ECEL1 novel mutation in arthrogryposis type 5D: A molecular dynamic simulation study.

BACKGROUND: ECEL1 has been presented as a causal gene of an autosomal recessive form distal arthrogryposis (DA) which affects the distal joints. The present study focused on bioinformatic analysis of a novel mutation in ECEL1, c.535A>G (p. Lys179Glu), which was reported in a family with 2 affected boys and fetus through prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing data analyzed followed by molecular dynamic (MD) simulation of native ECEL1 protein and mutant structures using GROMACS software. One variant c.535A>G, p. Lys179Glu (homozygous) on gene ECEL1 has been detected in proband which was validated in all family members through Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: We demonstrated remarkable constructional differences by MD simulation between wild-type and novel mutant of ECEL1 gene. The reason for the lack of the Zn ion binding in mutation in the ECEL1 protein has been identified by average atomic distance and SMD analysis among the wild-type and mutant. CONCLUSION: Overall, in this study, we present knowledge of the effect of the studied variant on the ECEL1 protein leading to neurodegenerative disorder in humans. This work may hopefully be supplementary to classical molecular dynamics to dissolve the mutational effects of cofactor-dependent protein

Physiochemical and mechanical properties of reduced graphene oxide–cement mortar composites: effect of reduced graphene oxide particle size

The use of graphene derivatives to improve the performance of cement mortar composites has received significant attention in recent years. However, because of diversity of graphene derivatives and their properties, which depend on their preparation, it is critical to consider their size, surface chemistry, crystallinity, surface area, and impurity. In particular, there is still lack of understanding on the influence of the graphene particle size on the performance of cement mortar composite. This paper presents the study on the size effect of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on physiochemical and mechanical properties of cement mortar composites. A series of rGOs with different particle sizes were prepared by different sonication times of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h and then added with optimum dosage of 0.1% to the composites. The mechanical test results revealed that the composite containing rGO with 0.1% dosage and particle size of 169.8 ± 5.8 nm prepared with 4 h sonication time has 53% and 91% higher tensile and compressive strengths at 28 days than the plain cement mortar composite, respectively, which are higher than those obtained by the use of rGO with particle size of 245.0 ± 29.3 nm prepared with 1 h sonication time. This is explained by the higher molecular bonding, hydration degree, and crystallinity of the composite incorporating rGO with a smaller particle size. This study provides a valuable contribution toward better understanding of the influence of rGO particle size on the properties of cementitious composites to optimize their performance.Meisam Valizadeh Kiamahalleh, Aliakbar Gholampour, Diana N.H. Tran, Togay Ozbakkaloglu, Dusan Losi

Evaluation the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of GlycyrrhizaGlabra rhizome on the isolated colon contractions of male rats

Introduction:The licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra) rhizome has been widely used in traditional medicine for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcer and relieve intestinal spasms. In the present study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of licoricerhizome on mechanical activity of isolated colon of male rats has been studied. Methods: Adult male rats were anesthetized by ethyl ether, their abdomen opened, and colon tissues were removed and divided into 1 cm segments. The segments were connected to a force transducer longitudinally and inserted to an organ bathe contained oxygenated Tyrode solution (37 °C, pH=7.4). Their mechanical activity of ileum was recorded by power lab AD instrument in basal condition, and after administration of L-NAME (10-4M), acetylcholine (4×10-5M) and Atropine (10-5M) drugs in the presence and absence of licorice rhizome extract were recorded (0.036mg/ml). Also, the mechanical activity of control group segments were recorded at the same condition with extract solvent (ethanol %70). Results: A significant decrease in mechanical activity of the isolated colon occurred after administration of hydro-alcoholic extract of licorice rhizome compared to the control group (p≤0.05). Also, a significant decrease was seen in mechanical activity occurredin the co-administration of extract and acetylcholine compared to the control group. The mechanical activity of tissue was not significantly changed in the presence of Atropine and extract between experimental and control groups. The mechanical activity of ileum tissue was not significantly changed in the co-administration of L-NAME and extract between experimental and control groups. Conclusion: We can conclude that hydro-alcoholic extract of licorice has modifying effect on colon motility, and this activity may be occurred independently in the nitrergic and cholinergic systems

Effects of intravenous and transdermal photobiomodulation on the postoperative complications of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

Although coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is one of the most worldwide commonly performed cardiac surgeries to enhance myocardial perfusion in high-grade myocardial occlusion, it remains a high-risk procedure. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is one of the methods which have been shown to have positive effects on the healing process after CABG and postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PBM in patients who underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Ths study was conducted with 192 volunteers who electively submitted to CABG. The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups: laser-treated (transdermal: 980 nm, 200 mW, continuous, average energy fluency of 6 J/cm2 and intravenous: 405 nm, 1.5 mW, continuous for 30 min) and standard treatment and control group (standard treatment only). Intravenous laser was illuminated the day before the surgery, immediately after transferring the patient to CCU post-operation and IV laser in addition to transdermal laser was applied every day after surgery for 6 days. A total of 170 out of 192 participants completed the study, 82 (48.2) in the PBM group and 88 (51.8) in the control group. Level of LDH and CPK was significantly lower in the PBM group (P < 0.05) in the 4th day postoperatively. The PBM group also showed significantly lower post-surgery complications, including pericardial effusion, ejection fraction, pathologic ST changes, pathologic Q, rehospitalization, heart failure, and mediastinitis (P < 0.05). Likewise, the VAS pain score after surgery was significantly lower in patients in the laser group (P < 0.05). PBM seems a promising, safe, cost-benefit therapeutic modality to reduce postoperative complications of CABG. Trial registration number: IRCT2016052926069N4. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd. part of Springer Nature

Long-term trends and health impact of PM2.5 and O3 in Tehran, Iran, 2006�2015

The main objectives of this study were (1) investigation of the temporal variations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground level ozone (O3) concentrations in Tehran megacity, the capital and most populous city in Iran, over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, and (2) estimation of their long-term health effects including all-cause and cause-specific mortality. For the first goal, the data of PM2.5 and O3 concentrations, measured at 21 regulatory monitoring network stations in Tehran, were obtained and the temporal trends were investigated. The health impact assessment of PM2.5 and O3 was performed using the World Health Organization (WHO) AirQ+ software updated in 2016 by WHO European Centre for Environment and Health. Local baseline incidences in Tehran level were used to better reveal the health effects associated with PM2.5 and O3. Our study showed that over 2006�2015, annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 varied from 24.7 to 38.8 μg m�3 and 35.4 to 76.0 μg m�3, respectively, and were significantly declining in the recent 6 years (2010�2015) for PM2.5 and 8 years (2008�2015) for O3. However, Tehran citizens were exposed to concentrations of annual PM2.5 exceeding the WHO air quality guideline (WHO AQG) (10 μg m�3), U.S. EPA and Iranian standard levels (12 μg m�3) during entire study period. We estimated that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 contributed to between 24.5 and 36.2 of mortality from cerebrovascular disease (stroke), 19.8 and 24.1 from ischemic heart disease (IHD), 13.6 and 19.2 from lung cancer (LC), 10.7 and 15.3 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 15.0 and 25.2 from acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), and 7.6 and 11.3 from all-cause annual mortality in the time period. We further estimated that deaths from IHD accounted for most of mortality attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5. The years of life lost (YLL) attributable to PM2.5 was estimated to vary from 67,970 to 106,706 during the study period. In addition, long-term exposure to O3 was estimated to be responsible for 0.9 to 2.3 of mortality from respiratory diseases. Overall, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and O3 contributed substantially to mortality in Tehran megacity. Air pollution is a modifiable risk factor. Appropriate sustainable control policies are recommended to protect public health. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Long-term trends and health impact of PM2.5 and O3 in Tehran, Iran, 2006�2015

The main objectives of this study were (1) investigation of the temporal variations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground level ozone (O3) concentrations in Tehran megacity, the capital and most populous city in Iran, over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, and (2) estimation of their long-term health effects including all-cause and cause-specific mortality. For the first goal, the data of PM2.5 and O3 concentrations, measured at 21 regulatory monitoring network stations in Tehran, were obtained and the temporal trends were investigated. The health impact assessment of PM2.5 and O3 was performed using the World Health Organization (WHO) AirQ+ software updated in 2016 by WHO European Centre for Environment and Health. Local baseline incidences in Tehran level were used to better reveal the health effects associated with PM2.5 and O3. Our study showed that over 2006�2015, annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 varied from 24.7 to 38.8 μg m�3 and 35.4 to 76.0 μg m�3, respectively, and were significantly declining in the recent 6 years (2010�2015) for PM2.5 and 8 years (2008�2015) for O3. However, Tehran citizens were exposed to concentrations of annual PM2.5 exceeding the WHO air quality guideline (WHO AQG) (10 μg m�3), U.S. EPA and Iranian standard levels (12 μg m�3) during entire study period. We estimated that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 contributed to between 24.5 and 36.2 of mortality from cerebrovascular disease (stroke), 19.8 and 24.1 from ischemic heart disease (IHD), 13.6 and 19.2 from lung cancer (LC), 10.7 and 15.3 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 15.0 and 25.2 from acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI), and 7.6 and 11.3 from all-cause annual mortality in the time period. We further estimated that deaths from IHD accounted for most of mortality attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5. The years of life lost (YLL) attributable to PM2.5 was estimated to vary from 67,970 to 106,706 during the study period. In addition, long-term exposure to O3 was estimated to be responsible for 0.9 to 2.3 of mortality from respiratory diseases. Overall, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and O3 contributed substantially to mortality in Tehran megacity. Air pollution is a modifiable risk factor. Appropriate sustainable control policies are recommended to protect public health. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

Monitoring of laboratory reared of Phlebotomus papatasi (Diptera: Psychodidae), main vector of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis to different imagicides in hyper endemic areas, Isfahan Province, Iran

Background: In domestic and per domestic area,insecticides such as DDT, malathion, fenitrothion, propoxur and, more recently, synthetic pyrethroids such as deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, have been successfully used to control sand flies in many countries. The present study reports the results of time-mortality bioassay to DDT 4, lambda-cyhalothrin 0.05, permethrin 0.75, cyfluthrin 0.15 and deltamethrin 0.05 in recently colonized Phlebotomus papatasi populations in Iran. Methods: The insecticide susceptibility status of P. papatasi laboratory population was assessed during 2016�2017, following the standard WHO technique for mosquito (WHO, 2013) based on diagnostic dose. Sand flies collected from rural area of Badrood (Matin Abad), Natanz County, Esfahan Province, using aspirator. Results: Susceptibility test to DDT and pyrethroids was assessed on 3534 laboratory-reared P. papatasi (1746 females and 1788 males). The LT50 and LT90 values were measured using probit analysis and regression lines. The test results against males of P. papatasi revealed that LT50 values to DDT 4, Permethrin 0.75, Deltamethrin 0.05, Cyfluthrin 0.15 and Lambdacyhalothrin 0.05 were 439.28, 108.90, 97.75, 5.00 and 57.84 seconds. The figures for females were 641.62, 136.15, 146.44, 8.71 and 72.69 seconds, respectively. Conclusion: According to presented results, the reared population of sand flies collected from a hyper-endemic region of Esfahan Province is still susceptible to prethroids and Resistance candidate to DDT 4. © 2020 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved