Multivariate statistical assessment of heavy metal pollution sources of groundwater around a lead and zinc plant

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The contamination of groundwater by heavy metal ions around a lead and zinc plant has been studied. As a case study groundwater contamination in Bonab Industrial Estate (Zanjan-Iran) for iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead content was investigated using differential pulse polarography (DPP). Although, cobalt, copper and zinc were found correspondingly in 47.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0% of the samples, they did not contain these metals above their maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). Cadmium was detected in 65.2% of the samples and 17.4% of them were polluted by this metal. All samples contained detectable levels of lead and iron with 8.7% and 13.0% of the samples higher than their MCLs. Nickel was also found in 78.3% of the samples, out of which 8.7% were polluted. In general, the results revealed the contamination of groundwater sources in the studied zone. The higher health risks are related to lead, nickel, and cadmium ions. Multivariate statistical techniques were applied for interpreting the experimental data and giving a description for the sources. The data analysis showed correlations and similarities between investigated heavy metals and helps to classify these ion groups. Cluster analysis identified five clusters among the studied heavy metals. Cluster 1 consisted of Pb, Cu, and cluster 3 included Cd, Fe; also each of the elements Zn, Co and Ni was located in groups with single member. The same results were obtained by factor analysis. Statistical investigations revealed that anthropogenic factors and notably lead and zinc plant and pedo-geochemical pollution sources are influencing water quality in the studied area.</p

Effect of a psycho-educational intervention for family members on caregiver burdens and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia in Shiraz, Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study explored the effectiveness of family psycho-education in reducing patients’ symptoms and on family caregiver burden.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventy Iranian outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder and their caregivers were randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 35) or control groups (n = 35). Patients in the experimental group received antipsychotic drug treatment and a psycho-educational program was arranged for their caregivers. The psycho-educational program consisted of ten 90-min sessions held during five weeks (two session in each week). Each caregiver attended 10 sessions (in five weeks) At baseline, immediately after intervention, and one month later. Validated tools were used to assess patients’ clinical status and caregiver burden.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared with the control group, the case group showed significantly reduced symptom severity and caregiver burden both immediately after intervention and one month later.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that even need based short-term psycho-educational intervention for family members of Iranian patients with schizophrenic disorder may improve the outcomes of patients and their families.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>IRCT Number:138809122812 N1`</p

Subclonal mutation selection in mouse lymphomagenesis identifies known cancer loci and suggests novel candidates

Determining whether recurrent but rare cancer mutations are bona fide driver mutations remains a bottleneck in cancer research. Here we present the most comprehensive analysis of retrovirus driven lymphomagenesis produced to date, sequencing 700,000 mutations from >500 malignancies collected at time points throughout tumor development. This scale of data allows novel, novel statistical approaches for identifying driver mutations and yields a high-resolution, genome wide map of the selective forces surrounding cancer gene loci. We also demonstrate negative selection of mutations that may be deleterious to tumor development indicating novel avenues for therapy. Screening two BCL2 transgenic models confirms known drivers of human B-cell non- Hodgkin lymphoma, and implicates novel candidates including modifiers of immunosurveillance and MHC loci. Correlating mutations with genotypic and phenotypic features also gives robust identification of known cancer genes independently of local variance in mutation density. An online resource http://mulv.lms.mrc.ac.uk allows customized queries of the entire dataset

Integrating genomic alterations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma identifies new relevant pathways and potential therapeutic targets

Genome studies of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have revealed a large number of somatic mutations and structural alterations. However, the clinical significance of these alterations is still not well defined. In this study, we have integrated the analysis of targeted next-generation sequencing of 106 genes and genomic copy number alterations (CNA) in 150 DLBCL. The clinically significant findings were validated in an independent cohort of 111 patients. Germinal center B-cell and activated B-cell DLBCL had a differential profile of mutations, altered pathogenic pathways and CNA. Mutations in genes of the NOTCH pathway and tumor suppressor genes (TP53/CDKN2A), but not individual genes, conferred an unfavorable prognosis, confirmed in the independent validation cohort. A gene expression profiling analysis showed that tumors with NOTCH pathway mutations had a significant modulation of downstream target genes, emphasizing the relevance of this pathway in DLBCL. An in silico drug discovery analysis recognized 69 (46%) cases carrying at least one genomic alteration considered a potential target of drug response according to early clinical trials or preclinical assays in DLBCL or other lymphomas. In conclusion, this study identifies relevant pathways and mutated genes in DLBCL and recognizes potential targets for new intervention strategies.This study was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Grant No. SAF2015-64885- R (to EC), Generalitat de Catalunya Suport Grups de Recerca AGAUR 2014-SGR-795 (to EC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Health, PI12/01536 (to AL-G) and PI16/00420 (to AL-G), the Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer (RTICC) grant RD12/0036/0036 (to EC), RD12/0036/0023 (to AL-G), RD12/0036/0069 (to MA), BIO/SA78/15 (to MA) and the European Regional Development Fund 'Una manera de fer Europa', CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya. EC is an Academia Researcher of the 'Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats' (ICREA) of the Generalitat de Catalunya. KK has received a research fellowship from the Uehara Memorial Foundation (Japan). DT is supported by the People Programme (Marie Curie Actions) of the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union (FP7/2007-2013) under REA grant agreement number 600388 and by the Agency of Competitiveness for Companies of the Government of Catalonia, ACCIÓ and SAF2015-74072-JIN. CR-P is supported by an FPI fellowship. ID is supported by 'Josep Font' grant from Hospital Clinic. This work was also supported by La Fundació la Marató de TV3 and EU H2020 Programme 2014-2020 under grant agreements no. 634143 (MedBioinformatics), and the European Research Council (consolidator grant 682398) (to NL-B)