Comparative evaluation of incorporation calcium silicate and calcium phosphate nanoparticles on biomimetic dentin remineralization and bioactivity in an etch-and-rinse adhesive system

This study aimed to evaluate the remineralization potential and bioactivity of adhesives, containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and calcium silicate (CS) nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, dentin slices (n=60) were prepared and etched with phos

Comparison of antifungal activities of zinc, copper, cerium oxide, silver, gold, and selenium nanoparticles against clinical isolates of Aspergillus

Objective(s): Aspergillus species are found as opportunistic agents to cause a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Regarding the drug resistance emergence against Aspergillus species, new aspects of using nanoparticles (NPs) as antifungal agents are considerable. This study takes a new approach to biosynthesized NPs of zinc oxide, copper oxide, cerium oxide, silver, gold, and selenium influence on the clinical isolates of Aspergillus species.Materials and Methods: The antifungal activities of six NPs were examined against a total of 12 clinical isolates of Aspergillus species, including A. flavus (n=4), A. welwitschiae (n= 4), and A. fumigatus (n=4) based on the M38-A2 guideline.Results: According to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values, NPs of ZnO, Ag, Au, and Se showed a significant antifungal effect. CuO-NPs and CeO2-NPs didn’t show an inhibitory effect against Aspergillus isolates. The MIC ranges of ZnO-NPs, Ag-NPs, Au-NPs, and Se-NPs were 128-512, 26-53, 21-85, and 6-26 µg⁄mL for A. fumigatus; and 512->512, 26-53, 85, and 1-13 µg⁄mL for A. welwitschiae, respectively. In addition, the MIC ranges of Ag-NPs and Se-NPs were 26-53 and 106-425 µg⁄mL for A. flavus, respectively. However, A. flavus were not inhibited by NPs of ZnO and Au.Conclusion: Among the examined NPs, ZnO, Ag, Au, and Se showed a significant effect against Aspergillus isolates except for CuO and CeO2. However, Ag-NPs seemed to be the most effective nanoparticle against the Aspergillus species. Compared to other Aspergillus species, A. flavus was not inhibited by NPs of ZnO and Au

IgD attenuates the IgM-induced anergy response in transitional and mature B cells

Self-tolerance by clonal anergy of B cells is marked by an increase in IgD and decrease in IgM antigen receptor surface expression, yet the function of IgD on anergic cells is obscure. Here we define the RNA landscape of the in vivo anergy response, comprising 220 induced sequences including a core set of 97. Failure to co-express IgD with IgM decreases overall expression of receptors for self-antigen, but paradoxically increases the core anergy response, exemplified by increased Sdc1 encoding the cell surface marker syndecan-1. IgD expressed on its own is nevertheless competent to induce calcium signalling and the core anergy mRNA response. Syndecan-1 induction correlates with reduction of surface IgM and is exaggerated without surface IgD in many transitional and mature B cells. These results show that IgD attenuates the response to self-antigen in anergic cells and promotes their accumulation. In this way, IgD minimizes tolerance-induced holes in the pre-immune antibody repertoire.This work was supported by NIH grant U19 AI100627 and NHMRC grants 585490, 1016953 and 1081858 to C.C.G., NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship 595989 to J.H.R., an Endeavour Award from the Australian Government to Z.S. and the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme Australian Phenomics Facilit

IgD attenuates the IgM-induced anergy response in transitional and mature B cells

Self-tolerance by clonal anergy of B cells is marked by an increase in IgD and decrease in IgM antigen receptor surface expression, yet the function of IgD on anergic cells is obscure. Here we define the RNA landscape of the in vivo anergy response, comprising 220 induced sequences including a core set of 97. Failure to co-express IgD with IgM decreases overall expression of receptors for self-antigen, but paradoxically increases the core anergy response, exemplified by increased Sdc1 encoding the cell surface marker syndecan-1. IgD expressed on its own is nevertheless competent to induce calcium signalling and the core anergy mRNA response. Syndecan-1 induction correlates with reduction of surface IgM and is exaggerated without surface IgD in many transitional and mature B cells. These results show that IgD attenuates the response to self-antigen in anergic cells and promotes their accumulation. In this way, IgD minimizes tolerance-induced holes in the pre-immune antibody repertoire

Isolation, characterization and complete genome sequence of PhaxI: a phage of Escherichia coli O157 :H7

Bacteriophages are considered as promising biological agents for the control of infectious diseases. Sequencing of their genomes can ascertain the absence of antibiotic resistance, toxin or virulence genes. The anti-O157 :H7 coliphage, PhaxI, was isolated from a sewage sample in Iran. Morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy showed that it has an icosahedral capsid of 85–86 nm and a contractile tail of 115�15 nm. PhaxI contains dsDNA composed of 156 628 nt with a G+C content of 44.5 mol% that encodes 209 putative proteins. In MS analysis of phage particles, 92 structural proteins were identified. PhaxI lyses Escherichia coli O157 :H7 in Luria-Bertani medium and milk, has an eclipse period of 20 min and a latent period of 40 min, and has a burst size of about 420 particles per cell. PhaxI is a member of the genus ‘Viunalikevirus’ of the family Myoviridae and is specific for E. coli O157 : H7

The effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Patients undergoing hemodialysis are exposed to psychological problems, such as despair, which in turn can be a trigger for them to abandon the treatment process. This study aimed to determine the effect of positive thinking training on hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. Methods This randomized controlled trial was performed on 80 hemodialysis patients referred to two hemodialysis centers in Shiraz, Iran. They were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. Eight sessions of positive thinking skills training carried out individually on the patients' bedsides. The primary and secondary outcomes were hope and adherence to treatment, respectively. The data were collected using Snyder Hope Questionnaire, End-Stage Renal Disease Adherence Questionnaire, laboratory tests, and weight measurements. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Paired and Independent T-test using SPSS software version 18. Results After the intervention, the mean score of hope was significantly higher in the intervention group (42.1 ± 6.1) than in the control group (38.7 ± 6.5) (p = 0.024). Moreover, after the intervention, the mean score of adherence to treatment was significantly higher in the intervention group (1070.2 ± 80.1) compared to the control group (1018.4 ± 105.3) (p = 0.019). In addition, blood urea nitrogen, phosphate and inter-dialytic weight gain were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group after the intervention. Conclusions The findings showed that positive thinking interventions could lead to improvement in hope and adherence to treatment in hemodialysis patients. Positive thinking training could be used in caring of hemodialysis patients to improve their hope and adherence to treatment. Trial registration RCT Registry: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; RCT registration number: IRCT20180915041044N1; Registration date: 19/12/2018

Petrography and Geochemistry of Porphyroid Granitoid Rocks in the Alvand Intrusive Complex, Hamedan (Iran)

Abstract: Alvand granitoid complex with emplacement age upper to middle Jurassic (153-167 Ma) in Sanandaj-Sirjan zone, into intruded Hamedan schistes. This complex is located with 40 km length and 10 km width in south and west Hamedan. Alvand porphyroid granitoids based on lithological composition are granodiorite, monzogranite, syenogranite and alkali-feldspar granite. Based on mineralogical characteristics consist of mineral assemblages plagioclase, quartez, K-feldspar and biotite. Geochemically, these rocks are calc-alkaline series and based on saturation degree of aluminum (ASI) are peraluminous. The mineralogical, lithological, and geochemical studies indicate that the Alvand porphyroid granitoids have S-type characteristics. These rocks displays the geochemical characteristics typical of magmatic arc intrusions related to an active continental margin

Investigation of Magneto Hydro-Dynamics Effects on a Polymer Chain Transfer in Micro-Channel Using Dissipative Particle Dynamics Method

In this paper, the effect of Magneto Hydro-Dynamics (MHD) on a polymer chain in the micro channel is studied by employing the Dissipative Particle Dynamics simulation (DPD) method. First, in a simple symmetric micro-channel, the results are evaluated and validated for different values of Hartmann (Ha) Number. The difference between the simulation and analytical solution is below 10%. Then, two types of polymer chain including short and long polymer chain are examined in the channel and the effective parameters such as Ha number, the harmony bond coefficient or spring constant (K), and the length of the polymer chain (N) are studied in the MHD flow. It is shown that by increasing harmony bond constant to 10 times with Ha = 20, the reduction of about 80% in radius of gyration squared, and half in polymer length compared to Ha = 1 would occur for both test cases. For short and long length of polymer, proper transfer of a polymer chain through MHD particles flow is observed with less perturbations (80%) and faster polymer transfer in the symmetric micro-channel