Integration of Research, Public Health, and Hospital Interventions as a Successful Model for Controlling COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a serious health problem in most countries in the last few months, with every country adopting different preventive and therapeutic measures based on their specific circumstances. The epidemic began in Iran on February 19, 2020, and gradually spread across the country. The epidemic extent varies, and different preventive and therapeutic measures are taken in Iran. Shahroud and Miami Counties, covered by the Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, have experienced the highest incidence of COVID-19 in Iran. However, the epidemic is well controlled by integrating the activities of the health, treatment, and research sectors and using information technology and a proprietary software application. This model can be thus studied as a successful experience. Keywords: COVID-19, Control, Successful model, Ira

Sensing of Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Using Nano-Bio Interfaces

It is well understood that patients with different diseases may have a variety of specific proteins (e.g., type, amount, and configuration) in their plasmas. When nanoparticles (NPs) are exposed to these plasmas, the resulting coronas may incorporate some of the disease-specific proteins. Using gold (Au) NPs with different surface properties and corona composition, we have developed a technology for the discrimination and detection of two neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Applying a variety of techniques, including UV-visible spectra, colorimetric response analyses and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we found the corona-NP complexes, obtained from different human serums, had distinct protein composition, including some specific proteins that are known as AD and MS biomarkers. The colorimetric responses, analyzed by chemometrics and statistical methods, demonstrate promising capabilities of the technology to unambiguously identify and discriminate AD and MS. The developed colorimetric technology might enable a simple, inexpensive and rapid detection/discrimination of neurodegenerative diseases. KEYWORDS: Alzheimer’s disease; colorimetric technology; disease-specific protein corona; gold nanoparticles; multiple sclerosi

The Effects of Methanolic Extract of Melissa officinalis on Experimental Gastric Ulcers in Rats

Social determinants of health (DSS) are the circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, work, and grow old in relation to their health system. The study of DSS becomes essential for understanding social health inequalities by gender. This study analyzes the perception of health status, lifestyles and the use of health services, from the perspective of social determinants of health and the axis of inequality in Catalonia in 2006 and 2012/13. , through the comparison of the results obtained with the Health Survey of Catalonia (ESCA) The descriptive study focused on the population of Catalonia, not institutionalized and over 15 years. The research results reveal differences between the two waves likely to be in different economic contexts. The main contribution of the thesis is the analysis carried out from the perspective of gender, DSS and the axis of inequalityEls determinants socials de la salut (DSS) són les circumstàncies en què les persones neixen, creixen, viuen, treballen i envelleixen, en relació amb el sistema de salut. L’estudi dels DSS es converteix en essencial per entendre las desigualtats socials en salut segons el gènere. En aquest estudi, s’analitza la percepció de l'estat de salut, els estils de vida i l'ús dels serveis sanitaris, des de la perspectiva dels determinants socials de salut i els eixos de desigualtat a Catalunya al 2006 i 2012/13, a traves de la comparació dels resultats obtinguts a l’ Enquesta de Salud de Catalunya (ESCA) L'estudi descriptiu s'ha centrat en la població de Catalunya, no institucionalitzada i major de 15 anys. Els resultats de la investigació revelen diferencies entre les dues onades probablement per trobar-se en contextos econòmics diferents. La principal aportació de la tesis es l’anàlisi realitzat des de la perspectiva de gènere, DSS i els eixos de desigualta

Oligomeric forms of insulin amyloid aggregation disrupt outgrowth and complexity of neuron-like PC12 cells.

Formation of protein amyloid fibrils consists of a series of intermediates including oligomeric aggregates, proto-fibrillar structures, and finally mature fibrils. Recent studies show higher toxicity for oligomeric and proto-fibrillar intermediates of protein relative to their mature fibrils. Here the kinetic of the insulin amyloid fibrillation was evaluated using a variety of techniques including ThT fluorescence, Congo red absorbance, circular dichroism, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The solution surface tension changes were attributed to hydrophobic changes in insulin structure and were detected by Du Noüy Ring method. Determination of the surface tension of insulin oligomeric, proto-fibrillar and fibrillar forms indicated that the hydrophobicity of solution is enhanced by the formation of the oligomeric forms of insulin compared to other forms. In order to investigate the toxicity of the different forms of insulin we monitored morphological alterations of the differentiated neuron-like PC12 cells following incubation with native, oligomeric aggregates, proto-fibrillar, and fibrillar forms of insulin. The cell body area, average neurite length, neurite width, number of primary neurites, and percent of bipolar cells and node/primary neurite ratios were used to assess the growth and complexity of PC12 cells exposed to different forms of insulin. We observed that the oligomeric form of insulin impaired the growth and complexity of PC12 cells compared to other forms. Together our data suggest that the lower surface tension of oligomers and their perturbation affects the morphology of PC12 cells, mainly due to their enhanced hydrophobicity and detergent-like structures

Detergent dissolution intensification via energy-efficient hydrodynamic cavitation reactors

In this study, we explored the potential of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) for use in dissolution of liquid and powder detergents. For this, microfluidic and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) tube HC reactors with different configurations were employed, and the results from the reactors were compared with a magnetic stirrer, as well as a tergotometer. According to our results PEEK tube HC reactors present the best performance for dissolution of liquid and powder detergents. In the case of liquid detergent, for the same level of initial concentration and comparable final dissolution, the PEEK tube consumed 16.7 and 70% of the energy and time of a tergotometer and 16.7 and 14.8% of that of a magnetic stirrer, respectively. In the case of powder detergent, the PEEK tube used 12% less power than a tergotometer and 81.2% less power than a magnetic stirrer. Additionally, the time required to dissolve the detergent was reduced significantly from 1200 s in the tergotometer and 1800 s in the magnetic stirrer to just 50 s in the PEEK tube. These results suggest that HC could significantly improve the dissolution rate of liquid and powder detergents and energy consumption in washing machines

Surface tension changes for various forms of insulin showing the extent of surface tension of solutions containing insulin with native, oligomer intermediates, proto-fibril, and fibril structures at the air-water interface.

<p>Data represent the average of decuple measurements and error bars represent standard deviation (SD). *Significantly different from native insulin. Statistical significances were achieved when p<0.05.</p

The kinetics of amyloid fibrillation induced by dissolving insulin (0.6 mg/mL) in glycine buffer (20 mM, pH 2.0) and 37°C and agitation.

<p><b>A</b>) The content of fibril formation was recorded via ThT fluorescence as a function of incubation time. Data represent the average of 3 independent measurements and error bars represent standard deviation from the mean value. <b>B</b>) The content of fibril formation was also recorded via Congo red absorption spectrum during incubation time. Congo red spectrum alone (<b>^____</b>) with native insulin (<b>….</b>) and with incubated samples (<b>- - -</b>) after 10, 13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 30 h, respectively. <b>C</b>) Far-UV CD spectra of bovine insulin during incubation time. At the onset of incubation (0h) two minima at 208 and 222 nm indicate α–helical structure. After 28 h of incubation, appearance of a new minimum at 216 nm indicates cross β–sheet structure because of amyloid fibrillation.</p

AFM images were recorded at different time points of insulin fibrillation as deducd from ThT fluorescence profile.

<p><b>A</b>) 0 h showing no remarkable structure for native insulin, <b>B</b>) 12 h, spherical shapes as oligomer structures, <b>C</b>) 22 h, single strand proto-fibrils, <b>D</b>) 30 h, long and mature fibrils with visible nodes because of twisted proto-fibrils. The scale bar represents 500 nm.</p

The effects of oligomer, proto-fibril and fibril forms of insulin on neurite outgrowth in differentiated PC12 cells.

<p><b>A</b>) The criteria of PC12 differentiation are shown on three neurons (left image) of a sample image. The “P” on right image indicates the primary neuritis of a neuron. The yellow arrow shows the length of a neurite, extent elongated, and membrane-enclosed protrusions of cytoplasm. The blue circle on right image shows the cell body. Neurite width is not equal in all parts of neurons, thus the average neurite width must be calculated by dividing cell body area to average neurite length. The white arrows show to bipolar cells. The letter “N” indicates the nodes, the sites at which individual neurites branched or separate neurites contacted each other. The criteria were quantified 12 h after treatment; <b>B</b>) NGF-differentiated PC12 cells were pretreated with three amyloid intermediate forms of insulin. C) Cell body area; D) average neurite length; and E) average neurite width. *Significantly different from control cells. Statistical significances were achieved when p<0.05 (*p<0.05 and **p<0.01).</p