Evaluation of Teratogenic Activity of Antiepileptic Drug Lamotrigine in Mouse Fetuses.

BACKGROUND: Use of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of teratogenicity as well as congenital abnormalities. However, there are numerous discrepancies to determine whether lamotrigine, as an antiepileptic drug, can significantly induce malformation in newborn infants or not. Thus, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of lamotrigine on mouse fetuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 21 pregnant mice were assigned to four groups. Groups 1 and 2 (controls) received mock treatment and ethanol 20%, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 (treatment) were intraperitoneally administered with 25 and 75 mg/kg lamotrigine for three days, respectively. The treatment protocol was performed within the gestational days of 9-18 in all groups. On gestational day 18, 117 fetuses were taken out of the fallopian tube of studied mice and then examined for any anomalies (vertebral, limbs and cranial), followed by a measurement of their height and weight. RESULTS: The results revealed that, in the treated groups, the weight and the height had significantly decreased (p<0.01) and also various anomalies were evident. Moreover, as the dose of lamotrigine increased, the decrease in the weight and the height and rising trend in anomalies were intensified. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, lamotrigine (LTG) could be considered as a risk factor for the development of the anomalies examined. KEYWORDS: anticonvulsants; congenital abnormalities; lamotrigine; mouse; teratogen

Evaluation of antitumor activity of a TGF-beta receptor I inhibitor (SD-208) on human colon adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway is involved in primary tumor progression and in promoting metastasis in a considerable proportion of human cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, blockage of TGF-β pathway signaling via an inhibitor could be a valuable tool in CRC treatment. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy of systemic targeting of the TGF-β pathway for therapeutic effects on CRC, we investigated the effects of a TGβRI (TGF-β receptor 1) or TβRI kinase inhibitor, SD-208, on SW-48, colon adenocarcinoma cells. In this work, in vitro cell proliferation was studied by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Also, the histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations were conducted by hematoxylin and eosin, and Ki-67 and CD34 markers were stained, respectively. RESULTS: Our results showed no significant reduction in cell proliferation and vessel formation (170 ± 70 and 165 ± 70, P > 0.05) in treated SW-48 cells with SD-208 compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested that SD-208 could not significantly reduce tumor growth and angiogenesis in human colorectal cancer model at least using SW-48 cells

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin

Study of the Factors Influencing the Process of Political Socialization of Students in Islamic Republic of Iran1

This paper examines the Factors influencing the process of political socialization of students. Effects of the political parties within the university and outside the university (such as political parties and political figures); and the policies of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, on the process of political socialization of students has been studied. Details of the survey have been collected from a sample size of 1210 individuals among public universities nationwide and purified with the method of Stratified sampling. Data analysis was also performed with "SPSS" software in 1392. The results of the study revealed these assumptions: The political parties within the college had a positive impact on the process of political socialization; and off-campus parties and political organizations such as parties and political figures and the policies of the Ministry of Science, Failed to have a major impact on political socialization of student

Using AHP for Selecting the Best Wastewater Treatment Process

In this paper, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method that is based on expert knowledge is used for the selection of the optimal anaerobic wastewater treatment process in industrial estates. This method can be applied for complicated multi-criteria decision making to obtain reasonable results. The different anaerobic processes employed in Iranian industrial estates consist of UASB, UAFB, ABR, Contact process, and Anaerobic Lagoons. Based on the general conditions in wastewater treatment plants in industrial estates and on expert judgments and using technical, economic, environmental, and administrative criteria, the processes are weighted and the results obtained are assessed using the Expert Choice Software. Finally, the five processes investigated are ranked as 1 to 5 in a descending order of UAFB, ABR, UASB, Anaerobic Lagoon, and Contact Process. Sensitivity analysis showing the effects of input parameters on changes in the results was applied for technical, economic, environmental, and administrative criteria

Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin in acute ischemic stroke

Background: Ischemic brain strokes consisttwo-thirdsof strokesand their complications bear a lot of disability for patient and society. In this study, we seek for effect of Erythropoietin on ischemic brain stroke′s outcomes according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) changes. Methods: This study is a RCT (randomized clinical trial). All patients with focal neurologic deficit with primary suspicion of brain stroke undergone neuroimaging evaluations.After confirmation of new ischemic brain stroke, the patients with inclusion criteria′srandomized into two groups of cases and controls. NIHSS was defined for each patient and all patients received a routine treatment protocol. Erythropoietin 16,000 IU as a bolus intravenous dose was given to case patients as soon as neuroimaging study confirmed new ischemic stroke and continued as 8000 IU each 12 h up to total dose of 56,000 IU during 3 days. Patients re-evaluated at days 14 and 28 and NIHSS was assessed by another neurologist blinded to patient′s group. Finally, NIHSS changes of both groups compared with each other′s. Results: Evaluations revealed that in days14 and 28 during follow-up, Erythropoietin was effective in NIHSS (P= 0.0001). This effect was of value in level of consciousness Commands (P= 0.024), facial palsy (P= 0.003), motor arm (P= 0.0001), motor leg (P= 0.0001), sensory (P= 0.009), and best language (P= 0.023). Conclusions: Administration of high-dose erythropoietin in first 24 h can be effective on reduction of ischemic stroke complication. A larger scale clinical trial is warranted