Green synthesis of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide and Silver Nanoparticles in Satureja hortensis Leave Extract: Evaluation of Antifungal Effects on Botryosphaeriaceae Species.

In recent years, green synthesis methods of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been attractive because of the more facile, cheaper, and appropriate features associated with biomolecules in MNPs biosynthesis. This research represented an easy, fast, and environmentally friendly method to biosynthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the Satureja hortensis leaf extract as stabilizer and reducer. The SPIONPs synthesized in co-precipitation method. The biosynthesized SPIONPs and AgNPs were studied their antifungal effects against three Botryosphaeriaceae plant pathogens, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia seriata, and Neofusicoccum parvum. UV-visible spectra (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (Fe-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses were used to evaluate the physicochemical properties and verify the formation of green synthesized SPIONPs and AgNPs. UV-Vis spectra revealed absorption peaks at 243 and 448 nm for SPIONs and 436 nm for AgNPs, respectively. Microscopic and XRD analysis showed that SPIONPs and AgNPs was found spherical in shape with an average particle size of SPIONPs and AgNPs 10 and 12 nm, respectively. The antifungal test against Botryosphaeriaceae species showed that SPIONPs and AgNPs possess antifungal properties against B. dothidea, D. seriata, and N. parvum. However, AgNPs exhibits greater antifungal activity than SPIONPs. The results of the cytotoxicity tests of SPIONs and AgNPs on the MCF-7 cell line showed that AgNPs was significantly more cytotoxic towards the MCF-7 cell line, whereas no significant cytotoxic effect was recorded by SPIONs. Therefore, these biosynthesized MNPs could be substituted for toxic fungicides that are extensively applied in agriculture and contribute to environmental health and food safety.

Foliar-applied silicate potassium modulates growth, phytochemical, and physiological traits in Cichorium intybus L. under salinity stress.

One of the major problems endangering plant growth and productivity worldwide is salt stress. This study aimed to assess the effects of potassium silicate (K2O3Si) on the physical, biochemical, and morphological characteristics of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) under various levels of salinity stress. The plants were treated with K2O3Si at concentrations of 0, 1, 2, and 3 mM and cultivated under different salt stress conditions (0, 80, 160, and 240 mM NaCl). The findings revealed that salt stress led to decreased root and shoot dry weights, Fv/Fm ratio, chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll, as well as inulin contents. However, foliar exposure to K2O3Si at all salinity levels resulted in improvements in the measured traits. As salinity levels increased, there was a corresponding increase in the accumulation of sodium ions (Na+) and a sharp reduction in potassium ions (K +) in the shoot. Nonetheless, treatment with K2O3Si caused a decrease in Na + accumulation and an improvement in K+ content under all salinity levels. Carotenoid content increased under 80 mM salinity stress, but decreased with higher salinity levels. Application of K2O3Si at all levels resulted in increased carotenoid content under salinity stress conditions. The content of MDA increased significantly with increasing salinity stress, particularly at 240 mM. However, foliar spraying with K2O3Si significantly decreased MDA content at all salinity levels. Salinity stress up to 160 mM increased the total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents, while 240 mM NaCl decreased the biosynthesis of phytochemicals. Additionally, the use of K2O3Si increased the content of total phenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin at all salt levels. Foliar application of K2O3Si increased the tolerance of chicory plants to salinity stress by reducing MDA and increasing phenolic compounds and potassium content. These results suggest that exogenous K2O3Si can be a practical strategy to improve the growth and yield of chicory plants exposed to saline environments.

Comparison between myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronaries (MINOCA) and myocardial infarct patients with coronary artery disease (MI-CAD): A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Background: The coronary angiography results in a group of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) are normal or near-normal; which is diagnosed as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). This study aimed to compare the mortality rate and risk factors between MINOCA and myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery (MI-CAD). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019. A total of 679 patients admitted to Afshar Hospital in Yazd with a diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from 2018-2019 who underwent primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) were enrolled in the study. Demographic, and clinical variables, ECG finding and one-year mortality, were extracted using MI registry data from the Yazd Cardiac Research Center. Results: The estimated frequency of MINOCA was 4.6%. Patients with MINOCA (47.14±6.2) were younger than patients with MI-CAD (57.61±9.1) (P <0.0001). MINOCA patients (47.4±9.47) had a considerably greater left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) than MI-CAD patients (43.5±6.8) (P =0.018). The majority site of MI in MINOCA patients was located in the non-anterior wall (p <0.0001). A comparison of MINOCA and MI-CAD patients' one-year mortality revealed no significant difference (P =0.07). Conclusion: The prevalence of patients with MINOCA in Yazd was similar to other communities. Although these patients probably do not have a better prognosis, despite being younger and having better LV systolic function and lower CAD risk factors.

Exogenously applied 5-aminolevulinic acid modulates growth, yield, and physiological parameters in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions.

Lentils are a significant source of plant protein and are cultivated across Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Plants are subjected to various environmental stresses, which can hinder growth, yield, and productivity. 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a compound that acts as a precursor in the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles and can increase plant tolerance to different abiotic stressors. However, the effects of exogenously applied ALA on lentil growth, yield, and physiological parameters under rain-fed and supplemental irrigation conditions are not well-known. In this study, a split plot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of ALA foliar application and supplemental irrigation on lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.). The experiment was designed based on a randomized complete block with three replications. The main plot included four levels of supplemental irrigation [(supplementary irrigation in the flowering and early seed-filling stages, supplementary irrigation in the flowering stage, supplementary irrigation in the early seed-filling along with rain-fed conditions (no irrigation)]. The subplot considered foliar application of ALA at varying levels [(0 (control), 50 and 100 ppm)]. The results showed that water regimes and foliar spray with ALA significantly (P Ë‚ 0.01) affected plant height, number of pods per plant, pod weight, number of seeds per pod and weight of 1000 seeds, biological yield, seed yield, and harvest index. The highest total chlorophyll content was observed in plants that were subjected to supplementary irrigation in flowering and early seed filling stages and foliar sprayed with 100 ppm ALA. The study also found that exogenous ALA improved drought tolerance in lentil plants under rain-fed conditions mainly by regulating antioxidant enzymes, which ultimately protected the cellular membranes against overproduction of H2O2. Furthermore, ALA application increased total carbohydrate contents at all supplemental irrigation levels, but the rate was higher in complementary irrigation conditions during flowering and early seed-filling stages. Malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, and proline contents were increased in field-grown plants under rain-fed conditions without exogenous ALA application. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the effects of ALA foliar spray and supplemental irrigation on lentil growth, yield, and physiological parameters. The findings suggest that exogenous ALA can improve plant tolerance to various abiotic stressors and enhance plant growth, yield, and physiological parameters.

Unraveling the influence of TiO2 nanoparticles on growth, physiological and phytochemical characteristics of Mentha piperita L. in cadmium-contaminated soil.

Among the metals contaminants, cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic elements in cultivated soils, causing loss of yield and productivity in plants. Recently, nanomaterials have been shown to mitigate the negative consequences of environmental stresses in different plants. However, little is known about foliar application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to alleviate Cd stress in medicinal plants, and their dual interactions on essential oil production. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of foliar-applied TiO2 NPs on growth, Cd uptake, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents, total phenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and POD) activity and essential oil content of Mentha piperita L. (peppermint) under Cd stress. For this purpose, plants were grown in Cd-contaminated (0, 20, 40, and 60 mg L-1) soil, and different concentrations of TiO2 NPs (0, 75, and 150 mg L-1) were foliar sprayed at three times after full establishment until the beginning of flowering. Exposure to TiO2 NPs significantly (P < 0.01) increased shoot dry weight (37.8%) and the number of lateral branches (59.4%) and decreased Cd uptake in plant tissues as compared to the control. Application of TiO2 NPs increased the content of plastid pigments, and the ratio Fv/Fm (13.4%) as compared to the control. Additionally, TiO2 NPs reduced the stress markers, MDA and H2O2 contents and enhanced the activity of the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzyme (60.5%), total phenols (56.1%), anthocyanins (42.6%), flavonoids (25.5%), and essential oil content (52.3%) in Cd-stressed peppermint compared to the control. The results also demonstrated that foliar spray of TiO2 NPs effectively improved the growth and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and reduced Cd accumulation in peppermint, which was mainly attributed to the reduction of oxidative burst and enhancement of the enzymatic (SOD, CAT, and POD) antioxidant defense system due to the uptake of NPs. The findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanism of TiO2 NPs on peppermint plants growth, physiology and secondary metabolites production in Cd-contaminated soil.

Antileishmanial, cellular mechanisms, and cytotoxic effects of green synthesized zinc nanoparticles alone and in combined with glucantime against Leishmania major infection.

BACKGROUND: We decided to investigate the antileishmanial, cellular mechanisms, and cytotoxic effects of green synthesized Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) alone and combined with glucantime against Leishmania major infection. METHODS: The effect of green synthesized ZnNP on L. major amastigote was studied through macrophage cells. The mRNA expression level of iNOS and IFN-γ followed by the exposure of J774-A1 macrophage cells to ZnNPs was assessed by Real-time PCR. The Caspase-3-like activity of promastigotes exposed to ZnNPs was studied. Effects of ZnNPs alone and combined with glucantime (MA) were studied on cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: ZnNPs displayed the spherical shape with sizes ranging from 30 to 80 nm. The obtained IC50 values for ZnNPs, MA, and ZnNPs + MA were 43.2, 26.3, and 12.6 µg/mL, respectively; indicating the synergistic effects of ZnNPs in combination with MA. CL lesions had completely improved in the mice received with ZnNPs in combination with MA. The mRNA expression level of iNOS, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was dose-dependently (p < 0.01) upregulated; whereas it was downregulated in IL-10. ZnNPs markedly stimulated the caspase-3 activation with no significant toxicity on normal cells. CONCLUSION: Based on these in vitro and in vivo results, green synthesized ZnNPs, mainly along with MA, showed that has the potential to be introduced as a new drug for CL therapy. Triggering of NO production, and inhibition of infectivity rate are revealed as mechanisms of action ZnNPs on L. major. But, supplementary investigations are necessary to clear the efficacy and safety of these agents.

Repurposing of sevelamer as a novel antidote against aluminum phosphide poisoning: An in vivo evaluation.

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is widely used for protecting grains from pests. AlP releases toxic phosphine gas (PH3) while exposed to humidity. Poisoning with these tablets is dangerous and can cause death or serious injuries. Up to now, no definite antidote has been introduced for specific treatment of this poisoning. Sevelamer carbonate or sevelamer hydrochloride (Renagel) is a polymeric pharmaceutical prescribed for treating hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Sevelamer can bind with phosphate groups and act as an anion exchanger. Herein, sevelamer is repurposed as a potent antidote agent in phosphine gas poisoning. In vivo evaluation was conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats. The evaluation was conducted on three groups of animals: control, AlP-poisoned, and AlP-poisoned treated with sevelamer. Survival percentage, serum biomarkers level of organ injury, and ATP level were recorded. The results indicate a high survival rate in sevelamer-treated animals compared with the AlP-poisoned group (75% vs. 0% respectively, 48 h after poisoning). The analysis of serum markers of organ injury also showed that sevelamer could reduce toxicity and organ injury in poisoned animals. ATP level of separate organs showed that sevelamer treated groups were recovered. The results showed that sevelamer could be a potent antidote for managing aluminum phosphide poisoning. Moreover, a mechanism is suggested for the interaction of sevelamer with phosphine gas.

Alvarado or RIPASA? Which one do you use to diagnose acute appendicitis?: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of lower abdominal pain, which is considered a general surgical emergency worldwide. The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) and Alvarado score systems in diagnosing acute appendicitis. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Shahid Sadoughi and Shahid Rahnemoon Hospitals in Yazd between September 2020 and February 2020. The statistical population consisted of all of the patients referred to the Accident and Emergency department with right iliac fossa (RIF) pain. All patients were scored using Alvarado and RIPASA scoring system. sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were computed by using SPSS statistical software. An receiver operating characteristic curve were plotted. Results: In present study, one hundred suspected patients with appendicitis who underwent appendectomy were evaluated. The mean age of our study population was 25.2 ± 12.1 years, and the gender distribution was 57% males and 43% females. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of RIPASA were 86.6%, 66.7%, 92.2%, and 52.2%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of Alvarado score were 67.1%, 72.2%, 91.7%, 32.5%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 68% for Alvarado score and 83% for RIPASA. The area under the curve for RIPASA (0.87) was more than that for Alvarado score (0.77). Conclusion: The RIPASA score system had higher sensitivity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy than the Alvarado one. It is recommended for the physician and surgeon to evaluate patients with RIF pain using the RIPASA score.

Q wave in paediatric myocarditis: an underinvestigated, readily available prognostic factor.

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis is an uncommon disease in children with potentially fatal consequences. An electrocardiogram (ECG) change seen in myocarditis is pathological Q wave. Pathological Q wave is linked to permanent damage and myocardial death in several cardiac diseases. We investigated the significance of pathological Q waves in children with acute myocarditis (AM). METHODS: This retrospective observational study analysed the data of 59 children with AM admitted to our hospital between January 2016 and July 2021. They were divided into Q wave and non-Q wave myocarditis groups. Patients' laboratory data, echocardiography, treatment and hospital outcome were analysed. RESULTS: Patients were 64.4% male and had a median age of 6 years and 9 months. Pathological Q waves were found in 52.5% of the patients. Q wave myocarditis group had higher troponin I values (499 vs. 145 ng/L, p = 0.011) and longer hospital stays (13 vs. 9 days, p = 0.020) than the non-Q wave group. They also required higher doses of inotropic or vasoactive drugs. 61.3% of Q wave patients needed mechanical ventilation compared to 35.7% of non-Q wave patients (p = 0.069). All the patients who died or discharged with an LVEF < 30% belonged to the Q wave group. CONCLUSION: Q wave in AM warrants close monitoring and intensive treatment as it accompanies more severe complications and poorer outcomes. This readily available ECG finding can be a clue to prognoses of AM patients. Further research with larger populations is needed to better understand Q wave prognostic accuracy and its potential role in guiding more expensive treatments.

Epidemiology of Drug Use in Herat - Afghanistan.

Background: Drug addiction is one of the alarming public health and social problems in Afghanistan and around the world. Addiction denotes the habitual use or the physical or mental dependence on narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. Methods: Drug addicts who were admitted to six public addicts' rehabilitation centers in Herat, Afghanistan between March and July 2019 were recruited for this descriptive study. A total of 299 drug addicts were included in this study. A 77-item questionnaire containing three subscales: 39 items for personal information, 32 items for drug use, and 6 items for dependence and treatment subscale were validated and used for data collection. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows v.22.0 was used for data analyses. Findings: The median age of the participants was 30 years. Of all participants, 79.1% were male, 56.6% were illiterate, and 1.7% were university graduates. In this study, 44.8% of the participants used heroin, 20.7% used opium and 15.4% used methamphetamine. Almost half of the participants (49.5%) declared that at least one member of their families was a drug user. Of the 299 drug users included in this study, 64.9% stated that at least one person close to them (except family members) used drugs. Over two-thirds of the participants (78.4%) had easy access to drugs, 26.8% had broken laws for money/drugs at least once. Conclusion: This study revealed that male illiterate teenagers living in low-economic nuclear families were more vulnerable to drug use in Herat, Afghanistan. The most common reasons for drug use were curiosity, peer influence, and seeking pleasure.

Hemostatic efficacy of composite polysaccharide powder (starch-chitosan) for emergency bleeding control: An animal model study.

BACKGROUND: Blood clot formation or hemostasis is vital to minimize blood loss and mitigate the risk of death from severe bleeding. This study investigates the characteristics of a novel hemostatic composite containing chemically modified chitosan and starch for emergency bleeding control. The performance of this novel hemostatic powder was compared with commercially available starch-based (Arista AH) and chitosan-based (Celox) hemostats. METHODS: Hemostatic composite was prepared according to the patent registered by the authors (Patent No. 100865, Iranian Intellectual Property Organization) in Bani Zist Baspar Healda, Inc. (Shiraz, Iran). The properties of the product were surveyed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and compared with Arista-AH and Celox as commercial counterparts. The cytocompatibility, hemolysis, platelet and red blood cells (RBCs) adhesion, biocompatibility, and biodegradability attributes were evaluated in in vivo and in vitro studies. Hemostatic efficacy was evaluated in 24 healthy 6-month-old male New Zealand white rabbits in lethal and sublethal injuries of femoral artery and veins, respectively. RESULTS: Modification and composition led to a fundamental development in physicochemical characteristics including swelling properties, water absorption, and platelet and RBC adhesion due to improved electrostatic and hydrophilic attributes. The significant superiority in clotting efficiency was confirmed after the application of the composite in 2 models of venous and arterial injury in comparison with common commercial hemostats. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous use of water-absorbing compounds and introducing positively charged functional groups to hemostatic material led to a considerable control of femoral bleeding in emergency conditions. The introduced composite was biodegradable and biocompatible and prompts RBC aggregation and platelet adhesion.

Mitral and aortic valve regurgitation following surgical and transcatheter perimembranous ventricular septal defect closure in children and adolescents: midterm outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD), either surgical or percutaneous, might improve or cause new-onset mitral regurgitation (MR) and aortic regurgitation (AR). We aimed to evaluate the changes in MR and AR after pmVSD closure by these two methods. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We performed a comparative retrospective data review of all pediatric patients with pmVSDs treated at our institution with surgical or antegrade percutaneous methods from 2014 to 2019 and 146 consecutive patients under 18 years were enrolled. We closely looked at the mitral and aortic valve function after repair. Included patients had no or lower than moderate aortic valve prolapse and baseline normal mitral or aortic valve function or less than moderate MR or AR. RESULTS: Out of 146 patients, 83 (57%) pmVSDs were closed percutaneously, and 63 (43%) pmVSDs were closed surgically. 80 and 62 patients were included for MR evaluation, and 81 and 62 patients for AR evaluation in percutaneous and surgical groups. The mean follow-up time was 40.48 ± 21.59 months in the surgery group and 20.44 ± 18.66 months in the transcatheter group. Mild to moderate degrees of MR and AR did not change or decreased in most patients. In detail, MR of 70% and AR of 50% of the valves were resolved or decreased in both groups. 13% of patients with no MR developed trivial to mild MR, and 10% of patients with no AR showed mild to moderate AR after pmVSD closure in both methods. There was no significant difference between the two methods regarding emerging new regurgitation or change in the severity of the previous regurgitation. CONCLUSION: pmVSD closure usually improves mild to moderate MR and AR to a nearly similar extent in both percutaneous and surgical methods among children and adolescents. It might lead to the onset of new MR or AR in cases with no regurgitation.

Pericardial effusion among children: Retrospective analysis of the etiology and short-term outcome in a referral center in the south of Iran.

Background and Aims: We reinvestigated the causes, symptoms, and management of childhood pericardial effusion (PE) and its gradual changes during recent years in a referral pediatric cardiology center in the south of Iran. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the profile of PE patients who were under 18 years old from 2015 to 2020. The patient's demographic, clinical, and paraclinical information was extracted and analyzed using SPSS software. Result: In general, 150 out of 63,736 admitted patients (0.23% of the total pediatric admissions) were diagnosed with PE (male/female 1:1.17). The median age was 3.25 years (range:\ 2 days to 18 years; interquartile range: 9.5), and 50% of them were under 3 years of age. 32.6% had moderate to severe PE. Most patients presented with acute symptoms (68%) and respiratory problems, as the most common symptoms (30.6%). Tamponade signs were presented in 2% (n = 3) of the patients, and 80.7% (n = 121) were in a stable hemodynamic condition. In total, renal failure (22%) and parapneumonic effusion were the leading etiologies. Viral (7%) and bacterial (5%) pericarditis were the seventh and eighth causes; however, in severe cases, renal failure (22%) and bacterial pericarditis (14%) were dominant. In total, 14.1% (n = 21) of the patients needed pericardiocentesis that increased to 78.3% (n = 18) in severe cases. Only 6% had persistent PE for more than 3 months. Conclusion: Childhood PE is mostly a result of renal failure and noninfectious causes. True pericarditis cases are not common, except in severe cases. It is more common in less than 3-year-old patients, and chronicity is rare. Severe cases had a high chance of pericardiocentesis, but other cases were mainly managed by treatment of the underlying causes.

Assessment of food-energy-environmental pollution nexus in Iran: the nonlinear approach.

Iran's agricultural production has expanded significantly in recent years. Environmental pollution caused by the use of energy and chemical fertilizers, depletion of groundwater resources, and soil erosion, on the other hand, demonstrates a lack of attention to the environmental dimension of production in this country. In addition to these issues, climate change has exacerbated the agriculture sector's difficulties. This study intends to investigate the asymmetric relationship between energy consumption, chemical fertilizer consumption, CO2 emissions, temperature changes, and production from 1961 to 2019 using the NARDL approach and Granger causality test in the frequency domain (Breitung and Candelon.). Short-term and long-term estimates revealed that the positive and negative shock effects of energy consumption on production are both positive. As a result, it was observed that the negative shock of increased energy consumption had a greater influence on agricultural output than the positive shock. In the long run, the positive shock of fertilizer use has a positive effect on and improves production. But the effect of a negative shock is insignificant. Furthermore, the negative shock of CO2 emission has a positive effect on production. Finally, positive and negative shocks in temperature changes were discovered to have an increasing and reducing influence on production. The results of the Granger causality test in the frequency domain test showed that there is a bidirectional causality relationship between energy consumption and agro-production in the long term. There is also unidirectional causality from CO2 emissions and fertilizer consumption to production and from production to climate change. According to the findings, reforming energy prices, investing in mechanized agriculture, shifting away from fossil fuel consumption towards renewable energy, and tending to green growth are all necessary to achieve multiple goals such as optimizing energy consumption, reducing environmental pollution, and improving efficiency.

Oncogenic and tumor suppressor genes expression in myeloproliferative neoplasms: The hidden side of a complex pathology.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to explore the changes in the expressions of six tumor-related genes in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The study population included 130 patients with MPNs (52 with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), 49 with essential thrombocythemia (ET), 20 with polycythemia vera (PV), and 9 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF)) and 51 healthy individuals. METHODS: The expression profiling of six genes (ADAMTS18, CMTM5, CDKN2B, DCC, FHIT, and WNT5B) in the peripheral blood granulocyte cells was explored by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The patients with MPNs showed significant downregulation of CMTM5 (EFC = 0.66) and DCC (EFC = 0.65) genes in contrast to a non-significant upregulation of ADAMTS18, CDKN2B, FHIT, and WNT5B genes. Downregulation of DCC was consistent in all subtypes of MPN (EFC range: 0.591-0.860). However, CMTM5 had a 1.22-fold upregulation in PMF in contrast to downregulation in other MPN subtypes (EFC range: 0.599-0.775). The results revealed a significant downregulation in CMTM5 and DCC at below 60-years of age. Furthermore, female patients showed a clear-cut downregulation in both CMTM5 and DCC (EFC DCC: 0.436 and CMTM5: 0.570), while male patients presented a less prominent downregulation with a borderline p-value only in DCC (EFC: 0.69; p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic myeloid leukemia cases showed a significant upregulation of WNT5B, as a known oncogenesis gene. Two tumor suppressor genes, namely DCC and CMTM5, were downregulated in the patients with MPNs, especially in females and patients below 60 years of age.

Salicylic Acid Manipulates Ion Accumulation and Distribution in Favor of Salinity Tolerance in Chenopodium quinoa.

Although the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on increasing plant growth in saline conditions have been well known, the mechanisms of induction of salinity tolerance, especially in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), are not fully understood. In the present work, two quinoa genotypes (Titicaca and Giza1) were treated with different SA concentrations (0, 0.75, and 1.5 mM) under varied irrigation water salinities (0, 7, 14, and 21 dS m-1). Salinity decreased shoot and root growth, potassium (K+) concentration, and potassium to sodium ratio (K/Na) and increased sodium (Na+) and chlorine (Cl-) concentrations in both cultivars. Calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) concentrations increased in 7 dS m-1 but decreased in higher salinities. The growth and salinity tolerance of Giza1 were higher, while the growth of Giza1 increased and of Titicaca decreased in high salinity. Salicylic acid at 0.75-mM concentration increased shoot and root growth and improved the ions concentration in favor of the plant, while the 1.5-mM concentration either had no significant effect or had a negative impact. The ions distribution estimated by K/Na selectivity and storage factor (SF) indicated quinoa accumulated more ions in roots under saline conditions. Salicylic acid increased NaSF, ClSF, and MgSF and decreased KSF and CaSF, meaning less Na+, Cl-, and Mg2+ and more K+ and Ca2+ transferred to shoots in SA-treated plants. Importantly, Giza1, as the more tolerant cultivar, had higher NaSF and ClSF and lower KSF, CaSF, and MgSF. In general, the concentrations of ions in roots were higher than in shoots. The results indicated more ions accumulation in the root could be one of the most important mechanisms of salinity tolerance in quinoa, and the more tolerant cultivar (Giza1) transferred less Na+ and Cl- and more K+ and Ca2+ and Mg2+ to the shoot.

Epidemiological data of national Kawasaki disease registry in Iran, 2007-2019.

Introduction: Kawasaki disease(KD) is a vasculitis of childhood that tends to influence the coronary arteries. There is no national data about the prevalence of KD in Iran. This study aimed to perform a national registry in Iran for 13 years. Methods: In this retrospective study, the data for KD extracted from medical records of <19 year-old patients admitted to tertiary hospitals in Iran between 2007 and 2019 were recorded in the national KD registry system. Age, admission date, gender, location, and presence of KD criteria, laboratory and echocardiography findings, and treatment modalities were evaluated. Complete KD was considered if ≥4 clinical criteria of the KD existed and otherwise, incomplete KD was considered. Results: Data from 1,682 KD patients including 999(59.39%) boys and 683(40.61%) girls and male/female ratio of 1.46 were evaluated. The mean age was 3.08 ± 2.49 years and 1465(87%) were living in urban regions. The yearly incidence of the disease was between 2.62 to 3.03 from 2015 to 2019. The highest age-specific incidence was observed in children <1-year-old. Incomplete and resistant KD included 1,321(78.54%) and 9(0.54%) patients, respectively. Abnormal echocardiography was detected in 619(36.80%) patients. Leukocytosis, with dominancy of neutrophils, anemia, thrombocytosis and increased ESR and CRP were the most noticeable laboratory findings. No death due to KD disease was reported. Conclusion: Based on this study, most of the KD cases are presented with atypical presentation in Iran. So, increasing awareness of primary healthcare workers by educating and updating their data is very important in timely diagnosis and management of the disease.

Uncovering Cardiac Involvement in Childhood Diabetes: Is it Time to Move Toward Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Childhood Diabetes Management?

CONTEXT: One of the most common endocrine disorders in children is diabetes which is the leading cause of premature cardiovascular disease in adulthood. AIMS: This study is aimed to investigate the extend of cardiac involvement in diabetic children by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in comparison to two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography and routine laboratory data. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional study conducted on patients under 18 years of age who deal with type one diabetes mellitus for more than 5 years. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: To compare the STE results, we included the STE data of 25 normal age-matched children. All patients underwent laboratory analysis for lipid profile, blood sugar, and 2D echocardiography plus STE. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Two-sample independent t-test, Chi-square test, logistic regression test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: From March 2018 to 2019, we included 53 patients, mean age 15.8 ± 0.39 years and 52.8% female, and 25 nondiabetic control in this study. STE revealed global longitudinal strain (LS) -18.4 versus - 24.2 for patient (44 valid cases) versus control group, respectively, with significant statistical difference. Diabetic patients had lower LS in all segments compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: STE has very high sensitivity to detect cardiac involvement far earlier than 2D echocardiography. None of the routine biomarkers or demographic features can predict cardiac involvement based on segmental abnormalities of STE. Active investigation to clear the remote impact of STE abnormalities and its practical role in childhood diabetes management is highly recommended.

Effect of coarctation of aorta anatomy and balloon profile on the outcome of balloon angioplasty in infantile coarctation.

OBJECTIVE: Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA) is a relatively common cardiovascular disorder. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of COA anatomy and high versus low-pressure balloons on the outcome of balloon angioplasty among neonates and infants. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the neonates and infants undergoing balloon angioplasty at Namazi hospital were enrolled. After balloon angioplasty, immediate data results were promptly recorded.Moreover, midterm echocardiographic information was collected via electronic cardiac records of pediatric wards and clinical and echocardiographic data at least 12 months after balloon angioplasty. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS-20. RESULTS: In this study, 42 infants were included. The median age at the time of balloon angioplasty was 1.55 (range 0.1-12) months and 66.7% of the patients were male. The mean pressure gradient of coarctation was 38.49 ± 24.97 mmHg, which decreased to 7.61 ± 8.00 mmHg (P < 0.001). A high-pressure balloon was used in 27, and a low-pressure balloon was used in 15 patients. COA's pressure gradient changed 30.89 ± 18.06 in the high-pressure group and 24.53 ± 20.79 in the low-pressure balloon group (P = 0.282). In the high-pressure balloon group, 14.81% and in the low-pressure group, 33.33% had recoarctation and need second balloon angioplasty (p < 0.021). The infant with discrete coarctation had a higher decrease in gradient and lower recoarctation. CONCLUSION: Recoarctation rate was lower in the high-pressure balloon. The infant with discrete COA had a better response to the balloon with more decrease in gradient and lower recoarctation rate. Therefore, the stenotic segment anatomy needs to be considered in the selection of treatment methods.