Contribution of Fc fragment of monoclonal antibodies to tetanus toxin neutralization

Neurotoxicity Research - Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani are considered as a novel source of immunoglobulins for passive immunotherapy of tetanus. Toxin...     

A review on recent research results on bio-effects of plant essential oils against major Coleopteran insect pests

Upfront problems about the use of synthetic insecticides such as damage to the environment and human health and pests’ resistance have brought about interest in natural compounds. In the last few years, more studies have been published for the insecticidal effects of essential oils from several plant families such as Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Cupressaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae, Piperaceae, Rutaceae and Zingiberaceae. The present article emphases on the effects of essential oils against Coleopteran insect pests by highlighting on their extraction, chemical insecticidal properties, mode of action on insect, commercialization and safety.     

Inhalation exposure of nano diamond induced oxidative stress in lung,heart and brain

1. Today, diamond nanoparticles have several industrial applications. Nano diamond (ND) as a carbon allotrope diffuses in the air easily during producing and processing procedures.

2. In this study, we investigated sub-acute exposed to ND at the exposure chamber in mice. The animals were divided into two groups (control and exposed group to ND at the concentration of 3?µg/m³ for 3?h/day, 5?days/week for 30?days) in a whole-body inhalation chamber.

3. Our results showed that exposure to ND induced the hematological and biochemical changes. The target organs for ND were the lungs, brain and heart in the mice, respectively. Also, ND increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation (LPO), the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased a level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and finally increased a level of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in lung, brain and heart tissues. Our results suggest that exposure to ND can induce oxidative stress in the tissue mentioned.

4. These results suggest that exposure of researchers and workers with diamond nanoparticles probably increase a risk of respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebral disorders through oxidative stress. However, good ventilation, appropriate personal protective equipment and using of anti-oxidant compounds in daily diet of worker are suggested.     

Effect of hydroxychloroquine on treatment and recurrence of acute brucellosis: a single-blind,randomized clinical trial

Brucellosis is associated with a high recurrence rate and requires more than one course of standard treatment; therefore, more research is required to find more effective treatments that lead to prompt recovery, and reduce the relapse of disease. This single-blind, randomized study was designed to evaluate the effect of the standard treatment for brucellosis in combination with hydroxychloroquine.A total of 177 patients with acute brucellosis were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: doxycycline-streptomycin (DS) and doxycycline-streptomycin-hydroxychloroquine (DSH). Clinical symptoms and signs, serological tests, and side effects of therapy were compared between the two groups during the treatment course and at three and six months after the end of drug therapy. Of the 177 patients, with a mean age of 40.5?±?16.9 years, 66.1% were males. The mean duration of clinical signs prior to admission was 43.4?±?41.1 days. Appropriate clinical responses, relapse, treatment failure, and adverse drug reactions were seen in 98.9%, 1.2%, 0.0%, and 12.6% of patients, respectively, in the DSH group vs. 86.7%, 11.6%, 2.3%, and 19.8% of patients, respectively, in the DS group. There were significant differences in clinical response and relapse rates between the two groups. The addition of hydroxychloroquine to a doxycycline-streptomycin regimen appears to increase the efficacy of treatment, accelerate improvement of clinical symptoms, and significantly reduce the rate of relapse of brucellosis.     

Assessment of expression of RELN signaling pathway in multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Nearly 85% of MS patients are recognized with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), a typical clinical course of disease which is distinguished by several episodes of relapses, separated by remissions of neurological impairment. Failure of repair mechanisms is a main factor in progression of neurological dysfunction in MS. Several lines of evidence suggest that Reelin (RELN) signaling pathway can contribute in the regulation of repair mechanisms in MS patients. In the present study, we assessed expression levels of RELN and Disabled-1 (DAB1), two key genes in RELN signaling pathway, in peripheral blood of 50 RRMS patients and 50 matched healthy subjects. RELN was significantly down-regulated in total MS patients, and total female patients compared with the matched controls. However, no statistically significant difference was found in DAB1 mRNA expression between MS patients and controls. Furthermore, considerable correlations were detected between expression levels of RELN and DAB1 in the patients group. There were no significant correlations between expression levels of genes and EDSS, disease duration or age at onset. Our study provides evidences for the role of RELN signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of MS. Further studies are required to clarify the exact clinical significance of this pathway in MS patients.     

Pindborg's tumor: a propos of a case

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor was first described as an entity by Danish pathologist Jens Pindborg in 1955. It is an uncommon and locally invasive benign odontogenic tumor. The most characteristic findings are the presence of amyloid-like substance and calcified concentric liesegang rings.     

The fatigue life of a cobalt-chromium alloy after laser welding

The aim of this study was to investigate the fatigue life of laser welded joints in a commercially available cast cobalt-chromium alloy. Twenty rod shaped specimens (40 mm x 1.5 mm) were cast and sand blasted. Ten specimens were used as controls and the remaining ten were sectioned and repaired using a pulsed Nd: YAG laser welder. All specimens were subjected to fatigue testing (30N - 2Hz) in a controlled environment. A statistically significant difference in median fatigue life was found between as-cast and laser welded specimens (p < 0.001). Consequently, the technique may not be appropriate for repairing cobalt chromium clasps on removable partial dentures. Scanning electron microscopy indicated the presence of cracks, pores and constriction of the outer surface in the welded specimens despite 70% penetration of the weld.