Sharif Digital Repository

Crohn's disease and celiac disease belong to a group of autoimmune conditions that affect the digestive system, specifically the small intestine. They both attack the digestive tract and share many symptoms. Thus, the discovery of proper methods would be a major step toward differentiating celiac disease from Crohn's disease. The aim of this study was to search for the metabolic biomarkers to differentiate between these two diseases. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) was employed as the metabolic profiling method to look for serum metabolites that differentiate between celiac disease and Crohn's disease. Classification of celiac disease and Crohn's disease was done... 

Background: Evidence is needed regarding the air pollutant components and their sources responsible for associations between particle mass concentrations and human cardiovascular outcomes. We previously found associations between circulating biomarkers of inflammation and mass concentrations of quasi-ultrafine particles ≤ 0.25 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM0.25) in a panel cohort study of 60 elderly subjects with coronary artery disease living in the Los Angeles Basin.Objectives: We reassessed biomarker associations with PM0.25 using new particle composition data.Methods: Weekly biomarkers of inflammation were plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II... 

Sulfur Mustard (SM) is a potent alkylating agent and its effects on cells and tissues are varied and complex. Due to limitations in the diagnostics of sulfur mustard exposed individuals (SMEIs) by noninvasive approaches, there is a great necessity to develop novel techniques and biomarkers for this condition. We present here the first nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) metabolic profiling of serum from and healthy controls to identify novel biomarkers in blood serum for better diagnostics. Of note, SMEIs were exposed to SM 30 years ago and that differences between two groups could still be found. Pathways in which differences between SMEIs and... 

Chromatographic fingerprinting is an effective methodology for authentication and quality control of herbal products. In the presented study, a chemometric strategy based on multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) and multivariate pattern recognition methods was used to establish a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) fingerprint of saffron. For this purpose, the volatile metabolites of 17 Iranian saffron samples, collected from different geographical regions, were determined using the combined method of ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UASE) and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), coupled with GC-MS. The resolved elution profiles and... 

Specific and sensitive electroanalysis of blood-circulating protein cancer biomarkers is often complicated by interference from serum proteins nonspecifically adsorbing at the biosensing interface and masking specific reactions of interest. Here, we have developed an electrocatalytically amplified assay for specific and sensitive analysis of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu, a protein cancer biomarker over-expressed in breast cancers) that allows us to avoid both the interference from bovine serum albumin (BSA) and electrocatalytic amplification of the signal stemming from the specific aptamer−HER-2/neu binding. A HER-2/neu-specific thiolated aptamer sequence was... 

Systemic inflammation biomarkers have been associated with risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to clarify associations of acute exposure to particulate matter (PM10(PM < 10 μm), PM2.5-10(PM 2.5–10 μm), PM2.5(PM < 2.5 μm), PM1-2.5(PM 1–2.5 μm), and PM1 (PM < 1 μm)) with systemic inflammation using panels of elderly subjects and healthy young adults. We followed a panel of 44 nonsmoking elderly subjects living in a retirement home and a panel of 40 healthy young adults living in a school dormitory in Tehran city, Iran from May 2012 to May 2013. Blood biomarkers were measured one every 7–8 weeks and included white blood cells (WBC), high sensitive C-reactive protein... 

A turn-on fluorometric assay is described for determination of the activity of enzyme telomerase. For this purpose, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were first modified with the telomeric sequence (5′-amino-AATCCGTCGAGCAGAGTT-3′) via a condensation reaction. Injection of graphene oxide causes instant quenching of the blue fluorescence of the GQDs. Addition of cell extract containing telomerase, triggers the extension of telomer via addition of specific sequence (TTAGGG)n to its 3′ end. Fluorescence, best measured at excitation/emission wavelengths of 390/446 nm, is subsequently restored due to folding of the extended telomeric sequence into G-quadruplex structure. The method was applied to the... 

Objective(s): Hepatitis B virus infection causes chronic disease such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The metabolomics investigations have been demonstrated to be related to pathophysiologic mechanisms in many disorders such as hepatitis B infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the saliva metabolic profile of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and to identify underlying mechanisms as well as potential biomarkers associated with the disease. Materials and Methods: Saliva from 16 healthy subjects and 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Then, multivariate statistical analysis was performed to identify... 

In this paper, we propose using mobile nanosensors (MNSs) for early stage anomaly detection. For concreteness, we focus on the detection of cancer cells located in a particular region of a blood vessel. These cancer cells produce and emit special molecules, so-called biomarkers, which are symptomatic for the presence of anomaly, into the cardiovascular system. Detection of cancer biomarkers with conventional blood tests is difficult in the early stages of a cancer due to the very low concentration of the biomarkers in the samples taken. However, close to the cancer cells, the concentration of the cancer biomarkers is high. Hence, detection is possible if a sensor with the ability to detect... 

In this study, lyophilized advanced platelet rich fibrin (A-PRF) was used in combination with collagen-chitosan membrane for the first time to combine advantages of both collagen and A-PRF membranes. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experimental condition and to correlate the effects of parameters, including chitosan/collagen (chit/col) weight ratio and A-PRF concentration on Young's modulus, mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs) viability and degradation rate of the membranes. Results showed that Young's modulus of the membranes was intensified by increasing chit/col weight ratio and decreasing A-PRF concentration from 3 to 8 MPa. Cell viability of MSCs was improved by both... 

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is considered one of the most severe glomerular diseases and around 80% of cases are resistant to steroid treatment. Since a large proportion of steroid-resistant (SR) FSGS patients progress to end-stage renal disease, other therapeutic strategies may benefit this population. However, identification of non-invasive biomarkers to predict this high-risk population is needed. Objective: We aimed to identify the biomarker candidates to distinguish SR from steroid-sensitive (SS) patients using metabolomics approach and to identify the possible molecular mechanism of resistance. Methods: Urine was collected from biopsy-proven FSGS patients... 

A chemiresistive sensor is described for the lung cancer biomarker hexanal. A composite consisting of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes was used in the sensor that is typically operated at a voltage of 4 V and is capable of selectively sensing gaseous hexanal at room temperature. It works in the 10 to 200 ppm concentration range and has a 10 ppm detection limit (at S/N = 3). The sensor signal recovers to a value close to its starting value without the need for heating even after exposure to relatively high levels of hexanal  

Background: Breast cancer is currently the most common neoplasm diagnosed in women globally. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may play a key role in invasiveness of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of HPV in patients with breast cancer and its possible association with cancer progression. Methods: Breast specimens were collected from 72 patients with breast cancer and 31 healthy controls. The presence of HPV was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping was performed for positive cases. We also evaluated the viral factors such as E6, E2, and E7 in HPV positive cases. Enzyme-linked... 

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has been reported to be the third foremost cause of acute renal failure. Metabolomics is a robust technique that has been used to identify potential biomarkers for the prediction of renal damage. We aim to analyze the serum and urine metabolites changes, before and after using contrast for coronary angiography, to determine if metabolomics can predict early development of CIN. 66 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography were eligible for enrollment. Urine and serum samples were collected prior to administration of CM and 72 h post procedure and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance. The significant differential metabolites between patients who...