Surveying haemoperfusion impact on COVID-19 from machine learning using Shapley values.

BACKGROUND: Haemoperfusion (HP) is an innovative extracorporeal therapy that utilizes special cartridges to filter the blood, effectively removing pro-inflammatory cytokines, toxins, and pathogens in COVID-19 patients. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the clinical benefits of HP for severe COVID-19 cases using Shapley values for machine learning models. METHODS: The research involved 578 inpatients (≥ 20 years old) admitted to Baqiyatallah hospital (Tehran, Iran). The control group (359 patients) received standard treatment, including high doses of corticosteroids (a single 500 mg methylprednisolone pulse, followed by 250 mg for 2 days), categorized as regimen (I). On the other hand, the HP group (219 patients) received regimen II, consisting of the same corticosteroid treatment (regimen I) along with haemoperfusion using Cytosorb H300. The frequency of haemoperfusion sessions varied based on the type of lung involvement determined by chest CT scans. In addition, the value function v defines the Shapley value of the i th feature for the query point x , where the input matrix features represent individual characteristics, drugs, and history and clinical conditions of the patient. RESULTS: Our data showed a favorable clinical response in the HP group compared to the control group. Notably, one-to-three sessions of HP using the CytoSorb® 300 cartridge led to reduced ventilation requirements and mortality rates in severe COVID-19 patients. Shapley values were calculated to evaluate the contribution of haemoperfusion among other factors, such as side effects, medications, and individual characteristics, to COVID-19 patient outcomes. In addition, there is a significant difference between the two groups among the treatments and medications used remdesivir, adalimumab, tocilizumab, favipiravir, Interferon beta-1a, enoxaparin prophylaxis, enoxaparin full dose, heparin prophylaxis, and heparin full dose (P < 0.05). It seems that haemoperfusion has a positive impact on the reduction of inflammation markers and renal functional such as ferritin and creatinine, respectively, as well as D-dimer and WBC levels in the HP group were significantly lower than the control group. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that haemoperfusion played a crucial role in predicting patient survival, making it a significant feature in classifying patients' prognoses.

Use of calcaneal locking plate in surgical treatment of quadrilateral plate fractures of the acetabulum.

PURPOSE: Specialized devices for fixation of the acetabulum quadrilateral plate (QP) fractures may not be readily available in resource-constrained settings. In this article, we aim to explore the use of a 3.5-mm locking calcaneal plate in fixation of QP fractures. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with QP fractures underwent surgery using the modified Stoppa approach. Follow-up at 12 months assessed fracture healing and functional outcomes using the Majeed pelvic outcome score. Descriptive statistics summarized patient demographics and fracture characteristics. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and exact logistic regression explored associations between factors (age, AO/OTA classification, gender, and time to surgery) and Majeed scores. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 42.71 years, with the majority being male (64.29%). All patients achieved bony union. Post-traumatic arthritis developed in three patients, while two patients experienced post-operative fracture redisplacement. Evaluation using the Majeed pelvic outcome score revealed generally favorable outcomes, with 32.14% achieving excellent, 39.29% good, 21.43% fair, and 7.14% poor outcome. Only an older age was associated with a worse outcome score (excellent/good versus fair/poor, odds ratio: 0.87, 95% confidence interval: 0.77, 0.96). CONCLUSION: Surgical management of quadrilateral plate fractures using 3.5-mm locking calcaneal plates demonstrates promising outcomes, particularly in resource-constrained settings, where specialized devices may be lacking.

Metronidazole degradation mechanism by sono-photo-Fenton processes using a spinel ferrite cobalt on activated carbon catalyst.

A heterogeneous catalyst was prepared by anchoring spinel cobalt ferrite nanoparticles on porous activated carbon (SCF@AC). The catalyst was tested to activate hydrogen peroxide (HP) in the Fenton degradation of metronidazole (MTZ). SCF nanoparticles were produced through the co-precipitation of iron and cobalt metal salts in an alkaline condition. Elemental mapping, physico-chemical, morphological, structural, and magnetic properties of the as-fabricated catalyst were analyzed utilizing EDX mapping, FESEM-EDS, TEM, BET, XRD, and VSM techniques. The porous structure of AC enhanced the catalytic activity of SCF by a significant decrease in the agglomeration of SCF nanoparticles. The effectiveness of SCF@AC in Fenton degradation improved substantially when UV light and ultrasound (US) irradiations were induced, most likely due to the strong synergistic effect between the catalyst and these irradiation sources. The photo-Fenton system was more efficient than the Fenton, sono-, and sono-photo-Fenton processes eliminating both MTZ and TOC. It was found that AC not only dispersed SCF nanoparticles and improved the stability of the catalyst, but also provided a high adsorption capacity of MTZ, resulting in a faster degradation. After 60 min of the photo-Fenton reaction, the elimination efficiencies of MTZ (30 mg L-1) and TOC were 97 and 42.1% under optimum operational conditions (pH = 3.0, HP = 4.0 mM, SCF@AC = 0.3 g L-1, and UV = 6 W). SCF@AC showed excellent stability with low leaching of metal ions during the reaction. Radical and non-radical (O2•-, HO•, and 1O2 species), alongside adsorption and photocatalysis mechanisms, were responsible for MTZ decontamination over the SCF@AC/HP/UV system. A comprehensive study on the HP activation mechanism and MTZ degradation pathway was obtained through scavenging tests. The findings demonstrate that SCF@AC is an effective, reusable, and environmentally sustainable catalyst for advanced oxidation processes that can effectively remove organic pollutants from wastewater. This study offers valuable insights into the feasibility of employing SCF@AC catalysts in Fenton-based processes for the degradation of MTZ.

Calculating and analyzing time delay in zigzag graphene nanoscrolls based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors.

Graphene Nano Scrolls (GNSs) and Zigzag graphene nanoscrolls (ZGNSs) are semi-one-dimensional materials with exceptional electrical and optical properties, making them attractive to be used in nanoelectronics and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. With in CMOS device technology, time delay is a crucial issue in the design and implementation of CMOS based ZGNSs. Current paper focus is on ZGNSs application in the channel area of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) in CMOS technology. We studied analytically, the importance of different parameters on time delay reduction, resulting in faster switching and higher frequency in integrated circuits (ICs). The results of this research demonstrates that, the ZGNS-based CMOS proves considerable variations in the current due to the geometrical parameters, such as chirality number, channel length, and nanoscroll length which can be engineered to produce faster ICs.

The epidemiology of neck and low back pain in Iran: a national and sub-national analysis from 1990 to 2019.

Background: Neck pain (NP) is a condition influenced by multiple factors. It places a significant burden on individuals suffering from NP and on social and economic systems. On a global scale, low back pain (LBP) stands out as a significant contributor to years lost to disability, and this burden is on the rise due to population growth and aging. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to collect data on the prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLD) of NP and LBP between 1990 and 2019. Various factors, including age group, gender, Iran, and its 31 provinces, were used to classify the data. Results: Iran accounted for 0.86 million incident cases of NP in 2019, with age-standardized incident rate per 100 000 population of 934.1. Tehran has the maximum age-standardized prevalence, incidence, and YLD. Iran accounted for the age-standardized incidence rate for LBP per 100 000 population of 3492.9, and it reduced to -8.35% from 1990. Mazandaran exhibits the highest levels of prevalence, incidence, and YLD for LBP in 2019. In Iran, the point prevalence of NP in 2019 was higher in females and increased with age up to 50-54 years for females and 70-74 years for males. However, there is only a slight difference between females and males in Iran regarding LBP prevalence. Conclusions: In this study, the authors report the prevalence, incidence, YLD, and age-standardized rates for NP and LBP in the world's general population and Iran's population based on its sub-nations in 1990 and 2019.

Woven endo bridge device for recurrent intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent intracranial aneurysms present a significant clinical challenge, demanding innovative and effective treatment approaches. The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device has emerged as a promising endovascular solution for managing these intricate cases. This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of the WEB device in treating recurrent intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, from inception to June 5, 2023. Eligible studies focused on evaluating WEB device performance and included a minimum of five patients with recurrent intracranial aneurysms. The complete and adequate occlusion rates, neck remnant rates, and periprocedural complication rates were pooled using SATA V.17. RESULTS: Our analysis included five studies collectively enrolling 73 participants. Participant ages ranged from 52.9 to 65 years, with 64.4% being female. Aneurysms were wide-necked and predominantly located in the middle cerebral artery, basilar artery, and anterior cerebral artery. Previous treatments encompassed coiling, clipping, and the use of WEB devices. Our study found an overall adequate occlusion rate of 0.80 (95% CI 0.71-0.89), a complete occlusion rate of 0.39 (95% CI 0.28-0.50), and a neck remnant rate of 0.38 (95% CI 0.27-0.48). Periprocedural complications were reported at a rate of 0%, although heterogeneity was observed in this data. Notably, evidence of publication bias was identified in the reporting of periprocedural complication rates. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the WEB device is associated with favorable outcomes for treating recurrent wide-neck intracranial aneurysms.

The association between quality of life and diabetes: the Bushehr Elderly Health Program.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the importance of diabetes and its increased prevalence with aging, this study aimed to evaluate the association between diabetes status and quality of life (QOL) and the determining factors in individuals over 60. METHODS: Two thousand three hundred seventy-five individuals including 819 (34.5%) with diabetes, aged 69.4 ± 6.4, from Bushehr Elderly Health Program (BEHP) were enrolled. We categorized the participants as non-diabetic, controlled diabetic, and poorly controlled diabetic. The QOL was assessed using the SF-12 questionnaire. The physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summaries of QOL were estimated. We compared the SF-12 domains and components between the categories using ANOVA. Further, the association of diabetes status with PCS and MCS was assessed after adjustment for possible confounders including age, sex, depression, cognitive impairment, physical activity, and other relevant factors using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Individuals with diabetes had lower PCS (40.9 ± 8.8 vs. 42.7 ± 8.6, p-value < 0.001), and MCS scores (45.0 ± 10.2 vs. 46.4 ± 9.4, p-value < 0.001) compared to participants without diabetes. No significant differences were observed in PCS or MCS scores between controlled or poorly controlled individuals with diabetes. Diabetes status was associated with PCS and MCS scores in univariable analysis. Regarding physical component of QOL, after adjusting for other confounders, poorly controlled diabetes was significantly associated with PCS [beta: -1.27 (-2.02, -0.52)]; some other determinants include depression [-7.66 (-8.51, -6.80)], male sex [3.90 (3.24,4.57)], and good physical activity [1.87 (1.17,2.57)]. As for the mental component, controlled diabetes was significantly associated with MCS [-1.17 (-2.13, -0.22)]; other contributing factors include depression [-14.35 (-15.34, -13.37)], male sex [1.97 (1.20,2.73)], good physical activity [-1.55 (-2.35, -0.75)], and smoking [-1.42 (-2.24, -0.59)]. BMI had an inverse association with PCS [-0.19 (-0.26, -0.13)] and a direct association with MCS [0.14 (0.07,0.21)]. CONCLUSION: Individuals with diabetes exhibited reduced QOL scores. Upon adjusting for other variables, it was found that uncontrolled diabetes correlated with decreased PCS scores, whereas controlled diabetes was linked to lower MCS scores. Factors such as depression and being female were identified as contributors to diminished QOL in both physical and mental aspects. These results have the potential to guide healthcare decision-making, facilitating the creation of tailored interventions aimed at improving the QOL for individuals with diabetes, with a specific focus on women and depression.

Therapeutic potential of CRISPR/CAS9 genome modification in T cell-based immunotherapy of cancer.

Today, genome editing technologies like zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are being used in clinical trials and the treatment of diseases like acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and cancer. CRISPR stands out as one of the most advanced tools for genome editing due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It can selectively modify specific locations in the genome, offering new possibilities for treating human diseases. The CRISPR system uses ribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid (RNA-DNA) recognition to combat infections, regulate gene expression, and treat cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, which uses T lymphocytes to eliminate cancer cells, can be improved by combining it with CRISPR technology. However, there are challenges in using CAR-T cells, including a lack of quantity and quality, exhaustion, neurotoxicity, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), B cell aplasia, tumor lysis syndrome, and anaphylaxis. Preclinical studies on CRISPR-edited CAR-T cells show promising results and targeting detrimental regulatory genes can enhance cancer treatment in the future.

Interplay of electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents for electronic paper displays.

HYPOTHESIS: Electronic paper displays rely on electrokinetic effects in nonpolar solvents to drive the displacement of colloidal particles within a fluidic cell. While Electrophoresis (EP) is a well-established and frequently employed phenomenon, electro-osmosis (EO), which drives fluid flow along charged solid surfaces, has not been studied as extensively. We hypothesize that by exploiting the interplay between these effects, an enhanced particle transport can be achieved. EXPERIMENTS: In this study, we experimentally investigate the combined effects of EP and EO for colloidal particles in non-polar solvents, driven by an electric field. We use astigmatism micro-particle tracking velocimetry (A-µPTV) to measure the motion of charged particles within model fluidic cells. Using a simple approach that relies on basic fluid flow properties we extract the contributions due to EP and EO, finding that EO contributes significantly to particle transport. The validity of our approach is confirmed by measurements on particles with different magnitudes of charge, and by comparison to numerical simulations. FINDINGS: We find that EO flows can play a dominant role in the transport of particles in electrokinetic display devices. This can be exploited to speed up particle transport, potentially yielding displays with significantly faster switching times.

Immunoinformatic Analysis of Leishmania Major gp46 Protein and Potential Targets for Vaccination against Leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease with a significant burden in the Old World countries. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, some of the primary biochemical properties and IFN-γ inducing epitopes with specific binding capacity to human and mouse MHC alleles were predicted for Leishmania major gp46 antigenic protein. METHODS: Several online servers were used to predict physico-chemical traits, allergenicity, antigenicity, transmembrane domain and signal peptide, subcellular localization, post-translational modifications (PTMs), secondary and tertiary structures, tertiary model refining with validations. Also, IEDB web server was used to predict mouse/human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and helper T-lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes. RESULTS: The 33.25 kDa protein was stable, hydrophilic, antigenic, while non-allergenic, with enhanced thermotolerance and 45 PTM sites. The secondary structure encompassed a random coil, followed by extended strands and helices. Ramachandran-based analysis of the refined model showed 73.1%, 21.6%, 3.4% and 1.9% of residues in the most favored, additional allowed, generously-allowed and disallowed regions, respectively. Epitope screening demonstrated 4 HTL epitopes against seemingly protective HLA alleles, 5 HTL epitopes against the HLA reference set, 3 human CTL epitopes and a number of mouse MHC-restricted epitopes. CONCLUSION: This paper provides insights into the bioinformatics characteristics of the L. major gp46 protein as a promising vaccine candidate.

Salivary gland secretory carcinoma presenting as a cervical soft tissue mass: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Secretory carcinoma (SC) has been described as a distinct salivary gland tumor in the fourth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of head and neck tumors. SC is generally considered as a slow-growing low-grade malignant tumor, while several cases have been reported with high-grade features, and even metastases in the literature up until now. In this article, a soft tissue SC case is discussed with high-grade microscopic features and neural invasion. A review of the salivary gland SC cases with aggressive behavior is also debated. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old Caucasian man presented with a left neck mass for the past six months. The imaging studies demonstrated a very large cystic cervical mass (46 × 23 mm) with papillary projections in the anterolateral aspect of the left neck zone Vb. He underwent left radical neck dissection (level I-V) and was followed up for 12 months with the diagnosis of Secretory carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Although SC generally has a good outcome, multiple recurrences and unusual metastases may occur, which should be considered by either the pathologists or clinicians.

Burden of ischemic heart disease in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and attributable risk factors: An epidemiological analysis from 1990 to 2019.

Introduction: Despite the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD), there remains a paucity of research on the incidence, mortality, and burden of this condition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and the risk factors associated with IHD in the MENA region. Methods: This study was performed based on the GBD study 2019 data. We retrieved the data related to the epidemiology and burden of IHD, including prevalence, incidence, years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and mortality at the global level and in MENA countries across years and sexes. Results: IHD accounted for approximately 2.55 million (95 % UI 2.29-2.83) incident cases in MENA in 2019, with an age-standardized incidence rate of 613.87 (95 % UI 555.84-675.16) per 100 000 people, which has decreased by 9 % between 1990 and 2019. IHD accounted for 11.01 % of DALYs causes in MENA in 2019, an increase of 68 % compared to 1990. The DALYs rate from IHD increased with age in both men and women and was higher in men than in women in all age groups, except 85-89 years age-group, in 2019. Conclusion: The age-standardized prevalence and incidence of IHD are decreasing in MENA. However, this reduction is lower than the global level, which can be due to a weaker performance of the countries in the region in reducing the prevalence and incidence of the disease compared to the global average.

Evaluation of the hematological inflammatory parameters in the patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura: A case-control study.

Background and Aims: Inflammation is one of the immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)'s aggravating elements due to inflammatory cells' function. This study aims to identify and evaluate hematological inflammatory parameters, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR), in patients with ITP compared to the control group. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the profile of 190 ITP patients from August 2019 to January 2021 at Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad, Iran, along with 100 healthy individuals who had no ITP-related clinical or laboratory symptoms. Immune cell counts, NLR, PLR, and HPR were calculated using the complete blood count at the time of diagnosis and after the treatment. The results were analyzed through MedCalc, SPSS software, and the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The result showed that white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts were higher in ITP patients (WBC: p: 0.001, neutrophil: p: 0.001), and conversely, platelet and lymphocyte counts were higher in the control group compared to ITP patients (platelets: p: 0.001, lymphocytes: p: 0.001). The indices analysis between the two groups revealed that NLR was significantly increased in ITP patients (p: 0.001), but PLR was significantly reduced in ITP patients (with the mean platelet count of 23.44 ± 35.26 × 109/L) compared to the control group (with the mean platelet count of 234.04 ± 55.88 × 109/L). The HPR index also significantly increased in ITP patients (p: 0.001). Conclusion: An increase in NLR, PLR, and a decrease in HPR can be considered a valuable diagnostic algorithm in patients with ITP.

Effects of flaxseed supplementation on weight loss, lipid profiles, glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with coronary artery disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of flaxseed supplementation on weight loss, lipid profiles, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and glucose levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). A systematic search was performed using various online databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) until June 2023. To evaluate heterogeneity among the selected studies, the Q-test and I2 statistics were employed. Data were combined using either a fixed- or random-effects model and presented as a weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Of the 428 citations, six RCTs were included. The pooled results did not show significant changes in the WMD of lipid factors (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol) following flaxseed intake. However, after performing a sensitivity analysis to determine the source of heterogeneity, flaxseed supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in TG levels (WMD = -18.39 mg/dL; 95% CI: -35.02, -1.75). Moreover, no significant differences were observed in either weight or BMI following flaxseed intake. However, the circulating levels of fasting blood glucose (WMD = -8.35 mg/dL; 95% CI: -15.01, -1.69, p = .01) and hs-CRP (WMD = -1.35 mg/L; 95% CI: -1.93, -0.77, p < .01) significantly decreased after the intervention. Flaxseed supplementation was associated with lowering FBS, hs-CRP, and TG levels but did not affect weight loss parameters and other lipid markers in CAD.

Ginger intervention on body weight and body composition in adults: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 27 randomized controlled trials.

CONTEXT: Ginger consumption may have an inverse relationship with obesity and metabolic syndrome parameters; however, clinical trials have reported contradictory results. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and analyze randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of ginger on body weight and body composition parameters. METHODS: Databases were searched for appropriate articles up to August 20, 2022. All selected RCTs investigated the impact of ginger on glycemic indices in adults. A random effects model was used to conduct a meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Net changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and percent body fat were used to calculate the effect size, which was reported as a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The risk of bias was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 27 RCTs involving 1309 participants were included. The certainty in the evidence was very low for WC and BMI, and low for body weight and percent body fat as assessed by the GRADE evidence profiles. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between ginger supplementation and a reduction in body weight (WMD, -1.52 kg; 95%CI, -2.37, -0.66; P < 0.001), BMI (WMD, -0.58 kg/m2; 95%CI, -0.87, -0.30; P < 0.001), WC (WMD, -1.04 cm; 95%CI: -1.93, -0.15; P = 0.021), and percent body fat consumption (WMD, -0.87%; 95%CI, -1.71, -0.03; P = 0.042). The results of the nonlinear dose-response analysis showed a significant association between the ginger dose with body weight (Pnonlinearity = 0.019) and WC (Pnonlinearity = 0.042). The effective dose of ginger intervention for body mass reduction was determined to be 2 g/d in dose-response analysis. The duration of ginger intervention had a significant nonlinear relationship with body weight (Pnonlinearity = 0.028) with an effective duration of longer than 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that ginger consumption may significantly affect body composition parameters nonlinearly. More, well-constructed RCTs are needed.

Inactivation of cell-free HIV-1 by designing potent peptides based on mutations in the CD4 binding site.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a major global health problem, with over 38 million people infected worldwide. Current anti-HIV-1 drugs are limited in their ability to prevent the virus from replicating inside host cells, making them less effective as preventive measures. In contrast, viral inhibitors that inactivate the virus before it can bind to a host cell have great potential as drugs. In this study, we aimed to design mutant peptides that could block the interaction between gp120 and the CD4 receptor on host cells, thus preventing HIV-1 infection. We designed a 20-amino-acid peptide that mimicked the amino acids of the CD4 binding site and docked it to gp120. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to calculate the energy of MMPBSA (Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area) for each residue of the peptide, and unfavorable energy residues were identified as potential mutation points. Using MAESTRO (Multi AgEnt STability pRedictiOn), we measured ΔΔG (change in the change in Gibbs free energy) for mutations and generated a library of 240 mutated peptides using OSPREY software. The peptides were then screened for allergenicity and binding affinity. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations (via GROMACS 2020.2) and control docking (via HADDOCK 2.4) were used to evaluate the ability of four selected peptides to inhibit HIV-1 infection. Three peptides, P3 (AHRQIRQWFLTRGPNRSLWQ), P4 (VHRQIRQWFLTRGPNRSLWQ), and P9 (AHRQIRQMFLTRGPNRSLWQ), showed practical and potential as HIV inhibitors, based on their binding affinity and ability to inhibit infection. These peptides have the ability to inactivate the virus before it can bind to a host cell, thus representing a promising approach to HIV-1 prevention. Our findings suggest that mutant peptides designed to block the interaction between gp120 and the CD4 receptor have potential as HIV-1 inhibitors. These peptides could be used as preventive measures against HIV-1 transmission, and further research is needed to evaluate their safety and efficacy in clinical settings.

CRISPR-Cas9 technology: As an efficient genome modification tool in the cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death globally and is a major public health concern. Managing this disease is difficult due to its multiple stages and numerous genetic and epigenetic changes. Traditional cancer diagnosis and treatment methods have limitations, making it crucial to develop new modalities to combat the increasing burden of cancer. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system has transformed genetic engineering due to its simplicity, specificity, low cytotoxicity, and cost-effectiveness. It has been proposed as an effective technology to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment strategies. This article presents the most recent discoveries regarding the structure, mechanism, and delivery methods of the highly powerful genome editing tool, CRISPR-Cas9. In terms of diagnosis, the article examines the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in detecting microRNAs and DNA methylation, and discusses two popular gene detection techniques that utilize the CRISPR-Cas system: DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter and specific high sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking. Regarding treatment, the article explores several genes that have been identified and modified by CRISPR-Cas9 for effective tumorigenesis of common cancers such as breast, lung, and colorectal cancer. The present review also addresses the challenges and ethical issues associated with using CRISPR-Cas9 as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Despite some limitations, CRISPR-Cas9-based cancer diagnosis has the potential to become the next generation of cancer diagnostic tools, and the continuous progress of CRISPR-Cas9 can greatly aid in cancer treatment.

Liver fibrosis in pars cohort study: A large-scale study on the prevalence and correlated factors.

BACKGROUNDS AND STUDY AIMS: The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) is a non-invasive scoring system for estimating liver fibrosis severity as a biomarker of chronic liver disease. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of chronic liver disease at the community level using FIB-4. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Pars Cohort database collected in Valashar, Fars province, Iran. Participants were divided into three groups based on their FIB-4 scores: low risk of liver fibrosis (FIB < 1.45), intermediate cases (1.45 ≤ FIB-4 ≤ 3.25), and high risk of liver fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25). RESULTS: In total, 9269 individuals with a mean age of 52.65 years were enrolled in the study, of which 4278 (46.2 %) were male. Among all participants, 7853 (84.7 %) were in the low-risk, and 65 (0.7 %) were in the high-risk groups. In the final ordinal regression model, male gender, being a farmer or rancher, living in rural areas, history of opioid use, history of jaundice, no history of diabetes, history of depression, and positive HBs Ag were independently associated with higher FIB-4 scores. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that males, individuals residing in rural areas, and those engaged in farming and ranching occupations face a heightened risk of liver fibrosis. These findings emphasize the need for future programs for early detection and effective management of liver fibrosis in these at-risk populations.

Designing a Multiplex PCR for Rapid and Accurate Detection of Metallobetalactamases Resistant Genes from Acinetobacter baumaniiIsolates in Tehran City, Iran.

Background & Objective: Acinetobacter baumannii strains harboring Meallobetalactamases (MBL) pose a significant threat in the context of nosocomial infections. The present investigation was undertaken with the objective of devising a Multiplex PCR methodology for the concurrent detection of MBL genes within A. baumannii strains prevalent in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: Between October 2020 and February 2021, 100 strains of A. baumannii were procured from burn specimens of hospitalized patients at Motahhari Hospital in Tehran. The identification of A. baumannii strains involved conventional biochemical techniques, coupled with confirmation of the presence of the bla OXA-51 gene. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test. MBL-producing strains were characterized through a phenotypic approach employing the combined disk test, alongside Multiplex PCR for the simultaneous identification of bla VIM, bla IMP, bla GIM, and bla NDM genes. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, with SPSS version 20.0 employed for data processing. Results: Among 100 strains examined, 96.1% exhibited positivity for MBL, as determined by the combined disk test. The study revealed a predominance of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, with colistin demonstrating the highest level of sensitivity. The genotypic assay unveiled that Multiplex PCR identified bla VIM, bla NDM, and bla IMP in 20 strains, bla VIM and bla NDM in 30 strains, and exclusively the bla NDM gene in 45 strains. Notably, the Multiplex PCR technique exhibited the capacity to concurrently detect MBL genes (bla VIM, bla IMP, bla GIM, bla NDM) in 2 strains. Conclusion: The current investigation underscores prevalence of the bla NDM gene within clinical strains of A. baumannii. Furthermore, Multiplex PCR emerges as a robust and highly sensitive technique for rapid discernment of the MBL genes within in A. baumannii strains.