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Firouzjaie F, Taghipour N, Akhavan AA, Seyyed Tabaei SJ, Rouhani S, Shirazian M, Koochaki A, Fatemi M, Mosaffa N, Moin Vaziri V. Neutrophil extracellular traps formation: effect of Leishmania major promastigotes and salivary gland homogenates of Phlebotomus papatasi in human neutrophil culture. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:117. [PMID: 38575882 PMCID: PMC10993452 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03270-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis as a neglected tropical disease (NTD) is caused by the inoculation of Leishmania parasites via the bite of phlebotomine sand flies. After an infected bite, a series of innate and adaptive immune responses occurs, among which neutrophils can be mentioned as the initiators. Among the multiple functions of these fighting cells, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were studied in the presence of Leishmania major promastigotes and salivary gland homogenates (SGH) of Phlebotomus papatasi alone, and in combination to mimic natural conditions of transmission. MATERIAL & METHODS The effect of L. major and SGH on NETs formation was studied in three different groups: neutrophils + SGH (NS), neutrophils + L. major (NL), neutrophils + L. major + SGH (NLS) along with negative and positive controls in 2, 4 and 6 h post-incubation. Different microscopic methods were used to visualize NETs comprising: fluorescence microscopy by Acridine Orange/ Ethidium Bromide staining, optical microscopy by Giemsa staining and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the expression level of three different genes NE, MPO and MMP9 was evaluated by Real-Time PCR. RESULTS All three microscopical methods revealed similar results, as in NS group, chromatin extrusion as a sign of NETosis, was not very evident in each three time points; but, in NL and especially NLS group, more NETosis was observed and the interaction between neutrophils and promastigotes in NL and also with saliva in NLS group, gradually increased over times. Real-time reveals that, the expression of MPO, NE and MMP9 genes increased during 2 and 4 h after exposure, and then decreased at 6 h in most groups. CONCLUSION Hence, it was determined that the simultaneous presence of parasite and saliva in NLS group has a greater impact on the formation of NETs compared to NL and NS groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Firouzjaie
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Taghipour
- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ahmad Akhavan
- Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Shirazian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Koochaki
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahboubeh Fatemi
- Department of Vector Biology and Control of Diseases, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nariman Mosaffa
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Vahideh Moin Vaziri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Aghamolaei S, Mamaghani AJ, Ashrafi K, Kazemi B, Bandehpour M, Rouhani S, Rashidi S, Tabaei SJS. Designing and Developing Serological Test for the Diagnosis of Human Fascioliasis Using a New Recombinant Multi-epitope. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1005-1015. [PMID: 38498251 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00796-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fascioliasis is a common parasitic disease in humans and herbivores which is caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica and has a worldwide distribution. Serological tests such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique play a prominent role in the fast diagnosis of the disease. However, there are diagnostic limitations, including cross-reactivity with other worms, which decline the specificity of the results. This study aimed to evaluate the structure of a recombinant multi-epitope antigen produced from linear and conformational B-cell epitopes of three parasitic proteins with sera of individuals with fasciolosis, healthy controls, and those with other diseases to gain accurate sensitivity and specificity. METHODS After designing the multi-epitope structure of cathepsin L1, FhTP16.5, and SAP-2 antigens and then synthesizing, cloning, and expressing, the extracted purified protein was evaluated by indirect ELISA to detect IgG antibodies against Fasciola hepatica parasite among the sera of 39 serum samples of Fasciola hepatica, 35 healthy individual samples, and 20 samples of other types of parasitic diseases. The synthesized multi-epitope produced from cathepsin L1, FhTP16.5, and SAP-2 antigens was evaluated using the indirect ELISA. RESULTS The analysis of the samples mentioned for IgG antibody diagnosis against Fasciola hepatica showed 97.43% (95% confidence interval, 94.23-100%) sensitivity and 100% (95% confidence interval, 97-100%) specificity. CONCLUSION The recombinant B-cell multi-epitope with high antigenic potency may increase the specificity of epitopic peptides and ultimately help improve and develop indirect ELISA commercial kits for the diagnosis of fascioliasis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Aghamolaei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirreza Javadi Mamaghani
- Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
| | - Keyhan Ashrafi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojgan Bandehpour
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sama Rashidi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Marcus R, C P, Gill K, Smith P, Rouhani S, Mendelsohn A, Mendel E, Lince-Deroche N, Naidoo K, Ahmed N, Stirrup O, Roseleur J, Leuner R, Meyer-Rath G, Bekker LG. Acceptability, feasibility and cost of point of care testing for sexually transmitted infections among South African adolescents where syndromic management is standard of care. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1078. [PMID: 37817160 PMCID: PMC10566254 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10068-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young people (YP) in southern Africa are at substantial risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite the epidemiological and biological link between STIs and HIV transmission and acquisition, infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) remain widely undiagnosed. Syndromic STI management is the standard of care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite a high prevalence of asymptomatic infections. We conducted an observational study to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and cost of a STI test-and-treat service for YP in Cape Town. METHODS YP attending a mobile clinic (MC) and a youth centre clinic (YC) were offered STI screening. Urine testing for CT and NG using a 90-min molecular point-of-care (POC) test on the GeneXpert platform was conducted and treatment provided. Data were collated on demographics, sexual behaviour, presence of symptoms, uptake of same-day treatment, prevalence of CT/NG, and service acceptability. RESULTS Three hundred sixty six participants were enrolled (median age 20, 83% female).57% (209/366) of participants tested positive for either CT (126/366, 34%) or NG (57/366, 16%) or co-infection (26/366, 7%). Clinical symptoms were a poor predictor of GeneXpert diagnosed CT or NG, with a sensitivity of 46.8% and 54.0% for CT and NG respectively. Although half of participants initially chose to receive same day results and treatment, only a third waited for results on the day. The majority of participants (91%) rated the service highly via a post-visit acceptability questionnaire. CONCLUSION Curable STIs are highly prevalent in this population. STI screening using POC testing was feasible and acceptability was high. The study provides further impetus for moving policy beyond syndromic management of STIs in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Marcus
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK.
| | - Pike C
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - K Gill
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - P Smith
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - S Rouhani
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - A Mendelsohn
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - E Mendel
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - N Lince-Deroche
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - K Naidoo
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - N Ahmed
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Mortimer Market Centre, Central North West London NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - O Stirrup
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - J Roseleur
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - R Leuner
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - G Meyer-Rath
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L G Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Fatemi M, Niyyati M, Rouhani S, Karamati SA, Mirjalali H, Karanis P. Contamination of fresh vegetables in municipal stores with pathogenic Acanthamoeba genotypes; a public health concern. Int J Environ Health Res 2023; 33:1010-1021. [PMID: 35443833 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2067328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba spp. cause keratitis and encephalitis, and are a proper carrier of foodborne pathogens. A total of 70 samples including garden cress, chives, mint, parsley, and basil were collected. Samples were cultured onto a 2% non-nutrient agar medium. The cultures were analyzed using morphological and molecular techniques. In total, 18 (25.7%) out of 70 samples were positive including garden cress 10/22 (45.45%), chives 3/12 (25%), mint 2/13 (15.38%), basil 2/13 (15.38%), and parsley 1/10 (10%). The diagnostic fragment 3 was successfully sequenced in 15 samples and represented 11 (73.3%) T4, three (20%) T5, and one T9 genotypes. In addition, three, two, and one strains, belonging to the genotypes T4, T5, and T9 were ranked highly pathogenic. This is the first study reporting contamination of the most commonly consumed fresh vegetables with pathogenic Acanthamoeba genotypes. Our findings signify the public health concerns due the contamination of vegetables in municipal public markets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziye Fatemi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Niyyati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Ahmad Karamati
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Nicosia University Medical School, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Aryaeipour M, Fard RMN, Rad MBM, Pirestani M, Rouhani S, Daryani A, Asadi T, Sarvi S, Rokni MB. The Larval Stages of Echinostoma spp. in Freshwater Snails as the First and Second Intermediate Hosts in Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces, Northern Iran. Iran J Parasitol 2023; 18:182-192. [PMID: 37583635 PMCID: PMC10423910 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v18i2.13184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Identification of the larval stages of Echinostoma spp. in freshwater snails is an essential guide to continue monitoring the possibility of their transmission and the potential of echinostomiasis in areas where trematodes are the primary agent of parasitic diseases. The aim of this study was investigate Echinostoma using morphological and molecular techniques. Methods The study was conducted in Gilan and Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran, from April 2019 to October 2021. Overall, 5300 freshwater snails were randomly collected and were identified using external shell morphology. Meanwhile, snails infected with trematodes were studied via shedding and dissecting methods. Larvae stages of Echinostoma were identified and the genomic DNA of the samples was extracted. The PCR amplification of the ITSI gene was carried out for 17 isolates and products were sequenced. Seven sequences were deposited in GenBank. Results Totally, 3.5% of snails containing three species (Stagnicola sp., Radix sp. and Planorbis sp.) were infected with two types of cercaria, E. revolutum with 37 and Echinostoma sp. with 45 spines in the collar. Moreover, 35% of the snails were infected with Echinostoma spp. metacercaria. Phylogenetic analysis illustrated that isolates were included in two ITSI haplogroups. Conclusion Results showed the potential hazard of a zoonotic parasite as Echinostoma in northern Iran. The potential of disease environmental relationship investigation and resource control optimization is necessary for effective disease prevention and health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Aryaeipour
- Student of Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Mazaheri Nezhad Fard
- Department of Medical Pathobiology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagher Molai Rad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Parasitology and Entomology Department, Medical Sciences Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Disease Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tina Asadi
- Comparative Zoology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Disease Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagher Rokni
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Spotin A, Rouhani S, Haghighi A, Parvizi P. Low genetic heterogeneity of Leishmania major in different geographical regions of Iran. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285520. [PMID: 37155684 PMCID: PMC10166485 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To examine the genetic diversity of Leishmania major, 100 Giemsa-stained positive slides were collected from endemic foci of Iran (Northeast, Central, and Southwest provinces) over two consecutive years during 2019-2021. The Leishmania ITS-rDNA gene was amplified and Leishmania sp. was recognized by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. In addition, 178 registered ITS-rDNA sequences from other geographical regions of Iran were retrieved from GenBank, including different host species (human, sandfly and rodent). A total of 40 new haplotypes were discovered using the ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. IR29 (20.6%) and IR34 (61%) were the two most common haplotypes, represented by a star-like feature in the overall population. Analysis of the molecular variance test revealed low genetic diversity of L. major in human cases (Haplotype diversity; 0.341), rodent (Hd; 0.387) and sandfly (Hd; 0.390) sequences. The lowest genetic diversity of L. major was observed in Southwest/Southeast Iran (Hd: 0.104-0.286). The statistically Fst value indicated that L. major is not genetically differentiated between geographic regions of Iran, except for the Northeast-Southwest (Fst: 0.29055) and Central-Southwest (Fst: 0.30294) population pairs. The current study as the first investigation discloses new perspectives for further evaluation in the identification local transmission paradigms and initiating effective prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Spotin
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Haghighi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Parvizi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Andalib S, Mohammad Rahimi H, Niyyati M, Shalileh F, Nemati S, Rouhani S, Zali MR, Mirjalali H, Karanis P. Free-living amoebae in an oil refinery wastewater treatment facility. Sci Total Environ 2022; 839:156301. [PMID: 35636544 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Free Living Amoebae (FLA) are ubiquitous microorganisms reported from harsh environmental conditions. Oil refinery facilities consume vast volumes of water during their processes, generating a large amount of wastewater. The present study aimed to evaluate the wastewater treatment process in an oil refinery wastewater treatment facility (ORWWTF) for the presence of FLA. Water samples were collected from an oil refinery wastewater (ORWW) for nine months. After recording physical-chemical features, samples were cultivated onto non-nutrient agar (NNA). The discriminative fragments of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene were amplified and sequenced to characterize the isolated FLA. Phylogenetic tree, and network analysis were employed to evaluate genetic relationships. The thermo- and osmotolerant tests were performed on the isolated FLA. Twenty-five (32.9%) samples were positive for FLA cultivation. Acanthamoeba spp., Vahlkampfiids, and Vermamoeba spp. were detected, of which Acanthamoeba species were predominant. There was no statistical correlation between pH, NH3, PO4, H2S, and TDS with the presence of FLA. A statistical correlation between the presence of FLA and the type of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was significant (P-value = 0.011). All Acanthamoeba spp. isolates belonged to the genotypes T4 (17/21; 80.95%) and T11 (4/21; 19.05%). Vahlkampfiids were Naegleria spp., (7/10; 70%), Tetramitus aberdonicus (1/10; 10%), Learamoeba spp., (1/10; 10%), and Vahlkampfia spp., (1/10; 10%). All three Vermamoeba spp. were V. vermiformis. The ORWW contains toxic materials, and a few microorganisms can stay active in these environments. This is the first study which isolates FLA from such super harsh conditions. For the first time, T. aberdonicus, and Learamoeba spp., were isolated from oily wastewater. Our findings signify the concern due to the distribution of potentially pathogenic FLA to downstream lands via treated wastewater that may be released after treatment processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeid Andalib
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hanieh Mohammad Rahimi
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Niyyati
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farzaneh Shalileh
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Nemati
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirjalali
- Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany; Nicosia University Medical School, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Nicosia 2408, Cyprus
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Aryaeipour M, Mansoorian AB, Rad MBM, Rouhani S, Pirestani M, Hanafi-Bojd AA, Daryani A, Asadi T, Rokni MB, Sarvi S. Contamination of Vector Snails with the Larval Stages of Trematodes in Selected Areas in Northern Iran. Iran J Public Health 2022; 51:1400-1410. [PMID: 36447972 PMCID: PMC9659518 DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v51i6.9697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identification of freshwater snails and possible trematodes transmission sites are essential to continue monitoring the potential for disease outbreaks in areas with a history of parasitic infections. We aimed to search some areas in the margin of the Caspian Sea, northern Iran to identify the snail fauna of this area and verify the contamination of vector snails. METHODS More than 5,308 snails from 51 diverse and permanent habitats were studied from April 2019 to October 2021. Snails were collected randomly and identified using shell morphology. Trematode infection in snails was investigated by the release of cercariae and dissection methods. RESULTS Five families of freshwater snails including Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, Bithyniidae, and Viviparidae were investigated in the Caspian Sae Litoral of Iran. Physidae were found as the most prevalent snails (55.1%) followed by Lymnaeidae (29.4%). The parasitize rate was observed as 20% using releasing cercaria technique. Echinostomatoidea (31%), Schistosomatoidea (8%), and Diplostomoidea (21%), and Plagiorchioidea (40%) were seen as detected parasites. Meanwhile, 60% of the studied snails illustrated the other stages of trematodes. CONCLUSION The rate of infection of snails with different cercaria in northern Iran is significant. It needs further deep studies to clarify the situation of zoonoses transmitted by snails in the region. Policy makers should pay attention more to this area in terms of monitoring the snail-transmitted diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Aryaeipour
- Student of Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Allah Bedasht Mansoorian
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagher Molai Rad
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Pirestani
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ali Hanafi-Bojd
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, National Institute of Health Research, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tina Asadi
- School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Bagher Rokni
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Abstract
Abstract
Background
Breast cancer is one of the most challenging cancers among women which is considered one of the most lethal cancers to this date. From the time that cancer has been discovered, finding the best therapeutic method is still an ongoing process. As a novel therapeutic method, nanomedicine has brought a vast number of materials that could versatilely be used as a drug carrier. The purpose of this study is to develop a novel black pomegranate peel extract loaded with chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles to treat breast cancer cells.
Results
The morphology and size distribution of the nanoparticles studied by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, scanning, and transitional electron microscopy showed the spherical shape of the nanoparticles and their promising size range. Studies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, and zeta sizer confirmed the synthesis, substantial crystallinity, magnetic potential of the nanoparticles, and their satisfactory stability. The DPPH assay revealed that the obtained black pomegranate peel extract has 60% free radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity studies by MTT and LDH assay carried out on NIH/3T3, MBA-MB-231, and 4T1 cells confirmed that the magnetic nanoparticles had no significant cytotoxicity on the cells. However, the drug-loaded nanoparticles could significantly eradicate cancerous cells which had more efficiency comparing to free drug. Furthermore, free drug and drug-loaded nanoparticles had no toxic effect on normal cells.
Conclusion
Owing to the results achieved from this study, the novel drug-loaded nanoparticles are compatible to be used for breast cancer treatment and could potentially be used for further in vivo studies.
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Gutiontov S, Turchan W, Rouhani S, Chervin CS, Segal J, Bestvina C, Donington J, Hoffman P, Chmura S, Connell P, Juloori A, Malik R, Ferguson M, Patel J, Vokes E, Weichselbaum R, Pitroda S. P14.27 Pathogenic Genomic Alterations of CDKN2A Predict Immunotherapy Resistance in NSCLC. J Thorac Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.01.533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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11
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Gholamrezaei M, Rouhani S, Mohebali M, Mohammadi-Yeganeh S, Haji Molla Hoseini M, Haghighi A, Lasjerdi Z, Hamidi F, Kazem Sharifi-Yazdi M. MicroRNAs Expression Induces Apoptosis of Macrophages in Response to Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER): An In-Vitro and In-Vivo Study. Iran J Parasitol 2020; 15:475-487. [PMID: 33884004 PMCID: PMC8039482 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v15i4.4851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of miR-15a mimic and inhibitor of miR-155 expression on apoptosis induction in macrophages infected with Iranian strain of Leishmania major in-vitro and in-vivo. Methods: RAW 264.7 cells were infected with L. major promastigotes (MRHO/IR/75/ER), and then were treated with miRNAs. For in-vivo experiment, BALB/c mice were inoculated with L. major promastigotes, and then they were treated with miRNAs. For evaluation of miRNA therapeutic effect, in-vitro and in-vivo studies were performed using quantitative Real-time PCR, Flow cytometry, lesion size measurement, and Limiting Dilution Assay (LDA). This study was performed in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Results: In-vitro results of flow cytometry showed that using miR-15a mimic, miR-155 inhibitor or both of them increased apoptosis of macrophages. In in-vivo, size of lesion increased during experiment in control groups (P<0.05) while application of both miR-155 inhibitor and miR-15a mimic inhibited the increase in the size of lesions within 6 wk of experiment (P=0.85). LDA results showed that microRNA therapy could significantly decrease parasite load in mimic or inhibitor receiving groups compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-155 inhibitor and miR-15a mimic in L. major infected macrophages can induce apoptosis and reduce parasite burden. Therefore, miRNA-based therapy can be proposed as new treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Gholamrezaei
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohebali
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Mohammadi-Yeganeh
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran
| | - Mostafa Haji Molla Hoseini
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Haghighi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Lasjerdi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Hamidi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Bozorgomid A, Rouhani S, Harandi MF, Ichikawa-Seki M, Raeghi S. Genetic diversity and distribution of Fasciola hepatica haplotypes in Iran: Molecular and phylogenetic studies. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2019; 19:100359. [PMID: 32057386 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Fasciolosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Over the last decade, diagnostic tools to detect and differentiate Fasciola species have improved, but our knowledge of the distribution of haplotypes and gene flow of this parasite is not comprehensive yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate this gap in the epidemiology of F. hepatica in different provinces of Iran between 2015 and 2017. Isolated Fasciola were collected from abattoirs in 9 provinces. The partial sequence of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene was used for the identification and molecular analysis of F. hepatica isolates. The amplified PCR products were purified and subjected to direct sequencing for subsequent construction of phylogenetic tree and network analysis. In the 130 subjects analyzed, 37 ND1 haplotypes were detected. This is the first study in Iran which investigates F. hepatica population and its genetic structure, based on mitochondrial ND1 marker in different geographical regions of Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Bozorgomid
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Fasihi Harandi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7616914115, Iran
| | - Madoka Ichikawa-Seki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka 020-8550, Japan
| | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran.
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Charlesworth B, Rouhani S. THE PROBABILITY OF PEAK SHIFTS IN A FOUNDER POPULATION. II. AN ADDITIVE POLYGENIC TRAIT. Evolution 2017; 42:1129-1145. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1988.tb04174.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/1988] [Accepted: 06/15/1988] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Charlesworth
- Department of Ecology and Evolution The University of Chicago 1103 E. 57th St. Chicago IL 60637
| | - S. Rouhani
- Department of Genetics and Biometry University College London Stephenson Way London NW1 2HE U.K
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Affiliation(s)
- N. H. Barton
- Department of Genetics and Biometry; University College; 4, Stephenson Way London NW1 2HE UK
| | - S. Rouhani
- Department of Genetics and Biometry; University College; 4, Stephenson Way London NW1 2HE UK
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Fascioliasis is economically important to the livestock industry that caused with Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. The objective of this study was to identify these two species F. hepatica and F. gigantica by using nuclear and mitochondrial markers (ITS1, ND1 and CO1) and have been employed to analyze intraspecific phylogenetic relations of Fasciola spp. MATERIALS AND METHODS Approximately 150 Fasciola specimens were collected, then stained with haematoxylin-carmine dye and observed under an optical microscope to examine for the existence of sperm. The ITS1 marker was used to identify different Fasciola and phylogenetic analysis based on ND1 and CO1 sequence data were conducted by maximum likelihood algorithm. RESULTS Fasciola samples were separated into 2 groups. Almost all specimens had many sperms in the seminal vesicle (spermic fluke) and one fluke did not contain any sperm in the seminal vesicle. The aspermic sample had F. gigantica RFLP pattern with ITS1 gene. Phylogenetic analysis based on NDI and COI sequence data were conducted by maximum likelihood showed a similar topology of the trees obtained particularly for F. hepatica and F. gigantica. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that aspermic Fasciola found in this region of Iran has same genetic structures through the spermic F. gigantica populations in accordance to phylogenetic tree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saber Raeghi
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Reaghi S, Haghighi A, Harandi MF, Spotin A, Arzamani K, Rouhani S. Molecular characterization of Fasciola hepatica and phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial (nicotiamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit I and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) genes from the North-East of Iran. Vet World 2016; 9:1034-1038. [PMID: 27733809 PMCID: PMC5057026 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.1034-1038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Fascioliasis is one of the most zoonotic diseases with global extension. As the epidemiological distribution of Fasciola may lead to various genetic patterns of the parasite, the aim of this study is to identify Fasciola hepatica based on spermatogenesis, and phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial (nicotiamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit I [ND1] and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) gene marker. Materials and Methods: In this study, 90 F. hepatica collected from 30 cattle at slaughterhouse located in three different geographical locations in the North-East of Iran were evaluated based on spermatogenetic ability and internal transcribed spacer 1 gene restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern. Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship using mtDNA gene marker for the isolates from the North-East of Iran, and other countries were then analyzed. Results: Partial sequences of mtDNA showed eight haplotypes in both genes. The phylogenic analysis using neighbor joining as well as maximum likelihood methods showed similar topologies of trees. Pairwise fixation index between different F. hepatica populations calculated from the nucleotide data set of ND1 gene are statistically significant and show the genetic difference. Conclusion: F. hepatica found in this region of Iran has different genetic structures through the other Fasciola populations in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Reaghi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Haghighi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Fasihi Harandi
- Research Center for Hydatid disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Department of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Kourosh Arzamani
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Rouhani S, Eliacin H, Edmond M, Marsh R. 214 Traumatic Injuries at an Emergency Department in Central Haiti. Ann Emerg Med 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.07.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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18
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Rouhani S, Marsh R, Baugh C, Cheridor J, Schuur J. 217 EMF Assessing the Need for Protocolized Observation Care for Stroke and Asthma in Rural Haiti. Ann Emerg Med 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2015.07.250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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19
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Spotin A, Rouhani S, Ghaemmaghami P, Haghighi A, Zolfaghari MR, Amirkhani A, Farahmand M, Bordbar A, Parvizi P. Different Morphologies of Leishmania major Amastigotes with No Molecular Diversity in a Neglected Endemic Area of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran. Iran Biomed J 2015; 19:149-59. [PMID: 26081070 PMCID: PMC4571010 DOI: 10.7508/ibj.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular diversity of Leishmania major and its morphological changes have become a controversial issue among researchers. Some aspects of polymorphic shapes of amastigotes in clinical manifestations along with molecular variation were evaluated among suspected patients of some exceptional zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis locations in Northern Khuzestan, Southwestern Iran. METHODS Suspected patients (n = 165) were sampled in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci over two consecutive years during 2012-2014. Prepared smears were stained, scaled and measured by ocular micrometer. DNA was extracted from smears; ITS-rDNA and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) markers were amplified, and PCR products were digested by BsuR1 restriction enzyme. Then the RFLP and sequencing were employed. RESULTS Only L. major was identified in patients containing regular amastigotes' shapes (oval or round) with a size of 2-4 µm in each of classical wet, dry, mixed lesions. Meanwhile, irregular shapes (spindle, pear, or cigarette) were observed separately in non-classical wet lesions with more than 4 µm. Interestingly, a few amastigotes with an external flagellum were observed in some lesions. All sequenced ITS-rDNA and Cyt b genes of L. major did not show any molecular variation (χ 2 P > 0.05), including only one common haplotype (GenBank access no. EF413075). CONCLUSION Findings proved that unlike other endemic foci, there is not a meaningful correlation between phenotypic and genotypic features of L. major isolates. This study is considered as the first comprehensive report to incriminate morphometric shapes of L. major amastigotes, which enhances our knowledge concerning their relevance with various clinical appearances and genotypic traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Spotin
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.,Dept. of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Dept. of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Dept. of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parnazsadat Ghaemmaghami
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.,Dept. of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran
| | - Ali Haghighi
- Dept. of Parasitology, Medical Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Aref Amirkhani
- 5Dept. of Epidemiology, Medical
Sciences of Tehran branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahin Farahmand
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Bordbar
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Parvizi
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Rouhani S, Marsh R, Checkett K, Edmond C, Rimpel L. Emergency medicine education in low-resource settings: A residency
program model from Haiti. Ann Glob Health 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aogh.2015.02.622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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21
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Rouhani S, Ebrahimi M, Rostami A, Fallahi S. Effective, appropriate and simple culture, egg hatching and cryopreserving of the nematode Cheilospirura hamulosa. Br Poult Sci 2014; 55:846-9. [PMID: 25187472 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2014.960806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
1. Successful invasion by nematode parasites is associated with several factors including egg hatching at the right time in their hosts. To determine a simple and appropriate medium for culture and egg hatching of the highly pathogenic species of the Acuariidae family, Cheilospirura hamulosa were cultured in three different media. In addition the viability of C. hamulosa eggs was determined after storage in frozen infected gizzards. 2. Eggs removed from the uteri of the female worms in infected gizzards were pooled and washed in distilled water and screened under a stereo dissecting microscope. Eggs were counted and cultured in three different media, nutrient agar, normal saline 0.9% and Bearman, at room temperature. Additionally, 10 infected gizzards were kept at -20°C for 2 and 8 months. 3. After 4-5 d there had been no growth in the nutrient agar medium, whereas 11% of the cultured eggs in the Bearman medium contained larvae 2-3 d after culturing. In 0.9% normal saline medium the two polar knobs appeared on the two poles of the eggs at 2 d post cultivation, and 74% of the eggs contained a larva on the third day. Mature larvae gradually exited from the eggs. 4. Eggs collected from female worms in gizzards frozen at -20°C were cultured in the same three culture media at room temperature. Larvae were visible in the eggs after 2-3 d in the Bearman and 0.9% normal saline media and hatched thereafter. 5. The 0.9% normal saline medium is recommended for egg hatching and cultivation of C. hamulosa due for simplicity, efficacy and cost effectiveness. Moreover, freezing of the infected gizzards at -20°C is proposed for long-term storage of the eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rouhani
- a Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
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Mirzaei A, Schweynoch C, Rouhani S, Parvizi P, Schönian G. Diversity of Leishmania species and of strains of Leishmania major isolated from desert rodents in different foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iran. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2014; 108:502-12. [PMID: 24980555 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a polymorphic disease which may show various symptoms. Genetic diversity of the parasite is suggested to be one of the factors influencing the clinical manifestation of the disease. METHODS This study used PCR for the detection and identification of leishmanial parasites at the species level and applied a multilocus microsatellite typing approach for investigating the genetic diversity of Leishmania major isolated from captured rodents in two foci of ZCL in Iran: Turkemen Sahara and Fars province. RESULTS ITS1-rDNA amplification and subsequent RFLP analyses were performed using DNA extracted from the rodents' ears. Approximately one third of the rodents tested positive for Leishmania; in all rodents L. major was the predominating infecting agent. Seven Rhombomys opimus were positive for L. turanica DNA and one for both L. major and L. turanica. DNA of L. infantum was identified in one Rh. opimus. Seventeen strains of L. major, 15 from Turkemen Sahara and two from Fars province, isolated from different rodents were tested for variation at nine polymorphic microsatellite loci. Ten different MLMT genotypes were observed. They were compared to 89 previously published microsatellite profiles obtained for strains of L. major of different geographical origin. Bayesian model-based and genetic distance based approaches confirmed that strains from Turkemen Sahara and from Fars are genetically different and belong to different genetic groups, largely corresponding to their geographical origins. DISCUSSION The considerable genetic variability of L. major might be related to differences in reservoir host and/or to the existence of different populations of the vector, Phlebotomus papatasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Mirzaei
- Parasitology Department, Medical Faculty, University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charitè, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carola Schweynoch
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charitè, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Soheila Rouhani
- Parasitology Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parviz Parvizi
- Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gabriele Schönian
- Institut für Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Charitè, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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Daryaei E, Rouhani S. Loop-erased random walk on a percolation cluster: crossover from Euclidean to fractal geometry. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2014; 89:062101. [PMID: 25019719 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.89.062101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We study loop-erased random walk (LERW) on the percolation cluster, with occupation probability p ≥ p_{c}, in two and three dimensions. We find that the fractal dimensions of LERW_{p} are close to normal LERW in a Euclidean lattice, for all p>p_{c}. However, our results reveal that LERW on critical incipient percolation clusters is fractal with d_{f}=1.217 ± 0.002 for d=2 and 1.43 ± 0.02 for d=3, independent of the coordination number of the lattice. These values are consistent with the known values for optimal path exponents in strongly disordered media. We investigate how the behavior of the LERW_{p} crosses over from Euclidean to fractal geometry by gradually decreasing the value of the parameter p from 1 to p_{c}. For finite systems, two crossover exponents and a scaling relation can be derived. This work opens up a theoretical window regarding the diffusion process on fractal and random landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Daryaei
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran and Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Neyshabur, P.O. Box 91136-899, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - S Rouhani
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
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Rouhani S, Salehi N, Kamalinejad M, Zayeri F. Efficacy of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extract on viability of Echinococcus granulosus protoscolices. J INVEST SURG 2013; 26:347-51. [PMID: 23978263 DOI: 10.3109/08941939.2013.818746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgery is one of the best choices for the treatment of hydatidosis. To prevent the secondary infection, it is essential to use effective scolicidal agents during surgery for hydatid cyst. Up to now, no effective and safe agent has been identified for this purpose. Berberis vulgaris called "Zereshk" in Persian has been traditionally used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of different complaints. Many studies have shown that Berberis vulgaris has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic effects. METHODS In our study, the scolicidal effect of barberry with different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/ml diluted form) and at different exposure times (5, 15, and 30 min) was evaluated. For this purpose, we obtained sheep liver hydatid cysts from a slaughterhouse. Viability of protoscolices was assessed by 0.1% Eosin staining. Normal saline and hypertonic saline were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. RESULTS All the different concentrations of Berberis vulgaris aqueous extracts had scolicidal effect. The strongest effect was observed to be in 4 mg/ml concentration, which acted as positive control. Scolicidal activity of 2 mg/ml dilution was close to 4 mg/ml and the least scolicidal effect was observed in 0.5 mg/ml. Scolicidal activity of extracts had significant differentiation between 5th and 30th min of exposure. CONCLUSION The scolicidal activity was very effective in low concentration (4 mg/ml) and short exposure time (5 min). Therefore, after being examined in vivo and additional experiments, it may be used as a suitable and effective scolicidal in surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soheila Rouhani
- 1 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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25
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Mirzaei A, Rouhani S, Kazerooni PA, Farahmand M, Parvizi P. Molecular detection and conventional identification of leishmania species in reservoir hosts of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in fars province, South of iran. Iran J Parasitol 2013; 8:280-8. [PMID: 23914242 PMCID: PMC3724154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2012] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objectives of our research were to search for Leishmania species in rodents in Fars province, south of Iran, and to compare molecular with conventional methods for detecting these parasites. METHODS Rodents were captured using live traps and screened for Leishmania species using molecular and conventional methods, including the taking of smears from each ear. Nested PCR was employed to detect Leishmania in rodents by amplifying a region of the ribosomal RNA amplicon of Leishmania (ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2) that is species-specific by DNA sequence. RESULTS Totally, 122 rodents were captured. Leishmania parasites were detected using the nested PCR and three conventional methods (direct smear, NNN culture and Balb/C inoculation. 41 (33.6%) out of 122 rodents had Leishmania infections (34 Meriones lybicus and 7 M. persicus). All PCR products of the ITS-rDNA gene were sequenced. Sequence analysis revealed that 28 out of 41 positive samples were Leishmania major. Thirteen sequences were unreadable and therefore not identified. CONCLUSION At least two gerbil species common in Fars ZCL foci, M. lybicus and M. persicus, are acquiring infections of L. major and may be reservoir hosts of one predominant parasite haplotype. Most infections were detected molecularly not by conventional methods, because most rodents died in the traps.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mirzaei
- Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran,Medical Faculty, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - S Rouhani
- Parasitology Department, Medical Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - PA Kazerooni
- Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - M Farahmand
- Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - P Parvizi
- Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran,Corresponding author:Tel.: 0098-21-66496414.
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Daryaei E, Araújo NAM, Schrenk KJ, Rouhani S, Herrmann HJ. Watersheds are Schramm-Loewner evolution curves. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 109:218701. [PMID: 23215620 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.218701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We show that in the continuum limit watersheds dividing drainage basins are Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) curves, being described by one single parameter κ. Several numerical evaluations are applied to ascertain this. All calculations are consistent with SLE(κ), with κ = 1.734 ± 0.005, being the only known physical example of an SLE with κ<2. This lies outside the well-known duality conjecture, bringing up new questions regarding the existence and reversibility of dual models. Furthermore, it constitutes a strong indication for conformal invariance in random landscapes and suggests that watersheds likely correspond to a logarithmic conformal field theory with a central charge c ≈ -7/2.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Daryaei
- Computational Physics for Engineering Materials, Institut f. Baustoffe, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Street 27, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Shamsipur M, Rouhani S, Sharghi H, Ganjali MR, Eshghi H. Strontium-selective membrane electrodes based on some recently synthesized benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamides. Anal Chem 2012; 71:4938-43. [PMID: 21662839 DOI: 10.1021/ac990167e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Eight different recently synthesized macrocyclic diamides were studied to characterize their abilities as strontium ion carriers in PVC membrane electrodes. The electrode based on 1,13-diaza-2,3;11,12-dibenzo-4,7,10-trioxacyclopentadecane-14,15-dione exhibits a Nernstian response for Sr(2+) ions over a wide concentration range (1.0 × 10(-)(1)-3.2 × 10(-)(5) M) with a limit of detection of 8.0 × 10(-)(6) M (0.7 ppm). The response time of the sensor is ∼10 s, and the membrane can be used for more than three months without observing any deviation. The electrode revealed comparatively good selectivities with respect to many alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions. It was used as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of carbonate ions with a strontium ion solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Shamsipur
- Departments of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran, Bou-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran, and Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
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Kimberly H, Rouhani S, Dubsky H, Studer M. 40 Addition of a Lateral View Improves Visualization of the Abdominal Aorta With Bedside Ultrasonography. Ann Emerg Med 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2012.06.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Najafi MN, Moghimi-Araghi S, Rouhani S. Avalanche frontiers in the dissipative Abelian sandpile model and off-critical Schramm-Loewner evolution. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2012; 85:051104. [PMID: 23004700 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.85.051104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2011] [Revised: 02/12/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Avalanche frontiers in Abelian sandpile model (ASM) are random simple curves whose continuum limit is known to be a Schramm-Loewner evolution with diffusivity parameter κ=2. In this paper we consider the dissipative ASM and study the statistics of the avalanche and wave frontiers for various rates of dissipation. We examine the scaling behavior of a number of functions, such as the correlation length, the exponent of distribution function of loop lengths, and the gyration radius defined for waves and avalanches. We find that they do scale with the rate of dissipation. Two significant length scales are observed. For length scales much smaller than the correlation length, these curves show properties close to the critical curves, and the corresponding diffusivity parameter is nearly the same as the critical limit. We interpret this as the ultraviolet limit where κ=2 corresponding to c=-2. For length scales much larger than the correlation length, we find that the avalanche frontiers tend to self-avoiding walk, and the corresponding driving function is proportional to the Brownian motion with the diffusivity parameter κ=8/3 corresponding to a field theory with c=0. We interpret this to be the infrared limit of the theory or at least a crossover.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Najafi
- Physics Department, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
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Mirzaei A, Rouhani S, Taherkhani H, Farahmand M, Kazemi B, Hedayati M, Baghaei A, Davari B, Parvizi P. Isolation and detection of Leishmania species among naturally infected Rhombomis opimus, a reservoir host of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Turkemen Sahara, North East of Iran. Exp Parasitol 2011; 129:375-80. [PMID: 21945269 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Revised: 08/28/2011] [Accepted: 08/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In Iran, three species of Leishmania have been incriminated as the causative agents of human leishmaniasis, Leishmania (L.) major, Leishmania tropica, and Leishmania infantum.Rhombomis opimus have been incriminated as a principal reservoirs of the parasitic protozoan Leishmania major, the causative agent of rural zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Rodents captured and examined to find Leishmania species using conventional methods including direct impression smear and microscopic observation inoculation samples to Balb/c and culture in NNN medium. Also molecular method was employed to detect Leishmania in rodents by amplifying a region of the ribosomal RNA amplicon of Leishmania (ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2) using Nested PCR. Leshmania species were specified by DNA sequences. 36 (38.3%) of R. opimus were Leishmania positive using at least one conventional methods. Many more ITS-rDNA fragments were amplified from R. opimus but only 65 out of 74 PCR products contained enough DNA for direct sequencing or readable sequences. The PCR assays detected in Iranian R. opimus not only Leishmania major in 59 (79.7%) rodents but also Leishmania turanica in 6 (8.1%) rodents, another parasite of the great gerbil. These parasites were found in Turkemen Sahara, North East of Iran, in a focus of rural (ZCL). L. major and L. turanica in R. opimus firmly identified from Turkemen Sahara. Nine rodents with Leishmania infections unidentified which some were unreadable sequences, these could be mixed infections of L. major, L. turanica, Leishmania gerbillisensu lato and Leishmania close to L. gerbilli or a related species reported in sandflies previously from this location. The haplotypes of L. major and L. turanica were found to be identical to that of isolates of L. major and L. turanica from Iran and in GenBank elsewhere. R. opimus is probably the key reservoir in this ZCL focus because of its abundance and its infection rates with both L. major and L. turanica.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mirzaei
- Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Parasitology Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, 69 Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran
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Nezhadhaghighi MG, Rajabpour MA, Rouhani S. First-passage-time processes and subordinated Schramm-Loewner evolution. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2011; 84:011134. [PMID: 21867140 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.84.011134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2011] [Revised: 04/17/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We study the first-passage-time processes of the anomalous diffusion on the self-similar curves in two dimensions. The scaling properties of the mean-square displacement and mean first passage time of the fractional Brownian motion and subordinated walk on the different fractal curves (loop-erased random walk, harmonic explorer, and percolation front) are derived. We also define natural parametrized subordinated Schramm-Loewner evolution (NS-SLE) as a mathematical tool that can model diffusion on fractal curves. The scaling properties of the mean-square displacement and mean first passage time for NS-SLE are obtained by numerical means.
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Shaki H, Gharanjig K, Rouhani S, Khosravi A. Synthesis and photophysical properties of some novel fluorescent dyes based on naphthalimide derivatives. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Saberi AA, Dashti-Naserabadi H, Rouhani S. Classification of (2+1) -dimensional growing surfaces using Schramm-Loewner evolution. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2010; 82:020101. [PMID: 20866762 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.82.020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Statistical behavior and scaling properties of isoheight lines in three different saturated two-dimensional grown surfaces with controversial universality classes are investigated using ideas from Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE_{κ}). We present some evidence that the isoheight lines in the ballistic deposition (BD), Eden and restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) models have conformally invariant properties all in the same universality class as the self-avoiding random walk (SAW), equivalently SLE_{8/3}. This leads to the conclusion that all these discrete growth models fall into the same universality class as the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation in two dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saberi
- Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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AlaeeNovin E, Parvizi P, Mirzaei A, Hedayati M, Kazerooni PA, Rouhani S. PP-199 Detection process of Leishmania parasite in reservoir hosts of Leishmaniasis in Fars province using three routine laboratory methods and by Nested PCR of ITS-rDNA gene. Int J Infect Dis 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1201-9712(10)60267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Hedayati M, AlaeeNovin E, Parvizi P, Mirzaei A, Taherkhani H, Rouhani S. PP-200 First detection of Leishmania parasite in Meriones lybicus reservoir of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Turkemen Sahara (Golastan province). Int J Infect Dis 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1201-9712(10)60268-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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36
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Parvizi P, Mirzaei A, Rouhani S, Hedayati M, Taherkhani H. PP-190 Evaluation of Leishmania infection in Rhombomis opimus as a main reservoir host of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Turkemen Sahara, Iran. Int J Infect Dis 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s1201-9712(10)60258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Mohammadi F, Saberi AA, Rouhani S. Scaling and multiscaling behavior of the perimeter of a diffusion-limited aggregation generated by the Hastings-Levitov method. J Phys Condens Matter 2009; 21:375110. [PMID: 21832341 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/37/375110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we analyze the scaling behavior of a diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) simulated by the Hastings-Levitov method. We obtain the fractal dimension of the clusters by direct analysis of the geometrical patterns, in good agreement with one obtained from an analytical approach. We compute the two-point density correlation function and we show that, in the large-size limit, it agrees with the obtained fractal dimension. These support the statistical agreement between the patterns and DLA clusters. We also investigate the scaling properties of various length scales and their fluctuations, related to the boundary of the cluster. We find that all of the length scales do not have a simple scaling with the same correction to scaling exponent. The fractal dimension of the perimeter is obtained equal to that of the cluster. The growth exponent is computed from the evolution of the interface width equal to β = 0.557(2). We also show that the perimeter of the DLA cluster has an asymptotic multiscaling behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mohammadi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, PO Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
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Saberi AA, Rouhani S. Scaling of clusters and winding-angle statistics of isoheight lines in two-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang surfaces. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2009; 79:036102. [PMID: 19392013 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.79.036102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the statistics of isoheight lines of (2+1) -dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang model at different level sets around the mean height in the saturation regime. We find that the exponent describing the distribution of the height-cluster size behaves differently for level cuts above and below the mean height, while the fractal dimensions of the height-clusters and their perimeters remain unchanged. The statistics of the winding angle confirms the previous observation that these contour lines are in the same universality class as self-avoiding random walks.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saberi
- School of Physics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), 19395-5531 Tehran, Iran.
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Saberi AA, Moghimi-Araghi S, Dashti-Naserabadi H, Rouhani S. Direct evidence for conformal invariance of avalanche frontiers in sandpile models. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2009; 79:031121. [PMID: 19391916 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.79.031121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Appreciation of stochastic Loewner evolution (SLE_{kappa}) , as a powerful tool to check for conformal invariant properties of geometrical features of critical systems has been rising. In this paper we use this method to check conformal invariance in sandpile models. Avalanche frontiers in Abelian sandpile model are numerically shown to be conformally invariant and can be described by SLE with diffusivity kappa=2 . This value is the same as value obtained for loop-erased random walks. The fractal dimension and Schramm's formula for left passage probability also suggest the same result. We also check the same properties for Zhang's sandpile model.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saberi
- School of Physics, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM), P.O. Box 19395-5531, Tehran, Iran
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Rouhani S, Vatankhah A. Biochemical Changes in the Fertile and Sterile of Hydatid Cyst Fluid in Sheep. Int J Infect Dis 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.05.1011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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41
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Saberi AA, Niry MD, Fazeli SM, Rahimi Tabar MR, Rouhani S. Conformal invariance of isoheight lines in a two-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang surface. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2008; 77:051607. [PMID: 18643079 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.77.051607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2007] [Revised: 03/02/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The statistics of isoheight lines in the (2+1) -dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) model is shown to be conformally invariant and equivalent to those of self-avoiding random walks. This leads to a rich variety of exact analytical results for the KPZ dynamics. We present direct evidence that the isoheight lines can be described by the family of conformally invariant curves called Schramm-Loewner evolution (or SLE_{kappa} ) with diffusivity kappa=8/3 . It is shown that the absence of the nonlinear term in the KPZ equation will change the diffusivity kappa from 8/3 to 4, indicating that the isoheight lines of the Edwards-Wilkinson surface are also conformally invariant and belong to the universality class of domain walls in the O(2) spin model.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saberi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran 11155-9161, Iran
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Mathonnet A, Rouhani S, Lemiale V, Charpentier J, Chiche JD, Cariou A. Comparison between simultaneously recorded continuous encephalogram and standard encephalogram in post-cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2008.03.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Abstract
We have studied the isoheight lines on the WO3 surface as a physical candidate for conformally invariant curves. We have shown that these lines are conformally invariant with the same statistics of domain walls in the critical Ising model. They belong to the family of conformal invariant curves called Schramm-Loewner evolution (or SLE(kappa)), with diffusivity of kappa approximately 3. This can be regarded as the first experimental observation of SLE curves. We have also argued that Ballistic Deposition (BD) can serve as a growth model giving rise to contours with similar statistics at large scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Saberi
- Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran
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Rouhani S, Nguyen X, Luchon L, Deyra J, Dusser D, Dinh-Xuan A. 141 Syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil (SAOS) chez les personnes âgées. Rev Mal Respir 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/s0761-8425(07)72517-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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46
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Facciotti MT, Rouhani S, Burkard FT, Betancourt FM, Downing KH, Rose RB, McDermott G, Glaeser RM. Structure of an early intermediate in the M-state phase of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle. Biophys J 2001; 81:3442-55. [PMID: 11721006 PMCID: PMC1301800 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-3495(01)75976-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The structure of an early M-intermediate of the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin photocycle formed by actinic illumination at 230 K has been determined by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.0 A. Three-dimensional crystals were trapped by illuminating with actinic light at 230 K, followed by quenching in liquid nitrogen. Amide I, amide II, and other infrared absorption bands, recorded from single bacteriorhodopsin crystals, confirm that the M-substate formed represents a structure that occurs early after deprotonation of the Schiff base. Rotation about the retinal C13-C14 double bond appears to be complete, but a relatively large torsion angle of 26 degrees is still seen for the C14-C15 bond. The intramolecular stress associated with the isomerization of retinal and the subsequent deprotonation of the Schiff base generates numerous small but experimentally measurable structural changes within the protein. Many of the residues that are displaced during the formation of the late M (M(N)) substate formed by three-dimensional crystals of the D96N mutant (Luecke et al., 1999b) are positioned, in early M, between their resting-state locations and the ones which they will adopt at the end of the M phase. The relatively small magnitude of atomic displacements observed in this intermediate, and the well-defined positions adopted by nearly all of the atoms in the structure, may make the formation of this structure favorable to model (simulate) by molecular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Facciotti
- Graduate Group in Biophysics, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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Rouhani S, Cartailler JP, Facciotti MT, Walian P, Needleman R, Lanyi JK, Glaeser RM, Luecke H. Crystal structure of the D85S mutant of bacteriorhodopsin: model of an O-like photocycle intermediate. J Mol Biol 2001; 313:615-28. [PMID: 11676543 DOI: 10.1006/jmbi.2001.5066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Crystal structures are reported for the D85S and D85S/F219L mutants of the light-driven proton/hydroxyl-pump bacteriorhodopsin. These mutants crystallize in the orthorhombic C222(1) spacegroup, and provide the first demonstration that monoolein-based cubic lipid phase crystallization can support the growth of well-diffracting crystals in non-hexagonal spacegroups. Both structures exhibit similar and substantial differences relative to wild-type bacteriorhodopsin, suggesting that they represent inherent features resulting from neutralization of the Schiff base counterion Asp85. We argue that these structures provide a model for the last photocycle intermediate (O) of bacteriorhodopsin, in which Asp85 is protonated, the proton release group is deprotonated, and the retinal has reisomerized to all-trans. Unlike for the M and N photointermediates, where structural changes occur mainly on the cytoplasmic side, here the large-scale changes are confined to the extracellular side. As in the M intermediate, the side-chain of Arg82 is in a downward configuration, and in addition, a pi-cloud hydrogen bond forms between Trp189 NE1 and Trp138. On the cytoplasmic side, there is increased hydration near the surface, suggesting how Asp96 might communicate with the bulk during the rise of the O intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Rouhani
- Life Sciences Division, Donner Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Bordet T, Lesbordes JC, Rouhani S, Castelnau-Ptakhine L, Schmalbruch H, Haase G, Kahn A. Protective effects of cardiotrophin-1 adenoviral gene transfer on neuromuscular degeneration in transgenic ALS mice. Hum Mol Genet 2001; 10:1925-33. [PMID: 11555629 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/10.18.1925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is mainly a sporadic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of cortical and spinal motoneurons. Some familial ALS cases (FALS) have been linked to dominant mutations in the gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Transgenic mice overexpressing a mutated form of human SOD1 with a Gly93Ala substitution develop progressive muscle wasting and paralysis as a result of spinal motoneuron loss and die at 5 to 6 months. We investigated the effects of neurotrophic factor gene delivery in this FALS model. Intramuscular injection of an adenoviral vector encoding cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) in SOD1G93A newborn mice resulted in systemic delivery of CT-1, supplying motoneurons with a continuous source of trophic factor. CT-1 delayed the onset of motor impairment as assessed in the rotarod test. Axonal degeneration was slowed and skeletal muscle atrophy was largely reduced by CT-1 treatment. By monitoring the amplitude of the evoked motor response, we showed that the time-course of motor impairment was significantly decreased by CT-1 treatment. Thus, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of neurotrophic factors might delay neurogenic muscular atrophy and progressive neuromuscular deficiency in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bordet
- Département de Génétique, Institut Cochin de Génétique Moléculaire, 24, rue du Fg Saint Jacques, 75014 Paris, France
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Shamsipur M, Poursaberi T, Rouhani S, Niknam K, Sharghi H, Ganjali MR. Cobalt(II)-selective membrane electrode based on a recently synthesized benzo-substituted macrocyclic diamide. ANAL SCI 2001; 17:1049-54. [PMID: 11708057 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.17.1049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A PVC-membrane electrode based on a recently synthesized 18-membered macrocyclic diamide is presented. The electrode reveals a Nernstian potentiometric response for Co2+ over a wide concentration range (2.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-2) M). The electrode has a response time of about 10 s and can be used for at least 2 months without any divergence. The proposed sensor revealed very good selectivities for Co2+ over a wide variety of other metal ions, and could be used over a wide pH range (3.0-8.0). The detection limit of the sensor is 6.0 x 10(-7) M. It was successfully applied to the direct determination and potentiometric titration of cobalt ion.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Shamsipur
- Department of Chemistry, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
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Abstract
The selection of sampling sites is one of the major tasks in the design of a monitoring network. Many environmental networks suffer from either insufficient information or redundant information. This study presents a new, effective algorithm that addresses the issues of insufficient and reduction information. The new algorithm is denoted as Multiple-Point Variance Analysis (MPV). MPV includes both Multiple-Point Variance Reduction Analysis (MPVR) for adding information-effectives sites, and Multiple-Point Variance Increase Analysis (MPVI) for deleting information-redundant sites. The MPVR and MPVI equations are verified under two hypothetical cases. The optimal procedures of this new algorithm include determination of simultaneous additions or deletions of groups of sampling points. These proposed optimization procedures eliminate the need for any spatial discretizations or sequential selections. The efficiency of these optimal procedures is tested under actual field conditions. The results show that the optimal MPV is an effective tool for adjustment of existing sampling networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y P Lin
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Chinese Culture University, Yangming Shan, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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