Association analysis of-416G > C polymorphism of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-1 gene with asthma in Iran

TIM (T-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and mucin domain)-1, one of the members of TIM family, expresses on Th2 cells and promotes the production of Th2 signature cytokines. This can increase a series of responses in these cells which could be one of the causes of asthma or asthma-related phenotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a TIM-1 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), -416G>C, is associated with asthma in Iranian population. In this case-control study, existence of the -416G>C polymorphism was assessed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 300 patients with asthma (97 atopic, 203 nonatopic) and 309 healthy volunteers. Additionally, the relationship between these polymorphism genotypes and total serum IgE levels in this Iranian population was evaluated. We discovered a significant association between the -416G>C polymorphism and atopic asthma susceptibility in the population, but this SNP showed no connection with nonatopic asthma (PC polymorphism in TIM-1 gene could be a predisposing factor for atopic asthma in Iranian population, and CC genotype of this SNP can be associated with increased level of IgE in patients with asthma in the same population

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in upper tract urothelial cancers: an experience with intraoperative radiotracer injection

Background: The feasibility of the sentinel node mapping in upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUC) was evaluated, using a radiotracer as the mapping material. Material and methods: To identify the sentinel lymph nodes, 37 MBq of [99mTc] phytate was injected in five patients with the renal pelvis or ureter cancer, who were candidates for ureterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The radiotracer was injected in a peritumoral fashion following the surgical exposure of the tumour. The sentinel lymph nodes were detected using a handheld gamma probe. Results: By intraoperatively injecting the radiotracer immediately after surgical exposure of the tumour, at least one sentinel lymph node could be detected in each patient, and the detection rate was 100%. The location of sentinel nodes was in the paracaval, renal hill, retro-aortic, para-aortic, common iliac, and external iliac areas, which was dependent on the tumour location. No false-negative case was identified. Conclusions: Sentinel node mapping is feasible in UTUC. Injection technique (intra-vesical approach vs peri-tumoral injection after exposure of the tumour) and location of the tumour (proximal vs distal) may affect the technique’s feasibility

Association between +4259 T>G and -574 G>T Polymorphisms of TIM-3 with Asthma in an Iranian Population

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM)-3 have been shown to negatively regulate Th1 cell-mediated immunity. Activation of TIM-3 by galectin-9 induces Th1 cell apoptosis, which may contribute to skewing of immune response towards Th2-dominant immunity. The aim of this study was to determine whether certain genetic variations of TIM-3 influence predisposition to asthma in a sample of Iranian population. This case-control study was conducted on 209 patients with asthma and 200 healthy controls. The +4259 T>G and -574 G>T polymorphisms were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and amplification refractory mutation system-PCR(ARMS-PCR). Total serum IgE was further measured with ELISA. Notably, +4259T > G and-574G>T polymorphisms of TIM-3 were significantly associated with the susceptibility to asthma. In addition, the present study showed a significant difference between the distribution frequency of the GT + TT genotype and T allele on the +4259 T>G and -574 G>T locus between the groups.However, no correlation between the +4259 T > G and -574G > T polymorphisms and total serum IgE levels were observed. Together these results suggest that the TIM-3 +4259 T>G and -574 G>T polymorphisms are greatly associated with the susceptibility of Iranian population to asthma, which could open up new horizons for better understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches of asthma

Evaluating optimal sites for combined-cycle power plants using GIS: comparison of two aggregation methods in Iran

This study aims to use an integration of GIS and multi-criteria evaluation for combined-cycle power plant site selection and compares two aggregation methods for Iran. The information layers of the criteria are prepared in the GIS environment and then the layers standardised using fuzzy functions in IDRISI. All layers are combined using two conventional methods of fuzzy logic and weighted linear combination; from this information, the suitability maps were created. Results show that only 2.0% of the region under study is scored high-suitable using the fuzzy logic, while 21% of the area is considered as highly suitable when the weighted linear combination is used. Despite this significant difference, both approaches recommend the ideal place in the north and northwest of the study area. In conclusion, integrating GIS and multi-criteria evaluation is a comprehensive approach that improves and strengthens the suitability of site selection studies

Sorting of mesoporous silica derivatives by random optical fields

Mesoporous silica particles are promising candidates for drug delivery applications. In this paper, we first synthesize mesoporous silica MCM-41 and its derivative MCM-41GA with anchored glutaraldehyde bridges, and characterize them using a variety of techniques, including nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Then, we employ random optical fields to sort mesoporous silica particles. Random optical fields by containing local intensity gradients throughout a wide range of field of view provide an elegant, easy-to-implement, and low-cost variant of multiple optical tweezers, which is known as speckle tweezers (ST). ST, similar to multiple optical tweezers, for manipulation tasks, such as trapping, sorting, and guiding of collection of micro and sub-micro objects in several disciplines including statistical physics, chemistry, microfluidics and material science. We show that ST can restrict, sieve, and sort MCM-41 and MCM-41GA particles. The different interaction of mesoporous silica variations with the applied ST may be attributed to the pre-applied modification and the differences in the porosity structure and distribution. Therefore, the results provide insight into the textural and chemical characteristics of mesoporous materials, contributing to a deeper understanding of their potential applications

The Role of Nuclear Medicine in The Diagnosis and Management of Solitary Pulmonary Nodules

  Solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a frequent finding on the chest x-ray and computed tomography. Nuclear medicine techniques play an important role in the diagnosis and management of SPN. In the current review, we briefly will explain the different nuclear medicine modalities in this regard including positron emission tomography (PET) using 18-F-FDG, and 11-C-Methionine, and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) using somatostatin receptor scintigraphy, 201-Thallium, and 99m-Tc-MIBI.

Safflower Seed Oil, Containing Oleic Acid and Palmitic Acid, Enhances the Stemness of Cultured Embryonic Neural Stem Cells through Notch1 and Induces Neuronal Differentiation

Embryonic neural stem cells (eNSCs) could differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This study was aimed to determine the effect of safflower seed oil, which contains linoleic acid (LA), oleic acid (OA), and palmitic acid (PA), on cultured eNSC proliferation and differentiation, in comparison to linoleic acid alone. Results showed that safflower seed oil, but not LA, increased significantly the viability and proliferation of eNSCs. Moreover, treatment of NSCs by safflower seed oil, but not LA, resulted in a significant increase in mRNA levels of notch1, hes1, and Ki-67, and protein levels of notch intracellular domain (NICD), in comparison to controls, indicating an enhancement of stemness. Finally, safflower seed oil, but not LA, caused an increase in the number of oligodendrocytes (MBP+), astrocytes (GFAP+) and neurons (β-III tubulin+) of which only the increase in β-III tubulin positive cells was statistically significant. In summary, OA and PA, present in safflower seed oil may prove beneficial for the enhancement of eNSCs and their neuronal differentiation

Sentinel node mapping for intra-thoracic malignancies: systematic review of the best available evidence

Introduction: Sentinel node mapping is a new technique of lymph nodal staging in solid tumors, which can decrease the morbidity of regional lymph node dissection considerably. Intra-thoracic tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and esophageal carcinoma (EC) are among the solid tumors in which sentinel node (SN) mapping has been applied. In the current systematic review, we gathered the best available evidence (systematic reviews) in this regard and presented the results in a systematic review format.Material and methods: We searched MEDLINE and SCOPUS since the inception till 13 December 2014 using the following keywords: (lung OR esophagus OR esophageal) AND sentinel AND (“systematic review” OR meta-analysis OR metaanalysis). No language limit was imposed on the search strategy. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on SN mapping in EC or NSCLC were included in the current study. Narrative review articles were excluded from the study.Results: Overall five systematic review were included. One of the included studies was on SN mapping in NSCLC and four were on EC. Overall detection rate and sensitivity for EC and NSCLC were high and both were related to mapping technique, pathological involvement of the mediastinal nodes, size and location of the tumors.Conclusion: SN mapping is feasible and highly accurate in EC and NSCLC. Attention to the technique (using radiotracers, peri-tumoral injection) and restriction of the patients to less advanced cases (cN0 and T1, 2) would ensure the best results with high detection rate and sensitivity

Genome-Wide Expression and Location Analyses of the Candida albicans Tac1p Regulon▿ †

A major mechanism of azole resistance in Candida albicans is overexpression of the genes encoding the ATP binding cassette transporters Cdr1p and Cdr2p due to gain-of-function mutations in Tac1p, a transcription factor of the zinc cluster family. To identify the Tac1p regulon, we analyzed four matched sets of clinical isolates representing the development of CDR1- and CDR2-mediated azole resistance by using gene expression profiling. We identified 31 genes that were consistently up-regulated with CDR1 and CDR2, including TAC1 itself, and 12 consistently down-regulated genes. When a resistant strain deleted for TAC1 was examined similarly, expression of almost all of these genes returned to levels similar to those in the matched azole-susceptible isolate. Using genome-wide location (ChIP-chip) analysis (a procedure combining chromatin immunoprecipitation with hybridization to DNA intergenic microarrays), we found 37 genes whose promoters were bound by Tac1p in vivo, including CDR1 and CDR2. Sequence analysis identified nine new genes whose promoters contain the previously reported Tac1p drug-responsive element (CGGN4CGG), including TAC1. In total, there were eight genes whose expression was modulated in the four azole-resistant clinical isolates in a TAC1-dependent manner and whose promoters were bound by Tac1p, qualifying them as direct Tac1p targets: CDR1, CDR2, GPX1 (putative glutathione peroxidase), LCB4 (putative sphingosine kinase), RTA3 (putative phospholipid flippase), and orf19.1887 (putative lipase), as well as IFU5 and orf19.4898 of unknown function. Our results show that Tac1p binds under nonactivating conditions to the promoters of its targets, including to its own promoter. They also suggest roles for Tac1p in regulating lipid metabolism (mobilization and trafficking) and oxidative stress response in C. albicans