فهرست مطالب abbas ghaderi

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can develop into a malignancy. This study aimed to compare the IL-37 gene variant (rs4241122) in oral lichen planus patients and the healthy controls.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). 70 serum samples from patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and 100 serum samples from healthy volunteers were collected from 2018 to 2019. The IL-37 polymorphism (rs4241122) in OLP patients and healthy controls was assessed using a PCR test, and its relationship with the location and type of OLP lesions, sex, and age was investigated. A Chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between OLP and genotype, genotype and location, and the lesion type. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The OLP group included 46 women (66 %) and 24 men (34%) with a mean age of 45.71 ± 13.2 years old. The healthy control group consisted of 61 women (61%) and 39 men (39%), with a mean age of 43.9 ± 10.39 years. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of genotype and polymorphism of IL-37 rs4241122.

In this study, there was no difference between polymorphism of IL-37 (rs4241122) and OLP lesions. However, allele A was more prevalent in healthy controls than in OLP patients.

Middle Devonian to Lower Carboniferous siliciclastic-carbonate successions in Eastern Alborz are characterized by Khoshyeilagh Formation. It is underlain by the Devonian red siliciclastic sequences and is overlain by the Carboniferous Mobarak Formation, can be divided into three different members; lower carbonate, middle siliciclastic, and upper carbonate. The Khoshyeilagh Formation comprises various fossil groups of invertebrates, conodonts, palynomorphs and fish remains. In the present study, a collection of microscopic fish remains, obtained from the lower and upper carbonate members in Mighan, north of Shahrood, have been determined and described. This assemblage contains 14 different taxa of chondrichthyan fish including: Cladodoides cf. wildungensis, Ctenacanthiformis gen. et sp. indet, Dalmehodus turnerae, Deihim mansureae, Lissodus lusavorichi, Phoebodus aff. turnerae, Phoebodus fastigatus, Phoebodus gothicus gothicus, Phoebodus gothicus transistans, Roongodus phijani, Siberiodus mirabilis, Squatinactis glabrum, Stethacanthus resistens and Thrinacodus ferox. Some specimens of scales and teeth of actinopterygian and osteichthyan fishes are also present which all indicate a shallow environment of the continental shelf. The associated conodonts with this assemblage demonstrate the age of Frasnian (rhenana biozone) to early Tournaisian (duplicata biozone) for the whole succession.

Early detection of breast cancer (BC) is extremely important as late diagnosis has been associated with a high rate of mortality. Immunogenic proteins and autoantibodies have been considered as favorable targets for early detection and targeted therapy in cancer. Accordingly, the present study aimed to identify the immunogenic antigens in both early and advanced stages of BC via a serologic proteome analysis (SERPA) approach.

This is a case-control study wherein we separated the proteins from BC tissues in the early stages (n = 10) and advanced stages (n = 10) utilizing two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and then transferred them onto a Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) membrane. To explore the tumor antigens reacting with antibodies, two-dimensional (2D) blots of tumor tissues in the early and advanced stages were separately probed with the sera from the same patients. Afterwards, we identified antibody-reactive proteins via liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Fibrinogen beta chain (FGB), protein deglycase DJ-1(PARK7), and peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2) were the highly reactive antigens identified in the earlystage patients. In addition, RuvB-like1 (RUVBL1) and triose phosphate isomerase (TPI) were recognized as the immune reactive proteins in the late-stage patients.

The results herein revealed that the immune-proteome pattern of BC patients changes along with tumor progression from primary to advanced stages. Moreover, immunogenic proteins seemed to stimulate the humoral immune system to produce autoantibodies in the initiation phase of BC; these autoantibodies could be employed as complementary factors for early detection of BC. The findings are however preliminary, and further studies with a larger sample size are required for verification and validation of previous findings.

CD166 is an Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM) which acts as a cell-to-cell adhesion molecule. CD166 has an important role in the growth, survival and invasion of the tumor cells. The aim of the present study was to produce polyclonal antibodies against CD166.

The selected peptide was synthesized from the CD166 molecule and after conjugation with KLH protein, in an emulsion with Freund's complete adjuvant, it was injected subcutaneously to two female New Zealand rabbits several times. Then the antibodies in rabbit serum were purified by FPLC method and their amounts were determined by indirect ELISA method. By CNBr gel purification method, specific antibodies against CD166 peptide bound to KLH were isolated, and the concentration of produced antibody against peptide or KLH-peptide was determined by ELISA method.

After repeated injection of CD166 peptide bound to KLH, antibody against CD166 peptide was produced, but it had a low titer. Most of the antibody produced was directed against the KLH-peptide binding site. Also, the tendency of produced antibodies to bind to KLH-peptide was higher compared to the peptide alone.

The produced antibodies were mostly against the antigenic index of KLH peptide. The synthetic and small size of the injected peptide can be the reason for the low titer and affinity of the antibody to it.

The Julfa region in East Azerbaijan Province exhibits one of the best continuous marine sedimentary successions across the Permian to Triassic boundary. The present study is focused on the brachiopod contents of the Julfa beds in Qareh-Goz section (41.5 m thickness) in the south of Julfa. This study is led to the determination of 11 genera and 21 species of the orders Athyridida, Orthotetida, Orthida, Productida, Spiriferida, and Terebratulida, all representing the Cathaysian bioprovince for this area in the Western Paleotethys. Accordingly, four Wuchiapingian biozones, including Araxilevis intermedius Zone, Araxilevis intermedius-Permophricodothyris ovata Interval zone, Permophricodothyris ovata Zone, and Transcaucasathyris araxensis Zone, have been detected. These biozones correlate well through the other stratigraphic sections of the Julfa area in the Ali Bashi and Zal Mountains, Dorasham section in the Transcaucasia, Hembast Formation in the Abadeh area, and Nesen Formation in the central Alborz, approving the potential of these brachiopods in biocorrelation at a regional scale in the Late Permian.

Sorkh Shale Formation in Rabat-e-Shur stratigraphic section, west of the Tabas Depression, has been biostratigraphically investigated in this research. The Sorkh Shale Formation, with 48 meters thickness in this section, consists of shale, marl, and marly limestones, which are underlain by the Permian Jamal Formation and are overlain by the Triassic Shotori Formation dolomites. Nine conodont species belonging to four genera, Ellisonia, Hadrodontina, Parachirognathus, and Pachycladina were identified for the first time from this formation. The mentioned conodont assemblage is divided into three biozones: Hadrodontina aequabilis, Hadrodontina anceps, and Pachycladina obliqua. These taxa are in good agreement with the previously reported euryhaline assemblages from the near-shore and shallow water Western Tethyan realms in the south and east of Europe in the Early Triassic (Late Griesbachian-Middle Smithian). These conodont biozones are used for a better understanding of the distribution and affinities of the Early Triassic conodonts in West Asia, their paleobiogeographical rank, their significant role in the Early Triassic chronostratigraphy and their importance in bio-correlation of different section worldwide. Examination of the conodont alteration index of the obtained taxa from the Sorkh Shale Formation demonstrates CAI=5 during the late Griesbachian, CAI=4 in the Smithian, and CAI=6-8 in the Dienerian substages which is placed in the barren Zone for hydrocarbon production.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), described as World War 3, is the current worldwide health challenge and nearly all countries have so far faced this disaster. There is still no cure because of the complicated pathogenesis, however, there are several studies on track investigating different aspects of the immune response to the virus. In this review, we will provide an overview of recent investigations that have analyzed immune cells in patients with COVID-19. We will then discuss the differences in immune profiles between healthy controls and various clinical presentations, including asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe cases.

Geodiversity is a quality that we try to preserve. one of the important values for evaluating landforms in geomorphology is geodiversity, to provide accurate data for geoheritage conservation. therefore, it can be said that geodiversity reflects the remarkable complexities of a region in addition, by examining the world from the point of view of geodiversity, a better understanding of natural resources can be achieved. The term sensitivity refers to the inherent sensitivity of a feature to damage, which is a function of its inherent resilience, and sensitivity emphasizes the landform's ability to resist change, in other words, landform sensitivity is related to its erosion pattern and it affects that part of the geosystem that is under stress but has little resistance due to environmental characteristics, therefore, sensitivity analysis is designed to quantitatively measure the land's tolerance to change. Since exposure to geomorphological hazards is unavoidable, it is necessary to evaluate the sensitivity of the geosystem and determine the impact of each of the effective parameters on it to provide appropriate protection solutions. It is clear that by qualitatively examining and quantitatively calculating the sensitivity of the landforms and their relationship with the geological criteria of each geosystem, better and more effective solutions can be provided to increase their resistance. Due to the widespread interest in geodiversity studies, especially in recent decades, this research investigates the relationship between geological criteria and the degree of sensitivity of landforms in the eastern Kopet- Dagh zone with the geographical location of 59º 36' 56" to 61º 14' 58" East longitude and 35º 14' 05" to 37º 07' 58" north latitude are assigned.

This research was conducted to investigate the relationship between geological criteria and the degree of sensitivity of landforms in 2 sections and 7 stages. In the first part, the prioritization and determination of the impact of each of the selected criteria were done in the evaluation of geodiversity based on the degree of sensitivity of the geosystem using the Analytical Hierarchy (AHP) model. This section is done by Arc GIS Expert Choice software. In the second part, after creating sample points in the study area and calculating the degree of sensitivity of each of the sub-criteria, their relationship with the degree of sensitivity of the landforms was evaluated using Pearson's statistical test.

The results of the hierarchical analysis show that among the protection sub-criteria, landcover (0.495) has the highest level of importance from the experts' point of view and sub-criteria soil (0.240) has the lowest level of importance. In the criteria of vulnerability, the lithology sub-criteria with a weight of 0.336 is in the first place and the climate sub-criteria is in the second place with a weight of 0.285, and the lowest level of importance is related to the fossil sub-criteria with a weight of 0.052. After the weight obtained from the hierarchical analysis model was applied to the layer and the layers were overlapped, the result of this overlap created the landform protection layer and the landform vulnerability layer. In terms of landform protection, the studied area is mainly in medium sensitivity (40.8%) and high sensitivity (43.9%). Regarding the vulnerability of the landform, (47%) is in a state of moderate sensitivity, and (38.1%) is in a state of high sensitivity. Finally, the integration of the two layers of protection and sensitivity led to the creation of the zoning layer of geodiversity based on the degree of sensitivity, which indicates that the largest extent of the studied range is in the medium spectrum in terms of sensitivity, 23% of the range is in the low range and 32% is in the high range in terms of sensitivity. The results of the survey regarding the relationship between each geological sub-criteria and the level of sensitivity of the landform show that only the fossil sub-criteria has a negative relationship with the level of sensitivity and the coefficient of this relationship is -0.233, this means that there is no direct relationship between the increase in fossil diversity and the increase in sensitivity of geodiversity. The highest correlation coefficient is related to landcover, and the coefficient obtained for this sub-criteria is equal to 0.566, also, the coefficient obtained for each of the sub-criteria was at an average level in terms of the intensity of the relationship and each of the obtained correlation coefficients for the sub-criteria is acceptable with 99% confidence level, according to the obtained significance level which is equal to 0.000

The results of applying the weight of each of the sub-criteria in the layers and overlapping the layers and creating two layers of protection and vulnerability in the hierarchical method indicate that in general the degree of vulnerability and sensitivity increases from west to east as well as from north to south, which is due to the presence of more virgin rock outcrops, thin landcover, less slope of geomorphological units, the great diversity of geomorphological and hot, dry to hot and semi-arid weather in the above-mentioned areas, the findings of this research correspond to the features of the landforms and are not far from the mind. The results of the analysis using SPSS software show that there is no direct relationship between the increase in fossil diversity and the increase in the sensitivity of the studied area and the highest correlation coefficient is related to land cover. Based on the results obtained in this research, since the major part of the study area has geodiversity with a moderate and high degree of sensitivity, it can be said that the studied area is critical in terms of sensitivity and land degradation. Also, considering that land cover has the highest degree of correlation between geodiversity and the degree of sensitivity of the geosystem, therefore, this requires comprehensive attention and more detailed investigations to further protect the land cover of the eastern Kopet-Dagh zone against destructive factors.

There is an urgent need to discover novel prognostic biomarkers and treatment strategies for gastric cancer (GC) patients. Several immune-related markers have been proposed as prognostic tools and immunotherapeutic targets to manage diseases. In this regard, we evaluated the expression pattern and prognostic significance of programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), CD45RO+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins (MLH1, MSH2, PMS2, and MSH6) in non-metastatic intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. Samples and data from 70 GC patients were collected. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the markers. We then evaluated the prognosis significance of each marker and their intercorrelation. Cytoplasmic PD-1 expressed by tumor cells was significantly associated with poorer survival. However, multivariate analysis indicated stronger prognostic values for TNM stage, tumor location, and extracellular mucin. A significant positive association was found between CD45ROhigh TILs and PD-1 expression on tumor-infiltrating cells (TICs). All GC patients with deficient MMR (d‑MMR) had a higher number of CD45RO+ TILs and were associated with PD-1+ TICs and PD‑L1+ tumor cells (TCs). However, the difference was not statistically significant. Despite the association of PD‑1 overexpression on TCs with shorter overall survival, histopathological factors, including tumor location, TNM stage, and extracellular mucin, remain the most decisive prognostic factors in non-metastatic intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. Additionally, our data support a prognostic role for d-MMR and CD45RO, but not PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on TICs.

Geomorphological principles show that the earth's surface is not fixed and changes over time. The physical elements of the earth's surface, from microscopic components such as minerals to macroscopic phenomena such as landforms, are all part of geodiversity. Landform equilibrium and resilience are related to the resistance to the erosion pattern. In other words, morphogenic processes in low resilience geosystems cause landform changes. Resilience is usually considered as increasing stability and reducing sensitivity; measuring the amount and quality of that issue is essential in protecting perspectives. Here, we evaluate the geo-diversity of the Eastern Kopet-Dagh Mountains in northeastern Iran based on the geosystem's degree of sensitivity, equilibrium, and resilience. In this study, using overlapping information layers, we classified each indicator into three degrees of sensitivity after selecting suitable indicators. Then, a geological diversity map was prepared by combining the data into two sub-sets of geosystem sensitivity and protection. We find that about 41% of the Eastern Kopet-Dagh Mountains, equivalent to 7800 km2, have a high degree of sensitivity, more in the southern half of the study area than in the northern half. In these sensitive areas the slightest change by disturbance can overwhelm the recovery potential and change the state of the geosystem. Consistency of research findings with field visits shows the necessity of proper management and exploitation of the mentioned areas to prevent critical conditions and further expansion of vulnerable regions.

In this research biostratigraphy of Baghamshah Formation based on calcareous nannofossills in the kalshaneh section was investigated. This section is located in northwest of Tabas. Baghamshah Formation in this section with 505 m thickness mainly consists of green- gray marl, very thin bedded shale with intercalation of fine sandstone and brown limestone abundant of brachiopodae and pelecypodae fragments and gerrn marl with interbedded of nodular limestone. Lower boundry with Parvadeh Formation is comformable and upper boundry with Kamar-e- Mehdi Formation is also marked. The study of nannofossils has been led to the identification of 44 species and belonging to 22 genera. According to stratigraphy distribution of calcareous nannofossils, CC3-CC5 biozones of Sissingh (1977) were determined. Nannofossil biozones indicate lateValanginian- late Haterivian age for the Baghamshah Formation in the Kalshaneh section.

To investigate the effects of everolimus, a mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, on tumor growth and immune response in a mouse model of breast cancer. Human hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth receptor 2-negative (HER2-) MC4-L2 cell line was used to establish a mouse model of breast cancer. The inhibitory effects of high (10 mg/kg) and low (5 mg/kg) doses of everolimus were investigated on tumor growth. Additionally, the frequency of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD8+Foxp3+ Tregs, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) was explored by flow cytometry in bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen. Our results showed that both 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg doses of everolimus efficiently inhibited tumor growth, resulting in reduced breast tumor volume. In addition, it was revealed that everolimus-treated mice induced a higher frequency of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs, CD8+Foxp3+ Tregs, and CD4+Foxp3+CTLA-4+ Tregs as well as CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing CTLA-4 in their bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen compared with standard control (vehicle-treated) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that everolimus treatment with 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg increased the frequency of Helios+Foxp3+ Tregs in the bone marrow of treated mice compared with the control group. Our results indicate that treatment with everolimus not only inhibits tumor growth but also exerts an immunomodulatory effect by inducing Tregs in the lymphoid organs of breast cancer-bearing mice. The combination of therapy with other anti-cancer agents may negate immune suppression and improve the efficacy of mTOR-targeted breast cancer therapy.

The Permian–Triassic sedimentary succession in the Julfa region is lithostratigraphically composed of limestones and shales of the Julfa Formation, the Zal Member shales, and the Paratirolites Limestone of the Ali-Bashi Formation, as well as shales and carbonate beds of the Elikah Formation. The Lower Julfa Beds are rich in benthic organisms such as brachiopods and corals, while the Upper Julfa Beds and Ali-Bashi Formation contain pelagic assemblages including ammonoids, fishes, and conodonts. These rocks have already been studied from different palaeontological and geochemical perspectives, but most have focused on the strata near the Permian–Triassic boundary. In the present study, ammonoids from older intervals around the Wuchiapingin–Changhsingian boundary in the four stratigraphic sections Aras Valley, Ali-Bashi 1, Ali-Bashi 4, and Zal are outlined. Fourteen genera and 22 species of ammonoids were identified and assigned to five successive biozones. The Araxocers latissimum Zone in the Lower Julfa Beds and the Vedioceras ventrosulcatum Zone in the Upper Julfa Beds document the Wuchiapingian. Following upwards, the Iranites transcaucasius-Phisonites triangulus Zone, Dzhulfites nodosus Zone and Shevyrevites shevyrevi Zone in the Zal Member confirm an early Changhsingian age. This follows the previously presented ages based on conodonts.

Identification of specific antigens is highly beneficial for early detection, diagnosis, staging, and outcome prediction of cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and prognostic value of CD56 (140 kDa isoform) in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

Sixty-five patients with IDC who underwent radical surgery or mastectomy as the primary treatment were included. Proper formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue blocks of the patients were prepared and stained by IHC for CD56 (140 kDa isoform) molecule. Chi-square and fisher exact tests were used to compare the results against the clinicopathologic data of patients. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test were employed to study the prognostic value of the target antigen.

The expression pattern of CD56 was granular and cytoplasmic. There were significant associations between the intensity of CD56 expression in invasive cells and carcinoma in situ (p = 0.005) and normal ducts (p = 0.010). Among all clinicipathologic parameters, there was only a significant association between the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and CD56 (p = 0.023). Neither OS (overall survival; p = 0.356) nor DFS (disease-free survival; p = 0.976) had significant correlation with CD56 expression.

Our data indicated that the CD56 marker offers no prognostic value in terms of predicting the OS or DFS for up to eight years after primary surgery. Furthermore, the intensity of its expression is similar between normal, non-invasive, and invasive cells. Considering the generally better outcome of ER+ BC patients than their ER-counterparts, the CD56 marker may be indirectly associated with a more favorable prognosis among IDC patients.

Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) show some aggressive and peculiar clinicopathological behaviors that might be related to the components of the tumor microenvironment, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-associated proteins. However, the role of MSCs-related proteins in SGTs tumorigenesis is poorly understood. This study aimed to isolate and characterize MSCs from malignant and benign tumor tissues and to identify differentially expressed proteins between these two types of MSCs.

In this experimental study, MSC-like cells derived from benign (pleomorphic adenoma, n=5) and malignant (mucoepidermoid carcinoma, n=5) tumor tissues were verified by fluorochrome antibodies and flow cytometric analysis. Differentially expressed proteins were identified using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE) and Mass spectrometry.

Results showed that isolated cells strongly expressed characteristic MSCs markers such as CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD166, but they did not express or weakly expressed CD14, CD34, CD45 markers. Furthermore, the expression of CD24 and CD133 was absent or near absent in both isolated cells. Results also discovered overexpression of Annexin A4 (Anxa4), elongation factor 1-delta (EF1-D), FK506 binding protein 9 (FKBP9), cytosolic platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase type IB subunit beta (PAFAH1B), type II transglutaminase (TG2), and s-formylglutathione hydrolase (FGH) in MSCs isolated from the malignant tissues. Additionally, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), as well as keratin, type II cytoskeletal 7 (CK-7), were found to be overexpressed in MSCs derived from the benign ones.

Malignant and benign SGTs probably exhibit a distinct pattern of tissue proteins that are most likely related to the metabolic pathway. However, further studies in a large number of patients are required to determine the applicability of identified proteins as new targets for cancer therapy.

COVID-19 and malignancy can affect the susceptibility of one another. Clinically recovered COVID-19 individuals display immune abnormalities that persist several months after discharge. The lymphopenia-related immunosuppression, functional exhaustion of cytotoxic lymphocytes (such as CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells), hyperinflammatory responses, oxidative stress, downregulation of interferon response, development of the myeloid-derived suppressor cells, downregulation of tumor suppressor proteins and perhaps reactivation of the latent oncogenic viruses may directly and/or indirectly play a role in the cancer development and recurrence in severe COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2-infected malignant patients may be at higher risk of death of their cancer than SARS-CoV-2-uninfected patients with the same cancers. On the other side, the patients with some types of cancers may be more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with the non-cancerous individuals, due to their immunocompromised state resulted from malignancy, chemotherapy, and other concomitant abnormalities as well as perhaps greater expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. SARS-CoV-2-infected cancerous patients are unable to produce an effective anti-virus immune response and may exhibit more severe forms of COVID-19. This review described the possible impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cancer development and recurrence, and the potential cancer impacts on COVID-19 development, while the possible interventions are highlighted.

The effects of radiation on the cellular compartments of the tumor microenvironment (TME) might be essential in radiotherapy outcomes.

We aimed to assess the effects of the different doses of gamma irradiation on viability, ABCA1 and MMP-9 expression in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) as a critical part of TME.

In this experimental study, ASCs were extracted from five healthy donors and irradiated with different doses of 5, 10 and 30 Gy of gamma. Then, RNA was extracted from irradiated ASCs and cDNA was synthesized. The viability of ASCs was determined at 24, 48, 72 and 168 h after irradiation using trypan blue staining. The expression of ABCA1 was checked by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR technique and the expression of MMP-9 protein was evaluated by western-blot.

Based on our findings, 10 Gy and 30 Gy but not 5 Gy of gamma irradiation significantly decreased the viability of ASCs after 24, 48, 72 and 168 h compared to the non-irradiated cells (p < 0.05). However, a dose of 5 Gy increased ABCA1 in ASCs significantly compared to 10 Gy and 30 Gy (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively). In addition, the analysis of western blot data showed that 5 Gy of gamma irradiation significantly increased the expression of MMP-9 in ASCs (P=0.019).

It is concluded that various doses of gamma radiation elicit differential ASCs responses that may lead to different tumor cell reactions to the radiotherapy through bystander effects.

Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is a recently described cytokine that emerges as a natural inhibitor of inflammatory and immune responses. However, IL-37 has not yet been investigated in bladder cancer, and its biological role is unknown.

The purpose of this study was to investigate IL-37 serum levels in patients with bladder cancer and determine whether they were linked to the patients' pathological characteristics.

IL-37 serum levels were measured using a commercial ELISA kit in 60 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder (mean age: 64.55±12.93) and 50 healthy controls (mean age: 62.94±12.69). Non-parametric tests were used for statistical comparisons, and the Cohen's d effect size was calculated to evaluate the practical and clinical significance of the results.

Our findings indicated an increasing trend in IL-37 serum levels in patients with TCC (42.77±3.36 pg/ml) in comparison with controls (40.51±7.32 pg/ml, p=0.09). However, IL-37 serum levels were found to be significantly higher in male patients (44.72±3.81 pg/ml) and patients aged ≥70 (46.92±6.77 pg/ml) in comparison with male controls (29.96±3.30 pg/ml, p=0.026) and controls aged ≥70 (23.62±4.43 pg/ml, p=0.009). In comparison to similar controls, Cohen's d effect size for patients aged ≥70 years was found to be 0.90.

The findings reveal a higher serum level of IL-37 in patients with TCC, which might be clinically associated with immunosuppression and tumor growth. However, this is a preliminary study, and more research on the biological role of IL-37 and its potential therapeutic effects in bladder cancer is required.

The interaction of tumor cells with surrounding stem cells such as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) would be a crucial mechanism of tumor progression. It has been shown that irradiation can affect tumor microenvironment through different mechanisms. Given that, we aimed to examine the bystander radiation-induced effects of ASCs on different cancer cell lines.

In this experimental study, ASCs were extracted from five healthy donors, cultured and then irradiated with a 5Gy of gamma radiation. Following 72 hours of incubation, irradiated ASCs-conditioned media (IACM) and non-irradiated ASCs-conditioned media (NIACM) were collected. Following incubation of different cell lines, Jurkat, LNCaP, U87-MG, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, in different media, DMEM, NIACM, and IACM, ALDEFLUOR assay and wound healing assays, were conducted. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter genes, ABCA1 and ABCG2, was measured in these cell lines.

NIACM significantly increased ALDH activity in MDA-MB-231 cell (P=0.02), while IACM was associated with significant decrease in the LNCaP and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively P=0.02, P=0.03, compared to DMEM as the control. The area of the scratch site was significantly reduced in MDA-MB-231 cells cultured with NIACM compared to DMEM (P=0.04). Furthermore, ABCA1 mRNA expression was considerably decreased in IACM- but not in DMEMtreated LNCaP line (P=0.01).

It seems, after exposing to radiation, ASCs modify to prevent tumor development and metastasis through their radiation-induced bystander effects. Therefore, a better understanding of ASCs function in the tumor microenvironment may provide new insights into therapeutic strategies to surmount radio-resistance in cancer treatment.

The Binalud Mountains in the northeast of Iran is a limited structural unit between the central Iran, Kopet-Dagh, and Alborz Mountains, mainly considered as a southeastern extension of Alborz Mountains (Lammerer et al., 1983; Eftekhar-Nezhad & Behroozi, 1991; Alavi, 1992; Seyed-Emami & Schairer, 2011). Jurassic successions, which have very well extended outcrops in the eastern Alborz and Binalud Mountains, were the main topic of the publications by Seyed-Emami & Schairer (2010), Wilmsen et al. (2009a,b), Raoufian et al. (2011, 2014), Seyed-Emami and Raoufian (2017), Seyed-Emami et al. (2018). Dalichai Formation in the eastern Alborz and Binalud Mountains comprises a thickness of marl and marly limestone, with an abundance of ammonite fauna which is the most important characteristic of the formation in the Binalud Mountains. This fauna in the Alborz and Binalud has long been considered in different papers (e.g., Shafeizad et al., 2005; Seyed-Emami et al., 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018; Raoufian et al., 2011, 2014). In this research, an outcrop of Dalichai Formation in the Bāghi stratigraphic section, northwest of Esfarayen city, was lithostratigraphycally and biostratigraphically studied.

The base of the measured stratigraphic section is located in 37°11′45.34″ and 57°16′21.89″, 29 km northwest of Esfarayen city (Esfarayen to Jajarm route). After field studies, reviews of lithofacies in the field, and drawing the log, 540 in situ ammonite specimens were obtained from the section. They are kept in the Museum of the Geology Department at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The biometric details of ammonite specimens, including the dimensions of the specimens, size, depth, and diameter of the umbilical area, the number, arrangement, and shape of ribs, marginal keels, nodes, suture lines, and apertural shape, have been studied. The studied ammonitic fauna are typically Northwest Tethyan and belongs to the Submediterranean Province with episodic Mediterranean and Subboreal affinities (Seyed-Emami et al., 2013). It reflects the relationship between these regions with other parts of the Paleotethys sidelines during the Jurassic time.

In the Baghi section, the Dalichai Formation unconformably overlies the siliciclastic Shemshak Formation and gradationally underlies the cliff-forming carbonate rocks of Lar Formation. The Dalichai Formation, with a thickness of 655 meters, is divided into ten separate informal members and is mainly composed of marls, limestone, and marly limestone. One of the most important features of the Dalichai Formation in this section is the abundance of ammonite fauna, especially in the lower half of the section. Due to the specific color, lithology, and abundance of ammonite fauna, the second member is a key member.Paleontological studies in this research is led to the determination of 96 species, 26 subgenera, 39 genera, 20 subfamilies, 14 families, and 6 superfamilies belonging to 3 suborders of Ammonitida. According to the mentioned assemblage, 17 standard biozones are recognized, consisting of Grantiana, Parkinsoni, Zigzag, Retrocostatum, Bullatus, Gracilis, Anceps, Coronatum, Athleta, Lamberti, Transversarium, Bifurcatus, Bimammatum, Planula, Platynota, Hypselocyclum, and Acanthicum. These biozones show the age of late Bajocian – late Kimmeridgian for the Dalichai Formation. The studied ammonitic assemblages are closely related to the other Middle-Late Jurassic fauna from Iran and further peri-Mediterranean regions, which correlates with the Sub-Mediterranean province.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare type of pancreatic exocrine neoplasm that is frequently diagnosed at late stages with a high rate of metastasis. Identification of new biomarkers for PACC can improve our knowledge of its biology, early detection, or targeted therapy. In this study, hybridoma technology was used to generate mAbs against Faraz-ICR, a pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma cell line.

Cell ELISA and flow cytometry were used for screening, and the 4H12 hybridoma clone was selected for further analysis. The 4H12 mAb was specific for myosin heavy chain-9 (MYH9) as determined by Immunoprecipitation, Western blot, and mass spectrometry.

This antibody reacted variably with other cancer cells, in comparison to Faraz-ICR cell. Besides, by immunohistochemical staining, the acinar cell tumor, which was the source of Faraz-ICR, showed high MYH9 expression. Among 21 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases, nine (42.8%) expressed MYH9 with low intensity, while 10 (47.8%) and 2 (9.5%) cases expressed MYH9 with moderate to strong intensities, respectively. The 4H12 mAb inhibited the proliferation of Faraz-ICR cells in a dose-dependent manner from 0.75 to 12.5 μg/ml concentrations (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.002). IC50 values were achieved at 12.09 ± 4.19 µg/ml and 7.74 ± 4.28 µg/ml after 24- and 48-h treatment, respectively.

Our data suggest that the 4H12 mAb can serve as a tool for investigating the role of MYH9 pancreatic cancer biology and prognosis.

The coal seams of the Hojedk Formation have appropriate thicknesses, but the exact age of their permeable beds in the Sarapardeh stratigraphic section is indeterminate. In this study, we use the main plant groupschr('39') fossils of these beds to precise age dating. This study led to identifying 18 species belonging to 13 genera and 7 orders of plant fossils. In Sarapardeh section, coal beds include d0, d2, d3, d4, d5, d8, d9, d12. Phlebopteris angustiloba is the most abundant and well-preserved species associated with the d2 coal seam, which is the main industrial coal bed and is very thick in this section. This species is introduced from Iran with the new Middle Jurassic age for the first time. According to the index species Klukia exilis, Eboracia lobifolia, Nilssonia friziensis, Bajoician-Bathonian age is suggested for coal layers d3, d5, and d8. The floral gradient score (59) in the Sarapardeh stratigraphic section is comparable to the Kalshaneh area of Tabas (58.5), which indicates a humid and subtropical climate.

TNF-α and IL-6 are both pleiotropic cytokines playing major roles in cancer-associated cytokine networks. They have previously been investigated for their function in skin malignancies, mostly melanomas, and studies on non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) patients are relatively rara. In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α with NMSCs and its clinicopathological features.

This cases-control study was carried out to assess the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in 70 NMSC patients, in comparison with 30 healthy individuals, by means of flow cytometric bead-based immuneoassay.

Serum levels of both TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly higher in NMSC patients (6.470 vs. 4.355 pg/ml; p = 0.0468, respectively), compared to healthy individuals (3.205 vs. 0.000 pg/ml; p = 0.0126, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, squamous cell carcinomas patients had higher serum levels of IL-6 compared to healthy individuals (3.445 vs. 0.000 pg/ml; p = 0.0432). No other significant differences were observed in the serum levels of these two cytokines among different clinicopathological subgroups of the patients.

The increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in NMSC patients can be introduced as an epiphenomenon of a complex cancer-induced cytokine cascade.

To separate the different units of the Paleogene sequences of the Kopet-Dagh basin and their regional correlation with the adjacent areas in the Central Asia, the Oyster bivalves fossils are used in the current research. Also, the study of their paleobiogeography has been considered in this study. Based on this fauna, Pycnodonte-Oestra community in the Chehelkaman Formation uppermost parts represents the late Paleocene age and the first occurrence of Flemingostrea hemiglobosa at the base of the Khangiran Formation confirms the beginning of Eocene epoch. Association of different species and subspecies of Turkostrea in the Khangiran Formation demonstrates the middle part of early Eocene and Sokolowia community near the top of the Khangiran Formation shows the Lotetian-Bartonin ages. These features are in full compliance with the bivalve communities recorded from the other parts of Central Asia such as Amu-Darya, Farghana, Afghan - Tajik and Trim basin of China. It illustrates the same geological history of the mentioned areas during Paleogene, indicates the occurrence of different types of molluscan taxa in the Kopet-Dagh basin is the same as parallel horizons and equivalent time units throughout the extensive Central Asian region.

Early and Middle Jurassic, continental sediments of considerable thickness are widespread in the northern, central, and central-eastern Iran (Kilpper, 1964, 1968, 1971, Barnard and Miller, 1976, Sadovnikov, 1976, 1984, 1991, Corsin and Stampfli, 1977, Fakhr, 1977, Schweitzer and Kirchner, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2003, Schweitzer et al., 1997, 2000, 2009, Vaez-Javadi and Pour-Latifi, 2004, Vaez-Javadi and Mirzaei-Ataabadi, 2006, Vaez-Javadi, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015a, b, 2018, Saadatnejad et al., 2010, Vaez-Javadi and Abbasi, 2012, 2018, Vaez-Javadi and Allameh, 2015). For a more detailed study, plant macrofossils from Chah-Rekhneh were considered here.
Material, metho

The plant fossils have been driven from a borehole in Chah-Rekhneh, 62km of SW Tabas city, 33˚17´56ʺ North latitude, 56˚24´01ʺ East longitude. A total of 84 specimens have been collected from a 240 m stratigraphic-core section. Some specimens yielded more than one fossil. The flora from this locality here is introduced for the first time. Material cited in this work (prefixed MJHCh; acronym for Mehdizadeh, Javadi, Hojedk, and Chah-Rekhneh) is held in the collection of the Palaeobotany Laboratory of the Department of Geology at the University of Ferdowsi, Mashhad. Biostratigraphy of the Chah-Rekhneh The Hojedk Formation consists of shale, siltstone, and fine-sandy silt alternating with thick medium-grained sandstone at the base of column. Several coal seams are present at the middle and upper part of the core column. One assemblage biozone was established in this section with lower and upper boundaries identified by FOO (First Observed Occurrence) and LOO (Last Observed Occurrence) of Coniopteris hymenophylloides and Klukia exilis, respectively. Furthermore, three informal subzones were recognized which are upward: I- Equisetites beanii- Ptilophyllum harrisianum Interval zone; II- Ptilophyllum harrisianum- Elatides thomasii Interval zone, III- Elatides thomasii - Nilssonia macrophylla Interval zone.Palaeoclimate Analysis In order to recognize palaeoclimate of the Chah-Rekhneh area during the Middle Jurassic, plant macrofossils relative abundance analysis and floral gradient method were used. Ziegler et al. (1996) assigned all Jurassic leaf genera to ten coarser morphological categories (or 'morphocats'). Rees et al. (2000) explained "Floral gradient" analysis. They show how this analysis can be used to interpret phytogeographic patterns based on the axis 1 scores of individual leaf genera and corresponding plant localities, due to their relative degrees of association. Then the climatical distribution in terms of the basic morphological characteristics of individual leaf genera and the palaeogeographic distribution of plant localities can be understood. By calculating the average of the scaled (0 to 100) axis 1 scores of the 32 genera common to all three intervals, a Jurassic 'floral gradient' has been derived. Floral gradient score of this flora in Chah-Rekhneh is 41.81. It shows that the flora assigned to the middle part of Floral Gradient table and suggests a humid and sub-tropical climate during early Middle Jurassic.

The Hojedk Formation in the Chah-Rekhneh area, south west Tabas contains 33 plant macrofossil species (21 genera) of various orders. On the basis of FOO and LOO of index species, one assemblage zone- Coniopteris hymenophylloides-Klukia exilis Assemblage zone and three informal subzones were recognized. These subzones are upward: I- Equisetites beanii- Ptilophyllum harrisianum Interval zone, II- Ptilophyllum harrisianum- Elatides thomasii Interval zone, and III- Elatides thomasii - Nilssonia macrophylla Interval zone. The occurrence of index fossils such as Klukia exilix and Elatides thomasii, Aalenian-Bajocian are assigned for this assemblage. Statistical analysis studies reveal that Order Filicales, Cycadales, Pinales and Equisetales with relative abundance of 46.31%, 23.50%, 12% and 9.26%, and Nilssonia, Klukia, Coniopteris and Equisetites were the most abundant genera with 22.81%, 13.38%, 8.40% and 8.40%, respectively in the Chah-Rekhneh area. Therefore, based on relative abundance of Filicales and Cycadales, the occurrence of Equisetites beanii as index species of climatic and ecologic, and average floral gradient score (41.81), a humid sub-tropical palaeoclimate was dominant in this area during the Aalenian-Bajocian interval.