shima sharifi

The main problem in the recombinant protein expression in E. coli strains, especially for high-yield production, is the accumulation in un-folded and inactive inclusion bodies. A suitable solution is the direction into the soluble cytoplasmic products by solubilizing tags. The use of inteins with self-cleaving ability, in addition to increase the chance of soluble protein expression, facilitates their purification process. 

Evidence Acquisition:

 In this review article, papers related to the use of intein tags for soluble expression or protein purification were collected regardless the time limit. Available databases including Pubmed, google scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase was searched. The best condition for soluble expression or purification was focused in all articles.

There are various intein tags commercially available in expression vectors that results in gaining our goal in facilitating the recombinant protein solubilization as well as its simple purification. It is enough to induce the self-cleavage property of the intein, which varies according to the type of intein used. In this way, the target protein is easily separated from the purification tag without the need to add protease enzymes such as enterokinase or treatment with various chemicals. The most common affinity tag in intein-based systems is Chitin Binding Domain attached to the chitin resin. 

In this review article, we introduced proteins or peptides which produced in fusion to intein tags and discussed about their expression condition and purification process in order to enhance the chance of soluble expression and intein cleavage in a single stage, respectively.

 Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women, significantly leading to depression, anxiety, and stress. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a couple's educational program on anxiety, depression, and stress in breast cancer patients with mastectomy.

 This randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted in Isfahan, Iran, in 2017. The study participants included 45 breast cancer patients which were divided into an intervention (n = 21) and a control group (n = 24). The intervention group received
3 educational sessions on dealing with post-mastectomy complications, coping with difficult emotions, and maintaining sexual relationships. Their depression, anxiety, and stress scores were evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale ‎(DASS) on the screening session, and then, 12 weeks after the intervention. In the control group, patients were given general education about breast cancer. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Repeated measures ANCOVA and Independent t-test were used to compare the quantitative variables between the two groups.

 In the intervention group, depression, anxiety, and stress scores significantly decreased after the education (P < 0.01). In the control group, there was no significant difference in the depression, anxiety, and stress scores between the screening session and 12 weeks after the intervention (P < 0.05).

 Specific education on maintaining sexual relationships and coping psychologically following a mastectomy can help decrease depression, anxiety, and stress in breast cancer patients and their partners.
 

Malachite green (MG) is an organic compound which his used as a dye in textile industry. This compound is applied incorrectly and illegally in aquiculture as an antimicrobial agent. This compound has mutagenic and carcinogenic effects.

In this study we determined the concentrations of MG and leucomalachite green (LMG) in the muscle tissue of 90 rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss) collected from the local markets in Sanandaj City within a period of six months in 2018. In order to measure the residues of MG and LMG, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the European Union Decision 2002/657/EC.

The results showed presence of MG and LMG in all 90 samples: The residues of MG in the samples were as follows: 1-2 μg/Kg in 41 (6.45%), more than 2 μg/Kg in 45 (50%) and less than 1 μg/Kg in 4 samples (4.4%). Furthermore, the residues of LMG in the samples were as follows: more than 2 μg/Kg in 13 (45.14%), 1-2 μg/Kg in 67 (44.74%) and less than 1 μg/Kg in 10 samples (11.11%).  Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) in the method was 0.43 μg/Kg.

 It is concluded that MG is illegally applied in fish farms, which can be a threat to human health and the environment.

Propolis is a natural bee product, which has been used in folk medicine for the management of different diseases. Regarding to anti-inflammatory effects of Propolis, in this study we evaluated the analgesic effects of hydroalchoholic extract of Iranian Propolis on acute and chronic pain.

192 young adult male albino mice (25-30 g) in 24 groups (n = 8) were used. Propolis (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg), vehicle and morphine as Positive control drug (5mg/Kg) were injected intera- peritoneally 30 min before the pain evaluation tests. Acute and chronic pain was assessed by by using hot plate (HP), tail flick (TF), formalin (FT) and writhing (WR) tests.

Comapred to the control group, Propolis extract in all doeses increased pain tolerance in both the HP and TF (P<0.01). In the FT, Propolis extract decreased the reaction time in neurogenic and inflammatory phases than the control group (P<0.01). Pretreatment with the Propolis extract reduced the number and time of of abdominal writhes in the WR than the control group (P<0.01).

The above findings showed that Iranian Propolis have anti-analgesic effects in both acute and chronic models of pain.

The power density of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) stack as a function of temperature, methanol concentration, oxygen flow rate, and methanol flow rate was studied using a response surface methodology (RSM) to maximize the power density. The operating variables investigated experimentally include temperature (50-75 °C), methanol concentration (0.5-2 M), methanol flow rate (15-30 ml min-1), and oxygen flow rate (900-1800 ml min-1). A new design of the central composite design (CCD) for a wide range of operating variables that optimize the power density was obtained using a quadratic model. The optimum conditions that yield the highest maximum power density of 86.45 mW cm-2 were provided using 3-cell stack at a fuel cell temperature of 75 °C with a methanol flow rate of 30 ml min-1, a methanol concentration of 0.5 M, and an oxygen flow rate of 1800 ml min-1. Results showed that the power density of DMFC increased with an increase in the temperature and methanol flow rate. The experimental data were in good agreement with the model predictions, demonstrating that the regression model was useful in optimizing maximum power density from the independent operating variables of the fuel cell stack.

The nonlinear optical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied by using the Z-scan technique. Experiments are performed by CW second harmonic of Nd-YAG laser at 532 nm wavelength with a power of 40 mW. The samples are synthesized by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method in the presence of Nickel and Nickel-Cobalt catalysts. In this work, for the first time, effect of the type of catalyst has been investigated with CNTs being a set of series single-walled and multi-walled nanotubes with different diameters. Nonlinear refractive index (n2) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) were measured by a closed and open aperture experimental configuration of Z-scan.The experimental results show that the two-photon absorption effect is the dominant nonlinear process in the samples. The results approve the capability of the samples to be used as an optical limiter device. The nonlinear optical refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient of samples are in the order of 10-6 cm2/W and 10-1 cm/W, respectively. The sign of nonlinear refractive index of the samples is negative which indicates that the sample has acted as a divergent lens.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of memantine in the acute treatment of geriatric with bipolar disorder (BD) hospitalized for mania.

This study conducted on 70 patients older than 60 years with BD in the acute phase of mania. Oral sodium valproate was prescribed in both groups. The intervention group received memantine tablet and the placebo group received a placebo tablet based on a same procedure. Severity of mania, cognitive changes, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed and recorded 4 and 8 weeks after the beginning of the study. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS (version 20) using independent samples t‑test, analysis of variance in repeated observations, Chi‑squared test, and Fisher’s exact test.

Mania severity score had no significant difference at the beginning of the study, but 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, it was reduced significantly in both groups (P < 0.001) that was higher in memantine group (P = 0.038). The mean increase in score of cognitive variations was 6.74 in the memantine group and 3.62 in the placebo group with a nonsignificant difference (P = 0.125). The scores of each dimension of QoL in the two groups showed that in all four dimensions, the patient’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental status increased significantly by time (P < 0.001).

According to the results of this study, memantine as an adjuvant to administration of sodium valproate may have a significant effect on decreasing the intensity of mania in the long run.

A two-dimensional, single-phase, isothermal model has been developed for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The model considers the anode and cathode electrochemical equations, continuity, momentum and species transport in the entire fuel cell. Then, the equations are coupled together and solved simultaneously using a commercial, finite element based, COMSOL Multiphysics software. The crossover of methanol is also investigated in the model. This model describes the electrochemical kinetics of methanol oxidation at the anode catalyst layer by non-Tafel kinetics. The concentration distribution of methanol, water, and oxygen was predicted by the model. In addition, the changes of methanol crossover and fuel utilization with current density were evaluated for different methanol concentrations (0.5 M, 1 M, 2 M, 4 M, and 6 M). Furthermore, it was also found that the crossover of methanol decreases at low methanol concentrations and high current densities. The results show that the polarization curve is in agreement with experimental data.

Studies have shown that Securigera securidaca L. seed (SS) has anti-epileptic, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, hypokalemic, hypoglysemic, diuretic and anti-convulsion effects. The present study was designed to test the antinoceceptive effects of hydro alcoholic extract of SS seed on acute, chronic, and visceral pain in mice. Young adult male albino mice (n =160) within the weight range of 25-30 g were randomly divided into 20 groups (n = 8). SS (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg) and vehicle (VEH) were administered (IP) 30 min before the pain evaluation tests. Acute and chronic pain was assessed by Hot Plate, Tail Flick, Formalin and Writhing (visceral pain) tests. Results indicated that SS had analgesic effects (P < 0.05) in comparison to the control group and the highest dose was more effective (P < 0.001). The finding of this study showed that SS has inhibitory effects on pain in experimental animals