Sharif Digital Repository

Introduction: Proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most significant neurodegenerative diseases amongst the autosomal-recessive genetic disorders which is caused by the absence of protein survival of motor neuron (SMN). A critical nucleotide difference in SMN2 compared to SMN1 gene leads to an inefficient protein. Hence, homozygous lack of SMN1 provides a progressive disease. Due to the high prevalence, up to now, several molecular diagnostic methods have been used which most of them are lengthy, expensive, and laborious. Methods: In the present study, we exploited a gold nanoprobe-based method for semi-quantitative SMN1 gene dosage analysis compared to SMN2. The assay was... 

Although numerous molecular methods for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) detection have been exploited, most of hem are laborious, time consuming and costly. Recently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted attention in the field of colourimetric bioanalysis, because AuNP aggregation can be tracked with the naked eye as well as ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) peak analysis. Here, based on a non-cross linking platform, a colourimetric-based method was used to evaluate the capability of thiolated oligo-AuNPs (Au nanoprobes) to distinguish between normal individuals, carriers and those with SMA. In this platform, removal of the repulsive force of the Au nanoprobes using high salt concentration... 

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the changes occurring in the thickness of deep trunk muscles, measured using ultrasound imaging, after 4 wks of lumbosacral orthosis use in conjunction with routine physical therapy. Design This parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial was conducted on 44 patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain, randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Both groups received eight sessions of physical therapy twice per week for 4 wks. The experimental group wore nonextensible lumbosacral orthosis, in addition to undergoing routine physical therapy. The thickness of the transversus abdominis, obliquus internus, and lumbar multifidus...