Polymorphism analysis of the CTLA-4 (rs231775) gene as a marker of inhibitor development in Iranian patients with hemophilia A

Background: Development of factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor is the main problem of replacement therapy in patients with hemophilia A. Recently, the correlation of polymorphisms of some genes involved in immune system has been determined with inhibitor development. The reports showed that cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) plays an important role in regulating T cell activation and thus, CTLA-4 gene polymorphism is related to genetic susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases. This study aimed at investigating the correlation between polymorphism of CTLA-4 gene and inhibitor development in Iranian hemophilia A patients for the first time. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of 55 inhibitor positive and 45 inhibitor negative hemophilia A patients. Then, the genotyping of the CTLA-4 gene was performed using the Tetra Primer ARMS PCR. Moreover, the validation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CTLA-4 gene was determined by DNA sequencing. On the other hand, the role of HCV infection was determined in inhibitor-positive and inhibitor-negative HA patients. Results: Results showed that no statistically significant difference was observed between the genotypic and allelic frequencies with the presence of inhibitors (P>0.05). Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between HCV infections and development of inhibitors (P<0.05). Conclusion: The CTLA-4 gene polymorphism does not play a role for inhibiting coagulation factor in Iranian patients with hemophilia type A

The Impact of a School-Based Intervention Using the PBSEIM Model on Health Promoting Behaviors and Self-Care in Adolescent Females

AbstractIntroduction: Developing effective health habits during adolescence dramatically effects behavior formation during adulthood. Therefore, the current study was conducted with an aim to investigate the impact of school-based intervention using «Integrated Model of Planned Behavior and Self-Efficacy» (PBSEIM) on self-care and health promoting behaviors of female high school students of Abyek city, Qazvin Province (Iran), during year 2016.Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 100 female public high school students aged 15 to 19 years old in Abyek city, Qazvin Province. Two schools were randomly selected between 6 high schools. One of the high schools was randomly selected as the intervention group and the other one as the control group. Three classrooms in each school were randomly selected and the necessary samples were collected from each class. Overall, 100 samples had the inclusion criteria; 50 were included in the intervention and 50 in the control group. Demographic, “Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile” (HPLP II), and “Adolescent Girl’s Self-Care Questionnaire” was completed by both groups before and after the interventions. Face validity and content validity of the self-care questionnaire were assessed. Also, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for this questionnaire was obtained as 0.73.The students in the intervention group were trained using the PBSEIM model and the control group received routine training. Data was collected and analyzed using the SPSS software (version 22) and independent and paired t tests. Values lower than 0.05 were considered significant.Results: There was a significant difference before and after the intervention in the average scores of health-promoting behaviors and self-care of adolescents in the intervention group in comparison to the control group (P < 0.05). Inter-group comparison demonstrated a significantly higher increase of health-promoting behaviors and self-care of adolescents in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P-value < 0.05).Conclusions: School-based educational intervention using psychosocial models is effective in changing health-promoting behaviors and self-care

A Comparison Between the Skills-Based Education with a Lecture-Based Education on Female Adolescents’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice about Health in Puberty: A Randomized Trail Study

Abstract Introduction: Skills-based health education is useful in the promotion of health behaviors. Preparing for puberty is essential for adolescents. This study aimed to assess the effects of a skills-based education on girls' knowledge, attitudes, and practice about health in puberty. Methods: This was an experimental study on 80 female school students in Tehran, Iran. Two groups of forty participants were randomly designated as the experimental and control in two different high schools in Tehran. A skills-based education program trained the experimental group, and a routine lecture-based education taught the control group about health in puberty. Data was collected using a questionnaire that assessed the participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practice about health in puberty; before, immediately after, and two months after the education. Results: Knowledge and attitude were significantly improved in the skills-based education group comparing to the Lecture-based group, immediately after (P = 0.002 and P = 0.045, respectively) and two months after the interventions (P < 0.001 and P = 0.034, respectively). Both methods were not effective in improving practice. Conclusions: Skills-based health education is more effective than the routine lecture-based education on improving knowledge and attitudes about puberty in health

Associations between Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study

Background: Currently, there are conflicting reports on the associations between Toxoplasma gondii infection and multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans. In the present study, a case–control study was carried out to assess associations between seropositivity to T. gondii infection and MS. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 200 MS patients (cases) attended in Sina Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, and 200 healthy subjects from the general population of the same city, March to July 2017. Blood samples were collected from individuals and were examined using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies and the IgG-positive samples were further analyzed for specific anti-T. gondii IgM. Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was 44.2% (177/400) in 121 (60.5%) sera of the 200 MS patients (cases) and 56 (28.0%) sera of the 200 controls (OR = 3.94; 95% CI: 2.59–5.99; P 0.05). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were not detected in anti-T. gondii IgG positive patients.  Conclusion: T. gondii infection might be a probability risk factor for MS. However, further studies are necessary to describe clearly the roles of T. gondii infection in MS

Разработка системы измерения производительности реализаций blockchain

Долголев Филипп Петрович Разработка системы измерения производительности реализаций blockchain Старший преподаватель кафедры системного программирования Кириленко Яков Александрович При разработке приложений на основе технологии blockchain, из-за наличия множества различных реализаций, разработчики сталкиваются с проблемой выбора. Один из важных критериев при выборе - производительность. В процессе поиска системы, позволяющей измерить производительность различных реализаций blockchain, не обнаружены ни проприетарные системы, ни с открытым исходным кодом. В рамках этой работы рассматривается разработка модульной системы, решающей эту проблему. Использованных источников: 18 Долголев, Ф. П. Разработка системы измерения производительности реализаций blockchain: выпускная квалификационная работа: защищена 01.06.2017 / Долголев Филипп Петрович. – СПб., 2017. – 21 с. – Библиография: с. 20–21.Filipp Dolgolev Blockchain Implementations Benchmarking Tool senior lecturer, dept. of software engineering Iakov Kirilenko Mathematics & mechanics, software engineering department Since there are many different types of blockchain technologies, developers are faced with a dilemma of which technology to choose when developing applications for a particular use case. One of the most important criteria effecting the selection is performance. During our research, we were unable to source either proprietary, or open source solutions allowing to benchmark various blockchain technologies performances. In this context, we are considering the development of such a solution. Sources cited: 18 Dolgolev, F. Blockchain Implementations Benchmarking Tool: Graduation thesis: Defended 01.06.2017 / Filipp Dolgolev. – St. Petersburg., 2017. – 21 pp. – Bibliography: pp. 20–21

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Regularly updated data on stroke and its pathological types, including data on their incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability, risk factors, and epidemiological trends, are important for evidence-based stroke care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) aims to provide a standardised and comprehensive measurement of these metrics at global, regional, and national levels. Methods We applied GBD 2019 analytical tools to calculate stroke incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of DALYs (with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs]) associated with 19 risk factors, for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. These estimates were provided for ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and all strokes combined, and stratified by sex, age group, and World Bank country income level. Findings In 2019, there were 12·2 million (95% UI 11·0–13·6) incident cases of stroke, 101 million (93·2–111) prevalent cases of stroke, 143 million (133–153) DALYs due to stroke, and 6·55 million (6·00–7·02) deaths from stroke. Globally, stroke remained the second-leading cause of death (11·6% [10·8–12·2] of total deaths) and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (5·7% [5·1–6·2] of total DALYs) in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of incident strokes increased by 70·0% (67·0–73·0), prevalent strokes increased by 85·0% (83·0–88·0), deaths from stroke increased by 43·0% (31·0–55·0), and DALYs due to stroke increased by 32·0% (22·0–42·0). During the same period, age-standardised rates of stroke incidence decreased by 17·0% (15·0–18·0), mortality decreased by 36·0% (31·0–42·0), prevalence decreased by 6·0% (5·0–7·0), and DALYs decreased by 36·0% (31·0–42·0). However, among people younger than 70 years, prevalence rates increased by 22·0% (21·0–24·0) and incidence rates increased by 15·0% (12·0–18·0). In 2019, the age-standardised stroke-related mortality rate was 3·6 (3·5–3·8) times higher in the World Bank low-income group than in the World Bank high-income group, and the age-standardised stroke-related DALY rate was 3·7 (3·5–3·9) times higher in the low-income group than the high-income group. Ischaemic stroke constituted 62·4% of all incident strokes in 2019 (7·63 million [6·57–8·96]), while intracerebral haemorrhage constituted 27·9% (3·41 million [2·97–3·91]) and subarachnoid haemorrhage constituted 9·7% (1·18 million [1·01–1·39]). In 2019, the five leading risk factors for stroke were high systolic blood pressure (contributing to 79·6 million [67·7–90·8] DALYs or 55·5% [48·2–62·0] of total stroke DALYs), high body-mass index (34·9 million [22·3–48·6] DALYs or 24·3% [15·7–33·2]), high fasting plasma glucose (28·9 million [19·8–41·5] DALYs or 20·2% [13·8–29·1]), ambient particulate matter pollution (28·7 million [23·4–33·4] DALYs or 20·1% [16·6–23·0]), and smoking (25·3 million [22·6–28·2] DALYs or 17·6% [16·4–19·0]). Interpretation The annual number of strokes and deaths due to stroke increased substantially from 1990 to 2019, despite substantial reductions in age-standardised rates, particularly among people older than 70 years. The highest age-standardised stroke-related mortality and DALY rates were in the World Bank low-income group. The fastest-growing risk factor for stroke between 1990 and 2019 was high body-mass index. Without urgent implementation of effective primary prevention strategies, the stroke burden will probably continue to grow across the world, particularly in low-income countries.publishedVersio

Global, regional, and national burden of stroke and its risk factors, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Regularly updated data on stroke and its pathological types, including data on their incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability, risk factors, and epidemiological trends, are important for evidence-based stroke care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) aims to provide a standardised and comprehensive measurement of these metrics at global, regional, and national levels. Methods We applied GBD 2019 analytical tools to calculate stroke incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and the population attributable fraction (PAF) of DALYs (with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals UIs]) associated with 19 risk factors, for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. These estimates were provided for ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, subarachnoid haemorrhage, and all strokes combined, and stratified by sex, age group, and World Bank country income level. Findings In 2019, there were 12.2 million (95% UI 11.0-13.6) incident cases of stroke, 101 million (93.2-111) prevalent cases of stroke, 143 million (133-153) DALYs due to stroke, and 6.55 million (6.00-7.02) deaths from stroke. Globally, stroke remained the second-leading cause of death (11.6% 10.8-12.2] of total deaths) and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (5.7% 5.1-6.2] of total DALYs) in 2019. From 1990 to 2019, the absolute number of incident strokes increased by 70.0% (67.0-73.0), prevalent strokes increased by 85.0% (83.0-88.0), deaths from stroke increased by 43.0% (31.0-55.0), and DALYs due to stroke increased by 32.0% (22.0-42.0). During the same period, age-standardised rates of stroke incidence decreased by 17.0% (15.0-18.0), mortality decreased by 36.0% (31.0-42.0), prevalence decreased by 6.0% (5.0-7.0), and DALYs decreased by 36.0% (31.0-42.0). However, among people younger than 70 years, prevalence rates increased by 22.0% (21.0-24.0) and incidence rates increased by 15.0% (12.0-18.0). In 2019, the age-standardised stroke-related mortality rate was 3.6 (3.5-3.8) times higher in the World Bank low-income group than in the World Bank high-income group, and the age-standardised stroke-related DALY rate was 3.7 (3.5-3.9) times higher in the low-income group than the high-income group. Ischaemic stroke constituted 62.4% of all incident strokes in 2019 (7.63 million 6.57-8.96]), while intracerebral haemorrhage constituted 27.9% (3.41 million 2.97-3.91]) and subarachnoid haemorrhage constituted 9.7% (1.18 million 1.01-1.39]). In 2019, the five leading risk factors for stroke were high systolic blood pressure (contributing to 79.6 million 67.7-90.8] DALYs or 55.5% 48.2-62.0] of total stroke DALYs), high body-mass index (34.9 million 22.3-48.6] DALYs or 24.3% 15.7-33.2]), high fasting plasma glucose (28.9 million 19.8-41.5] DALYs or 20.2% 13.8-29.1]), ambient particulate matter pollution (28.7 million 23.4-33.4] DALYs or 20.1% 16.6-23.0]), and smoking (25.3 million 22.6-28.2] DALYs or 17.6% 16.4-19.0]). Interpretation The annual number of strokes and deaths due to stroke increased substantially from 1990 to 2019, despite substantial reductions in age-standardised rates, particularly among people older than 70 years. The highest age-standardised stroke-related mortality and DALY rates were in the World Bank low-income group. The fastest-growing risk factor for stroke between 1990 and 2019 was high body-mass index. Without urgent implementation of effective primary prevention strategies, the stroke burden will probably continue to grow across the world, particularly in low-income countries

Evaluation of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Avicennia marina Effect on Viability and Expression of Genes Involved in the Apoptotic Pathway of Glioblastoma Cancer Cell Line: Biological Studies on hydroalcoholic extract of Avicennia marina

Avicennia marina is known as the main species of mangrove forests in Iran. The study of biological processes shows that the presence of a wide range of phytochemical compounds in this plant has made it an excellent candidate for use in therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction of hydroalcoholic extract of A. marina on human glioblastoma and normal fibroblast cell lines. With this aim, the hydroalcoholic extract of A. marina leaves were extracted firstly and then the target cells were treated with different concentrations of the extract. Cell viability percentage of treated normal and cancer cells was assessed using MTT assay at 24, 48 and 72 h. Also, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of hydroalcoholic extract were calculated at the times of testing for both cancer and normal cell lines. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to evaluate the expression of Bcl2 and Bax apoptotic genes and dual staining (AO / EB) was used to stain the nucleus of target cells for imaging by a fluorescence microscope. The results of cytotoxicity tests showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of A. marina is able to inhibit the metabolic growth of more than half of U-87 MG cells at a concentration of 0.57 mg/ml. It was also found that hydroalcoholic extract has a higher effectiveness in inhibition of cancer cells proliferation compared to normal cells. Analysis of Bcl-2 and Bax genes expression levels in cells treated with A. marina extract showed a significant decrease in Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic gene expression levels (P <0.01) and an increase in Bax apoptotic gene expression levels (P <0.001). Eventually, the results of the dual staining study of the cell nucleus clearly depicted the morphological changes in different stages of apoptosis and confirmed the results of the qPCR and MTT assay

Chronic Lithium Treatment Increased Intracellular S100ß Levels in Rat Primary Neuronal Culture

S100ß a neurotrophic factor mainly released by astrocytes, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bipolar disorder. Thus, lithium may exert its neuroprotective effects to some extent through S100ß. Furthermore, the possible effects of lithium on astrocytes as well as on interactions between neurons and astrocytes as a part of its mechanisms of actions are unknown. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of lithium on S100β in neurons, astrocytes and a mixture of neurons and astrocytes. Rat primary astrocyte, neuronal and mixed neuro-astroglia cultures were prepared from cortices of 18-day's embryos. Cell cultures were exposed to lithium (1mM) or vehicle for 1day (acute) or 7 days (chronic). RT-PCR and ELISA determined S100β mRNA and intra- and extracellular protein levels. Chronic lithium treatment significantly increased intracellular S100β in neuronal and neuro-astroglia cultures in comparison to control cultures (P<0.05). Acute and chronic lithium treatments exerted no significant effects on intracellular S100β protein levels in astrocytes, and extracellular S100β protein levels in three studied cultures as compared to control cultures. Acute and chronic lithium treatments did not significantly alter S100β mRNA levels in three studied cultures, compared to control cultures. Chronic lithium treatment increased intracellular S100ß protein levels in a cell-type specific manner which may favor its neuroprotective action. The findings of this study suggest that lithium may exert its neuroprotective action, at least partly, by increasing neuronal S100ß level, with no effect on astrocytes or interaction between neurons and astrocytes

Assessment of the Thermal Decomposition Temperature of High-Energy Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds in Order to Increase Their Safety during Storage, Handling and Application

Heterocyclic aromatic compounds containing various derivatives of five or six-membered nitrogen-containing rings, viz. triazoles, tetrazoles, furazans, triazines, and tetrazines, and some of their salts have been studied. High nitrogen content and a large positive heat of formation are two important properties of these compounds. Two new models are introduced for the reliable prediction of the thermal stability of these compounds through the thermal decomposition temperature (onset). The reported data for 181 compounds have been used to derive and test the new models. For a training set containing 132 heterocyclic aromatic compounds, the values of the average absolute deviation (AAD) and the coefficient of determination (R2) of the improved correlation were 9.72 K and 0.959, respectively. For triazoles, tetrazoles, furazans, triazines, and tetrazines, the predicted results of ADD and R2 for the external test data set for this model containing 41 compounds were 23.03 K and 0.664, respectively, which are closer to experimental data than those obtained by the core correlation, i.e. 26.49 K and 0.653, respectively. The correlation coefficients of cross-validation for leave-one-out (Q2LOO) and 5-fold (Q25CV) of the improved correlation were 0.955 and 0.951, respectively, which confirm that it is not an over-fitted model, robust and well-behaved