Depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder that can affect multiple organs; psychiatric manifestations including depression and anxiety are commonly seen in SLE. The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress, and assess the quality of life (QOL) in patients with SLE and also evaluate associated risk factors. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult patients with SLE were identified through our institution's SLE data registry. Participants were evaluated with three questionnaires: Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42), General Health Ouestionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), and World Health Organization quality of life instrument short form (WHO-QOL BREF). Results: A total of 222 patients were included in the study, 203 (91%) of whom were female and 19 were male (9%). Participants had a mean age of 35.6 ±9.5 years. According to DASS-42 questionnaire, 22.1%, 28.7% and 20.3% of patients had varying degrees of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Based on GHQ-28 questionnaire, 137 (62%) of patients reported some degree of distress. Quality of life score was 12.8, 13, 14.3, and 13.9 in physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health, respectively. Conclusions: We found that depression, anxiety, and stress are common in patients with SLE, and quality of life is significantly affected. A high percentage of patients with SLE deal with some degree of distress. Routine evaluation of the quality of life and psychological disturbances is recommended in patients with SLE. Non-pharmacological interventions as well as specialist referral should be considered in patients with anxiety, depression, or stress.

A DNA Biosensor Based on a Raspberry-like Hierarchical Nano-structure for the Determination of the Anticancer Drug Nilotinib.

It is crucial to design fast, sensitive and affordable deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) recognition instruments, and elucidate changes in DNA structure, for studying the interaction between DNA and chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, a DNA biosensor, based on a carbon paste electrode (CPE), modified with raspberry-like indium(III)/nickel oxide hierarchical nano-structures (In3+ /NiO RLHNSs) was constructed. An electrochemical readout should then give information on the interactions between anticancer drugs and double-stranded (ds)-DNA. The morphology as well as the electrochemical description of this new biosensor is described. Based on experimentally determined optimal conditions, ds-DNA modified with In3+ /NiO RLHNSs/CPE was used to evaluate the binding interaction of nilotinib, as an anti-cancer drug, with DNA through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), UV-Vis spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and a computational docking process. The analyses indicated the linearity of the guanine oxidation signal at nilotinib concentration is given between 0.01 and 50.0 µm, with the limit of detection (LOD) equal to 0.62 nm. Additionally, the equilibrium constant (K) for the binding was determined to 1.5×104  m-1 . Through the quantitative measurement of nilotinib in serum samples with a high recovery rate of 101.3-98.0 %, the applicability of this approach was demonstrated. As a whole, this DNA biosensor may be promising for various bio-interactions.

An electrochemical sensor based on hierarchical nickel oxide nanostructures doped with indium ions for voltammetric simultaneous determination of sunset yellow and tartrazine colorants in soft drink powders.

The current study was designed to develop a single-step and simple approach to effectively fabricate three-dimensional raspberry-like In3+/NiO hierarchical nanostructures (In3+/NiO RLHNSs) as a modifier, which was subsequently characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The new prepared nano-modifier was practically used to co-detect electrochemically sunset yellow and tartrazine dyes. Potent sensitivity and acceptable selectivity were obtained for the produced In3+/NiO RLHNSs to co-detect both the food colorants, thus providing oxidation peaks in differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with a peak potential separation of ca. 190 mV. The results showed a 5.14-fold and 8.07-fold increase in the electrochemical response of our modified electrode to sunset yellow and tartrazine, respectively, compared to the control (the unmodified electrode). Limits of detection of 2.7 and 3.1 nM were calculated for sunset yellow and tartrazine, respectively. The results from the interaction of common food additives showed satisfactory outcomes for the application of this method in determining sunset yellow and tartrazine in several beverage specimens. Other useful documentation was obtained for the production of portable food additive sensors.

Relationship between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and migraine without aura in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation has a key role in migraine pathophysiology. Vitamin D is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between migraine and two vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (TaqI and FokI) and also the relationship between VDR polymorphisms and headache severity. METHODS: In this case-control study we assessed 103 patients with newly diagnosed migraine without aura and 100 healthy subjects. Patients filled headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) as a tool to assess headache severity. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies of VDR were significantly different between control and migraine patients. Heterozygote genotypes (Ff and Tt) were statistically more frequent in the migraine patients than the control subjects both for TaqI gene (P = 0.018; OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.03-3.18) and FokI gene polymorphisms (P = 0.001; OR = 2.91, 95% CI = 1.47-5.77). Also f and t alleles were more frequent in the migraine patients. Total HIT-6 score was significantly different between FokI heterozygote and homozygote patients (60.32 ± 1.87 versus 49.87 ± 2.69, resp., P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion our results showed that TaqI and FokI gene polymorphisms are associated with migraine without aura in Iranians patients. Also headache severity in FokI heterozygote patients was significantly greater than in the homozygote patients.