Frequency evaluation and molecular characterization of HHV-6 and HHV-7 among children under 5 years with fever and skin rash.

Skin rash is one of the most common complications during childhood. Viral agents play an essential role in the development of such symptoms. Present study aims to determine the prevalence and genetic variability of Human Herpesvirus 6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7) infections and their subtypes in children under 5 years of age with skin rash and negative for rubella and measles. We used serum and throat swap samples from 196 children with skin rash and fever. ELISA and IFA tests were performed to detect antibodies against HHV6/7. Sequencing was performed using Sanger sequencing, and BioEdit and MEGA10 software were used for sequence analysis. According to the results, 66% and 40% of cases were positive for HHV-6 IgM and HHV-7 IgM, respectively. According to the molecular analysis, HHV-6 Nested-PCR was positive in 18% of cases, however, HHV-7 Nested-PCR was positive in 7.7% of cases. On the other hand, HHV-6 IgG and HHV-7 IgG were positive in 91% and 55% of study cases, respectively. For HHV-6, we found some genetic variabilities resulting in antigenic changes compared to reference strains. HHV-7 isolates showed no genetic differentiation and had a stable gene sequence. Based on the results, the detection of some cases of HHV6/7 primary infection and the presence of specific symptoms of roseola in the study population needs continuous evaluation of HHV6/7 frequency and distribution, also genetic variabilities of HHV6. This can pave the way for investigating HHV6 immune evasion and vaccine research and studying the relationship between viral genetic variations and other factors like disease severity. Furthermore, it is necessary to determine the relation between HHV6 genetic changes and latent infection to be considered in possible future vaccines and antiviral drug development.

Frequent detection of enterovirus D68 and rhinovirus type C in children with acute respiratory infections.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) and the emergence of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in children. A total of 322 nasopharyngeal swab samples were provided from children with an initial diagnosis of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. A total of 34 and 70 cases were positive for EV-D68 and HRV, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the clades A and B are the prevalent genotypes for EV-D68 and the HRV-positive samples belong to three types including HRV-A, HRV-B, and HRV-C. The results showed that EV-D68 and HRV-C are circulating in Iran especially in the winter.

A palladium complex immobilized onto a magnetic GO-MnFe2O4 surface as an effective and recyclable catalyst for the reduction of p-nitrophenol.

A magnetically separable palladium complex on a GO-MnFe2O4 surface has been synthesized by covalent immobilization of a palladium complex on the magnetic GO-MnFe2O4 surface functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). In general, magnetic, iron based materials (MnFe2O4) are effective in many catalytic reactions and are advantageous compared with other metal oxides due to their magnetic recyclability. The catalytic activities of these nanohybrids have been studied in p-nitrophenol (p-Nip) reduction. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the catalyst. The successful incorporation of the palladium complex onto GO-MnFe2O4 has been confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and ICP-AES. The intact structure of GO-MnFe2O4 was verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and TEM. The strong reduction of p-nitrophenol was shown by the palladium complex on GO-MnFe2O4. This magnetic heterogeneous catalyst was well recoverable with no significant loss of activity and selectivity after five successive runs.

Effects of exercise prior or during pregnancy in high fat diet fed mice alter bone gene expression of female offspring: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Based on different studies it was shown that exercise training is an important factor in preconception and prenatal care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether regular preconception exercise training with or without exercise training during pregnancy decreases detrimental effects of maternal high fat diet on female offspring bone health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 female mice were fed high-fat diet (35%) and were randomly divided into four groups: trained in preconception period and exercised during pregnancy (TE); trained in preconception periods but unexercised during pregnancy (TC); untrained in preconception periods but exercised during pregnancy (CE); untrained and unexercised (CC). Trained mice were subjected to a protocol of moderate endurance exercise training over a period of 4 weeks before pregnancy. TE and CE Dams groups had access to wheels throughout pregnancy until delivery. Analyses were performed on the female offspring that did not have access to running wheels or exercise training during any portion of their lives. The relative expression levels of ß-catenin, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Æ´ (PPARÆ´), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and Receptor activator of nuclear factor NF-kB ligand (RANKL) were determined by Quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR). RESULTS: Exercise during pregnancy in isolation had no effect on any measure genes but exercise both before and during pregnancy affected all genes. Exercise only before pregnancy increased ß-catenin and OPG and decreased PPARÆ´, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG ratio (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that maternal exercise training before and during pregnancy may modulate the risk of bone disorders in offspring of mothers fed a high-fat diet.

Inhibition of HIF-1α enhances anti-tumor effects of dendritic cell-based vaccination in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Considerable evidence shows that the tumor microenvironment is an active participant in preventing immunosurveillance and limiting the efficacy of anticancer therapies. Hypoxia is a prominent characteristic of the solid tumor microenvironment. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is an important mediator of hypoxic response of tumor cells that modulates the expression of specific genes involved in tumor immunosuppression. Using a 4T1 breast cancer model, we show that in vivo administration of PX-478, an inhibitor of oxygen-sensitive HIF-1α, led to reduced expression of Foxp3 and VEGF transcript and/or protein, molecules that are directly controlled by HIF-1. When combined with dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination, HIF-1α inhibition resulted in an augmented cytotoxic T lymphocyte effector function, improved proliferation status of T cells, increased production of inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, as well as reduced regulatory function of T cells in association with slower tumor growth. Taken together, our findings indicate that the use of HIF-1α inhibition provides an immune adjuvant activity, thereby improves the efficacy of tumor antigen-based DC vaccine.

Efficacy of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells on Neonatal Bilirubin Encephalopathy in Rats.

Kernicterus is a neurological syndrome associated with indirect bilirubin accumulation and damages to the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brain stem nuclei particularly the cochlear nucleus. To mimic haemolysis in a rat model such that it was similar to what is observed in a preterm human, we injected phenylhydrazine in 7-day-old rats to induce haemolysis and then infused sulfisoxazole into the same rats at day 9 to block bilirubin binding sites in the albumin. We have investigated the effectiveness of human adiposity-derived stem cells as a therapeutic paradigm for perinatal neuronal repair in a kernicterus animal model. The level of total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, brain bilirubin and brain iron was significantly increased in the modelling group. There was a significant decreased in all severity levels of the auditory brainstem response test in the two modelling group. Akinesia, bradykinesia and slip were significantly declined in the experience group. Apoptosis in basal ganglia and cerebellum were significantly decreased in the stem cell-treated group in comparison to the vehicle group. All severity levels of the auditory brainstem response tests were significantly decreased in 2-month-old rats. Transplantation results in the substantial alleviation of walking impairment, apoptosis and auditory dysfunction. This study provides important information for the development of therapeutic strategies using human adiposity-derived stem cells in prenatal brain damage to reduce potential sensori motor deficit.

Comparison of the effect of daily consumption of probiotic compared with low-fat conventional yogurt on weight loss in healthy obese women following an energy-restricted diet: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence for the beneficial effects of probiotics and low-fat dairy products, to our knowledge, no study has compared the beneficial effect on weight loss of consuming a probiotic yogurt (PY) compared with a standard low-fat yogurt (LF) during a hypoenergetic program. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effect of the PY with LF yogurt consumption on body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors in women during a weight-loss program. DESIGN: Overweight and obese women [body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 27-40; age: 18-50 y) who usually consumed standard LFs were asked to consume either PY or LF every day with their main meals for 12 wk while following a weight-loss program. RESULTS: A total of 89 participants were randomly assigned to one of the 2 intervention groups. Baseline variables were not significantly different between groups. A statistically significant reduction in anthropometric measurements and significant improvements in cardiometabolic risk characteristics were observed over the 12 wk in both groups. However, no significant differences in weight loss and anthropometric measurements were seen between groups after the intervention. Compared with the LF group, the PY group had a greater (mean ± SD) decrease in total cholesterol (PY = -0.36 ± 0.10 mmol/L, LF = -0.31 ± 0.10 mmol/L; P = 0.024), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (PY = -0.35 ± 0.10 mmol/L, LF = -0.31 ± 0.11 mmol/L; P = 0.018), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (PY = -0.55 ± 0.32, LF = -0.42 ± 0.20; P = 0.002), 2-h postprandial glucose (PY = -0.61 ± 0.24 mmol/L, LF = -0.44 ± 0.19 mmol/L; P < 0.001), and fasting insulin concentration (PY = -1.76 ± 1.01 mU/mL, LF = -1.32 ± 0.62 mU/mL; P = 0.002), as secondary endpoints after the study. No significant differences were found for fasting plasma glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or triglycerides within both groups after the 12 wk. CONCLUSION: Consumption of PY compared with LF with main meals showed no significant effects on weight loss. However, it may have positive effects on lipid profiles and insulin sensitivity during a weight-loss program. This trial was registered at http://www.irct.ir/ as IRCT201402177754N8.

Thin film formation of platinum nanoparticles at oil-water interface, using organoplatinum(II) complexes, suitable for electro-oxidation of methanol.

A simple and effective strategy is presented to integrate individual platinum nanoparticles (NPs) into macroscopic thin films based on the reduction of organoplatinum(II) complexes [PtCl2(cod)] 1a, [PtI2(cod)] 1b (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and cis-[Pt(p-MeC6H4)2(SMe2)2] 2, at the toluene-water interface in the absence of stabilizer. Structure and morphology of the platinum NPs were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) techniques. Finally, platinum thin films were deposited on glassy carbon electrode and their electro-oxidation was investigated in the methanol oxidation reaction. Pt NPs thin films showed highly improved electrocatalytical activity toward methanol oxidation as compared with commercial platinum catalysts. The present method provides a facile and low-cost strategy toward the synthesis of different electrocatalysts of noble metals for application in fuel cells.