Effect of aminophylline in preventing renal dysfunction among neonates with prenatal asphyxia: A clinical trial

Background: As there are different views on the effects of aminophylline on neonatal renal function, we intended to observe the effects of aminophylline on renal dysfunction in neonates with prenatal asphyxia. Methods: This randomized trial was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from June 2016 to May 2017, in neonates with moderate to severe asphyxia during birth. Fifty-six neonates were divided randomly into two groups. The intervention group received one dose of 5mg/kg slow intravenous aminophylline injection and the placebo group received 2 mL/kg of intravenous 10 solution of dextrose saline during the first hour of life. They were monitored and compared for renal functional indices, electrolytes, and complications of asphyxia during the three days of life. Results: The mean of Cr (37.9 ± 8.8 vs 38.5 ± 9.4 and 20.8 ± 4.8 vs 30.1 ± 5.2 μmol/L), GFR (21.55 ± 4.7 vs 20.25 ± 4.4 and 30.8 ± 7.1 vs 20.1 ± 6.5 mL/minute/1.73 m2), Na (135.1 ± 12.4 vs134.5 ± 11.2 and 128.9 ± 11.5 vs 134.2 ± 10.9 mEq/L), and urine output (98.2 ± 25 vs 96.8 ± 23 and 148.7 ± 35 vs 108.8 ± 20 cc) were in the aminophylline treated and placebo group on the 1st and 3rd days, respectively. The mean difference of Cr (-9.3 (-8.9; -9.7) μmol/L); (P = 0.02), GFR (10.7 (10.1; 11.3) mL/minute/1.73 m2) (P = 0.009), Na (-5.3 (-5.9; -4.7) mEq/L) (P = 0.002), and urine volume (39.9 (24.9; 54.9) cc) (P = 0.001) presented statistically significant differences on the third day between the intervention and placebo group. Conclusion: Aminophylline was effective in preventing renal dysfunction in neonates with asphyxia. Neonates who received aminophylline indicated a significant improvement in GFR and urine output on the first day of life. © 2020 The authors and IJLTER.ORG. All rights reserved

Correlation of clinical signs and symptoms of Behçet�s disease with mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW)

Background: A strong correlation was previously found between mean platelet volume (MPV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), and the severity of signs and symptoms in patients suffering from inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The current study evaluated these correlations in patients with Behçet�s disease (BD) as well the relationship between MPV and RDW and disease activity score on the Iranian Behçet�s Disease Dynamic Activity Measurement (IBDDAM). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 319 patients with BD for whom demographic and epidemiological data, IBDDAM scores, and duration of illness was recorded. Blood samples were then obtained and the relationships between their disease status and manifestations and their laboratory parameters were evaluated with statistical models to find possible correlations. Results: Our analysis showed a significantly higher RDW in patients with BD who had ocular manifestations (p < 0.001) and oral aphthae (p = 0.004). Patients with active BD had higher RDW (p < 0.001) and MPV (p < 0.001) in comparison to those with currently inactive BD. Similarly, patients who had any type of ocular manifestation had higher RDW (p < 0.001) and MPV (p < 0.001). Regression analyses identified a statistically significant model for the effect of RDW and MPV in predicting active BD status (p < 0.001), as well as its significant relationship with active ocular manifestations (p < 0.001). Conclusion: BD was found to be associated with an increase in MPV and RDW, particularly during active phases. RDW and MPV were also found to have predictive value for screening to detect BD activity and its ocular complications. © 2020, The Author(s)

Correction to: Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae among healthy carriers and clinical patients: a systematic review from Iran (European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, (2020), 39, 12, (2257-2267), 10.1007/s10096-020-03963-z)

In the originally published article, the name of the 6th author was incorrectly presented as Hossein Abdiae. The correct name is Hossein Abdiaei, which is also given above. The original article has been corrected. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Reaction rates and transport in neutron stars

Understanding signals from neutron stars requires knowledge about the transport inside the star. We review the transport properties and the underlying reaction rates of dense hadronic and quark matter in the crust and the core of neutron stars and point out open problems and future directions.Comment: 74 pages; commissioned for the book "Physics and Astrophysics of Neutron Stars", NewCompStar COST Action MP1304; version 3: minor changes, references updated, overview graphic added in the introduction, improvements in Sec IV.A.

Deep sea tests of a prototype of the KM3NeT digital optical module

The first prototype of a photo-detection unit of the future KM3NeT neutrino telescope has been deployed in the deepwaters of the Mediterranean Sea. This digital optical module has a novel design with a very large photocathode area segmented by the use of 31 three inch photomultiplier tubes. It has been integrated in the ANTARES detector for in-situ testing and validation. This paper reports on the first months of data taking and rate measurements. The analysis results highlight the capabilities of the new module design in terms of background suppression and signal recognition. The directionality of the optical module enables the recognition of multiple Cherenkov photons from the same (40)Kdecay and the localisation of bioluminescent activity in the neighbourhood. The single unit can cleanly identify atmospheric muons and provide sensitivity to the muon arrival directions

New Approach for the Synthesis, Entrapment of Hydrophilic Drugs and Evaluation of Physico-Chemical Characteristics of PH-sensitive Nano-Liposome: Improving Therapeutic Efficacy of Doxorubicin in Order to Treatment Bone Tumor and Reducing the Side Effects of Doxorubicin

Introduction: Cancer is one of the most harmful disease throughout the world. Doxorubicin is an anti-cancer agent, used in the treatment of various types of the cancer such as bone cancer. There are several adverse effects related to clinical usage of Doxorubicin for long time. The present study aimed to investigate the reducing side effects and enhancing the therapeutic effect by liposomal carrier. Methods: Liposomes containing DPPG and cholesterol with the molar ratio of 70:30 with the Doxorubicin were synthesized by pH- gradient method. The average diameter of nanoparticles and surface charge was determined by Zeta-Sizer instrument. The amount of drug loaded and drug-released was determined using dialysis. The surface morphology and internal lamella was evaluated by TEM and SEM. Results: The average size of liposomal Doxorubicin obtained using Zeta-Sizer was 126 nm. The encapsulation efficacy of liposomal Doxorubicin was 89%. The total amount of drug release during 48 hours in acidic medium studied by dialysis technique was 46%. Conclusion: In this study, investigation of loading Doxorubicin into nano-liposome with the slow- released kinetic was carried out to improve the solubility and bioavailability of Doxorubicin in order to delivery to osteosarcoma cell line

Sustained release of growth hormone and sodium nitrite from biomimetic collagen coating immobilized on silicone tubes improves endothelialization

Biocompatibility of biomedical devices can be improved by endothelialization of blood-contacting parts mimicking the vascular endothelium's function. Improved endothelialization might be obtained by using biomimetic coatings that allow local sustained release of biologically active molecules, e.g. anti-thrombotic and growth-inducing agents, from nanoliposomes. We aimed to test whether incorporation of growth-inducing nanoliposomal growth hormone (nGH) and anti-thrombotic nanoliposomal sodium nitrite (nNitrite) into collagen coating of silicone tubes enhances endothelialization by stimulating endothelial cell proliferation and inhibiting platelet adhesion. Collagen coating stably immobilized on acrylic acid-grafted silicone tubes decreased the water contact angle from 102° to 56°. Incorporation of 50 or 500 nmol/ml nNitrite and 100 or 1000 ng/ml nGH into collagen coating decreased the water contact angle further to 48°. After 120 h incubation, 58% nitrite and 22% GH of the initial amount of sodium nitrite and GH in nanoliposomes were gradually released from the nNitrite-nGH-collagen coating. Endothelial cell number was increased after surface coating of silicone tubes with collagen by 1.6-fold, and with nNitrite-nGH-collagen conjugate by 1.8–3.9-fold after 2 days. After 6 days, endothelial cell confluency in the absence of surface coating was 22%, with collagen coating 74%, and with nNitrite-nGH-collagen conjugate coating 83–119%. In the absence of endothelial cells, platelet adhesion was stimulated after collagen coating by 1.3-fold, but inhibited after nNitrite-nGH-collagen conjugate coating by 1.6–3.7-fold. The release of anti-thrombotic prostaglandin I2 from endothelial cells was stimulated after nNitrite-nGH-collagen conjugate coating by 1.7–2.2-fold compared with collagen coating. Our data shows improved endothelialization and blood compatibility using nNitrite-nGH-collagen conjugate coating on silicone tubes suggesting that these coatings are highly suitable for use in blood-contacting parts of biomedical devices

Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae among healthy carriers and clinical patients: a systematic review from Iran

Streptococcus pneumoniae is associated with high morbidity and mortality in the world. Commercially licensed and available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) contain 10 (PCV10) and 13 (PCV13) pneumococcal serotypes. The most common serotypes of S. pneumoniae causing clinical diseases and carriers of S. pneumoniae in Iran are not yet known. Reviewing and reporting trends in the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes in Iran will be useful for policy-making as PCV is being introduced into Iran�s routine immunization program. Here, we report a systematic literature review of studies regarding S. pneumoniae serotype distribution in clinical and carrier patients in Iran. MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Embase, Ovid, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Iranian Database were used to identify relevant papers published from 1 January 2000 to 21 August 2019. The search returned 8 relevant articles. Among serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD), serotype 23F (16.4) was the most circulating serotype followed by 19F (15.2), 19A (11.3), 6A/B (9.2), 9 V (5.8), and 11A (5.14). In carrier patients, the most common serotypes were, in rank order, 6A/B (10), 19F (9), 14(6.2), 17F (4.8), and 20(4.5). Vaccine coverage among IPD patients would be 67.1 for PCV10-TT and 73.8 for PCV13. The present review demonstrates that the serotypes which were most responsible for disease in Iran are included in PCV10-TT and PCV13. However, sentinel surveillance must be continued in representative parts of the country to assess changing trends in the distribution of pneumococcal serotypes and their implications for vaccine selection and rollout in Iran. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature