Ultraviolet Irradiation Induces the Accumulation of Chondroitin Sulfate, but Not Other Glycosaminoglycans, in Human Skin

Ultraviolet (UV) light alters cutaneous structure and function. Prior work has shown loss of dermal hyaluronan after UV-irradiation of human skin, yet UV exposure increases total glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content in mouse models. To more fully describe UV-induced alterations to cutaneous GAG content, we subjected human volunteers to intermediate-term (5 doses/week for 4 weeks) or single-dose UV exposure. Total dermal uronyl-containing GAGs increased substantially with each of these regimens. We found that UV exposure substantially increased dermal content of chondroitin sulfate (CS), but not hyaluronan, heparan sulfate, or dermatan sulfate. UV induced the accumulation of both the 4-sulfated (C4S) and 6-sulfated (C6S) isoforms of CS, but in distinct distributions. Next, we examined several CS proteoglycan core proteins and found a significant accumulation of dermal and endothelial serglycin, but not of decorin or versican, after UV exposure. To examine regulation in vitro, we found that UVB in combination with IL-1α, a cytokine upregulated by UV radiation, induced serglycin mRNA in cultured dermal fibroblasts, but did not induce the chondroitin sulfate synthases. Overall, our data indicate that intermediate-term and single-dose UVB exposure induces specific GAGs and proteoglycan core proteins in human skin in vivo. These molecules have important biologic functions and contribute to the cutaneous response to UV

Economical Approach for Determination of Kojic Acid by Nanostructured Ionic Liquid-Based Carbon Paste Sensor

An economical and sensitive nanostructured sensor based on carbon paste electrode (CPE) for the determination of kojic acid (KA) was developed in the current work. The applied CPE was modified with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (1B3MITFB) as a conductive binder and NiO nanoparticles (NiO/NPs). The proposed modified ionic liquid-based carbon paste electrode showed satisfactory concentration range and lower detection limit of 5.0�600 μM and 0.8 μM at phosphate buffer pH 6.0, respectively. An acceptable reproducibility with a satisfactory analytical characteristic was observed for the proposed sensor in the presence of common interfering compounds. The observed irreversible oxidation behavior of KA at the surface of the NiO/NPs/1B3MITFB/MCPE was controlled under the diffusion step and the diffusion coefficient (D) at the mass transport limited rate found to be 2.3 � 10�4 cm2 s�1. According to the slope of the Tafel plot, the value of 0.625 was calculated for the electron transfer coefficient (α). The acquired data from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies confirmed that the presence of NiO NPS and 1B3MITFB as a conductive binder resulted in a significant increase in the electro-oxidation signal of KA. The value of 12.3 kΩ for the Rct of unmodified CPE decreased to the value of 1.7 kΩ for the modified electrode. The obtained results revealed that the proposed modified ionic liquid-based carbon paste electrode could be applied successfully for the analysis of trace amounts of KA in biological samples such as blood serum, urine, and pharmaceutical samples such as liposome carriers containing KA as well as food samples such as vinegar. The synthesized NiO nanoparticles were characterized using XRD and EDAX analyses. The morphology of NiO/NPs is further characterized by SEM. Figure not available: see fulltext. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Geology, geochemistry, and some genetic discussion of the Chador-Malu iron oxide-apatite deposit, Bafq District, Central Iran

© 2015, Saudi Society for Geosciences.The Chador-Malu iron oxide-apatite system (Bafq District, Central Iran) contains the largest known iron ore deposit in Iran (pre-mining reserve of 400 Mt @ 55 % Fe), and comprises the pipe-like northern (this study) and the sill-like southern orebodies of predominantly massive ore, and a sodic-calcic alteration envelope. The geology and geochemistry of the Chador-Malu deposit demonstrates its similar characteristics to the Kiruna-type deposits. There is circumstantial evidence for rare earth elements (REE) mobilization during apatite leaching by high-temperature fluids and associated monazite nucleation. Pervasive actinolitization of the rhyolitic country rocks led to the formation of actinolite-rich metasomatic host rocks, which represent another evidence for high-temperature fluids at Chador-Malu. Hydrothermal mineralization is suggested by small iron ore veins (2–3 cm thick) and breccias cemented by iron oxides, as well as a Fe-metasomatism which overprints all types of host rock alteration. Based on REE geochemistry and spatial relationships, it is proposed that a potential source for metals and P could be late-stage Fe-P melt differentiates of the Cambrian magmatism, which is consistent with the late Fe-metasomatism of the host rocks. The proposed Fe-P melts and the mineralization would be linked by hydrothermal media through the zones of ring fracture at Chador-Malu and similar parts of the Bafq district

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Spiritual Well-Being Scale in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

WOS: 000413603000008PubMed ID: 27629419The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. A multisite, cross-sectional survey was employed to determine the instrument's reliability (Cronbach's alpha and construct reliability) and validity (face, content, and construct). Using systematic sampling of adult outpatients at primary care clinic sites in the Qazvin City, Iran (N = 300), it was found that the Cronbach's alpha and construct reliability of both factors associated with the SWBS were above 0.7. The construct validity of the scale was determined using exploratory factor analysis. The findings supported two factors: relation with God and relation with life. Further investigation through confirmatory factor analysis (eigenvalues of greater than one) confirmed a third factor construct associated with the SWBS. A total of 50.65 % of the variance were explained by these three factors. The overall findings of the study demonstrated that the SWBS is a valid and reliable instrument that has potential utility in future research and clinical practice settings.social determinants of health research center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran; Taylor's University Research Grant [TRGS/ERFS/1/2015/TBS/014]The authors would like to express their gratitude to the students who bravely participated in this study. The project was supported by the social determinants of health research center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran, and Taylor's University Research Grant (TRGS/ERFS/1/2015/TBS/014)