Evaluation and Optimization of Acanthophyllum Extract in Washing of the Historical Textiles

Contamination is an unwanted threat, which affects the health and the artistic features of a piece of textile. One of the most important concerns in the area of protection of historical woven fabrics is the presentation and use of safe materials and methods for the historic works. So far, many researchers have been working on this field and have caused a lot of changes in this field. The purpose of this research is to apply Acanthophyllum extract to the cleaning and washing of historical cotton fabrics. For this purpose, after preparing the Acanthophyllum, using the Soxhlet method, the extract of hydro-alcoholic was obtained. The extract was applied, as a detergent, to the prepared contaminated samples in the washing step. In the washing process, all constant independent variables were concerned, and only three concentrations of extract, washing frequency and times were considered in the design of the test, using a Central Composite Design (CCD). The detection of delta DE* by spectrophotometer as a dependent variable expresses the effect of extract cleansing rate. The results show that extract concentrations, washing frequency and time are most effective in cleaning the contamination. However, the adopted washing process and the applied materials had the least impact on reducing the strength of the fabric

Stress Level and Smoking Status in Central Iran: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

<p class="abstract"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Individuals are faced with numerous stressful life events which can negatively influence mental health. Many individuals use smoking as a means of confronting stress. Given the relatively high prevalence of smoking in central Iran, the present study was conducted to compare stress levels in smokers, non-smokers and those who had quit smoking.</p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; METHODS:</strong><strong> </strong>This study was conducted as part of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Program on 9752 individuals in the cities of Isfahan, Arak, and Najafabad in 2008. Sampling was performed using multi-stage cluster randomization method. Data on age, sex, demographic characteristics, and smoking status was collected through interviews. Stress level detected by General Health questionnaire.Logistic regression and chi- squere test was used for data analyzing<strong>.</strong></p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; RESULTS:</strong> In the present study, 30% of non-smokers, 32.1% ex- smoker and 36.9% of smokers had GHQ of 4 and higher (P = 0.01). In regression analysis, the final model which was controlled for age, sex, socioeconomic statues (including place of residence, marital status and education level) showed that the odds ratio of stress in smokers and ex- smoker was significantly higher than in non-smokers (OR = 1.66 and OR = 1.12, respectively).<strong></strong></p> <p class="abstract"><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Since in conducted studies, mental problems and stresses have had an important role in people&rsquo;s smoking, it seems suitable to use the results of this study to present intervention for correct methods of coping with stress towards reducing the prevalence of smoking in the community.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Keywords:</strong> Cigarette, Stress, Community-based Program.</p

Analyzing the Trend of The Temperature Parameters Related to The Central Plateau of Iran Using a Time Series of Satellite Data

IntroductionThe temperature of the earth has been rising by about 0.74 degrees Celsius over the past century. A gradual increase in the average annual temperature has been reported by many researchers worldwide, while other reports suggest a decrease in this parameter. The assumption is that there will be more areas of the world experiencing higher temperatures. The climate changes are effectively represented by temperature changes, which is considered one of the main indicators in climate studies. The chemical composition of the atmosphere has changed because of the increase in human industrial activities, so it is responsible for unprecedented changes in the global climate in the past century. The increase in greenhouse gas concentration is the cause of this change. The evidence indicates that the increase in atmospheric gas concentration has caused a significant increase in global temperature. The use of thermal data from sensors is widely used in the study of terrestrial phenomena, as indicated by many studies. The temperature of the earth's surface is directly and indirectly linked to all human activities. It is still not possible to calculate the temperature of the earth's surface with perfect and accurate methods, but some sensors with suitable temporal, spectral, and spatial performance are able to take photos of the entire surface of the Earth. The study is more important due to the fact that various species of animals, such as Jebeer (belonging to the Bovidae), are exposed to climate changes in arid and desert areas. Due to its impact on humans, other creatures, and the entire environment, it is imperative to pay attention to climate change nowadays. In this regard, the main aim of the current study is to evaluate the LST (Land Surface Temperature) trends, changes, and temperature threats of the land surface in the Central Plateau of Iran. Time series remote sensing data of the MODIS (MOD11A2) sensor and Terra satellite, in 8 days with spatial resolution of 1km from 2002 to 2018 have been used. Material and Methods The current study has been focused on the central plateau of Iran. The central plateau of Iran lies within the arid lands belt of the northern hemisphere. The current study has been attempting to extract exact information from the images by employing specific techniques. To achieve this goal, the MOD11A2 product of Terra satellite MODIS sensor, the trend of temperature changes and time series construction of the significance of Man Kendall methods and linear correlation parameters such as maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature, minimum annually temperature for daily and nightly temperature were used in TerrSet software and Earth Trends Modeler section to extract significant increasing and decreasing areas. After identifying some parts of provinces with significant temperatures based on analysis and results, we can identify the vital numerical value of the temperature in each pixel of those significant parts in the next stage. This can be achieved by utilizing the difference between the final temperature and the initial temperature. Trend analysis was used to simulate daily and nightly temperature changes for parameters of maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature and minimum annual temperature. Results and DiscussionDaily temperature data in the Central Plateau of Iran, which includes monthly minimum temperature, annual minimum temperature, monthly maximum temperature, annual maximum temperature based on monthly maximum temperature, monthly median temperature and annual maximum temperature based on monthly median temperature, common in Semnan and Isfahan provinces, showed a significant increase in linear correlation according to the results. In Isfahan province, the linear correlation decreased significantly between the maximum annual temperature based on the maximum monthly temperature and the median monthly temperature. There was no significant trend in other provinces. The linear correlation between temperature data in Isfahan and Semnan provinces, including the minimum monthly, minimum annual, maximum annual, and median monthly temperature, decreased significantly. The linear correlation between average annual temperature, average monthly temperature, maximum annual temperature determined by maximum monthly temperature, average monthly temperature, and maximum annual temperature determined by median monthly temperature increased significantly in Yazd and Isfahan provinces. No significant trends were observed in other provinces. To estimate the amount and approximate number of significant increases and decreases, simulations of temperature changes were conducted. The range and approximate range of numbers for significant increase and decrease in temperature were calculated in degrees Celsius. In all analyses, the parts with higher temperatures had a reddish color. The intensity of the red color increased as the temperature increased, and as the temperature decreased, the red color became fainter and turned blue. The central plateau of Iran recorded a maximum temperature of 44C°and a minimum temperature of -7C°according to this study. The central plateau of Iran has three main provinces, which include Isfahan, Semnan, and Yazd. Considering the temperatures mentioned for these three provinces, the temperatures obtained from this study are very similar, which means that the conducted study is approved to a large extent. Animals are considered to be at risk due to temperature changes. Future research should emphasize the impact of climate change and temperature increase on the living conditions of various animals, particularly those found on the central plateau of Iran

Molecular networking-based analysis of cytotoxic saponins from sea cucumber holothuria atra

The saponin composition of a specimen of black sea cucumber, Holothuria atra collected in the Persian Gulf was studied by a combined approach including LC-MS/MS, Molecular Networking,pure compound isolation, and NMR spectroscopy. The saponin composition of Holothuria atra turned out to be more complex than previously reported. The most abundant saponins in the extract (1–4) were isolated and characterized by 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. Compound 1 was identified as a new triterpene glycoside saponin, holothurin A5. The side chain of the new saponin 1, unprecedented among triterpene glycosides, is characterized by an electrophilic enone function, which can undergo slow water or methanol addition under neutral conditions. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1–4, evaluated on the human cervix carcinoma HeLa cell line, was remarkable, with IC50 values ranging from 1.2 to 2.5 ug/mL

Neuropharmacological Potential of Diterpenoid Alkaloids

This study provides a narrative review of diterpenoid alkaloids (DAs), a family of extremely important natural products found predominantly in some species of Aconitum and Delphinium (Ranunculaceae). DAs have long been a focus of research attention due to their numerous intricate structures and diverse biological activities, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). These alkaloids originate through the amination reaction of tetra or pentacyclic diterpenoids, which are classified into three categories and 46 types based on the number of carbon atoms in the backbone structure and structural differences. The main chemical characteristics of DAs are their heterocyclic systems containing β-aminoethanol, methylamine, or ethylamine functionality. Although the role of tertiary nitrogen in ring A and the polycyclic complex structure are of great importance in drug-receptor affinity, in silico studies have emphasized the role of certain sidechains in C13, C14, and C8. DAs showed antiepileptic effects in preclinical studies mostly through Na+ channels. Aconitine (1) and 3-acetyl aconitine (2) can desensitize Na+ channels after persistent activation. Lappaconitine (3), N-deacetyllapaconitine (4), 6-benzoylheteratisine (5), and 1-benzoylnapelline (6) deactivate these channels. Methyllycaconitine (16), mainly found in Delphinium species, possesses an extreme affinity for the binding sites of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) and contributes to a wide range of neurologic functions and the release of neurotransmitters. Several DAs such as bulleyaconitine A (17), (3), and mesaconitine (8) from Aconitum species have a drastic analgesic effect. Among them, compound 17 has been used in China for decades. Their effect is explained by increasing the release of dynorphin A, activating the inhibitory noradrenergic neurons in the β-adrenergic system, and preventing the transmission of pain messages by inactivating the Na+ channels that have been stressed. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, neuroprotective, antidepressant, and anxiolytic activities are other CNS effects that have been investigated for certain DAs. However, despite various CNS effects, recent advances in developing new drugs from DAs were insignificant due to their neurotoxicity

Enhanced synergistic antitumor effect of a DNA vaccine with anticancer cytokine, MDA-7/IL-24, and immune checkpoint blockade

MDA-7/IL-24 cytokine has shown potent antitumor properties in various types of cancer without exerting any significant toxicity on healthy cells. It has also been proved to encompass pro-immune Th1 cytokine-like behavior. Several E7 DNA vaccines have developed against human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cervical cancer. However, the restricted immunogenicity has limited their clinical applications individually. To address this deficiency, we investigated whether combining the E7 DNA vaccine with MDA-7/IL-24 as an adjuvant would elicit efficient antitumor responses in tumor-bearing mouse models. Next, we evaluated how suppression of immunosuppressive IL-10 cytokine would enhance the outcome of our candidate adjuvant vaccine. Methods For this purpose, tumor-bearing mice received either E7 DNA vaccine, MDA-7/IL-24 cytokine or combination of E7 vaccine with MDA-7/IL-24 adjuvant one week after tumor challenge and boosted two times with one-week interval. IL-10 blockade was performed by injection of anti-IL-10 mAb before each immunization. One week after the last immunization, mice were sacrificed and the treatment efficacy was evaluated through immunological and immunohistochemical analysis. Moreover, the condition of tumors was monitored every two days for six weeks intervals from week 2 on, and the tumor volume was measured and compared within different groups. Results A highly significant synergistic relationship was observed between the E7 DNA vaccine and the MDA-7/IL-24 cytokine against HPV-16+ cervical cancer models. An increase in proliferation of lymphocytes, cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, the level of Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α) and IL-4, the level of apoptotic markers (TRAIL and caspase-9), and a decrease in the level of immunosuppressive IL-10 cytokine, together with the control of tumor growth and the induction of tumor regression, all prove the efficacy of adjuvant E7&IL-24 vaccine when compared to their individual administration. Surprisingly, vaccination with the DNA E7&IL-24 significantly reduced the population of Regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen of immunized mice compared to sole administration and control groups. Moreover, IL-10 blockade enhanced the effect of the co-administration by eliciting higher levels of IFN-γ and caspase-9, reducing Il-10 secretion and provoking the regression of tumor size. Conclusion The synergy between the E7 DNA vaccine and MDA-7/IL-24 suggests that DNA vaccines’ low immunogenicity can be effectively addressed by coupling them with an immunoregulatory agent. Moreover, IL-10 blockade can be considered a complementary treatment to improve the outcome of conventional or novel cancer therapies

Designing and Conducting a Course of Thinking and Research Methodology in Pharmacy

Introduction: Attention to professionalism in pharmacy on the one hand, and imposing the students to pass eight credits of dissertation, as well as lack of systematic principles of thinking and research in course syllabus from the other hand, emphasize on a need for including the course of thinking and research methodology in course syllabus of pharmacy. Methods: Through numerous structured interviews with academic members, graduated students and students of pharmacy, the needed outlines of the course were prepared and approved. Then, the course was taught in form of a one credit subject, and at the end of the course, student’s view points regarding this course was collected through a survey. Results: Approved outlines such as personal professional skills, research principles and methods were taught in the first semester of 2008-2009. The survey showed that in addition to students' satisfaction, they emphasized on increasing the number of its credits. Conclusion: This study not only showed a need among pharmacy students for a systematic thinking and research principles but proved the applicability and appropriateness of this course as well

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pinus eldarica Bark Extract

Recently, development of reliable experimental protocols for synthesis of metal nanoparticles with desired morphologies and sizes has become a major focus of researchers. Green synthesis of metal nanoparticles using organisms has emerged as a nontoxic and ecofriendly method for synthesis of metal nanoparticles. The objectives of this study were production of silver nanoparticles using Pinus eldarica bark extract and optimization of the biosynthesis process. The effects of quantity of extract, substrate concentration, temperature, and pH on the formation of silver nanoparticles are studied. TEM images showed that biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (approximately in the range of 10–40 nm) were predominantly spherical in shape. The preparation of nano-structured silver particles using P. eldarica bark extract provides an environmentally friendly option, as compared to currently available chemical and/or physical methods

Cytotoxicity of different extracts of arial parts of Ziziphus spina-christi on Hela and MDA-MB-468 tumor cells

Background: It has been shown that plants from the family Rhamnaceae possess anticancer activity. In this study, we sought to determine if Ziziphus spina-christi, a species from this family, has cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: Using maceration method, different extracts of leaves of Z. spina-christi were prepared. Hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9:1), methanol-water (7:1) methanol, butanol and water were used for extraction, after preliminary phytochemical analyses were done. The cytotoxic activity of the extracts against Hela and MDA-MB-468 tumor cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Briefly, cells were seeded in microplates and different concentrations of extracts were added. After incubation of cells for 72 h, their viability was evaluated by addition of tetrazolium salt solution. After 3 h medium was aspirated, dimethyl sulfoxide was added and absorbance was determined at 540 nm with an ELISA plate reader. Extracts were considered cytotoxic when more than 50% reduction on cell survival was observed. Results: Hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol, butanol, methanol-water and aqueous extracts of Z. spina-christi significantly and concentration-dependently reduced viability of Hela and MAD-MB-468 cells. In the both cell lines, chloroform-methanol extract of Z. spina-christi was more potent than the other extracts. Results: From the finding of this study it can be concluded that Z. spina-christi is a good candidate for further study for new cytotoxic agents