Comparison of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid with docosahexaenoic acid on the level of serum lipoproteins in helicobacter pylori: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection around the world and an important cause of gastrointestinal disorders, which might be involved in the pathogenesis of some extragastrointestinal disturbances as well as changes in serum lipid profile. Hypolipemic properties of omega-3 fatty acids have been studied in several studies. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the level of serum lipoproteins in H. pylori. Patients and Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Iran, 105 Helicobacter pylori were randomly allocated to receive 2 g of daily EPA (35 patients), DHA (35 patients), or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as placebo (33 patients) along with conventional tetra-drug H. pylori eradication regimen for 12 weeks. Results: From 105 included patients, 97 (31 in EPA, 33 in DHA, and 33 in control groups) completed the study and were included in final analysis. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and the ratios of TG/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C were not significantly different among the three groups, while the level of triglyceride (TG) was statistically different. DHA (-16.6 ± 30.34) and control (+ 15.32 ± 56.47) groups were statistically different with regard to changes in TG levels (P = 0.000). Conclusions: There was no difference between the effects of 2 g of EPA or DHA supplementation for 12 weeks on the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C; however, it had a desirable effect on the level of TG in a way that the effect of DHA was clearer. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Inhibition of Orobanche crenata Seed Germination and Radicle Growth by Allelochemicals Identified in Cereals

Orobanche crenata is a parasitic weed that causes severe yield losses in important grain and forage legume crops. Cereals have been reported to inhibit O. crenata parasitism when grown intercropped with susceptible legumes, but the responsible metabolites have not been identified. A number of metabolites have been reported in cereals that have allelopathic properties against weeds, pests, and pathogens. We tested the effect of several allelochemicals identified in cereals on O. crenata seed germination and radicle development. We found that 2-benzoxazolinone, its derivative 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone, and scopoletin significantly inhibited O. crenata seed germination. Benzoxazolinones, l-tryptophan, and coumalic acid caused the stronger inhibition of radicle growth. Also, other metabolites reduced radicle length, this inhibition being dose-dependent. Only scopoletin caused cell necrotic-like darkening in the young radicles. Prospects for their application to parasitic weed management are discussed. © 2013 American Chemical Society.This research is supported by projects FP7-ARIMNet-MEDILEG and AGL2011-22524 (cofinanced by FEDER funds).Peer Reviewe

Effect of Doses of Oxyfluorfen and Trifluralin Hebicides on Weeds Control and Yields of Garlic Var. Mazand (Allium sativum L.)

To evaluate the effects of different doses of oxyfluorfen and trifluralin herbicides on weeds control, economic and biologic yield of garlic var. Mazand (Allium sativum L.). An experiment was conducted in the form of simple randomized complete block design with three replications in 2012 - 2013 year. Factor studied were: one application of trifluralin and oxyfluorfen 1.5, 2 and 2.5 lit.ha-1, two applications of oxyfluorfen 1.5 lit.ha-1, hand weeding control and without weeding control.Results showed that using different doses of herbicides significantly affected density and biomass of weeds. Two applicarions of oxyfluorfen with 1.5 liters per hectare and hand weeding were best options to reduce of weeds biomass. Using of oxyfluorfen herbicide (2 and 2.5 liters) resulted in little damage and low stable on garlic. Using of different herbicides with different doses were significant on plant height, number of cloves per bulb, 100 seed weight, biological and economical yield and harvest index. Lowest economic yield was due to control treatment (540 g.m-2) and highest was obtained by using 1.5 liter of oxyfluorfen herbicide (1661.67 g.m-2), hand weeding (1686.67 g.m-2) and split oxyfluorfen application (1670 g.m-2). Finally, oxyfluorfen treatment (1.5 liter) on 3 to 4 weeds leaf, were identified as the most appropriate treatments

Effect of Different Irrigation Levels on the Population of Barnyard grass (Echinocloa crus-galli L.) and Agronomical Traits Related to Paddy Yield of Two Rice Cultivars

An experiment was conducted at research farms of the Rice Research Institute of Iran (at Amol, Mazandaran province) to study the effect of different irrigation levels on the population of barnyardgrass (Echinocloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.) and agronomical traits related to paddy yield of two rice cultivars (Tarom-Mahali and Shafagh). Treatments were arranged in split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Main-plots were two rice cultivars (Tarom-Mahali and Shafagh) and sub-plots were five levels, four levels of irrigation (0, 5, 8, 12 cm of water depth) and a weed control treatment. Results showed that cultivars and irrigation levels had significant effects on density and biomass of barnyard grass and also paddy and biological yield of rice. Generally, this highest seed yield was obtained in weed control + using Shafagh cultivar (6344 kg.ha-1) and water level of 12 cm + Shafagh cultivar (6074 kg.ha-1) while, the lowest seed yield was in the 5cm level of water + Tarrom cultivar (3693 kg.ha-1). As a whote it could be concluded, water depth treatment of 12 cm + Shafagh cultivar, were identified as the most appropriate treatment

Effect of Different Methods of Chemical Weed Control Irrigation Regimes on Weed Biomass and Safflower Yield

In order to investigate the effects of different weed control methods and moisture regimes on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), a field split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with 4 replications was conducted in Takestan Iran, during growing seasons of 2007-8. Three irrigations regimes (normal irrigation, restricted irrigation at stem elongation and restricted irrigation at  flowering stage) were assigned to the main plots and nine chemical weed control method (complete hand weeding, treflan with 2 L/ha as pre plant herbicide, sonalan with 3 L/ha ad pre plant herbicide, estomp with 3 L/ha as pre plant herbicide, gallant super with 0/75 L/ha as post emergence herbicide, treflan with 2 L/ha as pre plant herbicide+ gallant super with 0/75 L/ha as post emergence herbicide, sonalan with 3 L/ha as pre plant herbicide + gallant super with 0/75 L/ha as post emergence herbicide estomp with 3 L/ha as pre plant herbicide + gallant super with 0/75 L/ha as post emergence herbicide and without hand weeding) to sub- plots. At the end of growing period traits like number of head   per plant, number of seed per head, 1000 grain weight, percent of seed oil, yield of seed oil and grain yield were measured. Results indicated that treflan + gallant super treatment in restricted irrigation at stem elongation stage had the lowest dry weight of weeds. In this study maximum grain yield (2927 Kg/ha) was achieved from hand weeding + usual irrigation treatments. In general treflan + gallant super treatment was the most effective treatment on safflower yield and weed control