New Approaches for Isolation and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane vesicles secreted by cells and distributed widely in all biofluids. Extracellular vesicles can modulate the biological activities of the recipient cells. Due to their role in intercellular communication, they are receiving attention for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The first step to better understand EVs and to utilize them as therapeutic and diagnostic tools is to purify them from a variety of biofluids. Membranes have been extensively used for purification of different biological species from biological fluids. As the first aim, a novel microfluidic system, termed as tangential flow for analyte capture (TFAC) was developed to isolate nanoparticles and EVs using ultrathin nanomembranes. Ultrathin nanomembranes were found well-suited for TFAC system when compared with conventional thickness membranes. TFAC also proved feasible for capturing of EVs from undiluted plasma. Fluorescent labeling of EVs has been employed for studying uptake and biodistribution of EVs. However, far too little attention has been paid to the effect of the fluorescent labeling on the size of EVs. In the second aim, the effect of PKH labeling, the most commonly used dye, on the size of EVs was systematically evaluated by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). PKH labeling did not preserve the size of EVs and caused a size increase in all the PKH labeling conditions tested. The observed size shift may alter the uptake and biodistribution of EVs, suggesting that PKH labeling is not a reliable technique. Precise quantification and characterization of EVs is an important step towards utilizing them as therapeutic and diagnostic tools. EVs have been analyzed using bulk techniques such as western blot which is challenging due to the heterogeneity of EVs. Therefore, a robust and well-established technique for quantification and characterization of individual EVs is required. As the third aim, the efficacy of a virus detection technology for EVs was evaluated. Virus Counter 3100 (VC3100) is a fluorescence-based technique with similar principles as flow cytometry and was purpose-built for detection of small nanoparticles such as viruses. Due to the similarity in size and density of viruses and EVs in many biofluids, it was hypothesized that the VC3100 could detect EVs similarly to flow cytometry characterization of cells. Fluorescently labeled EVs from different sources were successfully quantified by the VC3100. Furthermore, VC3100 was also used to determine the expression level of target protein markers. Therefore, VC3100 is a powerful technique for precise quantification and protein profiling of EVs

Lagrange multiplier and Wess-Zumino variable as large extra dimensions in the torus universe

We study the effect of the topology of universe by gauging the non-relativistic particle model on the torus and 3-torus, using the symplectic formalism of constrained systems and embedding those models on extended phase-spaces. Also, we obtain the generators of the gauge transformations for gauged models. Extracting the corresponding Poisson structure of the existed constraints, we show the effect of the topology on the canonical structure of the phase-spaces of those models and suggest some phenomenology to prove the topology of the universe and probable non-commutative structure of the space. In addition, we show that the number of large extra dimensions in the Phase-spaces of the gauged embeded models are exactly two. Moreover, in the classical form, we talk over MOND theory in order to study the origin of the terms appeared in the gauged theory, which modify the Newton's second law.Comment: Major revision: text and contents corrected and recovered thanks to unknown journal referee. Many refs added. Final version which will be published in the journa

Out-of-pocket costs analysis of ifosfamide, epirubicin, and etoposide (IEV) and etoposide, solu-medrol-methylprednisolone, high-dose ara-C-cytarabine, and platinol-cisplatin (ESHAP) regimens in the patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma in Iran

BACKGROUND: This is an out-of-pocket costs analysis of ifosfamide, epirubicin, and etoposide (IEV) and etoposide, solu-medrol-methylprednisolone, high-dose ara-C-cytarabine, and platinol-cisplatin (ESHAP) drug regimens in treatment of lymphoma in Iran.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Shiraz City. Data were collected using a data-collection form. The social perspective was used to collect cost data. Three types of costs were measured, medical direct costs, non-medical direct costs, and indirect costs.RESULTS: 65 patients were treated with these two methods; 27 patients were treated with IEV and 38 with ESHAP. Moreover, the mean direct cost in IEV and ESHAP regimens in 2014 were 1191.10 ± 610.74 and 1819.57 ± 789.73 United States dollars (USD), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: In this study, costs in the IEV regimen were significantly lower than the ESHAP regimen. This was particularly caused by an earlier discharge of patients under IEV regimen; since these patients experienced a trend toward less neutropenia and, hence, had a trend toward fewer hospitalization days, the related cost was 3451.76 USD with savings of 6479.61 USD compared with the ESHAP regimen. Overall, most of patient’s income was spent on out-of-pocket costs for all expenditures incurred because of lymphoma

Evaluating Liquefaction Potential using OCDI and Robertson Wride Methods in Parts of Bandar Abbas’ Shahid Rajaei Port

In this paper, in addition to using the results of SPT and CPT tests performed at two different points of the site for Shahid Rajaei Port Development Project and using OCDI and Robertson and Wride methods, liquefaction potential of the area is evaluated. For this evaluation, earthquake magnitude and acceleration were considered to be 7 and 0.37g, respectively. Comparing the results of this evaluation, we found that with such incentive, the soil of this region has liquefaction. Thus, it is necessary that a suitable method be provided to enhance the soil of the project region. Given the fact that in previous phases, dynamic operations have been used for soil treatment and required equipment are available in laboratory, it is recommended that dynamic compression be used