ENCAPSULATION AND CONTROLLED RELEASE OF rh-ERYTHROPOIETIN FROM BIOPOLYMER NANOPARTICLES

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is a glycoprotein, which is produced commercially from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. It is used for chronic therapy of renal anemia and chemotherapy-induced anemia in cancer patients. Recent evidence suggests that rh-EPO exerts tissue protective effects via multiple mechanisms which include inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of angiogenesis and decreased inflammation. After Intra Venus (I.V.) injection, the blood concentration of rh-EPO rapidly decreases due to proteolysis with a short half-life of 8.5 h, which makes treatment expensive. It is desirable to develop an encapsulation method which will provide a controlled release of rh-EPO and maintain the desirable concentration levels in the blood for longer time. Nanoparticles encapsulated rh-EPO can also be used for direct injection to specific tissues/organs, where sustainable concentration of rh-EPO are desirable In this thesis, we report the production of biopolymer nanoparticles (BNP) with the following methods: (a) emulsification-evaporation (b) ionotropic gelation of the biopolymer chitosan with tripolyphosphate (TPP). The nanoparticle size distribution in aqueous solution was measured using Dynamic Light Scattering system. Three different methods were used and compared for the measurement of rh-EPO concentration in PBS aqueous solution, namely, Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and Fluorometry. A series of experiments were performed on the encapsulation of rh-EPO in chitosan biopolymer nanopartciles using the iontropic gelation method with TPP. Rates of release of rh-EPO encapsulated in chitosan-TPP nanoparticles were measured in Phosphate Buffered Saline solution (PBS). The concentration versus time release data were used with second order diffusion equation to estimate the effective diffusivity of rh-EPO in chitosan-TPP nanoparticles. It was concluded that the chitosan-TPP biopolymer nanoparticles were the best method for the encapsulation of rh-EPO

A glance on love & infidelity in "Captive" composed by Foroogh Farrokhzad

Love and amorous relations, infidelity, and disloyalty are inseparable parts of the modern human's life and are considered as social problems in human relations in communities. In conflict of the genders among the people the most conspicuous evidence is "ardent desire for love". Humans get married because of love and their intrinsic need for coexistence and separate from each other due to quench of love thirst resulted from change in attitudes, etc…Love is the sole standing where humans may find a true understanding of themselves and join other humans. Love is both disappointing and comforting at the same time. It is a powerful force that obeys its unique rules and reveals its messages in people's expectations and behavioral patterns. infidelity is defined as the establishment of sexual relations between two individuals from opposite sex outside the family relations that starts with infidelity and its major motivation is enjoyment. Establishing these relations is not possible without resorting to telling lie. Foroogh Farrokhzad as one of the contemporary female poets composed a collection of poems including 44 poems entitled "Captive" in 1952 in which the pain of love and infidelity is felt from every word.Thus, the present research paper reviews her attitude about these two components -love and infidelity - through analyzing some of her poems in this collection and illustrates a different aspect of these themes. Love is illustrated as a pure spiritual desire that even its memorial gives a fresh life to the lover. She believes that infidelity is offering this pure love incarnated in body to the beloved who does not know anything except physical enjoyment.Keywords: Foroogh, Love, Infidelity, Woman, Ma

A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of self-attachment to treat chronic anxiety and/or depression in Iranian women

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of the new Self-Attachment Technique (SAT) in treating resistant anxiety and depression, lasting at least three years, among Iranian women from different social backgrounds. In this intervention, the participant, using their childhood photos, imaginatively creates an affectional bond with their childhood self, vows to consistently support and lovingly re-raise this child to emotional well-being. We conducted a longitudinal study with repeated measurement to evaluate the efficacy of SAT using ANOVA. Thirty-eight women (N=30) satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited from different parts of Tehran. To describe the SAT protocols, a total of eight one-to-one sessions were offered to the recruits, the first four were weekly while the last four were fortnightly. The participants were expected to practice the protocols for twenty minutes twice a day. Two questionnaires, GAD-7 and PHQ-9, were used to measure anxiety and depression levels before and after the intervention and in a three-month follow-up. Thirty women completed the course. The change in the anxiety level between the pre-test and the post-test was significant at p<0.001 with effect size 2.6. The change in anxiety between pre-test and follow-up test was also significant at p<0.001 with effect size 3.0 respectively. The change in anxiety between the post-test and the follow-up was significant at p<0.05 with effect size 0.6. For depression, the change between the pre-test and the post-test or the follow-up was significant at p<0.001 with effect size 2.5 for each

Incidence of pressure ulcer in patients who were admitted to open heart cardiac surgery intensive care unit

Background and aims: Cardiac surgery patients are at high risk of pressure ulcers. In the present study, we determined the incidence of pressure ulcer in patients who were admitted to open heart cardiac surgery intensive care unit and related risk factors. Methods: With using convenience sampling all the eligible patients who were admitted to Boali cardiac surgery during June to August 2015 were invited to participate in this study. Patients’ skins were assessed using pressure ulcer staging system developed by National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) and Braden scale before operation, after operation (in time of cardiac intensive care unit admission) and one times per day to patients discharge for sign of pressure ulcer development. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test and independent t-test in SPSS 20.0 statistical software. Results: During 3 months, 70 patients who were eligible were admitted to cardiac intensive care unit. From all, in 32 (45.7%) patient’s pressure ulcer was seen. From those, 41.4% were in stage I and 4.3% were in stage II. Mean score of Braden score in time of ICU admission was 11.1±2.3 and 15.1±2.3 in patients with and without pressure ulcer development (P<0.001). Factors such as lower Braden Scale score (P=0.001), diabetes (P=0.01), hypertension (P=0.001), NPO time after surgery (P=0.006), mean time of surgery (P=0.007), mean time of need to mechanical ventilation after surgery (P=0.003), low ejection fraction (P=0.006) and lower level of hemoglobin after surgery (P=0.012) increased the risk of pressure ulcer development significantly. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that patients who were admitted to open heart cardiac surgery intensive care unit are at high risk of pressure ulcer development. Medical and care-giving teams in the cardiac intensive care unit need further education about risk factors of pressure ulcer development to prevent this

Detection of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA in the plasma of Iranian HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a marker of HBV replication in the liver of patients infected with HBV. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence of cccDNA in the plasma samples of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and HBV viral load and HBsAg levels. Patients and Methods: From April 2012 to May 2015, 106 treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The HBsAg titer was measured by the Roche HBsAg II assay on the Cobas e411 system, and HBV DNA quantitation was performed using the COBAS TaqMan 48 kit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of HBV cccDNA. Results: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 41.1 ± 12.4 years (range, 20 - 62 years). From a total of 106 study participants, 67 (63.2) were males. The HBV cccDNA was detected in plasma specimens in 19 (17.9) out of the total 106 patients, and a significant relationship was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of males (23.9) and females (7.7) (P = 0.039). Also, a significant correlation was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of the patients and HBV viral load level (P < 0.0001) and HBsAg titer (P = 0.0043). Conclusions: This study showed that cccDNA can be detected in the plasma specimen of 17.9 of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Therefore, designing prospective studies focusing on the detection of cccDNA in these patients would provide more information. © 2015, Kowsar Corp

The prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus in the genital tract of males in Iran

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral sexually-transmitted infection. Despite HPV infection is associated with several malignant disorders including penile and anal cancers, little is known about the epidemiology of HPV infection in males, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infection and its genotype distribution among Iranian males. Patients and Methods: Between March 2009 and April 2014, a total number of 483 males, referred to Iran University of Medical Sciences-affiliated sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinics, were enrolled in this study. Following DNA extraction, HPV detection and genotyping were performed using INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay. To analyze the association of HPV infection and age, the logistic regression was employed. Results: No statistical association between HPV infection and age was observed (P = 0.469). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant correlation between HR HPV infection and age (P = 0.330). Conclusions: In this investigation, the prevalence of HPV infection was relatively substantial. Totally, 17 different HPV genotypes were detected and the most frequently detected genotypes were HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18 and HPV52, respectively. The data from this study is essential for planning future public health strategies including HPV vaccination programs. © 2015, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in cancer, organ transplant and primary immunodeficiency patients in Tehran, Iran

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection in immunodeficient patients especially those with impaired cellular immunity, like neoplasia, renal or heart transplant needs careful consideration. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in different group of patients including cancer patients; organ transplants recipients, and primary immunodeficiency patients. Methods: Stool samples from 190 patients including 80 patients with Primary Immunodeficiency, 85 cancer patients and 25 organ transplant recipients were collected; a direct examination with Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and formalin ether concentration was performed. The DNA was extracted from parasitologically confirmed patients and nested PCR and sequencing was performed and new obtained sequences of Cryptosporidium parvum and Enterocytozoon bieneusi were compared with deposited ones. Results: In general, the prevalence of parasites was 26/80 (32.5) in primary immunodeficiency, 22/85(25.9) in cancer group, and 7/25 (28) in organ transplant. The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in primary immunodeficiency patients were Blastocystis hominis 13 (16.2), Giardia lamblia 10 (12.5), Cryptosporidium 1(1.2), Chilomastix mesnilii 1 (1.2), Dientamoeba fragilis 1(1.2). Of 25 organ transplants, 6 (24) Cryptosporidium sp were found, all of which were confirmed as Cryptosporidium parvum and one case of Microspora in a heart transplant recipient was confirmed as Enterocytozoon bieneusi by PCR sequencing. The predominant intestinal parasitic infection in cancer patients was 19 (22.3) Blastocystis hominis followed by two (2.3) Giardia lamblia and one Dientamoeba fragilis 1 (1.1). Conclusion: The high rate of infection with Blastocystis hominis was found in cancer patients especially colorectal cancer patients, so careful consideration should be given by physicians. Cryptosporidium sp was found to be the major cause of parasitic intestinal infection in patients with organ transplant compared to primary immunodeficiency patients; so transplant recipients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy should be considered as a risk group for acquiring microsporidiosis and Cryptosporidium infection. © 2019, Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention