Immunomodulatory Effect of Toll-Like Receptor-3 Ligand Poly I:C on Cortical Spreading Depression

The release of inflammatory mediators following cortical spreading depression (CSD) is suggested to play a role in pathophysiology of CSD-related neurological disorders. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are master regulators of innate immune function and involved in the activation of inflammatory responses in the brain. TLR3 agonist poly I:C exerts anti-inflammatory effect and prevents cell injury in the brain. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of systemic administration of poly I:C on the release of cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β1, and GM-CSF) in the brain and spleen, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, expression of GAD65, GABAAα, GABAAβ as well as Hsp70, and production of dark neurons after induction of repetitive CSD in juvenile rats. Poly I:C significantly attenuated CSD-induced production of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the brain as well as TNF-α and IL-4 in the spleen. Poly I:C did not affect enhancement of splenic lymphocyte proliferation after CSD. Administration of poly I:C increased expression of GABAAα, GABAAβ as well as Hsp70 and decreased expression of GAD65 in the entorhinal cortex compared to CSD-treated tissues. In addition, poly I:C significantly prevented production of CSD-induced dark neurons. The data indicate neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of TLR3 activation on CSD-induced neuroinflammation. Targeting TLR3 may provide a novel strategy for developing new treatments for CSD-related neurological disorders. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Immunomodulatory Effect of Toll-Like Receptor-3 Ligand Poly I:C on Cortical Spreading Depression

The release of inflammatory mediators following cortical spreading depression (CSD) is suggested to play a role in pathophysiology of CSD-related neurological disorders. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are master regulators of innate immune function and involved in the activation of inflammatory responses in the brain. TLR3 agonist poly I:C exerts anti-inflammatory effect and prevents cell injury in the brain. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of systemic administration of poly I:C on the release of cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β1, and GM-CSF) in the brain and spleen, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, expression of GAD65, GABAAα, GABAAβ as well as Hsp70, and production of dark neurons after induction of repetitive CSD in juvenile rats. Poly I:C significantly attenuated CSD-induced production of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the brain as well as TNF-α and IL-4 in the spleen. Poly I:C did not affect enhancement of splenic lymphocyte proliferation after CSD. Administration of poly I:C increased expression of GABAAα, GABAAβ as well as Hsp70 and decreased expression of GAD65 in the entorhinal cortex compared to CSD-treated tissues. In addition, poly I:C significantly prevented production of CSD-induced dark neurons. The data indicate neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of TLR3 activation on CSD-induced neuroinflammation. Targeting TLR3 may provide a novel strategy for developing new treatments for CSD-related neurological disorders. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York

The relationship between five-factor model and diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-fifth edition personality traits on patients with antisocial personality disorder

Background: Despite the fact that new criteria of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-fi fth edition (DSM-5) were resulted from fi ve-factor model (FFM), there is a small amount of studies that investigate the relations between proposed personality traits and FFM. Also, cross-cultural study in this fi eld continuously would be needed. Th e aim of the present study was to evaluate the relation between the FFM and DSM-5 ASPD pathological traits. Materials and Methods: Th is study was a crosssectional study design. Th e participants consisted of 122 individuals with ASPD that selected from prisoners (73.0), outpatients (18.0), and inpatients (9.0). Th ey were recruited from Tehran Prisoners, and Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry Clinics of Razi and Taleghani Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, since 2013-2014. Th e Sample was selected based on judgmental sampling. Th e structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis II disorders-Personality Questionnaire, NEO-Personality Inventory-Revised, and DSM-5 personality trait rating form were used to diagnosis and assessment of personality disorder. Pearson correlation has been used for data analysis. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 16 software. Results: Th e results indicate that neuroticism (N) has positive signifi cant relationship with hostility (r = 0.33, P < 0.01), manipulativeness (r = 0.25, P < 0.01), deceitfulness (r =.23, P < 0.01), impulsivity (r = 0.20, P < 0.05), and negative relation with risk taking (r = �0.23, P < 0.01). Also, there was signifi cant relationship between extraversion (E) with manipulativeness (r = 0.28, P < 0.01) and deceitfulness (r = 0.32, P < 0.01). Agreeableness and conscientiousness have negative signifi cant relation with DSM-5 traits. In addition, results showed that there is positive signifi cant relationship between FFM and DSM-5 personality traits with DSM-fourth edition-text revision (DSM-IV-TR) ASPD symptoms (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Except manipulativeness, deceitfulness, and callousness, there is positively signifi cant relationship between DSM-5 ASPD traits and DSM-IV-TR ASPD symptoms. Th e present study helps to understand the adequacy of dimensional approach to evaluation of ASPD pathology, specifi cally on Iranian sample. © 2015 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Effect of glucose, lactate and pyruvate concentrations on in vitro growth of goat granulosa cell

Carbohydrates are among the most influential of the numerous components of culture medium that affect metabolism and developmental potential. Glucose, lactate and pyruvate are required for the growth of oocytes and other follicular cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations of glucose, lactate and pyruvate on promoting DNA synthesis of granulosa cells in a serum-free medium. Effects of glucose (0.75, 1.5 or 3 mM), pyruvate (0.1 or 0.33 mM) and Llactate (3, 6 or 12 mM) concentrations in the maturation medium on the relative granulosa cell growth during metaphase II (MII) were examined in a 3 × 2 × 3 factorial design. The greatest relative granulosa cell growth response (p&lt;0.05) was observed in the presence of 1.5 mM glucose and 0.33 mM pyruvate or in 6 mM lactate and 0.33 mM pyruvate. Increasing pyruvate concentrations from 0.1 to 0.33 mM resulted in an increase in DNA synthesis in granulosa cells. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that increasing glucose and pyruvate concentrations in the maturation medium increased the growth of goat granulosa cells.Key word: Energy substrate, granulosa cell growth, methyl-3H-thymidine, goat

Proton-Coupled Electron-Transfer Mechanism for the Radical Scavenging Activity of Cardiovascular Drug Dipyridamole

Dipyridamole (DIP) is a well-known pharmaceutical drug used as a coronary vasodilator and anti-platelet agent in clinics for treating several cardiovascular diseases. Primarily, the therapeutic effects of the drug are attributed to its antioxidant potency. In this research, we aim to declare the unknown antioxidant mechanism of DIP as well as its potent chain-breaking antioxidant activity in polar aqueous medium inside the cells, using different experimental methods and theoretical quantum calculations. Data demonstrated the higher antioxidant capacity of DIP against ROS and free radicals in polar cell's interior. DIP is capable of generating long living and noninvasive DIP• radicals in oxidant condition that leads to an effective “chain-breaking antioxidant” activity. Quantum computational data indicated that DIP antioxidant has more favorable ionization potential than trolox which means DIP has higher antioxidant activity. Also, data showed that the direct hydrogen-transfer is not a favorable process to construct DIP• because of high barrier energy, though electron-transfer process can more easily to produce DIP•+ with the lowest barrier energy. Altogether, the electron donating potency of DIP to reduce ferric ion, having the low anodic oxidation peak potential, producing long lived stable DIP• radicals and protecting myoblast cells from oxidation, proposed the excellent “chain-breaking antioxidant” potency via electron-transfer mechanism of this vasodilator DIP drug in polar aqueous medium

A Proposed Simple Teleradiology System Using a Digital Camera

Abstract: Background & Aims: Teleradiology as an efficient way for avoiding unnecessary transfer of patients to special medical centers requires the images with digital format. However, in some developing countries, including Iran, imaging is being done using non digital devices. In such cases, changing analog images into digital ones can solve the problem. The method which is nowadays used for digitalizing analog images is using digitizers. Since in some regions digitizers are not available, using digital cameras as more accessible and cost-effective devices is a good choice, provided that the reliability of digital cameras for providing digital formats of radiographs would be confirmed. Method: In this study, at first, 91 radiographs were randomly selected. These images were then shown to a radiologist and he was asked to interpret them. Next, a digital image was produced from each radiograph using a digital camera. After 40 days, these digital images were shown to the same radiologist and he was asked to interpret them. The interpretations were then analyzed and compared using Kappa agreement coefficient. Results: The calculated Kappa agreement coefficient indicated a “Good” diagnostic agreement (kappa=0.708, P <0.000) between diagnoses made by using radiographs and their digitalized images. Conclusion: This study recommends that in cases of need for consultation with a specialist, capturing a digital image of radiograph by a digital camera and sending it to the spesialist via an internet line can be a reliable solution. This method can be used as a useful and cost-effective way of consultation with a radiologist who is working in another medical center. Keywords: Telemedicine, Teleradiology, Remote consultatio

Optimization of Steam Network in Tehran Oil Refinery

Dominated energy crisis in the world dictates to reduce energy consumption and identify energy saving opportunities in large and complex industries especially in oil refining industry. In this paper, Tehran oil refinery is considered as a proper case study and its steam network is analyzed. At the first step, using STAR software, the steam network is simulated and then optimized, which determines the optimum conditions. In this regard, energy saving potential was identified and total operating costs (TOC) in two states of fixed fuel fraction and changeable fuel fraction was calculated. In addition, different scenarios were proposed like using HRSG instead of two boilers. The results showed that amount of total operating cost has been reduced, as the result the best scenario regarding TOC is selected

Evaluation of the effect of chronic administration of silymarin on thermal and chemical hyperalgesia in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy in male rats

Introduction: Hyperalgesia is recongnized as one of the marked signs of diabetic neuropathy. Considering the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of silymarin, this study was designed to investigate the analgesic effect of silymarin in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy in male rats. Materials and Methods: In warm tail immersion test, rats were divided into control, silymarin-treated control, diabetic, silymarin-treated diabetic groups. For the formalin test, sodium salicylate (SS)-treated control and diabetic groups were addded to the previous four groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin (60 mg/Kg, i.p., STZ) was administered as a single dose. The treatment groups(in diabetic group, before induction of diabetes), first received a single dose (200mg/kg; i.p) and then a daily dose(100mg/kg;i.p) of silymarin for eight weeks. Results: Results showed that diabetic rats exhibited a higher score of pain during both phases of the formalin test(P=0.03-0.006) and significant decrease in tail flick latency (P<0.02) after eight weeks of diabetic induction in the warm tail immersion test. Treatment with silymarin for eight weeks caused significant decrease in pain scores at both phases of the formalin test(P=0.06-0.0006) and increase in tail flick latency (P=0.03). On the other hand, silymarin caused no significant decrease in pain scores of control rats. Conclusion: It seems that eight weeks i.p. administration of silymarin could attenuate nociception in an experimental model of diabetic neuropathy, which may be considered as a treatment for painful diabetic neuropathy