Development of PLGA-coated β-TCP scaffolds containing VEGF for bone tissue engineering

Bone tissue engineering is sought to apply strategies for bone defects healing without limitations and short-comings of using either bone autografts or allografts and xenografts. The aim of this study was to fabricate a thin layer poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) coated beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffold with sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). PLGA coating increased compressive strength of the β-TCP scaffolds significantly. For in vitro evaluations, canine mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) and canine endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) were isolated and characterized. Cell proliferation and attachment were demonstrated and the rate of cells proliferation on the VEGF released scaffold was significantly more than compared to the scaffolds with no VEGF loading. A significant increase in expression of COL1 and RUNX2 was indicated in the scaffolds loaded with VEGF and MSCs compared to the other groups. Consequently, PLGA coated β-TCP scaffold with sustained and localized release of VEGF showed favourable results for bone regeneration in vitro, and this scaffold has the potential to use as a drug delivery device in the future

The effect of pomegranate juice (Punica granatum L.) on the oxidative stress of 15-17 year old girls in Arak

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: استرس اکسیداتیو که در اثر عدم تعادل بین تولید رادیکال‌های آزاد و سیستم دفاع آنتی‌اکسیدانی ایجاد می‌شود در پاتوژنز بیماری های مختلف نقش دارد. این پژوهش با هدف ارزیابی تاثیر آب انار به عنوان آنتی اکسیدان بر استرس اکسیداتیو انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه نیمه تجربی 30 نفر از دختران مقطع سنی 17-15 سال پس از تکمیل پرسشنامه از لحاظ معیارهای ورود، به مدت دو هفته روزانه 100 میلی متر آب انار مصرف کردند. پارامترهای استرس اکسیداتیو شامل: ظرفیت آنتی‌اکسیدانی تام سرم، گروه های تام تیول و پراکسیداسیون لیپیدی در نمونه خون قبل و بعد از مصرف آب انار ارزیابی شد. برای تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها از آمار توصیفی و تحلیلی (t زوج) استفاده شد. یافته‌ها: قبل و پس از مصرف دو هفته ای آب انار، میانگین پراکسیداسیون لیپیدی به ترتیب 93/5±3/11 و 3/3±4/6 بود (001/0

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Malignant Hypertensive Retinopathy

Background: To report the findings of fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in a patient with malignant hypertensive retinopathy. Case Report: A 41year-old male was referred to our clinic with sudden visual loss in both of his eyes after an acute rise of blood pressure (200/150 mmHg). Optic disc swelling, flame shape hemorrhages especially around the optic disc, arterial narrowing, vessel tortuosity, cotton wool spots, hard exudate deposition, and multiple deep orange spots (Elschnig spots) were visible in both eyes. In the OCTA, disruption in the normal tapering patterns of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses was observed. Elschnig spots were observed as hypointense spots in the choriocapillaris slab. Leakage of the optic nerve head was seen in the FA. Conclusion: When compared with the FA, the OCTA can illustrate the ischemic areas and the Elschnig spots with greater detail

Subtenon carboplatin in the management of intraocular retinoblastoma

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant subtenon carboplatin in the management of intraocular retinoblastoma. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized, double-masked clinical trial. A diagnosis of intraocular retinoblastoma was made based on clinical examination, ultrasonography and orbital CT-scanning. The greatest basal dimension of the tumors was estimated in disc diameter (DD) by indirect ophthalmoscopy. Tumor thickness was determined by ultrasonography. Each eye was assigned to one of 10 blocks based on tumor stage (Reese-Ellsworth classification) and randomly received systemic chemotherapy alone (control group) or systemic chemotherapy plus 20mg subtenon carboplatin (case group). Indirect laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy was performed as additional treatment. Results: The study included 35 tumors in 17 eyes of 14 patients (19 tumors in 8 eyes in the control group and 16 tumors in 9 eyes in the case group). There was 57.22 and 61.73 decrease in tumor thickness in the control and case groups, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P=0.12). The decrease in greatest basal tumor dimension in the control group (47.32) was not significantly different from that in the case group (38.80). One eye (12.5) in the control group and 3 eyes (33.3) in the case group were enucleated. Conclusion: Adjuvant subtenon carboplatin does not seem to increase the efficacy of systemic chemotherapy in the treatment of intraocular retinoblastoma

The prevalence of dental caries in primary molars and its related factors in 6 and 7 years old children in Shemiranat health center

Background and Aims: Healthy People plan that is expressed by WHO stipulated that by 2000 at least 50% of the children and by 2010, 90% of 6-5 year-old children should be with no caries in their primary teeth. The present study investigated the prevalence of teeth decay of D, E and related factors in 6 and 7 years old children.Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 to assess the bases covered by student Shemiranat health center. Study population including 5000 students aged 6 and 7 and the sample size of 450 patients was available in sampling method. Data in a form that was designed for this study were collected and analyzed using Epi data and SPSS software.Results: The index dmft (Decayed Missed Filled Teeth) in primary teeth D and E is equaled to 2.46 and prevalence of dental caries E and D were estimated 63.4%. There is significant relationship between decay of teeth D and E and father education (Pvalue<0.001) and mother education (Pvalue<0.001) children age (Pvalue<0.001) locality of children whether they live in rural or urban regions (Pvalue <0.001) economic condition of families (P value<0.001) and social status (Pvalue<0.001) with number of decay teeth.Conclusion: The results imply on high prevalence of teeth caries among the children molar covered by Shemiranat health center so that the number of teeth without caries is far from the global measures and WHO. Likewise there is a significant relationship between social and economical status with children decay teeth and there is a need to pay more attention to mouth health in poor regions from the social and economical point of views.Key words: Prevalence of carries, D and E teeth, dm

Digoxin Inhibits Retinoblastoma through Suppressing a Non-canonical TGFβ Signaling Pathway.

Aims: Retinoblastoma is a childhood ocular tumor rapidly developing from the immature cells of the retina due to loss of functional retinoblastoma protein. Digoxin, a cardiac glycoside, has been reported to be effective in inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cytotoxic effects on human cancers. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate whether digoxin could suppress retinoblastoma cancer through the regulation of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Methodology: The effects of digoxin on Y-79 cells, retinoblastoma cancer cell line, were investigated using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoli-umbromide) and BrdU (bromodeoxyuridine) assays to measure cellular cytotoxicity effects and cell apoptosis, respectively. Also, a qPCR assay was employed to analyze the mRNA expression levels of TGFβ signaling pathway including C-MYC, P21, P15, TGFβRI, TGFβRII, and SMAD2, 3, and 4 genes. Results: The results of the cell function assays revealed that digoxin inhibited the cell viability and proliferation of Y-79 cells. In addition, it was found that digoxin significantly suppressed C-MYC expression and enhanced the expression of P21, P15, SMAD2 and SMAD4 genes in a dose-and time-dependent manner. However, the obtained results could not detect any significant effect of digoxin on TGFβRI, TGFβRII and SMAD3 genes. Conclusion: Taken together, the findings of the present study suggest that digoxin could be a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of retinoblastoma by regulating the cell cycle genes via a non-canonical TGF-β signaling pathway

Improvements in Multicarrier Modulation Systems using a Wavelet OFDM Scheme

yesThis paper investigates the performance of wavelet OFDM signals over a wireless communications link. The scheme is shown to be generally similar to Fourier based OFDM, but with some additional features, and improved characteristics. The sensitivity of both schemes to the nonlinear amplification in the transmitter is compared by monitoring the time domain output data and the adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) performance

Effectiveness of Encouragement Training in Alleviating Depression among Mothers of Children with Hearing Impairment

Mothers of children with hearing impairment are highly vulnerable to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. This study was done to assess depression in mothers of hearing impaired children and the effectiveness of encouragement training in alleviating depression in them. This study is an experimental, pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The population of this research consists of mothers of children with hearing impairment in Tehran city. Using random sampling, 40 mothers of children with hearing loss who were enrolled in the Centre, and scored 19 to 29 points (moderate depression to severe depression) in the Beck Depression Inventory, were selected randomly from Tehran rehabilitation centers and assigned randomly into two groups: 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. The experimental group was given 10 sessions of group encouragement training (two sessions of 90 minutes a week). Symptoms of depression in both groups were evaluated before (pre-test) and after (post-test) of the intervention program. Research data were analyzed using covariance analysis method. Findings of the study indicated that group encouragement training program reduced the symptoms of depression in the experimental group more significantly (p > .01) than in the control group. Effectiveness of group encouragement training program in alleviating mother's depression needs more theoretical and practical implications. Therefore, it is necessary that in rehabilitation programs for children with hearing impairment, attention needs to be given to address the emotional dimensions of the family and the maternal psychological status, besides the usual services provided