Deciphering the binding mode of dinitramine herbicide to ct-DNA,a thermodynamic discussion

Dinitramine is a herbicide that has been used to control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in cotton and soybeans in Iran. In this study, the electrochemical behavior of dinitramine was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods. The interaction of dinitramine with ct-DNA was evaluated by CV, competitive fluorescence, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and viscosity titration. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters of DIN–DNA complex were calculated by spectrophotometric titration. The values of ΔH_bin., ΔS_bin., and ΔG_bin. (T = 290.65 K) of the DIN–DNA complex were +39.25 kJ mol^?1, +215.71 J mol^?1, and ?23.45 KJ mol^?1, respectively. These data revealed that the endothermic binding has its origin in the hydrophobic interactions. Also the high positive ΔS_bin was explained according to the DIN structure that optimized by mechanical quantum calculations. However, all data showed that the major groove binding between DIN and ct-DNA is more predominant than other binding modes.     

Executive dysfunction in treated phenylketonuric patients

Objectives  Executive function deficits have been described in early and continuously treated patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). The aim of this study was to examine performance on executive function tasks of treated patients with PKU diagnosed by 2 years of age. Patients and methods  Ten patients with PKU and normal intelligence score who were diagnosed before the age of 2 years and subsequently treated continuously, were compared with 15 typically developing control children on a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the tower of London (TOL), continuous performance test (CPT), and Stroop test. Results  PKU cases showed significantly poorer performance on the TOL task compared to the control group with the difference being significant in the first three levels of the test. With the CPT, PKU cases had significantly more omission errors than control subjects. On the Stroop test there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. No significant correlation was found between the concurrent serum phenylalanine (Phe) level and results of the executive tests in PKU patients. Conclusion  This study identified executive dysfunction in early-treated PKU patients with normal IQ, particularly in the planning and attention domains. Further studies are required to compare the results with those from other neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD and autism, to establish whether the pattern of findings is specific to PKU.     

Pericardial tamponade and right-to-left shunt through patent foramen ovale after epicardial pacing-wire removal

After cardiac operations, careful management substantially reduces the risks of negative complications during or after the removal of temporary epicardial pacing wires. Herein, we report the case of a 58-year-old man who, 4 days after undergoing aortic root replacement, developed pericardial tamponade after the removal of temporary epicardial pacing wires. Consequent to the tamponade, a right-to-left shunt developed through a previously undiagnosed patent foramen ovale. The patient underwent emergency surgery to repair myocardium that had ruptured due to the removal of the wires, and he recovered uneventfully.     

Buerger's disease as an indicator of socioeconomic development in different societies,a cross-sectional descriptive study in the North-East of Iran

Introduction

Nowadays, Buerger''s disease (BD) is more common in the developing countries of Asia. Although its prevalence is going to decrease in the developed countries, its decline rate is not in parallel with that for smoking in these countries. Since the number of BD patients reported to MVasRc is increasing annually and its pathogenesis is unknown, the aim of the study was to investigate the smoking habits and socioeconomic status of the patients corresponding with Shionoya''s criteria.

Material and methods

Poverty line was the key factor of economic condition. Hygiene, education, professional occupation, long-term unemployment and healthy work were considered as social indices. Patients under the poverty line in addition to weakness in more than two social indices were included in low socioeconomic classification.

Results

From the total of 86 patients who reported to MVasRc during the 22-month study period, 71.6% and > 95% were new cases of BD and in low socioeconomic status respectively. Smoking ranged from 2 to 80 cigarettes/day. The duration of smoking before the onset of BD varied from 2 months to 35 years.

Conclusions

There is a lack of correspondence between BD and decline in the prevalence of smoking in developed countries. Also, duration and smoking habit varied in the studied patients. On the other hand, the strong dependence of BD on low socioeconomic conditions, as revealed in this research, implies that socioeconomic status may be a risk factor for initiation of BD. Moreover, the prevalence of BD might be an indicator of socioeconomic development in different societies.     

Phytotherapeutics in cancer invasion and metastasis

Cancer is a multifactorial disease, and therefore, a multitarget approach is needed to face the complex cancer biology, based on the combined use of different natural and synthetic anticancer agents able to target synergistically multiple signaling pathways involved in carcinogenesis, including angiogenesis and metastasis. In this view, the plant kingdom represents an unlimited source of phytotherapeutics with promising perspectives in the field of anticancer drug discovery. This narrative review aims to provide an updated overview on the bioactive phytochemicals exhibiting a promising potential as adjuvants in conventional anticancer therapies, with emphasis on antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities.     

Recent advances,approaches and challenges in targeting pathways for potential COVID-19 vaccines development

Immunologic Research - During the COVID-19 pandemic in a modern era, there is a global consensus on the need for the rapid development of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 for effective and sustainable...     

Natural history definition and a suggested clinical approach to Buerger's disease: a case-control study with survival analysis

The aim of this study was first to describe the natural history of Buerger's disease (BD) and then to discuss a clinical approach to this disease based on multivariate analysis. One hundred eight patients who corresponded with Shionoya's criteria were selected from 2000 to 2007 for this study. Major amputation was considered the ultimate adverse event. Survival analyses were performed by Kaplan-Meier curves. Independent variables including gender, duration of smoking, number of cigarettes smoked per day, minor amputation events and type of treatments, were determined by multivariate Cox regression analysis. The recorded data demonstrated that BD may present in four forms, including relapsing-remitting (75%), secondary progressive (4.6%), primary progressive (14.2%) and benign BD (6.2%). Most of the amputations occurred due to relapses within the six years after diagnosis of BD. In multivariate analysis, duration of smoking of more than 20 years had a significant relationship with further major amputation among patients with BD. Smoking cessation programs with experienced psychotherapists are strongly recommended for those areas in which Buerger's disease is common. Patients who have smoked for more than 20 years should be encouraged to quit smoking, but should also be recommended for more advanced treatment for limb salvage.     

An Analysis of Clinical Characteristics of Strongyloides stercoralis in 70 indigenous patients in Iran

Background

Clinical manifestations of Strongyloides stercoralis are variable from asymptomatic to hyperinfection and devastating disseminated infections. Hereby, clinical characteristics of a large series of Iranian strongyloidiasis indigenous cases are described.

Methods

The records of people referred to the Helminthological Diagnostic Laboratory of School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and School of Medicine, Gilan University of Medical Sciences, during 2009-2013 were reviewed. For those patients that were infected with S. stercoralis and their clinical manifestations and demographic data were available (70 cases) a checklist was prepared and data analyzed.

Results

Forty-three patients (61.4%) were male and 27 (38.6%) female. Gastrointestinal, cutaneous and pulmonary symptoms were present in 71.4%, 25.7%, and 15.7% of patients, respectively. None of them had larva currens eruption. Eosinophilia was the most prevalent reason for suspicious on S. stercoralis, but the mean was lower in elderly patients. Hyperinfection were recorded in 8 patients (11.4%), and 2 cases had disseminated infection.

Conclusion

Eosinophilia is common both in asymptomatic and symptomatic cases of strongyloidiasis, but the mean tend to lower with increase in age.