The restoring influence of priming treatments on germination of Smooth vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) under drought stress and maintaining this advantage following aging by using post priming heat shock treatment

Seed priming often promotes germination and seedling growth under environmental stresses yet as main negative aspect, primed seeds are vulnerable to aging process. In this regard, the current study was carried out to examine the influence of priming treatments (with water and ascorbic acid) on germination of smooth vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) seeds under osmotic stress (-0.9 MPa). In addition, we examined whether or not post priming heat shock treatment may maintain this possible advantage by reducing primed seeds deterioration during artificial aging. Treatments included: hydro priming, hydro priming plus heat shock, priming with ascorbic acid, priming with ascorbic acid plus heat shock, control or non-primed seeds. Primed seeds after partial drying faced heat shock at 40 0 C for 3h. Following heat shock treatment seeds were exposed to accelerated aging for 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days. Priming particularly with ascorbic acid substantially increased germination under osmotic stress. Heat shock treatment significantly improved germination ability of both aged-primed seeds with water and ascorbic acid. The difference between HS treated and non-HS treated primed seeds were more considerable following longer terms (6, 8 days) of artificial aging. The results showed that the restoring effect of heat shock was accompanied with lower lipid peroxidation (assayed as malondialdehyde content), electrolyte leakage and enhanced antioxidant activities including catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Reduces the Adverse Effects of Nicotine on the Endometrium

Background: Tobacco smoke contains various toxins that negatively affect the human reproductive system. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a potent antioxidant, has protective effects on the reproductive system against oxygen-free radicals, methotrexate, and pesticides. Herein, the effect of CAPE on some key markers of endometrial receptivity has been evaluated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018-2019 in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences (Fasa, Iran). Primary endometrial cells were divided into five groups, namely control, nicotine, CAPE, vehicle, and nicotine+CAPE. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and methylation-specific PCR were performed to evaluate gene expressions and methylation, respectively. Appropriate doses of CAPE and nicotine were determined using the MTT assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16.0) with a one-way analysis of variance. P<0.01 was considered statistically significant. The fold change was calculated using the 2−∆ΔCT method.Results: Treatment of cells with nicotine significantly reduced the expression of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) genes (P<0.0001). However, the expression levels increased significantly when treated with nicotine+CAPE (P<0.0001). Despite the reduced CXCL12 gene expression in cells treated with nicotine, CXCL12 was unmethylated in all study groups, indicating that the methylation status of the CXCL12 gene was not affected by nicotine or CAPE.Conclusion: CAPE can be a suitable agent to protect female smokers from the harmful effects of nicotine

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) re-growth ability in saline soil through enhanced nitrogen remobilization and improved nutritional balance

In current study, the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on salinity tolerance in terms of root’s reserves remobilization to shoot and its relationship with re-growth ability and ionic status of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants were investigated. In a pot experiment, a factorial experiment in base of randomized complete blocks design in three replications was carried out. Alfalfa plants (Iranian cultivar-Baghdadi) inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or retained as un-inoculated, were grown in soil and irrigated with three salt concentrations including 1.4 (control), 7 and 12 dS/m. Three harvests were carried out at 10% of flowering stage. AMF inoculation increased the size of root sugars and soluble N pools at harvest time. The shoot biomass production following harvest had a close correlation with nitrogen (N) remobilization from root (r=0.92, P≤0.01). However salinity stress significantly reduced amount and percentage of N remobilization to re-growing shoot but AMF plants exhibited greater amount and percentage of root N pools dedicated to remobilization. AMF inoculation also affected ionic relations of plants as AM+ plants contained greater K+ within both root and shoot organs while Ca2+ and Na+ were affected by AMF only within shoot tissue. AMF plants exhibited higher K+/Na+ within shoot and Ca+2/Na+ within root organs. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between K+/Na+, Ca+2/Na+ ratios and N remobilization from root (respectively, r=0.92, 0.88; P≤0.01). To sum up, ionic status within both root and shoot organs, got more balanced by AMF inoculation so that AMF reduced limitations within both source (root) and sink (re-growing shoot) organs concerning N remobilization to re-growing shoot

Evaluation of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Serum Levels and Thyroid-related Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy People in Shiraz, Iran

Background and Aim: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally. There is increasing evidence in the correlation between altered vitamin D levels, thyroid dysfunction, and T2DM. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)&nbsp;D), lipid profile, glucose and thyroid-related parameters among patients with T2DM and non-diabetic individuals. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 228 individuals (110 type two diabetics and 118 healthy controls). The serum concentration of 25(OH) D was determined by chemiluminescence assay. Photometric methods measured serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), calcium, phosphorous, total Cholesterol (TC), triacylglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and VLDL levels were estimated from the Friedewald equation (LDL-C=TC–HDL-C–(TG/5)). The Elisa kit measured serum T4 and TSH. Results: 80% of Patients with T2DM and 71% of healthy individuals were suffering from vitamin D insufficiency. A non-significant relationship between TG (P=0.36), HDL (P=0.33), VLDL (P=0.36), T4 (P=0.56) calcium (P=0.39) and phosphorus (P=0.41) levels were showed in control and diabetic groups.&nbsp; The levels of FBG (P=0.000), TC (P=0.001), LDL (P=0.004), TSH (P=0.000) were significantly higher, and the levels of 25 (OH)&nbsp;D (P=0.001) was significantly lower in the T2DM group compared to the non-diabetic group. Conclusion: We revealed that the serum level of 25 (OH)&nbsp;D is lower in patients with T2DM, and the TSH level is significantly higher compared to the non-diabetic group. Thyroid dysfunction and a low level of 25 (OH)&nbsp;D are associated with a high risk of T2DM. *Corresponding Author: Zakieh Sadat Sheikhalishahi; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Rostami E, Najafi V, Behmard V, Panji M, Moravej FS, Dalvand S, Namdari A, Yavari N, Sheikhalishahi ZS. Evaluation of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D Serum Levels and Thyroid-related Parameters in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy People in Shiraz, Iran. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-6 (e22). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3130

Wheat Grain Enrichment with Zinc Through Using Zinc Fertiliser and Preceding Plant Residues Incorporation

Micronutrients and particularly zinc (Zn) deficiency affects crops productivity and human health, therefore improving Zn concentration within plant tissues might be regarded as an aim of sustainable agriculture. In this respect, a field experiment was carried out to examine the potential influence of preceding crop residues including bean and wheat incorporation into the soil as a way to improve zinc accumulation within subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain. The experiment was initiated at autumn 2014 and in the first year, a piece of farm land in Dehaghan-Isfahan-Iran was divided into two equal parts devoted to wheat and bean cultivation. At the end of the harvest season, aboveground plant residues were incorporated to 0-30 cm layer of soil. In the next year, the entire farm devoted to wheat production. The applied treatments included: control, zinc sulfate (60 kg/ha), wheat residues, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) residues, wheat residues + zinc sulfate and bean residue + zinc sulfate. The results of analysis of variance showed the highly significant differences between treatments in terms of grain zinc, protein, phytic acid to zinc molar ratio (PA/Zn), quantitative yield and soil electrical conductivity (EC). Soil pH and organic carbon (OC) were not affected by treatments while soil EC significantly increased by using plant residues. The highest grain yield (3.8 t/ha), grain protein (10.3 mg/kg) and zinc concentrations (36 mg/kg) were obtained by using bean residues plus ZnSO4 while the lowest quantities were related to control treatment. The treatments had no significant impact on grain acid phytic concentration but phytic acid / zinc molar ratio was affected by treatments and the lowest ratio (which is a positive attribute) was measured from plots containing bean residues plus ZnSO4 while the highest occurred in control plots

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) re-growth ability in saline soil through enhanced nitrogen remobilization and improved nutritional balance

In current study, the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on salinity tolerance in terms of root’s reserves remobilization to shoot and its relationship with re-growth ability and ionic status of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants were investigated. In a pot experiment, a factorial experiment in base of randomized complete blocks design in three replications was carried out. Alfalfa plants (Iranian cultivar-Baghdadi) inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or retained as un-inoculated, were grown in soil and irrigated with three salt concentrations including 1.4 (control), 7 and 12 dS/m. Three harvests were carried out at 10% of flowering stage. AMF inoculation increased the size of root sugars and soluble N pools at harvest time. The shoot biomass production following harvest had a close correlation with nitrogen (N) remobilization from root (r=0.92, P≤0.01). However salinity stress significantly reduced amount and percentage of N remobilization to re-growing shoot but AMF plants exhibited greater amount and percentage of root N pools dedicated to remobilization. AMF inoculation also affected ionic relations of plants as AM+ plants contained greater K+ within both root and shoot organs while Ca2+ and Na+ were affected by AMF only within shoot tissue. AMF plants exhibited higher K+/Na+ within shoot and Ca+2/Na+ within root organs. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between K+/Na+, Ca+2/Na+ ratios and N remobilization from root (respectively, r=0.92, 0.88; P≤0.01). To sum up, ionic status within both root and shoot organs, got more balanced by AMF inoculation so that AMF reduced limitations within both source (root) and sink (re-growing shoot) organs concerning N remobilization to re-growing shoot

A Comparative Study of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and associated Parameters in CKD and Dialysis Patients in Shiraz, Iran

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency generally observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and dialysis patients. The goal of this work was to compare the serum levels of vitamin D and its-related metabolic parameters in CKD patients and hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 109 dialysis patients and 99 CKD patients who had not consumed vitamin D for ≥ 1 year were enrolled in this study. 25-Hydroxy vitamin D (25-(OH) D) levels, calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphorous were evaluated in the serum of the patients. Results: 25-(OH) D levels in patients with CKD and dialysis patients were 31.73±13.34 ng/mL and 15.52±5.36 ng/mL, respectively. The levels of calcium (P=0.000), ALP (P=0.006), 25(OH) D (P=0.000), FBS (P=0.000), Hb (P=0.002), HCT (P=0.002) and TIBC (P=0.000) were significantly higher, and the levels of PTH (p=0.000) and phosphorous (P=0.000) were significantly lower in the CKD group compared to dialysis group. Conclusion: 25-(OH) D levels and its metabolic parameters except PTH and phosphorus are lower in patients on dialysis compared with the patients with CKD