Investigating the effects of Lactobacillus casei on some biochemical parameters in diabetic mice

Aims: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterised by inadequate  pancreatic insulin secretion or the insulin present being unable to perform its function properly. Consistent with the beneficial effects of probiotics and their ability to lower glucose levels, an impact on diabetes treatment is also expected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus casei on various either  biochemical parameters in a diabetic mice model.Methods: In the present study, 24 mice were divided into diabetic and control  groups. Further, each group was categorised into two subgroups. The diabetic and control subgroups were fed carrot juice or Lactobacillus casei in carrot juice. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). For 30 days, the mice were fed 2 ml carrot  juice, and Lactobacillus casei in carrot juice (with lactobacillus 109 cfu/ml) by gavage. Then, blood samples were collected to assay biochemical parameters.Results: The results of this study showed that Lactobacillus casei (ATCC39392) significantly reduced blood glucose (BG) levels in diabetic mice receiving the  probiotic, but did not cause a significant change in BG levels in control mice  receiving the probiotic. When comparing insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and C-peptide in the four groups, it was found that insulin and C-peptide were  significantly different in all groups except for the control group treated with a mixture of probiotic Lactobacillus casei and carrot juice.Conclusion: Our results showed that probiotic Lactobacillus casei effectively  reduces BG levels in diabetic mice treated with this bacterium.Keywords: diabetes, Lactobacillus casei, probioti

Naturality and Definability III

In this paper, we deal with the notions of naturality from category theory and definablity from model theory and their interactions. In this regard, we present three results. First, we show, under some mild conditions, that naturality implies definablity. Second, by using the reverse Easton iteration of Cohen forcing notions, we construct a transitive model of ZFC in which every uniformisable construction is weakly natural. Finally, we show that if F is a natural construction on a class K of structures which is represented by some formula, then it is uniformly definable without any extra parameters. Our results answer some questions by Hodges and Shelah

Stress-strength reliability of Weibull distribution based on progressively censored samples

Based on progressively Type-II censored samples, this pape r deals with inference for the stress- strength reliability R = P ( Y < X ) when X and Y are two independent Weibull distributions with different scale parameters, but having the same shape param eter. The maximum likelihood esti- mator, and the approximate maximum likelihood estimator of R are obtained. Different confidence intervals are presented. The Bayes estimator of R and the corresponding credible interval using the Gibbs sampling technique are also proposed. Further, we consider the estimation of R when the same shape parameter is known. The results for exponenti al and Rayleigh distributions can be obtained as special cases with different scale parameter s. Analysis of a real data set as well a Monte Carlo simulation have been presented for illustrativ e purposes.Peer Reviewe

Mutation in second exon of myo15a gene cause of nonsyndromic hearing loss and its association in the Arab population in Iran

Hearing loss is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous defect and more than 140 loci and 65 genes have been identified to cause autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL). According to the previous studies, mutations in GJB2 are estimated to be involved in 18.17% of ARNSHL cases in the Iranian population; as a result, the remaining 81.83% of this disorder is yet ambiguous. This study aimed to determine the contribution of DFNB3 in hearing loss as well as the frequency of gene mutations in a population (Arab tribal origin) in the Southwest of Iran. In this descriptive laboratory study, we included 25 families from the Southwest of Iran and negative GJB2 gene. Linkage analysis was performed by DFNB3 (MYO15A) molecular markers (STR). The families with hearing loss linked to this locus were further analyzed for mutation detection. MYO15A gene exons were amplified and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing. In studied families, one family displayed linkage to DFNB3 locus. Identified mutations include substitution and substitute C for A in 1047 location of coding region of MYO15A gene (c.1047 C > A) in exon 2 which cause to change Tyrosin to stop codons (P.Y349X), results in the premature truncation at amino acid position 349

Screening of Myo7A mutations in Iranian patients with autosomal recessive hearing loss from west of Iran

Hearing loss (HL) is the most frequent neurosensory impairment. HL is highly heterogeneous defect. This disorder affects 1 out of 500 newborns. This study aimed to determine the role of DFNB2 locus and frequency of MYO7A gene mutations in a population from west of Iran. Methods: Thirty families investigated in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2014, genetic linkage analysis via four short tandem repeat markers linked to MYO7A was performed for two consanguineous families originating from Hamedan (family-13) and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari (family-32) provinces of Iran, co-segregating autosomal recessive HL and showed no mutation in GJB2 gene in our preliminary investigation. All 49 coding exons and exon- intron boundaries of the MYO7A gene were amplified by PCR and analyzed using direct DNA sequencing. Results: Two of families displayed linkage to DFNB2. Family-13 segregated a homozygous missense mutation (c.6487G>A) in exon 48 that results in a p.G2163S amino acid substitution in C-terminal domain of the myosin VIIA protein. While family-32 segregated a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.448 C>T) in exon five, resulting in a premature truncation at amino acid position 150 (p.Arg150X) in the motor domain of this protein. Conclusion: Mutation frequency of MYO7A gene in different populations of Iran as well as cause of HL in most cases are still unknown and more extensive studies have to be done. © 2017, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All rights reserved

A novel TECTA mutation causes ARNSHL

Objective Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) is a genetically heterogeneous sensorineural disorder. Alpha-tectorin, which is encoded by the TECTA gene, is a non-collagenous component of the tectorial membrane in the inner ear defect of which leads to moderate to severe hearing loss (HL). Methods 25 unrelated Iranian multiplex ARNSHL families, negative for GJB2 mutations, were recruited in this study. Clinical inspections including audiometric and otologic examinations ruled out syndromic forms. Genetic linkage analysis was performed using six short tandem repeat markers closely linked to DFNB21. Haplotype and LOD score analysis were used to confirm possible linkage. All coding exons of TECTA were subject to DNA sequencing in the linked family. Results A novel homozygous variant (c.734G > A) was found in exon 5 of the TECTA gene in one family leading to a nonsense mutation (p.W245×). It co-segregated with HL in the family. This variant was not detected in 50 controls. All affected individuals in the family had moderate to severe HL. It full filled the criteria of a pathogenic variant. Conclusion Our data confirms the phenotype-directed genotyping for DFNB21 deafness against the typical profound HL phenotype seen in the most families segregating ARNSHL. We recommend mutation screening of TECTA in ARNSHL families segregating moderate to severe HL phenotyp