Expression and subcellular localization of circRNAs dysregulated ALS that are encoded in cytoskeletal protein genes

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes the death of motor neurons. While alterations in the metabolism of RNA, including RNA-binding proteins have been linked to the pathogenesis of ALS, our understanding of the role of non-coding RNAs including circRNAs is less well developed. In this study, using a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescence (IF) with markers of RNP granules, I investigated the effect of osmotic stress on the localization and expression of a selection of circRNAs whose expression is dysregulated in ALS. Alteration in the number of granules for two circRNAs was observed in HEK293T cells under osmotic stress. I also have observed that circRNAs are present in RNP granules under a stress condition. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that circRNAs might participate in the biology of ribonucleprotein (RNP) granules under pathological conditions such as those observed in ALS

Magneto-Optical Detection of the Orbital Hall Effect in Chromium

The orbital Hall effect has been theoretically predicted but its direct observation is a challenge. Here, we report the magneto-optical detection of current-induced orbital accumulation at the surface of a light 3$d$ transition metal, Cr. The orbital polarization is in-plane, transverse to the current direction, and scales linearly with current density, consistent with the orbital Hall effect. Comparing the thickness-dependent magneto-optical measurements with $\textit{ab initio}$ calculations, we estimate an orbital diffusion length in Cr of $6.6\pm 0.6$ nm.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Late presentation of pregnant women with chromosomal abnormalities: A barrier to legal and safe abortions in Muslim majority countries

Introduction: In Islamic countries, the prenatal diagnostic procedures are planned considering legal and religious limitations. We aimed to evaluate the indications of presentation and problems related to religious and legal limitations for presentation of Muslim parents for prenatal screening of chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on consecutive 920 pregnant women presenting for screening of congenital and chromosomal anomalies to Educational Medical Centers of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, between 2011 and 2015. Previously prepared questionnaire forms were utilized for collection of information from patients and their medical records. Results: In total, 153 cases had an indication for amniocentesis, and this procedure revealed that 141 fetuses (92.2%) did not have any congenital abnormalities, but 12 cases (7.8%) had some sort of abnormality, requiring pregnancy termination. These cases included 8 fetuses (5.2%) with trisomy and four (2.6%) with single gene diseases. Of 12 patients, the justifications for pregnancy termination were issued for 7 women by the provincial Legal Medicine Organization. However, the remaining 5 patients could not obtain legal justifications for termination of their pregnancies, mostly because of late presentation, obligating them to choose illegal methods for pregnancy termination. Conclusion: Regarding the legal and religious limitation of pregnancy termination after 18th week in Islamic countries, it is highly recommended that the first trimester screening programs be performed in Islamic countries in order to obtain early decision-making

Antenatal screening for chromosomal and genetic abnormalities:Cost effectiveness and outcome

Introduction: As an essential part of antenatal care, pregnant women of all ages should be offered screening for chromosomal abnormalities before 20 weeks of gestation. This study was aimed to evaluate the type and frequency of chromosomal abnormalities following pregnancy screening tests, so that we can compare the actual pregnancy outcomes with test results, helping us in practical decision making. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 557 pregnant patients, presenting for prenatal diagnostic amniocentesis for chromosomal abnormalities, to Al-Zahra hospital, Tabriz, Iran, since 2012 to 2015. Amniocentesis was conducted by an expert obstetrician at second trimester between 16 and 22 weeks of gestation. An interview was set for pregnancy outcomes to assess the test results. Results: Of 557 cases, the mean maternal age in amniocentesis was 31.84 ± 6.92 years (range: 15-47 years). Amniocentesis revealed the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in 32 cases (5.7%). The most common diagnosed chromosomal abnormality was Down syndrome (50.0%) followed by other chromosomal abnormalities. Following up the patients, 92.4% of newborns did not have any congenital abnormality, but the remaining (7.6%) had both chromosomal and non-chromosomal abnormalities. No fetal loss was reported in this study. Assessment of total costs revealed that $US100 had been spent for hospitalization, and about$US500 for genetic tests. Conclusion: There is still no consensus on the most cost-effective strategy that should be implemented to diagnose chromosomal anomalies. Therefore, we did not have an actual gold standard to compare with amniocentesis. More studies analyzing natural outcome after prenatal diagnosis of these chromosomal abnormalities are neede

Etiologic Agents of Otomycosis in the North-Western Area of Iran

Background: Otomycosis is a superfcial fungal infection often involves the pinna and external auditory canal. It is a pathologic condition, with Candida and Aspergillus, the most common fungal species. It is common worldwide but more prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the etiologic agents and local epidemiologic pattern of otomycosis in northwest Iran. Patients and Methods: A series of 140 patients with clinically symptomatic otomycosis were studied in 21 cities, towns, and villages throughout northwest Iran between 2009 and 2011. Clinical samples were collected by swabs and then assessed by mycological investigation. Results: Otomycosis was diagnosed in 129 cases (92%, 76 male, 53 female) with the highest prevalence of cases occurring in males between 21 - 40 years of age. From an etiological point of view, 116 patients (90%, 21 - 40 years old) were infected by saprophytic mold and 9 patients (7%) were infected by yeast. Three cases (2%) involved dermatophytes, and in one case (1%) the subject was infected with Eurotium (the perfect stage of Aspergillus fumigatus). Aspergillus niger was the most common mold that was isolated, followed by A. flavus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., and Rhizopus spp. A total of 2 yeasts belonging to genus Candida, C. albicans and C. tropicalis, were isolated. Conclusions:Our study showed a high prevalence of otomycosis in the northwestern area of Iran. As such, proper diagnosis and treatment by aseptic techniques for this disease is urgently needed

The effect of supportive nursing intervention on the pain and anxiety levels of paist with acute coronary syndrome on their arrival at CCU

The effect of supportive nursing intervention on the pain and anxiety levels of patients with Acute coronary syndrome on their arrival at CCU Purpose and Field of the Study: Chest pain is the commonest cause for the patients with coronary Atherosclerosis to come to the hospital. If the pain is not controlled properly, the patient's pain threshold is lowered, causing him to feel (experience) a higher level of pain. These two factors have an adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, taking due on-time measures to control the pain and anxiety of the patient can reduce the adverse effects or repercussions for the patient. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to study the effect of the supportive nursing care (intervention) provided for the patients with Acute coronary syndrome on the level of pain and Anxiety they experienced at the beginning of their stay at CCU. Method: the present study is a randomized clinical trial with a control and an experimental group on 74 subjects. The necessary data for the present study were collected by means of a demographic form, an anxiety questionnaire, and a pain level scale. From among the patients suffering from Acute coronary syndrome transferred to CCU, those who met the inclusion criteria were asked to show their formal written consent to be included in the study. Then, the anxiety and pain levels of each participant were measured and recorded. Then, the participants were randomly assigned either to the control or experimental group. The participants in the control group received normal nursing care while those in the experimental group received an emotional-informational supportive nursing care for 20 minutes. The pain and anxiety levels of the participants were measured twice more, once two hours after their transferring to the CCU and the other after 4 hours, with all the necessary forms being filled. The collected data were analyzed using STATA (version 12). Findings: The results of the analyses showed that the pain level experienced by the control and experimental groups at the beginning of their stay at CCU were 94/2±91/6, and 31/2±32/8 respectively, which showed no statistically meaningful difference. Moreover, the results showed there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the pain level experienced two hours after their arrival at CCU, with the average pain level experienced in the control and experimental groups being 25/2±18/3, and 86/1±75/3, respectively. However, after 4 hours, there was observed a meaningful difference between the two groups in terms of the pain level the subjects experienced. More specifically, the average pain level for the control group was 19/2±18/2 while that for the experimental group, who received supportive nursing care, was 40/1±43/1 . Similar results were obtained for the anxiety level of the patients. Although there was no statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control groups concerning the anxiety level they suffered (22/14±33/21 and 21/13±05/17 , respectively), the anxiety levels experienced by the experimental group (90/3±05/3) was meaningfully lower than that experienced by the subjects in the control group (48/7±16/5) 4 hours after they were transferred to the CCU ward. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested that the provision of supportive nursing care for the patients with coronary Atherosclerosis at CCU had a positive effect on the reduction of pain and anxiety levels they felt four hours after they were transferred to the CCU. Key Words: supportive nursing care, pain, anxiety, Acute coronary syndrome, CC