Adenosine and adenosine receptors in the immunopathogenesis and treatment of cancer

Tumor cells overcome anti-tumor responses in part through immunosuppressive mechanisms. There are several immune modulatory mechanisms. Among them, adenosine is an important factor which is generated by both cancer and immune cells in tumor microenvironment to suppress anti-tumor responses. Two cell surface expressed molecules including CD73 and CD39 catalyze the generation of adenosine from adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The generation of adenosine can be enhanced under metabolic stress like tumor hypoxic conditions. Adenosine exerts its immune regulatory functions through four different adenosine receptors including A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 which are expressed on various immune cells. Several studies have indicated the overexpression of adenosine generating enzymes and adenosine receptors in various cancers which was correlated with tumor progression. Since the signaling of adenosine receptors enhances tumor progression, their manipulation can be promising therapeutic approach in cancer therapy. Accordingly, several agonists and antagonists against adenosine receptors have been designed for cancer therapy. In this review, we will try to clarify the role of different adenosine receptors in the immunopathogenesis, as well as their role in the treatment of cancer.Not fundedAccepte

Promoting effect of nano hydroxyapatite and vitamin D3 on the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in polycaprolactone/gelatin scaffold for bone tissue engineering

Tissue engineering knowledge is a step towards the treatment of irreversible damages to human beings. In the present study, PCL/Gel, PCL/Gel/nHA, PCL/Gel/Vit D3 and PCL/Gel/nHA/Vit D3 (Polycaprolactone/Gelatin/Nanohydroxyapatite/Vitamin D3) composite scaffolds were successfully constructed using electrospinning method. The proliferation and differentiation of hADSCs into the bone phenotype were determined using MTT method, ALP activity, Von Kossa and Alizarin red staining, and qRT-PCR test. The simultaneous presence of nHA and vitamin D3 led to the increased activity of ALP in the early stages (on the 14th day) and increased mineralization in the late stages (on the 21st day) in differentiated hADSCs. Further, it was found that the use of nHA and vitamin D3 resulted in increased expression of BGLAP and COLL I and reduced expression of ALP and RUNX2 in hADSCs for 21 days. The results indicated that nHA and vitamin D3 have a synergistic effect on the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs.Peer reviewe

Causes of delay in construction projects: The case of oil and gas projects

Successful implementation of construction projects is one of the key factors for economic development of every country. Every year, a major part of the countries’ capital is allocated to civil and infrastructure projects, most of which are implemented with delay. Construction projects are often criticized for overrunning time and budgets. Analyzing the factors causing delay is essential with the aim of omitting them and timely implementation of these projects. Research to identify the reasons and causes of delays have been conducted in different countries and by various researches. In this paper, various research has studied different factors affecting construction projects delays have been studied. These factors have been identified in four groups consisted of owner, consultant, conductor, and other factors. Moreover, on account of the importance of oil and gas projects, the mentioned factors for these kinds of projects are taken into consideration. The results showed that change orders and changes in scope of work by owner, delay in reviewing of documents by consultant, inadequate experience and knowledge and errors during construction by contractor, and low productivity of laborer have been indicated as key factors comparing with the other as crucial factors causing delay in the oil and gas construction projects

Sympathetic skin response in chronic renal failure patients

زمینه و هدف: نوروپاتی یورومیک یکی از شایع ترین عوارض نارسایی مزمن کلیوی است که علاوه بر اختلال سیستم عصبی سمپاتیک، نوروپاتی محیطی نیز اتفاق می افتد. تست پاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی یک تست غیر تهاجمی و ســـاده جهت بررسی فعالیت غدد عرقی اکرین پوست در اثر تحریک سمپاتیکی می باشد. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی اختلال سیستم عصبی اتونوم در بیماران مبتلا به نارسایی کلیوی به وسیله تست SSR و مقایسه نتایج آن با علائم بالینی اتونومیک بود. مواد و روشها: در این مطالعه تست پاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی بر روی 35 فرد سالم و 31 فرد بیمار مبتلا به نارسایـی مزمـن کلیـــوی که همودیالیزمنظم می شدند انجام شد. نتایج: پاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی در12 فرد بیمار (7/38) محو ((Absent و در 23 فرد بیمار (74) غیر طبیعی بود. همبستگی خوبی بین تست پاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی غیر طبیعی و علائم دیس اتونومیک بالینی مشاهده نشد ولی به نظر می رسد که در نارسایی مزمن کلیوی غیر طبیعی شدن پاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی قبل از ظهور علائم بالینی دیس اتـــونومی رخ می دهـــد. سن، جنس،‌ طول مدت همودیالیز و طــــول تاریخچه نارسایی مزمن کلیوی بیمـــاران اثـــری روی پاسخ پوستـــی سمپاتیکی نداشت. ولی بــه نظر می رسد که تعــــداد دفعـــات دیالیز در هفتـــه روی پــــاسخ پوستی سمپاتیکی تأثیرگذار است. نتیجه گیری: می توان چنین نتیجه گرفت که در نارسایی مزمن کلیوی اختلال سیستم اتونومیکی محیطی شایع است و دیالیزکافی در بهبودی آن مؤثر می باشد.

Polycaprolactone-templated reduced-graphene oxide liquid crystal nanofibers towards biomedical applications

Here, we report a facile method to generate electrically conductive nanofibers by coating and subsequently chemically reducing graphene oxide (GO) liquid crystals on a polycaprolactone (PCL) mat.</p

Association of interleukin-4 polymorphisms with multiple sclerosis in southeastern Iranian patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immune system related factors are important in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Interleukin 4 (IL-4) as a helper T cell (2TH) cytokine is involved in the regulation of immune responses. Hence, this study was designed to explore the association between MS and polymorphisms in the -590 region of IL-4. DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive study at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsnajan from September 2009 to August 2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 100 MS patients and 150 healthy controls on EDTA precoated tubes. DNA was extracted and analyzed for IL-4 polymorphisms using restricted fragment length polymorphism in patients and controls. Demographic data were also collected by a questionnaire that was designed specifically for this study. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in the C/C, T/C, and T/T genotypes of the -590 region of IL-4 between patients with MS and healthy controls (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that functional polymorphisms of IL-4 possibly play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS

Dendrosoter middendorffii (Ratzeburg, 1848) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) a parasitoid of the fruit bark beetles in Iran

Abstract. A Braconidae species was obtained in a parasitoid rearing study performed with xylophagous pests in Ardebil province, northwest of Iran in 2012. These specimens were reared from the galleries of fruit bark beetle, Scolytus rugulosus (Muller) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) and was identified as Dendrosoter middendorffii (Ratzeburg, 1848) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Doryctinae). Both the genus and the species are new records for Iran

Development of a Screening Tool for Functional Movements in Tennis

Introduction: Despite the importance of the functional movement screening tool and the prevalence rate of 4.34 injuries per 1000 hours in tennis, there is no standard protocol for functional movement screening specific to tennis. Therefore, this study aims to develop a tool for screening functional movements in tennis.Methods: the statistical population for qualitative data in this research includes all experts and specialists in the field of tennis, including coaches, teachers, and physiotherapists, and 18 of them were randomly selected as a statistical sample. Data collection was done through structured interviews. The interviews were mainly held in tennis academies, doctors' and physiotherapists' offices, and university faculty members' offices. Six classes of tests that were comprehensive enough to achieve the desired tool were designed with eleven questions in the qualitative questionnaire for these six classes. After defining the initial tests, the interviews were coded; then the codings were controlled and verified. Interview data were analyzed through version 11 of MAXQDA.Results: The results of the interviews were analyzed to determine the qualified tests to be included in the tool.  The analytical process determined initial codes, and finally, 27 tests out of 108 potential tests were identified.Conclusion: It seems that this tool is suitable and practical with features such as simple scoring, acceptable reliability and validity, the possibility of implementation in a short time, and the ability to be used in various researches

Efficacy of levamisole with standard care treatment vs. standard care in clinical presentations of non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a randomized clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of adding a 10-day course of levamisole (LVM) to the standard care compared with standard care alone, on the clinical status of COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate disease.&nbsp;Methods:&nbsp;&nbsp;In this randomized open-label trial, we enrolled non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at nine health centers in Tehran province, Iran, in 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a 10-day course of LVM with standard care (n=185) or standard care alone (n=180) in a 1:1 ratio. On days 1 to 10, LVM was administered orally at a dosage of 50 mg. The participants were called and followed on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 14. The measured parameters were general health condition, hospitalization rate, signs and symptoms, and adverse events. The generalized estimating equations model was used for analysis.&nbsp;Results: Among 507 randomized patients, 473 patients started the experiment and received LVM plus standard care or received the standard care alone; 385 patients included in the analysis; 346 (98%) patients completed the trial. The median age of the patients was 40 years [IQR: 32-50.75]; and ‎201 (55.1%)‎ patiens were male. The mean age, sex ratio, and frequency of the underlying diseases of the patients in the two study groups had no ‎statistically significant differences (P&gt;0.05). Compared to the control group, LVM improved the general health condition of the patients (B=-0.635; 95% CI: -0.041,-0.329; P&lt;0.001). Patients receiving LVM compared with standard care group had significantly lower odds of developing fever (OR=0.260; 95% CI: 0.11‎‎3‎,0.59‎‎9‎;&nbsp;P=0.002), chills (OR=0.223; 95% CI:‎‎ 0.07‎‎6,‎0.64‎‎8‎;&nbsp;P= 0.006), fatigue (OR=0.576; 95% CI:‎ 0.34‎‎6,‎0.96‎‎0‎‎;&nbsp;P=0.034), and myalgia (OR=0.54‎‎4‎; 95% CI:‎ 0.31‎‎7‎,0.93‎‎2‎‎;&nbsp;P=0.027). No significant difference was observed in the rate of hospitalization. Although the intervention group had greater adverse effects than the control group, the difference was not statistically significant.&nbsp;Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that LVM has clinical benefits in improving patients’ health condition with mild to moderate COVID-19