Baseline occurrence, distribution and sources of PAHs, TPH, and OCPs in surface sediments in Gorgan Bay, Iran.

Baseline polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface sediments were measured in Gorgan Bay, Iran. Total PAHs, TPH, and OCPs concentrations ranged between 13.70 and 23.68 ng g-1, 2.97 to 11.51 µg g-1 dry weight, and below detection to 1.41 ng g-1, respectively. Benzo [k] fluoranthene and anthracene had the highest (BkF; 19.77 ± 0.08 ng g-1), and lowest (Ant; 4.38 ± 1.72 ng g-1) individual PAH concentrations, respectively. The most abundant OCPs were ß-Endosulfan, followed by methoxychlor and endrin. PAH isomeric ratios in sediments revealed that contamination originated from mixed sources, with a strong indication of pyrogenic sources. Ecological risk assessments based on sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) suggested that individual PAHs and OCPs posed low ecological risks in Gorgan Bay.

T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain, as a potential immune checkpoint target for immunotherapy of colorectal cancer.

The importance of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression has been well studied for many years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are regarded as potential strategies in enhancing the immune responses in patients with cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). Notably, CRCs are extraordinarily heterogeneous and mostly are microsatellite-stable (MSS) or cold tumors, which means that the immune response is not usually as strong as that of foreign cells. T-cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is a new immune checkpoint receptor overexpressed inside the CRC tumor-immune microenvironments. Moreover, several studies have shown that TIGIT in combination with other ICIs and/or conventional treatments, can lead to a robust anti-tumor response in CRC. This review looks deep inside TIGIT expression patterns, their various functions, and possible immunotherapy strategies to increase survival rates and decrease immune-related adverse events.

Application of robust information game decision theory for risk-assessment problem in large scale users.

This work suggested a novel method in order to solve uncertain problem with uncertainty on pool market tariff with respect to wind and photovoltaic generations as well as storage units. Aiming this regard, information gap decision theory method is applied for solving the considered problem. This way, 3 major models are considered into account for big industrial consumers including: risk-taker, risk-averse, and risk-neutral models. Efficiency of suggested methods are studied by exertion of proposed method on big consumer risk via various pool yield tariffs. In addition, appraised obtained results prove the efficiency of demand response program for decreasing the over expenditure of big consumer. Therefore, good impacts of demand response program caused decrease in big user expenditure.

The potential use of theranostic bacteria in cancer.

Conventional chemotherapy approaches have not been fully successful in the treatment of cancer, due to limitations imposed by the pathophysiology of solid tumors, leading to nonspecific drug uptake by healthy cells, poor bioavailability, and toxicity. Thus, novel therapeutic modalities for more efficient cancer treatment are urgently required. Living bacteria can be used as a theranostic approach for the simultaneous diagnosis and therapy of tumors. Herein, we summarize the currently available literature focused on the advantages and challenges for the use of theranostic bacteria in cancer therapy.

Changes in Th17 cells frequency and function after ozone therapy used to treat multiple sclerosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation. In the course of the disease, the increased levels of Th17 cell, and its relevant inflammatory factors, may cause disease inflammation and progression. Ozone therapy with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory functions is known as a beneficial therapeutic approach. The current non-controlled study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic implications of ozone autohemotherapy on Th17 responses in MS patients. METHODS: 20 MS patients as the experimental group received ozone therapy (100 ml of O2/O3 compound (25 ugs/ml concentration) with 100 ml of autologous blood) twice per week for 6 months. The frequency of Th17 cells, gene expression of the relevant factors (RORÉ£t, IL-17, IL-23, miR-141, miR-155, and miR-200), as well as the secretion levels of IL-17 and IL-23 cytokines, were compared between the patient and control groups, as well as the group of patients before and after ozone therapy using the flow cytometry, Real-time PCR, and ELISA techniques, respectively. RESULTS: Findings indicated the significant decrease in the frequency of Th17 cells (P = 0.0002), the expression levels of RORÉ£t and IL-17 (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0004, respectively), as well as miR-141 and miR-155 (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively) in post-treatment condition with Ozone compared to pre-treatment condition. Also, the significant reduction in the secretion level of IL-17 (P = 0.043) was detected in treated patients. DISCUSSION: Since increased levels and responses of Th17 cells may have critical roles in MS pathogenesis and inflammation, our findings revealed that ozone autohemotherapy could lower the Th17 responses in peripheral blood of MS patients and can be a beneficial approach in MS treatment.