Serological and molecular survey of toxoplasmosis in renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients in Kashan and Qom regions,central Iran

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the important opportunistic pathogen among solid-organ transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients (HD). This study was aimed to detect toxoplasmosis among 50 renal transplant recipients (RTR), 135?HD and 120 healthy individuals in two cities (Kashan and Qom) that located in the center of Iran, from 2014 to 2015. Serological detection (IgG and IgM antibodies) was performed among all individuals in case and control groups. Molecular detection was performed on all IgM positive individuals or IgG positive with moderate to high (>51?IU/mL) antibody titers in HD (n?=?42) and control groups (n?=?21). In RTR patients, molecular detection was conducted among all seropositive or seronegative individuals (n?=?50). IgG seropositivity was detected in 52% (26/50) of RTR, 63% (85/135) of HD and 33.3% (40/120) of the control group. The rate of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was significantly elevated in RTR and HD patients than the control group (p?=?0.023 and p?<?0.001, respectively). IgM seropositivity was only detected in one HD patient. T. gondii DNA was detected in 12% (6/50) of RTR and 7.1% (3/42) of HD patients. The results of this study suggested that the screening of toxoplasmosis should be given greater consideration among RTR and hemodialysis patients.     

The effects of light curing units and environmental temperatures on CC conversion of commercial and experimental bonding agents

Background and purposePolymerization of bonding agents (BA) is a critical factor in determining the success of bonded restorations. We aimed to assess the effects of two light curing units and two temperatures on the extent of polymerization (EP) of a commercial BA and an experimental BA.MethodsForty BA specimens were randomly divided into 8 subgroups of n = 5 to compare the polymerization of two BAs (experimental/Scotchbond) based on the variables: temperature (23/37 °C) and light-curing unit (quartz-tungsten-halogen/light-emitting diode). The EP (%) was measured using differential scanning calorimetry, and analyzed using the t-test, two- and three-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), and the Bonferroni test (α = 0.05).ResultsThere were significant differences between the EP results between the two BAs (P = 0.012) and due to the different temperatures (P = 0.001), but not between the different light-curing units (P = 0.548). The interaction between BA and temperature was significant (P < 0.001). The other interactions were nonsignificant.ConclusionsThe two light-curing units had similar effects on the EP. The EP values were better when curing was performed at human body temperature.     

The effects of dentin bonding agent formulas on their polymerization quality,and together with tooth tissues on their microleakage and shear bond strength: an explorative 3-step experiment

PURPOSE

Bonding agents (BA) are the crucial weak link of composite restorations. Since the commercial materials'' compositions are not disclosed, studies to formulize the optimum ratios of different components are of value. The aim of this study was to find a proper formula of BAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This explorative experimental in vitro study was composed of 4 different sets of extensive experiments. A commercial BA and 7 experimental formulas were compared in terms of degree of conversion (5 experimental formulas), shear bond strength, mode of failure, and microleakage (3 experimental formulas). Statistical analyses were performed (α=.05). The DC of selected formula was tested one year later.

RESULTS

The two-way ANOVA indicated a significant difference between the shear bond strength (SBS) of two tissues (dentin vs. enamel, P=.0001) in a way that dentinal bonds were weaker. However, there was no difference between the four materials (P=.283). The adhesive mode of failure was predominant in all groups. No differences between the microleakage of the four materials at occlusal (P=.788) or gingival (P=.508) sites were detected (Kruskal-Wallis). The Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference between the microleakage of all materials (3 experimental formulas and a commercial material) together at the occlusal site versus the gingival site (P=.041).

CONCLUSION

A formula with 62% bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (Bis-GMA), 37% hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA), 0.3% camphorquinone (CQ), and 0.7% dimethyl-para-toluidine (DMPT) seems a proper formula for mass production. The microleakage and SBS might be respectively higher and lower on dentin compared to enamel.     

Serum HDL cholesterol uptake capacity in subjects from the MASHAD cohort study: Its value in determining the risk of cardiovascular endpoints

BackgroundThe efficiency of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) to efflux cholesterol contributes to the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway as one of HDL’s proposed functions and depends on the ability of HDL to uptake cholesterol. We aimed to investigate cholesterol uptake capacity (CUC) by a newly developed assay in samples from the MASHAD (Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders) cohort study.MethodThe study population comprised 153 individuals developed CVD diagnosed by a specialist cardiologist, over 6 years of follow‐up, and 350 subjects without CVD. We used a modified CUC method to evaluate the functionality of HDL in serum samples.ResultThe CUC assay was highly reproducible with values for inter‐ and intra‐assay variation of 13.07 and 6.65, respectively. The mean serum CUC was significantly lower in the CVD group compared to control (p = 0.01). Although, there were no significant differences in serum HDL‐C between the groups and there was no significantly association with risk of progressive CVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significantly negative association between CUC and risk of CVD after adjustment for confounding parameters (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.38–0.87, p = 0.009). The CUC was also inversely and independently associated with the risk of CVD event using Cox proportional hazards models analysis (HR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.41–0.94, p = 0.02). We determined the optimum cutoff value of 1.7 a.u for CUC in the population. Furthermore, the CUC value was important in determining the CVD risk stratification derived from data mining analysis.ConclusionsReduced HDL functionality, as measured by CUC, appears to predict CVD in population sample from north‐eastern Iran.     

Functionalised nanomaterials for eradication of CSCs,a promising approach for overcoming tumour heterogeneity

Today, intratumoural heterogeneity has been recognised as one of the main causes of cancer treatment failure and drug resistance development through which multiple mechanisms are simultaneously involved. From the broad diversity of cells presented in tumour microenvironment, owing to their proliferative potential and longevity, cancer stem cells (CSCs), are the main cell subpopulation involved in tumour development, propagation, metastatic dissemination and induction of intratumoural heterogeneity. Accordingly, selective targeting and eradication of CSCs may represent a promising approach for cancer therapy and evading drug resistance development. Nanotechnology is an attractive outgrowing field in medicine due to its promising capabilities in solving several obstacles associated with conventional chemotherapy agents including poor solubility, lack of selectivity and high systemic toxicity. Accordingly, multiple types of nanocarriers have been successfully developed for improving selective delivery and reducing non-selective toxicities of CSC-specific chemotherapy agents. In Current review, we mostly focus on examining the role of CSCs in development of intratumoral heterogeneity and introducing recently developed nano delivery systems for more efficient targeting and eradication of them.     

Serum lipid and lipoprotein profile of Asian tortoise (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrionemys horsfieldi</Emphasis>) in prehibernation state

The Asian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldi), which now has a worldwide distribution, originates from Iran, Pakistan, West China, Kazakstan, Turkmenia, and Russia. Because of the increasing popularity of this animal as a domestic pet and its presence in many zoological gardens, knowledge of its physiological characteristics at different stages of life is important. In this regard, serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles of Asian tortoise were measured just before hibernation. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 16 tortoises of both sexes. Total cholesterol (TC), phospholipid (PL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured chemically, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) was calculated as an estimation of one fifth of triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was determined on the basis of Friedewald's formula, and total lipid was calculated from the summation of TG, TC, and PL. PL and TC comprised 79 and 21% of total lipid in the male and 85 and 14% in the female, respectively. TG level was low in both sexes. Moreover, approximately 86 and 12% of TC were carried through LDL and HDL, respectively. Before hibernation, PL and LDL-C are the major lipid and cholesterol fractions of serum, respectively.     

Short-term celecoxib (celebrex) adjuvant therapy: a clinical trial study on COVID-19 patients

Inflammopharmacology - It is known that severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the viral strain responsible for the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Current...