Plasmapheresis and IVIG for Treatment of Non-Tumor Anti-Tr/DNER Antibody-Associated Ataxia: A Case Report.

Autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (ACA) is a condition characterized by progressive ataxia resulting from an immune-mediated attack on cerebellar structures. The presence of anti-Tr/DNER antibodies, strongly associated with Hodgkin lymphoma, has been identified in ACA. However, cases with no underlying malignancy are rare. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman presenting with progressive ataxia, slurred speech, and dizziness over three months. The patient exhibited significant cerebellar symptoms, including dysarthria and limb ataxia, without signs of other systemic illnesses. Comprehensive investigations, including imaging, lumbar puncture, and autoantibody testing, were performed. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample revealed positivity for Tr/DNER antibodies, leading to a diagnosis of autoimmune cerebellar ataxia. The patient underwent nine sessions of plasmapheresis, followed by six doses of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), resulting in significant clinical improvement. Despite extensive cancer screening, no underlying malignancy was detected, suggesting a non-tumor origin of anti-Tr/DNER antibodies. The patient's gait improved, ataxia resolved, and cerebellar tests normalized following treatment. The patient was further managed with rituximab treatment every six months. This case represents a presentation of anti-Tr/DNER-associated autoimmune cerebellar ataxia without malignancy. The successful treatment with plasmapheresis and IVIG suggests that these interventions may be effective in managing autoimmune cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-Tr/DNER antibodies. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of this condition and to determine the optimal treatment strategies.

Anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects of nanoemulsion of Origanum majorana essential oil.

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to develop a natural nanoemulsion with antibacterial and anticancer properties. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of the Origanum majorana essential oil was investigated using GC-MS analysis. Besides, the successful loading of the essential oil in the nanoemulsion was confirmed using ATR-FTIR analysis. Moreover, nanoemulsion's anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities were investigated. Results: Terpinen-4-o1 (46.90%) was identified as the major compound in the essential oil. The nanoemulsion with a 149 ± 5 nm droplet size and zeta potential of -11 ± 1 mV was prepared. The cytotoxic effect of the nanoemulsion against A-375 human melanoma cells (IC50 = 139 µg/mL) showed significantly more potency than A-549 human lung cancer cells (IC50 = 318 µg/mL). Interestingly, growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative) bacteria after treatment with 4800 µg/mL of nanoemulsion were obtained at 12 ± 2 and 6 ± 1%, respectively. However, the IC50 value of nanoemulsion against E. coli (580 µg/mL) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from S. aureus (611 µg/mL). Conclusion: A straightforward preparation method, high stability, and multi-biological effects are the main advantages of the prepared nanoemulsion. Therefore it could be considered for further investigation in vivo studies or complementary medicine.

Diagnostic value of T2 and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in local staging of endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial cancer (EC) is the eighth most prevalent cancer globally. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) help anatomical localization and local staging of lesions. The present study was performed to assess the diagnostic value of the simultaneous use of T2 and DWI techniques in EC evaluation. METHODS: Seventy-eight histopathological-proven EC cases were included in this study. Patients were assessed using a complete MRI exam, including T2 and DWI. The myometrial invasion, cervical, serosal or adnexal, vaginal or parametrial, and pelvic lymph node involvements and accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated in each sequence distinctly and was compared with the pathology findings and full standard protocol using post-contrast multiphasic contrast-enhanced series. RESULTS: Deep myometrial invasion in EC cases was detected in 38.5% by T2-DWI and 37.2% by pathology. The pathology diagnosed cervical, serosal, and vaginal involvements and pelvic lymph node metastases in 20.5%, 7.7%, 6.4% and 11.5% of cases respectively, while the numbers for T2-DWI were 26.9%, 7.7%, 7.7%, and 15.4%, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of T2-DWI in the diagnosis of myometrial invasion were 93.5%, 93.1%, 93.8%, 90%, and 93.8%, respectively. A slightly higher Kappa coefficient of DWI (0.973) in the diagnosis of myometrial invasion was identified compared to T2 (0.946). The T2-DWI technique had a 52.6% intraclass correlation coefficient in the diagnosis of IA stage. CONCLUSION: The simultaneous consideration of T2 and DWI technique may signify a noninvasive, rapid, safe, and accurate approach for precisely assessing myometrial invasion and EC staging. Elimination of intravenous contrast material result in prevention of contrast related side effects beside significant cost reduction for health care systems and patients with a comparable result to contrast enhanced MRI.

A sensitive sensor based on molecularly imprinted polypyrrole on reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode for nevirapine analysis.

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor was offered for nevirapine (NVP) analysis based on the electropolymerization of pyrrole (Py) on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ErGO) immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were applied to characterize the proposed sensor (MIP/ErGO/GCE). The electrochemical operation of this sensor for NVP analysis was tested using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) methods in an alkaline medium. The prepared MIP/ErGO/GCE exhibited better analytical performance than other modified electrodes toward NVP detection. The offered sensor depicted a linearity range between 0.005 µM and 400 µM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2 nM under optimal conditions. Notably, the offered sensor illustrated excellent selectivity, good reproducibility, acceptable repeatability, and reliable long-term performance. These experiments depicted the constructed sensor as a favorable and good sensing element towards NVP monitoring in pharmaceutical and serum samples.

Introduction of a thrombin sensor based on its interaction with dabigatran as an oral direct thrombin inhibitor.

Dabigatran (DAB) is a direct thrombin inhibitor used for preventing blood clots and emboli after orthopedic surgery. The DAB - thrombin interaction was followed by fluorescence and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. The binding of DAB to thrombin was also modeled by the molecular docking method. The obtained experimental results were consistent with theoretical results. The voltammetric method was also tested for DAB - thrombin interaction. Based on voltammetric findings, carbon paste electrode containing graphite powder, paraffin oil, MWCNTs, and DAB was constructed and used for thrombin monitoring after investigation of the DAB oxidation mechanism for the first time. The decrease in the linear sweep voltammetric (LSV) peak current of DAB in the presence of thrombin was utilized for the thrombin analysis. The calibration plot was linear in the concentration range of 1 to 70 nM (R2 = 0.9992) by LSV technique with a detection limit of 0.3 nM. The applicability of the proposed sensor was evaluated by the determination of thrombin in human serum as a real sample.

Enzyme-less amperometric sensor manufactured using a Nafion-LaNiO3 nanocomposite for hydrogen peroxide.

In the present study, an enzyme-less amperometric sensor based on Nafion (NF) and a LaNiO3 (LNO) nanocomposite was constructed for H2O2 detection. LNO from the perovskite group was mixed with NF as an effective solubilizing and stabilizing agent that was used as a novel modifier for modification of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The designed sensor showed a desirable electrocatalytic response toward H2O2 reduction. The calibration curve revealed two linear portions in the concentration ranges of 0.2-50 µM and 50-3240 µM, and the detection limit was 0.035 µM. The accuracy of the interference-free sensor was checked by recovery analysis in serum samples.

Fluorescence detection of laccases activity by the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process.

Laccases play a vital role in some physiological processes, for example in morphogenesis, carbon cycle, and defense against parasitism. So, designing a high-sensitivity accurate method is essential for researchers. In this study, a simple fluorescence method based on the function of carbon nitride (g-C3N4) by dopamine is synthesized. For the design of this sensor, carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is initially synthesis by using a simple method, which is carried out by heating melamine at 550 °C for 3 h and modifying it with dopamine by a linker such as glutaraldehyde. However, the g-C3N4-Dopa produced by this method, with an excitation wavelength of 330 nm, has a fluorescence emission at 466 nm. When laccase and g-C3N4-Dopa were mixed, dopamine with redox property was oxidized to dopaquinone; this causes the phenomenon of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process between g-C3N4 and the dopaquinone. Hence, fluorescence quenching occurs due to this phenomenon. As a result of these discussions, a sensor for the laccase activity was designed based on the fluorescence quenching degree, supporting a linear range of 0.0-400.0 U L-1 with the detection limit of 2.0 U L-1. Using this sensor, the activity of the laccase enzyme in the human serum samples is measured. Dopamine-functionalized carbon nitride was prepared and utilized for the highly sensitive detection of laccases activity.

Naegleria species population found in pond water of parks in Mashhad city, Can the physicochemical factors affect it?

Naegleria species are the ubiquitous free-living amoebas that are found worldwide in soil and water. Among Naegleria spp., N. fowleri can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Ninety water samples were collected from the pond of parks. Also, the water quality parameters were measured at the sampling site (such as temperature, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC) and Turbidity). After filtering, the samples were cultured on Bacto-agar enriched with Escherichia coli. A PCR assay was conducted on the culture-positive samples in the ITS1, 5.8SrDNA and ITS2 regions, and then the PCR products were sequenced. The pond water of parks was contaminated with some Naegleria spp. (except N. fowleri) and a Vahlkampfia avara. There was no significant relationship between water quality parameters and the presence of Naegleria (p > 0.05). Our protocol investigates to detect Naegleria spp. from ponds water of parks in Mashhad city and the relations between the water quality parameters and its presence.

A novel voltammetric sensor for nevirapine, based on modified graphite electrode by MWCNs/poly(methylene blue)/gold nanoparticle.

In the present study, a graphite electrode (GE) modified by conductive film (containing functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs), poly methylene blue p(MB) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)) was introduced for determination of nevirapine (NVP) as an anti-HIV drug by applying the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique. Modification of the electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS). All electrochemical effective parameters on detection of NVP were optimized and the oxidation peak current of drug was used for its monitoring. The obtained results confirmed that the oxidation peak currents increased linearly by increasing in NVP concentrations in the range of 0.1-50 µM and a detection limit of 53 nM was achieved. The proposed sensor (AuNPs/p(MB)/f-MWCNTs/GE) was successfully applied for the determination of NVP in blood serum and pharmaceutical samples. It revealed the excellent stability, repeatability and reproducibility as well.