Application of computed aided detection in breast masses diagnosis

Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer in women. The life-time risk of a woman developing this disease has been established as one in eight. Currently mammography is a standard method and could decrease breast cancer mortality. Unfortunately, negative mammograms don\u2032t exclude cancer. The sensitivity of mammography ranges from approximately 70% to 90% and it should be higher. Materials and Methods: The sample contained 255 cases taken from Imaging Center of Imam Khomaini Hospital. Bilateral mammograms in both craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique projections were used. Two experienced Radiologists reviewed images before and after using CAD system. Tumors (including malignant and benign) and normal breast tissues were confirmed by histological correlation. Results: Of 255 cases 92 were not recommended for further work-up. Of 163 cases 90 were normal mass, 23 malignant tumors, 16 benign tumors and 22 cysts were detected by CAD system. The remaining cases were finalized only by biopsy. Conclusion: CAD could be utilized for breast mass detection. This is a practical technique with low cost

Characterization of Raman gain for different gain medium

By using different fiber types as gain medium such as 500 m HNLF, 215 cm Bi-EDF, 7.2 km DCF, 11 km DCF, 18.2 km DCF, as well as the composition of Bi-EDF with 11 km DCF and finally the composition of Bi-EDF with the 18.2 km DCF, Raman gain was characterized and measured by the same set up as proposed in our study. The results revealed that the composition of Bi-EDF with the 18.2 km DCF provided the highest effective Raman gain among the other fibers investigated

Cigarette Smoke Induces Intestinal Inflammation via a Th17 Cell-Neutrophil Axis

Epidemiological evidence finds cigarette smoking is a common risk factor for a number of diseases, not only in the lung but also in other tissues, such as the gastrointestinal tract. While it is well-documented that smoking directly drives lung inflammatory disease, how it promotes disease in peripheral tissues is incompletely understood. In this study, we utilized a mouse model of short-term smoke exposure and found increased Th17 cells and neutrophilia in the lung as well as in the circulation. Following intestinal inflammatory challenge, smoke exposed mice showed increased pathology which corresponds to enhanced intestinal Th17 cells, ILC3 and neutrophils within intestinal tissue. Using cellular depletion and genetic deficiencies, we define a cellular loop by which IL-17A and downstream neutrophils drive cigarette smoke-enhanced intestinal inflammation. Collectively, cigarette smoke induced local lung Th17 responses lead to increased systemic susceptibility to inflammatory insult through enhanced circulating neutrophils. These data demonstrate a cellular pathway by which inflammatory challenge in the lung can sensitize the intestine to enhanced pathological innate and adaptive immune responses

New report of Pullimosina heteroneura (Dip.: Sphaeroceridae) from Iran

During a study on the pests of button mushrooms in the city of Kermanshah, the sphaerocerid species of Pullimosina heteroneura (Haliday) was collected from mushroom culture media. This species is a new record for the Iranian insect fauna

Proteomic identification of in vivo substrates for matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 reveals a mechanism for resolution of inflammation.

Clearance of allergic inflammatory cells from the lung through matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is necessary to prevent lethal asphyxiation, but mechanistic insight into this essential homeostatic process is lacking. In this study, we have used a proteomics approach to determine how MMPs promote egression of lung inflammatory cells through the airway. MMP2- and MMP9-dependent cleavage of individual Th2 chemokines modulated their chemotactic activity; however, the net effect of complementing bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of allergen-challenged MMP2(-/-)/MMP9(-/-) mice with active MMP2 and MMP9 was to markedly enhance its overall chemotactic activity. In the bronchoalveolar fluid of MMP2(-/-)/MMP9(-/-) allergic mice, we identified several chemotactic molecules that possessed putative MMP2 and MMP9 cleavage sites and were present as higher molecular mass species. In vitro cleavage assays and mass spectroscopy confirmed that three of the identified proteins, Ym1, S100A8, and S100A9, were substrates of MMP2, MMP9, or both. Function-blocking Abs to S100 proteins significantly altered allergic inflammatory cell migration into the alveolar space. Thus, an important effect of MMPs is to differentially modify chemotactic bioactivity through proteolytic processing of proteins present in the airway. These findings provide a molecular mechanism to explain the enhanced clearance of lung inflammatory cells through the airway and reveal a novel approach to target new therapies for asthma

Dehydroepiandrosterone stimulates nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor in cortical neurons

Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important. One approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection. On the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a neurosteroid which has multiple actions in the nervous system. DHEA could be an important agent in regenerative pharmacology for neuronal differentiation during tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated the possible role of DHEA to modulate NGF and BDNF production. The in vivo level of neurotrophins expression was demonstrated by ELISA in rat harvested brain cortex. Also neurotrophins expression after DHEA treatment was revealed by the increased neurite extension, immunostaining, and BrdU labeling in rats. Anti-NGF and anti-BDNF antibodies were used as suppressive agents on neurogenesis. The results showed that NGF and BDNF are overproduced after DHEA treatment but there is not any overexpression for NT-3 and NT-4. Also DHEA increased neurite extension and neural cell proliferation significantly. Overall, DHEA might induce NGF and BDNF neurotrophins overproduction in cortical neurons which promotes neural cell protection, survival, and proliferation. © 2013 Anahita Rahmani et al

Comprehensive Techno-Economic Analysis of a Multi-Feedstock Biorefinery Plant in Oil-Rich Country: A Case Study of Iran

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordThe high energy consumption in Iran, particularly in the transportation sector, has contaminated large cities and jeopardized the society health. Therefore, in this study technical and economic features of the production of biodiesel plant in Iran from various wastes are investigated. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method’s findings, the southern area of Iran is selected for establishing the biodiesel plant in Iran. The biorefinery, which includes three units of sewage sludge, edible waste oil and microalgae. The results of the economic evaluation show that the lowest costs of investment and production of biodiesel are related to microalgae units ($0.375/kg) and edible waste oil ($0.53/kg), respectively. Also, among all units, the lowest break even prices are related to biodiesel production ($1.17/kg) and the highest ATROR rate (29.16%) belongs to the microalgae unit. This indicates that this unit is more profitable than other units and the invested cost is returned to the investor in a shorter period of time (3.43 years). On the other hand, the results of sensitivity analysis show that the highest sensitivity of changes in the selling price of biodiesel and the cost of raw materials to ATROR to the microalgae and sludge unit. Therefore, the construction of a biorefinery in Iran has an economic justification