Combination of losartan with pirfenidone: a protective anti-fibrotic against pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in rats.

Pirfenidone (PFD), one acceptable medication for treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is not well tolerated by patients at full doses. Hence, employing of some approaches such as combination therapy may be applicable for increasing therapeutic efficacy of PFD. Losartan (LOS), an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, could be a suitable candidate for combination therapy because of its stabilizing effect on the pulmonary function of IPF patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of LOS in combination with PFD on bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis in rats. BLM-exposed rats were treated with LOS alone or in combination with PFD. The edema, pathological changes, level of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß1), collagen content, and oxidative stress parameters were assessed in the lung tissues. Following BLM exposure, the inflammatory response, collagen levels, and antioxidant markers in rat lung tissues were significantly improved by PFD, and these effects were improved by combination with LOS. The findings of this in vivo study suggest that the combined administration of PFD and LOS may provide more potent protection against IPF than single therapy through boosting its anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anti-oxidant effects. These results hold promise in developing a more effective therapeutic strategy for treating of lung fibrosis.

Preventive and therapeutic effects of azithromycin on acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rats.

BACKGROUND: Acrylamide (ACR) can induce neurotoxicity through different pathways, including oxidative stress and apoptosis. Azithromycin is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of azithromycin in an in vivo model of ACR-induced neurotoxicity, by investigating its impact on oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways. METHODS: Male rats were divided into eleven groups at random (n = 6). 1:control (vehicle), 2:ACR (50 mg/kg, 11 days, I.P.), 3-7:ACR+ azithromycin (3.1, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg, 11 days, I.P.), 8-9:ACR+ azithromycin (3.1, 6.25 mg/kg, from day 3-11), 10: ACR+ vitamin E (200 mg/kg, every other day, I.P.), 11. Azithromycin (50 mg/kg). Following the treatment period, a gait score examination was performed, and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) ratio and caspase-3 levels in the cerebral cortex were measured. RESULTS: Gait abnormality, a drop in GSH, and an increase in lipid peroxidation, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and caspase-3 levels were all significantly triggered by ACR in the cerebral cortex versus the control group. Azithromycin 3.1 and 6.25 mg/kg with ACR and azithromycin 6.25 mg/kg with ACR from day 3-11 ameliorated movement disorders caused by ACR. Azithromycin in all doses and both protocols along with ACR decreased the MDA level. Azithromycin (3.1, 6.25 mg/kg) along with ACR in both protocols increased the level of GSH, reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 amounts in the brain tissue versus the ACR group. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of azithromycin had both preventive and therapeutic effects on ACR-induced neurotoxicity through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties.

Evaluating the protective effect of metformin against diclofenac-induced oxidative stress and hepatic damage: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Diclofenac (DIC) is one of the most commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and has been shown to cause oxidative stress and liver injury. The current study investigated protective effects of metformin against DIC-induced hepatic toxicity in both in vitro and in vivo models. For the in vitro study, HepG2 cells were exposed to DIC in the presence or absence of metformin. The effect of metformin on cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol molecules (TTM), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) were assessed. For the in vivo study, thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. These groups were normal saline, metformin (200 mg/kg), DIC (50 mg/kg/day), DIC + metformin (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day). Histopathological studies and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), albumin, direct and total bilirubin were measured. Also, oxidative stress parameters were assessed in liver tissue. Furthermore, expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-1, -3, and -4, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1, and -3 was examined using the real-time PCR method in hepatic tissue. In the in vitro study, metformin significantly prevented DIC-induced loss in cell viability in HepG2 cells. Metformin markedly reduced DIC-induced elevation of MDA levels and increased the TAC and TTM levels. In the in vivo study, metformin significantly prevented DIC-induced changes in hematological and histological markers. Administration of metformin significantly improved oxidative stress parameters in liver tissue. In addition, metformin increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes. Our results suggest that metformin exerts a significant protective effect against DIC-induced hepatic toxicity.

Losartan enhances the suppressive effect of pirfenidone on the bleomycin-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and oxidative stress in A549 cell line.

Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease. Despite the promising anti-fibrotic effect, the toleration of pirfenidone (PFD) by the patients in full dose is low. Combination therapy is a method for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of PFD and decreasing its dose. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of a combination of losartan (LOS) and PFD on oxidative stress parameters and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process induced by bleomycin (BLM) in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Materials and Methods: The non-toxic concentrations of BLM, LOS, and PFD were assessed by the MTT assay. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and anti-oxidant enzyme activity including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were assessed after co-treatment. Migration and western blot assays were used to evaluate EMT in BLM-exposed A549 after single or combined treatments. Results: The combination treatment exhibited a remarkable decrease in cellular migration compared with both single and BLM-exposed groups. Furthermore, the combination treatment significantly improved cellular anti-oxidant markers compared with the BLM-treated group. Moreover, combined therapy markedly increased epithelial markers while decreasing mesenchymal markers. Conclusion: This in vitro study revealed that the combination of PFD with LOS might be more protective in pulmonary fibrosis (PF) than single therapy because of its greater efficacy in regulating the EMT process and oxidative stress. The current results might offer a promising therapeutic strategy for the future clinical therapy of lung fibrosis.

Alpha-mangostin Protects PC12 Cells Against Neurotoxicity Induced by Cadmium and Arsenic.

Arsenic and cadmium are nonessential elements that are of importance in public health due to their high toxicity. Contact with these toxic elements, even in very small amounts, can induce various side effects, including neurotoxicity. Oxidative stress and apoptosis are part of the main mechanisms of arsenic- and cadmium-induced toxicity. Alpha-mangostin is the main xanthone derived from mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, with anti-oxidative properties.In this study, PC12 cells were selected as a nerve cell model, and the protective effects of alpha-mangostin against neurotoxicity induced by arsenic and cadmium were investigated. PC12 cells were exposed to cadmium (5-80 µM) and arsenic (2.5-180 µM) for 24 h. Cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and the protein expression of Bax, Bcl2, and cleaved caspase 3 were determined using MTT assay, fluorimetry, and western blot, respectively.Arsenic (10-180 µM) and cadmium (50-80 µM) significantly reduced cell viability. IC50 values were 10.3 ± 1.09 and 45 ± 4.63 µM, respectively. Significant increases in ROS, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and cleaved caspase-3 were observed after arsenic and cadmium exposures. Cell viability increased and ROS production decreased when cells were pretreated with alpha-mangostin for 2 h. Alpha-mangostin reduced the increased level of cleaved caspase-3 induced by cadmium and decreased the elevated level of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio after arsenic exposure.Alpha-mangostin significantly increased cell viability and reduced oxidative stress caused by cadmium and arsenic in PC12 cells. Moreover, alpha-mangostin reduced cadmium-induced apoptosis through the reduction in the level of cleaved caspase 3. Further studies are required to determine the different mechanisms of alpha-mangostin against neurotoxicity induced by these elements.

The Impact of Body Posture on Heart Rate Strain during Tree Felling.

Tree felling is recognized as one of the most difficult and physically demanding work phases in motor-manual wood harvesting, during which maintaining good posture can avert unnecessary loadings to the spine and the consequent musculoskeletal disorders to forestry professionals. This study aimed to (a) quantify the impact of posture selection by means of heart rate measurements and (b) analyze its interactions with the anthropometric and personal information of study subjects. Thirteen forest workers were asked to fell thirty trees in each of the four most common body postures during motor-manual forest operations: (i) stooping, (ii) flexed stooping, (iii) squatting, and (iv) half kneeling. Posture had a significant impact on the amount of heart strain measured as mean heart rate during work (HRwork), heart rate increase over resting heart rate (ΔHR), and relative heart rate index (HRR). The most popular position among the forest workers was flexed stooping, which also caused the most damage, compared with the least physiologically damaging position, half kneeling: HRwork by 12.40 bpm, ΔHR by 10.24 bpm, and HRR by 11.51. On the contrary, overweight and older subjects experienced lower heart rate strain, a finding that has to be further investigated.

Design of vestibules as transitional spaces in infection control: Necessity of working space changes to cope with communicable infections.

BACKGROUND: After the spread of infectious diseases, people stay at home as a shelter space to be safe and sound. Current homes and work spaces have shown not to be a good environment for health and hygiene. During different crises of infectious diseases, architects and designers analyze the needs for change and evolve of environments to achieve a suitable design that prevents the spread of pathogens. OBJECTIVES: This proper design should help improve people's living standards and mental health in terms of functionality and environmental psychology. METHODS: In the traditional architecture of some countries, such as Canada, Japan, and Iran, the vestibule has provided some possibility of separating the external and internal space. The design of the intermediate space with the appropriate scale of today's buildings at the entrance can create a filter between the indoor and outdoor environments by dividing these spaces. RESULTS: The use of intermediate space by modern technology can prevent the transfer of viral infection into the interior of the building. This can be done by removing the virus from clothes, changing or covering shoes, disinfecting equipment, separating infected items, and creating proper ventilation in the intermediate space so that microorganisms cannot be transferred into the safe environment. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we looked at the architectural design in a new light to have a healthier life and more security, by inspiration of the patterns in traditional architecture and the human body.

Biological responses of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) to sub-lethal concentrations of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pests of agricultural crops with worldwide distribution causing considerable damage to different products. Application of chemical acaricides is one of the most important strategies used for the control of this pest. Entomopathogenic fungi, however, have been proposed as alternative control agents. In this study, sub-lethal effects (LC10 = 6.76 × 102, LC20 = 8.74 × 103, and LC30 = 55.38 × 103 conidia ml-1) of Beauveria bassiana strain TV on the life table parameters of T. urticae were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated that by increasing the concentration, a significant decline was observed in adult longevity of both male and female individuals. Total fecundity of T. urticae was calculated as 45.16, 36.28, 23.98, and 18.21 eggs in control, LC10, LC20, and LC30 treatments, respectively. Sub-lethal concentrations drastically affected the population parameters of this mite pest. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) ranged from 0.1983 to 0.1688 day-1 for the mites treated with distilled water and LC20 treatments, respectively. The net reproductive rate (R0) was affected by the sub-lethal concentrations (lower value at LC30 concentration: 11.19 offspring/individual). Considering the detrimental effects of B. bassiana on some biological parameters of T. urticae, it can be concluded that this product can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at integrated pest management of this pest.

The effect of early handling on anxiety-like behaviors of rats exposed to valproic acid pre-and post-natally.

INTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex, behaviorally defined disorder of the immature brain as a result of genetic and environmental risk factors, such as prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA). This syndrome is known for its high prevalence. On the other hand, postnatal manipulations have been shown to affect brain development, cortical neuroscience, and pituitary-adrenal activity. In early handling (EH) procedure, pups are removed from their mother on a daily basis from birth to lactation, are physically touched, and exposed to the (a) new environment. In the present study, the effect of EH on anxiety-like behaviors in rats exposed pre- and post-natally to valproic acid was investigated. METHODS: Pregnant Wistar rats were randomly separated into six groups which are prenatal saline, Prenatal VPA, Prenatal VPA + EH and postnatal saline, Postnatal VPA, Postnatal VPA + EH. VPA administration was performed either on ED12.5 (600 mg/kg, i.p.) or PD 2-4 (400 mg/kg, s.c.). In the groups receiving EH, pups underwent physical handling from PD 1 to 21. On postnatal day 21 all offspring were weaned and the behavioral tests were performed on 30 and 31 days of age. Elevated plus maze and open field tests were used to investigate anxiety-like behaviors. RESULTS: The results revealed that intraperitoneal injection of valrpoic acid (600 mg.kg) during pregnancy significantly reduced OAT% in males (p < 0.01) and females in a non-significant manner (p > 0.05). In comparison, rearing counts of prenatal VPA groups significantly increased in female sex (p < 0.05) in the EPM test. Following postnatal VPA administration (400 mg/kg), decrease in the time spent in central zone occurred in female rats in the open filed (p < 0.05), as well as a significant increase in the number of grooming of the male sex (p < 0.05). Applying Early Handling to male and female Wistar rats receiving prenatal VPA significantly reversed the OAT% fall (p < 0.05). EH in postnatally VPA exposed animals significantly decreased the OAT% and OAE% criteria, while increasing the locomotor activity of the female sex (p < 0.05). Compared with the postnatal VPA group, no significant change was reported in the EPM performance of postnatal VPA + EH group in neither of sexes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that injections of valproic acid during pregnancy lead to anxiety-like behaviors in male offspring, which EH can improve (attenuate) to some extent. VPA injections on the second to the fourth day of infancy did not have a profound effect on anxiety level. Further behavioral studies need to be performed using other devices to investigate anxiety-like behaviors and to determine the mechanisms involved in these behaviors.

Resveratrol Attenuates Learning, Memory, and Social Interaction Impairments in Rats Exposed to Arsenic.

Arsenic (As) toxicity has deleterious effects on human health causing disorder in the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of resveratrol (RSV) on arsenic-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neurotoxicity in rats was developed by treating As 10 mg/kg/day for 21 days orally. Animals were put into seven groups: control, vehicle, As, As+RSV10, As+RSV20 mg/kg, RSV10, and RSV20 mg/kg. Behavioral assessments such as the social interaction test, novel object recognition test, elevated plus maze, open field, the Morris water maze, in addition to assessment of biomarkers such as ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, glutathione assay, and malondialdehyde assay, were used to evaluate the effects of RSV on cognitive impairment and molecular changes induced by As. The results showed that cognitive performance impaired in As rats. RSV20 mg/kg significantly could ameliorate behavioral changes like spatial learning in days 3 and 4 (p < 0.05), recognition learning and memory (p < 0.01), disabilities in motor coordination and stress (p < 0.05), increased anxiety (p < 0.05), and social interaction deficit (sociability (p < 0.001) and social memory (p < 0.05)). RSV20 mg/kg also attenuated molecular modifications like decreased antioxidant power (p < 0.001), reduced glutathione content (p < 0.05), and increased malondialdehyde level (p < 0.05) induced by As. In addition to oxidative stress assessments, RSV10 mg/kg could significantly increase FRAP (p < 0.01) and GSH (p < 0.05); however, MDA was not significantly increased. Our current behavioral findings suggest that RSV has neuroprotective effects against AS toxicity.

Modulatory Effect of Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01 on Mechanical Sensitivity in a Female Diet-Induced Obesity Model.

Obese animals and humans demonstrate higher sensitivity to pain stimuli. Among the endogenous factors prompting obesity, the intestinal microbiota has been proposed to influence responsiveness to pain. The beneficial effects of probiotics on obesity are well documented, whereas data on their analgesic efficacy is minimal. The protective effect of probiotics on nociception in diet-induced obese male mice has been previously demonstrated, but the sex differences in pain sensitivity and analgesic response do not allow for the generalization of these findings to the female gender. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the potential effects of oral probiotic supplementation on mechanical pain thresholds in female diet-induced obese mice compared with controls. Thirty-two adult female mice (N=32) were randomly divided into two groups receiving standard (normal-weight group; NW) or high-fat diet (diet-induced obesity; DIO). All rats received a single daily dose (1 × 109 CFU) of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01, DSM14870) for four weeks by gavage. Mechanical pain thresholds were recorded by an electronic von Frey device at baseline, at the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8 in both DIO and NW groups with and without consumption of probiotics. Blood samples were obtained for the measurement of lipid profile and reproductive hormone levels. Bodyweight was considerably lower (P < 0.001) in groups supplied with probiotics than groups without probiotics. Pressure pain threshold values showed a significant (P < 0.001) increase (reduced pain sensitivity) following probiotic supplementation, proposing a modulatory effect of probiotics on mechanical sensory circuits and mechanical sensitivity, which might be a direct consequence of weight loss or an indirect result of the probiotics' anti-inflammatory properties. Understanding the precise underlying mechanism for the effect of probiotics on weight loss and mechanical pain sensitivity seen in this study warrants further investigation.

Bile reflux after one anastomosis gastric bypass surgery: A review study.

BACKGROUND: Recently the performance rate of one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) bariatric surgery has increased. Bile reflux is on of common considered complication of OAGB challenging surgeon. METHODS: We searched English full text with keyword "bile reflux" AND "OAGB" OR "one anastomosis gastric bypass" OR "SAGB" OR "single anastomosis gastric bypass" that published from January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2020 in PubMed, EMBASE, Google scholar and Cochrane Library. We included prospective or retrospective systematic review, review, clinical, and meta-analysis human article that its full text was available and focused on bile reflux after OAGB/SAGB as the fundamental performed bariatric surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1259 articles were analyzed, of which 5 were included. Analysis of number articles by year revealed that 2019 and 2020 was the highest number of published articles (n = 232; 68%). Study type analysis revealed that review studies and clinical research (n = 62; 18.2%) were the most frequent study types. Reported data on bile reflux after OAGB had diversity. Implicitly, postoperative incidence of bile reflux differed from 7.8 to 55.5%. General consensus was not existed among authors to consider the OAGB as the first suspect leading to postoperative bile reflux among other bariatric surgery types. CONCLUSION: Although surgeons prefer to conduct OAGB procedure because of its easier surgical approach needing just one anastomosis formation it is not virtually clear that is the procedure costly benefitted regarding bile reflux outcomes.

Comparison of commercially available chamber slides for computer-aided analysis of human sperm.

Despite the increasing use of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) in clinical practice, there is still no golden standard for the type of slide to be used with these systems. Counting chamber depth and loading method, can profoundly influence motility and concentration estimates, thereby undermining the validity and accuracy of CASA. To contribute toward standardized sperm analysis, this study compared different commercially available capillary-filled slides including 10 and 20 µm deep Leja slides (Leja10 and Leja20); 10, 16 and 20 µm deep CellVision slides (CV10, CV16 and CV20); and drop-loaded slides including slide and coverslip (SCS) with a depth of 20.1 µm and the Makler chamber with a depth of 10 µm for sperm analysis when using CASA. The Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA) CASA system was used to assess concentration, motility, and detailed kinematic parameters of 20 normozoospermic human samples using the different chamber slides. Results were evaluated by the repeated measures ANOVA and Intraclass correlation coefficients. The Makler chamber showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher concentrations than other slides. However, there was no significant difference in the percentage of sperm in different motility groups among the slides. CV10, Leja10 and Makler showed significantly higher curvilinear-, average path- and straight-line velocity (VCL, VAP, VSL) values than other slides. In conclusion, despite the objectiveness of the assessments by CASA systems, there are still some discrepancies in the results of sperm concentration, motility and other kinematic parameters when using different commercially available slides. The possible negative influence of the sperm quality misdiagnosis on the selection of treatment strategy in a clinical setting, emphasizes the need for further standardization and quality control of the commercially available chamber slides for use with CASA. Furthermore, this study found more consistent results for capillary-filled chambers compared to drop-loaded slides, suggesting a superior method when using CASA.Abbreviations: DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid; CASA: Computer-aided semen analysis; SCA: Sperm Class Analyzer; WHO: World Health Organization; CV: CellVision; SCS: Slide and Coverslip; SD: Standard deviation; ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; PR: Progressive; NP: Non-progressive; IMT: Immotile; VCL: Curvilinear velocity; VAP: Average path velocity; VSL: Straight-line velocity; Lin: Linearity; STR: Straightness; WOB: Wobble; ALH: Amplitude of lateral head displacement; BCF: Beat cross frequency.

Occupational Exposure and Risk Assessment of Formaldehyde in the Pathology Departments of Hospitals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Exposure to formaldehyde has adverse effects on health both acutely and over the long term (e.g., carcinogenicity). The substance is widely used in pathology and histology departments.  This study focused on cancer risk of formaldehyde in pathology department of five hospitals in Rasht. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sampling and determination of formaldehyde in pathology department were carried out based on the NIOSH method of 3500. The working condition and working environment were investigated and a semi quantitative risk assessment were used to health risk assessment of formaldehyde and The individual lifetime cancer probability, which is defined as the increase in the probability of developing cancer during continuous exposure to an air pollutant were used to assess health risks with formaldehyde. RESULTS: The results showed that the exposure level of all subjects were higher than the Occupational Exposure Limit for 8 hours exposure time of formaldehyde. However, in the five occupational groups, the highest weekly exposure index was observed for the Lab Technicians (0.664 ppm) at Hospital no. 5, which could have been due to more daily working hours at this sampling site and a lack of adequate ventilation. The formaldehyde concentration was in the 0.0192 to 0.326 ppm ranges for five hospital pathology departments. The cancer risk ranged from 9.52×10-5 to 1.53×10-3, and it was greater than the WHO acceptable cancer risk level. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the risk assessments can be used for managing the chemical exposure of allocated resources for defining control actions. This process plays an important role in reducing the level of exposure to formaldehyde in pathology departments.
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Serum levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women.

Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease and its etiology is linked to multiple risk factors. There are shreds of controversial evidence that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are important in the etiology of breast cancer. The present study aimed to determine the circulating levels of OCPs in patients with breast tumors in Southeastern of Iran. This case-control study included 27 patients with malignant breast tumors (MBT), 31 patients with benign breast tumors (BBT), and 27 healthy women as a control group. Serum OCPs levels, including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), ß-HCH, γ-HCH, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4-DDT), 4,4-DDT, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4-DDE), and 4,4-DDE, were measured using gas chromatography. Our data revealed significantly higher concentrations of 2,4-DDT in MBT and BBT groups compared with control ones (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Patients with breast cancer suffered significantly higher accumulation levels of 4,4-DDE compared with control subjects (P = 0.04). Significant correlations were found among organochlorine compounds with each other in both patients' groups. There was a significant positive correlation between body mass index and serum levels of 2,4-DDT in BBT group (r = 0.407, P = 0.02). The present findings suggest that the serum levels of 4,4-DDE and 2,4-DDT are associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in Southeastern women of Iran.

Pirfenidone protects against paraquat-induced lung injury and fibrosis in mice by modulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and gene expression.

In this study we investigated the protective effects and possible mechanisms of pirfenidone (PF) in paraquat (PQ)-induced lung injury and fibrosis in mice. Lung injury was induced by injection of PQ (20 mg/kg). Thereafter, mice orally received water and PF (100 and 200 mg/kg) for four weeks. After 28 days, the inflammation and fibrosis were determined in the lungs by analysis of histopathology, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count, lung wet/dry weight ratio, hydroxyproline content, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Expression of several genes involved in fibrogenesis and modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, such as TGF-ß1, α-SMA, collagen Iα and IV, NOX1, NOX4, iNOS, and GPX1 were determined using RT-qPCR. PF significantly decreased the lung fibrosis and edema, inflammatory cells infiltration, TGF-ß1 concentration, and amount of hydroxyproline in the lung tissue. PF dose-dependently improved the expression level of the studied genes to the near normal. Decreasing of lung lipid peroxidation and catalase activity, and increasing of SOD activity in the treated mice were significant compared to the control group. Pirfenidone ameliorate paraquat induced lung injury and fibrosis partly through inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, and downregulation of genes encoding for profibrotic cytokines and enzymatic systems for ROS production.

Prevalence of Aflatoxin Contamination in Herbs and Spices in Different Regions of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Mycotoxins are natural toxins, produced by several fungal species and are associated with morbidity or even mortality in animals, plants, and humans. In this study, 120 samples of herbs and spices in both bulk and packaged forms were prepared in order to measure aflatoxin level in different regions of Iran. METHODS: The aflatoxin was extracted during Mar to May 2015, using 80% methanol and then purified via immunoaffinity column. Measurements were performed, using high-performance liquid chromatography, equipped with a fluorescence detection system at excitation and emission wavelengths of 365 and 435 nm, respectively. RESULTS: The highest prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in food products was attributed to aflatoxin B1 (30.8%). In addition, the highest prevalence of aflatoxin contamination was reported in red pepper (100%). Examination of effective factors indicated the substantial impact of moisture on aflatoxin level (P=0.046). CONCLUSION: Even at low levels of aflatoxin, contamination could be a serious threat, given the prevalent use of spices (either raw or not) as ingredients in food preparation. Therefore, regular monitoring of spices, especially chili pepper, is highly recommended.

Analysis of formaldehyde and acrolein in the aqueous samples using a novel needle trap device containing nanoporous silica aerogel sorbent.

In this research, a needle trap device (NTD) packed with nanoporous silica aerogel as a sorbent was used as a new technique for sampling and analysis of formaldehyde and acrolein compounds in aqueous and urine samples. The obtained results were compared with those of the commercial sorbent Carboxen1000. Active sampling was used and a 21-G needle was applied for extraction of gas in the sample headspace. The optimization of experimental parameters like salt addition, temperature and desorption time was done and the performance of the NTD for the extraction of the compounds was evaluated. The optimum temperature and time of desorption were 280 °C and 2 min, respectively. The ranges of limit of detection, limit of quantification and relative standard deviation (RSD) were 0.01-0.03 µg L-1, 0.03-0.1 µg L-1 and 2.8-7.3%, respectively. It was found that the NTD containing nanoporous silica aerogel had a better performance. Thus, this technique can be applied as an effective and reliable method for sampling and analysis of aldehyde compounds from different biological matrices like urine, exhalation and so on.

Application of solid phase microextraction and needle trap device with silica composite of carbon nanotubes for determination of perchloroethylene in laboratory and field.

In this paper solid phase microextraction (SPME) and needle trap device (NTD) as two in-progress air monitoring techniques was applied with silylated composite of carbon nanotubes for sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene in air. Application of SPME and NTD with proposed nano-structured sorbent was investigated under different laboratory and experimental parameters and compared to the SPME and NTD with CAR/PDMS. Finally the two samplers contained nano-sorbent used as a field sampler for sampling and analysis of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning. Results revealed that silica composite form of CNTs showed better performance for adsorbent of perchloroethylene. SPME and NTD with proposed sorbent was demonstrated better responses in lower levels of temperature and relative humidity. For 5 days from sampling the relative responses were more than 97% and 94% for NTD and SPME, respectively. LOD were 0.023 and 0.014 ng mL(-1) for SPME coated CNTs/SC and CAR/PDMS, and 0.014 and 0.011 ng mL(-1) for NTD packed with CNTs/SC and CAR/PDMS, respectively. And for consecutive analysis RSD were 3.9-6.7% in laboratory and 4.43-6.4% in the field. In the field study, NTD was successfully applied for determining of the PCE in dry cleaning. The results show that the NTD packed with nanomaterial is a reliable and effective approach for the sampling and analysis of volatile compounds in air.

Application of graphene nanoplatelets silica composite, prepared by sol-gel technology, as a novel sorbent in two microextraction techniques.

In this study, the application of a novel nanomaterial composite was investigated in two microextraction techniques of solid-phase microextraction and a needle trap device in a variety of sampling conditions. The optimum sampling temperature and relative humidity were 10°C and 20%, respectively, for both techniques with two sorbents of graphene/silica composite and polydimethyl siloxane. The two microextraction techniques with the proposed sorbent showed recoveries of 95.2 and 94.6% after 7 days. For the needle trap device the optimums desorption time and temperature were 3 min at 290°C and for SPME these measures were 1 and 1.5 min at 240-250°C for the graphene/silica composite and polydimethyl siloxane, respectively. The relative standard division obtained in inter- and intra-day comparative studies were 3.3-14.3 and 5.1-25.4, respectively. For four sample the limit of detection was 0.021-0.25 ng/mL, and the limit of quantitation was 0.08-0.75 ng/mL. The results show that the graphene/silica composite is an appropriate extraction media for both techniques. Combining an appropriate sorbent with microextraction techniques, and using these in conjunction with a sensitive analytical instrument can introduce a strong method for sampling and analysis of occupational and environmental pollutants in air.