Zoning of Isfahan Drinking Water Distribution Network Corrosion Potential in Summer and Autumn of 2011 Using Geographic Information System (GIS)

This cross-sectional study has been conducted to determine the corrosion potential of water in Isfahan drinking water distribution system in 2011. Eighty samples during summer and fall 2011(40 samples for each season) were collected from different parts of the Isfahan drinking water distribution system. The temperature, calcium hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, and pH were measured. Values of Langelier, Ryznar, Corrosiveness, and Puckorius indexes were calculated. Zoning maps were prepared using ArcGIS 9.3 software. The calculated mean values of Langelier, Ryznar, Corrosiveness, and Puckorius indexes in the summer and fall were (-0.52), 8.83, 10.37, 10.84 and (-0.71), 9.27, 10.94, 10.88, respectively. These results indicated that the Isfahan drinking water based on Langelier, Ryznar, and Puckorius indexes had a corrosive tendency and based on aggressiveness index had a moderate corrosivity potential. The corrosiveness of water may be as a basis for gradual deterioration of water distribution and transmission pipeline systems or as a route for contaminant entrance and finally can cause unhealthy impacts. Therefore, remedial measures are necessary to corrosion control of Isfahan drinking wate

Hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora incarnata improves the autistic-like behavior and neuronal damage in a valproic acid-induced rat model of autism

Experimental autism in rodents can be caused by prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure. Some diseases, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insomnia, opiate withdrawal, and generalized anxiety disorder can be treated by consuming Passiflora incarnata, due to the possession of bioactive compounds like alkaloids, phenols, and flavonoids. The present study aims to investigate the role of the hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora incarnata in behavioral and oxidative stress aberrations induced by VPA. On the gestational day (GD), 12.5, pregnant Wistar rats received VPA (600 mg/kg subcutaneously). Male pups were treated with the extract (30,100, and 300 mg/kg) from postnatal day 35 to the end of the experiment, and underwent behavioral testing to evaluate locomotion, repetitive, and stereotyped movements, anxiety, and social and cognitive behaviors. After behavioral testing, the blood sample was taken from the left ventricle to determine serum catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Then the animals were euthanized and their brains were taken out for histological assays of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and CA1 hippocampus with hematoxylin/eosin. The total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of the extract were also measured. A significant improvement was observed in behavioral disturbances, particularly with 300 mg/kg of Passiflora. Moreover, the formation of oxidative stress markers significantly decreased at this dose. The extract also reduced the percentage of damaged cells in the CA1 and PFC. The results indicated that Passiflora extract could ameliorate VPA-induced behavioral aberrations possibly due to the antioxidant actions of its bioactive compound

Effect of Green Tea Supplementation on Antioxidant Status in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

It is well-established that green tea supplementation has antioxidant properties. However, whether green tea supplementation leads to oxidative stress reduction remains unclear, as clinical investigations on this subject have yielded inconsistent outcomes. Consequently, we aimed to determine the effects of green tea supplementation on oxidative stress in adults. A systematic search of English language publications up to 21 August 2021 was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and ISI Web of Science, utilizing pertinent keywords. These searches included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the relationship between green tea supplementation, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in adults. A random-effects model was used to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Meta-regression and non-linear dose-response analyses were performed to investigate the association between the dosage of green tea (mg/day) and the duration of the intervention (weeks) with pooled effect size. Sixteen RCTs with seventeen arms including 760 participants met the inclusion criteria. Our results indicated that green tea supplementation had significant effects on TAC (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 0.20 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.30, p < 0.001) and significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 98.6%, p < 0.001), which was largely related to gender and body mass index (BMI). Subgroup analysis in TAC identified a significant relationship except with low dose supplementation and obese individuals. No relationship between MDA and green tea supplementation was observed in any subgroups; however, meta-regression analysis revealed a linear inverse association between the dosage and significant change in MDA (r = −2117.18, p = 0.017). Our outcomes suggest that green tea supplementation improves TAC and affects MDA based on the dose of the intervention in adults. Future RCTs with longer durations are needed to expand our findings

IgA vasculitis nephritis (Schönlein-Henoch purpura with nephritis) following COVID-19 vaccination

IgA vasculitis nephritis (Schönlein-Henoch purpura nephritis) is an autoimmune circumstance characterized by palpable purpura involving the lower limbs, arthralgia, abdominal pain and kidney involvement. It is possible that a cytokine storm following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could lead to an immunological dysregulation responsible for IgA vasculitis nephritis in these cases. Reactivation or first onset of IgA vasculitis nephritis is uncommon; however, there have been increasing reports of this disease, as a complication of COVID-19 vaccination. It is possible that COVID-19 mRNA vaccination may trigger several auto-inflammatory and autoimmune cascades. Previous research has shown that Toll-like receptors play a role in the development of IgA vasculitis nephritis. Following injection of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, the uptake of double-stranded RNA by-products will trigger Toll-like receptors, leading to a series of intracellular cascades starting an innate immunity-driven process of cell-mediated and humoral- mediated immunity

Progress in targeting PTEN/PI3K/Akt axis in glioblastoma therapy: Revisiting molecular interactions

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most malignant cancers of central nervous system and due to its sensitive location, surgical resection has high risk and therefore, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are utilized for its treatment. However, chemoresistance and radio-resistance are other problems in GBM treatment. Hence, new therapies based on genes are recommended for treatment of GBM. PTEN is a tumor-suppressor operator in cancer that inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in diminishing growth, metastasis and drug resistance. In the current review, the function of PTEN/PI3K/Akt axis in GBM progression is evaluated. Mutation or depletion of PTEN leads to increase in GBM progression. Low expression level of PTEN mediates poor prognosis in GBM and by increasing proliferation and invasion, promotes malignancy of tumor cells. Moreover, loss of PTEN signaling can result in therapy resistance in GBM. Activation of PTEN signaling impairs GBM metabolism via glycolysis inhibition. In contrast to PTEN, PI3K/Akt signaling has oncogenic function and during tumor progression, expression level of PI3K/Akt enhances. PI3K/Akt signaling shows positive association with oncogenic pathways and its expression similar to PTEN signaling, is regulated by non-coding RNAs. PTEN upregulation and PI3K/Akt signaling inhibition by anti-cancer agents can be beneficial in interfering GBM progression. This review emphasizes on the signaling networks related to PTEN/PI3K/Akt and provides new insights for targeting this axis in effective GBM treatment