Serum IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients and age-matched healthy controls

Type 1 diabetes is recognized as an autoimmune inflammatory disease and low grade inflammation is also observed in type 2 diabetic patients. Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a new player in inflammation. Th17 cells, as the main source of IL-17, require transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and interleukin 23 (IL-23). The aim of this study was to investigate serum IL-17, IL-23 and TGF-β levels in diabetic patients and controls. In this case-control study, serum levels of IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β were measured in 24 type 1 diabetic patients and 30 healthy controls using the ELISA method. Simultaneously, the same methodology was used to compare serum concentration of these three cytokines in 38 type 2 diabetic patients and 40 healthy controls. There was no significant difference between serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 cytokines between cases and controls. However, TGF-β was significantly lower in type 1 diabetic patients (P<0.001). Serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels demonstrate no association with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but, in line with previous studies, TGF-β levels were lower in type 1 diabetic patients. © 2014 Azam Roohi et al

Opium use, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption in relation to pancreatic cancer

Background and Aims: Although several studies have suggested opium as a risk factor for cancers of the esophagus, stomach, larynx, lung, and bladder, no previous study has examined the association of opium with pancreatic cancer. We aimed to study the association between opium use and risk of pancreatic cancer in Iran, using a case-control design. We also studied the association of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption with pancreatic cancer, for which little information was available from this population. Methods: Cases and controls were selected from patients who were referred to 4 endoscopic ultrasound centers in Tehran, Iran. We recruited 316 histopathologically (all adenocarcinoma) and 41 clinically diagnosed incident cases of pancreatic cancer, as well as 328 controls from those with a normal pancreas in enodosonography from January 2011 to January 2015. We used logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 confidence intervals (CIs). Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, opium use (OR 1.91; 95 CI 1.06-3.43) and alcohol consumption (OR 4.16; 95 CI 1.86-9.31) were significantly associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. We did not find an association between ever tobacco smoking and pancreatic cancer risk (OR 0.93; 95 CI 0.62-1.39). Conclusion: In our study, opium use and alcohol consumption were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, whereas cigarette smoking was not. Copyright © 2016 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved

Heparan Sulfate Regrowth Profiles Under Laminar Shear Flow Following Enzymatic Degradation

The local hemodynamic shear stress waveforms present in an artery dictate the endothelial cell phenotype. The observed decrease of the apical glycocalyx layer on the endothelium in atheroprone regions of the circulation suggests that the glycocalyx may have a central role in determining atherosclerotic plaque formation. However, the kinetics for the cells’ ability to adapt its glycocalyx to the environment have not been quantitatively resolved. Here we report that the heparan sulfate component of the glycocalyx of HUVECs increases by 1.4-fold following the onset of high shear stress, compared to static cultured cells, with a time constant of 19 h. Cell morphology experiments show that 12 h are required for the cells to elongate, but only after 36 h have the cells reached maximal alignment to the flow vector. Our findings demonstrate that following enzymatic degradation, heparan sulfate is restored to the cell surface within 12 h under flow whereas the time required is 20 h under static conditions. We also propose a model describing the contribution of endocytosis and exocytosis to apical heparan sulfate expression. The change in HS regrowth kinetics from static to high-shear EC phenotype implies a differential in the rate of endocytic and exocytic membrane turnover.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Grant HL090856-01)Singapore-MIT Allianc

A review on the application of two microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Spirulina platenesis) as biofilters to eliminate heavy metals from industrial waste water

Background: Eliminating heavy metal compounds from industrial waste water has been a critical matter through years. Although such metals (e.g. Mercury, Cadmium and Nickel) have specific functions in particular industries, they will be dangerous and will be considered pollutants if they enter the environment and affect the ambient ecosystem. Many researches were conducted to eliminate these compounds. The aim of this study was to present an efficient and cost-effective method to absorb heavy metal ions using two microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Spirulina platenesis). This method is much more economical compared to mesoporous materials and other nano-adsorbents. Materials and Methods: The academic databases of Scopus and Elsevier were searched. Results: In this method, heavy metal compounds and ions make some bonds and physical adsorption to the microalgae's cell walls and some other cell ingredients get eliminated from the whole waste water. While the biomass in this process is important, the viability is not. Moreover, diluting the waste water can increase the elimination process yield. The two blue-green algaes have many functions like food production, pharmaceuticals and medicine that must have been produced under sterile condition in closed bioreactors, but for this function we can produced the biomass in open pounds next to the factories. Conclusion: Considering the dangers and serious pollutions that heavy metals can make for human beings potentially, and their entrance to the environment, filtaration of industrial waste water that carry heavy metals are inevitable. Eliminating these metals from the waste water matrix is important. Using these two microalages can be effective for the purpose of physical adsorption and the formation of bonds with metal compounds which makes a cost-effective and efficient filtration

Adsorption and corrosion inhibition behaviour of acid red on AISI 4130 alloy steel in HCl solution

345-352The inhibition behaviour of 2-(N,N-Dimethyl-4-aminophenyl)azobenzenecarboxylic acid (acid red) on the corrosion resistance of AISI 4130 steel in 1 M HCl solution has been studied by potentiodynamic polarization (Tafel), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Polarization studies indicate that the inhibition efficiency increases with the increase in inhibitor concentration and inhibitor retard both the cathodic and anodic reactions so classified as mixed type inhibitors. EIS data has been analyzed to equivalent circuit model and show that as the inhibitor concentration increased the charge transfer resistance of steel increased whilst double layer capacitance decreased. The effect of temperature on the corrosion behavior of steel in HCl with the addition of the inhibitor was studied in the temperature range from 25-65°C. The experimentally obtained adsorption isotherms follow the Langmuir equation. Activation parameters and thermodynamic adsorption parameters of the corrosion process such as Ea, ΔH, ΔS, Kads and ΔG°ads are calculated at different temperatures and using the adsorption isotherm. The morphology of steel surface after its exposure to HCl solution in the absence and presence of inhibitor has been examined by SEM images

Formulation and quality control of amla oil (Phyllantus emblica) based on Iranian traditional medicine

Background and objectives: Amla is native to India and is exported to Iran. Although amla has been mentioned in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) manuscripts, no pharmaceuticals have been prepared from this medicinal plant in Iran; thus, in the present study amla oil has been designed and formulated according to ITM. Methods: Phyllantus emblica and Myrtus communis were purchased from herbal market of Tehran and their scientific names were confirmed. Quality control tests were performed on the herbs. For preparing amla oil, the aqueous extract of Myrtus communis leaves was prepared by using maceration method for 24 h. Then, the mixture was filtered and amla was added to the extract and shaked for 48 h. After filtering the mixture, sesame oil was added to the filtrate (in equal volume) and heated until all water was evaporated and the oil remained. Quality control examinations including determination of viscosity, density, acid value, saponification value and microbial tests were performed on the oil. Results: Amla oil was dark yellowin color with sesame odor. The density was found to be 0.966 mg/mL and the viscosity was 108.2 centipoise. Acid value was 3.03 mg KH/g oil and saponification value was zero. No fungal or bacterial growth was observed. Conclusion: The formulated amla oil demonstrated acceptable physicochemical charactristics and could be introduced for further mass production after completing the final required evaluations

Different methods to adsorb heavy metals in wastewater by blue-green algae

Background: Among the today`s main problems related to wastewater is pollution caused by heavy metals. These heavy metals are toxic and have detrimental effects on the body. So the existence of such metals in the food chain is a serious problem for human health. Materials and Methods: Scopus, Pubmed, Google scholar and ScienceDirect databases were searched.Results: Studies indicate a requirement to use a new method for removing heavy metals from wastewater. Biosorption method by microalgae is one of the newest methods which have the properties such as cost, selective adsorption, high processing rate and no sludge production. In this process in order to clean up wastewater by adsorption, the two algae Chlorella and Spirulina are optimal. In comparing these two algaes, Chlorella algaehas better ability to attract as well as more balanced with the absorption effect. Remove ions such as lead, nickel and zinc occurs by interactions between the metal ions and carboxyl groups present on the cell wall that stabilize metal binding. Notable point in this process is that the removal ability decreases by increasing the metal concentration. In addition, Chlorella can be used to adsorb Chromium that Betacaroten first extracted and then the remaining biomass is used for Chromium adsorption. Conclusions: According to the case studies, the method is convenient and cost effective for the removal of metal contaminants from wastewater and will help to reduce environmental pollution

生研に期待す

Microbiological screening of tissue allografts is crucial to prevent the transmission of bacterial and fungal infections to transplant recipients. Klebsiella was the most prevalent and resistant contaminating microorganism observed in our setting in the Iranian Tissue Bank. This study was conducted to determine the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes, antimicrobial resistance patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates, and their clonal relationships in allograft materials. K. pneumoniae contaminating bone and other tissue allografts recovered from deceased donors were identified and ESBL isolates were detected using a phenotypic confirmatory method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the disk diffusion method. Distribution of ESBL genes and molecular typing were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Repetitive-element (rep-PCR) methods. Of 3828 donated tissues, 51 (1.3) were found contaminated by K. pneumoniae isolates. Compared to tissue allografts from brain-dead, heart-beating tissue donors, allografts from donors with circulatory cessation were associated with a higher risk of K. pneumoniae contamination odds ratio (OR), 1.2 (CI 95% 0.9�2.3) (P value < 0.001). Half of the isolates produced ESBL, and the rate of susceptibility to cephalosporins was 51%. Among isolates, 22 (43.1%) harbored CTX-M, 31 (60.8%) SHV, and 9 (17.6%) harbored TEM types. The rep-dendrogram indicated that clones having identical or related strains with a similar antibiotype were isolated in the same period. This study provides evidence that a single clone of K. pneumoniae contaminated tissue allografts recovered from many different donors. A single clone found on tissues from several donors suggests contamination of tissues from a single source such as the tissue recovery process and environment. Genomic DNA testing and clonality of contaminating bacteria using molecular methods can focus the epidemiologic investigation on the tissue allograft recovery process including a search for contamination of the tissue recovery room environment, recovery staff, recovery equipment, reagents, solutions and supplies. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature

Frequency of Candida species isolated from patients in children’s medical center, Tehran, Iran

Background: Candida species originating from either endogenous or exogenous sources are one of the main causes of opportunistic infections. Colonization is an important independent risk factor for invasive candidiasis, and many patients admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are colonized with Candida species that may result in invasive candidiasis. Awareness among clinicians about various aspects of colonization is critical to optimal management. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and species distribution of Candida strains isolated from predisposed patients hospitalized at Children’s Medical Center (CMC), Tehran, Iran. Methods: From June 2014 to June 2016, 347 Candida isolates were collected from 341 patients either hospitalized in different wards or referred as outpatients. The yeasts were identified by colony color characteristics using CHROMagar Candidamediumand by amplification of the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region in DNA extracted from each isolate followed by analysis of species specific electrophoretic patterns of PCR products digested with the restriction enzyme MspI. Results: Of the 341 patients, 213 were males and 128 were females. Most samples were obtained from the 1 – 12-month age group, and the majority of samples represented urine (n = 182), throat swabs (n = 57), and stool samples (n = 53), respectively. The samples were mostly from patients in general wards. The most commonly isolated species was C. albicans (77%), followed by C. tropicalis (8.4%), C. parapsilosis (7.5%), C. glabrata (2.3%), C. kefyr (1.7%), C. krusei (1.1%), C. lusitaniae (0.6%), C. guilliermondii (0.3%), C. albicans + C. parapsilosis (1.4%), and C. albicans + C. glabrata (0.3%). Conclusions: C. albicans is the most common species isolated from children in Iran, followed by C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, a prevalence pattern that is relatively different from studies in other countries. Neonates and infants 1 - 12 months of age hospitalized in ICU, were more colonized by Candida species than other group