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Introduction. Leishmaniasis is still a neglected tropical disease that can endanger more than 350 million people among 98 countries. Leishmania can survive in fibroblasts as latent inactive forms. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in cell culture for tracking the labeled Leishmania major in fibroblasts. Methods. Dextran-coated SPIONs were used for labeling L. major in co-culture of fibroblasts with the parasite. To quantify and trace SPION-labeled Leishmania, Prussian blue staining was undertaken. Fibroblast characterization was undertaken by real time polymerase chain reaction. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used for confirming the entry of the labeled L. major to the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the fibroblast. Results. Fibroblasts were spindle-shaped and adherent to culture flasks. Promastigotes were with thin elongated lance-like morphology with an anterior kinetoplast and an emergent free flagellum. Prussian blue staining revealed that internalized SPIONs were localized within cytoplasm and nucleus of the fibroblasts after 24 hours of culture. Prussian blue staining successfully showed the presence of iron (stained blue) in labeled L. major within the fibroblasts. This finding was confirmed by TEM, and labeled L. major was detected in the fibroblast cytoplasm and nucleus too. Conclusion. We can conclude that SPIONs are safe, inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate, and a fast method to label Leishmania parasite in cells that the parasite can be latent, such as fibroblasts. These findings can open a new window in diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and can be added to the literature.

In recent decades, green aspects became a key priority for governments worldwide, as sustainable policies are able to promote a more equitable society and a healthier economy from the social, economic, and environmental perspectives, in addition to preserving natural resources for future generations. As an essential context in information technology management, green information technology (GIT) has been developed to cope with the existing environmental problems through organizations. The present study is aimed at identifying the influential factors of decision-making on the adoption of GIT. To collect the required data, interviews were performed along with a structured survey. A total of 112 questionnaires were delivered to chief information officers (CIOs), 99 of which underwent the analysis. The structural equation and partial least square approaches were adopted for data analysis. GIT driver (G-driver) was found to be an intermediary parameter. Findings revealed the GIT readiness (G-readiness) and GIT context (G-context) result in in GIT adoption whenever there was a G-driver indicator (i.e., ethical driver, economic driver, response driver, or regulatory driver). The present study found the significance of all the variables to be above 1.96 except G-context −> green intention to adoption path and G-readiness −> green intention to adoption. Considering that the determination of coefficients and the analysis of relationships between factors directly depends on the opinion of experts and if the opinion of expert’s changes, the results will also change; this can be mentioned as the most important limitation of the research. Therefore, it should be noted that the largest impact was identified to be posed by the economical driver.

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is an X-linked dominant neurocutaneous syndrome with ophthalmologic, neurologic, cutaneous, and dental manifestations and in most cases antenatally lethal in boys. Occasionally, typical IP may occur in boys due to Klinefelter syndrome or a genomic mosaicism. Skin lesions are observed in 4 stages: blistering, verrucous linear plaques, swirling macular hyperpigmentation, followed by linear hypopigmentation that develop during adolescence and early adulthood. Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection can be manifested in 3 forms: localized, disseminated, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Timely diagnosis and treatment of neonatal HSV infection is critical. In this case report, we present a 12-day female newborn with a history of maternal genital HSV in second trimester and vesicular lesions on the upper and lower limbs that was appeared at first hours of life. She was admitted in the maternity hospital that was born and was treated by antibiotic and acyclovir for 11 days. Then, she readmitted for her distributed vesicular lesions. The results of blood and CSF for HSV PCR were negative. Eventually the diagnosis for incontinentia pigmenti was made by consultation with a dermatologist, and skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

Summary The relationships between somatic growth and otolith dimensions, otolith size to estimated age and growth parameters of the tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) were investigated in 100 specimens (size range: 19.1–52.0 cm, total length) from the Oman Sea area, September 2014. All 100 otoliths were sectioned and determined by age. The oldest specimen was a 4.5-year-old female with a total length of 40.6 cm; the youngest specimen was also a female estimated at 1 year of age with a total length of 19.1 cm. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was estimated as Lt = 54.70 (1 − exp (−0.37 (t + 0.21))). Concluded was that there is a significant relationship between body size, otolith dimensions and estimated age of Otolithes ruber.

Aim. Sonography has been brought in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) as an adjunct to or substitute for X-ray to restrict radiation exposure. This study was designed to investigate the possible predictors for the success of the solo sonographically guided PCNL.Methods. 148 consecutive cases were prospectively enrolled. All steps of PCNL were performed solely with sonography guidance under spinal anesthesia. Residual stones were evaluated the day after surgery using sonography and plain radiography.Results. The mean age was46±15years; 40% of kidneys had hydronephrosis. The mean stone burden was504±350 mm2. The mean duration of surgery was43±21minutes. The early stone-free rate was 92% in inferior or middle calyceal stones, 89.5% in single pelvic stones, 81.5% in partial staghorn stones, and 61.9% in staghorn stones. The mean residual stone size was13±8 mm. Logistic regression showed that a lower age and a larger stone burden significantly predicted positive residual stones. Fifteen percent of patients presented with grade I or II and six percent showed grade III complication based on Clavien classification. There was no cases of organ injury or death.Conclusion. Solo ultrasonographically guided PCNL under spinal anesthesia is feasible with an acceptable stone-free rate and complication rate.

Considering the variety of studies that have been reported in low-power designing era, the subthreshold design trend in Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits has experienced a significant development in recent years. Growing need for the lowest power consumption has been the primary motivation for increase in research in this area although other goals, such as lowest energy delay production, have also been achieved through sub-threshold design. There are, however, few extensive studies that provide a comprehensive design insight to catch up with the rapid pace and large-scale implementations of sub-threshold digital design methodology. This paper presents a complete review of recent studies in this field and explores all aspects of sub-threshold design methodology. Moreover, near-threshold design and low-power pipelining are also considered to provide a general review of sub-threshold applications. At the end, a discussion about future directions in ultralow-power design is also included.

Significant controversy exists regarding vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) management, due to lack of sufficient prospective studies. The rationale for surgical management is that VUR can cause recurrent episodes of pyelonephritis and long-term renal damage. Several surgical techniques have been introduced during the past decades. Open anti-reflux operations have high success rate, exceeding 95%, and long durability. The goal of this article is to review the Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty technique, which is a simple and highly successful technique but has not gained the attention it deserves. The mainstay of this technique is approximation of medial aspects of ureteral orifices to midline by one mattress suture. A unique advantage of Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty is its bilateral nature, which results in prevention from contralateral new reflux. Regarding not altering the normal course of the ureter in Gil-Vernet procedure, later catheterization of and retrograde access to the ureter can be performed normally. There is no report of ureterovesical junction obstruction following Gil-Vernet procedure. Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty can be performed without inserting a bladder catheter and drain on an outpatient setting. Several exclusive advantages of Gil-Vernet trigonoplasty make it necessary to reconsider the technique role in VUR management.