Burden of ischemic heart disease in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and attributable risk factors: An epidemiological analysis from 1990 to 2019

Introduction

Despite the burden of ischemic heart disease (IHD), there remains a paucity of research on the incidence, mortality, and burden of this condition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and the risk factors associated with IHD in the MENA region.

Methods

This study was performed based on the GBD study 2019 data. We retrieved the data related to the epidemiology and burden of IHD, including prevalence, incidence, years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and mortality at the global level and in MENA countries across years and sexes.

Results

IHD accounted for approximately 2.55 million (95 % UI 2.29-2.83) incident cases in MENA in 2019, with an age-standardized incidence rate of 613.87 (95 % UI 555.84-675.16) per 100 000 people, which has decreased by 9 % between 1990 and 2019. IHD accounted for 11.01 % of DALYs causes in MENA in 2019, an increase of 68 % compared to 1990. The DALYs rate from IHD increased with age in both men and women and was higher in men than in women in all age groups, except 85-89 years age-group, in 2019.

Conclusion

The age-standardized prevalence and incidence of IHD are decreasing in MENA. However, this reduction is lower than the global level, which can be due to a weaker performance of the countries in the region in reducing the prevalence and incidence of the disease compared to the global average.

Inhibition of CatSper and Hv1 Channels and NOX5 Enzyme Affect Progesterone-Induced Increase of Intracellular Calcium Concentration and ROS Generation in Human Sperm

BACKGROUND

Normal sperm function depends on appropriate intracellular calcium (Ca_i ²⁺) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Calcium activates NADPH oxidase-5 (NOX5) that leads to ROS generation. The calcium channel of sperm (CatSper) is activated by progesterone and intracellular alkalization. Herein, the interactive role of CatSper, Hv1 channels, and NOX5 enzyme on Ca_i ²⁺ and ROS generation in human sperm is investigated.

METHODS

The present laboratory in vitro study was carried out in the School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran) during 2016. Normal semen samples (n=15) were washed and diluted to 20×10⁶ sperm/mL. The diluted samples were divided into 16 groups containing Ham's F-10 (the control group), 2 µM NNC (CatSper inhibitor), 1 mM ZnCl2 (Hv1 inhibitor), 1 µM DPI (NOX5 inhibitor), NNC+Zn, NNC+DPI, and NNC+Zn+DPI. The other 8 groups were the same as the above except that they contained 1 µM progesterone. Cell viability and Ca_i ²⁺ were analyzed by flou-3 AM probe and PI staining, respectively, using flow cytometric method. ROS generation was assessed by chemiluminescence method. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test. P values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Progesterone increased Ca_i ²⁺ and ROS generation. The addition of NNC, Zn, or NNC+Zn significantly decreased Ca_i ²⁺ in the control and progesterone containing groups. Progesterone-induced ROS generation was decreased significantly in all groups containing NNC, Zn, or DPI and reached to the control level when DPI was added to NNC or Zn.

CONCLUSION

There is a functional relationship between CatSper and Hv1 channels in increasing Ca_i ²⁺+. The activity of CatSper and Hv1 channels are required for progesterone-induced ROS generation by NOX5 enzyme.

A Highly Selective DNA Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide-Silk Fibroin Composite and AuNPs as a Probe Oligonucleotide Immobilization Platform3667

In this study, a simple and novel electrochemical biosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite of graphene oxide (GO) - silk fibroin nanofibers (SF) and gold nanoparticles (MCH/ssDNA/AuNPs/SF/GO/GCE) was developed for detection of DNA sequences. The fabrication processes of electrochemical biosensor were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and electrochemical methods. Some experimental conditions such as immobilization time of probe DNA and MCH incubation time, time and temperature of hybridization were optimized. The designed biosensor revealed a wide linear range of 1.0 × 10-16 - 1.0 × 10-8 mol L-1 and a low detection limit (3.3 × 10-17 mol L-1) for detection of BRCA1 5382 mutation by EIS technique. The designed biosensor revealed high selectivity for discrimination of the complementary (P1C) sequences from various non-complementary sequences of (P1nC1, P1nC2 and P1nC3). Also, the biosensor revealed a high reproducibility (RSD of 7.5% (n=4)) and high stability (92% of its initial response after 8 days). So, the fabricated biosensor has a suitable potential to be applied for detection of breast cancer sequences in the initial stages of the cancer.

The effects of resveratrol in rats with simultaneous type 2 diabetes and renal hypertension: a study of antihypertensive mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Resveratrol has beneficial effects on cardiovascular system. This study aimed at examining antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects of resveratrol in rats with simultaneous type 2 diabetes and renal hypertension.

METHODS

Eight groups (8-10 each) of male Spargue-Dawley rats, including a control, a diabetic (induced by streptozotocin and nicotinamide), a renal hypertensive (induced by placing plexiglas clips on the left renal arteries), a sham, a simultaneously hypertensive-diabetic receiving vehicle, and 3 simultaneous hypertensive-diabetic receiving resveratrol at 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg/day were used. Four weeks after the induction of diabetes, renal hypertension was induced and animals were given vehicle or resveratrol for the next four weeks. Afterwards, blood pressure and glucose, serum markers of oxidative stress were measured and animal's aortic rings were used for isolated studies.

RESULTS

Serum malondialdehyde, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, fasting blood glucose, maximal response and effective concentration 50 of phenylephrine, and inhibitory concentration 50 of acetylcholine of hypertensive-diabetic group receiving vehicle were significantly higher than those of the control group, and treatment with resveratrol caused significant reduction of these variables. Moreover, serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, and maximal response to acetylcholine of hypertensive-diabetic group receiving vehicle were significantly lower than those of the control group, and treatment with resveratrol caused significant increase of these variables.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that resveratrol has antidiabetic and antihypertensive effects, which may be partly due to antioxidant mechanism. They also show that antihypertensive effect of resveratrol may be additionally mediated by improving the release of nitric oxide and sympathoplegic activities.

Design and one-pot synthesis of alpha-aminophosphonates and bis(alpha-aminophosphonates) by iron(III) chloride and cytotoxic activity

In this study, we used a solution of FeCl(3) in THF to facilitate the Mannich-type reaction of aldehyde, amine and phosphite compounds to form corresponding alpha-aminophosphonates in a one-pot, three-component reaction. Selected alpha-aminophosphonates were entered into a biological assay test and were studied by docking methods, using Autodock 3.0. The results showed that the reactions were carried out mildly and eco-friendly to form alpha-aminophosphonates in high yields. Some were found to have cytotoxic activity on the cell lines RAJI, JURKAT and MCF-7. An indole derived bis(alpha-aminophosphonates) showed maximum cytotoxic effect comparable to doxorubicin. Although the FDE (Final Docking Energy) for the most cytotoxic compound was of the most negative value, there is no correlation between FDE and cytotoxicity.

Highly selective oxalate-membrane electrode based on 2,2′-[1,4-butandiyle bis(nitrilo propylidine)]bis-1-naphtholato copper(II)

A new oxalate-selective electrode based on the complex 2,2'-[1,4-butandiyle bis(nitrilo propylidine)]bis-1-naphtholato copper(II) (CuL) as the membrane carrier was developed. The electrode exhibited a good Nernstian slope of -29.2+/-0.6 mV/decade (mean value+/-standard deviation, n=5) and a linear range of 5.0 x 10(-8) to 1.0 x 10(-1)M for oxalate. The limit of detection was 5.0 x 10(-8)M. This electrode represents a fast response time (i.e. 10-15s) and could be used for more than 3 months. The selectivity coefficients were determined by the fixed interference method (FIM) and could be used in the pH range of 2.0-7.0. It was employed as an indicator electrode for the determination of oxalate in water samples.

Salicylate poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode based on (2-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) hydrazono]-1-phenyl-2-(2-quinolyl)-1-ethanone) Cu(II)

A new salicylate-selective electrode based on the complex of (2-[(E)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)hydrazono]-1-phenyl-2-(2-quinolyl)-1-ethanone) Cu(II) as the membrane carrier was developed. The electrode exhibited a good Nernstian slope of -59.6+/-1.0 mV/decade and a linear range of 1.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0M for salicylate. The limit of detection was 5.0 x 10(-7) M. The electrode had a fast response time of 10 s and can be used for more than 3 months. The selective coefficients were determined by the fixed interference method and could be used in the pH range of 4.0 to 10.5. The electrode was employed as an indicator electrode for direct determination of salicylate in pharmaceutical and biological samples.

Perchlorate-selective membrane electrode based on a new complex of uranil

A potentiometric ion-selective electrode based on new compound, as a carrier, has been successfully developed for detection of perchlorate anion in aqueous solution. Within the perchlorate ion concentration range 1.0x10(-6) to 1.0 mol L(-1) the electrode had a linear response with a Nernstian slope of 60.6+/-1.0 mV per decade . The limit of detection as determined from the intersection of the extrapolated linear segments of the calibration plot was 8.0x10(-7) mol L(-1). The proposed electrode has fairly a good discriminating ability towards ClO(4) (-) ion in comparison to other anions. The sensor has a response time of < or =10 s and can be used for at least 2 months without substantial divergence in potential. It was successfully applied to direct determination of perchlorate in urine and water.

Nickel-induced substrate inhibition of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase

The effects of nickel ions on reductive amination and oxidative deamination activities of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) were examined kinetically by UV spectroscopy, at 27 degrees C, using 50 mM Tris, pH 7.8, containing 0.1 M NaCl. Kinetic analysis of the data obtained by varying NADH concentration indicated strong inhibition, presumably due to binding of the coenzyme to the regulatory site. In contrast, almost no inhibition was observed in the forward reaction. The fact that nickel ions have the capacity to enhance binding of NADH to the enzyme was confirmed by an electrochemical method using a modified glassy carbon electrode. Use of NADPH instead of NADH showed only a weak substrate inhibition, presumably related to lower affinity of NADPH for binding to the regulatory site. Lineweaver-Burk plots with respect to alpha-ketoglutarate and ammonium ions indicated substrate and competitive inhibition patterns in the presence of nickel ions, respectively. ADP at 0.2 mM concentration protected inhibition caused by nickel. These observations are explained in terms of formation of a nickel-NADH complex with a higher affinity for binding to the regulatory site in GDH, as compared with the situation where nickel is not present. Such effects may be important for regulation of GDH and other NADH-utilizing enzymes.