Feeding and growth efficiency indices of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during different deprivation and re-feeding periods

This study aimed to have more insight into the effects of different feed deprivation periods on the growth and feed utilization indices of fish. The study lasted for eight weeks. Four treatments with three replicates including a control group without feed deprivation and treatment 1, 2 and 3 with 1, 2 and 3 week(s) of feed deprivation, respectively, were set up. Fish were fed ad lib for five weeks from week four up to the end of week eight, twice daily. The initial weight was (44.01g ±0.19 c S.E.M). At the end of the deprivation period (day 21 of experiment) starved fish including treatments 1 (46.90g ±2.74), 2 (46.04g ±1.21) and 3 (41.04g ±0.22) had significantly lower weights (P0.05). Different body compartments (crude protein, fat and energy) were not significantly differed among the treatments at the end of the starvation period (P>0.05). Results indicated that the fish could tolerate the starvation and could finally compensate for the final body weight

National guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of Iranian traumatic brain injury patients

Background: Individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have prolonged cognitive impairments, resulting in long-term problems with their real-life activities. Given the urgent need for evidence-based recommendations for neuropsychological management of Iranian TBI patients, the current work aimed to adapt eligible international guidelines for cognitive assessment and rehabilitation of the TBI patients in Iran. Methods: The project was led by an executive committee, under the supervision of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME). Following a systematic literature search and selection process, four guidelines were included for adaptation. Clinical recommendations of the source guidelines were tabulated as possible clinical scenarios for 90 PICO clinical questions covering all relevant phases of care. After summing up the scenarios, our initial list of recommendations was drafted according to the Iranian patients� conditions. The final decision-making, with the contribution of a national interdisciplinary panel of 37 experts from across the country, was conducted in two rounds using online and offline survey forms (Round 1), and face-to-face and telephone meetings (Round 2). Results: A total of 63 recommendations in six sections were included in the final list of recommendations, among which 24 were considered as key recommendations. In addition, some of the recommendations were identified as fundamental, meaning that proper implementation of the other recommendations is largely dependent on their implementation. Conclusion: Iranian health policy makers and rehabilitation program managers are recommended to address some fundamental issues to provide the necessary infrastructure to set up an efficient cognitive rehabilitation service system. © 2020 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved

Predictive Values of Different Forms of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Postmolar Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Objective: The aim of this study was to reach a publicly applicable marker, using the increasing or decreasing trend of different forms of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) during the first 28 days after molar pregnancy evacuation. Methods: The present retrospective cohort study investigated all of the documents of patients with hydatidiform mole according to their pathological results during their admission and follow-up in the past 10 years (2003-2013). The type of the relationship was determined using locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (Lowess Smoother) and fractional polynomial regression (Fracpoly), and then a model tailored to data processing was used for drawing the receiver operating characteristic curve. During the investigation of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) risk factors, the multiple logistic regression method was used to control the confounding variables. Results: Among individuals with high-risk molar pregnancy, 11 (18) had GTN, and the prevalence of GTN in individuals with low-risk molar pregnancy was 13.4. The slope of the beta-hCG line slightly decreases with a rate of change close to zero in individuals with GTN, but the decrease is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristics curve for serum beta-hCG measurement after 21 days of molar pregnancy evacuation showed 83 sensitivity at 89 specificity (area under the curve, 0.9), which indicates that this variable has an optimal performance for discrimination between the GTN cases and patients who had spontaneous disease remission. The mean times of reaching the first negative titer in those without neoplasia and reaching a definitive GTN diagnosis were 8.1 (SD, 2) and 6.2 (SD, 1.5), respectively. The most effective remaining variable in the logistic model was uterine size larger than gestational age (95 confidence interval, 0.99-1.31; odds ratio, 1.14) with a slight increase in the risk and borderline significance (P = 0.07). Conclusions: The serum beta-hCG measurement after 21 days of molar pregnancy evacuation and slope of the linear regression line of A-hCG showed to be a good test to discriminate between patients who will get spontaneous disease remission and patients developing GTN

Enhancement of biomass and total carotenoid content of a UV-resistant strain of Dietzia maris in response to different carbon and nitrogen sources

In the present study, the effect of various fermentation media on the production of carotenoid pigment in a radiation-resistant strain of Dietzia maris was reported. The biomass and pigment production of this strain was evaluated using various sources of carbon and nitrogen as well as different concentrations of whey medium. The antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extracted pigment were also determined using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH), and MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assays. The antibacterial activity of the carotenoid pigment was also evaluated. All carbon sources increased the pigment production of D. maris in the following order: glucose > raffinose = starch = xylose> sorbitol > sucrose. However, only glucose, xylose, and sorbitol significantly increased the microbial biomass as compared to the control. Moreover, all organic nitrogen sources and ammonium sulfate enhanced the pigment production of the studied strain by approximately 6–9 folds. The free radical scavenging capacity and FRAP of the D. maris carotenoid extract were reported as half-maximal effective concentration or EC50= 3.30 mg/ml and EC50 =28.46 μg/ml, respectively. The maximum amount of biomass and carotenoid pigment produced by D. maris was obtained in the fermentation medium containing 1 g/l glucose and 1 g/l yeast extract (18 mg/l). This strain can be considered as a promising biocatalyst for the commercial production of natural carotenoids due to its antioxidant capacity and noncytotoxic activity

Optimal conditions for the biological removal of arsenic by a novel halophilic archaea in different conditions and its process optimization

Recently, concerns about arsenic have been increased due to its high acute toxicity to human and serious environmental problems. In this study, the ability of Halorcula sp. IRU1, a novel halophilic archaea isolated from Urmia lake, Iran for arsenic bioaccumulation was investigated and optimized by Taguchi experimental design. The optimum conditions for high arsenic bioaccumulation by Haloarcula sp. IRU1 could be achieved in the presence temperature 40 degrees C, pH 8 and NaAsO2 at 90 mg/L. Under optimum conditions, the microorganism was able to perform their desired function with a 60.89 percent removal of arsenic. In conclusion, Haloarcula sp. IRU1 is resistant to arsenic and removes it in different conditions

Investigation of Autophagy-Related Gene Expressions in the Rat Model of Parkinson Disease

Objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) is characterized by protein aggregations in the cytoplasm of the dopaminergic neurons due to cellular stresses. In response to these stresses, autophagy is a conservative mechanism, and dysregulation of it results in protein aggregation. Despite the accepted prominent role of it in PD, autophagy associated-gene expression dysregulation involved in the autophagosome formation has remained largely unknown. In this study, the autophagy-related gene expressions in the rat model of PD were investigated. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into control, sham and PD experimental model groups. By injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the striatum, the rat model of PD was induced. The apomorphine-induced rotation test was done 1 week before (baseline) and 4 weeks after surgery and also Nissl staining was performed for the brain sections. Then, rat substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) was extracted and RT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of FOXO3A gene and the autophagy-related genes (ATG). Furthermore, using Western blotting, we investigated the protein levels of ATG101. Results: Apomorphine-induced rotation test indicated significant contralateral rotations in the rat model group. Using RTPCR, in the induction group, ATG101 was not expressed and ATG13, ATG14L, and VPS34 genes were downregulated in comparison with the control groups. Furthermore, Western blotting showed that ATG101 protein was not expressed in the model group. Conclusions: The results showed that deregulation of ATG101 expression, as a factor involved in the initial stages of the autophagy, occurs in the rat model of PD

The effects of hydrocortisone on tight junction genes in an in vitro model of the human fallopian epithelial cells

The tight junction between epithelial cells helps making connections in the fallopian tube and contributes to successful fertilization. Breaking the tight junction complex induces various diseases such as the EP. Previous studies have shown that glucocorticoids are effective in repairing and maintaining intercellular tight junctions in epithelial cells of the fallopian tube, although their mechanism is still unknown. This research is a genomic study of hydrocortisone's effect on epithelial cells of the fallopian tube. Using the human fallopian tube, epithelial cell line (OE-E6/E7) was cultured in four concentrations of hydrocortisone (0 nM, 50 nM, 100 nM and 200 nM) for three durations (24 h, 48 h and 72 h). Glucocorticoids are effective on the expression of Zona occluding-1(ZO-1), Claudin 4, Claudin3, Desmoglein and E-cadherin genes involved in the tight junctions of the fallopian tube. The expression of all genes was up-regulated in the concentrations of 100 nM after 48 h treatment, as compared with the control (0 nM). However, their expression was down-regulated significantly after 72 h treatment (P < 0.05). The present study showed that treatment of epithelial cells of the fallopian tube with glucocorticoid increased the expression of genes involved in tight junctions, including claudin-3, claudin-4, E-cadherin, zona occludin-1 and Desmoglein-1. The obtained data suggests that a new mechanism is developed for glucocorticoid induction of tight junctions by increasing the expression of claudin-3, claudin-4, E-cadherin, zona occludin-1 and Desmoglein-1 genes. © 201

Reporting family contamination by parasitic mite, Sarcoptes scabiei

The present report describes a family of five infected by parasitic mite, Sarcoptes scabiei in the city of Kashan in central Iran. Family members had to see a doctor due to severe itching at night, insomnia, rash, and burning sensation in the hands and legs, waist, chest and genitals. After the examination, the doctor was suspicious to the contamination caused by mite Sarcoptes, so referred all the family members to a medical laboratory. Father and two sons of the family were infected by mite in their hands, shines, waist, chest, and genitals. Morally, just hands and shins of the mother and daughter were examined, and contamination was determined. The sample provided by microscopic investigation and observation of morphological features was recognized. In terms of ethics and family satisfaction, just pictures were taken from the legs and waist of the son. All infected individuals were treated. For treatment of the family, once a week-use of lindane lotion 1%, and Crotamiton of 10% before sleep every night was recommended. After two weeks, patients were treated, and symptoms were reduced ad the third week and vanished at the fourth week. Keywords: Contamination, family, Sarcoptes scabiei, scabies

Growth-inhibitory effects of TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein on colon cancer cell line

Background: TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein is a synthetic protein, which is produced by combining the third loop (L3) of transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) with staphylococcal enterotoxin type B. To the best of our knowledge, anti-cancer activity of this chimeric protein against colon cancer that overexpresses epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has not yet been studied. Thus, in the present study, the anti-tumor effects of TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein on HT-29 colon cancer cells were evaluated. Materials and methods: The TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein was previously designed and cloned in Escherichia coli (E. coli) 1,2. The level of expression and the purity of this novel protein were examined for further analysis. For this purpose, the cells were treated with different concentrations (25, 50 and 75 μg/ml) of TGFαL3-SEB and then the proliferation was detected using the MTT assay. The apoptosis-inducing potential of TGFαL3-SEB in HT-29 and HEK-293 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry using Annexin V/PI double staining method; in addition, bax/bcl2 mRNA ratio, caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity were also assessed. Results: In the present study, TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein was produced in E. coli. After effective purification, its growth inhibitory effect was evaluated. Our results indicated that the incubation of HT-29 colon cancer cell with 25, 50 and 75 μg/ml of TGFαL3-SEB for 24 h leads to significant reduction of proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Further analysis indicated that exposure of EGFR expressing HT-29 cells to TGFαL3-SEB leads to significant increase of the caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Bax/bcl-2 ratio also confirmed that TGFαL3-SEB has the pro-apoptotic effect. Flow cytometry analysis of TGFαL3-SEB treated cells showed that in addition to apoptotic cells, necrotic cells were also increased significantly at the concentration of 25, 50 and 75 μg/ml (P < 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that TGFαL3-SEB chimeric protein induced cell death through both mechanisms of apoptosis and necrosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells. This paper has highlighted that TGFαL3-SEB has the potential to target EGFR expressing cancer cell. © 2018 The Author