The role of CpG ODN in enhancement of immune response and protection in BALB/c mice immunized with recombinant major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania (rgp63) encapsulated in cationic liposome

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) are known to be a potent immunoadjuvant for a wide range of antigens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of CpG ODN co-encapsulated with rgp63 antigen in cationic liposomes (Lip-rgp63-CpG ODN) in immune response enhancement and protection in BALB/c mice against leishmaniasis. Lip-rgp63-CpG ODN prepared by using dehydration-rehydration vesicle (DRV) method significantly inhibited (P<0.001) Leishmania major infection in mice measured by footpad swelling compared to Lip-rgp63, rgp63 alone, rgp63 plus CpG ODN, PBS or control liposomes. The mice immunized with Lip-rgp63-CpG ODN also showed the lowest spleen parasite burden, highest IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and IFN-gamma production and the lowest IL-4 production compared to the other groups. The results indicate that co-encapsulation of CpG ODN in liposomes improves the immunogenicity of Leishmania antigen.     

Sex difference in hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha expression: influence of pituitary and gonadal hormones

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha is a nuclear receptor that is mainly expressed in tissues with a high degree of fatty acid oxidation such as liver, heart, and skeletal muscle. Unsaturated fatty acids, their derivatives, and fibrates activate PPARalpha. Male rats are more responsive to fibrates than female rats. We therefore wanted to investigate if there is a sex difference in PPARalpha expression. Male rats had higher levels of hepatic PPARalpha mRNA and protein than female rats. Fasting increased hepatic PPARalpha mRNA levels to a similar degree in both sexes. Gonadectomy of male rats decreased PPARalpha mRNA expression to similar levels as in intact and gonadectomized female rats. Hypophysectomy increased hepatic PPARalpha mRNA and protein levels. The increase in PPARalpha mRNA after hypophysectomy was more pronounced in females than in males. GH treatment decreased PPARalpha mRNA and protein levels, but the sex-differentiated secretory pattern of GH does not determine the sex-differentiated expression of PPARalpha. The expression of PPARalpha mRNA in heart or soleus muscle was not influenced by gender, gonadectomy, hypophysectomy, or GH treatment. In summary, pituitary-dependent hormones specifically regulate hepatic PPARalpha expression. Sex hormones regulate the sex difference in hepatic PPARalpha levels, but not via the sexually dimorphic GH secretory pattern.     

Noninvasive Evaluation of Myocardial Systolic Dysfunction in the Early Stage of Kawasaki Disease: A Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography Study

Background:

Evaluation of myocardial function by speckle-tracking echocardiography is a new method for the early diagnosis of systolic dysfunction.

Objectives:

We aimed to determine myocardial speckle-tracking echocardiography indices in Kawasaki Disease (KD) patients and compare them with the same indices in control subjects.

Patients and Methods:

Thirty-two patients (65.5% males) with KD and 19 control subjects with normal echocardiography participated in this study. After their demographic characteristics and clinical findings were recorded, all the participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography. Strain (S), Strain Rate (SR), Time to Peak Strain (TPS), and Strain Rate (TPSR), longitudinal velocity and view point velocity images in the two, three, and four-chamber views were semi-automatically obtained via speckle-tracking echocardiography.

Results:

Among the patients, Twenty-four cases (75%) were younger than 4 years. Mean global S and SR was significantly reduced in the KD patients compared to controls (17.03 ± 1.28 vs. 20.22 ± 2.14% and 1.66 ± 0.16 vs. 1.97 ± 0.25 1/second, respectively), while there were no significant differences regarding mean TPS, TPSR, longitudinal velocity and view point velocity. Using repeated measure of analysis of variances, we observed that S and SR decreased from base to apical level in both groups. The change in the pattern of age adjusted mean S and SR across levels was significantly different between the groups (P < 0.001 for both parameters).

Conclusions:

We showed changes in S and SR assessed in KD patients versus control subjects in the acute phase of KD. However, we suggest that further studies be undertaken to compare S and SR in the acute phase and thereafter in KD patients.     

Neuroprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson's model via a novel Q10/miR-149-5p/MMPs pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease in which the understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms can be constructive in the diagnosis and treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) elevation and damage to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) are critical mechanisms involved in the PD separation. Studies have revealed that changes in miR-149-5p and CoQ10 are associated with BBB damage, and CoQ10 can affect the levels of some miRs. Hence, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate CoQ10 and miR-149-5p mimic on miR-149-5p, MMPs and TH expression, and behavioral functions of the PD models. PD was induced by injection of 6-OHDA into the rats' Medial Forbrain Bundle (MFB). The behavioral tests, including the Rotation test, Rotarod test, and Open field test, have been directed two weeks after PD induction. Next, the MiR-149-5p mimic (miR-mimic) and CoQ10 have been administered to rats. The same behavioral tests have been evaluated two weeks after administration to investigate the effect of miR-149-5p mimic and CoQ10. The rats were followed extra four weeks, and the behavioral tests have performed again. Finally, the expression of MMPs and miR-149-5p genes was measured using RT-qPCR, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was assessed through immunohistochemistry analysis. According to the obtained results, the level of miR-149-5p has decreased, followed by PD induction in rats. RT-qPCR analysis has represented upregulation and downregulation of miR-149-5p and MMP-2,9, respectively, after miR-mimic and CoQ10 treatment. The treated rats have also represented improved motor function and increased TH?+ ?cells in the striatum according to the behavioral tests and immunohistochemistry assay. Taking together miR-149 and CoQ10 has shown to have an impressive potential to prevent damage to dopaminergic neurons caused by 6-OHDA injection through reducing MMP-2,9, increased TH expression, and improved motor function.

     

Cone-beam Computed Tomographic Analysis of Canal Transportation and Centering Ability of Single-file Systems

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to compare canal transportation and the centering ability of Reciproc (VDW, Munich, Germany), WaveOne (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland), and EdgeFile (EdgeEndo, Albuquerque, NM) rotary systems using cone-beam computed tomographic imaging.

Hematological and bone marrow parameters in busulfan-treated rats: effects of silymarin extract

Busulfan is an alkylating agent that can be used in the treatment and control of chronic myeloblastic leukemia. Milk thistle seed extract of dried herb in 1 to 4 % silymarin is a powerful antioxidant flavonoid. In this study, busulfan and bone marrow suppression were used to assess whether the effect of silymarin can suppress cell death, or at least reduce it. Forty-two Wistar male rats were fed with a standard diet, divided into six groups of eight rats and treated as follows. Group 1—control group (received nothing). Group 2—control silymarin, 175 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 3—anemic control group, 20 mg/kg/day busulfan was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 14 days. Group 4—experimental group 1 received 20 mg/kg/day busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 175 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 5—two groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 250 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Group 6—three groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose busulfan (i.p.) for 14 days, and after 2 weeks, 325 mg/kg/day silymarin was gavage for 14 days. Hematological and bone marrow parameters were measured using standard routine procedures. The results showed that after 2 weeks, in the group that had received busulfan with healthy controls, leukocyte parameters were influenced more by the drug similar to the control group. In samples of bone marrow cells after treatment with silymarin, a slight difference between the groups was observed, but the cells are promyelocyte, myelocyte, and metamyelocyte, and band width in the control group of healthy controls and patient groups treated with silymarin was different. Decrease in bone marrow cells of control group was significantly different from the control group treated with silymarin. The effects of silymarin on bone marrow cells and peripheral blood leukocytes lead to reduced cell death, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cells against apoptosis, and the mechanisms, probably due to antioxidant properties, are unknown.     

Mutual information based multi-modal remote sensing image registration using adaptive feature weight

Multi-module images registration is a challenging task in image processing, and more especially in the field of remote sensing. In this letter, we strive to present a novel mutual information scheme for image registration in remote sensing scenario based on feature map technique. We firstly take saliency detection advantages to extract geographic pattern, and then utilize the efficient Laplacian of Gaussian(LOG) and Guided Filter methods to construct a new feature map based on different characteristic of multi-channel images. To avoid practical traps of sub-optimization, we propose an novel mutual information(MI) algorithm based on an adapted weight strategy. The proposed model divides an image into patches and assigns weighted values according to patch similarities in order to solve the optimization problem, improve accuracy and enhance performance. Note that, our proposed method incorporates the LOG and Guided Filter methods into image registration for the first time to construct a new feature map based on differences and similarities strategy. Experiments are conducted over island and coastline scenes, and reveal that our hybrid model has a significant performance and outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in remote sensing image registration.     

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia causing clitoromegaly

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is caused by congenital insufficiency of the enzyme 21 - hydroxylase (21-OHD) in the cortisol synthesis pathway. Because of the virilizing effects of androgens over-production, affected girls develop clitoral hypertrophy. Three patients with CAH are discussed below along with their surgical management and follow-up.