نشریه دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند
سال بیست و هشتم شماره 4 (پیاپی 89، زمستان 1400)

Nanobiotechnology has provided promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies which capable to create a broad spectrum of nano-based imaging agents and medicines for human administrations. Several studies have demonstrated that the surface of nanomaterials is immediately coated with suspended proteins after contact with plasma or other biological fluids to form protein corona-nanoparticle complexes. Cells react after exposure with these complexes. since, the biological fate and functions of nanomaterials are determined by physiological responses to protein -nanoparticle complexes in this article, we aimed to review some studies about the effects of the protein profiles and physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles in the biological environment on the formation of protein corona and subsequent the biological responses upon exposure to nanoparticles. Also, some used methods for of protein corona analysis has been reviewed. It has been shown that the biological impacts of protein corona may be both constructive and/or destructive in the biomedical applications of nanomaterials. The protein corona–cell interactions can facilitate targeted delivery and cellular absorption of therapeutic nanomaterials and also, they mitigate the unfavorable cytotoxic effects of nanoparticles. On the other hand, these interactions may cause rapid clearance of nanoparticles from the body as well as the activation of undesirable inflammatory responses. Hence, the study of the formation mechanism and biological effects of protein corona plays an important role in the design of nanoparticles with specific physicochemical properties proportional with their intended biological activity.

Herbal essential oils (EOs) have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities due to the high amount of bioactive compounds; therefore, they are considered good candidates for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The present study aimed to assess the total phenolic content and in vitro comparative study of the biological activities of EOs from different plants (e.g., clove, common sage, savory, and organum).

In this experimental study, total phenolic content in EOs was determined, and their antioxidant capacity was measured by the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The components of essential oil were identified using a Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) device. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of EOs was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were evaluated by the broth macro dilution method. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's multiple range test.

The highest content of total phenol (157.07±2.37 mg GAL/g dry weight) was recorded for EO of organum. Moreover, the highest percentage of free radical scavenging was determined at 98.142% for organum. The results of GC/MS analysis depicted that monoterpenes were the main compounds of Eos of organum, and the highest value was obtained for the alpha-pinene (74.04%). Furthermore, the results of antibacterial activity of EOs demonstrated that the highest zone of inhibition with a diameter of 44±0.81 mm was observed for the EO of organum. The lowest values of MIC and MBC were reported as 0.275 and 0.55 mg/mL for the EOs of organum and savory against gram-positive Bacillus cereus, respectively.

As evidenced by the results of the current study, the assessed Eos, specifically those of organum, have effective antioxidant and antibacterial activity against bacteria strains, especially gram-positive ones, and can be used as safe antimicrobial compounds in food and health products.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with such symptoms as steatosis, fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. Kelussia has attracted assiduous attention due to its protective effects on the liver. The PNPLA3 gene is mainly expressed in the liver and plays a major role in the degradation rate of hepatic triglycerides. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of Kelussia extract on PNPLA3 gene expression in rats with fatty liver and healthy rats.

This experimental study was conducted on 24 male Wistar rats in the control group (no treatment), obese group (which received a high-fat diet), treatment group 1 (which received a high-fat diet with Kelussia extract 400 mg/kg) and treatment group 2 (a high-fat diet with Kelussia extract 800 mg/kg) for six weeks. Blood samples were taken from rats and the factors of (LDL, HDL, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, and fasting sugar) were measured. After sampling the rat liver, the effect of Kelussia on PNPLA3 gene expression was investigated using the Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and analyzed in SPSS software (version 22).

Based on the results, Kelussia extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg resulted in a more dramatic decrease in PNPLA3 gene expression in rats with fatty liver, compared to a dose of 400 mg /kg, and this reduction was statistically significant, compared to the fatty liver group (P<0.05). The results of biochemical tests confirmed liver improvement in the rats treated with Kelussia extract at a dose of 800 mg/kg.

It can be said that Kelussia had a beneficial effect on the reduction of blood lipids; moreover, it reduces the accumulation of triglycerides in the liver and improves the tissue structure of the liver by reducing the expression of PNPLA3 gene; therefore, with more studies, it can be considered a supplement to reduce blood lipids.

Bisphenol A (BPA) falls in the category of hormonal disruptors due to its widespread application, and several studies have revealed its toxicity in different doses. However, few studies have investigated the effect of BPA on the renal system. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of BPA on renal system function in rats.

Initially, the rats were divided into 6 groups (n=6). Group 1 received only the carrier substance. The rats in the second to sixth groups were gavaged with BPA in 0.1, 1, 10, 50, and, 100 mg/kg/BW/day doses for 29 days, respectively. On the 30th day, blood samples were taken from the heart and kidney tissues were separated after collecting 24 h urine. Biochemical parameters including urea, creatinine, total urine and serum protein, and serum albumin were measured subsequently. Eventually, kidney tissue was sent to a laboratory for histological examination.

There was no significant difference in serum creatinine levels in rats treated with different doses of bisphenol A. However, its level in urine increased at 50 mg/kg dose, compared to 1 and 10 mg/kg doses (P<0.001). Serum and urine urea increased significantly only at of 10 mg/kg dose, compared to 1 and 0.1 mg/kg doses (P<0.001). Serum albumin was reduced at 100 mg/kg dose, compared to controls. Total serum protein decreased at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, compared to controls and increased in urine at 50mg/kg dose (P<0.001). The protein/creatinine ratio increased significantly at doses of 1 to 50 mg/kg (P<0.001). Histological examination also revealed that BPA caused degenerative, infiltration, and dilation changes in kidney tissue in a dose-dependent manner.

Based on the obtained data, BPA at 50 and 100 mg/kg concentrations could lead to kidney tissue damage in rats and subsequent renal failure.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important risk factor for the development of liver cancer. The HCV NS3 protein plays a key role in the virus life cycle and can affect normal cellular activities, such as cell proliferation, cell death, and cell signaling pathways. Moreover, it may influence malignancy development. Two cellular genes, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and Glypican3 (GPC3), that are assessed in this study, play important roles in the regulation of the cell signaling pathways, including cell proliferation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of HCV NS3 protein on the expressions of these two genes in the Balb/C mouse model.

This study was performed on three groups of male mice of Balb/C (n=8). The first group received NS3 plasmid, the second group received hepatitis B virus HBx plasmid, and the negative control group received distilled water. Two injections were administered via the tail vein, and after the last injection, RNA was extracted from the liver tissue. Next, the cDNA synthesis and real-time polymerase chain reaction for relevant genes were performed.

Findings revealed that the relative expression of the selected genes in the NS3 group was significant in comparison with the negative control group (P=0.0229 for GPC3 and 0.0020 for HSP70). However, there was no significant difference between the NS3 group and the HBx group (P=0.4516 for GPC3 and 0.6740 for HSP70).

Results showed that NS3 protein may affect the increasing expression of the mentioned genes. Nevertheless, for more precise understanding, much more studies should be performed, such as evaluation of the effect of NS3 on other involved proteins in cell signaling pathways, studying other domains of NS3, performance of pathological and histological tests, usage of various experimental methods, assessment of the role of NS4A as a cofactor for NS3, and usage of vectors with more stability.

The Coronavirus has become a global pandemic that has affected most countries in the world. Hairdresser salon as a public place can transmit infectious diseases, such as AIDS, hepatitis as well as viral, fungal, and skin diseases that are often due to non-compliance with hygiene principles. This study aimed to investigate the observance of health instructions regarding the prevention and control of Coronavirus disease in men's hairdresser salons in Birjand, Iran, in 2020.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 145 hairdresser salons in Birjand were selected through the random sampling method. The data collection tool was a checklist that was prepared according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 18) using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a significance level of ≤ 0.05.

The findings showed that the total mean score of the observance of workplace health and hygiene guidelines was 24.28±2.52 and the average observance of health instructions in the field of health and personal protection, building hygiene, tool and equipment hygiene, and food hygiene were 13.73±2.08, 2.31±0.68, 7.22±0.64, and 1.01±0.11, respectively. Observance of health instructions was found to have a significant relationship with age and geographical region (P≤0.05).

According to the results, it seems necessary to train hairdressers in terms of observing health instructions. Moreover, men’s hairdresser salons should be continuously monitored by health experts.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging disease, whose first case was reported in December 2019, and rapidly affected the world. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the frequency and factors associated with morbidity and mortality due to COVID -19 in Ghaen, Iran.

This retrospective descriptive-analytical study used the information sources of the portal of Shohada Ghaen Hospital, Gaen, Iran, from March 2020 to December 2021, which was collected from 1,124 patients with suspected respiratory infection referring to the hospital. Data using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test for univariate relationships. Moreover, two-way logistic regression was used to investigate the causal relationships, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

In this study, the mean age of participants (n=1,124) was obtained at 51.6±24.5 years, and 546 (48.6%) subjects had a positive COVID-19 test by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, among whom 65 (11.9%) cases passed away. Clinical symptoms of body aches, coughs, diarrhea, and shortness of breath were associated with a positive COVID-19 test. It was also revealed that habitat, diabetes, cardiovascular and lung diseases, age, and job were risk factors of COVID-19 infection, and hospitalization in the ICU and age were identified as risk factors for COVID-19-caused death (P<0.05).

In the present study, cough and shortness of breath were found to be the most frequent symptoms among patients and deceased individuals. Since these symptoms may be associated with a worse prognosis, they require the special attention of medical staff. The findings of this study also showed that the elderly were more at risk of death from this disease than other age groups, which increased the need for more education and attention to this group of society.

Mentalized affectivity is a new approach that expresses the process of emotion regulation through a dynamic perspective. Since social-cognitive variables and cultural context play a major role in the process of mentalized affectivity, the present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale in Iran.

A total of 447 students were selected via the convenience sampling method. The Persian version of Mentalized Affectivity Scale was administered simultaneously with other scales. exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses was used to evaluate the validity of the scale. Moreover, convergent validity and divergent validity of this scale were assessed with other scales. The reliability of the scale was calculated by Cronbach's alpha, coefficient theta, and composite reliability.

The results of exploratory factor analysis showed four factors of emotion recognition, emotion processing, emotion tracing, and emotion expression. The significant correlation of factors with the used scales pointed to the content validity and divergent validity of the scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale was 0.93. The composite reliability of the factors was in the range of 0.82-0.89, and the coefficient theta of the scale was reported as 0.98. With respect to average variance extracted (AVE) greater than 0.5 and composite reliability greater than 0.8, the convergent validity of the factors was confirmed.

As evidenced by the obtained results, the Persian version of the Mentalized Affectivity Scale is a valid scale in the field of emotion regulation and social cognition that can be used for Iranian populations. The factor structure includes four factors.

Pathophysiological changes in the mouth of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) predispose to overgrowth of Candida albicans. Various virulence factors such as proteinase and phospholipase production are involved in the process of degradation of the host cell membrane. These enzymes are involved in binding Candida species, especially in the hyphae stage, to the target tissue. In this study, the proteinase and phospholipase activity of 51 C. albicans strains was evaluated. Overall, the rates of proteolytic and phospholipase activities in controlled and uncontrolled diabetic patients were 90.2% and 72.5%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between proteinase and phospholipase activities in both groups of patients (P>0.05), while there was a significant difference between the activity of hydrolytic enzymes with HbA1C and dentures in the uncontrolled diabetic group (P<0.05). According to the importance of hydrolytic enzymes activity of C. albicans species in diabetic patients, oral health of diabetic patients to control and prevent disease progression in these patients is essential.

Regarding immune-regulatory roles of vitamin D as well as its effect on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the present study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in patients with COPD exacerbation. The study population included 70 patients with COPD exacerbation who were hospitalized in the general ward of an affiliated hospital with Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran. Blood samples were taken from the patients and transmitted to the laboratory for vitamin D serum levels assessment after serum separation. The patients were staged according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Spirometry was performed during the disease exacerbation and one month after discharge. The Mean±SD age of the studied patients was 65.44±13.3 years. Out of the70 studied patients in this study, 33 (47.1%), 28 (40%), and 9 (11.7%) cases had vitamin D deficiency,  insufficient levels of vitamin D, and normal serum levels of vitamin D, respectively. Mean±SD vitamin D serum level in the studied patients was obtained at 14.1±1.98 ng/dl. No significant difference was observed between vitamin D serum levels in different stages in terms of severity of COPD (P=0.26). Based on the obtained results, most patients with COPD exacerbation suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, the measurement of vitamin D serum level and prescription of vitamin D supplements seem to be a necessary measure for these patients.