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In the past decades, the rapid growth of electric vehicles and consumer electronics market leads battery technology to attract significant attention. In order to further advance battery technology, in-depth understanding on the electrode and interface structure of battery materials are essential. Focused ion beam – scanning electron microscope is an analytical method combines ion beam for materials processing and electron column for imaging. It enables both 2D interface analysis and 3D imaging capability as well as multimodal information collection, which is an effective analytical approach for battery structure analysis. To date, conventional Ga+ FIB-SEM has been widely employed for battery materials development including interface/interphase characterization, 3D quantification and simulation analysis. However, Ga+ FIB materials removal efficiency limits its capability to access representative area and volume in some battery materials systems, e.g. electrode with tens of micron particle size. In addition, the reactive property of Ga+ ion with alkali metals, e.g. Li metal, results in the complex experimental procedure to limit the Ga+ contamination during FIB-SEM characterization. Recently, the emerging Plasma FIB-SEM (PFIB-SEM) technology has been developed with different ion source and high removal efficiency. It promises great potential for battery materials characterization, due to accessing representative 2D area and 3D volume via 40 times faster (than Ga+ system) milling rate as well as enabling Ga+ free sample preparation on advanced battery system with alkali metal electrode through non-reactive ion source (Xe+ and Ar+ ion). In this presentation, PFIB-SEM has been used to perform 2D interfacial structure analysis and 3D imaging on different battery systems. First, to evaluate the performance of plasma ions processing with Ga+ reactive battery system, lithium metal was selected for the study. Furthermore, the interfacial structure between Li-metal and sulfide based solid electrolyte in all solid-state battery system was investigated. In order to demonstrate the capability of accessing large representative 3D volume through PFIB-SEM, the microstructure of thick NMC 811 cathode (>100 µm field of view with > 70 µm thickness) was selected for 3D reconstruction and quantification. The microstructural characteristics extracted from representative 3D volume helps the understanding of correlation between electrode microstructural evolution and performance deterioration. The success demonstration of PFIB-SEM opens up exciting opportunities for exploring both current and future generation advanced battery technologies, which is expected to become a critical analytical approach for battery development.

BCOR is a component of a variant Polycomb group repressive complex 1 (PRC1). Recently, we and others reported recurrent somatic BCOR loss-of-function mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). However, the role of BCOR in normal hematopoiesis is largely unknown. Here, we explored the function of BCOR in myeloid cells using myeloid murine models with Bcor conditional loss-of-function or overexpression alleles. Bcor mutant bone marrow cells showed significantly higher proliferation and differentiation rates with upregulated expression of Hox genes. Mutation of Bcor reduced protein levels of RING1B, an H2A ubiquitin ligase subunit of PRC1 family complexes and reduced H2AK119ub upstream of upregulated HoxA genes. Global RNA expression profiling in murine cells and AML patient samples with BCOR loss-of-function mutation suggested that loss of BCOR expression is associated with enhanced cell proliferation and myeloid differentiation. Our results strongly suggest that BCOR plays an indispensable role in hematopoiesis by inhibiting myeloid cell proliferation and differentiation and offer a mechanistic explanation for how BCOR regulates gene expression such as Hox genes.

Studying mechanisms of malignant transformation of human pre-B cells, we found that acute activation ofoncogenes induced immediate cell death in the vast majority of cells. Few surviving pre-B cell clones had acquired permissiveness to oncogenic signaling by strong activation of negative feedback regulation ofErk signaling. Studying negative feedback regulation of Erk in genetic experiments at three different levels,we found that Spry2, Dusp6, and Etv5 were essential for oncogenic transformation in mouse modelsfor pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Interestingly, a small molecule inhibitor of DUSP6 selectively induced cell death in patient-derived pre-B ALL cells and overcame conventional mechanisms of drug-resistance. Shojaee etal. show that successful transformation of pre-B cells to pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) requires negative feedback regulation of Erk signaling and inhibiting this feedback selectively kills pre-B ALL cells, suggesting negative feedback regulation of oncogenes as a vulnerability in human ALL.

Naser Nazari,1 Saeedeh Shojaee,2 Mehdi Mohebali,2 Aref Teimouri,2,3 Keyghobad Ghadiri,4 Saber Raeghi,5 Mohammad Reza Shiee,2,3 Yousef Azarakhsh,6 Arezoo Bozorgomid4 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 5Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran; 6Department of Biology, Razi University, Kermanshah, IranCorrespondence: Arezoo BozorgomidInfectious Diseases Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranTel +98 918 872 8269Email arezoobozorgomid@yahoo.comPurpose: Rodents live in proximity to humans and domestic animals. These creatures can serve as reservoir hosts for many zoonotic parasites; therefore, they increase the risk of human infections. The aim of this study was to investigate Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in rodents caught in Meshgin-Shahr District, Iran.Patients and methods: In a cross-sectional study, brain samples were collected from 70 rodents caught in Meshgin-Shahr District during March and December 2015. The specimens were examined for exposure to T. gondii and N. caninum with molecular methods.Results: Seventy rodents were caught, including 50 Meriones persicus, 11 Mus musculus and 9 Cricetulus migratorius. Thirty rodents were female and 40 were males. Using PCR (B1 gene), T. gondii was detected in 7.1% (5/70) of the rodents while N. caninum was not detected. The prevalence of Toxoplasma infection was higher in female rodents (4.28%) compared to male rodents (2.86%), but the difference was not significant.Conclusion: The results showed a low risk of T. gondii and N. caninum among rodents. Finally, further research is needed to understand the role of these rodent species in the transmission of the above protozoan pathogens to humans and livestock in this area.Keywords: rodents, Neospora, Toxoplasma, prevalence, PCR, Iran

Aref Teimouri,1,2 Mohammad Hossein Modarressi,3 Saeedeh Shojaee,1 Mehdi Mohebali,1,4 Mostafa Rezaian,1 Hossein Keshavarz1,41Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Hossein KeshavarzDepartment of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 1417613191, Pour Sina Street, Ghods Avenue, Enghelab Avenue, Tehran, IranTel +98 218 895 1392Fax +98 218 895 1392Email hkeshavarz@tums.ac.irBackground: The aim of the present study was to develop a simple, portable, and rapid assay for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis based on recombinant Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) SAG1 (rSAG1) and GRA7 (rGRA7) proteins.Methods: The rSAG1 and rGRA7 proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified in a single step by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. The immunoreactivity of the recombinant antigens was tested in an in-house IgG and IgM Dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Dot-ELISA) for potential use in serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection.Results: Results from the comparison of in-house rSAG1-Dot-ELISA with ELISA for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM include sensitivity of 83.7% and 81.2%, specificity of 90.2% and 89.3%, positive predictive values of 85.9% and 68.4%, and negative predictive values of 88.6% and 94.3%, respectively. Sensitivity of 66.2%, specificity of 81.2%, positive predictive values of 71.6%, and negative predictive values of 77.1% were concluded from in-house IgG rGRA7-Dot-ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity of IgM rGRA7-Dot-ELISA included 87.5% and 83.9%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of in-house Dot-ELISA for a combination of rSAG1 and rGRA7 included 87.5% and 91.1% for IgG and IgM, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of a combination of rSAG1 and rGRA7 for the detection of IgM in suspected sera to acute toxoplasmosis were higher than those for the detection of IgG in sera with chronic infections (90.6% and 92% instead of 86.2% and 91.6%, respectively).Conclusion: The highlighted parameters of combined recombinant proteins were more significant than those of single recombinant proteins in in-house Dot-ELISA. These data suggest that the in-house Dot-ELISA based on rSAG1 and rGRA7 combination is a promising diagnostic tool with a similar sensitivity to the native antigens of T. gondii, which can be used for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in fields as well as less equipped laboratories.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii RH strain, in-house Dot-ELISA, rSAG1, rGRA7, soluble tachyzoite antigen (STAg), recombinant proteins

Sara Ayazian Mavi,1 Mohammad Hossein Modarressi,2 Mehdi Mohebali,1,3 Saeedeh Shojaee,1 Hojjat Zeraati,4 Aref Teimouri,1,5 Hossein Keshavarz1,31Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 5Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranBackground: Toxoplasmosis, a protozoan parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, has been a serious human and veterinary medicine problem with global distribution. In the current study, we assessed immunogenicity and protective efficiency of a novel dual-promoter DNA vaccine, harboring SAG1 and GRA7 genes, from RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) with or without CpG-ODN as adjuvant in a murine model.Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1-GRA7 with CpG-ODN three times at three-week intervals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokines in mice sera. Four weeks post final vaccination, MTT assay and lethal challenge-infection with 1×103 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain were carried out to assess stimulation index (SI) and mice survival time, respectively.Results: The IgG levels in mice immunized with multicomponent vaccines, including pVitro-SAG1–GRA7 alone and pVitro-SAG1–GRA7 with CpG-ODN, were significantly higher than those in control mice or single-gene DNA-vaccinated ones (P

A Mohammadpour,1 H Keshavarz,1 M Mohebali,1 M Salimi,1 A Teimouri,1,2 S Shojaee1 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite distributed worldwide. Although the infection is benign in immunocompetent individuals, it is life threatening and complicated in immunocompromised patients and fetuses of pregnant women who received their first exposure to T. gondii during the pregnancy. Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland, and it is confirmed that it plays a role in the immune system. The present study was carried out to assess the possible relation between serum PRL levels and Toxoplasma infection frequency in human. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 343 serum samples (240 from women and 103 from men) were collected from individuals who were referred for PRL checking in laboratories of Karaj, Iran. Blood samples were collected, and sera were separated and analyzed for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody by ELISA method. The levels of PRL were measured by Roche Elecsys 2010 analyzer, electrochemiluminescence technology. Results: Of 343 sera, 110 samples (32%) consisting of samples from 42 men and 68 women had anti-T. gondii IgG antibody. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in women with high PRL levels was lower than that in the comparison group with normal levels of PRL and the relationship between these two parameters was statistically significant (P=0.016). In women with hyperprolactinemia, by increasing of PRL levels, the prevalence of T. gondii infection was reduced. Conclusion: The results of the current study confirmed the previous studies based on immunoregulatory role of PRL and indicated that high levels of PRL could be related to Toxoplasma seronegativity in women. Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, IgG antibody, prolactin, ECL technology, hypoprolactinemia, cytokines, hyperprolactinemia, dopamine

Sanaz Jafarpour Azami,1,* Aref Teimouri,1,2,* Hossein Keshavarz,1 Amir Amani,3,4 Fariba Esmaeili,3 Hamid Hasanpour,1,5 Samira Elikaee,1 Hamid Salehiniya,6 Saeedeh Shojaee1 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Natural Products and Medicinal Plants Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran; 5Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; 6Department of Public Health, School of Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: The aim of this study was to prepare curcumin nanoemulsion (CR-NE) to solve the problems associated with poor water solubility and low bioavailability of CR and to test its efficiency in the treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in mouse models. Materials and methods: CR-NE 1% was prepared using spontaneous emulsification by soybean as oil phase; a mixture of Tween 80 and Tween 85 as surfactant; ethanol as cosurfactant and distilled water. Particle size and zeta potential of NE were assessed using Nano-ZS90 dynamic light scattering. Stability testing of NE was assessed after storage for 2 months at room temperature. In vivo experiments were carried out using 50 BALB/c mice inoculated with virulent RH strain (type I) and 50 BALB/c mice inoculated with avirulent Tehran strain (type II) of Toxoplasma gondii and treated with CR-NE (1% w/v), CR suspension (CR-S, 1% w/v), and NE without CR (NE-no CR). Results: The mean particle size and zeta potential of CR-NE included 215.66±16.8 nm and -29.46±2.65 mV, respectively, and were stable in particle size after a three freeze–thaw cycle. In acute phase experiment, the survival time of mice infected with RH strain of T. gondii and treated with CR-NE extended from 8 to 10 days postinoculation. The differences were statistically significant between the survival time of mice in CR-NE-treated group compared with negative control group (P

Aref Teimouri,1,2 Sanaz Jafarpour Azami,1 Hossein Keshavarz,1 Fariba Esmaeili,3 Rasoul Alimi,4 Sara Ayazian Mavi,1 Saeedeh Shojaee1 1Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Students Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Background: Natural polysaccharides such as chitosan (CS) are widely used as antimicrobial agents. In recent years, and considering that CS has a strong antimicrobial potential, interest has been focused on antimicrobial activity of chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs). The main factors affecting the antibacterial activity of chitosan include molecular weight (MW) and concentration. In this regard, the aim of this study was to produce various MWs and concentrations of CS NPs, through the ionic gelation method, and investigate their potential anti-parasitic activity against tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain. Materials and methods: The MWs and degree of deacetylation of the CS were characterized using viscometric and acid–base titration methods, respectively. The efficacy of various MWs and concentrations of NPs was assessed by performing in vitro experiments for tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, such as MTT assay, scanning electron microscopy, bioassay in mice and PCR. In vivo experiment was carried out in BALB/c mice which were inoculated with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain and treated with various MWs of CS NPs. Results: The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that anti-Toxoplasma activity strengthened as the CS NPs concentration increased and the MW decreased. In vitro experiment showed 100% mortality of tachyzoites at 500 and 1,000 ppm concentrations of low molecular weight (LMW) CS NPs after 180 min and at 2,000 ppm after 120 min. Furthermore, a 100% mortality of tachyzoites was observed at 1,000 and 2,000 ppm concentrations of medium molecular weight (MMW) CS NPs and at 2,000 ppm concentration of high molecular weight (HMW) CS NPs after 180 min. Growth inhibition rates of tachyzoites in peritoneal exudates of mice receiving low, medium and high MWs of CS NPs were found to be 86%, 84% and 79% respectively, compared to those of mice in sulfadiazine treatment group (positive control). Conclusion: Various MWs of CS NPs exhibited great anti-Toxoplasma efficiency against tachyzoites of RH strain, with the greatest efficacy shown by LMW CS NPs in both experiments. It seems that CS NPs can be used as an alternative natural medicine in the treatment of toxoplasmosis. Keywords: chitosan nanoparticles, molecular weights, Toxoplasma gondii RH strain, degree of deacetylation

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Dendritic Cell (DC) is an important antigen-presenting cell that present tumor antigen to CD8+ and CD4+ T- Lymphocytes and induce specific anti-tumor immunity. In order to induce effective anti-tumor response, an option is increasing the efficiency of antigen presentation of dendritic cells and T cell activation capacity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dendritic cell maturation with protein components of toxoplasma gondii on cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and their infiltration in to the tumor."n"nMethods: For DC generation, bone marrow cells were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4 for five days. After that, LPS, protein components and whole extract of toxoplasma gondii were added to the culture media and incubated for another two days for DC maturation. To generate tumor, mices were injected subcutaneously with WEHI-164 cell line. For immunotherapy 106 DCs matured with different compounds were injected around the tumor site. Infiltration of CD8+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry and cytotoxic activity was measured by LDH detection kit."n"nResults: Immunotherapy with DCs treated with protein components of toxoplasma gondii led to a significant increase in the activity of cytotoxic T cells and infiltration of CD8+ T cells in to the tumor. Immunotherapy using protein components of toxoplasma gondii significantly improved the survival of the mice compared with other groups (p

Author(s): S. Shojaee[sup.1] , J. Dawson[sup.1] , R. W. Shepherd[sup.1] , H. J. Lee[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Interventional Pulmonology, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box [...], Rationale Cancer is the second most common cause of death in incarcerated population and lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in this group. Inmates are excluded from most published surveys and research, thus the effectiveness of lung cancer palliation in this population is not known. Objective To report the feasibility and safety of palliative interventional pulmonary procedures in inmates with cancer. Study Design Retrospective review of registry data from a single center. Materials and Methods Inmate data on prospectively enrolled data registry (2009-2012) from the interventional pulmonology procedural registry at Virginia Commonwealth University was extracted and analyzed for safety and efficacy. Inmates with lung cancer and advanced malignancies with pleural or airway metastasis requiring airway debulking (mechanical/thermal), airway stenting, and tunneled pleural catheter (TPC) placement were included in the analysis. Results A total of 16 procedures were performed in 12 incarcerated patients. These included six TPC placements in six patients. Ten procedures were performed in seven patients with airway obstruction. These procedures included rigid and flexible bronchoscopy with mechanical (rigid and balloon dilation) and thermal (laser, argon plasma coagulation, and cautery) tumor debulking and dilation, airway stenting, and tracheostomy in one case. All six TPC patients had immediate symptomatic relief and improved lung aeration on chest radiograph. Three of six patients had successful auto-pleurodesis. In the seven patients with airway obstruction, three patients reported symptomatic relief and one had resolution of post-obstructive pneumonia. No immediate- or long-term procedure-related complications were reported. Conclusion Incarcerated patients with advanced malignancy may benefit from interventional pulmonology procedures with low complications. Palliative interventional pulmonology procedures in inmates should not be withheld solely on their incarceration status.