Analysis of Scientific Collaborations of Iranian Researchers in Blockchain Technology Area

This study aims to analyze the multidimensional scientific collaborations of Iranian researchers in Blockchain technology. For this purpose, the published scientific documents related to Blockchain in international journals were retrieved from two citation databases, Scopus of Elsevier and Web of Science of Clarivate, and used with ScientoPy v2.1.0 bibliography software to integrate and visualize the data with VOSviewer software. We searched databases without limiting the date until September 29, 2021. Researchers in this field indexed 158 records during five years in citation databases and found that the collaboration index equals 3.91. This study depicted Iranian researchers' cooperation patterns in the Blockchain field. The 149 national and international organizations in 43 countries collaborated to publish articles in the Blockchain area with Iranian researchers. The impact of co-authorship with citations rate was analyzed to increase the flow of knowledge between researchers in this field. There was a weak, positive correlation between the two variables, r = .209, N = 152; however, the relationship was significant (p = .010). The number of researchers appears to be associated with the rate of citation. With the results of this study, policy recommendations can be provided for managers and decision-makers in science and technology. The potential benefits of Blockchain technology activists can be used to develop national interests by determining the existing conditions for cooperation between Iranian researchers

Comparing the expression levels of mRNA for MMP-7 in gastric mucosa of patients with H. pylori infection and uninfected patients

Background and purpose: The expression of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, fibrogenic factors, and cytokines are altered in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected gastric mucosa. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of zinc-dependent homologous enzymes digesting most of the components of the extracellular matrix and basement membrane and are involved in remodeling and functioning of the biological processes. The purpose of this study was to compare gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) in patients with H. pylori-infected and uninfected individuals with gastrointestinal diseases. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in 50 H. pylori-negative patients and 50 H. pylori-positive patients being admitted to Shahrekord Hajar Hospital due to gastrointestinal diseases in 2014. The participants’ demographic information was collected and sampling was done. First DNA was extracted, and then PCR was performed to check for the presence of 16sRNA and UreC. The RNA from each sample was also extracted and cDNA was prepared. Afterwards, the expression of MMP-7 was measured by real time-PCR using specific primers and probes. Results: MMP-7 mRNA expression was significantly higher in biopsies of H. pylori-infected patients compared to that in H. pylori-uninfected patients (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Increased expression of MMP-7 can be effective in inflammatory response and development of the disease. It could be used as a key marker for early diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases and gastric cancer. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Engineering. All rights reserved

The global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer in 2019 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background In estimating the global burden of cancer, adolescents and young adults with cancer are often overlooked, despite being a distinct subgroup with unique epidemiology, clinical care needs, and societal impact. Comprehensive estimates of the global cancer burden in adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years) are lacking. To address this gap, we analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, with a focus on the outcome of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), to inform global cancer control measures in adolescents and young adults. Methods Using the GBD 2019 methodology, international mortality data were collected from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and population-based cancer registry inputs modelled with mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs). Incidence was computed with mortality estimates and corresponding MIRs. Prevalence estimates were calculated using modelled survival and multiplied by disability weights to obtain years lived with disability (YLDs). Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated as age-specific cancer deaths multiplied by the standard life expectancy at the age of death. The main outcome was DALYs (the sum of YLLs and YLDs). Estimates were presented globally and by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintiles (countries ranked and divided into five equal SDI groups), and all estimates were presented with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). For this analysis, we used the age range of 15-39 years to define adolescents and young adults. Findings There were 1.19 million (95% UI 1.11-1.28) incident cancer cases and 396 000 (370 000-425 000) deaths due to cancer among people aged 15-39 years worldwide in 2019. The highest age-standardised incidence rates occurred in high SDI (59.6 [54.5-65.7] per 100 000 person-years) and high-middle SDI countries (53.2 [48.8-57.9] per 100 000 person-years), while the highest age-standardised mortality rates were in low-middle SDI (14.2 [12.9-15.6] per 100 000 person-years) and middle SDI (13.6 [12.6-14.8] per 100 000 person-years) countries. In 2019, adolescent and young adult cancers contributed 23.5 million (21.9-25.2) DALYs to the global burden of disease, of which 2.7% (1.9-3.6) came from YLDs and 97.3% (96.4-98.1) from YLLs. Cancer was the fourth leading cause of death and tenth leading cause of DALYs in adolescents and young adults globally. Interpretation Adolescent and young adult cancers contributed substantially to the overall adolescent and young adult disease burden globally in 2019. These results provide new insights into the distribution and magnitude of the adolescent and young adult cancer burden around the world. With notable differences observed across SDI settings, these estimates can inform global and country-level cancer control efforts. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

The Impact of an Acidic Post-Treatment on Surface-Modified Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) with NaOH-Urea as a Reinforcing Agent

Chemical surface modification is one method for enhancing the mechanical and barrier properties of packaging paper. The NaOH/urea solvent system has been deemed an effective, inexpensive, and cost-effective solvent for paper modification and cellulose dissolution due to its unique self-reinforcing qualities and the fact that it can be utilized on an industrial scale, although it is ineffective for porous paper and requires pre- or post-treatment. This study examined the influence of acid as a post-treatment on the surface modification of paper with NaOH/urea to improve properties relative to packaging uses. The results indicated that NaOH/urea modification on OCC as a semi-crystalline material did not result in materials with superior resistance and barrier qualities. While acid treatment increased tensile and burst strength and air permeability, it was ineffective at increasing tear strength. Properties of control, NaOH/urea treatment, and acidic post treatment papers were respectively 33.31, 29.4, and 37.46 mn/g in the tensile index, 1.7, 1.58, and 1.74 Kpa.m2/g in burst index, 9.94, 9.07 and 8.87 mn.m2/g in tear index, 2.04, 1.34 and 1.32 s-1 in smoothness, 37.2, 38.2 and 45.4 s in air resistance, and 77.5, 90.8 and 80.5 water absorption. Therefore, with or without acidic post-treatment, the sheets became hydrophilic

Antimycobacterial activity assessment of three ethnobotanical plants against Mycobacterium Tuberculosis: An In Vitro study

Objective/Background: Resistances to herbal medicines are still not defined and finding natural remedies against drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) has research priority. The antimycobacterial susceptibility method for herbal extracts is unclearly defined and there is no standard method for assessment of the materials against bacteria. In the present study, time kill of three medicinal plants was determined against MTB. Methods: The clinical isolate of MTB from a patient who harbored confirmed tuberculosis was used in the study. Aqueous extracts of Aloe vera leaves, mint, and Hypericum perforatum were prepared using reflux distillation. Disk diffusion methods were conducted in Petri dishes and McCartney bottles containing Löwenstein–Jensen medium to measure the sensitivity of plant extracts in serial concentrations of 0.25–8 mg/mL. A pour plate method was performed by mixing 0.7 mL of each concentration of extract in 5 mL Löwenstein–Jensen medium followed by surface culturing of MTB fresh cells. The time kill method was conducted by bacterial suspension in equal amounts of the extract and viable evaluation in fresh culture at the beginning, and at 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 1-week intervals. All cultures were incubated at 37°C for 4 weeks. Inoculum concentrations were considered as a variable. Results: The zones of inhibition of A. vera, H. perforatum, and mint extracts in the disk diffusion method in McCartney bottles were 60 mm, 41 mm, and zero, respectively, but Petri dishes did not have repeatable results. In the pour plate method, an extract concentration up to 1 mg/mL could inhibit cell growth. In mint extract, colony forming was four times more than the others at 0.5 mg/mL. Time kill of 95% of cells occurred when exposed to extracts of A. vera and H. perforatum separately, but was 50% in 24 h and 20% in 10 min. The time kill for mint was 95% in 1week. Conclusion: The results give some scientific basis to the use of plant extracts for growth control of MTB cells. Clinical trials are recommended for assessment of the extract as complementary medicine, as well as for antisepsis

Prevalence of cagA and babA2 genes in Helicobacter Pylori strains Isolated from Iranian gastrointestinal disorder patients and their gas-tritis classification

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral gram negative flagellate bacteria and localize in the stomach. H.p infection is a worldwide health problem and identified as an important cause of gastritis and gastric cancer and its ability to develop such disorders is related to its virulence factors and environment. cagA is the most important Hp virulence factor that directly penetrate into gastric epithelial cells by bacterial secretion system (T4SS) from pathogenicity island (PAI) and disrupts cell homeostasis. Adherence factors are significant for bacterial colonization and suitable function of other virulence factor. Blood group antigen binding adhesion (babA) is an outer membrane protein (OMP) that binds to ABO blood group antigen and can stimulate inflammatory response in gastric cells. Our main target was to determine the roles and prevalence of cagA and babA2 virulence factor in gastrointestinal disorders in Iranian patients. Existences of These factors were determined by PCR in 218 patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Semi-quantitative methods of scoring according to the Updated Sydney classification system were used for detection of H.pylori density, neutrophil and monocyte cells infiltration. A high prevalence of cagA positive (81.4%) and babA2 positive (35%) were found. The most combined genotype (cagA&babA2) prevalence was found in gastritis & ulcer (100%) (P < 0.001). High prevalence of cagA positive observed in active inflammation phase 76.9% and high prevalence of babA2 positive was in active phase 61.1% of H.pylori gastritis (P=0.001) . Results of this study showed information about the high prevalence of cagA genes in H.pylori infected patients and their rolls in active gastrointestinal disorder