Use of ALLGIO Probe Assays for Detection of HBV Resistance to Adefovir in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B, Kerman, Iran

Afshar, Reza Malekpour,Mollaie, Hamid Reza Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is contagious with transmissiobn vertically or horizontally by blood products and body secretions. Over 50% of Iranian carriers contracted the infection prenatally, making this the most likely route of transmission of HBV in Iran. To evaluate the resistance to adefovir (ADV) therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, a study was conducted on 70 patients (63 males and 7 females), who had received in first line lamivudine and second line adefovir. All were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg), serum alanine amino transferase (ALT) level and HBV DNA load before and after treatment with ADV. In all samples, resistance to lamivudine and ADV was tested with real time PCR. Among seventy patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, 18 (25.7%) were resistant to LAM and 8 (11.4%) were resistant to ADV. Only one patient was negative for the presence of HBS-Ag (5.6%) and two were negative for HBe-Ag (11.1%). In this study we used a new method (ALLGIO probe assay) that has high sensitivity in detection of adefovir resistance mutants, which we recommend to other researchers. Mutant strains of the YMDD motif of HBV polymerase can be found in some patients under treatment with lamivudine and ADV. ADV has been demonstrated to be efficient in patients with lamivudine resistant HBV.

Sustainable H2 production from glycerol steam reforming in the heatintegrated reactor: Using reforming-side by-products as feed for the catalytic combustion-side

Afshar Alipour-Dehkordi,Sajad Jabari Neek,Alireza Shahnazar 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.113 No.-

Currently, fossil fuels are considered the primary energy carriers having a significant role in the globalenergy market. Two main features, including environmental pollution owing to greenhouse gas emissionsas well as fossil fuel reserves depletion, make severe instability in the world market. Consequently, researchers are trying to propose different processes to attain energy from renewablesources. In this study, a novel heat exchanger reactor for sustainable hydrogen production from glycerolsteam reforming has been suggested. In this configuration, the required heat of steam reforming reactionsis supplied through the catalytic combustion reaction. At the same time, the required fuel for thecombustion reactions is provided by reforming side by-products. A one-dimensional mathematical modelhas been developed to study the reactor behavior and the role of different influencing parameters on itsperformance. The results showed that it is feasible to eliminate the furnace used in the conventional processand enhance the glycerol conversion by 48% compared to the adiabatic reactor. Since the use of byproductsof the glycerol steam reforming as a heat source for the hydrogen production has not been usedso far, it can be acknowledged that this method could be feasible and beneficial in energy saving.

Investigation forMaize Inbred Lines Resistance to Maize Rough Dwarf Virus(MRDV)

Afshar. Estakhr,Bahram. Heidari,Ali Dadkhodaie,Mahmood Masoumi,Hassan Pakniyat,Zahra Ahmadi 한국작물학회 2016 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.19 No.1

Maize rough dwarf virus (MRDV) is the most important disease affecting maize growth in Iran. In the present study, the putative resistance capacity of 35 maize inbred lines against the causal agents of MRDVwas studied under natural field infection in 2010 and 2011. The viral transmitter was a plant hopper known as Laodelphax steriatellus. Early sowing provided suitable temperatures for vector propagation and transmission and therefore natural infection under field conditions. Sowing single rows of SC704 as vector spreader between every five rows of inbred lines caused adequate vector propagation and viral transmission. This shows that viral infection was sufficient and possible resistance was linked to viral resistance, not failure, in vector transmission. In principal component biplot, plant height vector had wide angles with the vectors for disease severity index and MRDV incidence that showed the negative association of plant height with MRDV disease. The percentage of natural infection to MRDV in susceptible control(SC704) was about 64%. The genotypes A679, K3547/3, K3545/6, K3653/2, and B84 were more susceptible to MRDV. Only the line K3640/3 had low disease incidence and severity and it can be considered as resistant for possible use in genetic studies. Results showed that an early sowing of maize in temperate regions increases the chance of transmitting viruses via their vector.

Combining Ability and Gene Action for Maturity and Agronomic Traits in Different Heterotic Groups of Maize Inbred Lines and Their Diallel Crosses

Afshar. Estakhr,Bahram. Heidari 한국작물학회 2012 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.15 No.3

Combining ability information is necessary for selection of suitable advanced lines for hybridization and identification of promising hybrids for development of improved varieties. A number of 14 maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and 91 related crosses were evaluated over two years, 2008 and 2009, in a temperate-zone of Iran. The objectives of the study were to identify the best general and specific combiners, heterosis and type of gene actions responsible for agronomic traits. Except for grain yield and growing degree day to milky, significant general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability were observed for all traits. The Baker ratio for plant height (0.15), ear height (0.26), growing degree day to milky stage (0.04), and grain yield (0.002) showed the predominance of non-additive gene effects in the expression of these traits. The heterosis observed for grain yield, grain number, pollination period,ear and plant height was considerably higher than that observed for other traits. The correlations (r) of F1 means and SCA effects were positive and significantly higher than that of r (F1, mid-parents) and r (F1, heterosis) for all the traits except cob percent, growing degree days to silking, and physiological maturity. MO17, K3547/5, and K3615/2 had negative GCA effects for growing degree day to milky stage and maturity. Among hybrids, MO17 × K3653/2, B73 × K3651/2, and K3545/6 × K3493/1 with positive SCAs for pollination period and grain yield had also negative SCA effects for degree day to silking and milky stages. Therefore, the use of these inbred lines and hybrids increases the response to selection for increasing grain yield and early maturity in maize.

Evaluation of JC and Cytomegalo Viruses in Glioblastoma Tissue

Afshar, Reza Malekpour,Mollaei, Hamid Reza,Zandi, Bahare,Iranpour, Maryam Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.11

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive of the gliomas, a collection of tumors arising from glia in the central nervous system. Possible associations between the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and the JC virus with GBM are now attracting interest. Our present aim was to investigate the prevalence of the two viruses in Iranian patients from Kerman's cities in the south of Iran. In addition, the expression rates of pp65, large T antigen and p53 proteins were assessed and their relation with GBM evaluated using reverse transcription real time PCR (rReal Time PCR). A total of 199 patients with GBM cancer were enrolled, with $mean{\pm}SD$ ages of $50.0{\pm}19.5$ and $50.7{\pm}19.6$ years for males and females, respectively. The P53 rate was dramatically low suggesting an aetiological role,. Large T antigen expression was found in JC positive samples, while the PP65 antigen was observed in patients positive for CMV and JC. HCMV products and JC virus with oncogenic potential may induce the development of various tumors including glioblastomas. The JC virus produces an early gene product, T-antigen, which has the ability to associate with and functionally inactivate well-studied tumor suppressor proteins including p53 and pRB.

Detection of HBV Resistance to Lamivudine in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Using Zip Nucleic Acid Probes in Kerman, Southeast of Iran

Afshar, Reza Malekpour,Mollaie, Hamid Reza Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

HBV infection is contagious and may be transmitted vertically or horizontally by blood products and body secretions. Over 50% of Iranian carriers have contracted the infection prenatally, making this the most likely route of transmission of HBV in Iran. This study assesses the resistance to Lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection using a new ZNA probe Real Time PCR method. To evaluate the effectiveness of Lamivudine therapy for chronic hepatitis B infection, a study was conducted on 70 patients (63 men and 7women), who had received the drug first line. All patients were tested for the presence of HBsAg and HBeAg, the serum ALT level and the HBV DNA load before and after treatment. In all samples resistance to Lamivudine was tested with the ZNA Probe. Our results showed that ZNA Probe Real Time PCR method could detect wild type,YMDD, and its mutants, tyrosine-isoleucine-aspartate-aspartate and tyrosine-valine-aspartate-Aspartate. Among an estimated seventy patients with chronic hepatitis B infection, 18 (25.7%) were resistant to lamivudine. Only one patient was negative for presence of HBS-Ag (5.6%) and two patients were negative for HBe-Ag (11.1%). Real-time PCR with Zip nucleic acid probes is a sensitive, specific and rapid detection method for mutations in the YMDD motif, which will be essential for monitoring patients undergoing Lamivudine antiviral therapy.

Prevalence and Type Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Infection Using the INNo-Lipa Assay, Kerman, Southeast Iran

Afshar, Reza Malekpour,Mollaie, Hamid Reza,Fazlalipour, Mehdi,Arabzadeh, Seyad Alimohammad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes skin and mucous membrane infections. It crosses from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual contact. There are more than 100 types of HPV that can influence different parts of the body. Some types of HPV can cause cancer (such as cervical or anal cancer) and others can cause warts (such as genital or plantar warts). HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Iran and around the world. Considerable molecular evidence suggests a role for human papilloma virus (HPV) in the pathogenesis of carcinoma. Epidemiological studies on human papilloma viruses (HPVs) infections in general population are critical for the performing of health policy guidelines for developing the strategies to hinder the primary and secondary different cancer. In different parts of Iran, there is a lack of population-based studies to determine the prevalence of HPV in the general population. The aim of this population-based study was therefore to report the prevalence ratse of HPV types among Iranian patients. To study the risk of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, we managed a retrospective study in Kerman province, southeast of Iran. For this purpose, 410 patients tested for the presence of HPV DNA using PCR and INNo-Lipa assays. HPV DNA was detected in 108 out of 410 patients (26.34%), while it was not detected in any of the control group samples. Patients included 23 (21.1%) males and 86 (78.8%) females. HPV type 6 was the most common (49%) followed by HPV type 16 (10.1%), and also HPV type11 (9.2%). The prevalence of HPV in Iran is comparable to those reported in other regions of the world. In a similar manner, it seems that HPV types 6, 16 and11 are the most common types in Kerman. Additional studies on larger group of patients, particularly in those with pre-invasive forms of disease, are needed to explain the roles of different HPV types in this location of Iran.

Selected physical properties of binary mixtures of crude glycerol and methanol at various temperatures

Reza Afshar Ghotli,Abdul Raman Abdul Aziz,I.M. Atadashi,D.B. Hasan,Pei San Kong,M.K. Aroua 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

Crude glycerol, the main byproduct of biodiesel production, consists of excess methanol and otherimpurities and can be converted into other useful products through purification or conversion processes. In this work, dynamic viscosities, densities, excess molar volumes and refractive indexes for severalmixtures of biodiesel crude glycerol and methanol with were determined at different temperatures. Thephysiochemical characteristics of crude glycerol in mixture form with methanol could be useful for thedesign of industrial equipment and purification or conversion process. The results demonstratedtemperature dependent behaviors of all binarymixtures. The empirical correlations were obtained basedon the experimental results.

Multi Objective Calibration of Large Scaled Water Quality Model Using a Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization and Neural Network Algorithm

Abbas Afshar,Hamideh Kazemi 대한토목학회 2012 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.16 No.6

Large scaled simulation models, especially the water quality simulation models, are so complicated that makes calibration processes huge tasks; in order to attain optimum solution, lots of parameters must be calibrated, simultaneously. Methods based on evolutionary algorithm developed new horizons in calibration procedure. Hybrid algorithms are of the newest. In hybrid algorithms,one of the modules is applied as a simulator and the other one takes role as an optimization module. In this article, overcoming these challenges, hybrid ANN-PSO algorithm is applied in calibration process of water quality model CE-QUAL-W2. Here, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) provides simulation (CE-QUAL-W2) model with sets of parameters to simulate model. Using these results, Neural Network (estimator) is trained. In the next step, simulator would be replaced with estimator and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) would estimate simulator’s behavior in a way less time. The first goal is to calibrate thermal parameter; going forward through this process needs water surface elevation parameter to be calibrated, too. As a result, the proposed model will become multi-objective one, applied in Karkheh reservoir in Iran during 6 month simulation period. The proposed approach overcomes the high computational efforts required if a conventional calibration search technique was used, while retaining the quality of the final calibration results. Estimator (ANN) embedded in optimization algorithm (PSO) in calibration process,undoubtedly, reduced run time while the answers have reliable quality.

Combining Ability and Gene Action for Maturity and Agronomic Traits in Different Heterotic Groups of Maize Inbred Lines and Their Diallel Crosses

Estakhr, Afshar,Heidari, Bahram 한국작물학회 2012 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.15 No.3

Combining ability information is necessary for selection of suitable advanced lines for hybridization and identification of promising hybrids for development of improved varieties. A number of 14 maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and 91 related crosses were evaluated over two years, 2008 and 2009, in a temperate-zone of Iran. The objectives of the study were to identify the best general and specific combiners, heterosis and type of gene actions responsible for agronomic traits. Except for grain yield and growing degree day to milky, significant general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability were observed for all traits. The Baker ratio for plant height (0.15), ear height (0.26), growing degree day to milky stage (0.04), and grain yield (0.002) showed the predominance of non-additive gene effects in the expression of these traits. The heterosis observed for grain yield, grain number, pollination period, ear and plant height was considerably higher than that observed for other traits. The correlations (r) of $F_1$ means and SCA effects were positive and significantly higher than that of r ($F_1$, mid-parents) and r ($F_1$, heterosis) for all the traits except cob percent, growing degree days to silking, and physiological maturity. MO17, K3547/5, and K3615/2 had negative GCA effects for growing degree day to milky stage and maturity. Among hybrids, MO17 ${\times}$ K3653/2, B73 ${\times}$ K3651/2, and K3545/6 ${\times}$ K3493/1 with positive SCAs for pollination period and grain yield had also negative SCA effects for degree day to silking and milky stages. Therefore, the use of these inbred lines and hybrids increases the response to selection for increasing grain yield and early maturity in maize.