The RNA-binding protein LARP1 is a post-transcriptional regulator of survival and tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are increasingly identified as post-transcriptional drivers of cancer progression. The RBP LARP1 is an mRNA stability regulator, and elevated expression of the protein in hepatocellular and lung cancers is correlated with adverse prognosis. LARP1 associates with an mRNA interactome that is enriched for oncogenic transcripts. Here we explore the role of LARP1 in epithelial ovarian cancer, a disease characterized by the rapid acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy through the induction of pro-survival signalling. We show, using ovarian cell lines and xenografts, that LARP1 is required for cancer cell survival and chemotherapy resistance. LARP1 promotes tumour formation in vivo and maintains cancer stem cell-like populations. Using transcriptomic analysis following LARP1 knockdown, cross-referenced against the LARP1 interactome, we identify BCL2 and BIK as LARP1 mRNA targets. We demonstrate that, through an interaction with the 3 untranslated regions (3 UTRs) of BCL2 and BIK, LARP1 stabilizes BCL2 but destabilizes BIK with the net effect of resisting apoptosis. Together, our data indicate that by differentially regulating the stability of a selection of mRNAs, LARP1 promotes ovarian cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance

Evaluating Filter Materials for E. Coli Removal from Stormwater

Stormwater runoff from agricultural and urban areas carries a wide range of pollutants and pathogens that can negatively affect surface water bodies and cause significant risks to the ecosystem and public health. Bacteria is one of the pollutants carried by stormwater, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is commonly used as a microbial pollution indicator of surface water. The aim of this research was to investigate the removal of E. coli from stormwater using low-cost filter materials. Two industrial byproducts (steel slag and steel chips) and two natural minerals (zeolite and limestone) with three different sizes (0.5-1 mm, 1-2 mm, and 2-4 mm) were chosen to investigate the potential of these materials as filter media for E. coli removal from stormwater. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of initial E. coli concentration, temperature, pH, particles size and mass, salt, natural organic matter (NOM), and contact time on the removal of E. coli. Column adsorption experiments were also performed to obtain the E. coli adsorption characteristics of steel chips, steel slag, limestone, and zeolite under continuous flow conditions. In addition, the E. coli release potential of these materials were determined. Using a desorption test, the batch adsorption results demonstrated that the maximum E. coli removal efficiencies of 100%, 99.5%, 86.5%, and 80.2% were achieved using steel byproducts, steel slag, limestone, and zeolite, respectively, using E.coli concentrations of 107 MPN/mL for steel chips and 104 MPN/mL for steel slag, limestone, and zeolite, in the synthetic stormwater. Increasing pH from 5 to 9 resulted in a reduction in E. coli adsorption by 33.5% and 19.0% for steel chips and steel slag, respectively. As temperature increased steel chips and steel slag adsorption capacities increased. The effect of the addition of NOM on E. coli removal efficiencies was determined. The results indicated that E. coli removal efficiency were reduced by 19.77% and 41.77% for steel chips and 6.86% and 11.56% for steel slag in the presence of 20 and 50 mg/L of NOM. Moreover, E. coli release from steel chips was negligible in comparison with other absorbents. Finally, adding high salt concentrations in E. coli solution showed a significant impact in natural minerals adsorption capacities. As the salinity increased the E. coli adsorption capacity of limestone and zeolite were improved by 23.5%, and 35.5%, respectively

Clustering and Combining Pattern of High-Risk Behaviors among Iranian University Students: A Latent Class Analysis

Background: High-risk behaviors are increasing among young adults worldwide. We aimed to identify university students’ subgroups on the basis of high-risk behaviors and to assess the role of age, living alone, religious beliefs, and parental support in the membership of specific subgroups. Study design: A cross-sectional study Methods: The study was conducted in Bushehr (the south of Iran) from November to December 2016. The sample included 977 university students selected through random sampling. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Then, latent class analysis was used to classify the students. Results: Totally, five latent classes were identified as follows: low risk, high risk, somewhat low risk, hookah user, and very high risk. Notably, 7.7% and 2.5% of the students belonged to high risk and very high risk classes, respectively. The results suggested the protective effect of familial support and religiosity on high-risk behaviors. Conclusions: This study indicated the co-occurrence of high-risk behaviors. The findings can be used to plan and evaluate interventions by considering risk factors and protective factors in universities

The evaluation of breakfast intake pattern and short-term memory status in junior secondary school students in Shiraz 2007

زمینه و هدف: یادگیری، حافظه و پیشرفت تحصیلی کودکان در مدرسه تحت تاثیر عوامل مختلف تغذیه ای و از جمله صبحانه قرار دارند. مواد مغذی اعم از ویتامین های نیاسین (B3)، فولیک اسید (B9)، کوبالامین (B12)، آهن، ید و غیره بر حافظه کوتاه مدت موثرند. از آنجا که صبحانه از عادات مطلوبی است که بر حافظه کودکان موثراست. لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی الگوی صبحانه دریافتی و وضعیت حافظه کوتاه مدت دختران دانش آموزان مدارس راهنمایی شهر شیراز صورت گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی 150 نفر از دختران دانش آموز مدارس راهنمایی شیراز به روش تصادفی چند مرحله ای انتخاب شدند. اطلاعات دموگرافیک اجتماعی-اقتصادی با پرسشنامه والگوی صبحانه با پرسشنامه بسامد و یادآمد صبحانه 3 روزه جمع آوری و از هر فرد یک تست حافظه وکسلر به عمل آمد. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری همبستگی پیرسون و ANOVA تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته ها: بین شغل و تحصیلات والدین، وضعیت تحصیلی، سن و حافظه‌ رابطه‌ معنی داری وجود نداشت. طی بررسی تغذیه ای بین مصرف پیریدوکسین (ویتامینB6 )، B12، ید، کالری، پروتیین، چربی یا کلسترول و نمره ی حافظه رابطه‌ی معنی داری وجود نداشت (05/0P>)، اما بین مصرف ویتامین B3، کربوهیدرات و آهن در صبحانه و نمره ی حافظه رابطه ی معنی دار و همبستگی از نوع مستقیم وجود داشت (05/0

The survey of family history of diabetes in patients with type 2 diabetes in Chaharmahal va Bakhteyari province, Iran, 2008

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: دیابت از گروه بیماری های متابولیک و یک اختلال چند عاملی است که با افزایش مزمن قند خون مشخص می شود. از آنجایی که در زمینه اپیدمیولوژی ژنتیک دیابت نوع 2 در کشور ما، مطالعات اندکی انجام شده و هنوز بطور قطعی مشخص نیست که توارث دیابت نوع 2 بیشتر از طرف کدام یک از والدین (پدر یا مادر) به فرزندان منتقل می شود، این مطالعه با هدف بررسی زمینه ژنتیکی بیماران دیابتی نوع 2 استان چهارمحال و بختیاری طراحی و اجرا گردید. روش بررسی: این بررسی یک مطالعه اپیدمیولوژیک از نوع توصیفی-تحلیلی است که جامعه پژوهش آن افراد مبتلا به دیابت نوع 2 در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری در سال 1387 بود. تعداد 254 نفر به روش تصادفی دو مرحله ای انتخاب و مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. داده ها بوسیله مصاحبه و با تکمیل فرمی، جمع آوری و با نرم افزار STATA9 و آزمون مجذور کا مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: از254 نفر بررسی شده 150 نفر (59) مونث و 104 نفر(41) مذکر بودند. متوسط سن آنها 6/8±8/54 سال و متوسط مدت زمان ابتلا به دیابت در آنها 8/5±4/7 سال بود. 116 نفر (7/45) از آنها دارای سابقه خانوادگی مثبت دیابت بودند که از این میان، 4/61 مادر دیابتی، 8/19 پدر دیابتی، 9/62 خواهر دیابتی، 1/18 برادر دیابتی، 5/40 دختر دیابتی و 1/18 پسر دیابتی داشتند. سابقه خانوادگی دیابت در مادر بیشتر از پدر، در خواهر بیشتر از برادر و در دختران بیشتر از پسران بود (001/0>P). نتیجه گیری: نسبت شانس ابتلا به دیابت برای کسانی که سابقه خانوادگی مثبت دیابت در مادر دارند بیشتر و مهم تر از پدر بوده و می توان اظهار نمود که به احتمال قوی، توارث دیابت نوع 2 بیشتر از طریق مادر به فرزندان منتقل می شود.

EVALUATION OF REPEATED MEASURES OUTCOMES IN EPIDEMIOLOGY

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPH

Determinant factors of survival time in a cohort study on HIV patient using by time-varying cox model: Fars province, south of Iran

Background and aims: The pandemic of AIDS is a global emergency and one of the biggest challenges in social and individual life. This study aimed to evaluate the survival time of HIV patients and its effective factors. Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on the individuals infected with HIV in Fars province, south of Iran, during 2006 to 2013. The study data were obtained from information documented in the patients’ records. For statistical analysis, at first, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used as univariate method and then, time varying Cox regression model was applied as multiple analyses. Results: The findings of the present study implied that some variables could play the role of risk factors in HIV patients, and shorten the patients’ life span e.g. older age, female gender, unemployment, delay in HIV diagnosis, drug injection, and higher Hemoglobin (HGB) levels. Conclusion: Many factors affect HIV patients’ survival time. Some of these factors, such as gender and genetic factors, are irreversible. However, some others, including drug injection, are preventable. This implies that in order to slow down the speed of HIV conversion to AIDS and delay the occurrence of death, special attention must be paid to these factors and changing the patients’ conditions accordingly