Platinum nanoparticles-embedded single-walled carbon nanotubes as a new carrier for curcumin delivery and investigating its anticancer effect on cell line 4T1.

Cancer, a prevalent disease across various societies, presents a significant challenge in treatment research. Studies show that combination therapies are one of the methods that can help in the effective treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are among the main cancer treatments and in this project, for combined chemoradiotherapy treatment, carbon nanotubes were used as improved carriers of chemotherapy in tumors, as well as a substrate for the preparation of radiation sensitizers for local radiation therapy. Following the synthesis of CNT-Platinum-Curcumin nanoparticles (CNT-Pt-CUR), a series of analyses were conducted to verify the successful production of these nanoparticles. Techniques such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed. The characterization data revealed a spherical shape Pt nanoparticle morphology with an 8.5 nm diameter on rod-shape CNT, as observed through TEM. Furthermore, FTIR analysis confirmed the successful loaded of the drug into the nanoparticles, highlighting the potential of this approach in cancer treatment. Then, hemolysis and (3(-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tests on normal cells were used to assess the biocompatibility of CNT-Pt-CUR nanoparticles. It also explored the anticancer efficacy of these nanoparticles at varying concentrations against cancer cells, both with and without exposure to X-rays. The research confirmed the successful synthesis of these nanoparticles and demonstrated their potential impact on cell viability. Specifically, breast cancer cells exhibited heightened susceptibility to toxicity when exposed to nanoparticles and X-rays. Further analysis revealed that the toxicity of nanoparticles is dose-dependent, and modifying the surface of carbon nanotube (CNT) nanoparticles with CUR significantly reduced blood toxicity. Interestingly, nanoparticle toxicity was significantly amplified in the presence of X-rays, suggesting mechanisms such as DNA damage and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels within cells.

Efficient Induction of Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells Using Bismuth Sulfide Nanoparticles.

Background: The use of nanomaterial-based radiosensitizers to improve the therapeutic ratio has gained attraction in radiotherapy. Increased radiotoxicity applied to the tumor region may result in adverse impact on the unexposed normal cells to the radiation, a phenomenon known as radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE). Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Bi2S3@BSA nanoparticles (NPs) as radiosensitizers on the enhancement of bystander response in non-irradiated cells. Materials and Methods: Lung carcinoma epithelial cells were exposed to 6 MV x-ray photons at different doses of 2 and 8 Gy, with and without Bi2S3@BSA NPs. The irradiated-cell's conditioned medium (ICCM) was collected and incubated with MCR-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts. Results: This study showed that ICCM collected from 2-Gy-irradiated A549 cells in the presence of Bi2S3@BSA NPs reduced the cell viability of MCR-5 bystander cells more than ICCM collected from irradiated cells without NPs (P<0.05), whereas such a difference was not observed after 8-Gy radiation. The mRNA expression of the BAX and XPA genes, as well as the cell death rate in MCR-5 bystander cells, revealed that the Bi2S3@BSA NPs significantly improved bystander response at 2-Gy (P<0.05), but the efficacy was not statistically significant after 8-Gy Irradiation. Conclusion: The results indicated that the presence of NPs did not affect bystander response enhancement at higher concentrations. These findings highlighted the potential use of radiation-enhancing agents and their benefits in radiotherapy techniques with high doses per fraction.

Infrared Spectroscopy Can Differentiate Between Cartilage Injury Models: Implication for Assessment of Cartilage Integrity.

In order to improve the ability of clinical diagnosis to differentiate articular cartilage (AC) injury of different origins, this study explores the sensitivity of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for detecting structural, compositional, and functional changes in AC resulting from two injury types. Three grooves (two in parallel in the palmar-dorsal direction and one in the mediolateral direction) were made via arthrotomy in the AC of the radial facet of the third carpal bone (middle carpal joint) and of the intermediate carpal bone (the radiocarpal joint) of nine healthy adult female Shetland ponies (age = 6.8 ± 2.6 years; range 4-13 years) using blunt and sharp tools. The defects were randomly assigned to each of the two joints. Ponies underwent a 3-week box rest followed by 8 weeks of treadmill training and 26 weeks of free pasture exercise before being euthanized for osteochondral sample collection. The osteochondral samples underwent biomechanical indentation testing, followed by MIR spectroscopic assessment. Digital densitometry was conducted afterward to estimate the tissue's proteoglycan (PG) content. Subsequently, machine learning models were developed to classify the samples to estimate their biomechanical properties and PG content based on the MIR spectra according to injury type. Results show that MIR is able to discriminate healthy from injured AC (91%) and between injury types (88%). The method can also estimate AC properties with relatively low error (thickness = 12.7% mm, equilibrium modulus = 10.7% MPa, instantaneous modulus = 11.8% MPa). These findings demonstrate the potential of MIR spectroscopy as a tool for assessment of AC integrity changes that result from injury.

Photothermal and radiotherapy with alginate-coated gold nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment.

Radiation therapy and phototherapy are commonly used cancer treatments that offer advantages such as a low risk of adverse effects and the ability to target cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. A promising strategy for cancer treatment involves using nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with radiation and photothermal therapy to target cancer cells and improve treatment efficacy. The synthesis of gold NPs (AuNPs) for use in biomedical applications has traditionally involved toxic reducing agents. Here we harnessed dopamine (DA)-conjugated alginate (Alg) for the facile and green synthesis of Au NPs (Au@Alg-DA NPs). Alg-DA conjugate reduced Au ions, simultaneously stabilized the resulting AuNPs, and prevented aggregation, resulting in particles with a narrow size distribution and improved stability. Injectable Au@Alg-DA NPs significantly promoted ROS generation in 4T1 breast cancer cells when exposed to X-rays. In addition, their administration raised the temperature under a light excitation of 808 nm, thus helping to destroy cancer cells more effectively. Importantly, no substantial cytotoxicity was detected in our Au@Alg-DA NPs. Taken together, our work provides a promising route to obtain an injectable combined radio enhancer and photothermally active nanosystem for further potential clinic translation.

The Epidemiological Investigation of Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, and Arenavirus Infections in Small Mammals in Northwestern Iran.

Background: The control and prevention of rodent-borne diseases are mainly based on our knowledge of ecology and the infectious status of their reservoir hosts. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, and arenavirus infections in small mammals and to assess the potential of disease occurrence in East Azerbaijan, northwest of Iran, in 2017 and 2018. Methods: Spleen and lung samples were obtained from all trapped small mammals. The real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) method was used to detect nucleic acid sequences of F. tularensis, Y. pestis, and arenaviruses. Serum samples were tested for antibodies indicating the host response to F. tularensis and Y. pestis infections using the standard tube agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Results: A total of 205 rodents, four Eulipotyphla, and one carnivore were captured. The most common rodent species captured (123 of 205 rodents, 60%) belonged to the genus Meriones (mainly Persian jird, Meriones persicus). In total, 317 fleas were removed from trapped animals. Flea species belonged to Xenopsylla buxtoni, Xenopsylla nuttalli, Stenoponia tripectinata, Paraceras melis, Ctenophthalmus rettigi smiti, Rhadinopsylla bivirgis, Paradoxopsyllus grenieri, and Nosopsyllus iranus. Using the qPCR tests, five spleen samples from M. persicus were positive for F. tularensis. The qPCR tests were negative for the detection of Y. pestis and arenaviruses. Finally, all serum samples tested were negative for antibodies against Y. pestis and F. tularensis. Conclusions: F. tularensis was the only zoonotic agent detected in rodents captured in East Azerbaijan. However, the diversity of trapped rodents and fleas provides the potential for the spread of various rodent-borne viral and bacterial diseases in the studied areas.

Growth and replication of infectious bursal disease virus in the fish cell line as an experimental vaccine.

Recently, several attempts have been made to replace egg-based with cell-based vaccines to prevent and control Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV). This study aimed to evaluate a new fish cell line (M99) for culturing and replicating IBDV. After observing complete cytopathic effects (CPE) on the M99 cell line, virus titers were determined using the TCID50 test, and the presence of the virus was confirmed using an RT-PCR test. Subsequently, 135 broiler chickens (14 days old) were randomly divided into three equal groups for immune response measurements: G1: immunized with a commercial vaccine, G2: immunized with an experimental vaccine, and G3: control. Antibody responses, bursal index, and histopathological evaluations were examined on different days after immunization. Based on the results, CPE of the virus was noticeable from the first passage, becoming complete by the third passage. The infectious titer of the virus was log106.9. Antibody titer measured 21 days after immunization in both vaccinated groups were significantly differed from the control group (p < 0.05). The results obtained from examining the bursal index and histopathological evaluations showed no significant difference between the studied groups at different times. Overall, this research is the first report on the successful cultivation of infectious bursal virus on a permanent cell line of fish origin, with the advantages of tolerance to a wide temperature range (26-40 degrees Celsius). Therefore, this cell line has potential for use to attenuate, cultivate, and adapt other pathogens to cold temperatures in future studies.

Investigating the impact of air pollution and temperature changes on emergency admissions (cardiovascular + respiratory) disease in the city of Bojnord, northeastern Iran.

Cardiovascular (CVD) + Respiratory diseases are recognized as the main cause of death worldwide. Fluctuations in temperature and air pollution have been reported as one of the most important causes of cardiovascular & respiratory diseases. Therefore, in the current study, we assessed the relationship between ambient air temperature and pollution on the number of total emergency hospital admission due to cardiovascular and respiratory conditions in the City of Bojnord, northeastern Iran. The meteorological data, including daily temperature, relative humidity and concentrations of five air pollutants CO, NO2, NOX SO2, and PM10 were obtained from online electronic sensors at the Bojnurd meteorological station from 21th March 2018 to 20th March 2020. Statistical analysis, penalized distributed lag non-linear method was applied using R Software. Also, sensitivity analysis test was calculated by using appropriate application. The results of the study revealed that the effect of higher and lower temperatures was observed immediately from the first day and the second week, respectively. Also result showed with increase and decrease temperature, significantly increased the risk of hospitalization by 36% (RR, 1.36; 95% CI (1), 0.95 to 1.95) and 17% (RR, 1.17; 95% CI (1), 0.88 to 1.55) until the lag 25th day, respectively. Based on the results, increasing temperature significantly increased the hospitalization rate of cardiopulmonary patients, but the effect of cold was not significant on the population as well as age and gender subgroups. Study have also proved that there is no significance correlation between air pollutant and Cardiovascular & respiratory diseases.

Mapping student engagement in health professions education policy and decision-making: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: "Student engagement" (SE) is gaining momentum as an approach to improve the performance of health professions education (HPE). Nevertheless, despite the broad studies about the role of students in various areas, little is known about the role of SE in policy and decision-making activities. This study aimed to map SE in policy and decision-making regarding terms and definitions, engagement models, influencing factors, outcomes and achievements, and the interconnection between the influencing factors. METHOD: Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, and ERIC) were systematically searched from Jan 1, 1990, to Nov 12, 2022. The review was followed according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We included articles published in English focusing on HPE policy and decision-making. The authors summarized and synthesized the findings into themes, subthemes, tables, and models. RESULTS: Of the 22 articles included in the full-text review, terms and definitions were tabled, and three themes were extracted: 1. models of SE, in which 10 studies (45.5%) presented the highly structured formal models as Organizations, 5 studies (22.7%) reported less-structured community and group as Programs, and 7 studies (31.8%) engaged students only in surveys or interviews as Perspective; 2. Factors influencing SE, that were categorized into 7 subthemes: structural, environmental, and motivational factors, member characteristics, training and mentoring, member relationships, valuing and recognizing. 3. Outcomes and achievements of SE related to systems and members. The interconnection between influencing factors is also demonstrated as a conceptual model. DISCUSSION: There are various SE models in HPE policy and decision-making, which are mapped and categorized depending on the degree of formality, structuredness, and level of engagement. In our study, three more common SE models in HPE policy and decision-making were investigated. Additionally, these collaborative methods emphasized curriculum development and quality assurance and employed students in these activities. It is worth mentioning that to make SE models more efficient and sustainable, several influencing factors and their interconnections should be considered.

Rodent-borne parasites in Qatar: A possible risk at the human-animal-ecosystem interface.

Rodents are known reservoirs for a diverse group of zoonotic pathogens that can pose a threat to human health. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate these pathogens to institute prevention and control measures. To achieve this, the current study was conducted to investigate the frequency of different parasites in commensal rodents in Qatar. A total of 148 rodents, including Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus, and Mus musculus were captured using traps placed in different habitats such as agricultural and livestock farms, residential areas, and other localities. Blood, feces, ectoparasite, and visceral organs were collected for gross, microscopic, immunological, and molecular analysis. The study identified 10 different parasites, including Capillaria annulosa, Eimeria spp., Giardia spp., Hymenolepis diminuta, Mastophorus muris, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Taenia taeniaeformis, Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma lewisi, and Xenopsylla astia. Overall, 62.2% of the rodents tested positive for at least one parasite species. Helminths were found to be the most prevalent parasites (46.0%), followed by ectoparasites (31.8%), and protozoa (10.1%). However, individually, X. astia was the most prevalent (31.8%), whereas C. annulosa was the least common (0.7%). The prevalence of X. astia and H. diminuta significantly differed between habitats (p < 0.05). The sequence analysis of Hymenolepis spp. was closely related to the previously reported H. diminuta in Iran, China, and Mexico. In conclusion, the study identified a diverse range of rodent-borne parasites that are important to public health, with most of them being recorded for the first time among commensal rodents in Qatar.

Modeling the Electric Double Layer at the Liposome Vesicle via Classical Density Functional Theory: Solution of Poisson's Equations for Curved Membranes.

The electric double layer at the liposome vesicle membrane has been investigated by a modified fundamental-measure theory in the framework of the restricted primitive model. An analytical equation has been obtained for the mean electrostatic potential (MEP) by solving Poisson's equation for curved membranes. This study investigates the influence of vesicle size, membrane thickness, surface charges, and electrolyte concentration on the structure, composition, and width of electric double layers (EDLs) on the inner and outer membrane walls. Our findings indicate that a thin and denser layer of ions is formed at the concave wall of the membrane (inner wall) compared to that at the outer membrane. As expected, the width of the diffuse layer decreases with the concentration and surface charge. Also, when the surface charges on both concave and convex walls are the same, the absolute value of MEPs on the inner membrane, concave wall, is greater than that on the convex wall. We have also investigated the diffuse potential, which decreases with concentration, membrane thickness, and cavity size, whereas it increases with surface charges. As we expect, the contact density of counterions at the inner concave wall of the vesicle cavity is always greater than the corresponding value at the convex wall, whereas this trend reverses for co-ions. Also, the contact density of counterions (co-ions) at the inner wall decreases (increases) with cavity size, whereas it increases at the outer wall (decreases). Finally, depletion of co-ions occurs at the membrane walls with enhancement in surface charges.

Impact of BK Polyomavirus NCCR variations in post kidney transplant outcomes.

The human BK Polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a DNA virus that is prevalent in 80 % of the population. Infection with this virus may begin in childhood, followed by asymptomatic persistence in the urinary tract. However, in immunocompromised individuals, especially kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), heightened replication of BKPyV can lead to severe complications. The genome of this virus is divided into three parts; the early and late region, and the non-coding control region (NCCR). Mutations in the NCCR can change the archetype strain to the rearranged strain, and NCCR rearrangements play a significant in virus pathogenesis. Interestingly, diverse types of NCCR block rearrangement result in significant differences in conversion potential and host cell viability in the infected cells. A correlation has been detected between increased viral replication potential and pathogenesis in BKPyV-infected KTRs with specific NCCR rearrangements. The objective of this review study was to examine the disease-causing and clinical consequences of variations in the NCCR in BKPyV-infected KTRs such as virus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN).

Characterization of chitosan/Persian gum nanoparticles for encapsulation of Nigella sativa extract as an antiviral agent against avian coronavirus.

The aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles formed by the ionic gelation method between chitosan and water-soluble fraction of Persian gum (WPG) for encapsulation of Nigella sativa extract (NSE) as an antiviral agent. Our findings revealed that the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the particles were in the range of 316.7-476.6 nm, 0.259-0.466, and 37.0-58.1 mV, respectively. The amounts of chitosan and WPG as the wall material and the NSE as the core had a considerable impact on the nanoparticle properties. The proper samples were detected at 1:1 chitosan:WPG mixing ratio (MR) and NSE concentration of 6.25 mg/mL. Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy proved the interactions between the two biopolymers. The effect of NSE on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) known as avian coronavirus, was performed by the in-ovo method determining remarkable antiviral activity of NSE (25 mg/mL) and its enhancement through encapsulation in the nanoparticles. These nanoparticles containing NSE could have a promising capability for application in both poultry industry and human medicine as an antiviral product.

Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index and principal component analysis in the Achnera block, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, Northern India.

The qualitative and quantitative assessment of groundwater is one of the important aspects for determining the suitability of potable water. Therefore, the present study has been performed to evaluate the groundwater quality for Achhnera block in the city of Taj, Agra, India, where groundwater is an important water resource. The groundwater samples, 50 in number were collected and analyzed for major ions along with some important trace element. This study has further investigated for the applicability of groundwater quality index (GWQI), and the principal component analysis (PCA) to mark out the major geochemical solutes responsible for origin and release of geochemical solutes into the groundwater. The results confirm that, majority of the collected groundwater samples were alkaline in nature. The variation of concentration of anions in collected groundwater samples were varied in the sequence as, HCO3- > Cl- > SO42- > F- while in contrast the sequence of cations in the groundwater as Na > Ca > Mg > K. The Piper diagram demonstrated the major hydro chemical facies which were found in groundwater (sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride type). The plot of Schoellar diagram reconfirmed that the major cations were Na+ and Ca2+ ions, while in contrast; major anions were bicarbonates and chloride. The results showed water quality index mostly ranged between 105 and 185, hence, the study area fell in the category of unsuitable for drinking purpose category. The PCA showed pH, Na+, Ca2+, HCO3- and fluoride with strong loading, which pointed out geogenic source of fluoride contamination. Therefore, it was inferred that the groundwater of the contaminated areas must be treated and made potable before consumption. The outcomes of the present study will be helpful for the regulatory boards and policymaker for defining the actual impact and remediation goal.

Herbicidal proteins from Bacillus wiedmannii isolate ZT selectively inhibit ryegrass (Lolium temulentum L.).

BACKGROUND: The widespread use of chemical herbicides and the growing issue of weed resistance pose significant challenges in agriculture. To address these problems, there is a pressing need to develop biological herbicides based on bacterial metabolites. RESULTS: In this study, we investigated the impact of the cell-free culture filtrate (CFCF) from the ZT isolate, a bacilliform bacterium obtained from diseased wheat seeds, on the germination and seedling growth of various plant species, including wild oat, ryegrass, redroot, wheat, and chickpea. The results revealed that CFCF had a detrimental effect on the fresh and dry weight of stems and roots in most of the studied plants, except chickpeas. The CFCF was further subjected to separation into aqueous and organic phases using chloroform, followed by the division of the aqueous phase into 13 fractions using an alumina column. Notably, both the aqueous phase (20%) and all 13 fractions (ranging from 50% to 83%) displayed the ability to reduce the root length of ryegrass, a monocotyledonous weed. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified that fractions 3 and 7, which were effective against ryegrass but not redroot, contained Cry family proteins, including Cry10 Aa, Cry4 Ba, and Cry4 Aa. Additionally, 16s rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the ZT isolate is closely related (98.27%) to Bacillus wiedmannii. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, metabolites from the ZT bacterium hold promise for monocotyledonous weed-targeted herbicides, providing a constructive strategy to confront agricultural issues tied to chemical herbicides and weed resistance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Circulating miRNAs and lncRNAs serve as biomarkers for early colorectal cancer diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most prevalent and lethal disease, accounted for approximately 1.9 million new cases and claimed nearly 861,000 lives in 2018. It is imperative to develop a minimally invasive diagnostic technique for early identification of CRC. This would facilitate the selection of patient populations most suitable for clinical trials, monitoring disease progression, assessing treatment effectiveness, and enhancing overall patient care. Utilizing blood as a biomarker source is advantageous due to its minimal discomfort for patients, enabling better integration into clinical and follow-up trials. Recent findings indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in the blood of cancer patients, proving crucial in diagnosing various malignancies. METHODS: In this case-control study, we collected plasma samples from 30 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 30 healthy volunteers. Following RNA extraction, we measured the expression levels of specific biomolecules, including miR-410, miR-211, miR-139, miR-197, lncRNA UICLM, lncRNA FEZF1-AS1, miR-129, lncRNA CCAT1, lncRNA BBOX1-AS1, and lncRNA LINC00698, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The obtained data underwent analysis using the Mann-Whitney test for non-parametric data and the T-test for parametric data. RESULTS: The level of miR-410, miR-211, miR-139, miR-197, lncRNA UICLM, lncRNA FEZF1-AS1 were significantly higher in patients with CRC than healthy controls (p < .05). Meanwhile, the level of miR-129, lncRNA CCAT1, lncRNA BBOX1-AS1, and lncRNA LINC00698 were higher in healthy controls than in CRC patients (p < .05). CONCLUSION: MicroRNA (miRNA) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently emerged as detectable entities in the blood of cancer patients, playing crucial roles in diagnosing various malignancies. However, their specific relevance in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate miRNA and lncRNA profiles in the plasma fraction of human blood to discern significant differences in content and expression levels between CRC patients and healthy individuals. Our cohort comprised 30 CRC patients and 30 healthy controls, with no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in age or gender observed between the two groups. Noteworthy is the uniqueness of our study, as we identified a panel of three significant microRNAs and one significant lncRNA, providing a more reliable prediction compared to existing molecular markers in diagnosing CRC. The four genes examined, including miR-211, miR-129, miR-197, and lncRNA UICLM, demonstrated impeccable results in terms of sensitivity and specificity, suggesting their potential candidacy for inclusion in diagnostic panels. Further validation in a larger statistical population is recommended to confirm the robustness of these genes as promising markers for colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Poisoning in children and adolescents in Kermanshah city, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Poisoning among children and adolescents is a public health problem worldwide. To take preventive measures, the pattern of this problem should be determined. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics of poisoning in children and to investigate the relationship between the types of poisoning and demographic factors in children in Kermanshah province. METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 250 children and adolescents under 18 years of age who were referred to Mohammad Kermanshahi Pediatric Hospital in Kermanshah province due to poisoning during 2019-2022. The demographic and epidemiological data of patients were extracted from their medical files and analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 250 cases of poisoning, 173 (69.2%) cases were unintentional, 96 (55.5%) of whom were boys. Further, 77 (30.8%) cases of poisoning were intentional, of whom 49 (63.6%) were girls. There was a significant difference between gender and intentional and unintentional poisonings (p-value = 0.005). The median age of unintentional poisoning was 3 (IQR = 2.5) and that of intentional poisoning was 14 (IQR = 2). Most cases of poisoning were in cities, 145 (83.8%) of them were unintentional and 66 (85.7%) were intentional. Most cases of intentional and unintentional poisonings occurred in spring 2017 (35.1%) and autumn 2016 (34.6%), respectively. The most common causes of poisoning were narcotics (n = 36, 34.3%) and drugs (n = 35, 33.3%) in the age group 0-3 years and drugs (n = 46, 66.9) in the age group 11-18 years. CONCLUSIONS: The most common causes of poisoning were narcotics and drugs in children and drugs in adolescents. To prevent poisoning in children, parents are required to increase their knowledge of the safe storage of narcotics and drugs, such as not storing methadone in a water bottle. Targeted evaluation and preventive measures are also needed in adolescent poisoning.

Antibodies toward Na+,HCO3--cotransporter NBCn1/SLC4A7 block net acid extrusion and cause pH-dependent growth inhibition and apoptosis in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Na+,HCO3--cotransporter NBCn1/Slc4a7 accelerates murine breast carcinogenesis. Lack of specific pharmacological tools previously restricted therapeutic targeting of NBCn1 and identification of NBCn1-dependent functions in human breast cancer. METHODS: We develop extracellularly-targeted anti-NBCn1 antibodies, screen for functional activity on cells, and evaluate (a) mechanisms of intracellular pH regulation in human primary breast carcinomas, (b) proliferation, cell death, and tumor growth consequences of NBCn1 in triple-negative breast cancer, and (c) association of NBCn1-mediated Na+,HCO3--cotransport with human breast cancer metastasis. RESULTS: We identify high-affinity (KD ≈ 0.14 nM) anti-NBCn1 antibodies that block human NBCn1-mediated Na+,HCO3--cotransport in cells, without cross-reactivity towards human NBCe1 or murine NBCn1. These anti-NBCn1 antibodies abolish Na+,HCO3--cotransport activity in freshly isolated primary organoids from human breast carcinomas and lower net acid extrusion effectively in primary breast cancer tissue from patients with macrometastases in axillary lymph nodes. Inhibitory anti-NBCn1 antibodies decelerate tumor growth in vivo by ~50% in a patient-derived xenograft model of triple-negative breast cancer and pH-dependently reduce colony formation, cause G2/M-phase cell cycle accumulation, and increase apoptosis of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory anti-NBCn1 antibodies block net acid extrusion in human breast cancer tissue, particularly from patients with disseminated disease, and pH-dependently limit triple-negative breast cancer growth.

Global prevalence of vasovagal syncope: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Today, vasovagal syncope is a common problem that has become a significant health and social challenge. The present study investigated the global prevalence of vasovagal syncope using a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, the global prevalence of vasovagal syncope using the keywords Prevalence, Epidemiology, Vasovagal syncope, and Reflex syncope in PubMed, WoS, Scopus, ScienceDirect databases, and Google scholar search engine without time limit until July 20, 2022, was extracted and transferred to the information management software (EndNote). Then the repeated studies were excluded, and researchers evaluated the remaining studies during three stages (i.e., screening, eligibility, and qualitative assessment). The heterogeneity of studies was investigated using the I2 index, and the analysis of eligible studies was performed using the random effects model. Results: In the review of 12 studies with a sample size of 36,156 people, the global prevalence of vasovagal syncope was reported as 16.4 (95%CI: 6-37.5), and the study of publication bias in the studies through the Egger test shows the absence of publication bias in the studies. Conclusion: The prevalence reported in the studies shows a high prevalence of vasovagal syncope, which requires serious intervention and preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. It is necessary for health policymakers to take effective measures in this field.

Novel ZIF-8/CNC Nanohybrid with an Interconnected Structure: Toward a Sustainable Adsorbent for Efficient Removal of Cd(II) Ions.

Water pollution, especially by heavy metals, continues to pose significant challenges, emphasizing the urgency to develop sustainable processes to remove pollutants while developing sustainable materials derived from renewable sources. In the present research, a nanoscale adsorbent was prepared to remove cadmium (Cd(II)) ions from wastewater by hybridizing zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). The prepared nanohybrid exhibited an interconnected structure in which the ZIF-8 particles were connected to each other via CNC nanoneedles. The hybridization of ZIF-8 with CNC caused a significant enhancement in the adsorption performance of the fabricated nanohybrid compared to pure ZIF-8, increasing its adsorption capacity by nearly 36%. The adsorption of ZIF/CNC followed the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, remarking homogeneous adsorption onto the surface of ZIF/CNC, where chemisorption controlled the rate of adsorption. The thermodynamic study uncovered that the adsorption is spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-governed as the randomness was increased at the solid-liquid interface. Additionally, the influence of operating variables, such as temperature, adsorbent dosage, pH, and ionic strength, was studied to mimic the adsorption capabilities of the adsorbent in real conditions. Accordingly, the optimum conditions were found to be at 45 °C and pH = 7 with a dosage of 0.4 g/L for the adsorbent. Moreover, the adsorption in a multimetal solution showed that the ZIF/CNC nanohybrid can remove various heavy metals, including Cd(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), and Pb(II) ions simultaneously. Finally, the regeneration study confirmed the great potential of the ZIF/CNC nanohybrid, which retained 94% of its initial adsorption capacity after 5 consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles.