Biota-sediment accumulation factor and concentration of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, As, Ni, Pb and Cu) in sediments and tissues of Chiton lamyi (Mollusca: Polyplacophora: Chitonidae) in Chabahar Bay, Iran

Heavy metals and some organic substances which are drained into the aquatic environments and cannot be decomposed or eliminated will sink into sediments or find their way into different levels of food chain. Bioaccumulation is the process of continuous deposition and aggregation of these substances into the body tissue of living organisms. Mollusks are remarkably appropriate to be used as bio-indicators because of their motionless or almost sessile nature, relatively high abundance, selective absorption of certain ions, and worldwide distribution in marine and inland aquatic habitats. Chiton lamyi is a sedentary species from the phylum, Polyplacophora, which is usually abundant on the rocky shores and intertidal zone of marine environments. Sediment and Chiton samples were taken from four stations of Chabahar Bay in autumn 2013. After acid digestion of samples, the concentration of heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, lead and copper) were measured by the graphite furnace atomic absorption apparatus, and the bioaccumulation factor in relation to sediment was calculated. The highest concentration value was calculated as 3.28 for cadmium in the Hafte Tir station. The results of this study indicated that chitons can be used as an appropriate bio-indicator for heavy metals particularly cadmium pollution in the marine environment

Evaluation of rs37464444 polymorphism of mir-499 gene in patients with colon cancer compared with healthy subjects

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been introduced as a new genomic source for cancer. Therefore, it was decided to conduct a study to evaluate the rs3746444 polymorphism of miR-499 in patients with colon cancer in comparison with healthy subjects. Methods: This case-control study was conducted to investigate rs3746444 polymorphism of miR-499 in blood samples of case and control groups. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer based on pathologic report were enrolled in the study as the case group and compared with healthy subjects. The level of significance was considered at p<0.05. Result: The mean of DNA count in samples was 63.17±23.51 that was significantly higher in the case group. The rs3746444 polymorphism of miR-499 was significantly higher in patients with cancer compared to the healthy subjects (P<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, rs3746444 polymorphism of miR-499 was significantly higher in patients with colon cancer, which indicated that people with this polymorphism had a higher risk for malignancy. © 2020, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Fabrication of a new electrochemical sensor based on screen-printed carbon electrode/amine-functionalized graphene oxide-Cu nanoparticles for Rohypnol direct determination in drink sample

Rohypnol or Flunitrazepam belongs to benzodiazepines (Schedule IV) with much higher and long-lasting effects on the central nervous system. Unfortunately, it is used in suicide and aggression. Since it can eventually be detected in the urine within 72 h, it is essential to measure it quickly and accurately. In this work, a new electrochemical sensor for the Rohypnol measurement was fabricated based on a modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). The SPCE surface was modified with amine-functionalized graphene oxide sheets reinforced through Cu nanoparticles)SPCE/AGO-Cu(with an average size of 30 nm. At the SPCE surface, an oxidation peak was observed for Rohypnol at a potential of 0.30 V. However, an oxidation peak at a potential of 0.25 V with two reduction peaks were appeared for Rohypnol at the SPCE surface modified with AGO-Cu in the potential range of 0 to 1 V. The ability of the SPCE/AGO-Cu to measure Rohypnol was studied. A linear dependency was resulted between Rohypnol concentration and SPCE/AGO-Cu response in the range of 0.4�140 μM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.13 μM in aqueous solution. According to the results, the SPCE/AGO-Cu provides an accurate and precise assay pathway of Rohypnol in the fruit juice. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Monoclonal antibody directed to the PilQ -PilA DSL region in Pseudomonas aeruginosa improves survival of infected mice with antibiotic combination

The infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are related to high mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients because of multidrug resistance. Thus, we performed the efficacy of the monoclonal antibody (mAb) against PilQ -PilA DSL region (QA) in combination with antibiotics in a model of P. aeruginosa infection. In the present study, three clinically applicable antibiotics (levofloxacin, ceftazidime and gentamicin) and the anti-QA mAb were utilized for treatment of P. aeruginosa sepsis in mice. Reliably, in comparison with other treatment groups (antibody or antibiotic administration), the combination of antibiotic and anti-QA mAb essentially enhanced the survival of mice infected with P. aeruginosa PAO1. This synergistic effect was due to improved bactericidal effect, which prevented bacterial dissemination to different organs. Consequently, the antibiotic and anti-QA mAb combination gives a new effective strategy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa sepsis, particularly when large numbers of exceptionally virulent strains are present. © 2021 Elsevier Lt