Efficiency of wastewater treatment plants in removal of intestinal parasites: A review approach

of the spread and entry of parasitic pathogens into the environment and water resources. Numerous studies have been conducted on the presence of parasitic agents in the entry and effluent of WWTPs in different countries. This study was conducted to review the parasite prevalence in different WWTPs and assess their removal efficiency. Methods: ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases and other sites with the ability to receive a full-text related articles, were reviewed. Various keywords such as parasites, wastewater, effluent, treatment efficiency, protozoan cysts, parasitic eggs, and similar keywords were used to search articles published from 2005 to 2019. After screening the titles and abstracts of articles, 26 articles were reviewed in this study. Results: Giardia spp, Cryptosporidium spp, Entamoeba spp, Blastocystis spp, Toxocara spp, Trichostrongylus spp, A. lumbricoides, and Hymenolepis are the most prevalent parasites. Studies show that parasitic egg hatching rates are up to 5%, in aerated lagoons, up to 99.9%, in activated sludge, and up to 5%, in ponds due to high retention time and downstream artificial reefs. Conclusion: Studies show that due to the current state of treatment plants and adverse operating and maintenance conditions, it is not possible to completely remove parasitic pathogens from these systems, therefore, it should be considered by regulatory authorities and the systems need to be improved for better performance of treatment plants and optimizing them, and training of users should also be improved. This review indicated that the types of natural constructed wetland in Kermanshah (Iran) and activated sludge of wastewater treatment processes in Iran and Brazil are most effective in removal of intestinal parasites. Keywords: Waste water, Treatment, Parasites, Efficienc

A class of new results in FLM algebras

In this paper, we first derive some results by using the Gelfand spectrum and spectrum in FLM algebras. Then, the characterizations of multiplicative linear mappings are also discussed in these algebras

Coagulopathy: Another side effect of coronavirus infection

Recently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been considered as a major health problem around the globe. This severe acute respiratory syndrome has a bunch of features, such as high transmission rate, which are adding to its importance. Overcoming this disease relies on a complete understanding of the viral structure, receptors, at-risk cells or tissues, and pathogenesis. Currently, researches have shown that besides the lack of a proper anti-viral therapeutic method, complications provided by this virus are also standing in the way of decreasing its mortality rate. One of these complications is believed to be a hematologic manifestation. Commonly, three kinds of coagulopathies are detected in COVID-19 patients: disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), pulmonary embolism (PE), and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In this paper, we have reviewed the relation between these conditions and coronavirus-related diseases pathogenesis, severity, and mortality rate

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Activities of Methanolic Subfractions of Scrophularia oxysepala

Herbs have played a positive role in medicine for thousands of years. In the current study, we investigated the cytotoxicity effects of Scrophularia oxysepala methanolic subfractions and the underlying mechanism responsible for cell death in human breast carcinoma (MCF-7 cells) and mouse fibrosarcoma (WEHI-164 cells). From 60% and 80% methanolic fractions, four subfractions (Fa, Fb, Fc, and Fd), yielded from size exclusion by Sephadex-LH20 column chromatography, were chosen. MTT assay revealed that all subfractions significantly reduced cell viability after 24 h and 36 h in a dose-dependent manner; it is worth noting that Fa and Fb subfractions had the highest cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 52.9 and 61.2 μg/mL in MCF-7 at 24 h, respectively. ELISA, TUNEL, and DNA fragmentation assay revealed that antiproliferative effects of all subfractions were associated with apoptosis on cancer cells, without any significant effect on L929 normal cells. qRT-PCR data showed that, after 24 h treatment with IC50 concentrations of the subfractions, caspase-3 expression was increased in cancer cells while the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased. S. oxysepala methanolic subfractions induce apoptosis in MCF-7 and WEHI-164 cells and could be considered as a source of natural anticancer agents

The effect of vitamin D deficiency on platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19

IntroductionSince there is very little information about the relationship between platelet parameters and vitamin D concentration in patients with COVID-19, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum vitamin D level and platelet parameters in patients with COVID-19 and to compare these parameters in patients with COVID-19 without vitamin D deficiency and, subsequently, the prognostic value of these parameters in cases of vitamin D deficiency.MethodsSeven hundred and forty-three patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: those with and without vitamin D deficiency. The associations between platelet indices and vitamin D levels were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation analysis and a one-way ANOVA test.ResultsPlatelet count and mean platelet volume (MPV) were significantly higher in the patients with vitamin D deficiency than in the patients without vitamin D deficiency. There was a significant negative correlation between platelet count and MPV with vitamin D levels in patients with vitamin D deficiency (r = -0.835, P = 0.001 & r = -0.324, P = 0.042, respectively). Vitamin D levels in COVID-19 patients can determine the platelet count and MPV of the patients.DiscussionThe aforementioned results imply that maintaining an elevated concentration of vitamin D in COVID-19 patients is important because it is associated with a decrease in MPV, which in turn reduces susceptibility to diseases such as coronary artery disease

MicroRNAs and Periodontal Disease: Helpful Therapeutic Targets?

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease. This disease can be considered as an inflammatory disease. The immune response to bacteria accumulated in the gum line plays a key role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. In addition to immune cells, periodontal ligament cells and gingival epithelial cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. miRNAs which are small RNA molecules with around 22 nucleotides have a considerable relationship with the immune system affecting a wide range of immunological events. These small molecules are also in relation with periodontium tissues especially periodontal ligament cells. Extensive studies have been performed in recent years on the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. In this review paper, we have reviewed the results of these studies and discussed the role of miRNAs in the immunopathogenesis of periodontal disease comprehensively. miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and maybe helpful therapeutic targets for the treatment of periodontal disease