Prediction of the Thromboembolic Syndrome: an Application of Artificial Neural Networks in Gene Expression Data Analysis

The aim of this study was to propose a method for improving the power of recognition and classification of thromboembolic syndrome based on the analysis of ‎ gene expression data using artificial neural networks. The studied method was performed on a dataset which contained data about 117 patients admitted to a hospital in Durham in 2009. Of all the studied patients, 66 patients were suffering from thromboembolic syndrome and 51 people were enrolled in the study as the control group. The gene expression level of 22277 was measured for all the samples and was entered into the model as the main variable. Due to the high number of variables, principal components analysis and auto-encoder neural network methods were used in order to reduce the dimension of data. The results showed that when using auto-encoder networks, the classification accuracy was 93.12. When using the PCA method to reduce the size of the data, the obtained accuracy was 78.26, and hence a significant difference in the accuracy of classification was observed. If auto-encoder network method is used, the sensitivity and specificity will be 92.58 and 93.68 and when PCA method is used, they will be 0.77 and 0.78 respectively. The results suggested that auto-encoder networks, compared with the PCA method, had a higher level of accuracy for the classification of thromboembolic syndrome status

Effects of green coffee aqueous extract supplementation on glycemic indices, lipid profile, CRP, and malondialdehyde in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background/objectivesStudies have reported the health benefits of green coffee extract (GCE) in experimental models. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether supplementation with GCE improves glycemic indices, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).Methods and study designThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 44 patients (26 male and 18 female) with T2D and overweight/obesity. After blocked randomization, patients received either capsules containing 400 mg GCE twice per day (n = 22) or a placebo (n = 22) and were followed for 10 weeks. In this study, glycemic indices, lipid profiles, anthropometric examinations, blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured twice; at baseline and at the end of the study.ResultsAfter 10 weeks of supplementation, GCE supplementation significantly reduced body weight (p = 0.04) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03) compared to the placebo. The intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis indicated patients in the GCE group had a lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration compared to the placebo group; however, this decreasing was marginally significant (8.48 ± 8.41 vs. 1.70 ± 5.82 mg/dL, p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in insulin levels and HOMA-IR between the groups. At the end of the study, significant changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.01), triglyceride (TG) level (p = 0.02), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (p = 0.001), and TG-to-HDL ratio (p = 0.001) were found between the intervention and placebo groups. Our trial indicated GCE supplementation had no effect on diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or total cholesterol. During the supplementation period, the hs-CRP level significantly decreased in the GCE group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.02). No significant changes were observed in the MDA level between the two groups at the end of the study (p = 0.54).ConclusionOur findings showed beneficial effects of GCE on SBP, TG, hs-CRP, and HDL levels in patients with T2D and overweight/obesity over a 10-week period of supplementation.Clinical trial registration:https://en.irct.ir/trial/48549, identifier [IRCT20090203001640N18]

Two-dimensional-Ti3C2 magnetic nanocomposite for targeted cancer chemotherapy

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, so novel therapeutic approaches are needed to improve the effectiveness of current therapies or extend their activity. In recent decades, graphene analogs, such as Mxene, an emerging class of two-dimensional (2D) graphene analogs, have been drawing considerable attention based on their intrinsic physicochemical properties and performance as potential candidates for tumor therapy, particularly for therapeutic purposes. Here we explored the targeted drug delivery in cervical cancer in in vivo model. Mxene-based nanocarriers are not able to be precisely controlled in cancer treatment.Method: To solve this problem, the titanium carbide-magnetic core-shell nanocarrier (Ti3C2-Fe3O4@SiO2-FA) is also developed to provide synergetic anticancer with magnetic controlling ability along with pH-responsive drug release. A xenograft model of the cervix was used to investigate the effects of Cisplatin alone, or in combination with Ti3C2@FA and Ti3C2@ Fe3O4@SiO2-FA, on tumor growth following histological staining for evaluation of necrosis.Result and Discussion: A significant tumor-growth suppression effect is shown when the Ti3C2-Fe3O4@SiO2-FA nanocarrier is magnetically controlled Cisplatin drug release. It reveals a synergistic therapeutic efficacy used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals (p < .001). According to the in vivo study, the Ti3C2@FA@Cisplatin nanocomposite exhibits less tumor growth than the drug alone or Ti3C2@FA@Cisplatin via increasing necrosis effect (p < .001). Through this study, Mxene nanosheets are expanded for biomedical applications, not only through the fabrication of biocompatible magnetic Mxene nanocomposite but also through the development of functionalization strategies that enable the magnetic Ti3C2 nanocomposite to load high levels of Cisplatin for cervical cancer treatment (242.5%). Hence, Ti3C2-Fe3O4@SiO2-FA nanocarriers would be promising candidates to improve cancer treatment efficiency

A Combination of Prebiotic Inulin and Oligofructose Improve Some of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Purpose: This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of oligofructose-enriched inulin on some of cardiovascular disease risk factors in women with type 2 diabetes. Methods: 52 females (25<BMI<35 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to two groups. Participants received 10g/d oligofructose-enriched inulin (n=27) or 10g/d placebo (n=25) for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken to measure metabolic profiles, malondialdehyd and antioxidant enzymes at baseline and after the 8 weeks intervention. Paired, unpaired sample t-test and analysis of covariance were used to comparison of quantitative variables. Results: After 8 weeks, in the oligofructose-enriched inulin group there was a significant increase in total antioxidant capacity (0.2 mmol/l, 20.0%) and a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (19.2 mg/dL, 9.4%) HbA1c (0.5%, 8.4%), total cholesterol (TC) (28.0 mg/dL, 14.1%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (22.0 mg/dL, 21.7%), TC/HDL-c ratio (0.73, 20.7%), LDL-c/HDL-c ratio (0.55, 27.5%) and malondialdehyd (1.7 nmol/ml, 39.7%) compared to the placebo group. Changes in concentrations of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were not significant in oligofructose-enriched inulin group compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: Oligofructose-enriched inulin may improve glycemic indices, lipid profile, antioxidant status and malondialdehyd in women with type 2 diabetes

Q Fever in Dogs; an Emerging Infectious Disease in Iran

Background:  Q fever is an important widespread reemerging zoonosis. The presence of Coxiella burnetii in 100 tick-infested dogs was assessed in this study.Methods:  The blood samples from 100 referred dogs were acquired and evaluated by nested-PCR.Results:  C. burnetii was detected in 11 out of 100 (11%) blood samples. Most of the positive dogs were kept outdoor and fed on raw diet. Based on our findings, Q fever should be considered as an emerging disease in dogs in Iran; so, zoonotic importance of this population must be notified. To better understanding the role and pathogenic importance of dogs in Q fever outbreak and to determine whether this organism can be transmitted directly from dogs to human further in-depth studies are necessary.Conclusion:  It is determined that C. burnetii is present in dogs in southeast of Iran and people who are in contact with this population, especially asymptomatic ones are at increased risk of infection

Role of oocyte morphology on fertilization and embryo formation in assisted reproductive techniques

Objective: To assess the influence of MII oocyte morphology on the fertilization outcome and embryo development in ART cycles. Since, age may affect the quality of oocyte, the role of women's age was also evaluated following IVF or ICSI cycles. Materials and Methods:200 MII oocytes from 30 IVF and ICSI cycles were evaluated. The morphology of oocytes that were fertilized in IVF cycles (IVF+) was compared with failed fertilization (IVF-). The oocytes were similarly categorized in the ICSI procedure (ICSI+ and ICSI-). The criteria for morphological evaluations were: a. normal oocytes showed clear cytoplasm with homogenous fine granularity; b. granular oocytes, dark with granularity either homogenous in whole cytoplasm or concentrated in the central portion of the oocyte; c. cytoplasmic inclusions comprised vacuoles presumed to be of endocytotic origin; d. dark zona pellucida (ZP), e. fragmented polar body (PB) of different sizes; f. non-spherical shape of oocyte; and g. wide previtelline space (PVS). Embryo transfer took place 48 h after insemination/ injection. The statistical significance of the data was analyzed using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: A total of 67 and 78 oocytes were fertilized in IVF and ICSI cycles, respectively. 46.3% and 35.9% of fertilized oocytes were shown with normal morphology in IVF and ICSI cases, respectively. The rates of grade A & B embryos were significantly higher in oocytes with normal morphology (P<0.05). The mean number of embryos transferred was similar in IVF and ICSI groups (3.3±0.4 versus 3.0±0.9). In IVF+ and ICSI+, fragmented PBs were the highest rates of single abnormality with 11.9% and 14.1%, respectively. Also, multiple abnormalities were observed in 21.0% and 48.5% of oocytes in IVF+ and IVF-, respectively (P<0.001). 15.4% and 31.8% of the oocytes from ICSI+ and ICSI- were presented with more than one abnormality. Refractile bodies were the highest type of single abnormality (18.2%) in ICSI- group. Conclusions: In both IVF and ICSI, the highest rates of fertilization and embryo formation took place in oocytes with normal morphological features that were retrieved from young patients. The most single morphological features involved in failed fertilization were refractile body in ICSI and ooplasm granulation in IVF cases. The data suggest that oocyte quality plays a major role in fertilization process and embryo development in ART program

Are Dogs and Cats Possible Reservoirs for Human Q Fever in Iran?

Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii is a zoonosis of public health concern, primarily transmitted by ruminants and other potential animal species. Dogs and cats have been previously implicated in the transmission of the infection; however, their involvement in the epidemiology of Q fever has been poorly investigated. Therefore, in this study, the occurrence of C. burnetii was investigated in dogs (n=81) and cats (n=28) subjected to ovariohysterectomy or vaginal swab sampling. C. burnetii was detected by nested trans-polymerase chain reaction assay in 5 uterine samples of both dogs and cats (i.e., 12.1% and 17.8%, respectively) as well as in 8 of 40 (20%) vaginal samples of dogs. The presence of C. burnetii was determined in 18 of 109 (16.5%) samples. The genital tract of dogs and cats can harbor C. burnetii, and these animals may be considered as a source of infection. Therefore, Q fever should be considered a notable public health threat in Iran, and the pet owners should be made aware of the zoonotic potential of C. burnetii