A Multi‐Structural Model for Prediction of Effective Gas Permeability in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes

A new model for prediction of the effective permeability of gases in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), considering the effects of particle shape and the interfacial layer, is presented. The proposed model treats core filler particles and interfacial shell layers as complex particles. Moreover, the Bruggman mathematical procedure is used to improve the accuracy of the presented model for high concentrations of fillers in MMMs. Also, an appropriate uniform criterion is established to make efficient use of the new model for various experimental data to avoid the need for curve‐fitting procedures. Finally, the proposed model is examined for several sets of experimental data.

     

Seroprevalence of toxocara infection in school children in Shiraz, southern Iran

The presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in the sera of school children of Shiraz, southern Iran, was studied by means of an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with excretory/secretory antigen of infective stage larva. A total of 519 individuals of both sexes aged 6-13 years were analysed. The total prevalence was 25.6 per cent. A higher rate of infection was observed in urban (30.15 per cent) than rural (20.2 per cent) residents. Most potential risk factors were not related to Toxocara prevalence and no differences existed between socioeconomic classes except for parental education. Neither age or sex was found to be significantly associated with positive serology.     

Alterations of BDNF and NT-3 genes expression in the nucleus paragigantocellularis during morphine dependency and withdrawal

Locus coeruleus (LC) plays a key role in opioid dependence and withdrawal. Chronic morphine administration induces neurochemical adaptations in the noradrenergic system. The nature of signal responsible for opiate-induced adaptations of noradrenergic neurons in LC is not well defined. Neurotrophins-signaling pathways such as brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) play a key role for regulating the noradrenergic response of LC neurons to opiates. The nucleus paragigantocellularis (PGi) is one of the two major afferents to LC. The present study was designed to evaluate the expression of BDNF and NT-3 in the context of opiate dependence and withdrawal in PGi. Such data are important because they could reveal the role of PGi as an additional source of BDNF and NT-3 in the neurochemical plasticity of LC neurons. Opiate dependence was induced by a progressive intraperitoneal treatment of morphine. In morphine dependent group PGi nucleus was extracted for gene expression assay 6h after the last injection of morphine. In spontaneous withdrawal, rats received the same chronic treatment as morphine group. PGi was extracted for gene expression assay 24, 48 and 72 h after the last injection of morphine. PGi nucleus was assayed for the expression of BDNF and NT-3 using semi-quantitative RT-PCR normalized to beta-actin gene expression. Results showed that chronic administration of morphine significantly increased BDNF and NT-3 gene expression in PGi. In spontaneous withdrawal, BDNF/NT-3 genes expression were high in comparison to control group. It seems that BDNF/NT-3 -signaling pathway originating from PGi is essential for opiate-induced adaptations of the LC neurons.     

Comparison between Alpha and silver sulfadiazine ointments in treatment of Pseudomonas infections in 3rd degree burns

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Alpha ointment in the treatment of burn wounds and compare its results with silver sulfadiazine (SS). Similar burn ulcers were produced on anterior surface of thigh of 60 rats. The wounds were infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and dressing and debridement was performed daily. The first group of rats received topical SS, the second group received Alpha ointment and the third (control group) received no medication. Wound healing, contraction, culture, and scar formation were evaluated at the end of the second and 10th week. Alpha ointment was equally effective as SS, considering wound healing and contraction. Wound infection was significantly less common in Alpha ointment group compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). Alpha ointment is a less expensive drug with an acceptable result compared to SS. Therefore, we recommend it as an alternative to SS, especially in patients with low economical backgrounds or in those who show adverse reactions to SS.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Leishmania major</Emphasis> infection in a patient with visceral leishmaniasis: treatment with Amphotericin B

We have reported an acute form of visceral leishmaniasis, which was caused by Leishmania major, in Southern Iran. The parasite was isolated from a 30-year-old man living in Bushehr Province, Southern Iran, and an endemic region of kala-azar in south of Iran. The patient had typical clinical signs of Mediterranean kala-azar, and besides parasitological, biochemical, and immunological findings confirming diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, the agent was identified as L. major using Nested polymerase chain reaction. The patient was treated successfully with Amphotericin B during a 1-month period.     

Hepatitis B virus genotypes in southwest Iran： Molecular, serological and clinical outcomes

AIM： To investigate the associations of hepatitis B virus （HBV） genotype with HBeAg and anti-HBe status, alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels and HBV-DNA detection in different groups of HBV-infected patients in southwest Iran. METHODS： A total of 89 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected from the same number of patients. All sera were then investigated to determine HBV DNA and serological markers. For all the polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-positive samples, biochemical, histopathological assays and genotyping were also performed. RESULTS： Genotype D was the only type of HBV foundin different clinical forms of acute and chronic infections. There was a high prevalence of HBeAg-negative HBV- infected patients with chronic hepatitis （52.7%）. Out of 55 patients with chronic hepatitis, seven （12.7%） were diagnosed with cirrhosis. A significant association between the presence of anti-HBe antibody and an increase in ALT level, among either HBeAg-negative （P = 0.01） or HBeAg-positive （P = 0.026） patients, was demonstrated. No significant differences were observed between the clinical outcomes of HBeAg-positive and -negative individuals （P = 0.24）. CONCLUSION： Genotype D has been recognized as the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of HBV infections, including cirrhosis, among the residents of southwest Iran. Anti-HBe possibly plays a role in disease progression in some patients with chronic hepatitis, at least for a period of disease.     

Effect of (1-24)adrenocorticotrophin on the uptake of 3H-norepinephrine by the rat atria

Spontaneously beating rat atria were incubated with 3H-norepinephrine both in the presence and absence of (1-24)ACTH. A significant reduction in the uptake and retention of radioactivity was found in atria pretreated with (1-24)ACTH. A kinetic study of the uptake process showed similar Km values for both the control (24.1 x 10(-8) M) and (1-24)ACTH pretreated (22.2 x 10(-8) M) groups, but a significantly different Vmax. The Km values were similar to that reported for the neuronal reuptake process (Uptake 1). It was concluded that the ACTH-induced enhanced myocardial sensitivity to catecholamines previously reported, could be explained in part on the basis of an inhibition of neuronal uptake by (1-24)ACTH. The inhibition of neuronal uptake by (1-24)ACTH was dose-dependent.     

Different effects of GABAergic receptors located in the ventral tegmental area on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in rat

In the present study, an unbiased conditioned place preference paradigm was used to study the effects of intra-ventral tegmental area injections of Gama-amino-butyric acid (GABA)-A and B (GABA(A) and GABA(B)) receptor agonists and antagonists on the expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats. Subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine sulfate (5 mg/kg) induced CPP. Intra-ventral tegmental area administration of the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (6 microg/rat) reduced the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Muscimol (25 microg/rat) increased the expression of CPP induced by morphine. A reduction of the expression of morphine-induced CPP was observed on intra-ventral tegmental area injection of GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (25 microg/rat). Bicuculline (10 microg/rat) increased the expression of CPP induced by morphine. Baclofen (12 microg/rat) increased where as (19 and 25 microg/rat) reduced the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Injection of CGP38345 (10, 19, 25 and 50 microg/rat) into the ventral tegmental area significantly reduced the expression of CPP induced by morphine. It is concluded that GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor subtypes within the ventral tegmental area may have different effects on the expression of morphine-induced CPP.