Cinnamic Acid Ameliorates Acetic Acid-induced Inflammatory Response through Inhibition of TLR-4 in Colitis Rat Model.

BACKGROUND: Cinnamic acid, an active compound in cinnamon spp., has anti-inflamatory and antioxidant characteristics and is favorable in managing inflammatory bowel diseases. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate cinnamic acid's effects on colitis in rats. METHODS: To induce colitis in experimental rats, excluding the sham group, a 4% intrarectal solution of acetic acid was administered. The rats were then given oral doses of cinnamic acid at 30, 45, and 90 mg/kg for two days. The animals were assessed for macroscopic and microscopic changes, and the levels of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured using Eliza kits. Additionally, real-time PCR was performed to examine the gene level of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in the colon. RESULTS: Effective reduction of inflammation in acetic acid-induced colitis was achieved through cinnamic acid at doses of 45 and 90 mg/kg. The decrease was achieved by inhibiting the activities of TNF-α, IL-6, and MPO while downregulating the expression of TLR-4. It is important to note that macroscopic and microscopic evaluations were significant in determining the effectiveness of cinnamic acid in reducing inflammation. CONCLUSION: Downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and TLR-4 expression may contribute to cinnamic acid's anti-inflammatory effect.

Juglone Mediates Inflammatory Bowel Disease Through Inhibition of TLR-4/NF KappaB Pathway in Acetic Acid-induced Colitis in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Juglone is a phenolic bioactive compound with antimicrobial, antitumour, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Given its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, it was selected for evaluation in the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) model. OBJECTIVE: The current study was performed to evaluate the therapeutic impacts of the juglone in acetic acid-induced colitis in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Juglone was extracted from Pterocarya fraxinifolia via maceration method. Colitis was induced in 36 male Wistar rats (n = 6), except in the sham group, 1 ml of acetic acid 4% was administered intrarectally. Twenty-four hours after induction of colitis, in 3 groups, juglone was administered orally (gavage) at 3 doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg for 2 successive days (once a day). Other groups included the control group (only treated with acetic acid), sham group (normal saline), and standard group (Dexamethasone). To evaluate the inflammation sites, macroscopic and microscopic markers were assessed. The mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-α were assessed by real-time PCR, while myeloperoxidase (MPO) was measured spectrophotometrically. ELISA assay kits were used to determine the colonic levels of SOD, ROS, NF-κB, and TLR-4. RESULTS: Macroscopic and microscopic assessments revealed that juglone significantly decreased colonic tissue damage and inflammation at 150 mg/kg. Juglone at 100, 150 mg/kg significantly decreased the TNF-α, MPO, and TLR-4 levels, as well as the SOD activity. All juglone-treated groups reduced the NF-κB levels compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The compound decreased the IL-1ß, and ROS levels at the concentration of 150 mg/kg. Juglone attenuated colitis symptoms, reduced inflammation cytokines, declined neutrophil infiltration, and suppressed IL- 1ß and TNF-α expressions in acetic acid-induced colitis rats. It may be proposed that juglone improved colitis in animal model through suppression of inflammatory parameters and downregulation of the NF-κB-TLR-4 pathway. CONCLUSION: Juglone exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the experimental colitis model and could be a therapeutic candidate for IBD. Juglone should be a subject for further animal and clinical trials in IBD models and for safety concerns.

The Effect of Self-Care Education on Adherence to Treatment in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Noncompliance with treatment in the elderly with Heart Failure (HF) may result in a lack of recovery, a decrease in longevity, rehospitalization, and additional costs. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of self-care education on adherence to treatment among elderly patients with HF. Materials and Methods: This study was a parallel clinical trial on 90 elderly people over 60 years of age who were hospitalized in cardiac wards. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form and the adherence to treatment questionnaire. Individuals who met the study inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group training was performed before and after discharge. The adherence to treatment questionnaire was completed again by both groups 2 months after discharge. Data were analyzed using Chi-squared test; ex. (?2 = 3.95, df = 1, p = 0.046), paired and independent t-tests, and analysis of covariance. Results: The mean (standard deviation) total score of adherence to treatment in the intervention group was 39.71 (4.51) and 78.72 (10.47) before and after the self-care education, respectively. Paired t-test showed a significant difference in both groups after the intervention compared to before the intervention, and independent t-test showed a significant difference between the groups after the intervention (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Self-care education before discharge and home-based education were effective in promoting adherence to treatment among patients with HF. Therefore, self-care education before discharge may improve adherence to treatment among elderly patients with HF.

Progressive Model-Driven Approach for 3D Modeling of Indoor Spaces.

This paper focuses on the 3D modeling of the interior spaces of buildings. Three-dimensional point clouds from laser scanners can be considered the most widely used data for 3D indoor modeling. Therefore, the walls, ceiling and floor are extracted as the main structural fabric and reconstructed. In this paper, a method is presented to tackle the problems related to the data including obstruction, clutter and noise. This method reconstructs indoor space in a model-driven approach using watertight predefined models. Employing the two-step implementation of this process, the algorithm is able to model non-rectangular spaces with an even number of sides. Afterwards, an "improvement" process increases the level of details by modeling the intrusion and protrusion of the model. The 3D model is formed by extrusion from 2D to 3D. The proposed model-driven algorithm is evaluated with four benchmark real-world datasets. The efficacy of the proposed method is proved by the range of [77%, 95%], [85%, 97%] and [1.7 cm, 2.4 cm] values of completeness, correctness and geometric accuracy, respectively.

Experimental study of thermal conductivity coefficient of GNSs-WO3/LP107160 hybrid nanofluid and development of a practical ANN modeling for estimating thermal conductivity.

In the present study, the effects of nanoparticles, mass fraction percentage and temperature on the conductive heat transfer coefficient of Graphene nanosheets- Tungsten oxide/Liquid paraffin 107160 hybrid nanofluid was investigated. For this purpose, four different mass fractions were used in the range of 0.005%-5% in a number of examinations. The results illustrated that the thermal conductivity coefficient was increased with the increment of the mass fraction percentage and the temperature of Graphene nanosheets- Tungsten oxide nanomaterials in the base fluid. Then, a feed-forward artificial neural network was used to model the thermal conductivity coefficient. In general, with the increase in temperature and concentration of nanofluid, the value of thermal conductivity increases. The optimum value of thermal conductivity for this experiment was observed in the volume fraction of 5% and at the temperature of 70 °C. The results of this modeling indicated that the fault of the data estimated for the coefficient of thermal conductivity in the Graphene nanosheets- Tungsten oxide/Liquid paraffin 107160 nanofluid, as a function of mass fraction percentage and temperature, was less than 3%, as compared to the experimental data.

Licofelone Attenuates Acetic Acid-Induced Colitis in Rats Through Suppression of the Inflammatory Mediators.

Licofelone is a dual Cyclooxygenase 1,2 (COX1,2)/5-lipoxygenase) 5-LOX (inhibitor with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects with possible functions on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is a chronic recurrent condition with no particular treatment. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of licofelone on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Ten groups of male Wistar rats (n = 6) were used. Sham, control group, licofelone at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 mg/kg, i.p.), aminoguanidine (AG) (100 mg/kg, i.p.), 30 min before using licofelone (10 mg/kg). Also, three groups received L-NAME, aminoguanidine, or dexamethasone. Macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) were assessed in colon tissue. Licofelone at a dose of 10 mg/kg attenuated colitis, increased SOD activity, and significantly reduced colonic levels of the abovementioned inflammatory factors. In addition, licofelone improved macroscopic and microscopic symptoms in the acetic acid-induced colitis model. Moreover, the concurrent use of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors with 10 mg/kg of licofelone reversed the observed positive effects, demonstrating the function of nitric oxide in IBD pathogenesis and the probable mechanism for licofelone in the healing process of induced colitis. A reduced level of inflammatory factors confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of licofelone as a dual COX1,2/5-LOX inhibitor. Furthermore, outcomes revealed the protective role of licofelone in treating experimental colitis. The findings are suggestive of the potential use of licofelone in IBD.

The effect of Salvia officinalis on blood glycemic indexes and blood lipid profile in diabetic patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders that increases the economic burden on the public health system. In this regard, understanding the effect of available herbs on diabetes can be useful. This systematic review was performed to determine the effect of Salvia officinalis on blood glycemic indexes and blood lipid profile (primary outcomes) and 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2HPPG), alanine transaminase (ALT) (U/L) and aspartate transaminase (AST) (U/L) and its side effects (secondary outcomes) in diabetic patients. A systematic search was conducted in the English (Cochrane Library, Medline (PubMed), Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest and Persian databases since inception to March 2021, without publication time restriction. Two authors separately evaluated the quality of the articles using Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials and extracted the data. Heterogeneity of data was evaluated by squared I (I 2). Three studies included in the review and all of them included in meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that S. officinalis reduced fasting blood sugar (FBS) (mg/dL) (MD: -31.15; 95% CI: -37.56 to -24.73; p<0.00001). It also reduced HbA1c (%) (MD: -0.94; 95% CI: -1.25 to -0.63; p<0.00001) and total cholesterol (mg/dL) (MD: -43.64; 95% CI: -83.26 to -4.02; p=0.03) and reduction of low-density protein (LDL) (mg/dL) (MD: -19.23; 95% CI: -35.81 to -2.65; p=0.02) but it did not have a significant effect on triglyceride (mg/dL) (p=0.09), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (mg/dL) (p=0.18). Regarding the secondary outcomes, S. officinalis also had significant effect on 2HPPG, but it did not have a significant effect on ALT (U/L) and AST (U/L). No specific side effects for this plant were reported in these three studies. The results showed that S. officinalis has a positive effect on blood glycemic status and blood lipid profile in diabetes except for triglyceride and HDL. However, due to the small number of included articles, it is recommended that stronger clinical trials be conducted in this field.

Global prevalence of Ascaris infection in humans (2010-2021): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ascariasis is one of the most important neglected tropical diseases of humans worldwide. The epidemiology of Ascaris infection appears to have changed with improvements in sanitation and mass drug administration, but there is no recent information on prevalence worldwide. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the global prevalence of human Ascaris infection from 2010 to 2021. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, and Scopus databases for studies measuring prevalence of Ascaris infection, published between 1 January 2010 and 1 January 2022. We included studies of the general human population in endemic regions, which used accepted coprodiagnostic methods, and excluded studies of people with occupations with an increased risk or probability of ascariasis and/or specific diseases other than ascariasis. We applied random-effects models to obtain pooled prevalence estimates for six sustainable development goal regions of the world. We extrapolated the prevalence estimates to the global population in 2020, to estimate the number of individuals with Ascaris infection. We conducted multiple subgroup and meta-regression analyses to explore possible sources of heterogeneity, and to assess relationships between prevalence estimates and demographic, socio-economic, geo-climatic factors. RESULTS: Of 11,245 studies screened, we analysed 758 prevalence estimates for a total number of 4,923,876 participants in 616 studies from 81 countries. The global prevalence estimated was 11.01% (95% confidence interval: 10.27-11.78%), with regional prevalences ranging from 28.77% (7.07-57.66%) in Melanesia (Oceania) to 1.39% (1.07-1.74%) in Eastern Asia. We estimated that ~ 732 (682-782) million people harboured Ascaris worldwide in 2021. The infected people in Latin America and the Caribbean region had a higher prevalence of high intensity infection (8.4%, 3.9-14.1%). Prevalence estimates were higher in children, and people in rural communities or in countries or regions with lower income and human development indices. There was a trend for a higher prevalence in regions with increasing mean annual relative humidity, precipitation and environmental temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that, despite a renewed commitment by some communities or authorities to control ascariasis, a substantial portion of the world's human population (> 0.7 billion) is infected with Ascaris. Despite the clinical and socioeconomic importance of ascariasis, many past routine surveys did not assess the intensity of Ascaris infection in people. We propose that the present findings might stimulate the development of customised strategies for the improved control and prevention of Ascaris infection worldwide.

Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of multiple sclerosis: An updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable controversy around the question as to whether Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has a protective or causative role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study evaluated published information to assess the association between H. pylori infection and MS. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive systematic review of relevant observational studies in international databases. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). I2 statistic was used to assess the between-study heterogeneity. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were applied to identify the source of heterogeneity. RESULTS: In total, 22 studies (25 datasets) were eligible for the meta-analysis: 17 datasets had prevalence data and eight datasets had data on the mean titer of anti-H. pylori IgG. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori was 44.1% (908/2606) in the MS patients and 46.1% (1016/2200) in the controls, indicating a non-significant protective effect of H. pylori on MS (OR, 0.82; 95%CI, 0.58-1.17). In the subgroup analysis, studies that used ELISA yielded a significant protective association (OR, 0.59; 95%CI, 0.46-0.77), while a positive non-significant association (OR, 1.33; 95%CI, 0.83-2.15) was found from studies that used other serological methods; interestingly, a significant positive association (OR, 6.64; 95%CI, 2.40-13.76) was found from studies that used histological methods to detect H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that H. pylori infection represents a protective factor against the development of MS; however, the results varied depending on the diagnostic method(s). Particularly, a significant positive association was identified when studies introduced results based on histological examination, suggesting that active H. pylori infection might be a risk factor for development of MS. Thus, further studies are needed utilizing accurate diagnostic methods to elucidate the association between active H. pylori infection and MS.

Toxoplasma gondii infection/exposure and the risk of brain tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Brain tumors are among the most fatal cancers with substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that infectious agents, especially, protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii could be a possible risk factor or contributor. Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the possible association between T. gondii infection/exposure and risk of brain tumors. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science collection databases from inception through 1st of December 2021. Pooled estimates of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using random effects models. We did the subgroup analysis according to tumor types. Statistical tests for heterogeneity and sensitivity analyses were applied. RESULTS: A total of seven eligible studies comprising 2323 patients diagnosed with brain tumors and 5131 healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis. T. gondii infection/exposure prevalence was 24.2% (95%CI, 12.7%-41.2) in cases and 12.9% (95%CI, 7.0-22.6%) in control subjects. Pooled analysis showed an overall OR of 1.96 (95%CI, 1.37-2.80), indicating a significant increased risk of brain tumors associated with T. gondii infection/exposure. In subgroup analysis T. gondii infection/exposure was significantly associated with gliomas (OR: 1.64, 95%CI, 1.15-2.33), meningioma (OR: 2.30, 95%CI, 1.0-5.27) and other types of brain tumors (OR: 2.19, 95%CI, 1.02-4.71). CONCLUSION: This study provides suggestive evidence for an association between T. gondii infection/exposure and brain tumors. Our findings should be further confirmed by well-designed cohort studies with strict control of confounders. Moreover, we suggest that future studies also focus on the effect of T. gondii infection/exposure to the types of brain tumors.

Toxocariasis-associated urinary system diseases: a systematic review of reported cases.

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Toxocara species can involve many organs, such as the brain, heart and lungs, however, the urinary system involvement of toxocariasis is largely unknown. METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify cases infected with urinary tract toxocariasis. RESULTS: We identified seven cases that were eligible to be reviewed. Among the included citations, four studies reported bladder involvement and three reported kidney involvement. Fever, urinary, and abdominal presentations were amongst the most important clinical symptoms. Eosinophilic cystitis and nephrotic syndrome were the most common diagnoses.. The treatment regimen included a combination of anthelmintic drugs and steroids. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of urinary tract presentations accompanied by eosinophilia or histopathologic findings suggestive of parasitic infection, toxocariasis should be included in the list of differential diagnoses, especially in endemic areas.

Human Toxocariasis in individuals with blood disorders and cancer patients: the first seroepidemiological study in Iran.

Toxocara is one of the most prevalent nematodes in Iran, which infect humans as an intermediate host. Infection complications result from the larva migration. Human toxocariasis prevalence was various in Iran according to the area of study and population. This study was designed to evaluate the seropositivity of Toxocara IgG in patients with blood disorders and cancer patients in southwest Iran. Moreover, the study of the associated risk factors for this infection. A total of 1122 serum samples, from February 8, 2019 to August 21, 2019, including 600 healthy individuals and 522 individuals with cancer and blood disorders patients were collected. Serum samples were collected for detection of Toxocara IgG by using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit. Sociodemographic data of all participants were collected and examined to determine their association with the infection. Out of 101 individuals with white blood cell disorders (5.94%), red blood cell disorders (7.48%) and cancer patients (11.06%) were seropositive for Toxocara IgG antibodies. The infection rate among all study population revealed that (10.76%) were positive for Toxocara IgG. This study showed the fundamental role of contact with pets and infection in groups with blood cell disorders (P-value ≤ 0.05%); while in cancer patients the association wasn't significant. Other factors such as age, location of residence, and sex showed that the association with this infection wasn't significant.

Molecular Characterization of Tigecycline Non-Susceptibility among Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates of Clinical Origin.

INTRODUCTION: Tigecycline (TGC) is one of the last-resort therapeutic agents for treating infections caused by extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. Although resistance to TGC is not common, non-susceptible A. baumannii (NSAB) isolates have been described. In the current study, we aimed to assess the molecular mechanisms mediating TGC non-susceptibility in 5 clinical isolates of A. baumannii with reduced susceptibility to TGC. METHODS: Susceptibility of isolates to TGC as well as various classes of antibiotics was evaluated by broth dilution and disk diffusion methods, respectively. The presence of tetX and tetX1 genes was investigated by PCR. The nucleotide sequences of adeR and adeS genes were assessed by PCR amplicon sequencing. To evaluate the association between reduced susceptibility to TGC and upregulation of AdeABC efflux pump, transcriptional level of adeB gene was quantified by RT-qPCR analysis. RESULTS: All 5 TGC-NSAB isolates had a TGC MIC of ≥4 mg/L and were resistant to all antimicrobials tested by disk diffusion method except for minocycline and doxycycline for which a susceptibility rate of 40% and 20% was observed, respectively. The tetX/X1 genes were not detected in any isolates. All TGC non-susceptible isolates harbored genetic alterations in the adeRS operon, including AdeS G186V, N268H, and D60N and AdeR A136V and V120I substitutions among, which G186V and D60N were predicted by PROVEAN tool analysis as inactivating alterations. Reduced TGC susceptibility was associated with upregulation of AdeABC efflux pump in all TGC non-susceptible isolates. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from our results that reduced susceptibility to TGC in the studied isolates was mainly mediated by genetic alterations in the AdeRS system, which resulted in overexpression of AdeABC efflux pump. Emergence of TGC non-susceptibility among isolates that had not been previously exposed to TGC is an issue of great concern.

Neonatal sepsis in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis on national prevalence and causative pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is accounted for 30-50% of annual neonatal deaths in developing countries. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis study to evaluate the national prevalence and identification of the etiological pathogens of neonatal sepsis in Iran. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was done on the national and international databases for studies published between 2000 and 2019. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses and meta-regressions regarding the gender, type of sepsis and time during were also performed. Data were extracted, analyzed, and presented according to PRISMA guideline. RESULTS: Of 944 publications identified, 22 studies containing 14,683 neonates met the eligibility criteria. The pooled national prevalence of sepsis in Iran was 15.98% (95%CI, 11.96-20.46%; 1,367/14,683). Prevalence rate in boys (20.42%; 95%CI, 9.03-34.8%) was slightly higher than girls (18.5%; 95%CI, 7.4-32.8). A decreasing trend in prevalence of neonatal sepsis was found in recent years, although not statistically significant (c = -0.005; P value = 0.4). The most prevalent causative bacterial pathogens were Enterobacter spp. (23.04%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.54%), coagulase-negative Staphylococci (14.06%), Escherichia coli (13.92%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.67%), and Staphylococcus aureus (11.48%). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed a high prevalence of neonatal sepsis in suspected neonates, suggesting the need to implement preventive measures, routine assessment, and close monitoring of neonates. Also, Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified as the principal bacterial pathogens responsible for neonatal septicemia in Iran.

Controlled Plasma Thinning of Bulk MoS2 Flakes for Photodetector Fabrication.

The electronic properties of layered materials are directly determined based on their thicknesses. Remarkable progress has been carried out on synthesis of wafer-scale atomically molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) layers as a two-dimensional material in the past few years in order to transform them into commercial products. Although chemical/mechanical exfoliation techniques are used to obtain a high-quality monolayer of MoS2, the lack of suitable control in the thickness and the lateral size of the flakes restrict their benefits. As a result, a straightforward, effective, and reliable approach is widely demanded to achieve a large-area MoS2 flake with control in its thickness for optoelectronic applications. In this study, thick MoS2 flakes are obtained by a short-time bath sonication in dimethylformamide solvent, which are thinned with the aid of a sequential plasma etching process using H2, O2, and SF6 plasma. A comprehensive study has been carried out on MoS2 flakes based on scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron microscopy measurements, which ultimately leads to a two-cycle plasma thinning method. In this approach, H2 is used in the passivation step in the first subcycle, and O2/SF6 plasma acts as an etching step for removing the MoS2 layers in the second subcycle. Finally, we show that this technique can be enthusiastically used to fabricate MoS2-based photodetectors with a considerable photoresponsivity of 1.39 A/W and a response time of 0.45 s under laser excitation of 532 nm.

Role of combined phacoemulsification and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in prevention of postoperative macular edema in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of combined phacoemulsification and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in prevention of postoperative diabetic macular edema (DME) in patients with no diabetic retinopathy or non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and without macular edema. METHODS: In a prospective randomized clinical trial, 71 eyes from 71 diabetic patients with no diabetic retinopathy or mild NPDR and with central macular thickness (CMT) of less than 300 µm were enrolled and were randomized into two groups: combined phacoemulsification and intravitreal bevacizumab injection group and only phacoemulsification group. Our primary outcome measures included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CMT, and total macular volume (TMV) before and after (1 month and 3 months) the cataract surgery. RESULTS: The two groups did not show any significant difference in terms of baseline BCVA, age, CMT, stage of diabetic retinopathy. While the bevacizumab group showed lower CMT one month after the surgery compared to control group (267.3 ± 31.8 and 293.6 ± 53.7, respectively, P = 0.019), this difference did not remain significant 3 months after surgery (264.5 ± 21.9 and 291.4 ± 79.8, P = 0.089). The TMV and BCVA in the two groups showed no significant difference one month or 3 months after surgery. Considering our definition of post-cataract surgery diabetic macular edema (PME) in this study [CMT >300 µm using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT)], there was no significant difference between the incidence of PME at 1 month and at 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the intravitreal injection of bevacizumab during phacoemulsification would result in decreased macular thickness in patients with no diabetic retinopathy or NPDR and without macular edema in the early postoperative period, this effect would no longer persistent at 3 months. In addition, the BCVA and TMV showed no significant difference between the two groups at any time during follow-up period.

An investigation on optic nerve head involvement in Fuchs uveitis syndrome using optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography.

PURPOSE: To investigate optic nerve head involvement in patients with Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS). METHODS: Optic nerve head of 43 FUS eyes without clinical optic disc edema and 37 unaffected fellow eyes were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT) of peripapillary retina and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and fundus fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: Seventy-one percent of FUS eyes showed optic nerve head hyperfluorescence. The mean average RNFL thickness in FUS eyes was 115.0 ± 11.9 µm, which was thicker than unaffected eyes (103.0 ± 10.7 µm, p < 0.001). Mean average of peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes was also greater than unaffected eyes (p < 0.001). In addition, RNFL and peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes without optic nerve hyperfluorescence were thicker than unaffected eyes (all p = < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: OCT demonstrates peripapillary total retinal and nerve fiber layer thickening in FUS eyes without clinical swelling of optic disc that is not always associated with optic nerve head leakage.

Intergenerational Sex-Specific Transmission of Maternal Social Experience.

The social environment is a major determinant of individual stress response and lifetime health. The present study shows that (1) social enrichment has a significant impact on neuroplasticity and behaviour particularly in females; and (2) social enrichment in females can be transmitted to their unexposed female descendants. Two generations (F0 and F1) of male and female rats raised in standard and social housing conditions were examined for neurohormonal and molecular alterations along with changes in four behavioural modalities. In addition to higher cortical neuronal density and cortical thickness, social experience in mothers reduced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in F0 rats and their F1 non-social housing offspring. Only F0 social mothers and their F1 non-social daughters displayed improved novelty-seeking exploratory behaviour and reduced anxiety-related behaviour whereas their motor and cognitive performance remained unchanged. Also, cortical and mRNA measurements in the F1 generation were affected by social experience intergenerationally via the female lineage (mother-to-daughter). These findings indicate that social experience promotes cortical neuroplasticity, neurohormonal and behavioural outcomes, and these changes can be transmitted to the F1 non-social offspring in a sexually dimorphic manner. Thus, a socially stimulating environment may form new biobehavioural phenotypes not only in exposed individuals, but also in their intergenerationally programmed descendants.

The expression, localization and function of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in rat corpus cavernosum.

OBJECTIVES: Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR), an emerging pharmacological target for a variety of medical conditions, is expressed in the most mammalian tissues with different effects. So, this study was designed to investigate the expression, localization and effect of α7-nAChR in rat corpus cavernosum (CC). METHODS & KEY FINDINGS: Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that α7-nAChR was expressed in rat CC and double immunofluorescence studies demonstrated the presence of α7-nAChR in corporal neurons. The rat CC segments were mounted in organ bath chambers and contracted with phenylephrine (0.1 µm -300 µm) to investigate the relaxation effect of electrical field stimulation (EFS,10 Hz) assessed in the presence of guanethidine (adrenergic blocker, 5 µm) and atropine (muscarinic cholinergic blocker, 1 µm) to obtain non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) response. Cumulative administration of nicotine significantly potentiated the EFS-induced NANC relaxation (-log EC50 = 7.5 ± 0.057). Whereas, the potentiated NANC relaxation of nicotine was significantly inhibited with different concentrations of methyllycaconitine citrate (α7-nAChR antagonist, P < 0.05) in preincubated strips. L-NAME (non-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, 1 µm) completely blocked the neurogenic relaxation induced by EFS plus nicotine. CONCLUSION: To conclude α7-nAChR is expressed in rat CC and modulates the neurogenic relaxation response to nicotine.

Lack of Social Support Raises Stress Vulnerability in Rats with a History of Ancestral Stress.

Stress is a primary risk factor for psychiatric disorders. However, it is not fully understood why some stressed individuals are more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders than others. Here, we investigated whether multigenerational ancestral stress produces phenotypes that are sensitive to depression-like symptoms in rats. We also examined whether social isolation reveals potentially latent sensitivity to depression-like behaviours. F4 female rats born to a lineage of stressed mothers (F0-F3) received stress in adulthood while housed in pairs or alone. Social isolation during stress induced cognitive and psychomotor retardation only in rats exposed to ancestral stress. Social isolation also hampered the resilience of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to chronic stress and reduced hippocampal volume and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Thus, synergy between social isolation and stress may unmask a latent history of ancestral stress, and raises vulnerability to mental health conditions. The findings support the notion that social support critically promotes stress coping and resilience.