Terrorist attacks in Iran: A counter-terrorism medicine analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Terrorism is a combined phenomenon, the concept of which is strongly affected by the spatial and temporal situation. Terrorist attacks can affect the demand for and delivery of healthcare services and often put a unique burden on the first responders, hospitals, and health systems. This study provides an epidemiological description of all -terrorist-related attacks in Iran from 1979 to 2020. METHODS: Data were collected using a retrospective search through Global Terrorism Database (GTD). GTD was searched using internal database search functions for all incidents that occurred in Iran from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2020. The target type, attack type, primary weapon type, perpetrator group, country where the incident occurred, and the number of fatalities and injuries were collected, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 543 terrorist attacks were identified in the study period, which resulted in the fatality of 1,150 people and the injury of 3,792 people. It indicates 2.12 fatalities and 7,009 injuries per incident. Explosives were used in 301 attacks (55.63 percent), followed by incendiary weapons in 177 attacks (32.71 percent). The most significant types of attacks are bombings in 290 attacks (52.3 percent), followed by assassination in 99 attacks (17.9 percent), and armed assaults in 81 attacks (14.6 percent). CONCLUSION: Due to a decreasing trend of terrorist incidents in Iran, we can state that national security and stability have improved in Iran. However, the development of security promotion policies and passive defense approaches can help prevent the occurrence of such incidents.

Simulation and experimental study of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma and comparison of efficiency in boosting recombinant Endoglucanase II production in Pichia pastoris.

Recombinant proteins are essential in various industries, and scientists employ genetic engineering and synthetic biology to enhance the host cell's protein production capacity. Stress response pathways have been found effective in augmenting protein secretion. Cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) can induce oxidative stress and enhance protein production. Previous studies have confirmed the applicability of CAP jets on Phytase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) production in Pichia pastoris hosts. This study investigates the effect of CAP treatment on another valuable recombinant protein, Endoglucanase II (EgII), integrated into the Pichia pastoris genome. The results demonstrated that plasma induction via two different ignition modes: sinusoidal alternating current (AC) and pulsed direct current (DC) for 120, 180, and 240 s has boosted protein secretion without affecting cell growth and viability. The AC-driven jet exhibited a higher percentage increase in secretion, up to 45%. Simulation of plasma function using COMSOL software provided a pattern of electron temperature (Te) and density distribution, which determine the plasma cocktail's chemistry and reactive species production. Furthermore, electron density (ne) and temperature were estimated from the recorded optical spectrum. The difference in electron properties may explain the moderately different impressions on expression capability. However, cell engineering to improve secretion often remains a trial-and-error approach, and improvements are, at least partially, specific to the protein produced.

Improvement of peripheral nerve regeneration following nerve repair by silicone tube filled with curcumin: a preliminary study in the rat model.

The objective was to assess the effect of locally administered curcumin on peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery. Thirty male healthy white Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: In control group (CG), the left sciatic nerve was exposed and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 µL sterilized olive oil. In treatment group (TG), the graft was filled with 10 µL curcumin (5 mg/mL) solved in olive oil. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and regenerated nerve fibers were studied 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Behavioral testing, sciatic nerve functional study, static sciatic index (SSI), gastrocnemius muscle mass and morphometric indices confirmed faster recovery of regenerated axons in TG than CG group (p < 0.05). In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in TG was clearly more positive than that in CG group. When loaded in a silicone tube, curcumin improved functional recovery and morphometric indices of sciatic nerve. Curcumin is readily available and its local application is easily performed without limitations of its poor bioavailability in systemic administration.