The role of stereographic studies on the orientation of Suran`s barchans migration risk in Baluchestan

The sand dunes of the study area are located downstream of Routack watershed, 40 km west of Saravan city (Baluchestan province, Iran) and in the northern margin of the agricultural lands of the region. Wind velocity data (direction and speed) of Saravan, Khash and Iranshahr stations (2006-2012) were used to study the dynamics of the dunes. The geometry of barkhan dunes were analyzed using the stereographic approach and their spatial and temporal mobility by Freiberger and Dean (1979) method. The results showed that the direction of Barkhan`s migration was varied temporally and spatially; from W and NW to E and SE. While the prevailing winds in terms of frequency of occurrence were mainly blown from NE (wind-rose), but in most cases the sand dunes direction did not correspond to the prevailing wind direction. The RDD were 28.9% from the NW, 17.8% from the SW, NW and no-migration, 10.7% from the SE, and 3.5% from the W and S. The results of the stereographic approach showed the instantaneous dynamics of barchans were mainly consistent with the Fryberger and Dean (1979) methods; so that the rate of sand transport was between 17 to 20 m3/yr.m and the wind intensity classified as low energy. The sands are also transported when the velocity threshold is greater than 6.78 m/s or at least equal to it. This conclusion is important due to windbreak networks design. This means that to stabilize the dunes; windbreaks must be installed perpendicular to the wind`s direction (west to the northwest) and the wind velocity should not exceed 6.78 m/s, between the windbreak rows

Evaluation of the first day transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) level as a predictor of hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term neonates

Background: The readmission rate for neonatal jaundice has been increased in recent years. This has been attributed to shorter length of postpartum hospital stays without comprehensive follow-up. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of pre-discharge transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) levels for prediction of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term neonates. Methods: Between October and December 2013, a total of 99 healthy term neonates born at the Babol Clinic Hospital of healthy mother were enrolled in a prospective cross sectional study. The TcB levels were measured in all enrolled neonates between 12 and 24 hours of age just before discharge. All newborns were followed-up for jaundice to 10th day. Newborns with clinical jaundice were recalled and their serum bilirubin levels were measured. Appropriate treatment was performed based on the Amirkola Children's Hospital Protocol. TcB levels were compared between the non-treatment and treatment groups. Results: The mean age of the TcB measuring was 17.5±2.6 hours. A total of 18.1% neonates (18 of 99) were developed severe hyperbilirubinemia (need for treatment). The mean of cutaneous bilirubin level in the non-treatment and treatment groups was 5.2±1.6mg/dl and 6.3±0.9 mg/dl, respectively. The cutaneous bilirubin level at cut-off 6 mg/dl was associated with 80.0% sensitivity and 63.0% specificity. The negative predictive value was 94.6%. Conclusion: Single TcB measurements at the first 24 hours predict hyperbilirubinemia with a reasonably high degree of accuracy

Shikonin Increases Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle Cells and Improves Plasma Glucose Levels in Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Glucose is the most common substrate for energy metabolism. Despite the varying demands for glucose, the body needs to regulate its internal environment and maintain a constant and stable condition. Glucose homeostasis requires harmonized interaction between several tissues, achieving equilibrium between glucose output and uptake. In this thesis we aimed to investigate factors modulating glucose homeostasis in a rat model of type 2 diabetes, the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat. In addition, we investigated sex differences in hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in healthy rats. In Paper I, three-week but not three-day treatment with a Southeast Asian herb, Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP), significantly reduced plasma glucose (PG) levels in GK rats. An intra-peritoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was significantly improved in GP-treated compared to placebo-treated group. In the GP treated rats, the glucose response in an intra-peritoneal pyruvate tolerance test was significantly lower, indicating decreased gluconeogenesis, and hepatic glucose output (HGO) was reduced. GP-treatment significantly reduced hepatic glycogen content, but not glycogen synthase activity. The study provides evidence that the GP extract exerted anti-diabetic effect in GK rats, reducing PG levels and HGO, suggesting that GP improves the hepatic insulin sensitivity by suppressing gluconeogenesis. In Paper II, shikonin, a naphthoquinone derived from the Chinese plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon, increased glucose uptake in L6 myotubes, but did not phosphorylate Akt. Furthermore we found no evidence for the involvement of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) in shikonin induced glucose uptake. Shikonin increased the intracellular levels of calcium in these cells and stimulated the translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular vesicles to the cell surface in L6 myotubes. In GK rats treated with shikonin once daily for 4 days, PG levels were significantly decreased. In an insulin sensitivity test, the absolute PG levels were significantly lower in the shikonin-treated rats. These findings suggest that shikonin increases glucose uptake in muscle cells via an insulin-independent pathway dependent on calcium. In Paper III, GK and control Wistar rats were injected daily for up to 4 weeks with either a non-hematopoietic erythropoietin analog ARA290 or with placebo. PG levels in GK but not Wistar rats were significantly lower in ARA290-treated compared to placebo. After 2 and 4 weeks, the IPGTT was significantly improved in ARA290 treated GK rats. In insulin and pyruvate tolerance tests, glucose responses were similar in ARA290 and placebo groups. In isolated GK rat islets, glucose-stimulated insulin release was two-fold higher and islet intracellular calcium concentrations in response to several secretagogues were significantly higher in ARA290-treated than in placebo-treated GK rats. These findings indicate that treatment with ARA290 significantly improved glucose tolerance in diabetic GK rats, most likely due to improvement of insulin release. In Paper IV, sex differences in hepatic carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were characterized in healthy rats. No sex-differences were observed regarding hepatic triglyceride content, fatty acid oxidation rates or insulin sensitivity. Male rats had higher ratios of insulin to glucagon levels, increased hepatic glycogen content, a lower degree of AMPK phosphorylation, a higher rate of glucose production and higher expression levels of gluconeogenic genes, as compared to female rats. A sex-dependent response to mild starvation was observed with males being more sensitive. In conclusion, sex-differences reflect a higher capacity of the healthy male rat liver to respond to increased energy demands. Key words: glucose homeostasis, type 2 diabetes, GK rats, L6 myotubes, hepatic glucose output, insulin sensitivity, sex differences

β-Adrenergic Inhibition of Contractility in L6 Skeletal Muscle Cells

The β-adrenoceptors (β-ARs) control many cellular processes. Here, we show that β-ARs inhibit calcium depletion-induced cell contractility and subsequent cell detachment of L6 skeletal muscle cells. The mechanism underlying the cell detachment inhibition was studied by using a quantitative cell detachment assay. We demonstrate that cell detachment induced by depletion of extracellular calcium is due to myosin- and ROCK-dependent contractility. The β-AR inhibition of L6 skeletal muscle cell detachment was shown to be mediated by the β2-AR and increased cAMP but was surprisingly not dependent on the classical downstream effectors PKA or Epac, nor was it dependent on PKG, PI3K or PKC. However, inhibition of potassium channels blocks the β2-AR mediated effects. Furthermore, activation of potassium channels fully mimicked the results of β2-AR activation. In conclusion, we present a novel finding that β2-AR signaling inhibits contractility and thus cell detachment in L6 skeletal muscle cells by a cAMP and potassium channel dependent mechanism

Carnosine:can understanding its actions on energy metabolism and protein homeostasis inform its therapeutic potential?

The dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) has contrasting but beneficial effects on cellular activity. It delays cellular senescence and rejuvenates cultured senescent mammalian cells. However, it also inhibits the growth of cultured tumour cells. Based on studies in several organisms, we speculate that carnosine exerts these apparently opposing actions by affecting energy metabolism and/or protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Specific effects on energy metabolism include the dipeptide's influence on cellular ATP concentrations. Carnosine's ability to reduce the formation of altered proteins (typically adducts of methylglyoxal) and enhance proteolysis of aberrant polypeptides is indicative of its influence on proteostasis. Furthermore these dual actions might provide a rationale for the use of carnosine in the treatment or prevention of diverse age-related conditions where energy metabolism or proteostasis are compromised. These include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and the complications of type-2 diabetes (nephropathy, cataracts, stroke and pain), which might all benefit from knowledge of carnosine's mode of action on human cells. © 2013 Hipkiss et al.; licensee Chemistry Central Ltd

The Effects of DEM Resolution in Extraction of Physiographic and Hydrological Characteristics of Karde-Dam Watershed

This works evaluate the effect of DEM resolution on watershed delineation and particularization in Kardeh-Dam Watershed, Iran. A series of DEM at resolutions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 m resolution are investigated and compared with the reference DEN derived from the topographic map at scale of 1:25000.The HEC-GeoHMS is used as GIS tools for watershed delineation and particularization