The effect of platelet-rich plasma on the improvement of pregnancy results in repeated implantation failure: A randomized controlled trial

Background: The success rate of infertility treatment depends on many different factors. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the improvement of pregnancy outcomes in participants with repeated implantation failure. Materials and Methods: The study is a randomized triple-blind clinical trial. The study population was 118 women with repeated implantation failure during assisted reproductive technology treatment at Tabriz Jihad-e Daneshgahi ART Center from May 2017 to December 2019. Intervention: Intrauterine injection of autologous PRP. Standard treatment of fetal transfer to the uterine cavity was performed without intrauterine PRP injection in the control group: After 4 wk, the level of β-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone in participants’ blood was measured. Results: Comparing the effect of intrauterine injection of PRP in 2 groups showed the level of β-human chorionic gonadotropin positive in the intervention group was 21 (43.8%), in the control group was 12 (26.1%), odds ratio = 2.20 (0.92-5.26) and p = 0.073. Conclusion: The therapeutic effect in the intervention group compared to the control regarding the outcome of a successful pregnancy showed that intrauterine injection of PRP can be effective in improving pregnancy outcomes, although this improvement is not significant. Key words: Platelet-rich plasma, Pregnancy results, Embryo implantation

Integrated supply–demand energy management for optimal design of off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for residential electrification in arid climates

The growing research interest in hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) has been regarded as a natural and yet critical response to address the challenge of rural electrification. Based on a Bibliometric analysis performed by authors, it was concluded that most studies simply adopted supply-side management techniques to perform the design optimization of such a renewable energy system. To further advance those studies, this paper presents a novel approach by integrating demand-supply management (DSM) with particle swarm optimization and applying it to optimally design an off-grid hybrid PV-solar-diesel-battery system for the electrification of residential buildings in arid environments, using a typical dwelling in Adrar, Algeria, as a case study. The proposed HRES is first modelled by an in-house MATLAB code based on a multi-agent system concept and then optimized by minimizing the total net present cost (TNPC), subject to reliability level and renewable energy penetration. After validation against the HOMER software, further techno-economic analyses including sensitivity study are undertaken, considering different battery technologies. By integrating the proposed DSM, the results have shown the following improvements: with RF = 100%, the energy demand and TNPC are reduced by 7% and 18%, respectively, compared to the case of using solely supply-side management. It is found that PV-Li-ion represents the best configuration, with TNPC of $23,427 and cost of energy (COE) of 0.23$/kWh. However, with lower RF values, the following reductions are achieved: energy consumption (19%) and fuel consumption or CO 2 emission (57%), respectively. In contrast, the RF is raised from 15% (without DSM) to 63% (with DSM). It is clear that the optimal configuration consists of wind-diesel, with COE of 0.21 $/kWh, smaller than that obtained with a stand-alone diesel generator system. The outcomes of this work can provide valuable insights into the successful design and deployment of HRES in Algeria and surrounding regions

Determinants of Corporate Cash Holding

Cash held by firms is a significant part of the balance sheet that is a critical source for for-profit organizations and creating a balance between available cash and cash requirements is the most significant factor concerning the economic viability of a for-profit company. Cash management is a broad area having to do with the collection, concentration, and disbursement of cash including measuring the level of liquidity, managing the cash balance, and short-term investment. So, one aspect of cash management is knowing the Optimum cash balance which should be targeted so that costs are minimized. In this paper, by using multiple regression method and employing panel data, we investigated the determination of corporate cash holding. To accomplish this research, the financial data pertaining to 144 companies working in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) between the years 1380-1388 (2001-2009) have been selected. The results demonstrates that, at 90% level there is a significant relation between cash and market-to-book, firm size, cash from operation, net working capital, capital expenditure, leverage and tax

Histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential treatment for spinal muscular atrophy

Histone acetylation plays an important role in regulation of transcription in eukaryotic cells by promoting a more relaxed chromatin structure necessary for transcriptional activation. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl groups and suppress gene expression. HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) are a group of small molecules that promote gene transcription by chromatin remodeling and have been extensively studied as potential drugs for treating of spinal muscular atrophy. Various drugs in this class have been studied with regard to their efficacy in increasing the expression of survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein. In this review, we discuss the current literature on this topic and summarize the findings of the main studies in this field

Association of LncRNAHULC Gene rs17144343 G>APolymorphism with Susceptibility to Recurrent Spontaneous Miscarriage in Women of Eastern Azerbaijan, Iran

Introduction: Women who experience more than two miscarriages suffer from recurrent pregnancy loss(RPL) which involves about 0.8% to 1.4% of couples. The lncRNA HULC gene was first discovered for its significant regulatory function in Hepatocellular carcinoma and then was considered in other diseases including RPL. The present study was performed with aim to investigate the association of G>A single nucleotide polymorphism of rs17144343 in HULC gene with susceptibility to recurrent miscarriages in women population of Eastern Azerbaijan of Iran.Methods: In this case-control study which was performed in 2019-2020, genomic DNAs of 150 patients and 150 healthy individuals were extracted from the peripheral blood samples by salting-out method. Then, genotyping of rs17144343 locus was determined by TETRA-ARMS-PCR assay. Finally, the genotyping data were statistically analyzed using the software package javastat online statistics and SPSS (version 23).Results: The genotypic distribution of rs17144343 for GA and GG genotypes were respectively 24.7% and 75.3% for cases and 2% and 98% for the control group. The frequency of allele A in controls was 1% and in case individuals was 12.4%. There was a significant relationship between the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss and rs17144343 polymorphism of HULC gene (PA polymorphism of rs17144343 in HULC gene has a significant role in susceptibility to recurrent pregnancy loss, but larger sample studies are required to further verify this finding

<em>In silico</em> analysis of chimeric subunit vaccine containing HER-2-MUC1 against breast cancer

224-233Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Although tumorectomy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone replacement therapy have been used for the treatment of breast cancer, there is no effective therapy for patients with invasive and metastatic breast cancer. Targeting tumors using cancer vaccine therapeutics has several advantages including the induction of long-term immunity, prime boost strategies for additional treatments and reduced side effects compared to conventional chemotherapeutics. However, one problem in targeting tumor antigens directly is that it can lead to antigen loss or immune editing. We have designed a complex immunogen derived from the extracellular domain of human HER-2/neu- (480–620) and seven tandem repeats of MUC1 (VNTR) that represents a three-dimensional epitope. The construct was analyzed by bioinformatics softwares. Linear and discontinuous B-cell epitopes, MHC class I and II binding peptides of chimeric protein were predicted. Results suggest that the construct can be an appropriate vaccine candidate against breast cancer

Differentiation of endometrial stem cells into motor neurons by the use of purmorphamin small molecule

Background: Small molecule Purmorphamin (PMA) is the agonist of smoothened protein in Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway. Effect of purmorphamin small molecule on differentiation of mesenchymal cells into bone tissue has been studied previously. Use of Shh causes progression of neural differentiation, and the differentiated cells express specific neural markers. Neurofilament (NF) and acetylcholine esterase (Chat) are specific markers of motor neurons and their expression in differentiated cells indicates their conversion into motor neurons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of PMA to differentiate the human endometrial stem cells (hEnSCs) into motor neurons. Methods: This analytical study was done in Tehran University of Medical Sciences laboratory on September of 2015. In this study hEnSCs were enzymatically extracted from endometrial tissue. After third passages, the flow cytometry was done for mesenchymal stem cells markers. The mesenchymal stem cells were divided into control and differentiated groups. FBS 10%+DMEM/F12 was added to the culture medium of control group and the differentiating group was treated with differentiating medium containing N2, PMA, DMEM/F12, FBS, B27, IBMX, 2ME, FGF2, RA, BDNF. After 21 days immunocytochemistry (ICC) test was done for the expression of NF and Chat proteins and Real-time PCR analysis for expression of neural markers such as NF, Chat, Nestin and GFAP (as glial marker) at mRNA level. Results: The flow cytometry analysis showed that hEnSCs were positive for mesenchymal markers CD90, CD105 and CD146 and negative for endothelial marker CD31, and hematopoietic marker CD34. The immunocytochemistry and Real time-PCR results showed that the cells treated with PMA expressed motor neuron markers of NF and Chat. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that small molecule PMA has the potency to induce the differentiation of hEnSCs into neural cells, specifically motor neurons by activating Shh signaling pathway

Clusters de preços e estabilidade do preço das ações

Understanding the factors affecting stock return volatility, for analysts, investors and company executives, it is critical. In this study, using a traditional approach, we identify the factors influencing volatility and how price friction is formed on stock price stability, and in particular, examining the clustering test for price increases. This study was carried out by examining the price clusters and stock price stability in the stock market and the OTC market between 2009 -2010. Econometric software was used to investigate the research variables. In this study, we tried to study stock price volatility in proportion to stock price clusters. Research findings showed; there is no significant relationship between stock price volatility and price clusters in the OTC market and the stock market.Compreender os fatores que afetam a volatilidade do retorno das ações, para analistas, investidores e executivos da empresa, é fundamental. Neste estudo, usando uma abordagem tradicional, identificamos os fatores que influenciam a volatilidade e como o atrito dos preços é formado na estabilidade dos preços das ações e, em particular, examinamos o teste de agrupamento para aumento de preços. Este estudo foi realizado examinando os clusters de preços e a estabilidade dos preços das ações no mercado de ações e no mercado de balcão entre 2009 e 2010. O software econométrico foi utilizado para investigar as variáveis da pesquisa. Neste estudo, tentamos estudar a volatilidade do preço das ações na proporção dos clusters de preços das ações. Os resultados da pesquisa mostraram; não há relação significativa entre a volatilidade do preço das ações e os clusters de preços no mercado de balcão e no mercado de ações