Evaluating the effect of strontium ranelate and photobiomodulation on cementogenic and osteogenic differentiation of buccal fat pad-derived stem cells: An in vitro study.

This study aimed to analyze the impact of strontium ranelate (Str), photobiomodulation (PBM), or their combination of the proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and cementogenic differentiation of buccal fat pad-derived stem cells. BFPdSCs were exposed to one of the following interventions: (1) PBM (660 nm), (2) PBM (660 nm) + Str, (3) PBM (880 nm), (4) PBM (880 nm) + Str, (5) Str. All study groups had significantly higher osteogenic differentiation than the control group (p < 0.05), and no significant difference existed between the 660 and 808 nm groups (p = 0.97). Compared to the Str group, 660 nm and 880 nm group samples had significantly lower osteogenic differentiation (p < 0.0001), while other groups did not show a significant difference. Regarding cementogenic differentiation, the 660 nm group showed higher values than the 808 nm group (p < 0.01). Compared with the Str group, 660 nm, 660 nm + Str, and 808 nm + Str groups showed significantly higher gene expression (p < 0.05). In the case of osteogenic differentiation, although photobiomodulation alone had a lower inducing effect than strontium ranelate, combining 808 nm diode lasers and strontium ranelate may provide the best results. Moreover, using a 660 nm diode laser and exposing stem cells to strontium ranelate can be the most effective approach to induce cementogenic differentiation.

Solution-processed PbS quantum dot infrared laser with room-temperature tuneable emission in the optical telecommunications window.

Solution processed semiconductor lasers have achieved much success across the nanomaterial research community, including in organic semiconductors1,2, perovskites3,4 and colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals5,6. The ease of integration with other photonic components, and the potential for upscaling using emerging large area fabrication technologies, such as roll-to-roll7, make these lasers attractive as low-cost photonic light sources that can find use in a variety of applications: integrated photonic circuitry8,9, telecommunications10,11, chemo-/bio-sensing12,13, security14, and lab-on-chip experiments15. However, for fiber-optic or free-space optical (FPO) communications and eye-safe LIDAR applications, room temperature solution-processed lasers have remained elusive. Here we report the first solution processed laser, comprising PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) integrated on a distributed feedback (DFB) cavitiy, with tuneable lasing wavelength from 1.55 µm - 1.65 µm. These lasers operate at room temperature and exhibit linewidths as low as ~0.9 meV.

Comparison of the RE and B1 gene for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in children with cancer.

Early, accurate and effective diagnosis of toxoplasmosis can make an important contribution to the prevention and control of disease, especially in people who are at risk. In this study, two commonly used genomic repeats of Toxoplasma gondii, RE (GenBank accession number AF146527) and B1, were compared to each other in nested-PCR assay. Five hundred and thirty-five blood samples from children with leukemia were tested for the presence of T. gondii antibodies using enzyme immunoassays. One hundred and ten DNA samples of these patients (50 IgM+, IgG+, 10 IgM-, IgG+, and 50 IgM-, IgG-) were analyzed by nested-PCR. The specificity of two nested PCR assays was determined using the DNA samples of other parasites and human chromosomal DNA. As a result, 82% (41/50) and 68% (34/50) of the IgM+, IgG+ samples were positive on duplicate RE and B1-nested PCR analyses, respectively. None of the 10 IgM-, IgG+ seropositive samples was detected positive after testing RE and B1-nested PCR assays in duplicate. One (2%) of the 50 seronegative samples was positive by duplicate RE-nested PCR but none of them were positive by duplicate B1-nested PCR. The detection limit of the RE-nested PCR assay was 640 fg of T. gondii DNA whereas this rate for B1-nested PCR was 5.12 pg of the DNA template. No cross-reactivity with the DNA of other parasites and human chromosomal DNA was found. The results indicate that an RE-based nested PCR assay is more sensitive than B1 genomic target, of those tested, for detection of T. gondii. It is noteworthy that in comparison with B1-nested PCR, RE-nested PCR could detect the T. gondii DNA in seronegative samples too.

Comparison of real-time PCR and conventional PCR with two DNA targets for detection of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum infection in human and dog blood samples.

Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in northwestern Iran. Real-time PCR, conventional PCR, and the direct agglutination test (DAT) were used to diagnose Leishmania infantum infection in blood samples from 100 domestic dogs and 100 humans. Based on clinical evaluation, 82 humans and 72 dogs from the endemic area were categorized as having asymptomatic infection, DAT positive with no clinical signs of VL, or symptomatic infection, DAT positive with at least one sign of VL. Eighteen human samples containing no Leishmania antibodies (DAT(-)) and 28 dog DAT(-) sera from non-endemic areas with no history of VL constituted negative controls. All 46 DAT(-) samples were also negative by Dipstick rK39. Bone marrow material was used for parasitological examinations in symptomatic VL, and peripheral blood samples were used for detection of L. infantum infection using conventional PCR and real-time PCR in non-symptomatic subjects. Two DNA targets (ITS1 kDNA) were used for conventional PCR. L. infantum antibodies in sera were detected by DAT. Parasitemia was measured by real-time PCR targeting kDNA using Taqman Assay. All 72 (100%) symptomatic (38/38) and asymptomatic (34/34) dog DAT(+)samples, 45 of 48 (93.8%) symptomatic human DAT(+) samples, and 32 of 34 (94.1%) human asymptomatic cases were identified by real-time PCR. The mean (59.19 vs 12.38 parasite equivalents/mL of blood) and median (16.15 vs 1 parasite equivalents/mL of blood) ranges of parasitemia were higher in dogs than in humans (P<0.05). The highest agreement was obtained between real-time PCR and DAT (99% in dogs and 95% in humans). Sensitivity of 100% and 93.9%, specificity of 96.4% and 100%, positive predictive values of 98.6% and 100%, and negative predictive values of 100% and 78.3% were found by real-time PCR for dog and human samples, respectively.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: a comparative study of real-time PCR, conventional PCR, and direct agglutination on sera for the detection of Leishmania infantum infection.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is endemic in northwestern Iran. This study aimed to compare real-time PCR, conventional PCR, and the direct agglutination test (DAT) for the diagnosis Leishmania infantum infection in 167 serum samples of domestic dog. Bone marrow was used for parasitological examination (smears and/or culture) in symptomatic visceral leishmaniasis, and serum was used for detection of L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) by both conventional PCR and real-time PCR, while anti-L. infantum antibodies in sera were measured by DAT. The sera were collected from 37 symptomatic and 112 asymptomatic dogs during April to May 2011. Eighteen presumed negative samples were obtained from healthy dogs kept in non-endemic areas with no history of CVL and used as controls. All 18 samples were negative by DAT and Dipstick rK39. DAT confirmed previous exposure to L. infantum for all 149 serum samples collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs in CVL endemic areas of Iran. Among the 37 symptomatic dogs, 20 (54%), 25 (67.6%), 36 (97.3%), and 37 (100%) showed L. infantum infection by parasitological methods, conventional PCR, real-time PCR, and DAT (≥ 1:80), respectively. Of 112 asymptomatic dogs, 79 (70.5%), 111 (99.1%), and 112 (100%) were shown to be positive by conventional PCR, and DAT (≥ 1:80), respectively. For ethical reasons, no asymptomatic or healthy control dogs were examined by parasitological methods. Three (16.7%) control dogs were positive by real-time PCR, but were negative by DAT, dipstick rK39, and conventional PCR methods. Parasitemia levels were measured by real-time PCR targeting kDNA using SYBR(®) green assay. This quantitative technique detected infection in 89.9% (150/167) of the domestic dogs that harbored L. infantum kDNA, ranging from 0.01 49 to 310.1 parasites/ml. The average was 16.60 parasites/ml. A good agreement (0.97) was found between real-time PCR and DAT at ≥ 1:80 titer, used as cut-off value by Kappa analysis. Thus, real-time PCR as a quantitative PCR assay on serum samples represents a valuable tool for initial diagnosis of CVL when whole blood is not available.

Molecular identification of animal isolates of Echinococcus granulosus from Iran using four mitochondrial genes.

Mitochondrial genes have more power than nuclear genes in reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among closely related species because of their faster sequence evolution. The aim of this study was to use the complete or near-complete sequences from three mitochondrial genes (cox1, nad1 and atp6) and partial sequences of the 12S rRNA gene to infer relationships among isolates of Echinococcus granulosus from Iran. Two hundred and twenty-nine isolates of E. granulosus were collected from cattle, camels, sheep, buffalo and goats from different geographical areas. Most individuals were found to possess the G1 genotype but some of the camel samples belonged to the G6 genotype. Newly designed primers for cox1, nad1 and atp6 genes amplified bands of 1830, 708 and 1157 bp for the G1 genotype and 1856, 705, 1054 bp for the G6 genotype, respectively. The result of this survey showed that atp6 and nad1 genes are good molecular markers for identifying E. granulosus isolates from a range of hosts in Iran.

Species identification of birds nasal trichobilharzia in sari, north of iran.

BACKGROUND: Cercarial dermatitis is known as an endemic parasitic disease in North of Iran, a hypersensitive skin reaction to the penetration of nonhuman schistosome larvae into human skin. In recent studies in this region, final and intermediate hosts were recognized and Trichobilharzia was identified as the main causative agent of cercarial dermatitis in this region, but to date the parasite species haven't been identified. Therefore this study was performed to species identification of nasal Trichobilharzia in infected birds for the first time. METHODS: A total of 45 Anas clypeata birds identified as final host, were collected from Sari in North of Iran and infected nasal tissues analyzed using molecular techniques. Genomic DNA was isolated by phenol/chloroform extraction method and ITS region of rDNA were amplified with specific primers its5Trem and its4Trem, then sequenced area were compared with existing records in GenBank. RESULTS: Twelve samples were infected with Trichobilharzia and results of PCR reaction indicated that all of them belonged to T. regenti. The sequence alignment of present work isolates and those deposited in GenBank showed differences in nucleotide sequences of repeat region in ITS1. CONCLUSION: Trichobilharzia regenti is the most frequent parasite of Anatid birds in North of Iran. This corresponds to the distribution of this parasite along the flyway of migratory birds, which annually migrate from Siberia and northern countries of Caspian Sea to wintering areas in southern regions of it.

Genotyping of Acanthamoeba isolated from water in recreational areas of Tehran, Iran.

A comprehensive survey assessing the presence of Acanthamoeba was conducted on 50 samples from water sources in parks and public squares from 22 municipal districts of Tehran, Iran. The prevalence and genotypes of Acanthamoeba were determined by PCR and the PCR fragments of ribosomal RNA genes sequenced. Sixteen (32%) samples were positive for Acanthamoeba spp. Sequence analysis revealed that the positive isolates belonged to the T4 and T5 genotypes. Fourteen isolates (87.5%) were T4, and two (12.5%) were T5. Acanthamoeba may be a problematic organism for contact lens wearers and for immunocompromised individuals. In Iran, Acanthamoeba keratitis has increased in recent years, mainly due to poor hygiene in contact lens wearers. A thorough survey for the prevalence of this amoeba could have a significant role in prevention of disease. This is the first report of the T5 genotype from water in recreational areas of Tehran.

Molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in Iranian children, tehran, iran.

BACKGROUND: Cryptosporidium is a worldwide protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans and cattle. The aim of the present study was determination of subtypes of Cryptosporidium among children with diarrhea in Tehran by sequence analysis of the highly polymorphic 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected from 794 diarrheic children. Initial identification of Cryptosporidium was carried out on stool samples by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method. DNA was extracted from positive microscopically samples and Cryptosporidium genotypes and subtypes were determined, accordingly. RESULTS: Out of 794 collected samples, 19 (2.40%) were positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Sequences analysis of GP60 gene showed that 17 (89.47%) of the positive isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum and 2 (10.52%) were C. hominis. All subtypes of C. parvum isolates belonged to allele families IIa (6/17) and IId (11/17). The most common allele in all 17 isolates belonged to IId A20G1a (41.18%). A22G1 (IF) subtype was detected in two C. hominis isolates of the children. CONCLUSION: The predominancy of C. parvum species (specially, IId A20G1a subtype) in current study underlines the importance of zoonotic Cryptosporidium transmission in Iran.

Identification of leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis using PCR method.

BACKGROUND: To determine the epidemiological status of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreak, isolation and identification of the agent parasite, Leishmania, using PCR method in Gonbad-e Qabus County, north Iran, during 2006-2007. METHODS: Data were collected on the prevalence of scars and ulcers over a period of 3 months among 6990 inhabitants of five villages around Gonbad-e Qabus County, north Iran, during 2006-2007. Cultured promastigotes were identified using PCR technique. Its1 and its2 of Non Coding Transcribed region at ribosomal DNA of 46 Leishmania isolates were amplified and the PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gel (200 mA, 140 V), visualized by staining with ethidium bromide, and photographed. RESULTS: Among 6990 inhabitants of 5 villages, 62.9% were identified as scars and 1.5% as active lesions. Individuals 11 to 20 years were the most highly infected age group. All the parasite isolates were Leishmania major. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous leishmaniasis due to L. major is endemic in Gonbad-e Qabus County, north Iran.