Electrospun ZnO/Poly(Vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) scaffolds for lung tissue engineering

Due to the morbidity and lethality of pulmonary diseases, new biomaterials and scaffolds are needed to support the regeneration of lung tissues, while ideally providing protective effects against inflammation and microbial aggression. In this study, we investigated the potential of nanocomposites of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO), in the form of electrospun fiber meshes for lung tissue engineering. We focused on their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and mechanoelectrical character according to different fiber mesh textures (i.e., collected at 500 and 4000 rpm) and compositions: (0/100) and (20/80) w/w% ZnO/P(VDF-TrFE), plain and composite, respectively. The scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphological, physicochemical, mechanical, and piezoelectric properties, as well as biological response of A549 alveolar epithelial cells in presence of lung-infecting bacteria. By virtue of ZnO, the composite scaffolds showed a strong anti-inflammatory response in A549 cells, as demonstrated by a significant decrease of interleukin (IL) IL-1a, IL-6, and IL-8 expression in 6 h. In all the scaffold types, but remarkably in the aligned composite ones, transforming growth factor b (TGF-b) and the antimicrobial peptide human b defensin-2 (HBD-2) were significantly increased. The ZnO/P(VDF-TrFE) electrospun fiber meshes hindered the biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the cell/scaffold constructs were able to impede S. aureus adhesion and S. aureus and P. aeruginosa invasiveness, independent of the scaffold type. The data obtained suggested that the composite scaffolds showed potential for tunable mechanical properties, in the range of alveolar walls and fibers. Finally, we also showed good piezoelectricity, which is a feature found in elastic and collagen fibers, the main extracellular matrix molecules in lungs. The combination of all these properties makes ZnO/P(VDF-TrFE) fiber meshes promising for lung repair and regeneration

Assessing the Mediating Role of Depression in the Relationship Between Feeling of Loneliness and Social Functioning in the Elderly [بررسی نقش میانجی افسردگی در ارتباط بین احساس تنهایی با عملکرد اجتماعی سالمندان شهر بوشهر]

Objectives Due to the rapid growth of the elderly population, it is very important to pay attention to their mental health indicators including feeling of loneliness, social functions and depression. This study aims to determine the mediating role of depression in the relationship between feeling of loneliness and social functioning in the elderly. Methods & Materials In this correlational cross-sectional study, 318 older adults covered by the comprehensive health centers in Bushehr, south of Iran in 2018 were selected using a simple random sampling method. To collect data, Russell’s UCLA loneliness scale (version 3), and Goldberg’s general health questionnaire (Depression and social dysfunction subscales) were used. We applied the partial least squaresstructural equation modeling to analyze the data in PLS Graph version 3.00 software. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results The mean age of the participants was 66.74±5.87 years; 55.3% were male and the rest were female. The results showed that feeling of loneliness directly (β=0.199, P<0.01) and through mediation by depression (β=0.183, P<0.001) could cause social dysfunction. Felling of loneliness and depression together explained 20% of the variance in social dysfunction. The outer and inner model fit indices indicated the models’ good fit. Conclusion Feeling of loneliness directly or by causing depression can reduce the social functioning of the elderly. The results of this study can be used in designing effective interventions to increase the social functioning of the elderly © 2022, Iranian Journal of Ageing.All Rights Reserved

A practice-specificity-based model of arousal for achieving peak performance

The authors propose a practice-specificity-based model of arousal for achieving peak performance. The study included 37 healthy male physical education students whom they randomly assigned to a high-arousal (n = 19) or low-arousal group (n = 18). To manipulate participants' level of arousal, the authors used motivational techniques. They used heart rate and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (R. Martens, 1977) to measure the level of arousal that participants achieved. At the determined and given arousal state, the 2 groups performed the task (basketball free throws) for 18 sessions. Both groups performed a retention test at the 2 arousal levels immediately after the last exercise session, in the posttest, and after 10 days. Results showed that both groups learned the task similarly and achieved their peak performance at their experienced arousal level. When tested at an arousal level that differed from the one that they experienced throughout practice sessions, participants' performance had deteriorated significantly. Performance of the task seemed to have integrated with the arousal level of the participants during the task learning. The findings of this study suggest a practice-specificity-based explanation for achieving peak performance. Copyright © 2007 Heldref Publications

Effects of different oxygen level on growth and muscle composition in two weight groups of great surgeon Huso huso

The aim of the present study was to evaluate water oxygen concentration on growth and muscle composition of great sturgeon, Huso huso, in two weight groups (initial weight 280.9±49.2 and 1217.9±138.1). Oxygen treatments including hypoxia (2-3 mg/l), normoxia (5-6 mg/l) and hyperoxia (9-10 mg/l) were prepared by adjusting inflowing water and utilizing equipments for providing hyperoxygenation (pure oxygen injected). Fish were acclimated to experimental tank for one week, then each group were randomly distributed in 9 tanks (3 fish per tank in higher weight group and 6 fish per tank for lower one) for 8 weeks and then growth parameters were determined. There were significant differences between treatments for Wt, WG, BWI, FI and SGR in both groups and CF in higher weight group (P0.05) but wet and fat showed significant differences between treatments in higher weight group(P<0.05). Results indicate thathigh oxygen level has a direct effecton growth performance of great sturgeon, so it is recommended for great sturgeon

Iranome: A catalogue of genomic variations in the Iranian population

Considering the application of human genome variation databases in precision medicine, population-specific genome projects are continuously being developed. However, the Middle Eastern population is underrepresented in current databases. Accordingly, we established Iranome database (www.iranome.com) by performing whole exome sequencing on 800 individuals from eight major Iranian ethnic groups representing the second largest population of Middle East. We identified 1,575,702 variants of which 308,311 were novel (19.6%). Also, by presenting higher frequency for 37,384 novel or known rare variants, Iranome database can improve the power of molecular diagnosis. Moreover, attainable clinical information makes this database a good resource for classifying pathogenicity of rare variants. Principal components analysis indicated that, apart from Iranian-Baluchs, Iranian-Turkmen, and Iranian-Persian Gulf Islanders, who form their own clusters, rest of the population were genetically linked, forming a super-population. Furthermore, only 0.6% of novel variants showed counterparts in "Greater Middle East Variome Project", emphasizing the value of Iranome at national level by releasing a comprehensive catalog of Iranian genomic variations and also filling another gap in the catalog of human genome variations at international level. We introduce Iranome as a resource which may also be applicable in other countries located in neighboring regions historically called Greater Iran (Persia)

Prevalence of mechanical dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with different QRS durations

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has emerged as an established therapy for congestive heart failure. However, up to 30 of patients fail to respond to CRT despite prolonged QRS. Objectives: This study aimed at defining the prevalence of interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony in heart failure patients with different QRS durations. Methods: A total of 123 consecutive patients with severe heart failure (LVEF < 35 and NYHA class III-IV) were prospectively evaluated using 12-lead electrocardiogram and complete echocardiographic examination including tissue Doppler imaging. Results: According to the QRS duration, 56 patients had a QRS duration �120 ms (Group 1), 33 patients had a QRS duration between 120 and 150 ms (Group 2), and 34 patients had a QRS duration �150 ms (Group 3). Intraventricular dyssynchrony was present in 36 of Group 1 patients, in 58 of Group 2 patients, and in 79 of Group 3 patients (P < 0.000). Linear regression demonstrated a weak relation between QRS and intraventricular dyssynchrony. A greater proportion of patients with interventricular dyssynchrony was observed in Group 3 or Group 2 compared to patients with normal QRS duration (32 in Group 1 vs. 51.5 in Group 2 vs. 76.5 in Group 3, P < 0.000). Linear regression demonstrated a significant relation between QRS duration and interventricular mechanical delay. Conclusions: Although both interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony increased with the increasing QRS duration, the correlation between intraventricular mechanical and electrical dyssynchrony was weak. The lack of intraventricular dyssynchrony in a fraction of patients with standard CRT indication by QRS duration may provide us insight into the nonresponders rates. © 2007, The Authors

Effects of metabolic syndrome on bone health in older adults: the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program

Summary: Based on the clinical, BMD, and TBS data of 2380 participants aged ≥ 60 which was gathered during the BEH program, stage II, we showed that MetS was positively associated with BMD, while a negative or no association was observed between MetS and TBS depending on the sex and the adjustment model. Introduction: The results of previous reports in regard to the effect of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on bone health are not conclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the association between MetS with bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) as an indicator of bone quantity and quality, respectively. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, this study was carried out based on the data collected during the BEH Program, stage II. MetS was defined according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. BMD (at the lumbar spine and the hip) and lumbar spine TBS were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry device. Results: The data of 2380 participants (women = 1228, men = 1152) aged ≥ 60 were analyzed. In the fully adjusted regression models (including BMI), significant associations between MetS and mean BMD were observed across all locations in men (P values ≤ 0.001) and in the lumbar spine in women (P value = 0.003). In addition, the prevalence of osteoporosis (based on BMD) was significantly lower in those with MetS than those without MetS in both sexes, even after full adjustments (women, OR = 0.707, P value = 0.013; men, OR = 0.563, P value = 0.001). In contrast, in age-adjusted regression analyses, the prevalence of degraded bone microarchitecture (TBS ≤ 1.2) was significantly increased in those with MetS than those without, irrespective of the participants’ sex (P values < 0.05). The mean TBS was also negatively associated with MetS in women (β = − 0.075, P value = 0.007) but not in men (β = − 0.052, P value = 0.077), in age-adjusted regression models. However, after including BMI in the adjusted models, all significant associations between TBS values and MetS disappeared. Conclusion: It seems that a positive association exists between MetS and BMD, while MetS is either not associated or negatively correlated with bone quality as measured by TBS

Creation of cryopreservation bank of bony fish

In this study, 11 male of Caspian trout (Salmo truta caspius) (with mean length and weight 37/8 ± 5/3 cm and 523/3 ± 24/7 respectively) and 23 male of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) (with mean length and weight 36/1 ± 7/1 cm and 631/3 ± 21/6 g respectively) were evaluated. All the fish were good at the initial examination of sexual maturity. After sperm sampling, their quality were tested. In this step, the parameters such as motility, duration of mobility, density, pH and osmolality were measured. After this stage, the sperm samples of Caspian trout in the ratio 1: 3 were diluted with the aqueous solution containing compounds (0.3M Glucose, 10% Methanol, 10% egg yolk) and the freezing process was done manually and the sperm was frozen in liquid nitrogen. The sperm samples of Caspian kutums were diluted (ratio of 1: 3) with two soluble diluent containing compounds (350 mM glucose, 30 mM Tris and 4% Polyethylene glycol) and (350 mM glucose, 30 mM Tris and 2% Glycerol) and were frizzed automatically by Planner Kryo instrument and placed in liquid nitrogen. The sperm samples were thawed 1 to 3 months after the date of first freezing and their quality were assessed by measuring percent and timing motility. The results showed that the obtained semen volume of Caspian trout was more than Caspian kutum. Moreover, percentage of motile sperm, timing motility and sperm density of Caspian trout were higher than those of Caspian kutum but osmolality and pH of Caspian trout were lower than those of Caspian kutum. Over time, the percentage of sperm motility and mobility for both species declined compared with fresh samples. After thawing, percentage of motile sperm and timing motility of Caspian kutum were lower than those factors Caspian trout. The results showed that the sample of Caspian kutum sperm that were diluted by ethylene glycol after thawing and were immotile ll of them. However, the samples were diluted by glycerol, after thawing, were alive and motile. According to the results, it seems very important species differences that must be fully considered in the process of freezing sperm. The use of a single protocol would not be successful in cryopreservation because the reaction of sperm against to chemical agents is variable. Therefore, it is essential to get the right information to protect valuable Caspian fish by using cryopreservation. Further studies on the characteristics of each species, as well as the freezing process take appropriate diluent