n operating rooms.

In November 2018, the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal, and imposed severe sanctions on Iran. This study explores the impact of US sanctions in Iran’s health research system.

This phenomenological study interviewed 24 Iranian health science scholars through purposeful sampling to learn about their experiences and thoughts regarding the impact of US sanctions on Iran’s health research system.

The impact of sanctions on Iran’s health research system were classified into five categories (

) financial issues, (

) difficulty in supplying laboratory materials and (

) equipment, (

) disruption in international research collaboration and activities, and (

) other issues (e.g., increased stress and workload).

This study indicated that since research centers in Iran are highly dependent on governmental budgets, sanctions have greatly affected the health research system in Iran. Financial and economic problems, restrictions in transferring funds, and the disruption in political and international relations have created many challenges for supplying medical laboratory materials and equipment for medical and health research centers in Iran.

This study indicated that since research centers in Iran are highly dependent on governmental budgets, sanctions have greatly affected the health research system in Iran. Financial and economic problems, restrictions in transferring funds, and the disruption in political and international relations have created many challenges for supplying medical laboratory materials and equipment for medical and health research centers in Iran.

People who use drugs, particularly injection drug users (IDUs) are known as the major source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. see more This study was performed to determine the prevalence of HCV infection using rapid point-of-care testing and to assess liver fibrosis by non-invasive lab tests among addict populations of Mashhad, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, drug users who referred to drug treatment and harm reduction centers of Mashhad were enrolled during March and December 2019. A rapid test kit was used to assess the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and a real-time PCR was performed to confirm the infection. The AST-platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were used to investigate liver fibrosis in patients with positive HCV RNA. A

value <0.05 was considered as significant.

A total of 390 drug users aged 15-74 years were assessed. Sixty-four individuals showed positive results for anti-HCV (16.4%), of whom 58 blood samples were available for PCR test. The viremic rate among the latter group was calculated at 84.5% (49/58); the total viremia prevalence was 12.8% (49/384). Multivariate analysis revealed that being single (

= 0.040) or divorced/ widow (

= 0.011) and history of drug injection (

<0.001) and tattoos (

= 0.021) were significantly associated with current HCV infection. Using APRI and FIB-4 indices, significant liver fibrosis was identified in 14.3% and 18.4% of cases, respectively.

HCV infection screening using rapid tests and examining liver fibrosis by non-invasive lab tests appear to be practicable and useful among poor populations in settings such as drug treatment centers.

HCV infection screening using rapid tests and examining liver fibrosis by non-invasive lab tests appear to be practicable and useful among poor populations in settings such as drug treatment centers.

The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system is one of the molecular pathways involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis that consists of several genes, including

(MutL homolog 1),

(MutS homolog 6),

(MutS homolog 2), and

(MutS homolog 3). The protein encoded by

(post-meiotic segregation 2) is also essential for MMR. Here, we address the correlation between immunohistochemical and transcriptional expression of PMS2 with the tumor grade and clinical stage of non-hereditary/sporadic CRC disease.

This study retrospectively analyzed 67 colorectal resections performed for 38 male and 29 female patients. Random biopsies were taken by a gastroenterologist from patients referring to three hospitals in the cities of Zanjan, Urmia and Qazvin (Iran) during 2017-2019. All specimens were examined and classified for localization of tumor, pathological stage and grade. The PMS2 protein expression was studied immunohistochemically and analysis of mRNA expression was performed in the same tissue sections.

Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed a decrease in PMS2 expression compared with paracancerous tissue (

<0.001), which correlated with tumor stage. In addition, reduced PMS2 expression was correlated with the tumor differentiation grade, underlining a connection between downregulation of PMS2 and progression of CRC. Comparing the PMS2 mRNA levels in different groups showed the following results 0.92 ± 0.18 in patients with Stage I CRC tumor, 0.86 ± 0.38 in Stage Ⅱ, 0.50 ± 0.29 in Stage Ⅲ, and 0.47 ± 0.23 in Stage Ⅳ.

These findings suggest that

may provide a potential reliable biomarker for CRC classification by combined immunohistochemical and mRNA analysis.

These findings suggest that PMS2 may provide a potential reliable biomarker for CRC classification by combined immunohistochemical and mRNA analysis.The role of countercations that do not bind to core nanocrystals (NCs) but rather ensure charge balance on ligand-exchanged NC surfaces has been rarely studied and even neglected. Such a scenario is unfortunate, as an understanding of surface chemistry has emerged as a key factor in overcoming colloidal NC limitations as catalysts. In this work, we report on the unprecedented role of countercations in ligand exchange for a colloidal transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), WSe2, to tune the d-band center toward the Fermi level for enhanced hydrogen desorption. Conventional long-chain organic ligands, oleylamine, of WSe2 NCs are exchanged with short atomic S2- ligands having countercations to preserve the charge balance (WSe2/S2-/M+, M = Li, Na, K). Upon exchange with S2- ligands, the charge-balancing countercations are intercalated between WSe2 layers, thereby serving a unique function as an electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst. The HER activity of ligand-exchanged colloidal WSe2 NCs shows a decrease in overpotential by down-shift of d-band center to induce more electron-filling in antibonding orbital and an increase in the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA).