Farshad Hosseini Shirazi

Background and Aims: Nanomaterials are widely produced and used due to their unique physicochemical properties. Adding nano calcium carbonate to Unplasticized PolyVinyl Chloride (UPVC) improves durability and sustainability. Studies have shown that occupational exposure to UPVC powder can affect the health of employees. There are also such studies about occupational exposure to nanomaterials. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate occupational exposure to a combination of these substances. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional Descriptive‐analytical study conducted in 2022 at a company utilizing UPVC powder containing calcium carbonate nanoparticles in Tehran province. In this study, biomarkers of oxidative stress (Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)) were measured in the blood of 100 employees. Also, the activities involved with nanomaterials were assessed for risk using the Nanotool method. Results: Seventeen participants were female, and 83 were male. The mean ± standard deviation for age and work experience was 35 ± 9 and 6 ± 5 years, respectively. MDA, SOD, and TAC levels were elevated in the exposed group compared to controls. These differences were significant only in the case of TAC. Among the 12 activities investigated, 6 activities (50%) showed the maximum risk level. The high levels of biomarkers observed in the exposure group compared to the control groups (TAC _{p ‐value} < 0.001, MDA _{p ‐value} = 0.80, SOD _{p ‐value} = 0.4), coupled with the elevated risk levels associated with activities involving nanomaterials. Conclusion: Findings suggest that exposure to powders containing nanomaterials may endanger the health of employees and shows the importance of adhering to safety principles when working with powders containing nanomaterials in the investigated company and across the broader nanomaterials industry.

Background: Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in industry for their unique properties. However, prolonged occupational exposure to common NPs like titanium dioxide (TiO₂), zinc oxide (ZnO), silver (Ag), and silica (SiO₂) may trigger systemic inflammation and contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Evidence suggests potential adverse health effects in exposed workers. Aim: Assessment of plasma pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels related to respiratory inflammation in nano‐industry workers. Methods: A total of 110 workers from NP‐manufacturing facilities were categorized into three exposure groups based on work experience (Group I: < 10 years; Group II: 10–20 years; Group III: 20–30 years; Group IV: control). RT‐qPCR was used to quantify IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TNF‐α expression. Statistical analyses were performed using t ‐tests, ANCOVA, and GraphPad Prism 8. Results: Exposure to ZnO and TiO₂ NPs significantly upregulated inflammatory cytokines in all exposure groups compared to controls, except for IL‐4 in Group I exposed to TiO₂. Ag‐NP exposure increased IL‐4, IL‐6, and TNF‐α but reduced IL‐8 expression in Group I. Silica exposure in Group I downregulated IL‐4 and IL‐6, while elevating IL‐8 and TNF‐α. Cytokine levels were consistently higher in Groups II and III, with Group III exhibiting the greatest elevations for all NP types. Conclusion: Occupational NP exposure correlated with increased systemic cytokine levels, particularly in workers with longer exposure durations. This suggests a potential link between chronic NP exposures and heightened respiratory inflammation, although the absence of clinical diagnostic testing warrants cautious interpretation. Network pharmacology analysis identified pathways involved in NP‐related inflammatory responses.

Introduction. The problem of development and implementation of own drugs in Kazakhstan today is acute and urgent. The solution to this problem is possible through the use of own resources – domestic medicinal plant raw materials. A promising medicinal raw material is Artemisia cina – an endemic medicinal plant of the of the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan.Aim. Designing a liquid chromatography methodology to analyze the oil extract obtained from Artemisia cina.Materials and methods. Standard sample (SS) of santonin, Artemisia cina’s oil extract. The substance was identified and quantitatively determined using an Agilent Technologies 1200 liquid chromatograph (USA) equipped with ChemStation software.Results and discussion. The main active substance of the oil extract was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Choosing the separation conditions for the column involves determining the best composition of the mobile phase and the rate of elution. There were used a reversed-phase system with sorbent C18 and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and a phosphate buffer with a pH of 6.8. Chromatographic studies of the substance were carried out in a gradient mode at an analytical wavelength of 237 nm. The retention time of the standard sample (SS) of santonin matched the retention time (t_R) of santonin isolated from the oil extract of Artemisia cina and amounted to 14.3 minutes.Conclusion. A liquid chromatography method has been established for the identification and quantitative determination of the oil extract, focusing on the main active substance, santonin.

Background: Alprazolam, a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine, poses risks of toxicity and severe withdrawal symptoms. There is an urgent need for a rapid and sensitive diagnostic method for detecting alprazolam poisoning. Objectives: This study aimed to detect alprazolam poisoning through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of saliva, addressing the need for a quick, cost-effective, and sensitive diagnostic method for poison control and differential diagnosis. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 45 individuals with benzodiazepine toxicity, therapeutic consumption, and normal health status, as well as from a control group. The samples were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The resulting spectra were processed with OriginPro software, and statistical analyses were performed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The average age of the studied population was approximately 45 years, with women being the most affected by poisoning. Fourier-transform infrared analysis revealed significant differences in the structure of lipids between poisoned individuals, therapeutic receivers, and healthy individuals (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Fourier-transform infrared analysis of saliva is a fast and accurate method for diagnosing alprazolam poisoning within minutes, enabling prompt and appropriate treatment during critical life-threatening situations. This non-invasive technique has the potential to guide treatment staff toward effective treatment options.

Introduction: Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is involved in neuroinflammatory processes in peripheral tissues and central nervous system. Pro-inflammatory cytokines production, due to over activation of TLR4, interfere with insulin signaling elements lead to insulin resistance. Regarding the critical roles of TLR4 and insulin in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), in ...

Occupational health must be strictly considered in industries particularly in nanoparticle factories where workers were exposed to different types of chemicals. We measured the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in workers who developed skin lesions after exposure to silver and silica nanoparticles. Using a questionnaire in this cross-sectional study, we identified 110 workers in nanoparticle industries who were exposed to silver and silica nanoparticles. We also included 40 healthy subjects as controls from the administrative department of the same factories who were not exposed to nanoparticles. Peripheral blood samples used to measure the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines by qRT-PCR. In comparison with the control group, the workers who developed skin lesions had significantly higher levels of interleukin IL4, IL6, IL8, and TNF-α, particularly after two or three decades of exposure to silver and silica nanoparticles. Participants who were exposed to silver had higher levels of IL6 and IL8 compared with those who were exposed to silica. Necessary measures must be considered to protect workers in nanoparticle industries against the potential toxic effects of these compounds. Our network pharmacology study suggests corresponding biochemical pathways for these disorders.

Background: Infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms have increased the need for hospital care and have thus represented a public health problem and a significant financial burden. Classical treatments consisting of traditional antibiotics face several challenges today. Anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) are a conserved characteristic of the innate immune response among different animal species to defend against pathogenic microorganisms. Objectives: In this study, a new peptide sequence (mCHTL131-140) was designed using the in silico approach. Methods: Cathelicidin-2 (UniprotID: Q2IAL7) was used as a potential antimicrobial protein, and a novel 10 - 12 amino acids sequence AMP was designed using bioinformatics tools and the AMP databases. Then, the anti-bacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-fungal properties of the peptide, as well as its hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity towards human fibroblast (HDF) cells, were investigated in vitro. Results: Online bioinformatics tools indicated that the peptide sequence could have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-biofilm properties with little hemolytic properties. The experimental tests confirmed that mCHTL131-140 exhibited the best anti-bacterial properties against Acinetobacter baumannii and had fair anti-fungal properties. Besides, it did not cause red blood cell lysis and showed no cytotoxicity towards HDF cells. Conclusions: In general, the designed peptide can be considered a promising AMP to control hospital-acquired infections by A. baumannii.

: Breast cancer is an invasive disease with a high prevalence among females. Despite various treatments, studies are still ongoing to find an effective treatment for this disease. This study aimed to synthesize a new series of diaryl benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole compounds containing aminoethoxy side chain and in vitro investigate their cytotoxicity on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Twelve derivatives (6a-6l) were synthesized from this scaffold, the structures of which were spectroscopically confirmed. The cytotoxic effects of the derivatives on the MCF-7 cell line were also assessed using the MTT assay. All these compounds showed a good inhibitory effect on the MCF-7 cell line, compared to that of tamoxifen. Compounds (6i) and (6j) showed higher cytotoxicity with relevant inhibitory effects of 81% and 73%, respectively.