4265 research outputs found
Sort by
Epitope Mapping of Tetanus Toxin by Monoclonal Antibodies: Implication for Immunotherapy and Vaccine Design
Get PDFTetanus as a life-threatening disease is characterized by muscle spasm. The disease is caused by the neurotoxin of Clostridium tetani. Active form of tetanus neurotoxin is composed of the light chain (fragment A) and the heavy chain. Fragment A is a zinc metalloprotease, which cleaves the neuronal soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive attachment receptor (SNARE) protein, leading to the blockade of inhibitory neurotransmitter release and subsequent generalized muscular spasm. Two functional domains of the heavy chain are fragment C, which is required for neuronal cell binding of the toxin and subsequent endocytosis into the vesicles, and fragment B, which is important for fragment A translocation across the vesicular membrane into the neuronal cytosol. Currently, polyclonal immunoglobulins against tetanus neurotoxin obtained from human plasma of hyper-immunized donors are utilized for passive immunotherapy of tetanus; however, these preparations have many disadvantages including high lot-to-lot heterogeneity, possibility of transmitting microbial agents, and the adverse reactions to the other proteins in the plasma. Neutralizing anti-tetanus neurotoxin monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) lack these drawbacks and could be considered as a suitable alternative for passive immunotherapy of tetanus. In this review, we provide an overview of the literature discussing epitope mapping of the published neutralizing MAbs against tetanus toxin. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
Rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in whole blood samples using 23S rRNA PCR assays
Get PDFPurpose: Bloodstream infections are a general cause of death among hospitalized patients. Rapid diagnosis and timely treatment can reduce mortality. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the 23S rRNA PCR assays as a rapid detection method for diagnose of sepsis in patients with suspected bacteremia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Beheshti University Hospital in Kashan from November 2017 to December 2018. The blood samples of 265 patients with suspected bacteremia were studied by blood culture and 23S rRNA PCR techniques. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and Chi-square test. Results: Eighty (30.2) blood samples of 265 suspected patients, were identified as positive by PCR assays, whereas 27 (10.2) were identified as positive by the blood culture technique. The statistical analysis showed a significant association between the results of PCR assays and blood culture and factors such as prior antibiotic use and underlying diseases (P <0.05). Also a significant correlation was observed between laboratory and clinical criteria and the results of both PCR assays and blood culture (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The 23S rRNA PCR method is a rapid and sensitive technique specially for diagnosing sepsis among patients in whom bacteremia is difficult to diagnose with culture method including neonates and patients who have taken antibiotics before microbial culture. © 2019 Firoozeh et al. All rights reserved
Evaluation of dose rate and photon energy dependence of gafchromic EBT3 film irradiating with 6 MV and Co-60 photon beams
No full textGafchromic films are utilized for two-dimensional dose distribution measurements, especially in radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated a close connection between energy and dose rate of Gafchromic EBT3 films irradiating with 6 MV and Co-60 photon beams over a broad dose range. EBT3 films were exposed to 6 MV and Co-60 photon beams using 4 and 2 Gy/min dose rates over a 10-400 cGy dose range. The films were scanned in red, green, and blue channels to obtain the optical density (OD)-dose curves. The OD-dose curves resulted from three-color scans for different photon energies and dose rates were compared by statistical independent t-test. For the radiations of Co-60 and 6 MV photon beams, the highest correlation was obtained between the 2 and 4 Gy/min dose rates with red and green channels, respectively. Moreover, the red channel had a greater OD response per dose value, following the green and blue channels. There was no significant difference between different photon energies' (Co-60 and 6 MV) and dose rates' (2 and 4 Gy/min) dependence on OD-dose response of EBT3 films over a broad domain of radiation dose, except for different photon energies in the blue channel. Our results revealed that the OD-dose response of EBT3 films is independent on photon energies (Co-60 and 6 MV) and dose rate (2 and 4 Gy/min) in the evaluated dose range (10-400 cGy). Therefore, the EBT3 films are suitable, consistent, and reliable instruments for dose measurements in radiotherapy. © 2019 Journal of Medical Signals & Sensors
Facile synthesis and characterization of CeMoO4 nanostructure via co-precipitation method and investigate its application supercapacitor
Get PDFAbstract- Here in, CeMoO4 nanostructure were successfully prepared by a co-precipitation route without capping agent. The characterization and morphological of as-prepared samples were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, filed emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. SEM and XRD results show that CeMoO4 nanostructure obtained with average nano-plate thickness 30 nm and average crystal size of 10 nm. The evaluations on CeMoO4-based electrodes revealed the material to have a specific capacitance (SC) of 327 F g�1 at a scan rate of 2 mV s�1, an energy density of 24.5 W h kg�1, and a high rate capability. Continues cyclic voltammetry evaluations using CeMoO4-based electrodes proved the electrodes to be capable of maintaining almost 96.3 of its initial SC after 4000 cycles. To the best of our knowledge, this study is considered as the start point of using lanthanide molybdates as an electrode materials for supercapacitors and the results obviously consent to outstanding properties of CeMoO4 for the mentioned application. © 2019 by CEE (Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry
Epidemiological Trend of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in an Endemic Focus Disease During 2009-2016, Central Iran
Get PDFObjective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the common parasitic diseases in tropical and subtropical areas and is one of the important health problems in Iran. In order to investigate epidemiological aspects of CL disease in city of Aran va Bidgol in Isfahan province, this study was carried out in this central region of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in over a period of eight years between 2009-2016. Direct smears were prepared from all patients and were examined by a light microscopy. The basic demographic and clinical data of patients with CL disease referred to health care centers were collected and then were analyzed by using the SPSS software. Results: Overall, 926 patients, including 542 (58.5) males and 384 (41.5) females with confirmed CL were identified. The CL disease was more common among males (58.5). The highest and lowest incidence of the CL disease were estimated as 238.5 and 44.2 per 100000 people in 2009 and 2016, respectively. The highest incidence of the CL disease (26.3) was observed in the age group of 0-9 years. Most of the cases (54) were seen in autumn. More lesions (44.7) were seen on the hands. Of the patients, 65.4 were treated by systemic glucantime regimen. Conclusion: According to the results of this investigation, although there is a trend of decrease in the incidence of the CL disease in this 8-year period, incidence of the CL disease is still high. This is an alarming condition and careful planning for control and prevention of the disease is highly recommended
Examination and comparison of cognitive and executive functions in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders
No full textBackground: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorders are associated with impaired cognitive and executive functions. Cognitive and executive profile of these two disorders is similar. However, cognitive and executive deficits in these patients may follow different paths. The purpose of the present study is to examination and comparison of different paths of cognitive and executive function in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Methods: This was a descriptive study on patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders from 2016 to 2017. Thirty-four patients with schizophrenia, 52 patients with bipolar disorder, and 72 healthy individuals participated in the present study. This research was performed in Kargarnejad psychiatric hospital located in Kashan City, Iran. In this study, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Tower of London task, Wisconsin card sorting task, Trial Making Test (TMT), and Four-Choice reaction time test (Four-Choice) were used. Findings: The MANOVA test showed a significant difference between the schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and healthy groups in all scales of cognitive and executive functions. Altogether, performance of patients with schizophrenia in cognitive and executive functions were better than those with bipolar disorder; but schizophrenia and bipolar disorder groups have weaker performance than healthy persons (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study show that cognitive and executive functions are destructed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, and they have weaker cognitive and executive functions than healthy controls. Moreover, cognitive and executive functions in patients with bipolar disorder are weaker than patients with schizophrenia, and follow different paths from schizophrenia. © 2019, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved
Evaluation of cholesterol synthesis and absorption pathways in patients with cardiovascular diseases
No full textBackground: Nowadays, coronary artery diseases (CADs) are among the most common diseases in societies. The aim of this study was to study the interplay between cholesterol absorption and synthesis in two groups of Iranian patients with CAD by measuring the markers of cholesterol synthesis and absorption pathways in plasma. Methods: The study population included 128 patients undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography. Patients were divided into two groups after scoring the severity of their coronary stenosis; the S-stenosis group (patients with CAD, n = 75) had a significant stenosis indicated by coronary angiography, and the second group, N-stenosis (n = 55), had no significant coronary stenosis. Fasting plasma samples were used to measure cholesterol absorption and synthesis markers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Findings: The level of cholesterol absorption markers in patients with coronary artery stenosis was slightly increased compared to patients without coronary artery stenosis, but this change was statistically significant only for cholestanol (P 0.050 for all). Conclusion: Study of cholesterol synthesis and absorption markers has not been reported in Iranian patients before. This article reports the results of such study for the first time. Considering the high prevalence of CADs and the importance of cholesterol metabolism in pathology of these diseases, the results may be used to understand some underlying mechanisms of development and progression of these diseases, and to manage the patient better. © 2019, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved
Hereditary ataxia with a novel mutation in the Senataxin gene: A case report
Get PDFHereditary ataxias (HA) are a group of inherited neurological disorders caused by changes in genes. At least 115 different mutations in the senataxin (SETX) gene causing ataxia have been identified. There are no reports of any SETX gene mutation among the Iranian population. Here we report on two cases with homozygous and heterozygous mutations in which one patient was affected by HA with oculomotor apraxia type 2, and the other was a carrier of the disorder. In 2016, the affected patient was referred to the Biogene Medical and Genetic Laboratory (Tehran, Iran) suffering from imbalance and tremor of both head and body. The coding regions of 18 genes, including the SETX gene, were screened. The target regions were captured using the NimbleGen chip followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology on the Illumina Hiseq2500 platform. NGS, a DNA sequencing technology, has greatly increased the ability to identify new causes of ataxia; a useful tool for the prevention of primary manifestations and treatment of affected patients. In the present study, a novel mutation in the SETX gene has been identified. © 2019, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved
The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on glycemic control: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Get PDFThe findings of trials investigating the effect of L-carnitine administration on glycemic control are controversial. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to explore the effects of L-carnitine intake on glycemic control. Two authors independently searched electronic databases including MEDLINE, EM-BASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed and Google scholar from 1990 until February 2019, in order to find relevant RCTs. 37 studies with 44 effect sizes met the inclusion criteria and were eligible for the meta-analysis. L-carnitine supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD:-4.57; 95 CI:-6.88,-2.25), insulin (WMD:-1.21; 95 CI:-1.85,-0.57), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD:-0.67; 95 CI:-0.90,-0.44) and HbA1C concentrations (WMD:-0.30; 95 CI:-0.47,-0.13). L-Carnitine supplementation significantly reduced FPG, insulin, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c levels. © 2019, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors. All rights reserved
Molecular identification and detection of streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes isolated from selected hospitals in tehran using multiplex PCR method
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the major pathogens responsible for invasive diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis. Epidemiological studies of these microorganisms are necessary to evaluate the effect of pneumococcal vaccine in any community. Therefore, the present study was conducted for molecular identification and detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes isolated from selected hospitals in Tehran using multiplex PCR method. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 32 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical specimens of patients admitted to different hospitals in Tehran. The isolates were identified by phenotypic tests and PCR method. Multiplex PCR was used to determine the serotype. FINDINGS: The number and percentage of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates isolated from cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, eyes, and nasal discharge were 12 (37.6), 7 (21.8), 6 (18.7), 3 (9.5), 2 (6.2), and 2 (6.2) isolates, respectively. In the present study, the identified serotypes were the serotypes 1, 4, 6A/B, 7F, 9V, 11A, 14, 15A, 19A, 19F, and 23F. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, more than 50 of the serotypes were not among the serotypes present in the vaccines that are commonly used in the community. © 2019, Babol University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved