Tehran University of Medical Sciences

About: Tehran University of Medical Sciences is a education organization based out in Tehran, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 35661 authors who have published 57234 publications receiving 878523 citations. The organization is also known as: TUMS.

pH-sensitive (halochromic) smart packaging films based on natural food colorants for the monitoring of food quality and safety

Abstract: Background The recent rise in awareness of safe food and changing consumer attitudes have brought many innovations in packaging technology. Consumers are increasingly demanding natural food colorants such as carotenoids, betaines, anthocyanins and chlorophylls rather than synthetic dyes for food applications. As a result, smart packaging based on natural colorants and biopolymers has been introduced as the latest technology in the food packaging field. Smart products not only protect food from environmental hazards, but also send real-time signals (colorimetric, chemical, or electrical) to consumers for changes in the packaging environment and food quality. Scope and approach This paper reviewed the pH-sensitive smart packaging films based on natural food colorants and biopolymers and key applications in the food industry. Technological aspects associated with the natural colorant-based pH-responsive packaging films, biopolymer-based smart packaging, and the importance of natural colorants compared with synthetic dyes are discussed. The most commonly used colorimetric indicators indicating changes in pH, the application of smart food packaging films in real food systems, and the trend of future research were investigated. Key findings and conclusions Based on natural food colorants, smart packaging monitors the qualitative properties of foods in real-time, including freshness, microbial growth, and chemical changes in the product, through visual changes and quantification of pH changes in the food. It provides a fast and reliable inline assessment of food quality and safety. Nevertheless, future studies should consider commercially sustainable key points such as consumer acceptance and trust, cost, regulatory considerations (i.e. labeling) and multifunctional performance of smart films.

Generation of Liver Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Along with Efficient Differentiation to Functional Hepatocyte-Like Cells

Abstract: The availability of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offers a unique opportunity for studying and modeling the effects of specific gene defects on human liver development in vitro and for testing small molecules or other potential therapies for relevant liver disorders. Here we report, for the first time, the derivation of iPSCs by the retroviral transduction of Yamanaka’s factors in serum and feeder-free culture conditions from liver-specific patients with tyrosinemia, glycogen storage disease, progressive familial hereditary cholestasis, and two siblings with Crigler-Najjar syndrome. Furthermore, they were differentiated into functional hepatocyte-like cells efficiently. These iPSCs possessed properties of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and were successfully differentiated into three lineages that resembled hESC morphology, passaging, surface and pluripotency markers, normal karyotype, DNA methylation, and differentiation. The hepatic lineage-directed differentiation showed that the iPSC-derived hepatic cells expressed hepatocyte-specific markers. Their functionality was confirmed by glycogen and lipid storage activity, secretion of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, and urea, CYP450 metabolic activity, as well as LDL and indocyanin green uptake. Our results provide proof of principal that human liver-disease specific iPSCs present an exciting potential venue toward cell-based therapeutics, drug metabolism, human liver development and disease models for liver failure disorders.

Effects of Lactobacillus casei supplementation on disease activity and inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Abstract: Aim The present study aimed at investigating the effects of Lactobacillus casei 01 supplementation on symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in women. Method In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, female patients with established RA for more than 1 year, 20–80 years of age and body mass index (BMI) lower than 40, who followed stable medication for 3 months prior to the supplementation, were randomly allocated to receive either one capsule containing 108 colony forming units (CFU) of L. casei 01, or a placebo for 8 weeks; allocation was stratified by BMI and menopausal status. Disease activity score-28 (DAS28) was calculated, European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response was evaluated and the cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured. Results Thirty patients were recruited in each group; 22 and 24 patients were analyzed in the probiotic and placebo groups, respectively. L. casei 01 supplementation decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, tender and swollen joint counts, global health (GH) score and DAS28 (P < 0.05). More patients in the L. casei 01 group had moderate response to the treatment, based on the EULAR criteria, at the end of the study (P < 0.01). At the end of the study, a significant difference was observed between the two groups for IL-10, IL-12 and TNF-α changes through the study course (P < 0.05), in favor of the probiotic group. No adverse effects were reported for the intervention. Conclusion Probiotic supplementation may be an appropriate adjunct therapy for RA patients and help alleviate symptoms and improve inflammatory cytokines.