Evaluation of Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, and Zinc in Biological Samples of Psoriasis Patients Living in Pakistani Cement Factory Area

Psoriasis is a noncontiguous common and chronic skin disorder. The aim of the present study was to compare the level of trace elements cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of psoriasis patients of both gender age ranged (25–55 years) at mild, moderate severe, and more severe stage (n?=?418) living in the vicinity of cement factory. For comparison purposes, healthy age-matched referent subjects, residents of industrial and non-industrial area, of both gender were also selected (n?=?241). The concentrations of trace and toxic elements were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of methodology was checked by using certified reference materials (CRMs) and conventional wet acid digestion method on same CRMs and real samples. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb were significantly higher in scalp hair, blood, and urine samples of mild and severe psoriasis patients as compared to referents (p?<?0.001), while the concentration of Zn was lower in the scalp hair and blood, but higher in the urine samples of psoriasis patients. The deficiency of Zn in psoriasis patients may be undoubtedly caused by the toxic element exposures via cement factory.     

E. coli chaperones DnaK,Hsp33 and Spy inhibit bacterial functional amyloid assembly

Amyloid formation is an ordered aggregation process, where β-sheet rich polymers are assembled from unstructured or partially folded monomers. We examined how two Escherichia coli cytosolic chaperones, DnaK and Hsp33, and a more recently characterized periplasmic chaperone, Spy, modulate the aggregation of a functional amyloid protein, CsgA. We found that DnaK, the Hsp70 homolog in E. coli, and Hsp33, a redox-regulated holdase, potently inhibited CsgA amyloidogenesis. The Hsp33 anti-amyloidogenesis activity was oxidation dependent, as oxidized Hsp33 was significantly more efficient than reduced Hsp33 at preventing CsgA aggregation. When soluble CsgA was seeded with preformed amyloid fibers, neither Hsp33 nor DnaK were able to efficiently prevent soluble CsgA from adopting the amyloid conformation. Moreover, both DnaK and Hsp33 increased the time that CsgA was reactive with the amyloid oligomer conformation-specific A11 antibody. Since CsgA must also pass through the periplasm during secretion, we assessed the ability of the periplasmic chaperone Spy to inhibit CsgA polymerization. Like DnaK and Hsp33, Spy also inhibited CsgA polymerization in vitro. Overexpression of Spy resulted in increased chaperone activity in periplasmic extracts and in reduced curli biogenesis in vivo. We propose that DnaK, Hsp33 and Spy exert their effects during the nucleation stages of CsgA fibrillation. Thus, both housekeeping and stress induced cytosolic and periplasmic chaperones may be involved in discouraging premature CsgA interactions during curli biogenesis.Key words: chaperone, curli, functional amyloid, CsgA, DnaK, Hsp33, Spy     

Surface guided 3DCRT in deep-inspiration breath-hold for left sided breast cancer radiotherapy: implementation and first clinical experience in Iran

BackgroundThe aim of the study is to evaluate the overall accuracy of the surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) workflow through a comprehensive commissioning and quality assurance procedures and assess the potential benefits of deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) radiotherapy as a cardiac and lung dose reduction approach for left-sided breast cancer irradiation.Materials and methodsAccuracy and reproducibility of the optical surface scanner used for DIBH treatment were evaluated using different phantoms. Patient positioning accuracy and reproducibility of DIBH treatment were evaluated. Twenty patients were studied for treatment plan quality in target dose coverage and healthy organ sparing for the two different treatment techniques.ResultsReproducibility tests for the surface scanner showed good stability within 1 mm in all directions. The maximum position variation between applied shifts on the couch and the scanner measured offsets is 1 mm in all directions. The clinical study of 200 fractions showed good agreement between the surface scanner and portal imaging with the isocenter position deviation of less than 3 mm in each lateral, longitudinal, and vertical direction. The standard deviation of the DIBH level showed a value of < 2 mm during all evaluated DIBHs. Compared to the free breathing (FB) technique, DIBH showed significant reduction of 48% for heart mean dose, 43% for heart V25, and 20% for ipsilateral lung V20.ConclusionSurface-guided radiotherapy can be regarded as an accurate tool for patient positioning and monitoring in breast radiotherapy. DIBH treatment are considered to be effective techniques in heart and ipsilateral lung dose reductions for left breast radiotherapy.     

TGF-beta expression during rat pregnancy and activity on decidual cell survival

Background  

During early rat pregnancy, trophoblast of the tiny embryo joins with the endometrium and epithelial cells undergo apoptosis. Near the end of pregnancy, regression of the decidua basalis (DB) is also observed (from day 14 to 20). However, little is known about the intra-cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in apoptosis regulation in the uterus during pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence and the developmental expression of transforming growth factor-beta isoforms (TGF-beta well known differentiation factor) in the rat endometrium throughout pregnancy and its action in vitro using cultured endometrial stromal cells.     

Evaluation of Status of Cadmium, Lead, and Nickel Levels in Biological Samples of Normal and Night Blindness Children of Age Groups 3–7 and 8–12 Years

The causes of night blindness in children are multifactorial, and particular consideration has been given to childhood trace metals toxicity, which is the most common problem found in underdeveloped countries. This study was designed to compare the levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) in scalp hair, blood, and urine of night blindness children age ranged 3–7 and 8–12 years of both genders, comparing them to sex- and age-matched controls. A microwave-assisted wet acid digestion procedure was developed as a sample pretreatment, for the determination of Cd, Pb, and Ni in biological samples of night blindness children. The proposed method was validated by using conventional wet digestion and certified reference samples of hair, blood, and urine. The digests of all biological samples were analyzed for Cd, Pb, and Ni by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated significantly higher levels of Cd, Pb, and Ni in the biological samples (blood, scalp hair, and urine) of male and female night blindness children, compared with control subjects of both genders. These data present guidance to clinicians and other professional investigating toxicity of trace metals in biological samples of night blindness children.     

A preliminary investigation into the relationship between functional movement screen scores and athletic physical performance in female team sport athletes

There is little research investigating relationships between the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and athletic performance in female athletes. This study analyzed the relationships between FMS (deep squat; hurdle step [HS]; in-line lunge [ILL]; shoulder mobility; active straight-leg raise [ASLR]; trunk stability push-up; rotary stability) scores, and performance tests (bilateral and unilateral sit-and-reach [flexibility]; 20-m sprint [linear speed]; 505 with turns from each leg; modified T-test with movement to left and right [change-of-direction speed]; bilateral and unilateral vertical and standing broad jumps; lateral jumps [leg power]). Nine healthy female recreational team sport athletes (age = 22.67 ± 5.12 years; height = 1.66 ± 0.05 m; body mass = 64.22 ± 4.44 kilograms) were screened in the FMS and completed the afore-mentioned tests. Percentage between-leg differences in unilateral sit-and-reach, 505 turns and the jumps, and difference between the T-test conditions, were also calculated. Spearman''s correlations (p ≤ 0.05) examined relationships between the FMS and performance tests. Stepwise multiple regressions (p ≤ 0.05) were conducted for the performance tests to determine FMS predictors. Unilateral sit-and-reach positive correlated with the left-leg ASLR (r = 0.704-0.725). However, higher-scoring HS, ILL, and ASLR related to poorer 505 and T-test performance (r = 0.722-0.829). A higher-scored left-leg ASLR related to a poorer unilateral vertical and standing broad jump, which were the only significant relationships for jump performance. Predictive data tended to confirm the correlations. The results suggest limitations in using the FMS to identify movement deficiencies that could negatively impact athletic performance in female team sport athletes.     

不同术式的经内镜下行乳头括约肌切开术（EST）对肠胆反流的影响

目的：目前认为,十二指肠胆道反流是引起胆道反复感染,进而导致胆道结石再发和胆道狭窄的原因之一。近年来应用以内镜下逆行胆胰管造影术（endoscopicretrogradecholangiopancreatography,ERCP）为基础的微创治疗胆总管结束的技术开展颇为广泛。它主要包括ERCP、Oddi括约肌切开术（endoscopicsphincterotomy,EST）、十二指肠乳头球囊扩张术（endoscopicpapillarybal—Iondilation,EPBD）、胆管结石碎石取石术、胆总管支架植入术和鼻胆管引流术六大技术。本文主要研究了采用不同术式的EST,即EST中切口和EST小切口＋EPBD术,在术后早期对患者十二指肠胆道反流的影响。方法：63例胆总管结石患者,男30例,女33例,予行经内镜下逆行的胆胰管造影（ERCP）后分别采用不同术式EST,术后安放胆总管引流管。术后l周留取胆汁采用口服核素和测定胆汁中的胃蛋白酶I、II的浓度,对十二指肠胆道反流进行定量和定性的测定。结果：EST中切口术组、EST小切口＋球囊扩张（EPBD）组分别与无EST组相比,年龄和性别无统计学意义（P=0．07,P=0．416）。行EST中切开和小切开＋球囊扩张患者胆汁中的锝计数明显高于无EST组,且这两组不同术式的患者锝计数存在显著的统计学差异（P〈0．05）。行EST中切口者、EST小切口＋球囊扩张术者胆汁中的PGII质量浓度明显低于无EST组（P〈0．05）,但是EST中切口者和EST小切口＋球囊扩张术后两组间胆汁中PGII的质量浓度无统计学差异。结论：行EST中切口取胆总管结石的患者在手术早期较易发生十二指肠胆道的反流。因此,建议对于胆总管结石患者尽量选择行EST小切口＋球裳扩张术（EPBD）的手术方式。     

Leptin and high glucose stimulate cell proliferation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells: reciprocal involvement of PKC-alpha and PPAR expression

Glucose concentration may be an important factor in breast cancer cell proliferation, and the prevalence of breast cancer is high in diabetic patients. Leptin may also be an important factor since plasma levels of leptin correlated with TNM staging for breast cancer patients. The effects of glucose and leptin on breast cancer cell proliferation were evaluated by examining cell doubling time, DNA synthesis, levels of cell cycle related proteins, protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme expression, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes were determined following glucose exposure at normal (5.5 mM) and high (25 mM) concentrations with/without leptin in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In MCF-7 cells, leptin and high glucose stimulated cell proliferation as demonstrated by the increases in DNA synthesis and expression of cdk2 and cyclin D1. PKC-alpha, PPARgamma, and PPARalpha protein levels were up-regulated following leptin and high glucose treatment in drug-sensitive MCF-7 cells. However, there was no significant effect of leptin and high glucose on cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, levels of cell cycle proteins, PKC isozymes, or PPAR subtypes in multidrug-resistant human breast cancer NCI/ADR-RES cells. These results suggested that hyperglycemia and hyperleptinemia increase breast cancer cell proliferation through accelerated cell cycle progression with up-regulation of cdk2 and cyclin D1 levels. This suggests the involvement of PKC-alpha, PPARalpha, and PPARgamma.     

Length–weight relationships of three fish species from the Tajan River,Iran

The study describes the length–weight relationships for two Cobitid species, namely Cobitis keyvani and Sabanejewia aurata, plus a Gobiid species, Ponticola gorlap, all from the Tajan River in Mazandaran province, Iran.