Designer Exosomes: A New Platform for Biotechnology Therapeutics

Abstract: Desirable features of exosomes have made them a suitable manipulative platform for biomedical applications, including targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, cancer diagnosis and therapy, development of vaccines, and tissue regeneration. Although natural exosomes have various potentials, their clinical application is associated with some inherent limitations. Recently, these limitations inspired various attempts to engineer exosomes and develop designer exosomes. Mostly, designer exosomes are being developed to overcome the natural limitations of exosomes for targeted delivery of drugs and functional molecules to wounds, neurons, and the cardiovascular system for healing of damage. In this review, we summarize the possible improvements of natural exosomes by means of two main approaches: parental cell-based or pre-isolation exosome engineering and direct or post-isolation exosome engineering. Parental cell-based engineering methods use genetic engineering for loading of therapeutic molecules into the lumen or displaying them on the surface of exosomes. On the other hand, the post-isolation exosome engineering approach uses several chemical and mechanical methods including click chemistry, cloaking, bio-conjugation, sonication, extrusion, and electroporation. This review focuses on the latest research, mostly aimed at the development of designer exosomes using parental cell-based engineering and their application in cancer treatment and regenerative medicine. Graphic Abstract: Figure not available: see fulltext. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Key factors influencing the adoption of e-government in Iran

Compare to developed countries, e-Government implementation in developing countries seems to be slower. One of the important issues for the e-Government services is adoption of users. Finding the factors which impact on the adoption of government e-Services would lead the managers to a better technology adoption model which is more suitable for e-Government. This study presents the essential factors based on the interviews with the IT managers in the public organization using e-Government services. This study uses the most discussed adoption models to identify the factors. Based on interviews done in Iran's public organizations, this study finds the suitable factors and includes trustworthiness as an external key factor influencing the adoption of e-Government services

THE INCIDENCE OF BIRTHMARKS IN IRANIAN NEONATES

A number of innocent rashes occurs in neonates. They are usually transient and self limited and thus require no therapy but early recognition is important to distinguish these lesions from more serious disorders. In this study, our purpose was to determine the frequency of birthmarks in Iranian neonates. The presence of various types of birthmarks was determined in 503 Iranian neonates under 72 hour of age. The physiological skin changes observed in order to frequency were Epstein pearls in 444 (88.27%), Mongolian spot in 409 (81%), erythema toxicum in 272 (54%), sucking blisters in 264 (52.1%), Salmon patch in 262 (52%), milia in 232 (46%), petechia in 41(0.08%) and mottling in 29 (0.06%). Petechia was seen more commonly in vaginal delivery and in babies with more birth weight. Mottling was more common in premature and low birth babies. Our data suggest that the incidence of birthmarks in Iranian neonates is similar to the prevalence reported by others in white neonates

Data for: Block Withholding Game Among Bitcoin Mining Pools

Size of Bitcoin mining pools

COST BENEFIT OF THE ROUTINE URINALYSIS

In the present health care environment, cost-benefit analysis is extremely important. In this screening program, the minimal cost of screening dipstick urinalysis in 1601 asymptomatic school children was determined. The process of screening was similar to all the studies. The minimal cost utilizing 3 general physicians was calculated. Costs were determined by using current charge for supplies ordered to perform tests, charges for tests performed by a commercial laboratory, and the cost of a final evaluation by a pediatric nephrologist. Initial abnormal urinalysis was found in 4.7% (76/1601) of patients. Upon retesting 1.37% (22/1601) of patients were calculated to have a persistent abnormality. The calculated cost was 1/530/000 Rials (164.5 $) to initially screen all 1601 patients with a dipstick urinalysis or 850 Rials (0.09$) per patient. The calculated cost to evaluate the 22 patients with any persistent abnormality on repeat dipstick urinalysis was 246/840 Rials (26.5 $) or 11.220 Rials (1.2$) per patient. This is the calculated cost for a single screening of 1601 asymptomatic pediatric patients. Multiple screening dipstick urinalysis in asymptomatic pediatric are costly and should be discontinued. We purpose that a single screening dipstick urinalysis be obtained at school entry age, between 6 and 7 years old , in all asymptomatic children

Data for: Block Withholding Game Among Bitcoin Mining Pools

Size of Bitcoin mining pools.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

Prevalence of congenital malformations observed in neonates in Shariati Hospital (1381-1383)

Background: Congenital malformations are one of the most important problems in pediatrics. The estimation of the prevalence of malformations and some probable determinants were the purpose of this study. Methods: In this retrospective study, all of the newborns that were born during three years (2002-4) were included. Hospital files of 3840 newborns were studied retrospectively and the data were collected in checklist. Finding: 118 cases had at least a major or minor malformation. Over all the prevalence of malformations was 3.1%. Male newborns showed a higher prevalence of malformations than females but with no statistical significance. The skeletal system had the highest rate of malformations, while the genitourinary system and the head and neck deformities were in the second and third position. There were no significant relations between the prevalence of malformations and the maternal age, the height and weight of the newborns and the season of birth. Conclusion: The prevalence of malformations in this study was similar to previous studies