Assessment of fish farm effluents on macroinvertebrates based on biological indices in Tajan River (north Iran)

Impacts of effluent from fish farming activities on fluvial ecosystems lead to deterioration of water quality and changes in the macroinvertebrates assemblage. In this study, the influence of fish farm effluents on water quality and macroinvertebrates communities of Tajan River was investigated to evaluate the suitability of macroinvertebrates based on biological metrics and indices. Benthic macroinvertebrate communities were analyzed seasonally for a period of one year . Five sampling stations were selected along the study reach of 50 km. Station 1(S1) which is located upstream from the fish farm, was used as the reference site. Station S2 and S3 were located downstream from the fish farm outlet; S4 and S5 were further downstream. In order to assess the changes in diversity and richness in relation to water quality,two major groups of sites based on similarity between macroinvertebrate communities identified by cluster analysis. Diversity of macroinvertebrates, EPT richness and EPT/CHIR indices significantly decreased toward downstream stations except for station S4. Conversely, values of HFBI and Jacard index significantly increased in the downstream stations. The present study revealed significant differences in water quality parameters between the stations located above and below the fish farms. Owing to the relatively high diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates inhabiting rivers, use of macroinvertebrate based biological indices is recommended for assessment of water quality and pollution in fluvial systems

Benthic macroinvertebrate distribution in Tajan River using canonical correspondence analysis

The distribution of macroinvertebrate communities from 5 sampling sites of Tajan River were used to examine the relationship among physiochemical parameters with macroinvertebrate communities and also to assess ecological classification system as a tool for the management and conservation purposes.The amount of variation explained in macroinvertebrate taxa composition is within values reported in similar studies. Results of CCA ordination showed that the dissolved oxygen, water temperature, turbidity, pH and TSS were the most important physicochemical factors to affect distribution of macroinvertebrate communities. The study revealed that macroinvertebrate communities of Tajan River may be explained by physiochemical parameters. Mean values of Shannon–Wiener diversity index calculated for macroinvertebrates ranged from 1.35± 0.07 (S5) to 1.86± 0.10 (S1). According to the Shannon–Wiener diversity index the S1 sampling site was categorized in ‘‘good‘‘ and the sampling sites S2 and S3 in ‘‘moderate’’ and S5 in ‘‘moderate to substantially polluted” classes. The anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. trout farms and effluents from factories) impacted abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrate

Effect of gait retraining on balance, activities of daily living, quality of life and depression in stroke patients

Objectives: Stroke is one of the most common neurological diseases and it is the main cause of physical and mental disability and staying in house. Gait difficulties have high incidence in patients with stroke. So the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gait retraining on balance, activities of daily living, quality of life and depression in stroke patients Methods: This study was a clinical trial without control group. Sampling was performed by convenience sampling method and 18 patients participated. After recording demographic data, Berg Balance Scale, Barthel Index, SF36 questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory-II used in pre-test and post-test to assess balance, activities of daily living, quality of life and depression, respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and paired T-test. Results: The results showed statistically significant correlation in pre-test and difference between mean score of the all instruments before and after the intervention. Discussion: According to high prevalence of gait difficulties in stroke patients, it seems interventions in this area were necessary. Statistical results showed that the gait retraining intervention may have a positive effect on improving balance, activities of daily living, quality of life and depression of these patients. According to lack of information in this area, further research is needed

Facility Attractiveness and Social Vulnerability Impacts on Spatial Accessibility to Opioid Treatment Programs in South Carolina

Opioid dependence and opioid-related mortality have been increasing in recent years in the United States. Available and accessible treatments may result in a reduction of opioid-related mortality. This work describes the geographic variation of spatial accessibility to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and identifies areas with poor access to care in South Carolina. The study develops a new index of access that builds on the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, and has three dimensions: a facility attractiveness index, defined by services rendered incorporated into the Huff Model; a facility catchment area, defined as a function of facility attractiveness to account for variable catchment size; and a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to account for nonspatial factors that mitigate or compound the impacts of spatial access to care. Results of the study indicate a significant variation in access to OTPs statewide. Spatial access to OTPs is low across the entire state except for in a limited number of metropolitan areas. The majority of the population with low access (85%) live in areas with a moderate-to-high levels of social vulnerability. This research provides more realistic estimates of access to care and aims to assist policymakers in better targeting disadvantaged areas for OTP program expansion and resource allocation

Comparison between the Effects of Green and Black Tea, and Fluoride on Microhardness and Prevention of Demineralization of Deciduous Teeth Enamel

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Dental caries in preschool children impose serious problems on parents and children due to lack of cooperation. Since tea leaves contain fluoride and polyphenol, this study was conducted to compare the effects of green and black tea, and fluoride in preventing demineralization of deciduous teeth enamel.  METHODS: This experimental study was performed on 40 extracted human deciduous incisors. The teeth were divided into 4 groups of 10 and were then placed in distilled water, green tea, black tea and oral sodium fluoride (0.05) for four minutes in seven consecutive days. Surface microhardness before and after tooth extraction was determined in these four solutions by Micro Vickers Hardness Testing Machine. To cause primary caries, each sample was kept for one week in demineralization solution and the concentrations of the released calcium, phosphorus and fluoride ions were analyzed by spectrophotometric and potentiometric laboratory methods.  FINDINGS: Primary microhardness showed no significant difference between the groups. Secondary microhardness compared to primary microhardness in the two groups of green tea (mean of 317 ± 65.47 to 386 ± 85.42, p = 0.003) and fluoride (mean of 319 ± 71.76 to 446 ± 117.15, p = 0.003) increased significantly. The concentration of calcium and phosphorus ions in the four study groups showed a significant difference after being placed in the demineralization solution (p = 0.001) (p = 0.003). However, this difference was not observed in fluoride concentrations.   CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that drinking green tea can increase the microhardness and green and black tea increase the resistance to demineralization of the deciduous teeth enamel.&nbsp

In vitro survey on the synergistic effect of Cichorium intybus L. and doxorubicin on apoptotic induction in myeloid (NALM-6) and lymphoid (KG-1) cell lines

Objective: Acute leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Due to chemotherapy drug side effects, the use ofnatural compounds is essential. The Cichorium intybus L. is a natural compound that shows antitumor and antioxidant effects in various cancerous cell lines. However, its impact on leukemic cells is ambiguous. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the Cichorium extract, alone and in combination with Doxorubicin (DOX), on apoptosis induction in myeloid (NALM-6) and lymphoid (KG-1) cell lines. Materials and Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract of Cichorium intybus L (C. intybus ) was prepared. Results: Our results displayed that C. intybus could induce cytotoxic effects in KG-1, Nalm-6 cell with IC50 values of 400 ±1.7 and 275 ±5.6 µg/ml CIE has a significant apoptotic impact on Nalm-6 and KG-1 cell lines of ALL and AML in a dose and time-dependent manner (p<0.05). Real-time PCR results indicated a notable increase in BAX, CASPAS 3, 9 gene expression, and decreased BCL2 gene expression (p <0.05). Conclusions: C. intybus, Dox, and their combination exerted a more potent apoptotic effect on the Nalm-6 cell line than the KG-1 cell line. Cichorium upgraded the cytotoxic effect of DOX on Nalm-6 and KG-1 cell lines and could be suggested as a chemotherapy supplement in acute leukemia

Quercetin and raloxifene effect on breast cancer cell viability, migration, nitric oxide secretion and apoptotic genes expression

Objective: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among females all over the world.The use of natural and complementary compounds is a new option in chemotherapy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the synergic effect of Quercetin (QUR) and Raloxifene (RAL) on BC cell lines in vitro. Materials and Methods: The cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were treated with QUR (0, 25 50, 100, 150, 200 µM), and RAL (1 µM) alone, and in combination. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Griess method were used to measure total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and NO level of biological samples respectively. Changes in the expression of apoptotic-related genes were detected using real-time PCR. Results: QUR (100, 150 and 200 µM) decreased cell viability significantly in MDA231 and MCF7 cells (p<0.01). Furthermore, Ral (1 µM) showed a significant decrease in both cell types (p<0.01). The synergistic effect of QUR (150) and RAL was also greater in MDA231 cells. NO levels in QUR, Ral, and synergic groups increased significantly in both cell lines (p<0.001). In treated groups, QUR and RAL significantly decreased cell migration, MMP2 and MMP9 expression, and increased apoptotic genes expression significantly (p<0.001). QUR increased TAC in both BC cell lines (p<0.00) while it was decreased by RAL. Synergic groups increased TAC in BC cells significantly (p<0.001). Conclusions: QUR and RAL show synergistic anti-cancer effects on cell viability, NO production, cell migration, and apoptotic genes. QUR as a supplement can potentiate the anti-cancer effects of RAL in BC

Serum levels of iron parameters and IL-17 in children with Helicobacter pylori infection compared to healthy group

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and inflammatory responses causing gastric and duodenal ulcer and carcinoma. Moreover, it leads to deficiency of factors associated with iron adsorption and transfer. In the present study, we recruited 100 children (50 infected with H. pylori and 50 controls) aged 3-14 years old (40% male and 60% female) to evaluate the effect of H. pylori on anemia and some of its related factors (i.e., total iron binding capacity [TIBC], ferritin, and transferrin) and also the amount of IL-17 expression. For the assessment of H. pylori, Euroimmune (Germany) kit was used for the ELISA test according to the instructions of manufacturer. Furthermore, for the measurement of IL-17 level, ELISA test (IBL commercial specific kit, Germany) was employed. The mean iron levels in the control and infected groups were 81.5 mg/dl and 43 mg/dl, respectively, which showed a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.007). The mean levels of transferrin in the control and infected children were 291 mg/dl and 249 mg/dl respectively, demonstrating a significant difference (P=0.008). Moreover, the ferritin levels were 64.5 ng/dl and 14 ng/dl in the control and infected groups, respectively (P=0.001). The TIBC levels were 329 mg/dl and 301 mg/dl, respectively (P=0.86). The mean levels of IL-17 in the healthy and infected children were 3.93±0.93 pg/ml and 8.887±1.46 pg/ml, respectively (P=0.002). Our findings revealed that H. pylori can play a role in anemia and induction of inflammatory responses through reducing iron-related parameters and significantly enhancing IL-17 level among the infected children compared to the healthy group

A reliability-based approach for influence maximization using the evidence theory

The influence maximization is the problem of finding a set of social network users, called influencers, that can trigger a large cascade of propagation. Influencers are very beneficial to make a marketing campaign goes viral through social networks for example. In this paper, we propose an influence measure that combines many influence indicators. Besides, we consider the reliability of each influence indicator and we present a distance-based process that allows to estimate the reliability of each indicator. The proposed measure is defined under the framework of the theory of belief functions. Furthermore, the reliability-based influence measure is used with an influence maximization model to select a set of users that are able to maximize the influence in the network. Finally, we present a set of experiments on a dataset collected from Twitter. These experiments show the performance of the proposed solution in detecting social influencers with good quality.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, DaWak 2017 conferenc

Long-term outcome of posterior spinal fusion for the correction of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of idiopathic scoliosis, and surgery is considered as one of the therapeutic options. However, it is associated with a variety of irreversible complications, in spite of the benefits it provides. Here, we evaluated the long-term outcome of posterior spinal fusion (PSF) of AIS to shed more light on the consequences of this surgery. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 42 AIS patients who underwent PSF surgery were radiographically and clinically inspected for the potential post-operative complications. Radiographic assessments included the device failure, union status, and vertebral tilt below the site of fusion. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: The mean age of the surgery was 14.4 ± 5.1 years. The mean follow-up of the patients was 5.6 ± 3.2 years. Complete union was observed in all patients, and no device failure was noticed. Pre- and post-operative vertebral tilt below the site of fusion were 11.12° ± 7.92° and 6.21° ± 5.73°, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean post-operative ODI was 16.7 ± 9.8. The mean post-operative VAS was 2.1 ± 0.7. ODI value was positively correlated with follow-up periods (p = 0.04, r = 0.471). New degenerative disc disease (DDD) was observed in 6 out of 37 (16) patients. Conclusion: In spite of the efficacy and safety of PSF surgery of AIS, it might result in irreversible complications such as DDD. Moreover, the amount of post-operative disability might increase over the time and should be discussed with the patients. © 2018 The Author(s)