bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Установление типов переходов, ответственных за фиолетовую полосу
фотолюминесценции в сильно легированном AlN:Si
Authors: Осинных И.В. , Малин Т.В. , Милахин Д.С.
Published: September 2021

В настоящей работе представлены результаты экспериментального исследования
фотолюминесценции серий сильнолегированных слоев AlN, выращенных методом молекулярнолучевой эпитаксии на сапфировых подложках, концентрация атомов кремния (NSi) составляла
1.11020 см-3
. При измерении ФЛ в диапазоне температур 300-1000 К использовалось возбуждение 4-
ой гармоникой импульсного Nd:YLF лазера (λ=263 нм, мощность 1 мВт, длительность импульса 7 нс).
При измерении ФЛ в широком диапазоне генерации носителей заряда использовалась возбуждение 4-
ой гармоникой стационарного YAG лазера (λ=266 нм), максимальная мощность составляла 65 мВт.
Эмиссия света двумерными островками дисульфида молибдена
Authors: Марченко А.В. , Милёхин А.Г. , Курусь Н.Н.
Published: September 2021

Двумерные халькогениды переходных металлов являются перспективными материалами для
создания быстродействующих компонентов электронной техники и оптоэлектронных приборов.
Особый интерес среди данного класса материалов представляет двумерный дисульфид молибдена
(MoS2), обладающий уникальными электронными и оптическими свойствами. Так, при уменьшении
толщины пленки дисульфида молибдена до нескольких монослоёв происходит изменение его
электронной зонной структуры, что проявляется в изменениях спектров комбинационного рассеяния
света (КРС) и фотолюминесценции (ФЛ). Таким образом, исследование взаимосвязи структурных и
оптических свойств MoS2 является актуальной задачей.
Пленение излучения и субподзонный пик в спектрах
квантового выхода фотоэмиссии p-GaAs(Cs,O)
Authors: Протопопов Д.Е. , Хорошилов В.С. , Казанцев Д.М.
Published: September 2021

Поверхности р-GaAs с адсорбированными слоями цезия и кислорода широко используются для
создания фотокатодов с эффективным отрицательным электронным сродством (ОЭС) [1]. Поверхности
полупроводников с относительно небольшим (0.2-0.4 эВ) положительным электронным сродством
(ПЭС) привлекают внимание в связи с возможностью использования фотонно-усиленной
термоэлектронной эмиссии (photon-enhanced thermionic emission, PETE) для повышения
эффективности преобразователей солнечной энергии [2]. В [3,4] методом спектроскопии квантового
выхода фотоэмиссии изучен переход между состояниями с отрицательным и положительным
сродством путем нанесения избыточного цезия или кислорода на оптимально активированную
поверхность p-GaAs(Cs,O). Зависимости вероятностей выхода горячих и термализованных электронов
от величины сродства, полученные сопоставлением измеренных спектров с расчетом, свидетельствуют
о смене механизма эмиссии при переходе от ОЭС к ПЭС [3]. При этом, в области энергий фотонов ħ
ниже ширины запрещенной зоны g, проявились ранее не наблюдавшиеся спектральные особенности
в виде отчетливого "плеча", а при некоторых условиях – пика, которые не получили ясного объяснения
[4]. Данная работа посвящена выяснению возможных причин этих особенностей.
Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Periodontal Status of Diabetic Patients
Authors: Farhoodi Ilnaz , Parsay Soheil , Hekmatfar Somayeh , Musavi Sahar , Mortazavi Zahra
Published: September 2021

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting structures that can lead to periodontal destruction and tooth loss. It is also a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and tobacco smoking. In this regard, this study aimed to assess the effect of smoking on periodontal disease in diabetic patients. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 80 diabetic patients who were referred to the clinics of the Department of Periodontics of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences from October 2015 to April 2016. Participants were enrolled in this study in four groups (n=20). Groups 1 and 2 included smoker diabetic patients and 20 non-smoker diabetics, respectively. In addition, groups 3 and 4 served as the control groups and included healthy smoker and non-smoker individuals, respectively. The plaque index (PI), clinical probing depth (CPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured in the four groups. Results: The four groups were significantly different regarding the PI and CPD (P<0.05). The mean PI was higher in group 1 compared to groups 2 and 3. The highest mean CAL was recorded in group 1. Finally, non-diabetic smokers experienced the lowest mean BOP compared with other groups. Conclusion: DM and tobacco smoking are the known major risk factors for periodontal disease, and the interaction effect of the two factors can aggravate the periodontal status in diabetic patients. Thus, dentists can take an important step in the healthcare system by encouraging their patients to control their DM and quit smoking.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis Isolated From Root Canal: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Zargar Nazanin , Nasiri Mohammad J , Ashraf Hengameh , Hajikhani Bahareh , Etminani  Esfahani Shirin , Etminani Esfahani Maryam
Published: September 2021

Background: One of the major causes of failure in root canal treatment is microorganisms like Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of triple antibiotic paste (TAP) containing ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and minocycline in comparison with modified TAP (MTAP) containing metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin and calcium hydroxide on Enterococcus strains isolated from root canal of tooth associated with pre-apical lesion. Moreover, we evaluated the E. faecalis resistance and antibiotic susceptibility. To do so, 25 patients with previous failure of endodontic treatment were enrolled in this study. Results: The antimicrobial effect of MTAP10%, MTAP1%, TAP10%, TAP1%, and CaOH was significantly better than the positive control group (P <0.05). There was no significant difference between antimicrobial effect of TAP1% and MTAP1%, and CaOH was the least effective one. The antimicrobial effect of TAP10% was significantly better than MTAP10% (P = 0.007). Out of 11 E. faecalis samples, 1 sample was resistant to MTAP1% and MTAP10%, though it was sensitive to other drugs; meanwhile, it showed the highest sensitivity to TAP10%. Conclusion: TAP10% was the most effective choice followed by MTAP10%, but calcium hydroxide was not effective compared to other choices. Thus, MTAP might be a good choice for root canal medicament instead of TAP
An Overview of the Various Uses of Ephedra distachyaL. from the Past to the Present
Authors: Ghavam Mansureh , Soleimaninejad Zeinab
Published: September 2021

Background: Nowadays, many people believe in traditional medicines and use them for different diseases. Knowledge of medicinal plants and traditional medicine has been practiced for centuries through trial and error, and many important treatments for the disease have been passed down from one generation to the next. Ephedra is a valuable plant and has been used to treat diseases since ancient times. Accordingly, this study aims to comprehensively introduce Ephedra distachya L. in traditional medicine. Methods: In this review study, databases such as Google Scholar, SID, Scopus, and books on medicinal plants in Persian and English languages were searched to collect data. The keywords included "ephedra", "traditional medicine", "goat’s beard", and "medicinal plants". Results: Many resources highlighted the importance of using ephedra due to its useful properties. Experimental studies in traditional medicine show the effect of this plant in the prevention of diseases, such as asthma and bronchitis. Conclusion: Considering the beneficial effects of ephedra and scientific evidence about its effects, further studies are needed to better understand the use of this plant in traditional medicine.
Potential Antiviral Drug Intervention for Treatment of COVID-19: A Minireview
Authors: Ahmadimoghaddam Davoud , Izadidastenaei Zohreh
Published: September 2021

In this minireview, we evaluated the studies that underlie the usage and suggestion of antivirals for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Until now, there has been no known curative treatment for COVID-19. However, many clinical trials have used antiviral medicines including remdesivir, lopinavir (LPV), ritonavir (RTV), ribavirin, favipiravir (FPV), oseltamivir, umifenovir, and nitazoxanide. Using remdesivir in patients with severe COVID-19 has improved respiratory symptoms, making the remdesivir one of the specific drugs suggested for the treatment of severe COVID-19. It has been shown that triple antiviral therapy (LPV, RTV, and ribavirin) can improve symptoms and consequently shorten the duration of viral shedding and hospital stay. However, the results of treatment with oseltamivir, umifenovir, and a combination of LPV and RTV were not different from the results of treatment with standard care in the time to clinical improvement. FPV showed better therapeutic responses to COVID-19 in terms of disease progression and viral clearance. Future clinical studies should evaluate the effect of antiviral agents for the treatment of COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, it is suggested that highly active antiviral drugs should be used in combination with other therapeutic approaches for the treatment of COVID-19.
Fibronectin within Sodium Alginate Microcapsules Improved Osteogenic Differentiation of BMMSCs in Dose Dependent Manner by Targeting SP7, OCN, CDK1, ZBTB16, and Twist1 Expression
Authors: Shamsasenjan Karim , Beygi Khosrowshahi Younes , Mahmoodi Mahsa , Akbarzadehlaleh Parvin , Gareayaghi Nesrin , Nejati Babak
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Insoluble fibronectin as an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein has the potential to promote proliferation, differentiation, and migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, there is limited information about the effects of fibronectin various concentrations on bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMMSCs) function and differentiation. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, using a gel injection device, BMMSCs were encapsulated in sodium alginate microcapsules containing 1.25% alginate, 1% gelatin, and four different concentrations of fibronectin (0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 µg/ml). MTT assay was used to examine the proliferation of BMMSCs in des. Also, BMMSCs apoptosis rates were calculated using Annexin-V/PI staining and FACS analysis within 48 hours of exposure. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test was conducted to assess BMMSCs osteogenic differentiation. Finally, mRNA expression levels of the SP7, osteocalcin (OCN), Twist Family BHLH Transcription Factor 1 (Twist1), Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), and Zinc Finger And BTB Domain Containing 16 (ZBTB16), which involved in MSCs differentiation process were evaluated using Real-Time PCR following exposure with fibronectin 0.1 µg/ml. Result: According to results, fibronectin had the potential to promote proliferation rates of the BMMSCs, in particular at 0.1 and 0.2 µg/ml concentrations. On the other hand, we showed that various concentrations of the fibronectin were not able to modify apoptosis rates of the BMMSCs, negatively or positively. Notable potential of the fibronectin, to trigger osteogenic differentiation of the BMMSCs was documented. Also, RT-PCR results indicated that fibronectin could augment osteogenic differentiation of cultured BMMSCs Conclusion: Results showed that fibronectin can improve proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs without any effect on these cells' survival.
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Efficient Oral Delivery of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Nano Targeted Cancer Drug Delivery
Authors: Satapathy Sukanta , Patro Chandra Sekhar
Published: September 2021

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used as targeted therapy for cancer by inhibiting the signaling pathway and tumor growth. Many TKIs got approved by FDA in recent times for the treatment of cancer by oral route. However, the TKIs have formulation challenges leading to compromised bioavailability which can cause a weak therapeutic response. The cancer nanotherapeutics using nanocarriers based drug delivery has emerged as an advanced tool to provide a solution to formulation challenges and a better cancer therapy by overcoming the limitations in conventional cancer therapy. This review describes the various formulation issues of anticancer drugs with a special reference to TKIs, as well as the capability of solid lipid nanoparticles for an efficient nano targeted cancer drug delivery.
Liver X Receptor as a Possible Drug Target for Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity
Authors: Eskandari Mahsa , Mellati Ali Awsat
Published: September 2021

Purpose: blood-brain barrier (BBB) is made of specialized cells that are responsible for the selective passage of substances directed to the brain. The integrated BBB is essential for precise controlling of the different substances passage as well as protecting the brain from various damages. In this article, we attempted to explain the role of liver X receptor (LXR) in maintaining BBB integrity as a possible drug target. Methods: In this study, various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched using the following keywords: blood-brain barrier, BBB, liver X receptor, and LXR until July, 2020. Additionally, contents close to the subject of our study were surveyed. Results: LXR is a receptor the roles of which in various diseases have been investigated. LXR can affect maintaining BBB by affecting various ways such as ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), tight junction molecules, both signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), Wnt/β-catenin Signaling, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling, and expressions of Smad 2/3 and Snail. Conclusion: LXR could possibly be used either as a target for drug delivery to brain tissue or as a target for maintaining the BBB integrity in different diseases; thereby the drug will be conducted to tissues, other than the brain. If it is verified that only LXRα is necessary for protecting BBB, some specific LXRα ligands must be found and then used in medication.
CAR T Cells: Cancer Cell Surface Receptors Are the Target for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Shademan Behrouz , Karamad Vahidreza , Nourazarian Alireza , Avcı Cigir Biray
Published: September 2021

Immunotherapy has become a prominent strategy for the treatment of cancer. A method that improves the immune system’s ability to attack a tumor (Enhances antigen binding). Targeted killing of malignant cells by adoptive transfer of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells is a promising immunotherapy technique in the treatment of cancers. For this purpose, the patient’s immune cells, with genetic engineering aid, are loaded with chimeric receptors that have particular antigen binding and activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes. That increases the effectiveness of immune cells and destroying cancer cells. This review discusses the basic structure and function of CAR-T cells and how antigenic targets are identified to treat different cancers and address the disadvantages of this treatment for cancer.
Clinical Application Study of Polymeric Nanospheres Network in Methylphenidate Extraction from Urine Samples by Dispersive Solid Phase Extraction Adsorbent
Authors: Taghvimi Arezou , Jahed Fatemeh Soghra , Dastmalchi Siavoush , Javadzadeh Yousef
Published: September 2021

Purpose: This research introduces a polymeric nanosphere as a new dispersive solid phaseextraction (DSPE) adsorbent for the extraction of methylphenidate (MPH) from urine and itshigh performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.Methods: Polymeric nanosphere is a kind of copolymeric network obtained by copolymerizationof an ionic liquid monomer and styrene in the presence of vinyltriethoxysilane and2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate. HPLC coupled with ultra violet detector was applied for thedetermination and quantification of MPH. Dominant parameters in extraction were modified bythe one-parameter-at-a-time method. The results are as follow: 10 mg of polymeric nanospheres(PNS), 400 μL of acetonitrile (ACT), 5 mL of urine with the pH value of 9, and the extractionand desorption times of 2 and 5 minutes, respectively, which can be selected as the optimumextraction conditions.Results: Calibration curve was plotted through optimized conditions, and the proposed methodwas validated. The results demonstrated that the method presented linearity in the concentrationrange of 30-1200 ng/mL. Selectivity, matrix effect and metabolites interference effect wereinvestigated and the method presented no obvious interference effect during the analysis runtime. Repeatability, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of themethod can be reported in this section as well. The method showed satisfactory results with98.8% relative recovery in the analysis of positive urine samples.Conclusion: The findings convinced the applicability of the introduced method for DSPE andHPLC analysis of the positive urine samples in different laboratories.
Apoptin Overexpression Efficiently Amplified Cytotoxic Effects of PI3K Inhibition Using BKM120 in Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Lines
Authors: Anjam-Najmedini Ali , Vahabpour Rohollah , Safaroghli-Azar Ava , Kazemi Alireza , Movahhed Parvaneh , Momeny Majid , Bashash Davood
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Although the complex structure of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) andinvolvement of diverse pathways in its pathogenesis have put an obstacle in the way of efficienttreatments, identification of strategies to manipulate the genome of neoplastic cells has madethe treatment prospective more optimistic.Methods: To evaluate whether the transduction of apoptin __a gene encoding a protein thatparticipates in the induction of apoptosis__ could reduce the survival of leukemic cells, wegenerated recombinant lentivirus expressing apoptin, and then, MTT assay, flow cytometricanalysis of DNA content, western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction (qRT-PCR) were applied.Results: Transduction of apoptin into different leukemic cells was coupled with the reductionin the viability and proliferative capacity of the cells. Among all tested cell lines, Nalm-6 andC8166 were more sensitive to the anti-leukemic property of apoptin. Moreover, we found thatthe transduction of apoptin in the indicated cell lines not only induced G2/M cell cycle arrestbut also induced apoptotic cell death by altering the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotictarget genes. The efficacy of apoptin transduction was not limited to these findings, as wereported for the first time that the overexpression of this gene could potentiate the anti-leukemicproperty of pan PI3K inhibitor BKM120.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the transduction of apoptin into lymphoblasticleukemia cell lines induced cytotoxic effects and enhanced therapeutic value of PI3K inhibition;however, further investigations are demanded to ascertain the safety and the efficacy of apoptintransduction in patients with ALL.
Cell cycle arrest and anti-cancer potential of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus against HT-29 cancer cells
Authors: Dehghani Najme , Tafvizi Farzaneh , Jafari Parvaneh
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Nowadays, probiotic bacteria have been considered as a factor in the prevention and treatment of cancer, especially by induction of apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic effects of the supernatant of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus on HT-29 cell line. Methods: Molecular identification of probiotic L. rhamnosus was carried out using specific primers of 16S rRNA gene and sequencing. HT-29 cells were treated with different concentrations of bacterial supernatants at 24, 48, and 72 hours. MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC, real-time PCR, cell cycle analysis, and DAPI staining tests were conducted to evaluate the induction of apoptosis. The level of cyclin D1 protein was measured by immunocytochemistry method. Results: The supernatant of L. rhamnosus inhibited the growth of HT-29 cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The results of flow cytometry confirmed apoptotic cell death. Probiotic bacterial supernatant caused up-regulation of pro-apoptotic genes including caspase-3, caspase-9, and Bax. In addition, they resulted in down-regulation of Bcl2 and a decrease in expression levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E, and ERBB2 genes. Cancer cells were arrested in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. The results of immunocytochemistry showed significant down-regulation of cyclin D1 protein during the 48 hours treatment with bacterial supernatant compared to the untreated cells. Conclusion: The supernatant of probiotic L. rhamnosus has a great potential to inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 cells and the induction of apoptosis. L. rhamnosus might be used as a biological anti-cancer factor in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer.
Determining the Relationship Between Fever of Without focus and Latent Pneumonia in Feverish Children in Bandar Abbas, Iran
Authors: Meidari Mohammad , Ahmadi Mehran , Tari Verdi Marjan , Zare Shahram , Mohammadian Maryam , Rahmati Mohammad Bagher
Published: September 2021

Background: Fever is one of the most common causes of children’s referral to the emergency department, for which in 20% of cases no clear source is found. Latent pneumonia is not easily differentiable as one of the differential diagnoses of fever of unknown origin (FUO). This study aimed to determine the relationship between FUO and latent pneumonia in feverish children referring to pediatric emergency department. Materials and Methods: The present analytical research was carried out on 220 children with FUO aged 3-36 months referred to pediatric hospital of Bandar Abbas, Iran in 2019. To find the signs and symptoms, demographic information, history, and physical examination results were recorded by a physician using a predetermined checklist. Chest x-ray and blood sample were prepared for white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC). Results: The mean age of the patients was 18.38±8.6 months. There was no significant difference between the mean fever, pulse rate, respiratory rate, WBC count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and ANC among the three groups differentiated by their diagnosis. The mean CRP in the bacterial pneumonia group was 68.17±24.13, while it was 35.00±20.43 in the viral infection group and 35.71±26.20 in the group of other diseases; the difference was statistically significant (P=0.004). Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference between WBC, ANC, and ESR and latent pneumonia, there was a significant difference between CRP and latent pneumonia, whose value was larger in these patients.
Analysis of Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients in Rudan county, Iran
Authors: Nazarnezhad Mirza Ali , Mohseni Shokrollah , Shamsadiny Mohammad , Najafi Pirdad , Salemi Morteza
Published: September 2021

Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Rudan county so that regional managers can make timely and effective decisions. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study performed on all registered patients with confirmed COVID-19 in Rudan county by July 10, 2020. Patient information was extracted from COVID-19 patient information registration system. The collected data included gender, age, mortality, underlying disease, time of infection, occupation, contact history, and hospitalizations. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: In this study, 614 (56%) of the patients were male and 477 (43%) were female. The mean age of patients was 43 ± 17 years. A total of 136 patients (12.5%) had at least one underlying disease. The majority of patients with underlying diseases (75%) had a history of contact with a patient with confirmed COVID-19. There was no statistically significant relationship between mortality and gender. The mean age of inpatients and outpatients was 56 ± 19 and 40 ± 15 years, respectively. Most deaths occurred among the elderly and housewives, and the highest infection rate also occurred among the latter group. Conclusion: In a situation where the COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat, health systems must demonstrate appropriate and timely responses based on the development and implementation of preventive policies and the care of vulnerable and high-risk patients.
Evaluation of Health Anxiety in Healthcare Workers During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic
Authors: Behjati Ardakani Mehdi , Aghamolaei Teamur , Hasani Azad Mehdi , Soleimani Ahmadi Moussa , Zare Fatemeh , Khademian Marzieh , Zare Mohammad Reza , Eshaghi Sani Hadi , Madani Abdolhossain , Zare Mehdi
Published: September 2021

Background: Considering the importance of health anxiety (HA) and its impact on the management of a pandemic, the present study investigated HA among healthcare workers during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 220 healthcare staff working in health centers and hospitals in Iran. Participants were selected using convenience sampling method. The data collection tool was a two-part questionnaire. The first part contained demographic information and the second part included a health anxiety questionnaire (HAQ). This questionnaire was provided to the target community through social media and the required data was collected. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA). Results: In the present study, out of 220 participants 128 (58.2%) were employed in health centers and 92 (41.8%) in hospitals. The mean HA score was 17.36 ± 7.66. Moreover, the mean HA scores in health center and hospital personnel was 17.81± 8.02 and 16.52 ± 6.78, respectively, which were not significantly different (P=0.217). The results showed that exercise and chronic disease are significant predictors of HA (P=0.0001 and P=0.043, respectively). Conclusion: The HA level was very high in healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study showed that physical activity and having an underlying disease are important predictors of HA. Hence, in order to reduce the level of anxiety in healthcare personnel, it is recommended to plan regular physical activity programs and make changes in the work schedule of personnel with underlying disease.
Comparing the Histopathological Effects of Selenium Nanoparticles and Selenium Nanocomposites in Rat Models
Authors: Hajinezhad Mohammad Reza , Jamshidian Abbas , Abdollahi Motahareh , Samzadeh Kermani Alireza
Published: September 2021

Background: Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) and selenium nanocomposites (Se NCs) have different biological effects. The current study aimed to compare the effects of newly synthesized Se NPs and Se NCs on biochemical and histopathological parameters of rats. The synthesized Se NPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups to examine the biological effects of Se NPs. Control rats received saline intraperitoneally while experimental rats were received four-week intraperitoneal injections of Se powder, Se NPs, and Se NCs at the dose of (0.4 mg/kg). After four weeks, serum was obtained by the conventional methods, and then rats were sacrificed to separate liver, kidney, and testis tissues for histopathological examinations. Results: The intraperitoneal injection of Se powder caused significant elevations in serum liver enzyme levels, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) lipid peroxidation, and serum creatinine levels (P<0.05). The histopathological investigations showed necrosis and fatty change in liver. Kidney sections showed cytoplasmic vacuolation and hyaline casts, and the testis sections showed degeneration of seminiferous tubules. Se NPs intraperitoneal injections at a dose of 0.4 mg/kg caused no significant effects on liver enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and histopathological changes while significantly increased serum BUN and creatinine levels (P<0.05). The group treated with Se NCs showed normal biochemical and histopathological parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion: The current study proved the toxicity of Se powder; however, nano-formulations of Se showed fewer side effects.
Psychometric properties of the Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8) among diabetes and non-diabetes Iranian older people
Authors: Namjoo Shamsedin , Mirzaei Masoud , Foroughan Mahshid , Ghaedamini Harouni Gholamreza
Published: September 2021

Background: The current study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the 8-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8). For this purpose, we examined a large sample of the older adult in two different groups with and without diabetes using the YazdHealth Study (YaHS) data. Methods: Using a two-stage cluster random sampling method, 1901 older adults were recruited, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to surveillance(STEPS) guidelines. To test the scale’s reliability, the internal consistency and test-retest methods were applied. The convergent validity of the entire questionnaire was evaluated by the average variance extracted (AVE) and composite reliability (CR) for each subscale. An independent samples t-test was used to assess the demographic differences between the study groups. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the subscales of SF-8 were measured to range between 0.85 and 0.79 (physical & mental health). The test-retest reliability coefficient of the physical component summary (PCS) and (0.97) and mental component summary (MCS) (0.98)indicated the appropriate reliability of the SF-8. The CFA-concerned results indicated that the the2‐factor model presented a good fit to the data for the explored diabetes and non-diabetes groups, as well as the total research participants [goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.99, comparative fit index (CFI)=0.992, normed fit index (NFI)=0.99, incremental fit index (IFI)=0.992, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.056]. Values >0.5 and >0.7 for AVE and CR indicated the evidence of the convergent validity of the SF-8.Conclusion: The present study was the first attempt to confirm the traditional 2-factor structure of SF-8 among a large sample of Iranian older individuals. The obtained results suggested that the Persian version of the SF-8 is a reliable and valid tool for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Iranian older adults (including the older adult with & without diabetes).
Analysis of public search interest regarding government containment policy on COVID-19 new cases in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
Authors: Rizqullah Muhammad Farid , Syakurah Rizma Adlia
Published: September 2021

Background: As preventive measures to curb coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)transmission, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore had imposed web-accessible regulations where the popularity of relative internet search volume can be obtained from Google Trends(GT). This research aimed to seek the relationship between public search interest and countries policies, furthermore to observe whether the GT data could be utilized as a tool to make a risk communication during this pandemic. Methods: This retrospective study used GT to analyze the relative search volume (RSV) of keywords large-scale social restrictions (Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar – PSBB ), MovementControl Order (MCO) or Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) and Circuit Breaker (CB) for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore respectively. Daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases were collected and analyzed using Pearson correlation and time-lag with P<0.05. Every search interest peak and mobility trends changes were qualitatively analyzed. Results: The results exhibited the relationship between the government containment policy, the peaks of analyzed RSV keywords and the mobility trends. The containment policy has significant relationships with COVID-19 daily cases (P<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that the government could use GT RSV as a strategy of crisis and risk communication to intervene public behavior towards the pandemic.
ImmunoAnalysis: A New Journal to Publish Peer-Reviewed Manuscripts in the Fields of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Immunology
Authors: Jouyban Abolghasem , Baradaran Behzad , Rahimpour Elaheh , Aghebati-Maleki Leili
Published: September 2021

The immunoassay area in clinical chemistry began with the development of the first immunoassay for insulin by Solomon Berson and Rosalyn S. Yalow in 1959. Their work resulted in their receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1977. The radioimmunoassay for insulin has paved the way for the development of immunoassays for thousands of other analytes over the ensuing half a century. A decision by Drs. Berson and Yalow to not patent this technology accelerated the progress of immunoassay development. Immunoassay technology continues to evolve with new applications and improved analytical platforms. The future appears to be headed in two directions: continued improvement in immunodetection methods for very high-sensitivity applications, and multiplex analysis. During 1995–2021, a wide range of immunoassays has been developed to provide the quantitative, semi-quantitative, or qualitative detection of analytes in various bioanalytical settings, such as clinical diagnostics, biopharmaceutical analysis, environmental monitoring, security, and food testing. However, there is only one specialized journal in this field namely "Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry". ImmunoAnalysis as the second journal in this field will provide a platform for the publication of studies on all scientific aspects of immune analysis, including developing bioanalytical methods such as quantification of small molecules, peptides, proteins, antibodies, biomarkers, and immunoassay methods, and studies in immunology field such as innate immunity and inflammation; immune receptors, cellular and systemic immunity; vaccines; immune tolerance; autoimmunity, tumor immunology, and microbial immunopathology. It is a peer-reviewed, platinum open access journal (no processing or publication fees) intended to maintain the highest possible global scientific standards. We acknowledge the support from TUOMS press in making use of their facilities and for hosting the journal. The members of the editorial board by using their wide range of perspectives and expertise make a journal that will be an indispensable resource and a sum of parts offering something new to forthcoming studies. We have been buoyed and empowered by their supports. Crucially, of course, those reviewers who will spend their time and energy to assess submissions are a fundamental part of this endeavor. Finally, starting this journal is not meant to provide just another "outlet" for papers, but stems from the ambition to continue, develop and start important discussions in the field of immune analysis. We warmly invite you to join us as reviewers and authors to speed up the growth of this journal. The issues ImmunoAnalysis considers are yours.
Production and Verification of Anti-Tumor Activity of Monoclonal Anti-EGFR-Recombinant PE38 Immunotoxin in A431 Tumor Cells
Authors: Hajiasgharzadeh Khalil , Aghebati Maleki Leili , Baradaran Behzad
Published: September 2021

Background: Tumor growth and progression depend largely on the activity of cell membrane receptors like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This receptor plays a significant role in the growth and survival of many solid tumors. Its biological feature makes it a highly appealing target for cancer treatment. On the other hand, immunotherapy is an efficient approach in cancer treatment, and immunotoxins have a predominant position herein. Thus, this approach can be used in high EGFR-expressed cancer therapy. Methods: In this study, the production of monoclonal anti-EGFR-recombinant PE38 was used as the special treatment against EGFR-activated cancers. For this purpose, the A431 cell line originating from a squamous carcinoma was used. In order the production of this immunotoxin, the toxin was conjugated with an antibody by chemical method. To confirm conjugation and its purity, SDS-PAGE was performed by immunotoxin electrophoresis. Then, the antitumor effects of immunotoxin in the induction of apoptosis of tumoral cells were assessed by the ELISA method. Results: The conjugation and purity of immunotoxin were confirmed by immunotoxin electrophoresis. Also, the ELISA results indicate that the produced immunotoxin induced 62% antigen-specific apoptosis (P <0.0001) in tumoral cells compared to the control cells. Conclusion: To conclude, our study provides a promising therapeutic approach against EGFR-associated cancers and our individual immunotoxin can be used in the treatment of tumors with membranous EGFR.
An Innovative Immunoanalysis Strategy towards Sensitive Recognition of PSA Biomarker in Human Plasma Samples Using Flexible and Portable Paper Based Biosensor: A New Platform towards POC Detection of Cancer Biomarkers Using Integration of Pen-on Paper Technology with Immunoassays Methods
Authors: Farshchi Fatemeh , Saadati Arezoo , Kholafazad kordasht Houman , Hasanzadeh Mohammad
Published: September 2021

Background: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is one of the best markers for detecting prostate cancer. Rapid and real time recognition of PSA biomarker could be helpful in the early diagnosis and efficient treatment of prostate cancer. One of the usual methods to identify this biomarker is ELISA, which has a picomolar detection range but requires specialized personnel and also this technique is time-consuming and expensive. Methods: Cost-effective POC devices are great solutions because they are very cost-effective, sensitive and simple, do not require expert operators and have a high response time in a short time. With that in mind, in this work, a novel and simple label-free paper-based electrochemical immunosensor were designed by using conductive Ag-ink and designed directly by pen on paper technique on the surface of photographic paper, which is a suitable substrate for antibody immobilization, for rapid detection of PSA. Results: Based on the obtained results, under the optimum conditions, the synthesized Ag ink has a great substrate for antibody (Ab) and antigen (Ag) immobilization. The linear range was from 0.001 to 30 μg/L and the obtained low limite of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.001μg/L. This immunosensor also tested in human plasma samples, which had good analytical power. Conclusion: The proposed paper-based immunoassay could be a hopefully new and cheap tool for the diagnosis of other biomarkers.
Introduction of a Simple and Minimally Invasive Approach for Access to Epidural Space in Cat
Authors: Asadian Asma , Pedram Mirsepehr , Dehghan Mohamad Mehdi , Sadeghinejad Javad , Masoudifard Majid , Eftekhari Saeide , Ebrahimi Roja
Published: September 2021

Background: Although various studied have been done to improve therapeutic strategies in resolving spinal cord injuries, robust clinical treatment is not yet available. Developing a standard animal model is essential to achieve effective treatment for such injuries. The present study was performed to introduce a simple, applicable, and minimally invasive approach for access to epidural space in cats. Methods: We used a percutaneous approach from the lumbosacral junction for stainless steel cannula insertion to the epidural space without fluoroscopy. CT scan, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tractography, and behavioral evaluation were used to assess the correct position of the cannula and the neurological condition of the animal. Results: MRI results showed no significant change in signal intensity index of neural structures under lumbosacral junction. These observations are further supported by tractography, and also behavioral examination during the study. Conclusion: We found that the percutaneous approach from the lumbosacral junction is a simple and applicable approach that has no side effects and artifact formation in MRI evaluation.
Geriatric Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery: Institutional Experience from Khoula Hospital
Authors: Al-Mirza Abdulrahman , Al-Taei Omar , Al-Saadi Tariq
Published: September 2021

Background: The aging of the healthy population without severe morbidity exposes them to cerebrovascular diseases and demand effective management. This study aimed to study the prevalence of geriatric cerebrovascular neurosurgical conditions in the Neurosurgical Department at Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Methods: A retrospective chart review of was done on geriatric cases admitted to the Neurosurgery Department in Khoula Hospital as an example of a neurosurgical center in a high-income developing country from January 2016 to 31st December 2019. Patients’ demographics, risk factors, diagnosis, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on arrival, medications used, and length of stay were recorded. Results: 109 patients aged over 65 years were recruited in our retrospective review with a mean age of 74.12 years. Male-to-female ratio was (1.2:1). Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was the most common vascular diagnosis (39.0%) followed by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (22.9%). Most patients (41.9%) had a GCS score of less than 8. About one-fifth of the patients received antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications. Most of the patients underwent surgical intervention (61.9%). 59% of the patients stayed in the hospital for less than 15 days. There were significant associations between the length of stay, treatment types (surgical vs. conservative), and age (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cerebrovascular pathologies are a growing cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide including developing countries because of the increasing number of elderly people. Antiplatelet medication and anticoagulants should be used with caution in the elderly.
Machine Learning-Based Clinical Adjusted Selection of Predicting Risk Factors for Shunt Infection in Children
Authors: Moradi Ehsan , Sabeti Malihe , Shahbazi Nasrin , Habibi Zohreh , Nejat Farideh
Published: September 2021

Background: Shunt Infection is a common complication of shunt insertion in children which can lead to bad neuro-developmental conditions and impose a considerable economic burden for the health care system. So, identifying predictive factors of shunt infection could help us in the proper improvement of this deteriorating condition. Methods: In this study, related risk factors of 68 patients with history of shunt infection and 80 matched controls without any history of shunt infection, who were all operated in a single referral hospital were assessed. Three machine learning (ML)-based measures including sparsity, correlation, and redundancy along with specialist’s score were applied to select the most important predictive risk factors for shunt infection. ML was determined by summation of sparsity, correlation and redundancy measures, and the final total score was considered as normalization (ML-based score + specialist score). Results: According to the total score, prematurity, first ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) age, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), myelomeningocele (MMC) and low birth weight had higher weights as shunt infection risk factors. icterus, trauma, co-infection and tumor had the lowest weights and history of meningitis and number of shunt revisions were defined as intermediate risk factors. Conclusion: The "ML-based clinical adjusted" method may be used as a complementary tool to help neurosurgeons in better patient selection and more accurate follow-up of children with higher risk of shunt infection.
Hemorrhagic Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: A Rare Neurological Complication of COVID-19 Infection
Authors: KhanMohammadi Esmaeil , Shahrabi Marziyeh , Koosha Mohsen
Published: September 2021

Neurological complications of COVID-19 are well documented. However, there are limited reports of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) associated with COVID-19 in the literature. Herein, we described a 21-year-old man with a history of bipolar disease and opioid addiction who was admitted because of COVID-19 infection. He suddenly experienced a convulsive status epilepticus following hypertension crisis. The patient was intubated and underwent antiepileptic and anti-hypertensive therapy. His brain imaging was compatible with PRES. The patient gradually improved and was eventually discharged after 40 days. On the next month follow-up, the patient was able to walk with a cane without a history of seizure. In this report, we aimed to highlight the less common cerebrovascular complication of COVID-19 infection.
The Validity and Reliability of a New Modified Persian Version of DN4 to Discriminate Non-neuropathic from Neuropathic
Authors: Madani Seyed Pezhman , Mansouri Korosh , Asadi Shahla , Ebadi Safoora
Published: September 2021

Introduction: One of the popular questionnaires for screening neuropathic pain is the DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) which has been translated into many languages and validated in different populations. So, we wanted to determine the Persian version of this questionnaire’s reliability and validity to differentiate neuropathic pain from other painful non-neuropathic conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients who suffered from chronic pain referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at the three great referral hospitals in Tehran, Iran in 2016. In this study, a modified version of DN4 was used to validate adding a question related to the appearance of pain in an especial joint and adding visual analogue scaling (VAS) score in each item. Results: The modified DN4 questionnaire had high reliability for assessing neuropathic pain with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.874. The correlation coefficients obtained by the retest intra-class correlation test ranged from 0.650 to 0.941. Also, the internal consistency of Spearman’s R coefficients ranged from 0.482 to 0.904. Test-retest reliability analysis also showed a higher intraclass correlation (ICC) value in the neuropathic than non-neuropathic pain group (0.85 vs0.73). The modified DN4 questionnaire could effectively discriminate neuropathic pain from non-neuropathic pain with the area under the curve (ROC) of 0.989 (95% CI: 971–1000, P < 0.001). The best cutoff value for the modified DN4 questionnaire to diagnose neuropathic pain was 5, yielding a sensitivity of 98.3% and a specificity of 90.3%. Conclusion: Applying the new modified Persian version of DN4 achieved by adding a VAS score and a new question related to the appearance of pain in an especial joint led to high reliability and validity for this tool to discriminate neuropathic from non-neuropathic pain.