Heavy metals (Hg,Cd,Pb,Ni,Cu) concentrations in Euryglossa orientalis and sediments from Khur-e-Musa Creek in Khuzestan Province

Heavy metals contamination (Hg,Cd,Pb,Ni,Cu) in muscle of the fish Euryglossa orientalis and in sediments was assessed in 2007 in Khur-e-Musa Creek (Ahmadi and Ghanam). In total, 30 fish specimens and 18 sediment samples were collected and analyzed. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was used to determine contamination of the specimens with Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and cold vapor method was applied for Hg. Results showed 2.35, 0.99, 1.32, 14.48 and 5.71µg/g dry weight of the fish for Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cu in muscle tissue, respectively. Metal levels in the muscle tissue were compared with standard values such as those of the World Health Organization (WHO), British Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Australia National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), based on which only Hg, Cd, and Ni showed higher than standard levels in Khur-e-Musa Creek (Ahmadi and Ghanam). Results showed 4.76, 2.52, 18.64, 119.91, 31.23µg/g dry weight for Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cu in sediments, respectively

Extraction and neutralization nematocyst venom of Crambionella orsini jellyfish [whit] using of chelating Na-EDTA

Jellyfish is one of the poisonous animals that causing human poisoning. Found a variety of jellyfish in the Persian Gulf. Although these species can't Cause of quick death in humans but they have harmful effects on human health system and have Following are the side effects. In this study extracted Crambionella Orsini Jellyfish Venom According to Bloom method and was obtained its Concentration by Biuret method and Calculated LD50 by Jung and Choi method. According to Venom concentration and its LD50 was determined that Cause of death mice 0.5 ml of venom. The use of Na-EDTA for neutralizing venom. This Chelate Was injected in two ways to mice that in both methods, Prevented death. Na-EDTA is dedicated Chelate for Calcium excretion from body that According to nuclear calcium's venom is able to separated that from Venom structure and neutralize venom

Concentration polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal waters of Bushehr Port

In order to study concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater from Bushehr coast and for comparison with available guidelines samples of seawater were collected from five different stations along the Bushehr coast in August and February 2011. PAHs were extracted by Hexane solvent and analyzed using HPLC system (Knauer). Results showed that tPAHs concentration in seawater were 31.0, 20.8, 4.0, 17.6 and 12.3 µg l-1, in August and 38.4, 23.0, 5.4, 19.3 and 17.2 µg l-1 in February respectively, at stations Rafael, Sheghab, Abshirinkon, Lian and Helyleh. The concentrations of tPAHs in the seawater were not significantly different during August and February (P>0.05). Significant difference was observed between tPAHs concentration between the stations (P<0.05). The tPAHs concentration was maximum in Rafael and its minimum was found in Abshirinkon. The tPAHs concentration in Bushehr area was relatively higher compared to other locations of the world. Even though concentrations of anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene were above the Canadian Environment Guidance, the carcinogenic compounds appeared in lower concentrations than the non-carcinogenic PAHs. Since Bushehr coastal waters is contaminated by PAHs, precise monitoring and control of oil discharge into the coastal waters as well as reduction of urban effluents input should be undertaken. Meanwhile the continuous monitoring of PAHs compounds in the area is recommended

The effect of changes in temperature on the toxicity of jellyfish, Crambionella orsini

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature changes to reduce toxicity of jellyfish Crambionellaorsini venom. Venom extraction was done according to Bloom method. Sonication was used to break the wall of nematocysts capsule and then the resulting solution was centrifuged. To evaluate the effect of temperature on the venom, it was heated at different temperatures and then injected into sori mice. After catching jellyfish, Crambionellaorsini from Arvand stream estuary edges of umbrellas and tentacles of jellyfish were separated and kept in water LD_50 of toxins were calculated by Jung and Choi method and statistical analysis to obtain minimal lethal dose of poison done by Excel 2007. The results showed that the venom of jellyfish Crambionellaorsini, like venom of other animals is, based on a protein and that is sensitive to heat. This venom is disabled and lose their structure at 48 °C and its minimum lethal dose is 0.5 ml

Disability patterns over the first year after a diagnosis of epilepsy

Objective To determine the patterns and predictors of disability over the first 12 months after a diagnosis of epilepsy. Patients and methods The Sydney Epilepsy Incidence Study to Measure Illness Consequences (SEISMIC) was a prospective, multicenter, community-based study of people with newly diagnosed epilepsy in Sydney, Australia. Disability was assessed using the World Health Organization’s, Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 12-item version, at baseline (i.e. within 28 days of diagnosis) and 12 months post-diagnosis. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and epilepsy-related data, obtained through structured interviews, were entered into multivariable linear regression and shift analysis to determine predictors of greater disability. Results Of 259 adults (≥18 years), 190 (73%) had complete WHODAS at baseline (mean ± SD scores 4 ± 6) and follow-up (4 ± 8). After adjustment for age, sex and co-morbidity, greater overall disability at 12 months was associated with lower education (P = 0.05), economic hardship (P = 0.004), multiple antiepileptic medications (P = 0.02) and greater disability (P < 0.001) at the time of diagnosis; these variables explained 38.3% of the variance. Among the 12 WHODAS items, “being emotionally affected by health problems” was the most frequent disability problem identified at both time points (all P < 0.0001). The proportion of participants without problems in that domain improved over 12 months (from 24% to 50%, P < 0.0001), whereas the other 11 items remained relatively stable. Independent baseline predictors of a worse emotional outcome at 12 months were severe/extreme emotional distress (odds ratio [OR] 4.52, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.67–12.24), economic hardship (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.24–4.25) and perceived stigma (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.03–3.93). Conclusion Most people report problems with emotional health after a diagnosis of epilepsy but many recover over the next 12 months. Services addressing the social and psychological impact of diagnosis may be needed to improve outcome

Frequency and predictors of the lupus low disease activity state in a multi-national and multi-ethnic cohort

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S.4.1 N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels predict incident pulmonary arterial hypertension in SSc

Introduction. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a major cause of mortality in SSc. NT-proBNP may be a useful biomarker of prevalent PAH but its role in screening for incident PAH has not been evaluated. Methods. Patients recruited into the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study undergo annual echocardiography, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), 6-min walk test (6MWT) and have serum NT-proBNP measured (ElecsysproBNP II). The diagnosis of PAH is based on Dana point criteria at right heart catheterization (RHC). Patients with LV dysfunction or eGFR 36 mmHg, (ii) FVC/DLCO% >1.6 and no significant ILD, (iii) DLCO 189.2 pg/ml had a likelihood ratio of 26.4 for presence of PAH (c-statistic = 0.9; sensitivity 85%; specificity 97%). An NT-proBNP level 189.2 pg/ml and <82.9 pg/ml defining patients with a high and low likelihood of PAH, respectively. Further prospective studies are required in unselected patients in order to confirm these finding

Two Major Autoantibody Clusters in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease of complex clinical presentation and etiology and is likely influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. While a large number of susceptibility genes have been identified, the production of antibodies against a distinct subset of nuclear proteins remains a primary distinguishing characteristic in disease diagnosis. However, the utility of autoantibody biomarkers for disease sub-classification and grouping remains elusive, in part, because of the difficulty in large scale profiling using a uniform, quantitative platform. In the present study serological profiles of several known SLE antigens, including Sm-D3, RNP-A, RNP-70k, Ro52, Ro60, and La, as well as other cytokine and neuronal antigens were obtained using the luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS) approach. The resulting autoantibody profiles revealed that 88% of a pilot cohort and 98% of a second independent cohort segregated into one of two distinct clusters defined by autoantibodies against Sm/anti-RNP or Ro/La autoantigens, proteins often involved in RNA binding activities. The Sm/RNP cluster was associated with a higher prevalence of serositis in comparison to the Ro/La cluster (P = 0.0022). However, from the available clinical information, no other clinical characteristics were associated with either cluster. In contrast, evaluation of autoantibodies on an individual basis revealed an association between anti-Sm (P = 0.006), RNP-A (P = 0.018) and RNP-70k (P = 0.010) autoantibodies and mucocutaneous symptoms and between anti-RNP-70k and musculoskeletal manifestations (P = 0.059). Serologically active, but clinically quiescent disease also had a higher prevalence of anti-IFN-α autoantibodies. Based on our findings that most SLE patients belong to either a Sm/RNP or Ro/La autoantigen cluster, these results suggest the possibility that alterations in RNA-RNA-binding protein interactions may play a critical role in triggering and/or the pathogenesis of SLE

Cryptic splicing events in the iron transporter ABCB7 and other key target genes in SF3B1-mutant myelodysplastic syndromes.

The splicing factor SF3B1 is the most frequently mutated gene in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and is strongly associated with the presence of ring sideroblasts (RS). We have performed a systematic analysis of cryptic splicing abnormalities from RNA sequencing data on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) of SF3B1-mutant MDS cases with RS. Aberrant splicing events in many downstream target genes were identified and cryptic 3' splice site usage was a frequent event in SF3B1-mutant MDS. The iron transporter ABCB7 is a well-recognized candidate gene showing marked downregulation in MDS with RS. Our analysis unveiled aberrant ABCB7 splicing, due to usage of an alternative 3' splice site in MDS patient samples, giving rise to a premature termination codon in the ABCB7 mRNA. Treatment of cultured SF3B1-mutant MDS erythroblasts and a CRISPR/Cas9-generated SF3B1-mutant cell line with the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) inhibitor cycloheximide showed that the aberrantly spliced ABCB7 transcript is targeted by NMD. We describe cryptic splicing events in the HSCs of SF3B1-mutant MDS, and our data support a model in which NMD-induced downregulation of the iron exporter ABCB7 mRNA transcript resulting from aberrant splicing caused by mutant SF3B1 underlies the increased mitochondrial iron accumulation found in MDS patients with RS

GWAS for systemic sclerosis identifies multiple risk loci and highlights fibrotic and vasculopathy pathways.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that shows one of the highest mortality rates among rheumatic diseases. We perform a large genome-wide association study (GWAS), and meta-analysis with previous GWASs, in 26,679 individuals and identify 27 independent genome-wide associated signals, including 13 new risk loci. The novel associations nearly double the number of genome-wide hits reported for SSc thus far. We define 95% credible sets of less than 5 likely causal variants in 12 loci. Additionally, we identify specific SSc subtype-associated signals. Functional analysis of high-priority variants shows the potential function of SSc signals, with the identification of 43 robust target genes through HiChIP. Our results point towards molecular pathways potentially involved in vasculopathy and fibrosis, two main hallmarks in SSc, and highlight the spectrum of critical cell types for the disease. This work supports a better understanding of the genetic basis of SSc and provides directions for future functional experiments