Iran: migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons

Each year, thousands of people are moved illegally – oftenin dangerous or inhumane conditions – into, through andfrom Iran

Modelling Temporal and Spatial Transportation of Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products, and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in a Canadian Watershed

Temporal and spatial concentrations of several pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are predicted in the Grand River watershed using a novel version of the PhATE (Pharmaceutical Assessment and Transport Evaluation) model code, which is adapted to explicitly consider Canadian conditions. Specific PPCPs and EDCs previously measured in the Grand River watershed in Ontario, Canada, are selected as the target compounds for this study. Due to observed seasonal variability in climate, hydrology, and pharmaceutical loadings at the case study location, predicting seasonal concentrations of each chemical is expected to improve simulation results and the PhATE model is modified accordingly. In this regard, required seasonal hydrological parameters (i.e. flow rate and velocity) are estimated based on site data. Furthermore, chemical loss parameters (i.e. in-stream decay, human loss, and removal efficiency of treatment plants) are extracted from the literature and then calibrated to observed seasonal behaviour. Calibration parameters for the case study include in-stream decay, human loss, and removal efficiency of three different types of treatment plants. Simulated concentrations are validated by comparing them with measured data at two previously sampled locations in the Grand River. In general, the PhATE model, when modified to account for seasonal variability, accurately simulates pharmaceutical concentrations in the Grand River. The validated PhATE model is used in a predictive mode to identify streams and stream segments with high potential risk of being exposed to the selected PPCPs and EDCs in the watershed in different seasons. Results suggest that a portion of the Grand River extending from the effluent of Waterloo and Kitchener wastewater treatment plants down to the municipality of Brantford is likely to be at higher risk, relative to other portions of the watershed. Moreover, the potential for PPCP toxicity to aquatic species is assessed using the maximum simulated concentrations for the Grand River watershed. According to regulatory guidelines developed by the European Union (EU), most of PPCPs are predicted to be at concentrations that require further assessment and/or more stringent regulations and restrictions

Intra-osseous Jaw Lesions in Children and Adolescents: A 20-Year Retrospective Study in an Iranian Population

Objectives The aim of the present study was to document the frequency and clinicopathologic features of intra-osseous jaw lesions in an Iranian pediatric population over a 20-year period.Methods Data were obtained from the archives of the Oral Pathology Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The lesions were classified into four groups: (A) odontogenic cysts, (B) odontogenic tumors, (C) benign bone pathologies and (D) malignant bone tumors. The patients were divided into two age groups of (A) children (≤12 years old) and (B) adolescents (13 to 18 years old).Results Of 5,722 biopsy samples, 475 (58.2%) were diagnosed as intra-osseous lesions in patients aged 0-18 years with a male (55.2%) and mandibular (60.6%) predilection. The patients’ age ranged from 3 months to 18 years with a mean age of 12.5 years. Odontogenic cysts presented the most prevalent subgroup (51.3%) followed by benign bone pathologies (26.5%), odontogenic tumors (18.9%) and malignant bone tumors (3.1%). The most frequently observed lesions in descending order were dentigerous cyst (25.2%), radicular cyst (18.3%), central giant cell granuloma (14.9%), ameloblastoma (7.7%) and odontogenic keratocyst (5%).Conclusion Comparing our results with available data showed similarities in odontogenic cysts and benign bone pathologies. However, differences in odontogenic and malignant bone tumors were evident, which may be due to racial and geographical characteristics. Considering the limited data, further studies are recommended in this respect.

A case-control study on comparing resilience, quality of life, and perceived support in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a chronic endocrine disorder characterized by impaired glucose metabolism. Diabetic foot, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy are diabetes-related outcomes that can affect resilience, quality of life (QOL), and perceived support. This study was conducted to compare resilience, QOL, and perceived support in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This study was a correlational study conducted in the form of a case-control design and was carried out in Tehran, Iran. For this purpose, 80 patients including 40 women and 40 men were selected based on purposeful sampling method during summer 2018. Three questionnaires of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Family Quality of Life Questionnaire (FQOL), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were completed by the participants during a period of time. Data were analyzed by independent t-test and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS software. RESULTS: The difference between the mean scores of men and women in the resilience variable was significant and higher in women (P < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of men and women in the variables of quality of family life and perceived support and it was higher in women (P < 0.01 for all). CONCLUSION: The relationship between resilience, QOL, and perceived support variables with demographic indices is important and can be clinically relevant in planning appropriate interventions in patients with diabetes

Optimization of cell density and LPS concentration for the evaluation of nitric oxide production on BV-2 cells in a Griess assay

Production of nitric oxide (NO) is one of the main responses elicited by a variety of immune cells such as macrophages (e.g. microglia, resident macrophages of brain), during inflammation. Evaluation of NO levels in the inflammatory milieu is considered important to the understanding of the intensity of an immune response; and has been performed using different methods including the Griess assay. To assay NO in culture, an appropriate number of cells are stimulated into an inflammatory phenotype. Common stimuli include lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IFN-γ and TNF-α. However, overt stimulation could cause cell cytotoxicity therefore an ideal concentration of LPS should be used. Objective: To set-up a model of BV-2 cell activation that allows the assay of detectable levels of NO. Optimization of BV-2 microglia cell density and LPS concentrations after stimulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for the Griess assay is demonstrated in this study. Methods:BV-2 microglia were cultured at different cell densities, and treated with LPS at three concentrations (1, 5, 10 μg/ml). NO production in culture supernatants were then measured at 18, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Moreover, methyl tetrazolium assay (MTT) was also performed to ensure that NO measurement is performed at no-cytotoxic concentrations of LPS. Results and Conclusions: NO production follows a temporal pattern. The density of 25000 cells/well was the ideal seeding density for NO evaluation in BV-2 cells. BV-2 stimulation by LPS is dose dependent, and NO levels are increased proportional to the LPS concentration up to 1.0μg/ml, whereas the higher LPS concentrations are associated with decreased cell viability may be caused by the high toxic levels of LPS or NO. Although Griess assay has been commonly used by the scientists, however, optimization of its parameters on BV-2 cells will be useful for the experiments which will be performed on this particular cell line. The optimized pattern of Griess assay on BV-2 cells was achieved in this study, hence easier and more practical for the future scientists to perform Griess assay on BV-2 cells

Photoelimination Potential of Chitosan Nanoparticles-Indocyanine Green Complex Against the Biological Activities of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains: A Preliminary In Vitro Study in Burn Wound Infections

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii strains are important agents causing serious nosocomial infections including soft-tissue and skin infections in patients with burn wounds which have become resistant to several classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an alternative antimicrobial procedure is suggested for the treatment of these kinds of infections. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm efficiency of aPDT by the utilization of an improved form of indocyanine green (ICG) which is encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (NCs@ICG).Methods: NCs@ICG were synthesized and confirmed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). aPDT was performed using NCs@ICG with an 810 nm wavelength of the diode laser at the fluency of 31.2 J/cm2 on 50 A. baumannii strains isolated from burn wounds. The antibacterial and anti-biofilm potential of NCs@ICG-aPDT was determined via the colony forming unit (CFU)/mL and crystal violet assays, respectively. In addition, microbial biofilm degradation was evaluated by the SEM.Results: According to the results, NCs@ICG-aPDT showed a significant reduction of 93.2% on the CFU/mL of planktonic A. baumannii strains compared to the control group (untreated group; P &lt; 0.05). In addition, the biofilm formation of A. baumannii strains was significantly reduced by 55.3% when the bacteria were exposed to NCs@ICG-aPDT (P &lt; 0.05). In contrast, NCs@ICG, ICG, and the diode laser alone were not able to inhibit the CFU/mL and biofilm of A. baumannii strains (P &gt; 0.05). Based on the results of SEM images, NCs@ICG-aPDT disrupted the biofilm structure of A. baumannii strains more than other groups.Conclusion: NCs@ICG-aPDT demonstrates a promising treatment candidate for exploitation in wound infections against both planktonic and biofilm forms of A. baumannii strains

The Effect of Quorum-Sensing and Efflux Pumps Interactions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Against Photooxidative Stress

Resistant infections essentially cause mortality in a burn unit. Several bacteria contribute to burn infections; among these, Pseudomonas aeruginosa majorly contributes to these infections revealing significant drug resistance. Similar to other bacteria, P. aeruginosa reveals various mechanisms to attain highest pathogenicity and resistance; among these, efflux pumps and quorum sensing are crucial. Quorum sensing enables effective communication between bacteria and synchronizes their gene expression resulting in optimum effect of the secreted proteins; alternatively, efflux pumps increase the bacterial resistance by pumping out the antimicrobial factors as well as the QS signals and precursors. Of recent, increasing episodes of drug resistance led to new findings and approaches for killing pathogenic bacteria without inducing the drug-resistant species. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), considered as an adjuvant and innovative method for conventional antibiotic therapy, is a photochemical reaction that includes visible light, oxygen, and a photosensitizer (PS). In this therapy, after exposure to visible light, the PS generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are bacteriostatic or bactericidal. Furthermore, this oxidative stress can disrupt the coordination of gene expression and alter the bacterial behavior. Considering the fact that the adaption and several gene expression patterns of microorganisms within the biofilm make them notably resistant to the recent antimicrobial treatments, this study aimed to emphasize the relationship between the efflux pump and QS under oxidative stress and their role in P. aeruginosa’s reaction to PDT

Scanning Electron Microscope Comparative Evaluation of Feldspathic Porcelain Surfaces under Irradiation by Different Powers of Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) Laser

Introduction: Recent use of lasers for porcelain surface treatment for adhesion of brackets to restorations has not only showed some promising results, but is also accompanied with less undesirable effects among other advantages. The purpose of this study is the comparative electron microscope evaluation of feldspathic porcelain surfaces under irradiation by Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) with different powers (0.75, 1.5 and 2W) via the acid etching with hydrofluoric acid (HF) technique.Methods: The glazed porcelain samples were obtained by duplicating labial surfaces of maxillary central incisor teeth. The specimens were randomly treated by 4 different methods. Group1 was etched with hydrofluoric acid 9.6%. Samples in group 2 to 4 were also irradiated by Nd:YAG laser with different powers: 0.75, 1.5 and 2W. Then the samples were prepared for evaluation by scanning electron microscope (SEM).Results: Etching quality from a porosity point of view was similar for group2 and HF group. Laser with power of 0.75W has little potential to create mechanical porosity.Conclusion: In regard of the results of this study, it is possible to benefit from Nd:YAG laser with appropriate parameters for surface conditioning

Modulation of Toxin-Antitoxin System Rnl AB Type II in Phage-Resistant Gammaproteobacteria Surviving Photodynamic Treatment

Type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are the particular type of TA modules which take part in different kinds of cellular actions, such as biofilm formation, persistence, stress endurance, defense of the bacterial cell against multiple phage attacks, plasmid maintenance, and programmed cell death in favor of bacterial population. Although several bioinformatics and Pet lab studies have already been conducted to understand the functionality of already discovered TA systems, still, more work in this area is required. Rnl AB type II TA module, which is composed of RnlA toxin and RnlB antitoxin, is a newly discovered type II TA module which takes part in the defense mechanism against T4 bacteriophage attack in Escherichia coli K-12 strain MH1 that has not been widely studied in other bacteria. Because of the significant role of class Gammaproteobacteriacea in a diverse range of health problems, we chose here to focus on this class to survey the presence of the Rnl AB TA module. For better categorization and description of the distribution of this module in this class of bacteria, the corresponding phylogenetic trees are illustrated here. Neighbor-joining and the maximum parsimony methods were used in this study to take a look at the distribution of domains present in RnlA and RnlB proteins, among members of Gammaproteobacteria. Also, the possible roles of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in providing a substrate for better phage therapy are herein discussed

Amalgam Surface Treatment by Different Output Powers of Er:YAG Laser:SEM Evaluation

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser by scanning electron microscope (SEM).Methods: Twenty-one amalgam blocks (8 mm × 8 mm, 3 mm thickness) were prepared by condensing silver amalgam (into putty impression material. After keeping them for 24 hours in distilled water, they were divided into 7 groups as follow: G1: Er:YAG laser (1 W, 50 mJ), G2: Er:YAG laser (2 W, 100 mJ), G3: Er:YAG laser (3 W, 150 mJ), G4: Sandblast, G5: Sandblast + Er:YAG laser (1 W, 50 mJ), G6: Sandblast +Er:YAG laser (2 W, 100 mJ) and G7: Sandblast +Er:YAG laser (3 W, 150 mJ). Then after preparation of all samples, they were examined by SEM.Results: The SEM results of amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of Er:YAG laser showed some pitting areas with non-homogenous irregularitiesConclusion: It seems that the application of sandblasting accompanied by Er:YAG laser irradiation can provide proper surface for bonding of orthodontic brackets