The effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review of in vivo interventional studies.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disorder in which excess fat accumulates in hepatocytes and can lead to serious complications. Oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of NAFLD. Pomegranates are considered antioxidant-rich fruit.

Induction of somatic cell haploidy by premature cell division.

Canonical mitotic and meiotic cell divisions commence with replicated chromosomes consisting of two sister chromatids. Here, we developed and explored a model of premature cell division, where nonreplicated, G/G-stage somatic cell nuclei are transplanted to the metaphase cytoplasm of mouse oocytes. Subsequent cell division generates daughter cells with reduced ploidy.

Enhancing differentiation of menstrual blood-derived stem cells into female germ cells using a bilayer amniotic membrane and nano-fibrous fibroin scaffold.

Three-dimensional nanofiber scaffolds offer a promising method for simulating in vivo conditions within the laboratory. This study aims to investigate the influence of a bilayer amniochorionic membrane/nanofibrous fibroin scaffold on the differentiation of human menstrual blood mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MenSCs) into female germ cells. MenSCs were isolated and assigned to four culture groups: (i) MenSCs co-cultured with granulosa cells (GCs) using the scaffold (3D-T group), (ii) MenSCs using the scaffold alone (3D-C group), (iii) MenSCs co-cultured only with GCs (2D-T group), and (iv) MenSCs without co-culture or scaffold (2D-C group).

Histone deacetylase 4 and 5 translocation elicited by microsecond pulsed electric field exposure is mediated by kinase activity.

Electroporation-based technologies using microsecond pulsed electric field (µsPEF) exposures are established as laboratory and clinical tools that permeabilize cell membranes. We demonstrate a µsPEF bioeffect on nucleocytoplasmic import and export of enzymes that regulate genetic expression, histone deacetylases (HDAC) -4 and -5. Their μsPEF-induced nucleocytoplasmic transport depends on presence and absence of extracellular calcium ions (Ca) for both MCF7 and CHO-K1 cells.

Evaluation of immune system in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia in Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital in 2021: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Thalassemia syndromes are the most common hemoglobinopathy globally related to blood transfusion and iron overload in the body. Splenectomy, excessive iron overload, and repeated exposure to antigens in blood transfusions can cause severe damage to the patient's immune system making the patient prone to frequent infection. This study evaluates the immune system status and infection rate in beta-thalassemia major patients receiving iron chelators.

The Clinical Trials of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Therapy.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of adult stem cells, which are multipotent and possess the ability to differentiate/transdifferentiate into mesodermal and nonmesodermal cell lineages. MSCs display broad immunomodulatory properties since they are capable of secreting growth factors and chemotactic cytokines. Safety, accessibility, and isolation from patients without ethical concern make MSCs valuable sources for cell therapy approaches in autoimmune, inflammatory, and degenerative diseases.

Evaluation of Expression and Phosphorylation of Progesterone Receptor in Endometrial Stromal Cells of Patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure Compared to Healthy Fertile Women.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is the repeated failure of good-quality embryos in implantation process following several assisted reproduction cycles. Disruption of the endometrial receptivity is one of the main causes of RIF. Progesterone plays a pivotal role in the endometrial receptivity through the regulation of gene expression pattern by binding to its receptors in the endometrial cells.

Green and Fast Synthesis of 2-Arylidene-indan-1,3-diones Using a Task-Specific Ionic Liquid.

A novel method for condensation reaction of indan-1,3-dione with various aldehydes which are efficiently catalyzed by a task-specific ionic liquid, 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate, to provide the corresponding 2-arylidenindane-1,3-diones has been developed. This green, low-cost, high-yield, and fast reaction takes place at room temperature without the use of any solvent and catalyst. A plausible reaction mechanism that involves ionic liquid-assisted activation is also discussed.

Effect of Vitamin D3 on Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Granulosa Cells Derived from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder diagnosed by anovulation hyperandrogenism. Hyperandrogenism increases apoptosis, which will eventually disturb follicular growth in PCOS patients. Since mitochondria regulate apoptosis, they might be affected by high incidence of follicular atresia.

A global systematic review and meta-analysis on illicit drug consumption rate through wastewater-based epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a complementary, well-established comprehensive, cost-effective, and rapid technique for monitoring of illicit drugs used in a general population. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to estimate the rank and consumption rate of illicit drugs through WBE studies. In the current study, the related investigations regarding the illicit drug consumption rate based on WBE were searched among the international databases including Scopus, PubMed, Science direct, Google scholar, and local database, Magiran from 2012 up to May 2019.

Ab Initio Calculations on Sequential Reactions of Nitric Oxide with Titanium Ions in the Gas Phase.

Potential energy surfaces of sequential reactions of NO with Ti ion in the gas phase were investigated for various spin multiplicities using the coupled-cluster and the multireference configuration interaction methods. The mechanisms of Ti reactions with up to four NO molecules were fully determined, with all transition-state structures being found by relaxed surface scans and confirmed by the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculations. The reaction mechanisms are consistent with the products observed in mass spectrometric experiments.

DFT study on tautomerism and natural bond orbital analysis of 4-substituted 1,2,4-triazole and its derivatives: solvation and substituent effects.

Density functional theory investigations at the DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G theoretical level employed to determine the tautomerism, substituent effects of 4-substituted 4-amino-5-methyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione, and its derivatives (4-R-H, 4-R-CH, 4-R-F, 4-R-NO) in the selected solvent (acetone, acetonitrile, and dichloromethane) and gas phases using the polarizable continuum method (PCM) model. The substituted 1,2,4-triazoles have two main different tautomers namely N-H and S-H. For considered derivatives, thione forms are more energetically stable and dominant form in the studied solvent and gas phases.

Vitamin D3 affects mitochondrial biogenesis through mitogen-activated protein kinase in polycystic ovary syndrome mouse model.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder characterized by oligomenorrhea, anovulation, and hyperandrogenism. Altered mitochondrial biogenesis can result in hyperandrogenism. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of vitamin D3 on mitochondrial biogenesis of the granulosa cells in the PCOS-induced mouse model.

Quantitative response in ion mobility spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in positive polarity as a function of moisture and temperature.

Response of an ion mobility spectrometer at ambient pressure was quantitatively determined for fourteen chemicals from five chemical families spanning a range of proton affinities and temperature from 30 to 175 °C with moisture from 1 to 1 × 10 ppm in purified air. Peak intensities, drift times and reduced mobility coefficients were determined for hydrated protons from aNi ion source and for protonated monomers and proton bound dimers of alcohols, aldehydes, acetates, ketones, and organophosphates. These measurements permitted the determination of response factors with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and the influence of moisture and temperature on APCI response with correlation to computational models of hydration values.

Fabrication of novel 2D Ag-TiO/γ-AlO/Chitosan nano-composite photocatalyst toward enhanced photocatalytic reduction of nitrate.

The presence of excess nitrate in groundwater limits it use as a drinking water supply and its removal is critical to balance the nitrogen cycle in aquatic systems. In this study, ultra-thin 2-dimensional Ag-TiO/γ-AlO/Chitosan (Ag-TiO/AlO/CS) nano-composite was synthesized for the fast reduction of nitrate under UVA irradiation from aqueous solutions. As-synthesized nano-composite was well characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.

Sulfaquinoxaline oxidation by UV-C activated sodium persulfate: Degradation kinetics and toxicological evaluation.

This study evaluates the efficiency of sulfate radicals used in advanced oxidation process in water treatment. The targeted pollutant is an antibiotic, sulfaquinoxaline (SQ-Na) sodium, widely used in the veterinary field. The results show a degradation of SQ-Na until 90% after 300 min of irradiation at optimal sodium persulfate (SPS) concentration (200 mg/L).

Atmospheric oxidation reactions of imidazole initiated by hydroxyl radicals: kinetics and mechanism of reactions and atmospheric implications.

The atmospheric oxidation mechanism of imidazole initiated by hydroxyl radicals is investigated via OH-addition and H-abstraction pathways by quantum chemistry calculations at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory coupled with reaction kinetics calculations using statistical Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory and transition state theory (TST). It was found that OH addition proceeds more rapidly than H-abstraction by several orders of magnitude. Moreover, H-abstraction reactions with submerged barriers exhibit positive temperature dependence.

Ion mobility spectrometers and electron capture detector - A comparison of detection capabilities.

Electron capture detectors (ECDs) and detectors used in ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have been successfully used for the detection of numerous compounds including hazardous substances. The general principles of their operations are similar and based on sample component ionization and measurement of the signal using the differences in the mobility of electric charge carriers. Differences in sensitivity result from various parameters of these instruments.

Impact of Phosphate, Potassium, Yeast Extract, and Trace Metals on Chitosan and Metabolite Production by Mucor indicus.

In this study the effects of phosphate, potassium, yeast extract, and trace metals on the growth of Mucor indicus and chitosan, chitin, and metabolite production by the fungus were investigated. Maximum yield of chitosan (0.32 g/g cell wall) was obtained in a phosphate-free medium.

DETERMINATION OF FLUCONAZOLE IN HUMAN PLASMA BY REVERSE PHASE HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY.

A rapid, simple and reproducible high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed and validated for determination of fluconazole in human plasma. The separation was performed on MZ C8 column (125 x 4 mm, 5 µm) using acetonitrile - potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (15 : 85, v/v), pH 3.0, as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.

Effects of Plant Growth Hormones on Mucor indicus Growth and Chitosan and Ethanol Production.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and kinetin (KIN) on Mucor indicus growth, cell wall composition, and ethanol production. A semi-synthetic medium, supplemented with 0-5 mg/L hormones, was used for the cultivations (at 32 °C for 48 h). By addition of 1 mg/L of each hormone, the biomass and ethanol yields were increased and decreased, respectively.

Nano Clinoptilolite: Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Chromene Derivatives Under Solvent-Free Conditions.

An efficient and selective synthesis of substituted chromene derivatives via three-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin or 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, activated acetylenic compounds and N-nucleophiles is described. The reaction was conducted under solvent-free conditions at 70°C using potassium fluoride impregnated on natural zeolite as a cheap and available solid base. The procedure has several advantages involving selectivity, excellent yields and a convenient work-up method.