end stage liver cirrhosis.

Introducing genetic testing for cardiovascular disease in primary care: a qualitative study.

Background: While primary care systematically offers conventional cardiovascular risk assessment, genetic tests for coronary heart disease (CHD) are increasingly commercially available to patients. It is unclear how individuals may respond to these new sources of risk information.

Aim: To explore how patients who have had a recent conventional cardiovascular risk assessment, perceive additional information from genetic testing for CHD.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption after artificial socket preservation.

Background: Low- level laser therapy has been used to stimulate the orthodontic tooth movements (OTM) previously. Furthermore, in the orthodontic treatments accompanying tooth extractions, the adjacent teeth move towards the extraction sites and close the space in some cases. Then, the adjacent tooth movements must be prevented in the treatments requiring space.

Solvatochromic probes for detecting hydrogen-bond-donating solvents.

Hydrogen bonding heavily influences conformations, rate of reactions, and chemical equilibria. The development of a method to monitor hydrogen bonding interactions independent of polarity is challenging as both are linked. We have developed two solvatochromic dyes that detect hydrogen-bond-donating solvents.

Success rate and patients' satisfaction following intradetrusor dysport injection in patients with detrusor overactivity: a comparative study of idiopathic and neurogenic types of detrusor overactivity.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intradetrusor Dysport (a type of botulinum toxin type A) injection in patients with idiopathic or neurogenic detrusor overactivity, who were refractory to antimuscarinic drugs, and to compare the efficacy of Dysport injection in both groups.

Materials And Methods: Twelve patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and 18 patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO) participated in this study. All the patients received intravesical injection of 500 units of Dysport.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan/feldspar biohybrid as an adsorbent: optimization of adsorption process via response surface modeling.

Chitosan/feldspar biobased beads were synthesized, characterized, and tested for the removal of Acid Black 1 dye from aquatic phases. A four-factor central composite design (CCD) accompanied by response surface modeling (RSM) and optimization was used to optimize the dye adsorption by the adsorbent (chitosan/feldspar composite) in 31 different batch experiments. Independent variables of temperature, pH, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent dose were used to change to coded values.

Activation of mitosis and angiogenesis in diabetes-impaired wound healing by processed human amniotic fluid.

Background: Functional characterization of human amniotic fluid (AF) proteome, 845 proteins, has revealed that top three functions are cell proliferation, movement and differentiation, events fundamental to development, and tissue repair. Although these findings fortify the idea that AF components play roles in regeneration-like fetal wound healing, it is not known whether the components endure processing. Therefore, we processed AF and tested its effects on diabetes-impaired wound healing in an animal model.

The effect of group psycho-educational program on quality of life in families of patients with mood disorders.

Background: Mood disorders related behaviors are imposed on family members and influence the family's mental atmosphere and level of quality of life. Therefore, the researchers decided to study the effect of group psycho-educational program on the quality of life in families of patients with mood disorders.

Materials And Methods: This is a two-group interventional study conducted on 32 members of families of the patients with mood disorders selected through random sampling.

The effect of laughter Yoga on general health among nursing students.

Background: Promotion and provision of individuals' health is one of the bases for development in societies. Students' mental health is very important in each society. Students of medical sciences universities, especially nursing students, are under various stresses in clinical environment, in addition to the stress they experience in theoretical education environment.

Concomitant surgical correction of severe stress urinary incontinence and anterior vaginal wall prolapse by anterior vaginal wall wrap: 18 months outcomes.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of an innovative, minimally invasive sling technique with autologous tissue in women with concomitant incontinence and anterior vaginal wall prolapse (AVWP).

Materials And Methods: Fifty-six women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or mixed urinary incontinence and AVWP were randomly assigned into two groups: In Group A (26 patients), anterior colporrhaphy (Kelly placation) and sling placement using a strip of anterior vaginal wall were performed, and in Group B (30 patients), transvaginal mesh correction of AVWP and tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion (retropubic - craniocaudal route) using polypropylene mesh were carried out. The patients were followed-up for over 18 months and were assessed objectively using a 48 h frequency-volume chart, a 48 h pad test and a standardized stress test.

Comparative study of dietary soy phytoestrogens genistein and equol effects on growth parameters and ovarian development in farmed female beluga sturgeon, Huso huso.

Oocyte maturation in fish is a hormonally regulated process. In the light of long-term oocyte maturation in beluga, the aim of this research was to study the estrogenic effects of different concentrations of soy dietary genistein (GE) and equol (EQ) on the growth performance and ovary development in farmed female Huso huso. Fish were fed with concentrations 0 (control), 0.

Induction of meiotic gynogenesis in ship sturgeon Acipenser nudiventris using UV-irradiated heterologous sperm.

Diploid gynogenesis was induced in ship sturgeon Acipenser nudiventris using UV-irradiated sperm from Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii. The optimal condition for the retention of the second polar body in ship sturgeon was determined to be 10 min after activation/fertilization in experiments. The temperature of cold shock and its duration were 2.

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A interferes with the development of cerebellar granule neurons in mice and chicken.

In mice, prenatal exposure to low doses of bisphenol A has been shown to affect neurogenesis and neuronal migration in cortex, resulting in disturbance of both neuronal positioning and the network formation between thalamus and cortex in the offspring brain. In the present study we investigated whether prenatal exposure to bisphenol A disturbs the neurodevelopment of the cerebellum. Two different model systems were used; offspring from two strains of mice from mothers receiving bisphenol A in the drinking water before mating, during gestation and lactation, and chicken embryos exposed to bisphenol A (in the egg) on embryonic day 16 for 24h before preparation of cerebellar granule cell cultures.

Prostate cancer: Relationship between vascular diameter, shape and density and Gleason score in needle biopsy specimens.

Background: Tumor growth requires expansion and development of vascular network. An increase in Gleason score is representative of an increase in tumor invasion and extent. In this study, the relationship between Gleason score and vascular characteristics of needle biopsy samples in prostate cancer patients has been evaluated.

Identification of the thiamin salvage enzyme thiazole kinase in Arabidopsis and maize.

The breakdown of thiamin (vitamin B1) and its phosphates releases a thiazole moiety, 4-methyl-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)thiazole (THZ), that microorganisms and plants are able to salvage for re-use in thiamin synthesis. The salvage process starts with the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of THZ, which in bacteria is mediated by ThiM. The Arabidopsis and maize genomes encode homologs of ThiM (At3g24030 and GRMZM2G094558, respectively).

Brown adipose tissue genes in pericardial adipose tissue of newborn sheep are downregulated by maternal nutrient restriction in late gestation.

Background: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is essential for newborn survival. Pericardial adipose tissue is a visceral depot that promotes metabolic and cardiovascular adaptations. We determined whether BAT is present in pericardial adipose tissue in newborns and whether maternal nutrition during late gestation compromises BAT in the postnatal period.

The high potential of Pelargonium roseum plant for phytoremediation of heavy metals.

The major objective of this investigation was to evaluate the potential of scented geraniums, Pelargonium roseum, to uptake and accumulate heavy metals nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), or lead (Pb). For this, plants were grown in an artificial soil system and exposed to a range of metal concentrations over a 14-day treatment period. Then, metals from the entire biomass were extracted.

Prevalence of transfusion transmitted virus infection in hemodialysis patients and injection drug users compared to healthy blood donors in isfahan, iran.

Introduction. The pathogenicity and transmission routes of Transfusion Transmitted Virus (TTV) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TTV in hemodialysis patients, injecting drug users (IDUs), and healthy blood donors, in Isfahan, Iran.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C Among Female Prisoners in Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Female prisoners are at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There has been no previous study regarding the epidemiological status of STIs among female prisoners in Isfahan, central Iran.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of the aforementioned infections among women incarcerated in the central prison, Isfahan, to determine appropriate prevention measures.