Effect of glucose, lactate and pyruvate concentrations on in vitro growth of goat granulosa cell

Carbohydrates are among the most influential of the numerous components of culture medium that affect metabolism and developmental potential. Glucose, lactate and pyruvate are required for the growth of oocytes and other follicular cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different concentrations of glucose, lactate and pyruvate on promoting DNA synthesis of granulosa cells in a serum-free medium. Effects of glucose (0.75, 1.5 or 3 mM), pyruvate (0.1 or 0.33 mM) and Llactate (3, 6 or 12 mM) concentrations in the maturation medium on the relative granulosa cell growth during metaphase II (MII) were examined in a 3 × 2 × 3 factorial design. The greatest relative granulosa cell growth response (p<0.05) was observed in the presence of 1.5 mM glucose and 0.33 mM pyruvate or in 6 mM lactate and 0.33 mM pyruvate. Increasing pyruvate concentrations from 0.1 to 0.33 mM resulted in an increase in DNA synthesis in granulosa cells. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that increasing glucose and pyruvate concentrations in the maturation medium increased the growth of goat granulosa cells.Key word: Energy substrate, granulosa cell growth, methyl-3H-thymidine, goat

Early phase of plasticity-related gene regulation and SRF dependent transcription in the hippocampus

Hippocampal organotypic cultures are a highly reliable in vitro model for studying neuroplasticity: in this paper, we analyze the early phase of the transcriptional response induced by a 20 \ub5M gabazine treatment (GabT), a GABA-Ar antagonist, by using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray, RT-PCR based time-course and chromatin-immuno-precipitation. The transcriptome profiling revealed that the pool of genes up-regulated by GabT, besides being strongly related to the regulation of growth and synaptic transmission, is also endowed with neuro-protective and pro-survival properties. By using RT-PCR, we quantified a time-course of the transient expression for 33 of the highest up-regulated genes, with an average sampling rate of 10 minutes and covering the time interval [10 3690] minutes. The cluster analysis of the time-course disclosed the existence of three different dynamical patterns, one of which proved, in a statistical analysis based on results from previous works, to be significantly related with SRF-dependent regulation (p-value<0.05). The chromatin immunoprecipitation (chip) assay confirmed the rich presence of working CArG boxes in the genes belonging to the latter dynamical pattern and therefore validated the statistical analysis. Furthermore, an in silico analysis of the promoters revealed the presence of additional conserved CArG boxes upstream of the genes Nr4a1 and Rgs2. The chip assay confirmed a significant SRF signal in the Nr4a1 CArG box but not in the Rgs2 CArG box

Corona virus and elderly social isolation: A systematic review

Introduction: The elderly more than others in the society were affected by the corona epidemic. Social isolation as one of the important consequences of corona pandemic, affected the elderly. This review study was performed with aim to investigate studies related to social isolation of the elderly during the corona virus epidemic. Methods: In this systematic review, to find the article entitled elderly social isolation and Covid-19, the articles published in English from the beginning of the Corona virus pandemic to 2021 were searched in databases of Scopus, ISI (web of science), PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library, and Science direct using MeSH and the keywords of "social isolation", "elderly", "loneliness", "coronavirus", "COVID -19", "SARS COVID -2", "pandemic", "elderly", alone and in combination using the operators AND and OR. Results: A total of 11 studies related to Covid-19 and social isolation were included in the study. The findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic and health policies have exacerbated feelings of loneliness and isolation in the elderly. Loneliness and social isolation in the elderly have increased due to the implementation of preventive protocols such as social distance and quarantine. Conclusion: Attention to approaches which reduce social isolation in the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the important interventions that should be considered by government and policy makers to reduce the rate of harm in the elderly and consequently reduce health costs to compensate its side-affects. © 2023, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Investigation of the Maternal and Neonatal Factors Affecting the Apgar score of Newborns: A Case-Control Study

Background: Apgar score is a method for clinical evaluation of neonate at birth, and predicts their clinical conditions and physical or mental development. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between some neonatal and maternal factors during pregnancy on the Apgar score. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 234 neonates born in Ilam hospitals during 2015-2016. The case group included 81 neonates with Apgar score = 7 in minute 1 as well as 48 cases and 96 controls in minute 5. Results: The mean maternal weights in the case and control groups were 66.8 +/- 13.5 and 67.1 +/- 11.1 Kg, respectively. The mean +/- SD for maternal age 29 +/- 5 vs. 29 +/- 5.7 years, marriage age 22 +/- 3 vs. 22.2 +/- 4.9 years, BMI 24.5 +/- 3.2 vs. 26.1 +/- 4.1 and weight gain during pregnancy 13.8 +/- 6.2 vs. 12.7 +/- 6.8 kg among cases and controls, respectively. The odds ratio for the following factors was significantly higher among cases than the control group: preterm delivery (OR: 3.3, 95 CI: 1.2-17), twin birth (OR: 8.9, 95 CI: 2.6-27.2), abnormal presentation of the fetus (OR: 6, 95 CI: 2.3-15.6), birth weight (OR: 6.9, 95 CI: 1.4-28.6), and placental abruption (OR: 9.4, 95 CI: 2.2-22.5) for Apgar score at five minute. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, preterm labor, multiple birth, and abnormal fetal presentation, and low birth weight, premature rupture of membrane, placental abruption and anemia, led to an increase in Apgar score less than 7

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Function: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION: The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected many people in the world and has impacted the physical, social, and mental health of the world population. One of these psychological consequences is intimate partner violence affecting sexual health. METHODS: This study was performed as a systematic review on the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on sexual function and domestic violence in the world. Accordingly, all English-language studies conducted from the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to the end of 2020 were extracted by searching in the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed (including Medline), Cochrane Library, and Science Direct databases and then reviewed. The quality of the articles was assessed using the STROBE checklist. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included in the systematic review. Accordingly, domestic violence during the exposure to COVID-19 had increased. Moreover, the mean scores of sexual function and its components had reduced at the time of exposure to the pandemic compared to before. CONCLUSION: Given the potential long-term effects of the coronavirus crisis and the large population being affected by this disease, strategies to promote sexual health and fertility of families to prevent or further reduce violence and sexual functions should be chosen

Endovascular treatment for chronic atherosclerotic occlusive mesenteric disease: is stenting superior to balloon angioplasty?

Endovascular treatment is an increasingly used therapeutic option in patients with chronic atherosclerotic occlusive mesenteric disease. Purpose of this study was evaluation of patency and mortality in patients treated with visceral artery percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) or stenting including follow-up