Patient-specific computational simulations of wound healing following midline laparotomy closure

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - In the current study, we developed a new computational methodology to simulate wound healing in soft tissues. We assumed that the injured tissue...     

Melatonin and TiO2 NPs Application-Induced Changes in Growth,Photosynthesis, Antioxidant Enzymes Activities and Secondary Metabolites in Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) Under Drought Stress Conditions

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Drought stress is one of the major constraints on the growth and productivity of crop plants. Recently, new approaches have been employed in order to cope with...     

Association of IL-15 and IP-10 Serum Levels with Cytomegalovirus Infection,CMV Viral Load and Cyclosporine Level after Kidney Transplantation

Background:Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common complications following kidney transplantation. Natural killer (NK) cells demonstrated critical anti-viral role in controlling and elimination of CMV after transplantation. Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pleiotropic cytokine that promotes the activity of NK cells and strengthens the acquired immune system. Also, IP10 (CXCL10) is a chemotactic factor which regulates NK cell recruitment and antiviral immune response. We aimed to determine the correlation between the serum levels of IL-15 and IP-10 cytokines with CMV infection, CMV viral load, and cyclosporine as a major immunosuppressive treatment after transplantation.Methods:Fifty-eight kidney transplant recipient patients without evidence of CMV virus disease before transplantation surgery were included in the study. From the day of transplant surgery, the patients were evaluated based on the presence of CMV Ag pp65, CMV viral load, serum levels of IL-15 & IP-10, Cyclosporine levels (C0 & C2), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), and hematological & biochemical Index, up to 75 days.Results:Comparison analysis of serum levels of IL-15 and IP-10 showed no significant association with CMV infection in kidney transplant recipients. In addition, CMV viral load and cyclosporine levels at C0 and C2 did not affect patients'' IL-15 and IP-10 levels.Conclusion:The levels of IP-10 and IL-15 cytokines are not affected with CMV infection, even if a viral infection occurs in the early days after transplantation or long afterwards. In addition, taking the different levels of cyclosporine did not affect the cytokines levels. Other mechanisms may play a role in maintaining the levels of these cytokines.Key Words: Cytokine, Cytomegalovirus, IP-10, Interleukin-15, Transplantation     

Antimicrobial activity of essential oil and major constituents of Salvia chloroleuca

The aerial parts of Salvia chloroleuca were collected at full flowering stage at Shahrestanak (Tehran province of Iran). The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by combination of capillary GC and GC-MS. Thirty-four components were identified, representing 98.5% of the total oil. beta-Pinene (10.6%), alpha-pinene (9.0%), beta-caryophyllene (9.0%), 1,8-cineole (9.0%) and carvacrol (7.9%) were the main components. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of S. chloroleuca was studied against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three fungi (Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger); the disc diffusion method and MIC values indicated that the oil exhibited moderate to high antimicrobial activity.     

Micell-mediated extraction for the spectrophotometric determination of nitrite in water and biological samples based on its reaction with p-nitroaniline in the presence of diphenylamine

A cloud point extraction process using the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 to extract nitrite from aqueous solution was investigated. The method is based on the color reaction of nitrite with p-nitroaniline in the presence of diphenylamine in acid media and micell-mediated extraction of an azo product. The optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g., acid concentration, reagent concentration, effect of time) were studied, and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection, linear range, molar absorptivity, preconcentration, and improvement factors) were obtained. Linearity was obeyed in the range of 2-40 ng ml(-1) of nitrite ion. The detection limit of the method is 0.87 ng ml(-1) of nitrite ion. The interference effect of some anions and cations was also tested. The method was applied to the determination of nitrite in tap water, waste water, and human urine samples.     

Induction of genes mediating interferon-dependent extracellular trap formation during neutrophil differentiation

Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines that possess potent anti-viral and immunoregulatory activities. In contrast, their potential role(s) in anti-bacterial defense and neutrophil activation mechanisms is less well explored. By comparing gene expression patterns between immature and mature human neutrophils, we obtained evidence that intracellular proteases and other anti-bacterial proteins are produced at earlier stages of maturation, whereas the genes for receptors and signaling molecules required for the release of these effector molecules are preferentially induced during terminal differentiation. For instance, mature neutrophils strongly expressed genes that increase their responses to type I and type II IFNs. Interestingly, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor was identified as a repressor of IFN signaling components and consequently of IFN-responsive genes. Both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma induced strong tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT1 in mature but not in immature neutrophils. Functional in vitro studies suggested that IFNs act as priming factors on mature neutrophils, allowing the formation of extracellular traps upon subsequent stimulation with complement factor 5a (C5a). In contrast, both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma had only little capacity to prime immature cells in this system. Moreover, both IFNs did not have significant anti-proliferative effects on immature neutrophils. These data contribute to our understanding regarding changes of gene expression during neutrophil differentiation and IFN-mediated anti-bacterial defense mechanisms.     

Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. from Iran

The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd., an endemic species from Iran, was studied. The oil was obtained from the aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds, accounting for 99.8% of the total oil, were identified. The main constituents were 1,8-cineol (47.9%) and 4aalpha,7alpha,7abetanepetalactone (20.3%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil of N. crispa was tested against seven gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria and four fungi. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobial activity, in which the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, were the most sensitive to the oil. Also, the oil exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against all the tested fungi.     

Association of Hypertension,Body Mass Index,and Waist Circumference with Fluoride Intake; Water Drinking in Residents of Fluoride Endemic Areas,Iran

Hypertension is becoming a global epidemic for both rural and urban populations; it is a major public health challenge in Iran. Fluoride can be a risk factor for hypertension. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted in two study areas to assess the relation of fluoride with blood pressure prevalence, BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) among different age groups in both sexes. The mean value of fluoride concentration in the drinking water from the four study villages varied from 0.68 to 10.30 mg/L. The overall prevalence of HTN and prehypertension in all subjects was 40.7%. The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension, systolic-diastolic hypertension, and prehypertension in the total sample population was 1.15, 0.28, 9.53, and 29.76%, respectively. The odd ratio of hypertension in residents who drank water with high fluoride levels was higher than that in residents who drank water with lower level of fluoride (OR 2.3, 1.03–5.14). Logistic regression results showed that age (P?<?0.001), sex (P?=?0.018), BMI (P?=?0.015), and the fluoride level in drinking water (P?=?0.041) had a significant relationship with increased blood pressure. There were no statistically significant correlations between fluoride and BMI, hip circumference, and waist to hip ratio (WHR). The findings of this study are important for health care personnel and policymakers.     

Length‐weight and length–length relationships of three algae‐scraping cyprinid species from Iran

The study presents length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) for three algae‐scraper species; Capoeta coadi from the Kouhrang River (Iran; 32°23′N, 50°08′E) a part of the Tigris drainage basin, Capoeta pyragyi from Cheshmeh Langan River (32°55′N, 50°10′E) a part of Zayanderud River basin and Capoeta umbla from Chooman River (35°57′N, 45°47′E). Fish were sampled by electro fishing (Samus1000; Power Out: 200 watts) in August, September and October 2017. Sampling was carried out each months in sites covering an area of about 100 m² including runs, riffles and pools at a water depth of 10–60 cm. The obtained LWRs and LLRs showed a high level of correlation (r² > 0.99).