The hidden threat of heavy metal leaching in urban runoff: Investigating the long-term consequences of land use changes on human health risk exposure.

This study evaluated the potential effects of long-term land use and climate change on the quality of surface runoff and the health risks associated with it. The land use change projection 2030 was derived from the main changes in land use from 2009 to 2019, and rainfall data was obtained from the Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG) model. The Long-Term Hydrological Impact Assessment (L-THIA) model was then utilized to calculate the rate of runoff heavy metal (HM) pollutant loading from the urban catchment. It was found that areas with heavy development posed a significantly greater public health risk associated with runoff, with higher risks observed in high-development and traffic areas compared to industrial, residential, and commercial areas. Additionally, exposure to Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) was found to contribute significantly to overall non-carcinogenic health risks for possible consumers of runoff. Carcinogenic risk values of As, Cadmium (Cd), and Pb were also observed to increase, particularly in high-development and traffic areas, by 2030. This investigation offers important insight into the health risks posed by metals present in surface runoff in urban catchment areas under different land use and climate change scenarios.

Food insecurity versus public health? Social resilience.

The health problems of low-income communities and their relationship to food insecurity are a widespread problem worldwide. Understanding the complex relationship between these two conditions of food insecurity and health outcomes is the focus of this study. In addressing these issues, managing food security and adopting comprehensive strategies that consider the broader public health of the poor and socially vulnerable requires a multi-pronged approach that integrates sustainable food systems, social protection interventions, community engagement, and nutrition-specific interventions. This study is useful for improving our understanding of the relationship between food insecurity and health outcomes, which ultimately contributes to better health and social resilience strategies.

No girl left behind? Mental health and quality of life.

The ban on girls' education or difficult access to education has significant impacts on their mental health and quality of life (QoL), including: (a) Increased Mental Health Problems; (b) Loss of Educational Opportunities; (c) Limited Social Interaction; (d) Disruption of Aspirations and Routines; and (e) Increased Insecurity. This study extends the investigation into the need for awareness and action on the mental health and well-being of girls due to the ban or difficult access to education. Addressing the adverse impacts of the ban or difficult access to girls' education requires a multifaceted approach that includes challenging traditional norms, providing alternative education pathways, empowering girls through targeted interventions, and recognizing the critical role of education.

Intrinsic ferroelectricity in Y-doped HfO2 thin films.

Ferroelectric HfO2-based materials hold great potential for the widespread integration of ferroelectricity into modern electronics due to their compatibility with existing Si technology. Earlier work indicated that a nanometre grain size was crucial for the stabilization of the ferroelectric phase. This constraint, associated with a high density of structural defects, obscures an insight into the intrinsic ferroelectricity of HfO2-based materials. Here we demonstrate that stable and enhanced polarization can be achieved in epitaxial HfO2 films with a high degree of structural order (crystallinity). An out-of-plane polarization value of 50 µC cm-2 has been observed at room temperature in Y-doped HfO2(111) epitaxial thin films, with an estimated full value of intrinsic polarization of 64 µC cm-2, which is in close agreement with density functional theory calculations. The crystal structure of films reveals the Pca21 orthorhombic phase with small rhombohedral distortion, underlining the role of the structural constraint in stabilizing the ferroelectric phase. Our results suggest that it could be possible to exploit the intrinsic ferroelectricity of HfO2-based materials, optimizing their performance in device applications.

Comparison of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Technique with Oxford Nanopore Technologies Next-Generation Sequencing for Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern.

INTRODUCTION: The rapid emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and their potential to endangering the global health has increased the demand for a fast-tracking method in comparison to the next-generation sequencing (NGS) as a gold standard assay, particularly in developing countries. This study was designed to evaluate the performance of a commercial multiplex real-time PCR technique (GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit, Iran) for identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) compared to the Oxford Nanopore NGS assay. METHODS: A total of 238 SARS-CoV-2-positive respiratory samples from different waves of COVID-19 in Iran were randomly selected in this study. To determine the SARS-CoV-2 VOC, the samples were analyzed via the commercial triple target assay, GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit, and NGS as well. RESULTS: The results revealed good concordance between GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit and NGS for identification of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit identified Wuhan, Alpha, and Delta variants with 100% relative sensitivity and specificity. Regarding Omicron subvariants of BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5, the relative sensitivity of 100%, 100%, and 81.5% and the relative specificity of 95.3%, 93.5%, and 100% were observed. CONCLUSION: Overall, GA SARS-CoV-2 OneStep RT-PCR Kit can be used as a rapid and cost-effective alternative to NGS for identification of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

System biology analysis to develop diagnostic biomarkers, monitoring pathological indexes, and novel therapeutic approaches for immune targeting based on maggot bioactive compounds and polyphenolic cocktails in mice with gastric cancer.

Early diagnosis and prognosis are prerequisites for mitigating mortality in gastric cancer (GaCa). Identifying some causative or sensitive elements (coding RNA (cRNA)-non-cRNAs (ncRNAs)) can be very helpful in the early diagnosis of GaCa. Notably, despite significant development in the GaCa treatment, the outcome of patients does not remain satisfactory due to limitations such as multi-drug resistance and tumor relapse. Therefore, more attention has been drawn to complementary therapies and the use of supplements. In this regard, Polyphenol natural compounds (PNC) and maggot larvae (MaLa) alone or in combination were administered along with chemotherapy (paclitaxel) to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)- induced murine tumor model. In addition, in order to identify potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, transcriptomics analysis was performed through a bioinformatics approach. Then transcription profile of ncRNAs with their target hub genes was assessed through qPCR Real-Time, Western blot, and ELISA. According to the bioinformatics results, 17 hub genes (e.g., IL-6, CXCL8, MKI67, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-1ß, SPP1, LOX, COL1A1, and IFN-γ) were explored that contribute towards inflammation and oxidative stress and ultimately GaCa development. Upstream of the mentioned hub genes, regulatory factors (lncRNA XIST and NEAT1) were also identified and introduced as prognosis and diagnosis biomarkers for GaCa. Our results showed that PNC alone and in combination with MaLa was able to reduce the size and number of tumors, which is related to the reduction of genes expression levels (including IL-6, CXCL8, MKI67, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-1ß, SPP1, LOX, COL1A1, IFN-γ, NEAT1, and XIST). In conclusion, PNC and MaLa have the potential to be considered as complementary and improving chemotherapy due to their effective compounds. Also, the introduced hub gene and lncRNA in addition to diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers can be used as druggable proteins for novel therapeutic targeting of GaCa.

Survey reaction of 2-amino-N-(aryl) benzimidamides with ninhydrin in different conditions and investigation of reaction mechanism using density functional theory (DFT).

In this investigation, firstly, 1-(2-amino-phenyl)-N-(aryl) methane diamine derivatives were synthesized by reaction of 2-aminobenzo nitrile with aromatic amines in the presence of aluminum chloride as the catalyst. Then, the reaction of these intermediates with ninhydrin in different conditions was investigated. The reaction between ninhydrin and 2-amino-N'-(aryl) benzimidamide derivatives in water as solvent under reflux conditions resulted in the synthesis of diazepine derivatives. The same results were obtained when the reaction was done in EtOH and in the presence of a few drops of sulfuric acid at room temperature. Also, this reaction was carried out in ethanol as solvent without the presence of sulfuric acid at room temperature which resulted in the synthesis of spiro [indene-2,2'-quinazoline] derivatives. And finally, the reaction was carried out in ethanol as solvent without the presence of sulfuric acid at the reflux conditions which resulted in the synthesis of isoquinolino-quinazoline derivatives. These N-heterocycles compounds are important biologically. Mild reaction conditions, simple procedure and purification and also product diversity with changing conditions are important advantages of this method. Also, to better understanding reaction mechanism on the condensation reactions of 2-amino-N-(aryl) benzimidamides with ninhydrin in different conditions, density functional theory (DFT)-based quantum chemical methods have been applied. Calculated atomic charges suggest that the C-1 (+ 0.54 a.u.) center of ninhydrin is a better electrophile than C-2 (+ 0.42 a.u.) center.

Associations of Oxalate Consumption and Some Individual Habits with the Risk of Kidney Stones.

Kidney stone is a highly recurrent disease in the urinary tract system. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually consisting of either calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Supersaturation of soluble calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and citrate in the urine is the basis for calcium stone formation. Genetics, diet, low physical activity, and individual habits contribute to the formation of kidney stones. In this review, the associations of the risk of kidney stones with oxalate consumption and some individual habits, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and opium consumption, are summarized.

Risk of urinary tract cancers following arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking: a review.

Bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer, due to their high morbidity and mortality rates, result in significant economic and health care costs. Arsenic exposure affects the drinking water of millions of people worldwide. Long-term exposure to arsenic, even in low concentrations, increases the risk of developing various cancers. Smoking is also one of the leading causes of bladder, prostate and kidney cancers. Accordingly, this research reviews the relationship between arsenic exposure and smoking with three kinds of urinary tract cancers (bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer) due to their widespread concern for their negative impact on public health globally. In this review, we have gathered the most current information from scientific databases [PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ISI web of science] regarding the relationship between arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking with the risk of bladder, prostate, and kidney cancer. In several studies, a significant relationship was determined between the incidence and mortality rate of the above-mentioned cancers in humans with arsenic exposure and tobacco smoking. The decrease or cessation of smoking and consumption of arsenic-free water significantly declined the incidence of bladder, prostate, and kidney cancers.

SARS-CoV-2 re-infection rate in Iranian COVID-19 cases within one-year follow-up.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic initiation, the possibility of re-infection has been unclearly present. Although herd immunity has a potential reliance through natural infection, human corona viruses has the ability to subvert immunity and re-infection happens for seasonal corona viruses. Currently, the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 re-infection incidence is not exactly defined. In this study we aimed at determination of SARS-CoV-2 re-infection rate in Iranian population. In a total of 5696 COVID-19 suspicious individuals, RT-PCR was applied to diagnose the infection. The confirmed patients were followed for 12 months and serology tests were applied to measure the specific antibodies. Among 1492 confirmed COVID-19 cases, five individuals experienced the subsequent infection. The re-infection/reactivation incidence rate was totally 0.33% after one year of follow-up. The interval ranged from 63 to 156 days. All the cases had viral mutations in the second episode of the infection. All of them were symptomatic cases with moderate severity. The estimated rate of SARS-CoV-2 in Persian population is therefore rare and natural infection seems to induce good protection against re-infection which clarifies that mass vaccination can hugely affect the society.

The Effects of Ginsenosides on the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major signaling pathway for the maintenance of homeostasis and redox balance. This pathway also plays a significant role in proteostasis, xenobiotic/drug metabolism, apoptosis, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Conversely, the Nrf2 signaling pathway is impaired in several pathological conditions including cancer. Although various drugs have been developed to target the Nrf2 pathway, plant-derived chemicals than can potentially impact this pathway and are particularly attractive due to their minimal side effects. Ginsenosides are active components of ginseng and have been shown to exert pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antidiabetes, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. In this article, we have reviewed the effects of ginsenosides on Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Antitumor and Protective Effects of Melatonin: The Potential Roles of MicroRNAs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short noncoding RNAs with approximately 22 nucleotides. The primary function of miRNAs is the negative regulation of target gene expression via mRNA degradation or translation inhibition. During recent years, much attention has been made toward miRNAs' role in different disorders; particularly cancer and compounds with modulatory effects on miRNAs are of interest. Melatonin is one of these compounds which is secreted by the pineal gland. Also, melatonin is present in the leaves, fruits, and seeds of plants. Melatonin has several valuable biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, antitumor, and antiaging activities. This important agent is extensively used to treat different disorders such as cancer and neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. This review aims to describe the modulatory effect of melatonin on miRNAs as novel targets.

Paving the Road Toward Exploiting the Therapeutic Effects of Ginsenosides: An Emphasis on Autophagy and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Programmed cell death processes such as apoptosis and autophagy strongly contribute to the onset and progression of cancer. Along with these lines, modulation of cell death mechanisms to combat cancer cells and elimination of resistance to apoptosis is of great interest. It appears that modulation of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with specific agents would be beneficial in the treatment of several disorders. Interestingly, it has been suggested that herbal natural products may be suitable candidates for the modulation of these processes due to few side effects and significant therapeutic potential. Ginsenosides are derivatives of ginseng and exert modulatory effects on the molecular mechanisms associated with autophagy and ER stress. Ginsenosides act as smart phytochemicals that confer their effects by up-regulating ATG proteins and converting LC3-I to -II, which results in maturation of autophagosomes. Not only do ginsenosides promote autophagy but they also possess protective and therapeutic properties due to their capacity to modulate ER stress and up- and down-regulate and/or dephosphorylate UPR transducers such as IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Thus, it would appear that ginsenosides are promising agents to potentially restore tissue malfunction and possibly eliminate cancer.

Resveratrol targeting the Wnt signaling pathway: A focus on therapeutic activities.

Wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway is considered as an important pathway regulating a variety of biological processes such as tissue formation and homeostasis, cell proliferation, cell migration, cell differentiation, and embryogenesis. Impairment in the Wnt signaling pathway is associated with pathological conditions, particularly cancer. So, modulation of this pathway can be considered as a promising strategy and several drugs have been developed in line with this strategy. Resveratrol (Res) is a naturally occurring nutraceutical compound exclusively found in different fruits and nuts such as grape, peanut, and pistachio. This compound has favorable biological and therapeutic activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic. At the present review, we demonstrate how Res modulates Wnt signaling pathway to exert its pharmacological effects.

Modulatory effects of statins on the autophagy: A therapeutic perspective.

Autophagy is considered as an important mechanism for maintaining homeostasis and responsible for the degradation of superfluous or potentially toxic components and organelles. Autophagy impairment is associated with a number of pathological conditions, such as aging, neurological disorders, cancer, and infection. Autophagy also plays a significant role in cancer chemotherapy. The multiple cancer drugs have been notably developed with the strategy of autophagy modulation. Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA inhibitors, are known due to their efficacy in decreasing low-density lipoprotein and extensively used for the management of cardiovascular diseases. Statins have other therapeutic and biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and neuroprotective known as pleiotropic effects. It seems that statins are capable of targeting various signaling pathways in the induction of their great pharmacological effects. At the present study, we demonstrate the therapeutic effects of statins mediated via autophagy regulation.

Therapeutic and biological activities of berberine: The involvement of Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, studies have focused on developing drugs from naturally occurring compounds. Berberine (Brb) as a plant-derived compound is of interest. It is an isoquinone alkaloid which is derived from Berberis aristata, Berberis aquifolium and Berberis vulgaris. This plant-derived compound has a variety of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. Various studies have demonstrated the therapeutic and biological activities of Brb, but there is a lack of a precise review to manifest the signaling pathway of action of Brb. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a highly conserved pathway which mainly involves in preservation of redox balance. At the present review, we describe the therapeutic and biological activities of Brb as well as the relevant mechanisms specially focused on the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Autophagy regulation using luteolin: new insight into its anti-tumor activity.

Application of novel methods in cancer therapy is important in terms of management and treatment of the life-threatening disorder. It appears that autophagy is a potential target in cancer therapy, as a variety of drugs targeting autophagy have shown great potential in reducing the viability and proliferation of cancer cells. Autophagy is primarily a catabolic process which provides energy during starvation. Besides, this process contributes to the degradation of aged or potentially toxic components and organelles. On the other hand, the source of a variety of naturally occurring anti-tumor drugs are flavonoids which have high anti-tumor activity. Luteolin is a polyphenolic flavone with the great pharmacological effects such as anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-tumor. At the present review, we demonstrate how luteolin affects on autophagy process to induce anti-tumor activity.

MicroRNAs mediate the anti-tumor and protective effects of ginsenosides.

MicroRNAs (miRs(, as short non-coding RNAs, regulate important biological processes and mainly are associated with regulation of gene expression. The miRs are beneficial targets for diagnosis of various disorders, particularly cancer, since their expression profile undergoes alterations in pathological conditions. The numerous drugs have been designed with the capability of targeting miRs for treating pathological conditions. On the other hand, the application of naturally occurring compounds has been increased due to their minimal side effects and valuable biological and therapeutic activities. Ginsenosides are able to act as anti-tumor agents via either increasing or decreasing the expression level of miRs. Ginsenosides affect the expression profile of miRNAs to induce their protective impacts. Angiogenesis as a key factor in the progression of cancer can be suppressed by ginsenosides which is mediated by miR regulation. The aim of this review is to shed some light on the protective and anti-tumor activities of ginsenosides mediated by miRNAs.

Cerebrovascular disease: how serum phosphorus, vitamin D, and uric acid levels contribute to the ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Associations between serum phosphorus level and the incidence of ischemic stroke are not clear. This study aimed to measure serum phosphorus, vitamin D3, and uric acid levels in ischemic stroke patients compared to a population without ischemic stroke. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 133 patients admitted to a neurology ward with the diagnosis of ischemic stroke were compared with a control group comprising 133 age- and gender-matching individuals. The presence of ischemic stroke was confirmed by a neurologist based on clinical signs, symptoms, brain CT scan, and MRI. Blood samples were taken from all patients in the first 24 h of admission to measure serum phosphorus, vitamin D3, calcium, and uric acid levels. RESULTS: According to the results of this study, uric acid medians in patients with stroke and controls were 4.9 [3.8-6.4] and 3.9 [3.5-4.9] mg/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). Median phosphorus and vitamin D levels were significantly lower in stroke patients than the controls (3.6 [3.02-4.21] vs. 4.2 [3.8-4.6]) and (15.1 [8.2-27.9] vs. 22.7 [10.4-39.2]), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the ischemic stroke was positively associated with the vitamin D level and negatively correlated with the uric acid level. The phosphorus level was not significantly predictive of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: Lower serum levels of vitamin D3 and higher levels of uric acid were associated with ischemic stroke. There are still unknowns about the role of these indicators on ischemic stroke and it requires further studies.

The effect of educational intervention program on promoting preventive behaviors of urinary tract infection in girls: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infectious diseases in children, which can lead to serious complications for a child. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Theory Planned Behavior (TPB) -based education on the promotion of preventive behaviors of urinary tract infection in mothers with a daughter under age two. METHODS: The present study is an educational randomized controlled trial that its sample consisted of 100 mothers who had a daughter under age two. They were selected through convenience sampling and then were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups (each group included 50 participants). The data collection tool was a reliable and valid questionnaire based on TPB constructs. First, in both groups, the pre-test was administrated and then the educational intervention in the intervention group was conducted in the form of four educational sessions in 1 month (based on the pre-test need assessment) and then 3 months after the intervention (according to the ideas of Panel of Experts), post-test in both groups was administrated and then the data were analyzed through SPSS version 23 software with inferential statistics (independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square). The significance level was considered 0.05. RESULTS: Three months after the intervention, the mean score of the constructs of TPB in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group. The performance of prevention of urinary tract infection in the intervention group before the education increased from 2.85 ± 0.51 to 3.74 ± 0.29 (out of 4) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TPB-based education with active and interventional follow-up was effective in promoting the preventive behaviors of urinary tract infection. Therefore, due to the side effects of UTI, especially in vulnerable periods such as childhood, it is recommended that trainings based on this model be carried out in other health care centers in order to maintain children health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial has been registered at IRCT, IRCT2017031533090N1. Registered on 9 July 2017, https://en.irct.ir/trial/25621.