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Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5-year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in-depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy.

This study has been conducted to evaluate the allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of the polymorphic gene coding TGF-β in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). TGF-β gene typing was done by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) assay. Allele frequencies were estimated by direct gene counting. C allele at codon 25 was significantly increased, while G allele at this position was significantly decreased in patients compared to the controls. A significantly higher frequency of CG genotype at codon 25 was found in control group. CC genotype and TT genotype at codon 10 of the gene was significantly decreased, while CT genotype at the same position was significantly increased in patients, indicating that CT heterozygosity at codon 10 TGF-β is associated with greater risk of RAS. CG and TG haplotypes were significantly decreased while CC and TC haplotypes were significantly increased in patients compared with controls. This study indicates the TGF-β single nucleotide polymorphisms could play a role in RAS pathogenesis. Thereby certain SNPs of TGF-β gene have an association with RAS pathogenesis.

Introduction: Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is a protozoan parasite causing trichomoniasis or trichomonal vaginitis. The infection is considered as non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD). Metronidazole and Tinidazole are now the drugs of choice for the treatment of this infection. However, resistant to these drugs has also been reported. So it is necessary to search for effective alternative drugs with fewer side effects. Chaerophyllum macropodum (C. macropodum) plant have been used against some parasites. Therefore, in this study the effects of different extracts of this plant on T. vaginalis in culture media have been investigated. Methods: In this experimental study hydro-ethanol extracts of C. macropodum leaves were prepared. Anti-T. vaginalis activities of the extracts were tested in concentrations of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 40, 50, 60, 80, 100 and 150 mg/ml following 24, 48 and 72 hours of incubation of cultured media. Results: All extract concentrations showed some degrees of growth inhibition activity on T. vaginalis. However crude extract was more efficient. Conclusion: C. macropodum showed an anti-T. vaginalis activity. More investigations are recommended to use this plant as an antiparasitic drug.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative efficiency of major container ports in the Middle East between the years 2011-2013. The required information was collected from scientific resources. The input and output data was collected from the statistical yearbook of the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization and the official website of each of the foreign ports. Firstly, in this study the relative efficiency of the ports was evaluated via a basic model of the DEA-technique, namely BCC-O. Afterwards, the ports were ranked based on the achieved results. To rank ports with 100% efficiency, the Anderson-Peterson method was used. Based on the results of the output-oriented CCR model that represents the overall technical efficiency, the port of Khorafkan has the highest coefficient of efficiency and Bandar-e-Imam Khomeini was the weakest port in this respect. The average efficiency of the studied ports was 54.3% in the period under study. Finally, virtual ports were proposed as a template for inefficient ports to improve efficiency.

Background: In recent years, the lack of organ for transplantation has resulted in health planners and authorities in all countries, including Iran, paying serious attention to the issue. Despite the above-mentioned fact, families with a member affected by brain death are not interested in organ donation. Objective: This study is aimed at making an investigation into the decision-making process of organ donation in families with brain death. Also, the research is aimed at investigating how the deterrent and facilitating factors in the process of organ donation can be made. Materials and Methods: The current research is a qualitative study with descriptive exploratory approach. Data were collected through unstructured interviews with 10 family members who gave consent to organ donation of their family members in 2012. Purposeful sampling processes began in March 2012 and lasted up to June 2012. Simultaneously, thematic approach was used in analyzing the data. Results: Data analysis led to finding 24 categories and 11 themes, which fell into two categories: facilitating and deterrent factors. The five main deterrent themes included the five themes of prohibiting factors that were shock, hope for recovery, unknown process, and conflict of opinions, and worrying association. The six main facilitating themes included humanistic desires, immortality, culture making, satisfaction of the deceased, assurance, and eternal honor. Conclusion: The findings indicated that there is ambiguity and different interpretations on brain death. The research also showed that using the experiences of donator families can provide practical and applied solutions to facilitate the process of organ donation and solve the problems faced by the health care system.

Introduction: Normal homeostasis system has several inhibitor mechanisms in front of the amplifiers natural clotting enzyme to prevent fibrin clots in the vessels. The main inhibitors of coagulation pathway are antithrombin (AT), protein C and protein S. Patients with hereditary deficiency of coagulation inhibitors are susceptible to venous thromboembolism (VTE). One of the major clinical manifestations of VTE is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The present study has investigated the frequency of protein C and S deficiency among DVT patients that by using of these results and results from our previous study; we determined the most important hereditary risk factors for DVT in the Kermanshah Province of Iran with the Kurdish ethnic background. Materials and methods: We studied 150 patients from the Kermanshah Province of Iran with Kurdish ethnic background. Patients with hereditary risk factors were excluded from the study. Estimation of protein C and protein S were performed using kits from STAGO, France (Diagnostica Stago). Results: After excluding patients with confounding factors, 50 patients were remained. We found 14 patients (28%) with protein C deficiency and 10 patients (20%) with protein S deficiency. Also, 2 patients (4%) had both protein C and S deficiency. Conclusion: Comparing the results of this study with our previous study on DVT patients indicates that among inherited risk factors for DVT in our population the deficiency of protein C, S and FVL mutation are the most prevalent factors. Our results show that our population has different pattern for hereditary risk factors compared with other Asian pattern for DVT patients.