Objective: CREB1 is an important downstream protein for many signaling pathways. By designing efficient siRNAs against CREB1, it may be possible to assess the role of molecules involved in signaling pathways in different cell types. In this research the efficiency of CREB1 knockdown by two different siRNAs in K562 cells has been studied. Materials and Methods: siRNAs have been designed according to the criteria suggested by Reynolds et al. K562 cells were transfected by siRNA using Lipofectamine 2000. The efficiency of CREB knockdown has been assessed by quantitative relative Real-time PCR. Results: Our results have shown that only one of the siRNAs has a high level of inhibitory effect on CREB1 gene expression. The expression of CREB1 by this siRNA was knocked-down by 87% in K562 cells. Conclusion: In this research, although two siRNAs were designed according to the Reynolds et al. criteria, only one showed an inhibitory effect. Reasons other than the aforementioned criteria may be involved in effectiveness of siRNAs.

Investigating the household standard of living is an important subject with respect to targeting problem in poverty alleviation programs. By doing so, at first, we can identify the poor, indirectly and then, we can targetize the assistants to them. Most of the studies on standard of living, based on survey data, are confronted with the sample selection error (bias). Sample selection bias is not the only feature of standard of living studies, but also, it occurs when the observations have self-selectivity property, which in turn might result in bias and inconsistency with estimators. The main purpose of the paper is the introduction of a general methodology of correcting selectivity bias, with application to the regression of standard of living in rural areas of Iran.

Background: Dermatophytosis is common cutaneous fungal disease with worldwide distribution. Interleukin8 (IL-8) realized from keratinocytes in the presence of dermatophytic antigens causes induction of acute responses in dermatophyte infection and subsequently production of acute phase proteins occurs in hepatocytes. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are acute phase proteins. Since few researches in the case of acute phase proteins in dermatophytic infections has been accomplished, this study has been designed for determining serum CRP and MBL levels in patients affected to dermatophytosis.Methods: This was a cross sectional study and samples were carried out on 96 healthy individuals and 105 patients affected to dermatophytosis with non probable and in access procedure. For isolation and identification of dermatophyte direct microscopic examination, culturing and complementary examinations were done and for determination of serum CRP and MBL levels in healthy individuals and in patients ELISA test were used. For investigation of relevance between variables, Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-Whitney and Roc curve analysis were used and p< 0.05 was considered as meaningful level.Results: The median serum CRP level in healthy individuals and in patients group was 3.31±3.32 mg/ml and 16.60±35.96 mg/ml (p<0.001) respectively and the median serum MBL level was 1.53±1.87 mg/ml and 1.97±2.03 mg/ml (p=0.039) respectively. CRP (p<0.001) and MBL (p=0.042) were determined meaningful parameters for dermatophytosis. MBL deficiency (MBL concentrations <1 mg/ml) was higher in control subjects (56.2%) than in patients (41.0%). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate increased concentrations of CRP and MBL in patients affected to dermatophytosis and their role in this infection. Probably observation of high frequency of MBL deficiency in healthy individuals in compare with patients group indicates that it is not predisposing factor in affecting to dermatophytosis.