Association study of rs10768683 and rs968857 polymorphisms with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) in a southern Iranian population

Previous studies reported that detection of polymorphisms inherited through paternal model could be potential markers for the Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnosis (NIPD) of β-thalassemia. The aim of the current study was to find out the associations of rs10768683 and rs968857 with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) in a southern Iranian population. A total of 175 subjects were investigated, divided into patients with TDT as case group (n?=?75) and healthy people as control group (n?=?100). Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood using salting out procedure. Genotyping rs10768683 and rs968857 was carried out by ARMS-PCR, then statistical analyses were assessed using SPSS, and Medcalc ver. 18 software. Data showed that rs10768683 was statistically significant in co-dominant model of inheritance (P?=?0.025, OR?=?2.11 [1.08-4.15]) and genotype frequencies of CG among controls and cases were 0.68 and 0.80, respectively. However, according to genotype frequencies, there was no association between rs968857 and TDT among cases and healthy controls in any models of inheritance. In conclusion, the present study showed the association of rs10768683 with major β-thalassemia through ARMS-PCR technique.     

Numerical Simulations of Metamaterial Absorbers Employing Vanadium Dioxide

Plasmonics - In this paper, we investigate various sensor configurations via optical metamaterial nano-absorbers. These are designed by two disparate triangle shapes nanoparticles. By using the...     

尊重斯德哥尔摩的历史中心—骑士岛的激活改造

瑞典国家财产委员会拥有骑士岛的所有权与管理权，并计划对该岛上所有的公共空间进行更新和开发，以提高其可达性与吸引力。该项目的核心是找到一种更新和修复岛屿的方法，从而在尊重历史价值的同时满足现代功能需求。对骑士岛南部的改造是岛上公共空间更新的第一部分。设计的关键条件是沿滨水区域创造可以供人步行与停坐的大面积空间，并在保持开放海港氛围的同时，对旧的道路铺装进行管理。设计者设计了一套灵活使用公共空间的综合解决方案，将开放空间与之前的码头一样，沿着水滨的形态进行布局。     

An updated overview of the application of CAR-T cell therapy in neurological diseases

Genetically modified immune cells, especially CAR-T cells, have captured the attention of scientists over the past 10 years. In the fight against cancer, these cells have a special place. Treatment for hematological cancers, autoimmune disorders, and cancers must include CAR-T cell therapy. Determining the therapeutic targets, side effects, and use of CAR-T cells in neurological disorders, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, is the goal of this study. Due to advancements in genetic engineering, CAR-T cells have become crucial in treating some neurological disorders. CAR-T cells have demonstrated a positive role in treating neurological cancers like Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma due to their ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and use diverse targets. However, CAR-T cell therapy for MS diseases is being researched and could be a potential treatment option. This study aimed to access the most recent studies and scientific articles in the field of CAR-T cells in neurological diseases and/or disorders.     

Vitamins E and D3 Attenuate Demyelination and Potentiate Remyelination Processes of Hippocampal Formation of Rats Following Local Injection of Ethidium Bromide

Cognitive deficits have been observed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to hippocampal insults. Antioxidant vitamins D and E are suggested for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases like MS, while their mechanisms of action are not well understood. Here, we have tried to study the effects of these vitamins on demyelination, cell death, and remyelination of rat hippocampus following local ethidium bromide (EB) injection. Animals received 100 mg/kg vitamin E or 5 μg/kg of vitamin D3 for 2, 7, or 28 days. The extent of demyelination, myelin staining intensity, and expression of myelin basic protein and caspase-3 were investigated using histological and immunoblotting verification. Administration of EB alone caused demyelination, cell death, and afterward an endogenous repair. Vitamins E and D3 reduced the EB-induced damage and increased the endogenous remyelination of hippocampus. Although the anti-apoptotic effect of these vitamins and protection against demyelination were predictable based on their antioxidant effect, our results indicated the positive effect of vitamins E and D3 on process of remyelination by endogenous progenitor cells and supported their possible therapeutic effects in the context of demyelinating diseases like MS.     

Finite element simulation of an artificial intervertebral disk using fiber reinforced laminated composite model

Degeneration of intervertebral disk (IVD) has been increased in recent years. The lumbar herniation can be cured using conservative and surgical procedures. Surgery is considered after failure of conservative treatment. Partial discectomy, fusion, and total disk replacement (TDR) are also common surgical treatments for degenerative disk disease. However, due to limitations and disadvantages of the current treatments, many studies have been carried out to approach the best design of mimicking natural disk. Recently, a new method of TDRs has been introduced using nature deformation of IVD by reinforced fibers of annulus fibrosis. Nonetheless, owing to limitations of experimental works on the human body, numerical studies of IVD may help to understand load transfer and biomechanical properties within the disks with reinforced fibers. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the L2-L3 disk vertebrae unit with 12 vertical fibers embedded into annulus fibrosis was constructed. The IVD was subjected to compressive force, bending moment, and axial torsion. The most important parameters of disk failures were compared to that of experimental data. The results showed that the addition of reinforced fibers into the disk invokes a significant decrease of stress in the nucleus and annulus. The findings of this study may have implications not only for developing IVDs with reinforced fibers but also for the application of fiber reinforced IVD in orthopedics surgeries as a suitable implant.     

Biomineralization: a proposed evolutionary origin for inorganic cofactors of enzymes

In this paper, three different reactions of nanoparticles and proteins are explained. As a model system, the interactions of birnessite, which is a common manganese oxide in the environment, and bovine serum albumin, as a protein that has a strong affinity for a variety of inorganic molecules, are studied. The author proposes that the cofactor-formation in particular enzymes may be considered as a biomineralization in the presence of the protein. One of the numerous and very small nanoparticles produced in the presence of protein could be formed in an appropriate location in proteins and be used as a primitive inorganic core (cofactor) of enzyme.