Impact of Pilates suspension with self-awareness on gait and metacognition in multiple sclerosis: Randomized, single-blinded and parallel-group trial.

BACKGROUND: Exercise and self-awareness are popular in the management of people with MS (pwMS). The combination of these techniques for diminishing mental and cognitive imparements doesn't apply. Since the capacity to monitor one's mind and maintain balance and efficient mobility is fundamental for carrying out the daily affairs of pwMS, in this study we assess the effect of Pilates Suspension with Self-awareness on Gait and Metacognition of pwMS. We also evaluate whether metacognition is trainable and, if so, which component of self-awareness (mental and physical) would be instrumental in this improvement. METHOD: Twenty-four female PwMS who scored 2-6.5 on the EDSS were homogeneously divided into two intervention groups [one received pilates suspension training (PST) with Benson relaxation (PSBR), and the other received PST with Jacobson's progressive muscle relaxation (PSJR)] and one control group for 7 consecutive weeks. Relaxation training was used as a means to self-awareness. Due to the coronavirus pandemic around the world during the research process, baseline and postintervention tests and training sessions were held online. Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30), outcome measures were collected before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Analysis of group data revealed significant improvement between baseline and intervention phases for Dynamic Gate Index (p = 0.002 for Benson relaxation and p = 0.001 for Jacobson's progressive muscle) and Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (p = 0.02 for Benson relaxation and p = 0.002 for Jacobson's progressive muscle). CONCLUSIONS: With regard to multidimensional disorders of pwMS, a combined training protocol is recommended for pwMS.

Bacteria-templated ZIF-8 embedded in polyacrylonitrile nanofibers as a novel sorbent for thin film microextraction of benzoylurea insecticides.

In the present work, the rod-like ZIF-8 (ZIF8@E coli) was prepared by fast, easy and environmentally friendly method of biomimetic mineralization with Escherichia coli bacteria as a bio-template and was exploited for the first time in the microextraction. In this regard, electrospun nanofiber mats of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and ZIF8@E coli were prepared by electrospinning method and used as a new sorbent for thin film microextraction (TFME) of benzoylurea insecticides such as Hexaflumuron and Teflubenzuron as model analytes. The PAN/ZIF8@E coli nanocomposite was characterized using electron scanning microscopy and various spectroscopy techniques. Factors affecting the proposed extraction method were screened and optimized using the experiment design strategy. Then, the model analytes were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detector after microextraction. Satisfactory figures of merit were obtained for suggested TFME-HPLC-UV under optimum conditions. The suitable linearity varied in the range of 0.5-200 µg L-1 with R2 greater than 0.9968. The limit of detections for Hexaflumuron and Teflubenzuron were 0.12 and 0.15 µg L-1, respectively. The application of the method in the real sample was investigated by analyzing the selected analytes in environmental water and food samples. The spiking recovery of the selected analytes varied in the range of 93.0-109.8 % (RSD≤7.68). The results confirm the efficient application of this new sorbent in TFME approach. Considering the high availability, ease of production, and environmental friendliness of bacteria along with the significant improvement of metal-organic framework (MOF) growth efficiency, biomimetic mineralization is expected to be efficient method for the synthesis of ordered MOFs for use in extraction fields.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Pseudomonas canadensis, and its antivirulence effects against Pseudomonas tolaasii, mushroom brown blotch agent.

This study reports the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a Pseudomonas canadensis Ma1 strain isolated from wild-growing mushrooms. Freshly prepared cells of P. canadensis Ma1 incubated at 26-28 °C with a silver nitrate solution changed to a yellowish brown color, indicating the formation of AgNPs, which was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. SEM analysis showed spherical nanoparticles with a distributed size mainly between 21 and 52 nm, and the XRD pattern revealed the crystalline nature of AgNPs. Also, it provides an evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs against Pseudomonas tolaasii Pt18, the causal agent of mushroom brown blotch disease. AgNPs were found to be bioactive at 7.8 µg/ml showing a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) effect against P. tolaasii Pt18 strain. AgNPs at the MIC level significantly reduced virulence traits of P. tolaasii Pt18 such as detoxification of tolaasin, various motility behavior, chemotaxis, and biofilm formation which is important for pathogenicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that bacterial cells treated with AgNPs showed a significant structural abnormality. Results showed that AgNPs reduced brown blotch symptoms in vivo. This research demonstrates the first helpful use of biosynthesized AgNPs as a bactericidal agent against P. tolaasii.

Credible Serological Evidence of Latent Toxoplasma Infection Among Women with Primary Infertility: A Ten-Year Registry-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Some evidence reveled that chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) has recently been associated with infertility in human and experimental model. This baseline study aimed to investigate serological evidence of Toxoplasma infection among infertile women who admitted to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran province, Sari, northern Iran. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective (descriptive-analytical) study, all infertile women referred to the IVF clinic during 2010-2019 (10 years), constitute the study population. All data including demographic and some related characteristics were collected into a questionnaire and registered at the Iranian National Registry Center for Toxoplasmosis (INRCT) at the Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, northern Iran. The existence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM) was explored using a commercially available enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kit (PishtazTeb, Iran), based on the manufacturer's protocol. RESULTS: Of 520 infertile women, anti-T. gondii IgG, IgM and both IgG and IgM antibodies were detected among 342/520 (65.77%), 1/520 (0.19) and 4/520 (0.77) infertile women, respectively. Primary and secondary infertility was detected in 74.56% and 25.44% of IgG seropositive infertile women, respectively. Also, most of the IgG seropositive subjects had no history of abortion, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO), fibroma, contraceptive use and varicocele in spouse as primary cause of infertility. Furthermore, serum levels of prolactin and antimullerian (AMH) hormones were normal in 81.29 and 80.12% of infertile women with anti- T. gondii IgG, respectively. There was also a statistically significant difference between the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and these variables associated to primary infertility (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the high prevalence (about two thirds) of chronic T. gondii infection among infertile women, particularly those with a history of abortion and primary infertility, it can be concluded that latent Toxoplasma infection pose a risk to infertile woman in the study area. Therefore, we advise that screening and treatment of Toxoplasma infection among infertile women must be favorably considered.

Differentiation of Human Wharton Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Germ-Like Cells; emphasis on evaluation of Germ-long non-coding RNAs.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation and differentiation of stem cells into Germ-Like Cells (GLCs) is mediated by several growth factors and specific genes, of which some are related to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). We have developed a modified differentiation process and identified a panel of GermlncRNAs related to GLCs. METHODS: Human Wharton Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells were treated with 25 ng/ml Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP)-4 and 10- 5 M all-trans retinoic acid to differentiate them into germ-like cells. To confirm the differentiation, changes in the expression of Oct-4, C-kit, Stella, and Vasa genes were assessed using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) and immunocytochemistry. QPCR was also used before and after differentiation to evaluate the changes in a lncRNA panel, using a 96-well array. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by SPSS 21. RESULTS: After 21 days of induction, the HWJ-MSCs derived germ-like cells were formed. Also, qPCR and immunocytochemistry showed that the pluripotent Oct4 marker was expressed in the undifferentiated HWJ-MSCs, but its expression gradually decreased in the differentiated cells. C-kit was expressed on days 7, 14, and 21 of differentiation. Both GLC markers of Stella and Vasa genes/proteins were present only in differentiated cells. Of the 44 lncRNA genes array, 36 of them showed an increase and eight genes showed a decrease. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that BMP4 and RA are effective in inducing HWJ-MSCs differentiation into GLCs. In addition, our study for the first time showed changes in the lncRNAs expression during the differentiation of HWJ-MSCs into GLCs by using BMP4 and RA.

Risk Factors for Intra-operative Bleeding in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in an Academic Center: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the treatment of choice for renal stones as a safe, effective, and minimally invasive method. However, bleeding remains a major concern in the procedure. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of bleeding in PNL. Methods: This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Urology department of Razi hospital. The data of patients with urinary calculi staghorn type who underwent PNL in a prone position under general anesthesia were recorded. A checklist including patients' demographics, surgical characteristics, and outcomes was filled out for each patient. Results: The data from 151 complete files were gathered. The mean age of the cases was 47.89 ± 12.41 years. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) drop was 1.92 ± 1.56 mg/dL. At least 1 mg/dL Hb drop was observed in all cases. The highest Hb drop was 3 mg/dL.). There was no significant relationship between stone bulk, age, BMI, GFR, surgery duration, and the number of tracts, and Hb drop during PNL (P > 0.05). But there was a positive correlation between Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) history (P = 0.01) and transfusion (P = 0.0001) and Hb drop during PNL. Also, the history of open kidney surgery (P = 0.031), nephrostomy insertion (P = 0.003), and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy therapy (ESWL) (P = 0.041) were correlated with the increased risk of Hb drop. Conclusions: Urinary tract infection, history of open surgery, nephrostomy implantation, and ESWL were significantly associated with more bleeding in PNL.

Cytokeratin7 expression in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma: Correlation with prognostic factors.

BACKGROUND: Gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma are the second and the fifth most common cancers in Iran, respectively. Expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7) is established in most malignancies including gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma. Demonstration of Ck7 could be related to prognostic factors and help to the better management of the patients. The objective of our study was to evaluate the CK7 expression in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma and its correlation with other prognostic factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 99 tissue blocks from patients with gastric or colorectal adenocarcinoma undergoing surgery. Tumor grade, tumor size, depth of invasion and metastasis to lymph nodes were determined. Then, the expression of CK7 was studied using immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: Expression of CK7 was 50% and 33.8% in gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma, respectively. There was not only a significant correlation between CK7 expression and tumor size (r=0.267, P=0.009) but also histologic grade (r=0.222, P=0.028). CONCLUSION: CK7 could be more expressed with the increase in tumor size and was associated with poorly differentiated gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma. However, with these results gathered, it is highly recommended that further studies will be conducted to reveal the exact prognostic role of this factor.