A Critical Review on the Book Dissection of ISIL: Essence, Organizational Structure, Inductions and Results

The book, Dissection of ISIL: Essence, Organizational Structure, Inductions and Results, written by Seyed Ali Nejat, tries to say anything about ISIL. This book discusses the intellectual and ideological essence of ISIL, its history and formation, its organizational structure, its inducts and tactics, its media inducts, its army and militia, its economy and finance, why this group arose and collapsed, and the chances and threats of ISIL for Iranian foreign policy and proposes for countering with this group. In this paper we will introduce and describe the book, then after formal critique, in part of the analysis of the context of the book, we will criticize the parts of the book and will say that the essential problem of this book is the absence of theory. In the eventual analysis, we propose the alternatives for the book, some proposes for the next books in this area and with this methodology. The methodology of this paper is library studying the use of electronic data

Neuronal differentiation of rat hair follicle stem cells: The involvement of the neuroprotective factor seladin-1 (DHCR24)

Background: The seladin-1 (selective Alzheimer disease indicator-1), also known as DHCR24, is a gene found to be down-regulated in brain region affected by Alzheimer disease (AD). Whereas, hair follicle stem cells (HFSC), which are affected in with neurogenic potential, it might to hypothesize that this multipotent cell compartment is the predominant source of seladin-1. Our aim was to evaluate seladin-1 gene expression in hair follicle stem cells. Methods: In this study, bulge area of male Wistar rat HFSC were cultured and then characterized with Seladin-1 immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry on days 8 to 14. Next, 9-11-day cells were evaluated for seladin-1 gene expression by real-time PCR. Results: Our results indicated that expression of the seladin-1 gene (DHCR24) on days 9, 10, and 11 may contribute to the development of HFSC. However, the expression of this gene on day 11 was more than day 10 and on 10th day was more than day 9. Also, we assessed HFSC on day 14 and demonstrated these cells were positive for β-III tubulin, and seladin-1 was not expressed in this day. Conclusion: HFSC express seladin-1 and this result demonstrates that these cells might be used to cell therapy for AD in future

Wuqinxi qigong as an alternative exercise for improving risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

© 2019 by the authors. Background: The improvement of living standards has led to increases in the prevalence of hypokinetic diseases. In particular, multifactorial complex diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, are becoming more prevalent. Currently, developing effective methods to combat or prevent metabolic syndrome is of critical public health importance. Thus, we conducted a systematic review to evaluate the existing literature regarding the effects of Wuqinxi exercise on reducing risk factors related to metabolic syndrome. Methods: Both English- and Chinese-language databases were searched for randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of Wuqinxi on these outcomes. Meanwhile, we extracted usable data for computing pooled effect size estimates, along with the random-effects model. Results: The synthesized results showed positive effects of Wuqinxi exercise on systolic blood pressure (SBP, SMD = 0.62, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.85, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 24.06%), diastolic blood pressure (DBP, SMD = 0.62, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.00, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 61.28%), total plasma cholesterol (TC, SMD = 0.88, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.36, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 78.71%), triglyceride (TG, SMD = 0.87, 95% CI 0.49 to 1.24, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 67.22%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, SMD = 1.24, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.72, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 78.27%), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, SMD = 0.95, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.46, p \u3c 0.001, I2 = 82.27%). In addition, regression results showed that longer-duration Wuqinxi intervention significantly improved DBP (β = 0.00016, Q = 5.72, df = 1, p = 0.02), TC (β = -0.00010, Q = 9.03, df = 1, p = 0.01), TG (β = 0.00012, Q = 6.23, df = 1, p = 0.01), and LDL (β = 0.00011, Q = 5.52, df = 1, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Wuqinxi may be an effective intervention to alleviate the cardiovascular disease risk factors of metabolic syndrome

Stimulatory Effects of Lycium shawii on Human Melanocyte Proliferation, Migration, and Melanogenesis: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

There is no first-line treatment for vitiligo, a skin disease characterized by a lack of melanin produced by the melanocytes, resulting in an urgent demand for new therapeutic drugs capable of stimulating melanocyte functions, including melanogenesis. In this study, traditional medicinal plant extracts were tested for cultured human melanocyte proliferation, migration, and melanogenesis using MTT, scratch wound-healing assays, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot technology. Of the methanolic extracts, Lycium shawii L. (L. shawii) extract increased melanocyte proliferation at low concentrations and modulated melanocyte migration. At the lowest tested concentration (i.e., 7.8 μg/mL), the L. shawii methanolic extract promoted melanosome formation, maturation, and enhanced melanin production, which was associated with the upregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and TRP-2 melanogenesis-related proteins, and melanogenesis-related proteins. After the chemical analysis and L. shawii extract-derived metabolite identification, the in silico studies revealed the molecular interactions between Metabolite 5, identified as apigenin (4,5,6-trihydroxyflavone), and the copper active site of tyrosinase, predicting enhanced tyrosinase activity and subsequent melanin formation. In conclusion, L. shawii methanolic extract stimulates melanocyte functions, including melanin production, and its derivative Metabolite 5 enhances tyrosinase activity, suggesting further investigation of the L. shawii extract-derived Metabolite 5 as a potential natural drug for vitiligo treatment

The effects of probiotic supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in patients with Parkinson�s disease: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on gene expression related to inflammation, insulin and lipid in patients with Parkinson�s disease (PD).Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 50 patients with PD as a pilot study. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 8�109 CFU/day probiotic supplements or placebo (n = 25 each group, one capsule daily) for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to inflammation, insulin, and lipid was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of PD patients, with RT-PCR method. Results: After the 12-week intervention, compared with the placebo, probiotic intake downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P = 0.03), IL-8 (P < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (P=0.04) in PBMC of subjects with PD. In addition, probiotic supplementation upregulated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) (P = 0.02) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) (P = 0.03) in PBMC of subjects with PD compared with the placebo. We did not observe any significant effect of probiotic intake on gene expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in PBMC of patients with PD. Conclusion: Overall, probiotics supplementation for 12 weeks in PD patients significantly improved gene expression of IL-1, IL-8, TNF-α, TGF-β and PPAR-γ, but did not affect gene expression of VEGF and LDLR, and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. © 2018 The Author(s)

Patterns of viral load in chronic hepatitis B

ABSTRACT Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA level is a predictor of the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients. Nevertheless, the distribution of viral load levels in chronic HBV patients in Brazil has yet to be described. This cross-sectional study included 564 participants selected in nine Brazilian cities located in four of the five regions of the country using the database of a medical diagnostics company. Admission criteria included hepatitis B surface antigen seropositivity, availability of HBV viral load samples and age ≥ 18 years. Males comprised 64.5% of the study population. Mean age was 43.7 years. Most individuals (62.1%) were seronegative for the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). Median serum ALT level was 34 U/L. In 58.5% of the patients HBV-DNA levels ranged from 300 to 99,999 copies/mL; however, in 21.6% levels were undetectable. Median HBV-DNA level was 2,351 copies/mL. Over 60% of the patients who tested negative for HBeAg and in whom ALT level was less than 1.5 times the upper limit of the normal range had HBV-DNA levels &gt; 2,000 IU/mL, which has been considered a cut-off point for indicating a liver biopsy and/or treatment. In conclusion, HBV-DNA level identified a significant proportion of Brazilian individuals with chronic hepatitis B at risk of disease progression. Furthermore, this tool enables those individuals with high HBV-DNA levels who are susceptible to disease progression to be identified among patients with normal or slightly elevated ALT

Repositório Institucional em uma Universidade Pública Brasileira: a experiência da Universidade de São Paulo

A experiência com a construção de um Repositório e uma Política Institucional de Acesso \ud Aberto à Produção Técnico-Científica, Artística e Didática da Universidade de São Paulo (USP)\ud é o desafio apresentado neste trabalho. Tendo em vista que a USP ocupa posição de liderança na \ud América Latina conforme ranking internacional de produção científica, congrega 5.732 docentes\ud e mais de 80 mil alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, e tem seu sistema de informação \ud composto por 43 bibliotecas distribuídas em diferentes campi na capital e em diversas cidades do \ud interior do estado de São Paulo, foram necessárias múltiplas e complexas estratégias para a \ud mudança de paradigma e inserção no cenário atual do acesso aberto. Dentre elas, podem ser \ud citadas a composição de grupo multiplicador composto de professores e bibliotecários, criação \ud de espaço de referência cobrindo temas diversificados sobre o acesso aberto, workshop e \ud palestras diversas realizadas em variados campi e bibliotecas, fórum aberto para discussão do \ud acesso aberto na USP e elaboração de carta de intenções em fase de assinatura e endosso pela \ud comunidade uspiana. Paralelo a essas atividades, que buscaram o envolvimento da comunidade,\ud ocorreu também à implantação do repositório institucional a partir de projetos piloto em três \ud unidades de ensino e pesquisa das áreas de exatas, biológicas e humanidades. Tais estratégias são \ud descritas e demonstram o estágio de desenvolvimento do projeto e sua trajetória de implantação

Biological impact of advanced glycation endproducts on estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Diabetes mellitus potentiates the risk of breast cancer. We have previously described the pro-tumorigenic effects of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) on estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line mediated through the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). However, a predominant association between women with ER-positive breast cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been reported. Therefore, we have investigated the biological impacts of AGEs on ER-positive human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using in vitro cell-based assays including cell count, migration, and invasion assays. Western blot, FACS analyses and quantitative real time-PCR were also performed. We found that AGEs at 50-100μg/mL increased MCF-7 cell proliferation and cell migration associated with an enhancement of pro-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity, without affecting their poor invasiveness. However, 200μg/mL AGEs inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation through induction of apoptosis indicated by caspase-3 cleavage detected using Western blotting. A phospho-protein array analysis revealed that AGEs mainly induce the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and cAMP response element binding protein-1 (CREB1), both signaling molecules considered as key regulators of AGEs pro-tumorigenic effects. We also showed that AGEs up-regulate RAGE and ER expression at the protein and transcript levels in MCF-7 cells, in a RAGE-dependent manner after blockade of AGEs/RAGE interaction using neutralizing anti-RAGE antibody. Throughout the study, BSA had no effect on cellular processes. These findings pave the way for future studies investigating whether the exposure of AGEs-treated ER-positive breast cancer cells to estrogen could lead to a potentiation of the breast cancer development and progression

Stimulatory effects of Lycium shawii on human melanocyte proliferation, migration, and melanogenesis: In vitro and in silico studies

There is no first-line treatment for vitiligo, a skin disease characterized by a lack of melanin produced by the melanocytes, resulting in an urgent demand for new therapeutic drugs capable of stimulating melanocyte functions, including melanogenesis. In this study, traditional medicinal plant extracts were tested for cultured human melanocyte proliferation, migration, and melanogenesis using MTT, scratch wound-healing assays, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot technology. Of the methanolic extracts, Lycium shawii L. (L. shawii) extract increased melanocyte proliferation at low concentrations and modulated melanocyte migration. At the lowest tested concentration (i.e., 7.8 μg/mL), the L. shawii methanolic extract promoted melanosome formation, maturation, and enhanced melanin production, which was associated with the upregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1 and TRP-2 melanogenesis-related proteins, and melanogenesis-related proteins. After the chemical analysis and L. shawii extract-derived metabolite identification, the in silico studies revealed the molecular interactions between Metabolite 5, identified as apigenin (4,5,6-trihydroxyflavone), and the copper active site of tyrosinase, predicting enhanced tyrosinase activity and subsequent melanin formation. In conclusion, L. shawii methanolic extract stimulates melanocyte functions, including melanin production, and its derivative Metabolite 5 enhances tyrosinase activity, suggesting further investigation of the L. shawii extract-derived Metabolite 5 as a potential natural drug for vitiligo treatment

Induction of protein citrullination and auto-antibodies production in murine exposed to nickel

Abstract Citrullination, or the post-translational deimination of polypeptide-bound arginine, is involved in several pathological processes in the body, including autoimmunity and tumorigenesis. Recent studies have shown that nanomaterials can trigger protein citrullination, which might constitute a common pathogenic link to disease development. Here we demonstrated auto-antibody production in serum of nanomaterials-treated mice. Citrullination-associated phenomena and PAD levels were found to be elevated in nanomaterials -treated cell lines as well as in the spleen, kidneys and lymph nodes of mice, suggesting a systemic response to nanomaterials injection, and validated in human pleural and pericardial malignant mesothelioma (MM) samples. The observed systemic responses in mice exposed to nanomaterials support the evidence linking exposure to environmental factors with the development of autoimmunity responses and reinforces the need for comprehensive safety screening of nanomaterials. Furthermore, these nanomaterials induce pathological processes that mimic those observed in Pleural MM, and therefore require further investigations into their carcinogenicity