Curcumin and nano-curcumin applications in psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric disorders cause long-lasting disabilities across different age groups. While various medications are available for mental disorders, some patients do not fully benefit from them or experience treatment resistance. The pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders involves multiple mechanisms, including an increase in the inflammatory response. Targeting inflammatory mechanisms has shown promise as a therapeutic approach for these disorders. Curcumin, known for its anti-inflammatory properties and potential neuroprotective effects, has been the subject of studies investigating its potential as a treatment option for psychiatric disorders. This review comprehensively examines the potential therapeutic role of curcumin and its nanoformulations in psychiatric conditions, including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders. There is lack of robust clinical trials across all the studied psychiatric disorders, particularly bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. More studies have focused on MDD. Studies on depression indicate that curcumin may be effective as an antidepressant agent, either alone or as an adjunct therapy. However, inconsistencies exist among study findings, highlighting the need for further research with improved blinding, optimized dosages, and treatment durations. Limited evidence supports the use of curcumin for bipolar disorder, making its therapeutic application challenging. Well-designed clinical trials are warranted to explore its potential therapeutic benefits. Exploring various formulations and delivery strategies, such as utilizing liposomes and nanoparticles, presents intriguing avenues for future research. More extensive clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of curcumin as a standalone or adjunctive treatment for psychiatric disorders, focusing on optimal dosages, formulations, and treatment durations.

A Study of Heavy Metal Status and its Relationship with Hematologic and Biochemical Indices in River Buffaloes in Southwest Iran.

Heavy metals are among the most important environmental pollutants which accumulate in various organs and are associated with several toxic effects. This study was performed to determine the status of heavy metals in river buffaloes in Khuzestan province, Iran, and its relationship with hematologic and serum biochemical parameters. A total of 103 apparently healthy buffaloes were sampled from the region. The concentration of heavy metals, including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd), was determined in serum samples by atomic spectroscopy. In addition, complete blood counts and serum biochemical profiles were assessed. The serum concentration of Cd, Pb, and Hg in the sampled buffaloes, as mean±standard error, were 0.55±0.01, 6.51±0.10, and 6.28±0.09 µg/l, respectively, which are within the permissible serum levels in the livestock. Serum Cd and Hg levels showed no significant relationship with hematologic or biochemical analytes. However, there were significant negative correlations between Pb levels and phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, as well as potassium concentrations, while serum iron was positively correlated with lead (P<0.05). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between Hg level and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity (P<0.05). Despite the fact that river buffaloes in Khuzestan spend a long time daily in the Karun River with high industrial pollution, no serum evidence of heavy metal toxicity was found in these animals. It can be suggested that river buffaloes in Khuzestan seem to be resistant to the environmental pollution caused by heavy metals. However, further studies are required to confirm this issue and identify its possible explanations.

Assessment of prestin level changes as an inner-ear biomarker in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation of serum prestin level and audiological findings in adults with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. METHODS: Audiometry and serum prestin measurements were performed at study entry (T0), at day 14 (end of treatment, T1) and at day 30 (T2). RESULTS: A total of 25 idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients and 25 healthy adults were included. The geometric mean prestin level in the case and control groups at T0 was 227.7 pg/ml and 130.5 pg/ml, respectively. The geometric mean prestin level in the case group demonstrated a downward trend at T1 and T2 (214.0 pg/ml and 180.1 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Of 17 patients with high baseline prestin levels (over 150 pg/ml), prestin levels tended to decrease in 11 patients, and 5 of them (45.5 per cent) showed good recovery. CONCLUSION: The prestin concentrations increased in two-thirds of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Future work is recommended to determine the location of injury.

MALAT1 lncRNA and Parkinson's Disease: The role in the Pathophysiology and Significance for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. PD is characterized by progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) region of brain tissue followed by the α-synuclein-based Lewy bodies' formation. These conditions are manifested by various motor and non-motor symptoms such as resting tremor, limb rigidity, bradykinesia and posture instability, cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, and emotional and memory dysfunctions. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely related to protein-coding genes and are involved in various biological processes. Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) lncRNA is involved in different pathways, including alternative splicing, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional regulation, and also interacts with RNAs as a miRNA sponge. MALAT1 is highly expressed in brain tissues and several lines of evidence suggested it is probably involved in synapse generation and other neurophysiological pathways. This narrative review discussed all aspects of MALAT1-associated mechanisms involved in the PD pathogenesis, i.e., perturbed α-synuclein homeostasis, apoptosis and autophagy, and neuro-inflammation. Lastly, the possible applications of MALAT1 as a diagnostic biomarker and its importance to developing therapeutic strategies were highlighted. The literature search was conducted using neurodegeneration, neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson's disease, lncRNA, and MALAT1 as search items in Google Scholar, Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and Scopus up to December 2021.

Evaluation of User's Satisfaction With Orthotic and Prosthetic Devices and Services in Orthotics and Prosthetics Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences.

BACKGROUND: The number of patients receiving orthotics and prosthetic services is increasing globally. A way to investigate patients' insight about services provided to them is to evaluate their satisfaction with the received services. Furthermore, incorporating patients' preferences into practice is an inseparable part of evidence-based practice. Applying such information in practice can contribute to the enhancement of the quality of services, the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, and finally, the economic growth of service centers. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patients' satisfaction with the orthotic and prosthetic devices and services provided by the orthotics and prosthetics clinic of Iran University of Medical Sciences. METHODOLOGY: In this study, 173 people referring to the orthotics and prosthetics clinic of Iran University of Medical Sciences were recruited, and their satisfaction level was examined using the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey questionnaire (OPUS) through a phone interview. FINDINGS: Concerning the devices, the mean value of total satisfaction score was 74:00±19.80 and the highest score belonged to no wear or rupture of the clothes with their devices (mean value = 4.76±0.84). In terms of services, the mean value of total satisfaction score was 72.12 ± 15.90 with the highest score belonging to the politeness of the clinic staff (mean value = 4.92±0.57). When the time point from receiving service was taken into account, the patients who received the service for less than a year showed higher satisfaction level with the service (p=0.024). Although satisfaction with the device was slightly higher among the participants who used the devices for more than a year, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of device satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: The overall satisfaction level from the devices and services was relatively high. However, the satisfaction level with the costs and coordination of the staff with the physicians showed a decline.

Assessment of Toxicity Risk of Selected Insecticides Used in Pistachio Ecosystem on Two Egg Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae).

Psix saccharicola (Mani) and Trissolcus semistriatus (Nees) are the most abundant eggs parasitoids of the stink bug, Acrosternum arabicum Wagner, in pistachio orchards and have the potential to contribute to their suppression. However, treatment of orchards with broad-spectrum insecticides may greatly reduce populations of these beneficial natural enemies. Therefore, we conducted risk assessments and evaluated sublethal impacts of two insecticides routinely used in pistachio orchards: the organophosphate fenitrothion and a formulated mixture of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and the pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin on parasitism success, emergence and sex ratio of P. saccharicola and T. semistriatus. Based on the values of their risk quotients (RQ), which are derived from toxicity data, the two insecticide products would be classified as slightly-to-moderately toxic although an alternative metric, the safety factor (SF), showed them to be highly risky. Assessments of sublethal effects on adult wasps showed that insecticide exposure significantly reduced their ability to successfully parasitize stink bug eggs, and exposure of adult females reduced the emergence, survival, and proportion of females of their progeny, which could disrupt biological control for an extended period of time. Analysis of the decreased emergence and parasitism for P. saccharicola and T. semistriatus in accordance with the standards of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) indicate that fenitrothion is slightly harmful to both parasitoid species whereas the mixture of thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin is moderately harmful. These findings will be useful for integrating insecticides and egg parasitoids into a comprehensive integrated pest management program for managing stink bugs populations in pistachio orchards.

Efficient bi-directional coupling of 3D Computational Fluid-Particle Dynamics and 1D Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry lung models for multiscale modeling of aerosol dosimetry.

The development of predictive aerosol dosimetry models has been a major focus of environmental toxicology and pharmaceutical health research for decades. One-dimensional (1D) models successfully predict overall deposition averages but fail to accurately predict local deposition. Computational fluid-particle dynamics (CFPD) models provide site-specific predictions but at a computational cost that prohibits whole lung predictions. Thus, there is a need for developing multiscale strategies to provide a realistic subject-specific picture of the fate of inhaled aerosol in the lungs. CT-based 3D/CFPD models of the large airways were bidirectionally coupled with individualized 1D Navier-Stokes airflow and particle transport based upon the widely used Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD). Distribution of airflows among lobes was adjusted by measured lobar volume changes observed in CT images between FRC and FRC + 1.5 L. As a test of the effectiveness of the coupling procedures, deposition modeling of previous 1 µm aerosol exposure studies was performed. The complete coupled model was run for 3 breaths, with the computation-intense portion being the 3D CFPD Lagrangian particle tracking calculation. The average deposition per breath was 11% in the combined multiscale model with site-specific doses available in the CFPD portion of the model and airway- or region-specific deposition available for the MPPD portion. In conclusion, the key methods developed in this study enable predictions of ventilation heterogeneities and aerosol deposition across the lungs that are not captured by 3D or 1D models alone. These methods can be used as the foundation for multi-scale modeling of the full respiratory system.

Isolated carbapenem resistant bacteria, their multidrug resistant profile, percentage of healthcare associated infection and associated mortality, in hospitalized patients in a University Hospital in Bratislava.

OBJECTIVES: The absence of clinical studies in Slovakia on carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and P. aeruginosa, makes planning and treatment strategies challenging and less effective. Our aim is to provide new clinical data on the percentage of healthcare-associated infection, antibiotic resistance profile, and mortality risk associated with these carbapenem-resistant bacteria in our department. METHODS: An observational, prospective, cross-sectional study was performed for a period of 15 months. Strain identification was performed after classical isolation and bio-chemical and cultivation methods. Antibiotic testing results were interpreted according to EUCAST guideline. RESULT: Associated mortality risk was the highest in patients diagnosed with A. baumannii. The urinary tract was the most common site of isolation in all the three types of bacteria. Colistin was shown to be the most potent antibiotic among all the three types of bacteria, followed by aminoglycoside for K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa and ampicillin-sulbactam for A. baumannii. CONCLUSION: A. baumannii poses the biggest challenge in the treatment and management of infected patients in our centre in Bratislava. Cephalosporins of the second to fourth generation, quinolones, tetracyclines, and cotrimoxazole are widely ineffective in the treatment of isolated bacteria. Reintroduction of colistin, despite its drug toxicity, can be considered as the last resort treatment I (Tab. 4, Fig. 4, Ref. 30).

Effects of dietary antioxidants on glucose and insulin responses to glucose tolerance test in transition dairy cows.

Oxidative stress occurs during the transition period and causes insulin resistance, which may be reduced by the use of antioxidants in this period. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein dairy cows, at 8 wk before parturition, were divided into 4 equal groups, namely control (Ctrl), vitamin E (VE), selenium (Se), and vitamin E plus selenium (VE + Se) groups. On a daily basis, VE and Se cows received dietary 1.5 IU vitamin E/kg BW and 0.3 mg/kg DM selenium, respectively, from 8 wk before to 3 wk after parturition. Vitamin E plus selenium group received doses similar to VE and Se groups. Insulin sensitivity was evaluated through intravenous glucose tolerance test (ivGTT) at weekly intervals from 3 wk before to 3 wk after parturition. Serum concentrations of total antioxidant status (TAS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), and beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) were assayed weekly before the commencement of ivGTT. Based on the results of ivGTT, the lowest and the highest degrees of insulin sensitivity were detected in Ctrl and VE + Se groups, respectively. The highest and the lowest concentrations of NEFA and BHBA were observed in Ctrl and VE + Se groups, respectively. Total antioxidant status, SOD, and GPx values were significantly lower in Ctrl cows and significantly higher in VE + Se-received cows compared with other groups. However, MDA values in Ctrl and VE + Se cows were significantly higher and lower than the other groups, respectively. Collectively, our results show that dietary administration of vitamin E and selenium ameliorates oxidative stress and lipid mobilization and increases insulin sensitivity in transition cows.

Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Two Commercial Insecticides on Egg Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) of Green Stink Bugs (Hem: Pentatomidae).

Pistacia vera L. is one of the most important horticultural crops in Iran. The stink bugs Acrosternum arabicum and Brachynema germari are two of the key pests that cause significant direct and indirect damage on Pistacia vera. Egg parasitoids have been considered as potential biological control agents of pistachio green stink bugs. Among them, Trissolcus semistriatus and Psix saccharicola are the most abundant and efficient parasitoid for A. arabicum in pistachio orchards. In this study, we assessed lethal and sublethal effects of two commonly used insecticide products (fenitrothion and a binary mixture of lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam) on these two parasitoid wasps under laboratory conditions. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values for fenitrothion and thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin in P. saccharicola and T. semistriatus were estimated as 1.03, 0.48 and 0.87, 0.98 mg a.i./liter, respectively. In terms of sublethal effects, insecticide treatments altered the type of functional response from type III to type II in T. semistriatus. However, P. saccharicola exhibited a type II functional to density of A. arabicum for all treatments, although attack rates were lower for insecticide-exposed wasps while handling times increased. Our results show that sublethal effects of insecticides further reduce the efficacy of biological control agents. Effective integrated pest management programs should avoid antagonistic interactions between chemical and biological control methods. The results of this study provide useful information to develop comprehensive integrated pest management programs for stink bugs in pistachio orchards.

Comparing the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in hearing-impaired children with normal-hearing peers.

OBJECTIVES: The most important aspect of hearing loss is its effect on the communication abilities of individuals. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in hearing-impaired (HI) children with normal-hearing (NH) peers. METHODS: A total of 130 children (65 children with severe-to-profound hearing loss and 65 NH peers) participated in this cross-sectional study from November 2013 to May 2014. ADHD Rating Scale IV questionnaires were given to children's parents to collect data. Descriptive and analytical analyses were used in order to achieve the objectives of the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the HI children and NH peers was 14.1 and 13.3 years, respectively. In the case group, 52 children suffered from congenital hearing loss and 10 children had acquired hearing loss. In total, 19 cases (29.2%) and eight controls (12.3%) were diagnosed with ADHD. This difference was statistically significant (P=0.017). The prevalence of ADHD in children with hereditary or acquired hearing loss was 30.7% and 20.0%, respectively. However, this difference was not significant (P=0.71). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ADHD in school-aged children with hearing loss is higher than that in the general population of the same age. We could not find significant differences between the different subgroups due to the small sample size. Therefore, we recommend a further larger study to determine the interaction between hearing loss and ADHD.

Association of vitamin D, retinol and zinc deficiencies with stunting in toddlers: findings from a national study in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of serum levels of 25(OH)D3 (vitamin D), retinol (vitamin A) and zinc with stunting in a large sample of Iranian toddlers. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 4261 children, aged 10-36 months, who had Iranian birth certificates were included in the present study. Weight and height were measured by experienced professionals in accordance with standard protocols. Stunting was defined as a height-for-age z-score of <-1 standard deviation (SD) based on the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (the WHO Child Growth Standards median). Serum levels of 25(OH)D3, retinol and zinc were examined based on standard methods. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants was 19.2 ± 8.4 months. A significant inverse association was found between serum retinol concentrations and the odds of stunting such that after controlling for potential confounders, toddlers in the highest quartile of serum retinol levels had 29% lower odds of stunting than those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR]: 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53-0.97). Furthermore, a significant inverse association was found between serum levels of retinol and stunting in girls (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.94), urban toddlers (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.99) and those who did not use nutritional supplements (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52-0.95). Although serum 25(OH)D3 levels were not significantly associated with stunting in the overall study population, we found a positive association among toddlers who used nutritional supplements. No significant association was found between serum levels of zinc and stunting. CONCLUSION: We found a significant inverse association between serum levels of retinol and stunting in toddlers aged 10-36 months.

In vitro therapeutic effect of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom on tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii.

Pyrimethamine which is a main anti-Toxoplasma gondii drug has a serious side and toxic effects on the host. Accordingly, the development of new treatment options for toxoplasmosis with less toxic effects, low teratogenicity and parasiticidal effect against the various stage of T. gondii are dramatically crucial. Currently, natural molecules from scorpion and snake venoms are widely used as an alternative treatment against human disease, these compounds considered to be safe and to have low toxicity in comparison with synthetic drugs. Therefore, the goal of our study was to investigate the anti-Toxoplasma gondii activities of Hemiscorpius lepturus venom. We measured cytotoxicity of H. lepturus whole venom on Vero cells as well as effectiveness of this compound on viability of T. gondii applying colorimetric assay, according to mitochondrial oxidation of the MTT reagent (Methylthiazol tetrazolium 98%). The results of this study indicated that the H. lepturus whole venom has an anti-Toxoplasma effects with less toxic effect on Vero cells. Also, the T. gondii tachyzoites were treated with H. lepturus venom reached better results in comparison with Pyrimethamine-treated group. This research will serve as a base for future studies on toxoplasmosis and suggest a role for scorpion venom in promoting natural drugs.

Inferring Biological Control Potential of Adult Predatory Coccinellids Using Life History Traits and Putative Habitat Preference.

Aspects of the nutritional ecology and life histories of five predatory coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)-two arboreal predator species, Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menetries) and Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus), and three herbaceous dwelling predator species, Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptica (Reiche), Exochomus nigripennis (Erichson), and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)-were compared when fed either Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae), the key psylla pest of pistachio trees, or Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a common aphid on herbaceous plants in pistachio orchards. The putative habitat preferences of four of the five coccinellids studied were consistent with their performance on the major herbivore present in those two habitats in terms of net reproductive rate. Oenopia conglobata contaminata and Ad. bipunctata showed higher net reproductive rates when fed on pistachio psylla prey, whereas C. undecimpunctata aegyptiaca and E. nigripennis had better reproductive output on aphid prey. Moreover, E. nigripennis was the most specialized of these generalist predators, eating more and reproducing better when fed aphids. Hippodamia variegata was relatively unaffected by the diet offered, suggesting greater ability to switch among herbivore prey and perhaps better potential as a biocontrol agent with abilities to exploit Ag. pistaciae without large life history tradeoffs.

Food Utilization, Development, and Reproductive Performance of Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Feeding on an Aphid or Psylla Prey Species.

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the effect of two prey species, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae) and Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on the biology, reproduction, and food consumption indices of Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Both species of prey were readily consumed by C. septempunctata larvae and adults. The predator was able to successfully utilize the psylla prey for larval development, but failed to lay eggs when fed this prey. However, A. gossypii fully supported both development and reproduction of C. septempunctata. Dry mass of ingested food was similar on both diets for each larval instar. However, the dry mass gained during each stadium for C. septempunctata was significantly greater with A. gossypii prey. The aphid diet was superior to the psylla diet in terms of food conversion efficiency as larvae consumed aphids more efficiently than psyllas, regardless of the higher consumption index on the psylla prey. Our results confirm that the study of prey suitability for larvae and adult stages of predatory lady beetles should be studied separately.

Identification and Determination of the Geographical Distribution of Freshwater Snails in Lorestan, Iran.

Snails are creatures present in various ecosystems that, in addition to being present in human surroundings, some of them are also important in veterinary medicine and medicine as the intermediate hosts of Digenean trematodes. The present study was conducted to identify and determine the geographical distribution of freshwater snails and investigate the relationship of variables, such as season and geographical region, with snail species and dispersion in Lorestan in the west of Iran. A total of 4400 samples of freshwater snails were collected using the multistage sampling method (i.e., stratified, cluster, and randomized) from 110 points in five geographical regions in four seasons and then identified based on their morphological characteristics by diagnostic keys. The ArcGIS software (version 10.3) was used to evaluate the spatial distribution of the freshwater snails. In this study, seven species of freshwater snails were identified in six families belonging to six genera, namely Melanopsis doriae (6.30% of the variation in species), Theodoxus doriae (5.55%), Bithynia tentaculata (43.22%, the dominant species), Physa acuta (24.98%), Lymnaea truncatula (9.75%), Gyraulus euphraticus (8.18%), and Lymnaea gedrosiana (2.02%). The geographic distribution of freshwater snails was recorded across five regions in 22 points per region for every season. The spatial distribution maps showed that the distribution of freshwater snails varies according to region and season (P&lt;0.001). The obtained results revealed the effects of season and geographical region on the distribution and population density of snails in the province. These data can be used for the implementation of control programs against parasitic diseases in the region, including trematodes.

Predator performance: inferring predator switching behaviors based on nutritional indices in a coccinellid-psylla-aphid system.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the nutritional ecology of predatory coccinellids is important for the selection of efficient biocontrol agents. We examined five species common in pistachio orchards and determined their nutritional indices when fed on the key psylla pest of the system, Agonoscena pistaciae, in contrast to an alternative prey common on herbaceous plants in orchards, Aphis gossypii. RESULTS: Feeding experiments revealed that Oenopia conglobata contaminata and Adalia bipunctata may be more efficient as biocontrol agents for A. pistaciae than for A. gossypii, as A. bipunctata had a high efficiency of conversion of ingested food and a high relative growth rate and O. conglobata contaminata had a high consumption index on psylla prey. In contrast, the nutritional indices of Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptica, Hippodamia variegata and Exochomus nigripennis suggest that A. gossypii was a more suitable host food. CONCLUSION: Where both the psyllids and the aphids occur in pistachio orchards, especially under conditions of unlimited access to A. gossypii, C. undecimpunctata aegyptica, H. variegata and E. nigripennis may prefer to move from psylla-infested leaves of pistachio trees and travel to and stay on weeds to feed on A. gossypii. The value of using nutritional ecology as a means of understanding and predicting biocontrol outcomes and selecting better candidates for mass rearing is discussed. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cloning and Expression of Immunogenic Regions of EMA-1 Gene of Theileria equi From Infected Horses.

Diversity among the pathogenic strains of Theileria equi (T. equi), a major agent of equine piroplasmosis, can affect the appropriate detection of parasite and host immunization. Production of recombinant surface proteins from an infected horse in natural endemic area provides a reliable tool for immunodiagnosis of parasite. Regarding this, the present study was targeted toward the cloning, expression, and purification of the immunogenic regions of equine merozoite antigen 1 (EMA-1 gene), as one of the most important immunodominant surface proteins in T. equi, from naturally infected horses in Iran. The immunogenic region of EMA-1 gene was amplified using the blood of infected horses. EMA-1 gene was cloned into pET26b vector. Then, recombinant plasmids (pET 26b-EMA-1) were transformed into competent E. coli BL21 (DE3) cells. Cloning was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction enzyme assays, and DNA sequence analysis. The recombinant protein was expressed using isopropyl &beta;-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside as an inducer, purified using nickle-nitrilotriacetic acid column, and then confirmed by 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and dot blot analysis utilizing Anti-His Tag antibody. Furthermore, the immunoreactivity of recombinant protein against the serum of the infected horses was evaluated using dot blot analysis. The PCR product analysis showed a 750-bp band belonging to immunogenic regions of EMA-1 gene. Sequence analysis revealed that cloned EMA-1 and protein had 94% and 97% homology to EMA-1 sequences submitted to GenBank from different countries, respectively. Restriction enzyme and sequence analyses confirmed the subcloning and correction of the orientation of inserted gene. The SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the expression of EMA-1 protein with a 28-kDa band. The results of the dot blot analysis revealed that the horse serum containing antibody against T. equi could react with the purified recombinant protein. Purified EMA-1 protein can be used as a reliable tool for the future development of diagnostic tests or vaccines.

Thermosensitive in situ nanocomposite of rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate as an intranasal delivery system: Development, characterization, ex vivo permeation and cellular studies.

Intranasal administration of pharmaceutical compounds is gaining considerable attention as an alternative route for localized/systemic drug delivery. However, insufficient therapeutic efficacy of drugs via this route seems to be a major challenge for development of de novo intranasal formulations. This shortcoming can be overcome by simultaneous utilization of a nanoparticulate delivery system with a polymeric gel network. Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to develop erodible in-situ gel forming systems of poloxamer 407® (P407) as a promising platform, capable of prolonging rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate (RHT) release from the embedded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs). PLGA NPs containing RHT were formulated and characterized, then were embedded in P407 gel forming matrix and analyzed in terms of viscosity, stability, gelation temperature, loading efficiency and mucoahesive behavior. The cytotoxicity of NPs was evaluated on A549 cell line using MTT assay. Cellular uptake of the NPs was also measured by means of fluorescence microcopy and flow cytometry analyses. The formulations were finally evaluated for their permeability across sheep nasal mucosa. A linear dependence of sol-gel temperature (Tsol-gel) on the P407 concentration was observed, and a P407 content of 18% was selected. The loading efficiencies of formulations were found to be around 100.22-104.31%. The RHT-loaded NPs showed a suitable cytocompatibility on A549 cells with a time-dependent increase in cellular uptake. Besides, nanocomposites showed higher amounts of drug permeation through nasal sheep mucosa than plain drug gel. Taken all, it is concluded that the formulated nanocomposites may be considered as useful drug delivery systems for the nasal delivery of RHT with enhanced therapeutic efficacy.