A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effect of Tracheostomy Training using Mannequin-Based Simulation and Smartphone Application on Self-Efficacy and Anxiety of Caregivers.

Inefficient education is a cause of anxiety and low self-efficacy among caregivers, especially for those caring for patients with tracheostomy. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the outcomes of tracheostomy care education by mannequin-based simulation and smartphone application. The participants were 126 primary caregivers of tracheostomy patients being discharged home from hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The control group received routine care. Caregiver self-efficacy was assessed using the Caregiver Inventory and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale prior to the education and 1 month after. There were significant differences among the three groups regarding the mean scores of self-efficacy and anxiety. There was a significant increase in self-efficacy (P ≤ .0001) and a significant decrease in anxiety (P ≤ .0001) scores after the intervention. The intergroup comparison showed a significant difference between the intervention groups and the control group in terms of changes in the anxiety and self-efficacy scores of caregivers (P < .001).

Pituitary tumor registry: a multidisciplinary program protocol.

Purpose: This registry aims to collect information to create an appropriate platform for the development of a basis for clinical research and basic sciences to carefully study pituitary adenomas. Methods: Demographic data, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome information of the patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pituitary adenomas will be collected by investigators of the registry. Analysis of registry data generates aggregate reports summarizing pituitary tumor epidemiology, treatment, and outcome. These reports include annual public data reports. In the future, the registry program may provide a wider network in Iran and ultimately support the expansion of international studies. Conclusion: For a long time, patients with pituitary adenomas should be observed. Implementing a registration system would greatly reduce the challenges of patients' follow-up so that their monitoring can be improved.

Role of Nitric Oxide in Megakaryocyte Function.

Megakaryocytes are the main members of the hematopoietic system responsible for regulating vascular homeostasis through their progeny platelets, which are generally known for maintaining hemostasis. Megakaryocytes are characterized as large polyploid cells that reside in the bone marrow but may also circulate in the vasculature. They are generated directly or through a multi-lineage commitment step from the most primitive progenitor or Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) in a process called "megakaryopoiesis". Immature megakaryocytes enter a complicated development process defined as "thrombopoiesis" that ultimately results in the release of extended protrusions called proplatelets into bone marrow sinusoidal or lung microvessels. One of the main mediators that play an important modulatory role in hematopoiesis and hemostasis is nitric oxide (NO), a free radical gas produced by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase within the mammalian cells. In this review, we summarize the effect of NO and its signaling on megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Introducing a New Method for Purification of Human IL-4 by Substitution of a Single Amino Acid in IL-4 Protein Sequence.

BACKGROUND: It is advantageous to develop an effective purification procedure to produce recombinant protein drugs (rPDs) without any tags. To remove N- or C-terminus tags from the rPDs, several cleavage site-based endopeptidases were used. Separating the endopeptidase enzyme from the rPDs is a time-consuming and costly process. OBJECTIVE: To design and develop a new method for the purification of human interleukin (IL)-4 with potential application for other cytokines. METHODS: Met-like amino acids were substituted at position 120 to reduce the possibility of alteration in the structure of IL-4 and its biological activity. Based on the in silico analysis, isoleucine was chosen as an alternative amino acid, and the M120I mutant IL-4 (mIL-4) model was selected for the downstream analysis. Recombinant mIL-4 was produced in the E.coli BL21 host and purified with CNBr. Then in vitro evaluations of the native and mutant IL-4 were performed. RESULTS: The results showed that both the native and mutant IL-4 had the same effect on TF-1 cell proliferation. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the effects of native IL-4 (nIL-4) and mIL-4 on the expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Native and mutant IL-4 have similar biological activities. CONCLUSION: Here, an efficient and straightforward system is introduced to purify IL-4 cytokine using CNBr, which could be applied to other rPDs.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation by activation of platelet intermediate conductance Ca2+ -activated potassium channels.

BACKGROUND: Within the vasculature platelets and endothelial cells play crucial roles in hemostasis and thrombosis. Platelets, like endothelial cells, possess intermediate conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ (IKCa ) channels and generate nitric oxide (NO). Although NO limits platelet aggregation, the role of IKCa channels in platelet function and NO generation has not yet been explored. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether IKCa channel activation inhibits platelet aggregation, and per endothelial cells, enhances platelet NO production. METHODS: Platelets were isolated from human volunteers. Aggregometry, confocal microscopy, and a novel flow chamber model, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) were used to assess platelet function. Flow cytometry was used to measure platelet NO production, calcium signaling, membrane potential, integrin αIIb /ß3 activation, granule release, and procoagulant platelet formation. RESULTS: Platelet IKCa channel activation with SKA-31 inhibited aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner, an effect reversed by the selective IKCa channel blocker TRAM-34. The QCM model along with confocal microscopy demonstrated that SKA-31 inhibited platelet aggregation under flow conditions. Surprisingly, IKCa activation by SKA-31 inhibited platelet NO generation, but this could be explained by a concomitant reduction in platelet calcium signaling. IKCa activation by SKA-31 also inhibited dense and alpha-granule secretion and integrin αIIb /ß3 activation, but maintained platelet phosphatidylserine surface exposure as a measure of procoagulant response. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet IKCa channel activation inhibits aggregation by reducing calcium-signaling and granule secretion, but not by enhancing platelet NO generation. IKCa channels may be novel targets for the development of antiplatelet drugs that limit atherothrombosis, but not coagulation.

Preferential interaction of platelets with prostate cancer cells with stem cell markers.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) may be initiated by CD133+/CD44+ expressing stem cell-like cells (PCSC), which are also thought to drive metastasis. Platelets also contribute to metastasis via tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA), which in part enhances cancer cell invasion. Moreover, activated platelets secrete stromal derived growth factor-1α (SDF-1α) that can mobilize CSCs via the CXCR4 receptor. However, the potential reciprocal interactions between CSCs and platelets have not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the mechanisms behind PCSC-platelet interaction. METHODS: Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting was utilized to separate DU145 and PC3 PCa cells into CD133+/CD44+, CD133+/CD44-, CD44+/CD133-, and CD133-/CD44- subpopulations and to measure their CXCR4 surface expression. PCa subpopulation TCIPA experiments were performed using aggregometry and immunoblot was used to measure prothrombin. Platelet SDF-1α secretion was measured by ELISA. Modified-Boyden chamber assays were used to assess the role of SDF-1α:CXCR4 pathway in platelet-PCSC interactions. RESULTS: DU145 and PC3 expressing both CD133 and CD44 stem cell markers accounted for only small fractions of total cells (DU145: CD133+/CD44+ 3.44 ± 1.45% vs. CD133+/CD44- 1.56 ± 0.45% vs. CD44+/CD133- 68.19 ± 6.25% vs. CD133-/CD44- 20.36 ± 4.51%). However, CD133+ subpopulations induced the greatest amount of aggregation compared to CD44+/CD133- and double-negative DU145, and this aggregation potency of CD133+ PCa cells corresponded with high levels of prothrombin expression. Additionally, CD133+ subpopulations expressed significantly higher level of CXCR4 compared to CD133-/CD44- and CD44+/CD133-. Disruption of SDF-1α:CXCR4 pathway reduced platelet-induced PCSC invasion. CONCLUSIONS: CD133+/CD44+ and CD133+/CD44- PCSCs have highest platelet aggregation potency, which could be attributed to their increased prothrombin expression. Reciprocally, platelet-derived SDF-1α stimulates PCSC invasion.

Platelets stimulate programmed death-ligand 1 expression by cancer cells: Inhibition by anti-platelet drugs.

BACKGROUND: Platelets facilitate hematogenous metastasis in part by promoting cancer cell immunoevasion, although our understanding of platelet function in modulating the adaptive immune system in cancer is limited. A major negative regulator of the adaptive response is the immune checkpoint protein Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1). OBJECTIVES: As platelets secrete factors that may increase PD-L1 expression, we investigated whether they up-regulate cancer cell PD-L1, thus promoting immunoevasion, and whether common anti-platelet drugs inhibit this process. METHODS: Platelets were isolated from human volunteers. A549 lung, PD-L1 null A549, and 786-O renal cancer cells were incubated with and without platelets, and cancer cell PD-L1 expression was measured by qPCR and flow cytometry. Additionally, platelet-cancer cell incubations were performed in the presence of common anti-platelet drugs, and with growth factor neutralizing antibodies. Following incubation with platelets, A549 were co-cultured with T-cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels were measured by flow cytometry as a marker of T-cell activation. RESULTS: Platelets increased PD-L1 mRNA and surface protein expression by A549 and 786-0 cells. Combined neutralization of VEGF and PDGF prevented the platelet-induced up-regulation of PD-L1 by A549, as did the anti-platelet drug eptifibatide. A549 incubated with platelets demonstrated a reduced ability to activate human T-cells, an effect reversed by eptifibatide. CONCLUSIONS: As platelets promote immunoevasion of the adaptive immune response by increasing cancer cell PD-L1 expression and as anti-platelet drugs prevent this immunoevasive response, the investigation of anti-platelet drugs as adjuvant therapy to immune checkpoint inhibitors may be warranted in the treatment of cancer.

Specific Targeting of Recombinant Human Pancreatic Ribonuclease 1 using Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Targeting Peptide toward Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor-Positive Cancer Cells.

Background: Targeted drug delivery is a novel method to specifically deliver anticancer therapeutics to tumor sites. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a decapeptide, and its target binding property has attracted attention as a means of targeted drug delivery. Human pancreatic ribonuclease 1 (hpRNase1) has been shown to exert anticancer properties, when fused to a targeting moiety. The goal of the present study was to add a GnRH targeting peptide to the N-terminus of hpRNase1 to specifically target GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) expressing cells. Methods: This in vitro study was conducted at Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research (Shiraz, Iran) in 2019. The coding sequence of GnRH and hpRNase1 were fused, and the chimeric protein together with non-fused hpRNase1 were produced in E. coli (BL21). The recombinant proteins were purified, and their biological activity was evaluated using MTT and apoptosis assays. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn's post hoc tests were performed to determine the significant differences between the study groups. Results: GnRH-hpRNase1 chimeric protein specifically inhibited the proliferation of PC-3 (P=0.021), LNCaP (P=0.034), and AD-Gn (P=0.041) cells, while the growth of negative cells (AD-293) was not significantly affected (P=0.081). GnRH-hpRNase1 decreased the IC50 values more than non-fused hpRNase1, by approximately 26.5-fold (P=0.036) for PC-3 cells, and exerted its growth inhibitory effects through apoptosis induction. Conclusion: Fusion of GnRH to hpRNase1 structure produced an enzyme, which could specifically target tumor cells. This approach can be used to eliminate tumors that harbor GnRH-R.

Tatibody, a recombinant antibody with higher internalization potency.

Using antibody drug conjugates (ADC) which can exclusively bind to their target cells and upon internalization release their toxic agent, is one of the most effective methods for killing tumor cells. Therefore, increasing the internalization rate is an important factor for tumor treatment in this case. The aim of the present study was to develop a new variant of pertuzumab (an anti-ErbB2 humanized antibody) with higher internalization rate that can be a good candidate for the production of ADC. To this end, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus TAT Protein Transduction Domain (TAT-PTD) was replaced into the structure of the pertuzumab. At first, the best site in antibody heavy chain constant region for the replacement of TAT-PTD was predicted through computational methods. Then, the resulting recombinant antibody, of which TAT-PTD was located at amino acid position 130-140 and named Tatibody, was produced in CHO-S cell line. Finally, its physicochemical properties and biological activities were evaluated and compared with pertuzumab. Results showed that the binding ability of Tatibody to the ErbB2 receptor is similar to that of pertuzumab, but its internalization potency is 3.6 fold higher and can be used as a good candidate for ADC construction.

Human herpesvirus 6A active infection in patients with autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis

ABSTRACT Background: Hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the commonest autoimmune endocrine illness in which antibodies against thyroid organ result in inflammation. The disease has a complex etiology that involves genetic and environmental influences. Viral infections may be involved in triggering of the disease as their molecular mimicry enhance autoimmune responses. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is recognized for its contribution to some autoimmune diseases. Objective: In the current study, the prevalence of HHV-6 active infection in patients with HT and with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders were compared with patients with euthyroidism. In addition, a correlation between presence of HHV-6 infections and HT was investigated. Methods: A total of 151 patients with clinically and laboratory confirmed HT, 59 patients with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders, and 32 patients with normal thyroid function were included in the study. For further confirmation of HT disease, all the precipitants were tested for anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies. For detection of both HHV-6 types A and B, nested PCR and restriction enzyme digestion were used. HHV-6 DNA positive samples were further investigated by DNA sequencing analysis. Results: HHV-6A DNA was found in serum sample of 57 out of 151 patients (38%) with HT, which was significantly more often than in patients with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders (p = 0.001). However, HHV-6 DNA was not detected in serum samples of euthyroid subjects. Conclusions: The results support a possible role for active HHV-6A infection, demonstrated by the presence of HHV-6 DNA in sera, in the development of HT.

Human herpesvirus 6A active infection in patients with autoimmune Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the commonest autoimmune endocrine illness in which antibodies against thyroid organ result in inflammation. The disease has a complex etiology that involves genetic and environmental influences. Viral infections may be involved in triggering of the disease as their molecular mimicry enhance autoimmune responses. Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is recognized for its contribution to some autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, the prevalence of HHV-6 active infection in patients with HT and with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders were compared with patients with euthyroidism. In addition, a correlation between presence of HHV-6 infections and HT was investigated. METHODS: A total of 151 patients with clinically and laboratory confirmed HT, 59 patients with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders, and 32 patients with normal thyroid function were included in the study. For further confirmation of HT disease, all the precipitants were tested for anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies. For detection of both HHV-6 types A and B, nested PCR and restriction enzyme digestion were used. HHV-6 DNA positive samples were further investigated by DNA sequencing analysis. RESULTS: HHV-6A DNA was found in serum sample of 57 out of 151 patients (38%) with HT, which was significantly more often than in patients with non-autoimmune thyroid disorders (p=0.001). However, HHV-6 DNA was not detected in serum samples of euthyroid subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results support a possible role for active HHV-6A infection, demonstrated by the presence of HHV-6 DNA in sera, in the development of HT.

Molecular Cloning, Expression and Purification of G-CSF Isoform D, an Alternative Splice Variant of Human G-CSF.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the major regulator of hemopoiesis and granulopoiesis. However, overexpression of G-CSF has been implicated in several important processes in tumor biology such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Four different mRNA isoforms resulting from alternative splicing have been reported for G-CSF (transcript variants 1, 2, 3 and 4). The mRNAs and protein products of splice variants 1 and 2 have been isolated for the first time, from tumor cell lines. In the present study for the first time we isolated the G-CSF transcript variant 4 encoding G-CSF isoform D from a highly malignant tumor cell line (Mehr80) with overexpression of G-CSF. Both the full-length G-CSF isoform B and G-CSF isoform D were cloned from Mehr80 cell line, overexpressed in Escherichia coli as N-terminal glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins in the form of inclusion bodies and affinity purified by the batch method using glutathione-Sepharose 4B resin. Both fusion proteins were successfully cloned and expressed. Folded recombinant proteins were solubilized from inclusion bodies using sarkosyl, Triton X-114 and CHAPS and purified. The purity of G-CSF isoforms was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and they were clearly detected in western blot analysis using anti-G-CSF polyclonal antibody. The G-CSF plays various roles in physiological and pathological conditions, however to date, the differential function of G-CSF isoforms remains unknown. Considering the fact that G-CSF isoform D was isolated from a highly malignant tumor cell line with overexpression of G-CSF, the role of this splice variant in tumorigenesis requires further investigation.

In vitro cytotoxic effect of Trastuzumab in combination with Pertuzumab in breast cancer cells is improved by interleukin-2 activated NK cells.

Targeting erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2) using the combination of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab has demonstrated promising results in breast cancer therapy. It has further been revealed that interleukin-2 (IL-2) can activate Natural Killer cells (NK cells) and elevate their cytotoxic potency against tumor cells. In this study, we explored the cytotoxic effect of recombinant human IL-2 in combination with Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab on the ERBB2 positive (SK-BR-3) and negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity level of IL-2 activated NK cells (approximately 75%) were significantly higher than untreated cells (approximately 55%) in the presence of Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab against SK-BR-3 cells, while no difference was observed in the case of MDA-MB-231 cells (about 15%).