Estimating the Net Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer in Iran in a Relative Survival Framework

Background: Iran is an Eastern Mediterranean region country with the highest rate of gastric cancer. The present study aimed to evaluate the 5-year net survival of patients with gastric cancer in Iran using a relative survival framework. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, using life-table estimation of relative survival, we reported 1- to 5-year relative survival regarding age, sex, disease stage, pathology, and adjuvant therapies via modeling excess mortality. All the analyses were done applying Stata 11.2 with a confidence level of 95%. Results: Data on 330 patients (aged 32–96 y), who were comprised of 228 (69.1%) men and 102 (30.1%) women with gastric cancer and were followed up for 10 years, were analyzed. Adenocarcinoma was the most common malignancy (281 [85.2%] patients), and 248 (75.1%) patients were at stage 3 or stage 4. The 1- and 5-year net survival rates after surgery were 67.96 (95% CI: 62.35–72.98) and 23.35 (95% CI: 17.94–29.28), respectively. Higher stages (P=0.001), older ages (P=0.007), and less use of adjuvant therapies (P<0.001) were independently associated with excess mortality. Conclusion: It is recommended to use the relative survival framework to analyze the survival of cancer patients as an alternative approach not only to eliminate biases due to competing risks and their dependencies but also to estimate the cure at the population level concerning the most important individual characteristics. Our findings showed that the survival rate of gastric cancer in Iran is lower than that in most developed countries in terms of net survival

Cancer-Associated noncoding mutations affect RNA G-quadruplex-mediated regulation of gene expression

© 2017 The Author(s). Cancer is a multifactorial disease driven by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Many cancer driver mutations have been characterised in protein-coding regions of the genome. However, mutations in noncoding regions associated with cancer have been less investigated. G-quadruplex (G4) nucleic acids are four-stranded secondary structures formed in guanine-rich sequences and prevalent in the regulatory regions. In this study, we used published whole cancer genome sequence data to find mutations in cancer patients that overlap potential RNA G4-forming sequences in 5ⲠUTRs. Using RNAfold, we assessed the effect of these mutations on the thermodynamic stability of predicted RNA G4s in the context of full-length 5ⲠUTRs. Of the 217 identified mutations, we found that 33 are predicted to destabilise and 21 predicted to stabilise potential RNA G4s. We experimentally validated the effect of destabilising mutations in the 5ⲠUTRs of BCL2 and CXCL14 and one stabilising mutation in the 5ⲠUTR of TAOK2. These mutations resulted in an increase or a decrease in translation of these mRNAs, respectively. These findings suggest that mutations that modulate the G4 stability in the noncoding regions could act as cancer driver mutations, which present an opportunity for early cancer diagnosis using individual sequencing information.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Identification of internal and external factors affecting the development of quantum computer technology in the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Research is being conducted to identify internal and external factors impacting the development of quantum computer technology in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army. The research method used in this study is descriptive-survey. There are 30 professors of physics departments at army officer universities, managers and experts of the army science and research organization who are working in the field of quantum computer technology in this study. As the sample community has a limited number of members, the whole community is used. Friedman's test and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the research data. After analyzing the findings in the matrix (SWOT), it was found that the strategic position of quantum computer technology is in the WO area. According to the results of the research, it can be concluded that the most important strategic priorities for the development of quantum computer technology in the army are: the weaknesses of the lack of appropriateness of the budget and assigned mission in the army, in the strengths of focusing on applied fields A soldier in the army saw opportunities in the possibility of exploiting the facilities of research centers at the national level

Methodology for Designing Models Predicting Success of Infertility Treatment

Abstract Background: The prediction models for infertility treatment success have presented since 25 years ago. There are scientific principles for designing and applying the prediction models that is also used to predict the success rate of infertility treatment. The purpose of this study is to provide basic principles for designing the model to predic infertility treatment success. Materials and Methods: In this paper, the principles for developing predictive models are explained and then the design of such models in infertility treatments is described in more details by explaining one sample. Results: The important principles for models that firstly are described are: identifying and defining the purpose, expected function of model, input data that will be used to develop a model: type of intervention or diagnostic procedures that can lead to changes in the samples and output definition or expected result of model function. Further, characteristics of predictive factors in final model, drawing the information flowchart, internal and external validation and attention to the analysis programme of results are the important subjects that have been described. Conclusion: If predictive models are used properly, can help treatment team and patients to achive best treatment in ART

Examination of the biological role of i-Motif and G-quadruplex nucleic acid structures

It is well known that B-form DNA is not the only structure formed in the genome. In addition to the genetic information encoded in the nucleotide sequence of genomic DNA, non-B-form structures provide a second layer of information to regulate genome functions. G-quadruplex (G4) and i-Motif (i-M) are two four-stranded non-B-form structures formed in the guanine (G)- rich and cytosine (C)-rich regions of the genome, respectively. Recently, G4 DNA was visualized in human cells. Despite strong in vitro evidence that C-rich sequences can fold into i-M structures, the in vivo existence of these structures in the human genome has remained elusive to date. I have generated an antibody fragment (called i-Mab) that recognizes i-M structures with exquisite selectivity and affinity. For the first time, by visualizing i-M structures using i-Mab, I have shown that these structures are dynamically formed in the nuclei of human cells. I demonstrate that the in vivo formation of i-Ms is cell-cycle and pH dependent. In addition, I provide evidence that telomeres might adopt i-M structures. These results support the notion that i-Ms, in concert with G4s, could impart biologically relevant roles in the functioning of the genome. In addition, I used published whole cancer genome sequence data to find mutations in cancer patients that overlap potential RNA G4-forming sequences in 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs. Using RNAfold software, I assessed the effect of these mutations on the thermodynamic stability of RNA G4s in the context of full-length 5' UTRs. Of the 217 identified mutations, I found that 33 are predicted to destabilize and 21 predicted to stabilize RNA G4. I experimentally validated the effect of destabilizing mutations in the 5' UTRs of BCL2 and CXCL14 and one stabilizing mutation in the 5' UTR of TAOK2. These mutations resulted in an increase or a decrease in translation of these mRNAs, respectively. These findings suggest that mutations that modulate the G4 stability in the noncoding regions could act as cancer driver mutations, which present an opportunity for early cancer diagnosis using individual sequencing

Protocol for the production and purification of an i-Motif-specific nanobody

Summary: Intercalated motifs or i-Motifs (iMs) are nucleic acid structures formed by cytosine-rich sequences, which may regulate cellular processes and have broad applications in nanotechnology due to their pH-dependent nature. We have developed an iM-specific nanobody (iMbody) that can recognize iM DNA structures regardless of their sequences, making it a versatile research tool for studying iMs in various contexts. Here, we provide a protocol for the bacterial expression and His-tag purification of iMbody. We then describe procedures for performing ELISA and immunostaining using iMbody. : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics

Highly anisotropic thermal conductivity of arsenene: An ab initio

Elemental two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit intriguing heat transport and phononic properties. Here we have investigated the lattice thermal conductivity of newly proposed arsenene, the 2D honeycomb structure of arsenic, using ab initio calculations. Solving the Boltzmann transport equation for phonons, we predict a highly anisotropic thermal conductivity of 30.4 and 7.8 W/mK along the zigzag and armchair directions, respectively, at room temperature. Our calculations reveal that phonons with mean free paths between 20 nm and 1μm provide the main contribution to the large thermal conductivity in the zigzag direction; mean free paths of phonons contributing to heat transport in the armchair directions range between 20 and 100 nm. The obtained anisotropic thermal conductivity and feasibility of synthesis, in addition to high electron mobility reported elsewhere, make arsenene a promising material for nanoelectronic applications and thermal management

Design and Evaluation of Delayed-Release Osmotic Capsule of Acetaminophen: Delayed-release osmotic capsule of acetaminophen

Hard gelatin capsule filled with acetaminophen, osmotic agent (sorbitol), a release promoter (sodium dodecyl sulfate), coated with a semipermeable cellulose acetate membrane containing a hydrophobic plasticizer (castor oil) and sealed with white bees wax plug was designed. When placed in the sink water penetrates the membrane, dissolves the osmotic agent and increases the osmotic pressure inside the capsule. The increased osmotic pressure enhances the water imbibition and consequently increases the hydrostatic pressure inside the capsule and when the latter pressure is high enough it expels out the plug and the drug release commences. With cellulose acetate concentration constant in membrane forming solution, 11% (w/w), the factors affecting the onset of the drug release, i.e. the lag time (tL), were thickness of semipermeable membrane (0.033-0.112 mm) and plug thickness (2.40-3.40 mm) although the influence of semipermeable membrane thickness was more important than plug thickness in delaying the onset of release. As the statistical analysis revealed, castor oil concentrations in the range of 3-4% (w/w) did not affect the lag time. With the control of the membrane thickness, the onset of release could be adjusted from 2 to 7 h. The formulations with tL of 3.9 and 5.8 h may have practical benefits in that if such systems are administered simultaneously with conventional forms the 6 and 4 times daily drug dosage frequency would be reduced to 3 and 2 times regimens, respectively. A theoretical justification was provided for the observed nonlinear relationship between the onset and/or tL of drug release and thickness of the semipermeable membrane. After the lag time, the drug release fromthe systems conformed to the USP requirements

The effect of pentoxifylline on the growth of endometrial implants and leukocytes in rats.

Background: Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to infertility. It seems that inflammatory cytokines specially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) which were produced by activated macrophages have an important role in pathology of endometriosis. Based on this theory, anti TNF-a drugs like pentoxifylline (PX) are suggested as new drugs for Endometriosis. Objective: This experimental study has been done on female rats to determine the effect of PX on the endometrial implants and leukocytes in serum. Material and Methods: In proestrous phase, one horn of rat's bicorn uterus was removed surgically and the endometrium was implanted to different places as follows: subcutaneous, peritoneum and near ovaries. After two months observation, female rats divided into two groups randomly. In treated group (n=10) PX (5mg/kg twice a day) and in control group (n=10), normal saline (same dose) were injected subcutaneously. Then, via second laparotomy and in the same phase of the cycles, the size of implants and the amount of leukocytes in serum were measured. Results: In treated group compared with control, the size of implants was decreased significantly in right subcutaneous (8.05mm vs 13.50mm) p<0.01, left subcutaneous (7.64 mm vs 14mm) p<0.01, right ovary (6.64 mm vs 15.22mm) p<0.001 and left ovary (7.18 mm vs 14.56 mm) p<0.005. In treated group, the total leukocyte count (5259.54 ± 178.78 vs 15833.33 ± 259.27) p<0.02 was decreased. The number of esterous cycle was similar in both groups. Conclusion: PX can reduce the size of endometrial implants as well as leukocyte count