Circulating HOTAIR RNA Is Potentially Up-regulated in Coronary Artery Disease

Niloofar Avazpour,Mohammadreza Hajjari,Saeed Yazdankhah,Azita Sahni,Ali Mohammad Foroughmand 한국유전체학회 2018 Genomics & informatics Vol.16 No.4

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability all around the world. Recent studies have revealed that aberrantly regulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) as one of the main classes of cellular transcript play a key regulatory role in transcriptional and epigenetic pathways. Recent reports have demonstrated circulating long noncoding RNAs in blood can be potential biomarkers for CAD. HOTAIR is one of the most cited lncRNAs with a critical role in initiation and progression of the gene expression regulation. Recent research on the role of the HOTAIR in cardiovascular disease lays the basis for the development of new studies considering this lncRNA as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in CAD. In this study, we aimed to compare the expression of HOTAIR lncRNA in the blood samples of patients with CAD and control samples. The expression level was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique. Our data show that expression of HOTAIR is up-regulated in blood samples of patients with CAD.

A Behavioral Study of Promethazine Interaction with Analgesic Effect of Diclofenac: Pain Combination Therapy

Niloofar Amidi,Zohreh Izadidastenaei,Malihe Araghchian,Davoud Ahmadimoghaddam 대한약침학회 2020 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.23 No.1

Objectives: Pain is considered as a cause of sickness and the most prevalent symptom which makes people visit a physician. Nowadays, combination therapy is becoming useful to relieve chronic and postsurgical pain. The aim of this study was to study the promethazine (as an antihistamine) interactions with antinociceptive effect of diclofenac (as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Methods: In initial part of the study, we investigate the analgesic effect of diclofenac. Using writhing test, we demonstrate that diclofenac significantly reduces writhe response induced by acetic acid in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we evaluate the combination effect of promethazine on diclofenac analgesic effect. Results: We observed that diclofenac inhibited pain in the dose dependent manner which means that by increasing dose of diclofenac a significant decrease in pain was observed. This experimental setup allowed calculation of the dose that caused 50% antinocicep-tion (ED50) for diclofenac. The ED50 for diclofenac in this study was determined to be 9.1 mg/kg according our previous study. Additionally, promethazine was showed a dose-dependent inhibition of writhes. The combination of different doses of promethazine (2, 4, 6 mg / kg) with diclofenac ED50 (9.1 mg / kg) was injected to mice. Promethazine 4 and 6 mg / kg in combination with diclofenac had significantly led to increase analgesic effect of diclofenac. Conclusion: In conclusion, these results add important information to the existing knowledge on combination of diclofenac and antihistamine in pain therapies to be used in clinical practice and maybe helpful in designing the future guidelines.

Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquids as Efficient Catalysts for Clean Synthesis of Carbamatoalkyl Naphthols

Niloofar Tavakoli-Hoseini,Majid M. Heravi,Fatemeh F. Bamoharram,Abolghasem Davoodnia 대한화학회 2011 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.32 No.3

Under mild conditions and without any additional organic solvent, synthesis of carbamatoalkyl naphthols could be carried out in the present of two halogen-free Brønsted acidic ionic liquids, 3-methyl-1-(4-sulfonic acid)butylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate and N-(4-sulfonic acid)butylpyridinium hydrogen sulfate. A wide range of aromatic aldehydes easily undergo condensation with β-naphthol and methyl or benzyl carbamate to afford the desired products of good purity in excellent yields. The present methodology offers several advantages such as a simple procedure with an easy work-up, short reaction times, and excellent yields. The catalysts could be recycled and reused for several times without substantial reduction in their catalytic activities.

Biodegradation potential of hydrocarbons in petroleum refinery effluents using a continuous anaerobic-aerobic hybrid system

Niloofar Nasirpour,Seyyed Mohammad Mousavi,Seyed Abbas Shojaosadati 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.5

We investigated a novel wastewater treatment method for the remediation of crude oil refinery effluents with large number of recalcitrant organic compounds. The treatment system consists of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and an aerobic packed-bed biofilm reactor (PBBR) in combinatory pattern to increase the efficiency of treatment and to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of the wastewater. The mean chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency in the UASB reactor and PBBR over 118 days of sampling was 68.48% and 38.28%, respectively. The total COD removal efficiency of the system was 81.07%. The GC-MS abundance and area values for each of the substances in the effluent decreased greatly from the corresponding value in the influent. Specifically, the PAHs were totally removed during the treatment process. This study presents a feasible technology for the treatment of refinery effluents.

Introducing GIS as legitimate instrument to deal with road accident data: a case study of Iran, Tehran

Niloofar Haji Mirza Aghasi 대한공간정보학회 2017 Spatial Information Research Vol.25 No.1

Real and accurate data is necessary for all traffic and road safety management to identify problems and risk factors and for priority control correctly. This study aims to develop and introduce a Geographic Information System (GIS) based method for managing and analyzing urban traffic accident data in Iran, to resolve the current data management problems. To support the better decisionmaking process and application of GIS in managing urban traffic accidents. In Iran, road accident data is being collected by some different authorities, such as traffic police departments, insurance companies, emergency units, forensics, etc. Road traffic accident data usage in Iran is limited to mainly serve statistical purposes, while its commitment in first leadership procedure is limited. Taking into the aims, GIS is accounted as a legitimate instrument to deal with urban accident data, and support the best decision-making process for urban traffic accidents and road safety, not only in Iran but also in many other countries which are facing the similar situation. To carry out the methodology, the city of Tehran, which is the capital and most populous city of Iran, was chosen as a case study area.

Multi-Agent System as a New Approach to Effective Chronic Heart Failure Management: Key Considerations

Niloofar Mohammadzadeh,Reza Safdari,Azin Rahimi 대한의료정보학회 2013 Healthcare Informatics Research Vol.19 No.3

Objectives: Given the importance of the follow-up of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients to reduce common causes of re-admission and deterioration of their status that lead to imposing spiritual and physical costs on patients and society, modern technology tools should be used to the best advantage. The aim of this article is to explain key points which should be considered in designing an appropriate multi-agent system to improve CHF management. Methods: In this literature review articles were searched with keywords like multi-agent system, heart failure, chronic disease management in Science Direct, Google Scholar and PubMed databases without regard to the year of publications. Results: Agents are an innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. Because agents are capable of solving complex and dynamic health problems, to take full advantage of e-Health, the healthcare system must take steps to make use of this technology. Key factors in CHF management through a multi-agent system approach must be considered such as organization, confidentiality in general aspects and design and architecture points in specific aspects. Conclusions: Note that use of agent systems only with a technical view is associated with many problems. Hence, in delivering healthcare to CHF patients, considering social and human aspects is essential. It is obvious that identifying and resolving technical and non-technical challenges is vital in the successful implementation of this technology.

Synthesis of Redox-Light Responsive Alginate Nano Hydrogel to Produce Smart Textile

Niloofar Salamatipour,Nahid Hemmatinejad,Azadeh Bashari 한국섬유공학회 2019 Fibers and polymers Vol.20 No.4

Nowadays, with improvements in technology, smart materials have gained much attention. The objective of thepresent study is to prepare light-reduction/oxidation responsive alginate nano hydrogels and finishing cotton fabric by thesesmart hydrogels to produce smart textile. Alginate nano hydrogels were prepared by the reverse emulsification-diffusionmethod in a water in oil system by using alginate solution as a model polymer and water phase, normal hexane as an oilphase, span 80 as a lipophilic surfactant, Iron (ІІ)-chloride as a cross-linker and light-redox sensitive agent and sodium lactateas a reducing agent. Alginate nano hydrogels were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) methods and the synthesis of alginate nano hydrogels was confirmed. In the next step, cotton fabrics werefinished by these smart hydrogels. Scanning electron microscopy and FTIR test confirmed the presence of alginate nanohydrogels on the fabric. Water retention capacity (WRC) and antibacterial properties were evaluated and the results exhibitedthe improvement of WRC and antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. These kinds ofalginate nano hydrogels made the fabric responsive to light stimuli. In order to evaluate this responsivity, a drug model (folicacid) was loaded in the structure of nano hydrogels by sonification, the rate of release by radiation of ultraviolet light wasstudied by spectroscopy, and the results proved the light responsivity of these nano hydrogels.

Syphacia obvelata: A New Hope to Induction of Intestinal Immunological Tolerance in C57BL/6 Mice

Niloofar Taghipour,Nariman Mosaffa,Mohammad Rostami-Nejad,Mohamad Mohsen Homayoni,Esmaeil Mortaz,Hamid Asadzadeh Aghdaei,Mohammad Reza Zali 대한기생충학열대의학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.55 No.4

Advancing drag crisis of a sphere via the manipulation of integral length scale

Niloofar Moradian,David S-K. Ting,Shaohong Cheng 한국풍공학회 2011 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.14 No.1

Spherical object in wind is a common scenario in daily life and engineering practice. The main challenge in understanding the aerodynamics in turbulent wind lies in the multi aspect of turbulence. This paper presents a wind tunnel study, which focuses on the role of turbulence integral length scale Λ on the drag of a sphere. Particular turbulent flow conditions were achieved via the proper combination of wind speed, orifice perforated plate, sphere diameter (D) and distance downstream from the plate. The drag was measured in turbulent flow with 2.2 × 10^4 ≤ Re ≤ 8 × 10^4, 0.043 ≤ ∧/D ≤ 3.24, and turbulence intensity Tu up to 6.3%. Our results confirmed the general trends of decreasing drag coefficient and critical Reynolds number with increasing turbulence intensity. More interestingly, the unique role of the relative integral length scale has been revealed. Over the range of conditions studied, an integral length of approximately 65% the sphere diameter is most effective in reducing the drag.

Chronic Heart Failure Follow-up Management Based on Agent Technology

Niloofar Mohammadzadeh,Reza Safdari 대한의료정보학회 2015 Healthcare Informatics Research Vol.21 No.4

Monitoring heart failure patients through continues assessment of sign and symptoms by information technology tools lead to large reduction in re-hospitalization. Agent technology is one of the strongest artificial intelligence areas; therefore, it can be expected to facilitate, accelerate, and improve health services especially in home care and telemedicine. The aim of this article is to provide an agent-based model for chronic heart failure (CHF) follow-up management. Methods: This research was performed in 2013–2014 to determine appropriate scenarios and the data required to monitor and followup CHF patients, and then an agent-based model was designed. Results: Agents in the proposed model perform the following tasks: medical data access, communication with other agents of the framework and intelligent data analysis, including medical data processing, reasoning, negotiation for decision-making, and learning capabilities. Conclusions: The proposed multi-agent system has ability to learn and thus improve itself. Implementation of this model with more and various interval times at a broader level could achieve better results. The proposed multi-agent system is no substitute for cardiologists, but it could assist them in decision-making.