The influence of cellulose pulp and cellulose microfibers on the flexural performance of green-engineered cementitious composites

The aim of this study was to investigate the flexural behavior of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) reinforced by cellulose pulp (CP) and cellulose microfibers (CMF). The reinforcements were obtained from chemical-mechanical treatments of Kraft paper and used in ECC mix design. Results showed that cement reinforced by CP exhibited a strain-hardening behavior in the three-point bending test, while CMF led to a brittle behavior in cement composites. Moreover, different hybrid combinations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and CMF  achieved quite a high strength while maintaining a high level of flexural toughness. A combination of 0.5 vol% CMF and 1.5 vol% PVA resulted in a significant increase in flexural toughness and a slight improvement in flexural strength. The properties of this hybrid composite were comparable with one containing 2 vol% of PVA fiber

Automated dry thawing of cryopreserved haematopoietic cells is not adversely influenced by cryostorage time, patient age or gender.

Cell therapies are becoming increasingly widely used, and their production and cryopreservation should take place under tightly controlled GMP conditions, with minimal batch-to-batch variation. One potential source of variation is in the thawing of cryopreserved samples, typically carried out in water baths. This study looks at an alternative, dry thawing, to minimise variability in the thawing of a cryopreserved cell therapy, and compares the cellular outcome on thaw. Factors such as storage time, patient age, and gender are considered in terms of cryopreservation and thawing outcomes. Cryopreserved leukapheresis samples from 41 donors, frozen by the same protocol and stored for up to 17 years, have been thawed using automated, water-free equipment and by conventional wet thawing using a water bath. Post-thaw viability, assessed by both trypan blue and flow cytometry, showed no significant differences between the techniques. Similarly, there was no negative effect of the duration of frozen storage, donor age at sample collection or donor gender on post-thaw viability using either thawing method. The implication of these results is that the cryopreservation protocol chosen initially remains robust and appropriate for use with a wide range of donors. The positive response of the samples to water-free thawing offers potential benefits for clinical situations by removing the subjective element inherent in water bath thawing and eliminating possible contamination issues

Tissue and host species-specific transcriptional changes in models of experimental visceral leishmaniasis [version 2; referees : 4 approved]

Background: Human visceral leishmaniasis, caused by infection with Leishmania donovani or L. infantum, is a potentially fatal disease affecting 50,000-90,000 people yearly in 75 disease endemic countries, with more than 20,000 deaths reported. Experimental models of infection play a major role in understanding parasite biology, host-pathogen interaction, disease pathogenesis, and parasite transmission. In addition, they have an essential role in the identification and pre-clinical evaluation of new drugs and vaccines. However, our understanding of these models remains fragmentary. Although the immune response to Leishmania donovani infection in mice has been extensively characterized, transcriptomic analysis capturing the tissue-specific evolution of disease has yet to be reported. Methods: We provide an analysis of the transcriptome of spleen, liver and peripheral blood of BALB/c mice infected with L. donovani. Where possible, we compare our data in murine experimental visceral leishmaniasis with transcriptomic data in the public domain obtained from the study of L. donovani-infected hamsters and patients with human visceral leishmaniasis. Digitised whole slide images showing the histopathology in spleen and liver are made available via a dedicated website, www.leishpathnet.org. Results: Our analysis confirms marked tissue-specific alterations in the transcriptome of infected mice over time and identifies previously unrecognized parallels and differences between murine, hamster and human responses to infection. We show commonality of interferon-regulated genes whilst confirming a greater activation of type 2 immune pathways in infected hamsters compared to mice. Cytokine genes and genes encoding immune checkpoints were markedly tissue specific and dynamic in their expression, and pathways focused on non-immune cells reflected tissue specific immunopathology. Our data also addresses the value of measuring peripheral blood transcriptomics as a potential window into underlying systemic disease. Conclusions: Our transcriptomic data, coupled with histopathologic analysis of the tissue response, provide an additional resource to underpin future mechanistic studies and to guide clinical research

The comparison therapeutic effect of Naltrexone and Flouxetine on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D) A clinical trial study

Background & Objective: In spit of high prevalancey of the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in anxity diseases. It shows the least therapeutic responses. This study was done to determine The comparison of therapeutic effect of Naltrexone and Flouxetine on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D). Materials & Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was done on 30 patients aged 18 to 60 years referring to the clinics of psychiatry at Zareh hospital in Sari-Iran during 2006. Patients in three groups, treated with flouxetine 53.9mg/d (group A) Naltrexone 64.4mg/d (groupe B) & Pelacebo (group C) in the same shape capsula respectively. The severity of O.C.D was evaluated at 4 steps with Yale-Brown scale.the obtained data were analyzed using parametric & nonparametric tests. Results: Naltrexone reduced the severity of O.C.D symptoms significantly (45.01%) at the end of week 8th (p<0.05). Same result (45.81%) was observed using Flouxetine (P=0.79). The rate of efficaey in both drugs significantly was higher than pelacebo (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed thant, Naltrexone has the same level of reducting symptome of OCD but even with faster therapeutic effect than Flouxetin

Comparison of quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and karyotype analysis for prenatal screening of chromosomal aneuploidies in 270 amniotic fluid samples

Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) technique is a rapid prenatal aneuploidy detection method. This method can diagnose abnormality in chromosome 13, 18, 21, X and Y. Karyotyping is a technique in which, by the process of pairing and painting, all the chromosomes of an organism are displayed under a microscope. In the present study, a statistical comparison was made between karyotyping and QF-PCR for prenatal diagnosis. A total of 270 samples were tested for QF-PCR and the results were compared with karyotyping. We also investigated heterozygosity of short tandem repeat (STR) markers by QF-PCR. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples (n = 270) were extracted from amniotic fluid (AF) cells. After PCR amplifications, analysis was performed using GeneMarker. A Devyser QF-PCR kit containing 26 primers was used to estimate the observed heterozygosity of STR markers located on chromosome 13, 18, 21, X and Y. The results of karyotyping and QF-PCR were as follows: Trisomy 13 (one case), trisomy 18 (five cases), trisomy 21 (five cases) and triploidy (one case). Chromosomal rearrangements and mosaicisms were not detected by QF-PCR but were detected by karyotyping. Maternal cell contamination (MCC) made the karyotyping fail but not the QF-PCR. The QF-PCR method is especially important because it is fast, accurate, low cost and has a short turnaround time. This method will avoid ambiguity of karyotype results and parental anxiety. It will also shorten clinical management for high-risk families. © 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

CARD15 gene overexpression reduces effect of etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab on cytokine secretion from PMA activated U937 cells

Abstract Crohn's disease (CD), a subcategory of inflammatory bowel disease, is an immune-related disorder characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, which can take place in any region along the alimentary tract. The most important gene involved in the etiology of CD is NOD2/CARD15 located on chromosome 16. It has been shown that CARD15 is overexpressed in monocytes of CD patients. The common treatment for the disease is anti-TNF-alpha drugs, the most hopeful of which are probably infliximab and etanercept. Infliximab rapidly reduces signs and symptoms of active Crohn's disease. In contrast, etanercept shows no such effect. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of the CARD15 gene overexpression in monocytic cell line U937 in the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and proinflammatory cytokine, Il-1 beta, produced after incubation with infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept separately. Our results show that infliximab and adalimumab significantly decreased IL-10 and IL-1beta secretion levels. However, etanercept inhibition of secretion was less compared with infliximab or adalimumab. In all three cases, suppression of cytokine production is reduced by CARD15 overexpression. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

Prevalence and Severity of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Their Relationships with Dermatological Diseases

Most obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients meet psychiatrists 5 to 10 years after onset of OCD .Its relatively high prevalence ratio and the delay in seeking help suggest that patients with OCD may seek help at non-psychiatric clinics. The present study was undertaken to provide some epidemiological data on the prevalence and severity of OCD in dermatological patients. The participants included 265 consecutive patients with primary dermatologic chief complaint. They were visited by a dermatologist and diagnosis of dermatological lesion was done according to ICD-10. All patients were visited by a psychiatry resident and were screened for OCD using the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV-TR (SCID-I). If the diagnosis of OCD has been made, the Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale(Y-BOCS) was used to evaluate the severity of OCD. To analyze the data student t-test for quantitative variables and X2 tests for categorical variables. From the total of 265 patients, 24 (9.1%) met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for OCD and 9 (37.5%) with OCD had previously been diagnosed with OCD, however, only three were treated pharmacologically. The most symptoms were pathological doubt (29.1%), fear of contamination (29.1%) and washing (54.16%).  Severity of OCD according to Y-BOCS was evaluated among patients with OCD. Six (25%) were found with subclinical OCD, 11(45.8%) had mild OCD, six (25%) had moderate OCD, and one (4.2%) was detected with severe OCD. prevalence of OCD in dermatology clinic was higher compared with general population

Study on the simultaneity of the substance abuse with psychiatric disorder in referred outpatients to psychiatryclinic of zare hospital for period of one year

(Received 17 Mar, 2008; Accepted 15 Mar, 2008) Abstract Background and purpose: One of the important problems in diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders is its accompaniment with substance abuse.In addition to substance abuse symptoms which are present in all addicts, in psychiatric patients it cause special problems in main diagnosis , slow reaction to therapy and even non effectiveness of the therapy and also poor prognosis.Considering its different prevalence in studies and also considering the point that a similar work has never been done in Iran, this study is designed to find out the abundancy of disorders and pattern and type of substances used by the referred patients to psychiatric clinic of zare hospital.Materials and methods: In this descriptive research study , 782 referrals to psychiatric clinic of zare hospital in a period of one year were evaluated D. S.M. IV interview.The self made Questionnaire which is filed by a psychologist and then referred to a psychiatric for the diagnosis of the disease, includes the time of Commencement, amount and type of substance used.Results: The results obtained, showed that 79.1% were men , 20.9% were women, 54.4% were urban and 45.5% were from rural areas. 4.8% were referred for substance – withdrawal and 95.2% for psychiatry problems. and also the 28% were smokers, 68.4% never smoked and 3.8% were smokers in the past. 12.7% were substance abuse at persent 3.3% had a history if substance abuse in the past and 84% had no history of substance abuse ever. Substance dependency and nondependency were 8.6% and 91.4% respectively. The percentages for the first consumed substance were as follow:60.8 opium, 6.4 alcohal, 26.4 hashish, 4 heroin and 2.4 other substances. From psychiatry diagnostic point of view 28.7% suffered from schizophrenia , 41% had mood disorders, 14% had personality disorders and 4% suffered from anxiety. There has been a statistically significant relationship between the variables such as sex , residential areas , occupation, education, marital status, history of cigarette smoking and age of commence ment of smoking with substance dependency (p<0.05).Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of Substance usage by the patients referred to psychiatric clinics, the Concurrency of substance usage and psychiatry problems are important in history taking and treatment of the patients. On the other hand to have a high success Coefficient, a simultaneous psychiatric diagnosis for the patients referred for withdrawal , should be kept in mind.J Mazand Univ Med Sci 2008; 18(67): 67-74 (Persian

Profiling inflammatory response in lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis patients using a non-invasive sampling method combined with a high-throughput protein detection assay

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowBackground: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an infection caused by Leishmania (L.) protozoa transmitted through the bite of infected sand fly. Previously, invasive sampling of blood and skin along with low throughput methods were used for determination of inflammatory response in CL patients. Aims/methodology: We established a novel approach based on a non-invasive adhesive tape-disc sampling combined with a powerful multiplexing technique called proximity extension assay for profiling 92 inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and surface molecules in the lesions of CL patients infected with L. tropica. Sample collection was done non-invasively by using adhesive tape-discs from lesion and normal skin of 33 L. tropica positive patients. Results: Out of 92 inflammatory proteins, the level of 34 proteins was significantly increased in the lesions of CL patients compared to their normal skin. This includes the chemokines CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11, together with the interleukins IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, LIF and OSM. The remaining significantly changed inflammatory proteins include 7 surface molecules and receptors: CD5, CD40, CDCP1, 4E-BP1, TNFRSF9, IL-18R1 and OPG as well as 16 other cytokines and proteins: MMP-1, CSF-1, VEGFA, uPA, EN-RAGE, LAP TGF-β1, HGF, MMP-10, CASP-8, TNFSF14, STAMPB, ADA, TRAIL and ST1A1. Further, 13 proteins showed an increasing trend, albeit not statistically significant, in the CL lesions, including TGF-α, CCL23, MCP-2, IL-12B, CXCL6, IL-24, FGF-19, TNFβ, CD6, TRANCE, IL10, SIR2 and CCL20. Conclusion: We herein report a novel approach based on a non-invasive sampling method combined with the high-throughput protein assay for profiling inflammatory proteins in CL lesions. Using this approach, we could profile inflammatory proteins in the lesions from CL patients. This new non-invasive approach may have implications for studying skin inflammatory mediators in CL and other skin disorders.European Commission under the VASA SHIGETECVAX consortia Innovative Medicines Initiative European Commission under the VSV-EBOPLUS consortium European Union (EU) Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) Pasteur Institute of Ira