Impact of exercise endurance training on pur gene expression and cardiac function

Introduction: Endurance training has significant effects on the renewal of heart tissue, including myosin heavy chain (MHC) proteins. On the other side, Purine-rich element-binding protein β (pur) decreases the αMHC gene expression. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of exercise endurance training on pur gene expression in the heart of Wistar rats. Methods: Fourteen rats have been kept under controlled conditions and after familiarizing with training protocol, they were divided into control groups and experimental groups. The experimental group performed a 10-week treadmill running program for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. 48 hours after the last training session, the rats were anesthetized and the heart and their left ventricle were taken out and pur expression was measured using real time PCR method. All data were analyzed using t test. Results: In this study, the results of M-mode echocardiography showed that endurance training led to cardiac hypertrophy. After endurance training, the heart weight, especially the left ventricular weight significantly increased. The pur gene expression significantly decreased in the left ventricular tissue of endurance-trained rats. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that endurance training has considerable effects on heart size and pur gene expression. The pur gene also repressed MHC gene expression; it seems that the changes in heart structure related to MHC gene expression

Noise Mitigation Analysis of a Pi-Filter for an Automotive Control Module

This paper has been reproduced on " InCompliance" magazine, May issue http://www.incompliancemag.com/ then "Issue Archive

Engineering Nanoarchitectures from Nanosheets, Nanoscrolls, and Nanoparticles

The ability to encapsulate/insert different kinds of nanoparticles (NPs) in scrolled nanosheets (NSs) may lead to the formation of new nanocomposite materials that yield novel properties. These nanostructures resemble “peapods” that consist of NPs chains (“peas”) located in a hollow space of desired nanoscrolls (“pods”). Depending on different combinations of “peas” and “pods” diverse families of nanopeapods (NPPs) can be synthesized which may exhibit interesting properties not accessible from the individual components. Though there exist various synthetic methods for the formation of NPPs, more development in terms of simplicity, flexibility, and productivity of synthetic approaches are needed so that different classes of NPPs with unique combinations/characteristics of “peas” and “pods” can be synthesized. A simple solvothermal synthesis method for the encapsulation of spherical Fe3O4 NPs by the capture of preformed NPs in scrolled hexaniobate has previously been developed in our group. In the first part of this research, efforts were made to extend the “pod” materials to other inorganic NScs. Vanadate nanoscrolls (NScs) could rapidly (2h) be produced using a simple solvothermal treatment in the presence of V2O5 as vanadium source, and either dodecylamine (DDA) or octadecylamine (ODA) as the structure-directing agent. The synthesis parameters were successfully adjusted to obtain high yields vanadate NScs (~ 20 g of NScs per synthesis) with different average lengths as 383 nm, 816 nm to 3.3 µm. The effects of reaction time on the formation of NScs were also investigated. Further efforts focused on the development of methods for making vanadate NPPs. Here, two novel approaches for the formation of these NPPs have been successfully developed. In the first, solvothermal methods utilizing preformed Ag NPs and vanadate NSs lead to the formation of Ag@vanadate NPPs where NPs could be encapsulated during the scrolling of NSs. High NP loadings were acquired with this approach. In the second method, an insertion strategy was developed where Ag NPs were drawn into the lumen of preformed vanadate NScs upon controlled solvent evaporation. This method was also quite effective, though much lower loadings of NPs were achieved with larger average NP-NP distances. Also noteworthy in the study of vanadate NScs and NPPs is the observation of an uncommon asymmetric scrolling behavior; this was realized for both vanadate NScs and solvothermally synthesized Ag@vanadate NPPs. Novel solvothermal approaches for the effective construction of organic-MoOx hybrid structures and MoOx nanosheets (NSs) have also been developed. These NSs can be controlled so as to exist in different oxidation states as well as in different crystal structures. Layer spacing as a function of organic molecule lengths could also be controlled by changing the type of surfactants located between the NSs. Individual NSs or a few layers of stacked NSs, up to four micrometers in lateral size were successfully prepared upon sonication. The effect of time, temperature, as well as the type of structure-directing agents on the formation and crystal structure of MoOx intercalated compound/NSs were also explored. Lastly, a modified solvothermal method previously used for the encapsulation of spherical Fe3O4 NPs inside hexaniobate NScs was applied for the construction of cubic-CeO2 NPPs. High yield encapsulations of preformed cubic ~5 nm ceria NPs within the lumen of hexaniobate NScs were readily accomplished. Size selective encapsulation and the formation mechanism of cubic-CeO2 NPPs were also studied. Pre-organization and attachment of ceria NPs to the surface/edges of hexaniobate crystals prior to the scrolling process were observed, which is in a good agreement with our previous studies on the formation mechanism of NPPs. Partially filled CeO2@hexaniobate NPPs were further used in the in-situ growth of gold NPs within the empty/hollow space of hexaniobate NScs. This led to the formation of high-quality Au-CeO2@hexaniobate NPPs. We believe that smart combinations of the methods for the formation of NPPs, encapsulation, in-situ growth and insertion, will allow one to acquire other classes of nanocomposite materials composed of different types, shapes, and arrangements of NPs in the hollow spaces of distinct NTs/NScs

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Coronary Artery Disease Patients in Urmia, Northwest of Iran

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the main causes of death all over the world. Predisposing factors comprise some infectious etiologies with systemic effects such as the hepatitis C virus and HBV-infection might be related to CAD from chronic inflammation process. The relationships between hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infections and CAD considered a noticeable health problem. In the present study, we evaluated the seropositivity of HCV and HBV in CAD patients from the Iranian population. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cohort study including 192 CAD subjects. To identify HCV and HBV -infected subjects, a serologic examination comprising Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies (HCV-Ab) tests performed by ELISA method. Also, we examined the biochemical blood parameters such as lipid profile, glycemic parameters, and blood inflammatory factor (C-reactive protein). Results: We identified a very low percent of HBV-infected cases (1.04%). All examined CAD patients indicate the HCV Ab-negative results. The HBV-infected subject had not, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. HBV infection was not related to the increased risk of CAD. Also, CAD risk factors were not associated with the prevalence of HBV and HCV. Conclusion: According to the results, HCV and HBV infections had very low prevalence in examined subjects and there was not any association between CAD and prevalence of HCV and HBV infections