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The transcription factor, known as basic leucine zipper ATF-like 3 (BATF3), is a crucial contributor to the development of conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1), which is definitely required for priming CD8 + T cell-mediated immunity against intracellular pathogens and malignancies. In this respect, BATF3-dependent cDC1 can bring about immunological tolerance, an autoimmune response, graft immunity, and defense against infectious agents such as viruses, microbes, parasites, and fungi. Moreover, the important function of cDC1 in stimulating CD8 + T cells creates an excellent opportunity to develop a highly effective target for vaccination against intracellular pathogens and diseases. BATF3 has been clarified to control the development of CD8α+ and CD103+ DCs. The presence of BATF3-dependent cDC1 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) reinforces immunosurveillance and improves immunotherapy approaches, which can be beneficial for cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, BATF3 acts as a transcriptional inhibitor of Treg development by decreasing the expression of the transcription factor FOXP3. However, when overexpressed in CD8 + T cells, it can enhance their survival and facilitate their transition to a memory state. BATF3 induces Th9 cell differentiation by binding to the IL-9 promoter through a BATF3/IRF4 complex. One of the latest research findings is the oncogenic function of BATF3, which has been approved and illustrated in several biological processes of proliferation and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific research over the past decades has proven the pivotal role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in regulating gene expression. The immune responses are controlled through the interaction of pro-inflammatory (predominance of T helper 17 cells (Th17)) and anti-inflammatory cytokines excretion (predominance of Regulatory T cells (Treg)). Recent studies have marked the impact of many diverse LncRNAs on Treg/Th17 imbalances. Moreover, some of the roots and causes of human diseases can be associated with the alterations in the Th17/Treg ratio. In this review study, we overviewed the association between LncRNAs and Th17/Treg, with the potential of providing novel prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets in various diseases, particularly cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysregulation is an early event in carcinogenesis. Here, we examined the expression of enzymes involved in de novo lipogenesis (ATP-citrate lyase: ACLY), glucose uptake (Glucose Transporter 1: GLUT1), and folate–glutamate metabolism (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen: PSMA) as potential biomarkers of risk for early prostate cancer progression. Patients who were managed initially on active surveillance with a Gleason score of 6 or a low-volume Gleason score of 7 (3 + 4) were accrued from a prostate cancer diagnostic assessment program. Patients were asked to donate their baseline diagnostic biopsy tissues and permit access to their clinical data. PSMA, GLUT1, and ACLY expression were examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in baseline biopsies, quantitated by Histologic Score for expression in benign and malignant glands, and compared with patient time remaining on active surveillance (time-on-AS). All three markers showed trends for elevated expression in malignant compared to benign glands, which was statistically significant for ACLY. On univariate analysis, increased PSMA and GLUT1 expression in malignant glands was associated with shorter time-on-AS (HR: 5.06, [CI 95%: 1.83–13.94] and HR: 2.44, [CI 95%: 1.10–5.44], respectively). Malignant ACLY and benign gland PSMA and GLUT1 expression showed non-significant trends for such association. On multivariate analysis, overexpression of PSMA in malignant glands was an independent predictor of early PC progression (p = 0.006). This work suggests that the expression of metabolic enzymes determined by IHC on baseline diagnostic prostate biopsies may have value as biomarkers of risk for rapid PC progression. PSMA may be an independent predictor of risk for progression and should be investigated further in systematic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Anzaroot" is an exudate gum obtained from Astragalus species in Iran. Plant gum exudates contain hydrophilic biopolymers, and carbohydrates are the most important ingredients in the gums. Carbohydrates possess different biological properties like enhancement of immunity and antioxidant effect. This study aimed to isolate the novel carbohydrates from Astragalus arbusculinus Bornm. & Gauba gum and investigate their monosaccharides composition and antioxidant activity. For this purpose, the crude water-soluble A. arbusculinus extract was fractionated by DEAE-52 column chromatography. The A. arbusculinus carbohydrate (AAC) fraction was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography- evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD), and eight compounds, including two major, were detected in its chromatogram. Subsequently, preparative-thin layer chromatography (prep-TLC) was used to isolate and purify the two major compounds, named AAC1 and AAC2. The structural features of AAC1 and AAC2 were investigated by a combination of monosaccharide component analysis using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID), and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The results indicated that AAC1 was composed of six monosaccharide components, including glucose, rhamnose, and arabinose, with a relative molar ratio of 4:1:1 and molecular weight 971.4531 Da approved by GC–MS and MALDI-TOF analyses, respectively. Also, AAC2 was composed of six monosaccharide units, including glucose, pinitol, and arabinose, with a relative molar ratio of 4:1:1 and molecular weight of 987.4084 Da. Radical scavenging activity of the two compounds was also evaluated against DPPH. [Display omitted] • Two new neutral oligosaccharides were purified from Astragalus arbuscolinus gum. • They were characterized by GC–MS, GC-FID, FT-IR and MALDI-TOF as the members of the glucan family. • Antioxidant activities of two oligosaccharides were fairly acceptable on DPPH assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND In the present study, an extraction method affected by sonication intensity (40%, 70% and 100%), sonication time (5, 10 and 15 min) and different solvents (ethanol, methanol and a combination of ethanol/methanol) was optimized to extract the white tea with the greatest polyphenolic compounds using a response surface methodology. To prepare the nano‐liposomal vesicles, phospholipids and cholesterol in various proportions (60:0, 40:20, 30:30 and 20:40) were applied based on thin‐film hydration and ultrasound method. The nano‐capsules enriched in bioactive compounds were examined through particle characteristics, encapsulation efficiency, morphological analysis, thermal properties and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: The observations showed that the extraction yield highly depended on the type of solvent with varying permeability, sonication time and power. The highest total phenolic content (68.38 mg GA g–1) and free radical scavenging activity (77.65%) were observed for the following optimal conditions: 70% for sonication intensity, 15 min for sonication time and methanol as solvent. Characteristics of nanoliposomes within a compositional ratio of lecithin/cholesterol (40:20) and with a zeta potential of −56 ± 0.01 mV, as well as white tea extract (WTE) samples with an average particle diameter of 82.20 ± 0.08, microencapsulation efficiency of 76.5% ± 0.081, polydispersity index of 0.06 ± 0.02 and span value of 0.69 ± 0.03. are used as the optimal formulation for microencapsulation of antioxidant WTE. The results demonstrated an increment in thermal stability of liposomal WTE samples compared to other samples. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study indicated that nano‐liposomes comprise an effective technology for coating the WTE, as well as to increasing its stability and thermal properties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The aim of the current study was to evaluate and compare the influence of Dycal, Lime-Lite, TheraCal LC, Biodentine, resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC), and Activa BioActive as the pulp capping material on the shear bond strength of resin composite to dentin. Methods. A total of 70 extracted caries-free molars were randomly assigned to seven groups. Six test groups were covered with various protective liners: Dycal, TheraCal LC, Lime-Lite, Activa BioActive, Biodentine, and RMGIC. The control group received no liner pretreatment. Each sample was bonded to resin composite using the total-etch Tetric N bond adhesive. The samples were then tested for shear bond strength using the universal testing machine at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min until bond failure occurred. The data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test followed by the Tamhane post hoc test for pairwise comparisons of the groups. Results. Independent of the type of the applied liner, all groups exhibited inferior SBS to dentin compared to the control group. TheraCal and RMGIC showed significantly higher shear bond strength than Biodentine and Dycal, which showed the lowest shear bond strength. Lime-Lite and Activa also had significantly lower SBS results than TheraCal. The mode of fracture was predominantly cohesive in Dycal, Biodentine, and TheraCal and adhesive in Activa. Conclusion. This present study concludes that the bond strength of resin composite to dentin can be affected differently using various types of liners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new approach is proposed for stability analysis and controller design of nonlinear discrete-time positive systems by means of the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy model. The closed-loop stability and the positivity constraint are guaranteed by synthesizing a linear co-positive Lyapunov function and by applying the parallel distributed compensation controller. In contrast to the state-of-the-art approaches for ensuring the $\ell _{1}$ -stability of the positive system which are based on bilinear matrix inequalities, the proposed optimal robust control design under $\ell _{1}$ -induced performance is derived based on linear programming framework. It has been shown that the computational complexity of the proposed optimization problem can be effectively reduced. Finally, a numerical example and the Leslie population model are adopted to show the capabilities of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gum ammoniacum is a polymer obtained from Dorema ammoniacum and its medicinal use was already known to the ancient times. In this study, a new D. ammoniacum carbohydrate (DAC-1) with a molecular weight of 27.1 kDa was extracted by hot water and then purified on DEAE-52-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 columns. The structural features of DAC-1 were investigated by partial acid hydrolysis, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), methylation, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1D & 2D NMR). The results indicated that DAC-1 was an arabinogalactan including galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, glucuronic acid and 4- O -methyl- β - d -glucopyranosyl uronic acid (meGlc p A) with a relative percentage of 44.63%, 23.30%, 13.46%. 12.47%, and 6.14%. The structure units of DAC-1 were elucidated as 3,1)- β - D -Gal p -(6 → 1)- β - D -Gal p -(3,6 → containing four branch chains of →1,6)- β - D -Gal p -(3 → 1)- α - L -Ara f -(5 → 1)- β - D -Glc p A-(4 → 1)- α - L -Rha p -T (two times), →1,6)- β - D -Gal p -(3→1)- β - D -Gal p -(3 → 1)- β - D -Gal p -(3 → 1)- β - D -Gal p -(3 → 1)- α - L -Ara f -T and →1,6)- β - D -Gal p -(3 → 1)- α - L -Ara f -(5 → 1)- β - D -meGlc p A-T. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicated a semi-crystalline structure. Thermal behavior of the polysaccharide was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and revealed temperatures higher than 200 °C as dominant region of weight loss. DAC-1 showed acceptable antioxidant activity when analyzed by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and OH radical removal methods. • A new acidic polysaccharide (DAC-1) was purified from Dorema ammoniacum gum. • DAC-1 comprised 1,3,6-linked β-D-Galp units in backbone. • Side chains were attached to O-3 position of 1,3,6-linked β-D-Galp. • DAC-1 showed fairly acceptable antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: B-cell proliferative disorders, such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), are increased among persons afflicted by T-cell compromise. Most are Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) + and can first present with a focal lesion. Direct introduction of oncolytic viruses into localized tumors provides theoretical advantages over chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy by reducing systemic toxicity. Despite extensive study as a vehicle for gene therapy, adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have rarely been applied to human cancer research due to technical and theoretical obstacles. Moreover, human B-cells have historically been described as resistant to AAV infection. Nonetheless, advances using different recombinant (r)AAV serotypes with unique tropisms to deliver cytotoxic therapy suggested a localized anti-tumor approach was feasible. Methods: As a prelude to the development of a therapeutic vehicle, the ability of fifteen distinct EGFP-bearing rAAV serotypes to transduce human B-cells, including primary, immortalized, and B-cell tumor lines ± EBV was assessed by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and subsequently cell viability assay. Results: Rank order analysis revealed augmented transduction by rAAV6.2 and closely related virions. EBV infection of EBV-negative B-cell tumor lines and EBV immortalization of primary B-cells increased susceptibility to rAAV6.2 transduction. As a proof of concept, transduction by rAAV6.2 encoding herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1)-thymidine kinase (TK) eliminated TK-negative rhabdomyosarcoma cells and diminished viability of transduced B-cell lines upon incubation with ganciclovir. Conclusions: rAAV serotypes differentially transduce human B-cell lines reversing the dogma that human B-cells are refractory to AAV infection. EBV + B-cells display increased susceptibility to rAAV6.2 infection, uncovering a new method for improved nucleic acid transfer into transfection-resistant B-cell lines. The introduction of a functional suicide gene into the rAAV6.2 genome identifies a candidate vector for the development of rAAV-based oncolytic therapy targeting focal EBV-bearing B-lymphoproliferative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus is frequently involved in bovine subclinical mastitis worldwide. Besides, the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carrier state of animals is a matter of worrisome. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of MRSA, discriminatory geno-analysis and antibiotic resistance scheme of the strains isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in Kurdistan province of Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 283 samples were collected and analyzed for S. aureus phenotypically and molecularly. SCCmec and coa types, and pvl gene were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of coa types and the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates were assessed. Results: Among the 95 isolates of S. aureus, 11 (11.57%) strains were recognized as MRSA. Six, one, and four SCCmec types represented for IVa, IVc, and V were determined, respectively, among which an individual IVa and V determinant harboured pvl gene. Restriction digestion products of 490 bp, 680 bp, and 730 bp of coa bands were generated. Tobramycin, mupirocin, fusidic acid, clindamycin, and chloramphenicol were the most effective drugs against the MRSA isolates. Conclusion: The detrimental involvement of S. aureus in bovine subclinical mastitis is proved herein. Besides, the contribution of MRSA and potential contamination of milk and dairy products with the bacterium may impose a serious public health risk. This demands serious and long-lasting efforts to control the infection. The results may be effective in the implementation of accurate controlling strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the probable public health hazard imposed by bovine milk in relation to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and Coxiella burnetii in the West of Iran. The assessment of AFM1, using an ELISA test, indicated 62.22% and 21.11% of 45 samples of raw and pasteurised milk were above the permissible content of Codex and Iranian standard levels, respectively. Further, anti‐C. burnetii antibody was detected in 63.04% of bulk tank milk samples, with six samples harbouring the bacterial genome. High AFM1 contamination levels and an endemic pattern of Q fever warrant continuous surveillance programmes in the studied region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several reports designate the recent increase in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) nasal carriage. Because of the scanty information regarding the nasal carriage sate of MRSA in the west of Iran, the purpose of the present study was to determine the frequency of CA-MRSA in Sanandaj city.Methods: Swabs collected from anterior nares of 600 volunteers were analyzed for the presence of S. aureus. The isolates were further investigated for methicillin resistance by using the cefoxitin disk diffusion test, followed by PCR-amplification of the mecA gene. SCCmec types and the presence of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (pvl) encoding genes were determined through PCR. Finally, the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the agar diffusion method.Results: Nasal screening identified 181 S. aureus, of which 55 isolates were MRSA. SCCmec types IV and V were detected in MRSA at frequencies of 80 and 20%, respectively. The overall frequency of pvl genes among the MRSA isolates was 14.54%. MRSA isolates were highly susceptible (98.18%) to mupirocin, gentamicin, and fusidic acid.Conclusions: The high prevalence of CA-MRSA carriage in the population could pose a serious public health concern for the region. Additionally, advent of drug-resistant pvl-positive strains demands continuous surveillance on the colonization state of CA-MRSA in order to prevent dissemination of the bacterium in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian colibacillosis (AC) is frequently reported from poultry farms in the west of Iran. The aim of the present survey was to evaluate the phylogeny of Escherichia coli isolated from AC through the Clermont triplex protocol and gyrA gene sequencing. One hundred and fifty fresh carcasses suspected of having died from colibacillosis were sampled. The specimens were examined for E. coli isolation and identification. The extracted DNA repertoire of the isolates was subjected to phylogenetic analysis using Clermont triplex PCR. A DNA fragment of 1.8 kbp of the gyrA gene was amplified from a representative of each phylogroup or subgroup and the final product was sequenced to depict a phylogenetic tree. In general, among 119 E. coli isolates, 31.93%, 6.72%, 34.45%, and 23.52% were clustered in phylogroups A, B1, B2, and D, respectively. The phylogenetic assignment of the isolates based on the phylogenetic tree was completely uniform with the results of the triplex method. The outcome represents the segregation of avian pathogenic E. coli isolates to various phylogroups in the region. Moreover, the precise cluster analysis of E. coli based on gyrA sequencing confirms this method as a robust candidate for phylotyping of the bacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Listeria species are important foodborne pathogens, among which L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii cause human listeriosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Listeria species in farmed and on-sale rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Kurdistan province, western Iran. A total of 240 fresh rainbow trout fish (120 samples from farms and 120 samples from retail outlets) were collected and analyzed phenotypically for the presence of Listeria. All Listeria isolates were differentiated with molecular techniques, and L. monocytogenes strains were identified to serotype. The antibiotic susceptibility of all Listeria isolates also was determined. Among the 240 samples, 86 (35.83%) were contaminated with Listeria: 32 samples of farmed fish and 54 samples of on-sale fish. The prevalence among the 240 samples was 9.16% (22 samples) for L. monocytogenes, 6.66% (16 samples) for L. ivanovii, 3.75% (9 samples) for L. welshimeri, 4.99% (12 samples) for L. grayi, 7.5% (18 samples) for L. innocua, and 3.75% (9 samples) for L. seeligeri. The prevalences of the human pathogenic strains L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were 4.16% (5 samples) and 14.16% (17 samples) in farmed fish and 5.83% (7 samples) and 7.5% (9 samples) in on-sale fish, respectively. Of the 22 L. monocytogenes isolates, 15, 3, and 4 were identified as serotypes 4b, 1/2a, and 1/2b, respectively. The highest rates of antibiotic resistance among the 86 Listeria isolates was observed against tetracycline (62.79% of all isolates), enrofloxacin (56.97%), and ciprofloxacin (38.37%). Very high resistance was also detected against penicillin (36.04%) and ampicillin (34.88%). These results highlight the potential public health threat posed by fish contaminated with Listeria species, including L. monocytogenes, in the west of Iran. Regular monitoring of Listeria contamination, upgrading of sanitary conditions in the fish industry, and prudent use of antibiotics is strongly recommended in the region. At-risk individuals also should be aware of possible Listeria contamination in these fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two hybrid models are used for timing of the stock markets on the basis of the technical analysis of Japanese Candlestick by Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Heuristic Algorithms of Imperialist Competition and Genetic. In the first model, SVM and Imperialist Competition Algorithm (ICA) are developed for stock market timing in which ICA is used to optimize the SVM parameters. In the second model, SVM is used with Genetic Algorithm (GA) where GA is used for feature selection in addition to SVM parameters optimization. Here the two approaches, Raw-based and Signal-based are devised on the basis of the literature to generate the input data of the model. For a comparison, the Hit Rate is considered as the percentage of correct predictions for periods of 1–6 day. The results show that SVM-ICA performance is better than SVM-GA and most importantly the feed-forward static neural network of the literature as the standard one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northwest of Iran shares long borders with three neighboring countries; therefore, it is considered one of the main entry portals of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) into the country. Ten virulent NDVs were recovered from 19 poultry farms of various prefectures in northwestern Iran during Newcastle disease outbreaks in 2010. The isolates were genotypically analyzed using an F-gene-specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The amplified F gene (nucleotides 189-1666) sequences of the NDV isolates were compared phylogenetically with those of previously published strains in GenBank. All of the NDV isolates belonged to genotype VIIb and were closely related to some isolates from Iran, Russia, and Sweden. Therefore, it can be postulated that these isolates evolved from previously reported strains. The velogenic viruses carried the motif R-R-Q-K-R/F at the F cleavage site and a unique substitution of L→F which had never been reported in any NDV genotype VIIb isolate. They shared high sequence similarity with each other but were distinct from current NDV vaccines and NDV strains reported from other countries. This information is fundamental for improving the efficacy of controlling strategies and vaccine development for NDV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Group ARotaviruses are the main viral cause of acute gastroenteritis, leading to 870,000 deaths annually in the developing world and representing a major health problem. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of this disease are crucial. Gene rearrangement within segmented viruses as well as rotavirus is seen throughout chronic rotavirus infection in immunodeficient young children and through serial passage of rotavirus in cell culture at a high multiplicity of infection. Detailed knowledge of rotavirus biology allows design of a vaccine against rotavirus by engineered antigens. The aim of this study was to develop Poly (A) -Tailed Universal Reverse Transcription PCR method and compare the efficacy of this procedure with specific multiplex PCR protocol for detecting normal and rearranged segments. Methods: Virus was propagated on confluent monolayer of MA-104 cells and aliquots of each passage were kept frozen for further RNA genomic profiles analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Purified Rota virus RNA was polyadenylated and used forthe amplification and detection of normal and rearranged segments of rotavirus using RT-PCR. Results: The generation of gene rearrangement through multiple serial passages of rotavirus was shown using MOI 2 1 . The rearranged RNA segments of NSP1 and NSP3 genes with different migration pattern in PAGE were detected by poly(A)RT-PCR . Conclusion: In the current research, a novel Poly(A) -Tailed Universal Reverse Transcription PCR method was introduced forthe high throughput amplification and analysis of the informative untranslated regions of the Rotavirus genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research studies have shown that chronic administration of some antipsychotic drugs induces obesity in female but not in male. To explore the mechanisms involved in this effect, we administrated the dopamine antagonist sulpiride (40 mg/kg) or vehicle intraperitoneally to adult male mice during 45 days and then the glucose tolerance and serum levels of insulin, serum, and testicular testosterone and prolactin, and blood estrogen levels were evaluated. Chronic sulpiride administration did not affect body weight. However, prolactin levels and the area under the glucose and insulin curves were significantly elevated. Sulpiride significantly decreased testosterone and increased estrogen levels ( p < 0.05). After prolonged administration, sulpiride did not affect body weight, so this lack of effect may be related to the impairment of insulin sensitivity which prevents body weight gain and deals with other effects of sulpiride that cause adiposity promotion such as hyperprolactinemia. Future studies must evaluate other neurotransmitters involved in food intake regulation such as histamine and serotonin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite vaccination, outbreaks of Newcastle disease in commercial poultry flocks in northwest Iran have been regularly reported in recent years. This research was proposed in order to characterize, through a molecular approach, the genetic nature of strains of Newcastle disease virus isolated from commercial poultry flocks in northwest Iran. Ten Newcastle disease virus isolates were obtained from various districts of northwest Iran in 2010. The isolates were screened with F gene-targeting reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The amplified products of virulent strains were sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence of the fusion protein cleavage site indicated the presence of motif 112R-R-Q-R-R↓F117, typical for velogenic strains of NDV. These results confirmed that virulent NDVs are circulating in the region, causing economic losses within the poultry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of processed foods and sugary sodas in Western diets correlates with an increased incidence of obesity, metabolic syndromes such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. All these diseases have an inflammatory component, of which T lymphocytes can play a critical role in driving. Much has been learned regarding the importance of sugar, particularly glucose, in fueling effector versus regulatory T cells that can promote or dampen inflammation, respectively. In particular, glucose and its metabolic breakdown products via glycolysis are essential for effector T cell differentiation and function, while fatty acid-fueled oxidative phosphorylation supports homeostasis and function of regulatory T cells. Nevertheless, a critical knowledge gap, given the prevalence of diabetes in Western societies, is the impact of elevated glucose concentrations on the balance between effector versus regulatory T cells. To begin addressing this, we cultured naïve CD4+ T cells with different concentrations of glucose, and examined their differentiation into effector versus regulatory lineages. Surprisingly, high glucose promoted regulatory T cell differentiation and inhibited Th1 effector differentiation. This skewing towards the regulatory lineage occurred via an indirect mechanism that depends on lactate produced by activated glycolytic T cells. Addition of lactate to the T cell differentiation process promotes the differentiation of Treg cells, and activates Akt/mTOR signaling cascade. Hence, our findings suggest the existence of a novel feedback mechanism in which lactate produced by activated, differentiating T cells skews their lineage commitment towards the regulatory fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in recent years has been growing in different societies, which may be due to lifestyle changes including changes in diet, in particular the consumption pattern of edible oils. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the consumption of animal oils including butter and Kermanshah ghee with MetS and its components in the adult population of Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 5550 adults aged 35-65 years using baseline data of Ravansar's prospective study center in Iran. MetS was defined according to the criteria of modified NCEP ATP III for Iranian adults. Relationship between the consumption of butter and Kermanshah ghee and MetS was analyzed by logistic regression model using STATA software. Results: In our study, the frequency of MetS was 31.40%. The mean body mass index and mean age were 27.1±4.6 kg/m2 and 47.6±8.2 years. The mean values of consumed butter and Kermanshah ghee were 3.3±1.8 and 5.1±2.3 g/day, respectively. After adjusting the confounding variables, the highest to the lowest quintile of butter and Kermanshah ghee consumption showed a reverse correlation with the MetS (OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.5-0.9) and (OR= 0.7, 95% CI=0.6-0.9), respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed a reverse relationship between milk and Kermanshah ghee consumption with MetS and its components. Therefore, consumption of milk-based oils may be associated with lower cardiovascular risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional bacterial isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used in the evaluation and detection of 100 commensal Escherichia coli isolates from sheep faeces. Additionally, antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined in 50 selected E. coli isolates against 12 antibiotics by disk diffusion method. In the present study, the PCR test was found to be a highly specific and reliable method for the detection of E. coli. The obtained susceptibility patterns divided this population into 21 groups, from which three groups (I, III and IX) accounted for 44% of the isolates. In general, a high prevalence of resistance (100%) was observed against tylosin, vancomycin, penicillin and erythromycin. Low level resistance to tetracycline (8.3%) and gentamicin (6.25%) were found in the E. coli isolates tested. No resistance rate was observed among E. coli isolates for co-trimoxazole. Our results also exhibited multiple drug resistance in E. coli strains from sheep and underline the importance of sheep as reservoir of resistance genes which may transfer to human and other hosts. Furthermore, this exceptionally high level of resistance to antimicrobials might herald problems in the management of intra- and extra-intestinal infections caused by E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of contagious itch, observed in both humans and rodents, remains a topic of ongoing debate concerning its modulators and underlying pathways. This study delves into the relationship between contagious itch and familiar olfactory cues, a non-visual factor contributing to this intriguing behavior. Our findings showed that contagious itch in observer mice occurs during physical interaction with the cagemate itch-demonstrator but not with a stranger demonstrator or in a non-physical encounter condition. Notably, itch-experienced observer mice displayed an increased contagious itch behavior, highlighting the relevance of itch-associated memory in this phenomenon. Furthermore, anosmic observer mice, whether itch-naïve or itch-experienced, displayed no contagious itch behavior. These results demonstrate that the familiar olfactory cues, specifically cagemate body odors, are required for contagious itch behaviors in mice. In line with these behavioral findings, our study reveals increased activity in brain regions associated with olfaction, emotion, and memory during contagious itch, including the olfactory bulb, the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the hippocampus, with this activity diminished in anosmic mice. In conclusion, our study unveils the critical role of familiar olfactory cues in driving contagious itch in mice, shedding light on the interplay between social factors, sensory perception, and memory in this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stages of Echinococcus and is considered a neglected disease of public health worldwide. CE primarily affects the liver and demonstrates distinctive radiological findings in computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US). Surgery is considered the mainstay of CE treatment. The patient was a 17-year-old man admitted to the Emergency Department of Shahid Faghihi Hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences with dull right upper quadrant abdominal pain, loss of appetite, abdominal distention, and fullness. An abdominal CT scan revealed a giant hepatic cyst measuring about 24x20x15 cm in the right hepatic lobe (RHL) with a pressure effect on the right kidney, pancreas, and bowel loops. Semi-chevron incision was done and the patient underwent partial precystectomy with capitonnage and omentoplasty. The surgical outcome was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the eighth day after the surgery with the oral Albendazole. Reviewing the literature, our case was the 5th rank according to the size of the recorded published cases. The most common countries where the largest liver hydatid cysts were reported were Greece and Turkey. The most common surgery was the open surgery and the most common incisions were Kocher and then Chevron incisions. When dealing with a huge liver cyst, a high index of suspicion for echinococcal etiology becomes important in endemic areas such as Iran. The choice of treatment for giant hepatic cysts substantially seems to be radical surgery by surgical ablation in general to mitigate the mortality and morbidity rate, because they are at risk of rupture, anaphylaxis, and so forth. (The abstract is too long for a case report [260 words], it should be around 100 words. The part I highlighted can be deleted.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is a non-invasive standard treatment for prostate cancer (PC). However, PC develops radio-resistance, highlighting a need for agents to improve radiotherapy response. Canagliflozin, an inhibitor of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2, is approved for use in diabetes and heart failure, but is also shown to inhibit PC growth. However, whether canagliflozin can improve radiotherapy response in PC remains unknown. Here, we show that well-tolerated doses of canagliflozin suppress proliferation and survival of androgen-sensitive and insensitive human PC cells and tumors and sensitize them to radiotherapy. Canagliflozin blocks mitochondrial respiration, promotes AMPK activity, inhibits the MAPK and mTOR-p70S6k/4EBP1 pathways, activates cell cycle checkpoints, and inhibits proliferation in part through HIF-1α suppression. Canagliflozin mediates transcriptional reprogramming of several metabolic and survival pathways known to be regulated by ETS and E2F family transcription factors. Genes downregulated by canagliflozin are associated with poor PC prognosis. This study lays the groundwork for clinical investigation of canagliflozin in PC prevention and treatment in combination with radiotherapy. The anti-diabetic drug canagliflozin promotes sensitivity to radiotherapy in prostate cancer by blocking mitochondrial respiration and repressing the mTORC1- HIF-1α pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a 10‐year follow‐up and describe our experience in managing a case of neonatal severe primary hyperparathyroidism (NSHPT) for the first time in Iran. Microcephaly, mental retardation, and epilepsy may be long time sequels of NSHPT. The brain MRI findings are compatible with an old hypoxic–ischemic event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Repair of old composite restorations is a conservative approach. This study sought to compare the effects of two adhesive systems on the bond strength of repaired composites prepared by three different surface treatments: erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation, air-abrasion, and bur preparation. Methods: Eight microhybrid (Polofil Supra, VOCO, Germany) composite resin blocks were fabricated. The blocks were aged and assigned to four groups as stated by the surface treatment: (I) air-abrasion (50 µ aluminum oxide particles), (II) diamond bur (fine grit), (III) Er:YAG laser (3 W output power, 300 mJ energy) and (IV) control. After surface treatment, the blocks were acid-etched and salinized. Each group was divided two subgroups, and the Clearfil SE Bond or All-Bond Universal was applied on their surface. Composite resin was bonded to the aged composites. The blocks were cut into eight samples, and the microtensile bond strength (MTBS) was measured. Results: The maximum MTBS was noted in the air-abrasion (25.1 + 6 MPa) group, followed by the Er:YAG laser (21.2 + 4.7 MPa). The mean MTBS in laser and air-abrasion groups was significantly higher than that in other groups (P < 0.05). The mean MTBS was not significantly different between the laser and air-abrasion groups (P > 0.05). Composite resin conditioning by All-Bond Universal in laser and air-abrasion groups yielded significantly higher MTBS than the Clearfil SE Bond (P < 0.05). Conclusion: All surface treatments created acceptable bond strength. The surface treatment of the aged composite by the Er:YAG laser or air-abrasion along with the application of silane and All-Bond Universal provide high bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A tetradentate Schiff-base ligand, N,N′-bis-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-1,2-bis(2-aminophenylthio)ethane, L, and its copper(I) coordination polymers, [Cu2(μ-I)2-μ-L] n ·2n(CH3CN), LCuIS, and [Cu2(μ-Cl)2-μ-L] n , were prepared. The products were characterized via their analytical and spectral properties. The crystal structures of the ligand molecule, L, and the complex, LCuIS, were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. In both the free molecule and the complex, L adopts an anti, staggered, extended conformation. In LCuIS, prepared from L and CuI in acetonitrile, each Cu atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination sphere composed of a nitrogen atom and a sulfur atom from L and two iodine ligands. LCuIS is a sheet polymer, formed from coordination polymer chains containing the dimetal clusters Cu2(μ-I)2; the chains are crosslinked through π⋯π interactions of phenyl rings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Kurdistan Province is located in border at western Iran. • This study is the first study done on Coxiella burnetii in the ruminant of Kurdistan province. • The results indicate the high distribution of Coxiella Burnetii in the area under the study. • The relationship between the prevalence of Q fever at the border cities was surprisingly significant. • As well as significant relationship was between seropositivity and abortion. Q fever is zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. Ruminants are the main reservoir of this pathogen, which is often asymptomatic but lead to abortion. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among ruminants in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 480 blood samples were collected from ruminants including sheep, goats and cows, each 160 samples, in the age groups of <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year with and without the history of abortion in two groups border and non-border cities in Kurdistan province. Serums were tested by use of indirect ELISA to determine specific antibodies against C. burnetii. The results indicate the seroprevalence of 46.6 % for Q fever. Seroprevalence in sheep, goats and cows were 28.58 % (n = 64), 45.53 % (n = 102) and 25.89 % (n = 58), respectively. Seroprevalence is significantly higher in animals with abortion than in those without such history (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence in the border cities has been significantly higher than other geographical areas (P < 0.05). Seroprevalence had no significant correlation with animal age (P> 0.05). This study is the first seroepidemiological study done on Q fever in ruminants of Kurdistan province, Iran. The results indicate the high seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in the area under the study. Therefore, doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating C. brunetii in the human population of Kurdistan province is recommended, so that the epidemiological aspect of this pathogen in the people of Kurdistan province be clarified and subsequently disease control and prevention programs be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Poliovirus causes paralysis by infecting the nervous system. Currently, 2 types of polio vaccine are given in many countries in polio eradication program including inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and oral polio vaccine (OPV). Because of OPV-related paralysis, OPV should be replaced by IPV. Methods: The aim of this study was to prepare the gamma-irradiated IPV and determine its effectiveness compared with the commercial vaccine (OPV) in the mouse model. The virus titration of OPV was determined and then inactivated by the appropriate dose of gamma radiation into an irradiated vaccine formula. The vaccine was inoculated in BALB/c mice in 2 different formulations of intramuscular injection with 2-week intervals. The level of anti-polio-neutralizing antibody and polio-specific splenocyte proliferation assay were evaluated by collecting the blood samples and spleens of the vaccinated groups with conventional vaccine and irradiated vaccine. Results: There was a significant increase in the neutralizing antibody titration between all of the vaccinated groups and negative control group (A) (p < 0.05). And it shows that the IPV by gamma irradiation has the highest antibody titration. Also, the increasing of stimulation index value in the B* group, F group, and G group was the most against other groups. Furthermore, the neutralizing anti-serum titer and splenic lymphocyte proliferation assay show humoral and cellular immunity were significantly increased in the irradiated vaccine group as compared with conventional group. Conclusion: According to the results, gamma-irradiated IPV could induce humoral and cellular immunity in vaccinated mouse groups, so the irradiated poliovirus could be recommended as a good candidate vaccine to prevent the transport of poliovirus to the central nervous system and thus protect against paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Kurdistan Province is located in border at western Iran. • This is the first study to determine antibodies against RVFV and report positive serology in aborted sheep of Iran. • Hematologic tests confirmed that leukemia is a common finding. • RVFV is circulating among sheep in Iran's Kurdistan Province. Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a disease caused by RVF virus (RVFV) which can cause infections in a range of wild and domestic ruminants as well as in humans and characterized by an increased incidence of abortion in ruminants. This study aims to survey the seroprevalence and risk factors of this zoonose among aborted sheep in Kurdistan province, the west of Iran. 182 blood samples were collected from aborted sheep during the past one month under age groups <1, ≥1−3, >3−5 year in four seasons in two groups of border and non-border cities of Kurdistan province. The presence of RVFV-specific Antibodies was investigated by using competitive ELISA. Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) was used to confirm positive samples, after separation of serum, as well as blood samples were analyzed for description of hematological parameters. Of a total sheep sampled 1.65 % (n = 3) were positive for RVFV antibodies in both test. The results of IIFA were correlated with the ELISA results. All of the positive samples showed leucopenia and had significant relation with seroprevalence of RVF (P < 0.05). The seroprevalence of RVF in the border cities were significantly higher than other group (P < 0.05) Age of sheep and season had no significant effect on prevalence of RVF (P > 0.05). Results obtained in this study indicated the presence of low-level RVFV circulation among the sheep of Kurdistan Province in Iran, so it is necessary to carry out further studies in other areas of Iran. Doing an epidemiologically study aimed at isolating RVFV in the ruminants of Kurdistan province is recommended. The risk factor of bordering with Iran's western neighbor (Iraq) requires seriously control of the exchange of animals and the relevant products between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy is still one of the routine methods for cancer therapy, but due to its poor specificity to the target site and a lot of side effects, it is not considered as a harmless approach for cancer therapy. For improving cancer-targeted drug delivery, in the present experiment, we synthesized chitosan-coated silica (SiO2@CS) nanoparticles and attached them to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). The functional amine groups of chitosan in SiO2@CS-EGCG nanoparticles (NPs) were attached to AS1411 aptamer electrostatically. Our developed nanoparticles showed spherical core-shell morphology with a size of around 100 nm in TEM images. Also, the internalization efficiency of SiO2@CS-EGCG-aptamer nanoparticles (51%) was higher than SiO2@CS-EGCG nanoparticles (29%) in the SKOV-3 cell line, which proved the successful recognition of nucleolin by attached AS1411 aptamer. Besides, DAPI staining and Annexin V analyses showed that SiO2@CS-EGCG-aptamer nanoparticles meritoriously improved the cytotoxic effect of the EGCG (with around 93% of cells showed late apoptosis). Additionally, cell cycle results showed that SiO2@CS-EGCG-aptamer nanoparticles resulted in a decrease in S and G2/M and increase G0/G1 and arrested cells in the G1 cell cycle. Moreover, the expression level of ERK2 and hTERT downregulated in SiO2@CS-EGCG-aptamer nanoparticles was treated SKOV-3 cells in comparison with the groups that were treated with free EGCG and SiO2@CS-EGCG. These results suggested that SiO2@CS-EGCG-aptamer had great potential for targeted delivery of different therapeutic agents like EGCG to the SKOV-3 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given the significance of sleep quality among pregnant women and its effects on the health of the fetus and the lack of sufficient studies in this field as well, the present study aimed to both identify some of the psychological factors associated with sleep quality among pregnant women and investigate the relationship between sleep quality among pregnant women and other variables, including depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, perceived social support, and marital adjustment. Materials and methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 425 pregnant women, visiting Islamabad and Ravansar-based prenatal care centers (randomly selected from the townships of Kermanshah Province (Iran)) in 2015, were selected. To collect the required data, the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test (LWSMAT), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RIS), Zimet's Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and depression, anxiety and stress scales were used. Results: The results of data analysis demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between the quality of sleep and variables like depression, anxiety, stress, perception, social support and marital adjustment. Further, the results showed that the hierarchical regression of all variables could predict 31% of the changes of sleep quality. Additionally, anxiety, depression and stress were ranked first, second and third in terms of the shares of variables in predicting the quality of sleep. Whereas, resilience, perceived social support and marital adjustment were unable to predict the quality of sleep. Conclusion: Given the results of the present study, it is suggested that the roles of the psychological factors be considered in improving the quality of sleep among pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present studies, modified NiO nanoparticles and MnO 2 /NiO nanocomposites with guanidine were synthesized by anchoring method for carriers of anticancer drug “Caffeic acid phenethyl ester”. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vibrating sample magnetometer. The results from XRD indicated that the crystalline size of NiO nanoparticles and MnO 2 /NiO nanocomposites are 12 and 15 nm, respectively. Saturation magnetization ( Ms ) for NiO NPs and MnO 2 /NiO nanocomposites was to be 0.60, and 0.68 emu/g indicating that these are superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic properties in nature. The prepared nanocomposites were evaluated as catalyst for degradation of antibiotics in photocatalysis process. Particularly, the MnO 2 /NiO composite demonstrated the higher degradation rate (89.55%) of tetracycline antibiotic under UV light irradiation than the NiO (67.80%). Drug load on and release from nanopowders was investigated by using UV–Vis spectroscopy method. Time of drug loading was 100 min and the drug release in 1–10 h with 20–80% drug release were found, and then, it's applicable to in-vivo drug delivery. Therefore, the NiO nanoparticles and MnO 2 /NiO nanocomposites are promising for targeted Caffeic acid phenethyl ester anticancer drug delivery applications. The anticancer drug loaded on guanidine-NiO and guanidine-MnO 2 /NiO in high concentration has an antioxidant property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signaling pathways involved in antipruritic effects of bromhexine and 1-MT in mice: Compound 48/80 induces acute itch in mice by activating mast cell degranulation and, thus, increasing histamine release. Bromhexine mediates its antipruritic effects by modulating TMPRSS2, TLR-4/NF-κB, and IDO, the rate-limiting enzyme of the kynurenine pathway. 1-MT can potentially reduce acute itch in mice by decreasing kynurenine pathway activation through inhibiting IDO. TMPRSS2 : Transmembrane Protein Serine Protease 2, TLR-4 : Toll-like Receptor-4, NF-κB : Nuclear Factor-κB. [Display omitted] • Bromhexine could be repositioned to treat compound 48/80-induced acute itch in mice. • Bromhexine exerts its anti-pruritic effects by modulating TMPRSS2 expression and kynurenine pathway (KP) activity. • 1-Methyl Tryptophan (1-MT) can potentially reduce compound 48/80-induced acute itch in mice by inhibiting indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and decreasing KP activity. • Combined administration of bromhexine and 1-MT results in synergistic anti-pruritic effects. Itching is an unpleasant sensation on the skin that could negatively impact the quality of life. Over the years, many non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches have been introduced to mitigate this burdensome condition; However, the effectiveness of these methods remains questioned. Bromhexine, derived from the Adhatoda vasica plant, is a safe drug with minimal side effects. It has been widely used in managing respiratory symptoms over the years. The results of our study revealed that bromhexine has the potential to alleviate acute itch induced by Compound 48/80, a known mast cell destabilizer. According to our findings, bromhexine exerts its antipruritic effects primarily by inhibiting the Transmembrane Protein Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and, to a lesser extent, by decreasing the activation of the Kynurenine Pathway (KP). We further investigated the KP involvement by administrating 1-Methyl Tryptophan (1-MT), a known indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor. 1-MT was found to be effective in reducing the itch itself. Moreover, co-administration of bromhexine and 1-MT resulted in synergistic antipruritic effects, suggesting that KP plays a role in acute itch. To conclude, we have presented for the first time a repositioning of bromhexine as a treatment for acute itch. In addition, we addressed the involvement of TMPRSS2 and KP in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iran. Pentavalent antimonial drugs have been the first line of therapy in cutaneous leishmaniasis for many years. However, the cure rate of these agents is still not favorable. This study was carried out to compare the efficacies of intralesional glucantime with topical trichloroacetic acid 50% (TCA 50%) + glucantime and fractional carbon dioxide laser + glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods. A total of 90 patients were randomly divided into three groups of 30 to be treated with intralesional injection of glucantime, a combination of topical TCA 50% and glucantime, or a combination of fractional laser and glucantime. The overall clinical improvement and changes in sizes of lesions and scars were assessed and compared among three groups. Results. The mean duration of treatment was 6.1±2.1 weeks in all patients (range: 2–12 weeks) and 6.8±1.7, 5.2±1.0, and 6.3±3.0 weeks in glucantime, topical TCA plus glucantime, and fractional laser plus glucantime groups, respectively (P=0.011). Complete improvement was observed in 10 (38.5%), 27 (90%), and 20 (87%) patients of glucantime, glucantime + TCA, and glucantime + laser groups, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion. Compared to glucantime alone, the combination of intralesional glucantime and TCA 50% or fractional CO2 laser had significantly higher and faster cure rate in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is an endemic disease in Iran. Pentavalent antimonial drugs have been the first line of therapy in cutaneous leishmaniasis for many years. However, the cure rate of these agents is still not favorable. This study was carried out to compare the effects of topical trichloroacetic acid 50% in combination with glucantime, intralesional glucantime plus fractional laser, and glucantime alone on cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: A total of 90 patients were randomly divided into three groups of 30 to be treated with intralesional injection of meglumine antimoniate (glucantime), a combination of topical trichloroacetic acid 50% and glucantime, or a combination of fractional laser and glucantime. Complete cure rate and changes in sizes of lesions and scars were assessed and compared between groups. Findings: The mean duration of treatment was 6.1 ± 2.1 weeks in all patients (range: 2-12 weeks) and 6.8 ± 1.7, 5.2 ± 1.0, and 6.3 ± 3.0 weeks in glucantime, topical trichloroacetic acid plus glucantime, and fractional laser plus glucantime groups, respectively (P = 0.011). The mean score of scars was 3.7 ± 0.6, 3.6 ± 0.8, and 6.3 ± 0.7 in the above-mentioned groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared to glucantime alone, the combination of intralesional glucantime and trichloroacetic acid 50% or fractional laser had significantly higher and faster cure rate in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]