Evaluating the rancidity and quality of discarded oils in fast food restaurants.

This cross-sectional study attempts to determine the rancidity and quality of discarded oils in fast food restaurants. Samples of the discarded frying oils were collected randomly from 50 fast food restaurants in Tehran, Iran. Their physicochemical properties were assessed and compared to the standard values.

The effect of aluminum oxide on red blood cell integrity and hemoglobin structure at nanoscale.

Herein, we explored the interaction of AlO NPs with RBCs and Hb to determine the effect of AlO NPs on hemolytic activity and Hb denaturation. The percentage of hemolysis of extracts and direct contact assays triggered by AlO NPs was calculated by determining supernatant Hb concentration at 540 nm. Far-UV CD and Trp/ANS/acrylamide fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used to determine the structural changes of Hb upon interaction with AlO NPs.

Carboxymethyl dextran-trimethyl chitosan coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: An effective siRNA delivery system for HIV-1 Nef.

Gene therapy, including small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, is one of the leading strategies that help to improve the outcomes of the current therapeutic systems against HIV-1 infection. The successful therapeutic application of siRNAs requires their safe and efficient delivery to specific cells. Here, we introduce a superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) for delivering siRNA against HIV-1 nef (anti-nef siRNA) into two cell lines, HEK293 and macrophage RAW 264.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness based interventions and yoga in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Mindfulness interventions are increasingly used as a part of integrated treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but there are limited data and a lack of consensus regarding effectiveness.

Objectives: We explored the efficacy of mindfulness interventions compared to treatment as usual (TAU), or other psychotherapeutic interventions, in treating physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with IBD.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Biophysical, molecular dynamics and cellular studies on the interaction of nickel oxide nanoparticles with tau proteins and neuron-like cells.

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) have been used in the biological and medical sciences. However, their toxic effects against biological systems such as nervous system have not been well studied. Therefore, the adverse effect of NiO NPs on tau structure was investigated by fluorescence and CD spectroscopic methods as well as TEM study.

Challenges of Edible Oils From Farm to Industry: Views of Stakeholders.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore stakeholders' views about quality and safety of edible oils from farm to industry and propose policy options to address these challenges.

Methods: Semistructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the edible oil industry. Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling.

L-Glutamine-assisted synthesis of ZnO oatmeal-like/silver composites as an electrochemical sensor for Pb detection.

We report a green synthesis of oatmeal ZnO/silver composites in the presence of L-glutamine as an electrochemical sensor for Pb detection. The synthesis was performed via the direct reduction of Ag in the presence of L-glutamine in NaOH. X-ray diffraction indicated that the Ag was completely reduced to metallic Ag.

New insights into the selective inhibition of the β-carbonic anhydrases of pathogenic bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei and Francisella tularensis: a proteochemometrics study.

Nowadays, antibiotic resistance has turned into one of the most important worldwide health problems. Biological end point of critical enzymes induced by potent inhibitors is recently being considered as a highly effective and popular strategy to defeat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. For instance, the simple but critical β-carbonic anhydrase has recently been in the center of attention for anti-pathogen drug discoveries.

The effects of probiotics and synbiotic supplementation on glucose and insulin metabolism in adults with prediabetes: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Aims: Probiotics and/or prebiotics could be a promising approach to improve metabolic disorders by favorably modifying the gut microbial composition.

Objectives: To assess the effects of probiotics and synbiotic on glycemic indices in prediabetic individuals who are at risk of type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-group clinical trial, 120 prediabetic adults participated and were randomly allocated to receive either probiotics or synbiotic or placebo supplements for 24 weeks.

Probing the chemical interaction space governed by 4-aminosubstituted benzenesulfonamides and carbonic anhydrase isoforms.

Isoform diversity, critical physiological roles and involvement in major diseases/disorders such as glaucoma, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, and cancers have made carbonic anhydrase (CA), one of the most interesting case studies in the field of computer aided drug design. Since applying non-selective inhibitors can result in major side effects, there have been considerable efforts so far to achieve selective inhibitors for different isoforms of CA. Using proteochemometrics approach, the chemical interaction space governed by a group of 4-amino-substituted benzenesulfonamides and human CAs has been explored in the present study.

Effects of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy on social cognition in major depression.

: Social cognition is commonly affected in psychiatric disorders and is a determinant of quality of life. However, there are few studies of treatment.: To investigate the efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy on social cognition in major depression.

Beta vulgaris - A Mini Review of Traditional Uses in Iran, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology.

Background: Beta vulgaris (family: Chenopodiaceae) is now widely is used more in the food industry as a rich source of sugar but it is less considered in medicine. Beet has been used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years to treat a variety of diseases such as constipation, decreased libido, gut and joint pain and dandruff.

Methods: This study introduced the benefits of Beta vulgaris by reviewing Iranian traditional documents from the 10th century until now and also compared modern phytotherapy of plant beet from the electronic data banks such as ISI, Pub Med and Scopus with findings that extracted from traditional literature.

An inter-subunit disulfide bond of artemin acts as a redox switch for its chaperone-like activity.

Encysted embryos of Artemia are among the most stress-resistant eukaryotes partly due to the massive amount of a cysteine-rich protein termed artemin. High number of cysteine residues in artemin and their intramolecular spatial positions motivated us to investigate the role of the cysteine residues in the chaperone-like activity of artemin. According to the result of Ellman's assay, there are nine free thiols (seven buried and two exposed) and one disulfide bond per monomer of artemin.

Probing the interaction of zero valent iron nanoparticles with blood system by biophysical, docking, cellular, and molecular studies.

Human exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) is inevitable as NPs become more widely applied and, as a result, nanotoxicology study is now gaining attention. Herein, the interaction of zero valent iron NPs (ZVFe-NPs) with human hemoglobin (Hb) was evaluated using a variety of techniques including fluorescence spectroscopy, far circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy as well as docking study. Also, the cytotoxicity of ZVFe-NPs on the human lymphocyte cell line as a model of blood system cell line was investigated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR assays.

Proteochemometric modeling of the origin of thymidylate synthase inhibition.

Due to its crucial role in DNA synthesis, thymidylate synthase (TS) has been considered as a potential therapeutic target. Inhibition of the enzyme is a promising strategy for the treatment of some hyperproliferative diseases, including infections. As TS species-specific inhibitors would be able to distinguish between the host and the pathogens, developing highly selective inhibitors is of great clinical importance.

Hematological, hepatic enzymes' activity and oxidative stress responses of gray mullet (Mugil cephalus) after sub-acute exposure to copper oxide.

Given the importance of assessing potential toxicity of heavy metals in valuable species of aquatic animals, the goal of the present research was to assess the sub-acute effects of copper oxide on hematological, enzymological, and oxidative stress responses of gray mullet to measure toxicity of copper oxide pollution in this significant fish. The median lethal concentration (LC) value of copper oxide to gray mullet was detected at 3.15 ± 0.

The effects of probiotic and synbiotic supplementation on metabolic syndrome indices in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity has been rising dramatically; however, their pathogenesis is particularly intriguing. Recently, dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota has emerged as a new candidate that may be linked to metabolic diseases. We hypothesize that selective modulation of the intestinal microbiota by probiotic or synbiotic supplementation may improve metabolic dysfunction and prevent diabetes in prediabetics.

Antibacterial activity and composition of the essential oil of Nepeta hormozganica Jamzad from Iran.

The composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of the aerial flowering parts of Nepeta hormozganica Jamzad have been studied. Analysis of the oil was conducted by GC-FID and GC-MS. Thirty-two components were characterized accounting for 99.

The Impact of Setting the Standards of Health Promoting Hospitals on Hospital Indicators in Iran.

Hospitals play a critical role in the health promotion of the society. This study aimed to determine the impact of establishing standards of health promoting hospitals on hospital indicators in Shahroud. This applied study was a quasi-experimental one which was conducted in 2013.

Topical and systemic antifungals in dermatology practice.

Dermatophytosis is generally defined as an infection of the hair, nails, or glabrous skin. These infections are caused by the keratinophilic fungi Trichophyton spp., Microsporum spp.

Fluorescence bio-barcode DNA assay based on gold and magnetic nanoparticles for detection of Exotoxin A gene sequence.

Bio-barcode DNA based on gold nanoparticle (bDNA-GNPs) as a new generation of biosensor based detection tools, holds promise for biological science studies. They are of enormous importance in the emergence of rapid and sensitive procedures for detecting toxins of microorganisms. Exotoxin A (ETA) is the most toxic virulence factor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Natural Occurrence of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus in Iranian Cucurbit Crops.

The main areas for field-grown vegetable production in Iran were surveyed during the years of 2012-2014 to determine the occurrence of begomoviruses infecting these crops. A total of 787 leaf samples were collected from vegetables and some other host plants showing virus-like symptoms and tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using polyclonal antibodies produced against Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). According to the ELISA results, 81 samples (10.

Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Aphelenchoides fuchsi sp. n. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) Isolated from Pinus eldarica in Western Iran.

Aphelenchoides fuchsi sp. n. is described and illustrated from bark and wood samples of a weakened Mondell pine in Kermanshah Province, western Iran.

Effects of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Depressive Symptoms and Executive Functioning in Major Depression.

This study examined the efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on depressive symptoms and executive functioning in patients with major depression. We examined pretest, posttest, and follow-up depression scores as well as pretest-posttest executive functioning scores between 16 participants receiving ISTDP and 16 allocated to wait-list control. Participants in each group were matched according to age, sex, and educational level.