Antiviral activity of Holothuria sp. a sea cucumber against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)

BACKGROUND: Finding the new bioactive compounds with antiviral activity from the natural resources are in interest of many drug discovery scientists. Sea cucumber is among the marine organisms a traditional food item in Asia with different applications in traditional medicine. METHODS: In current study, a cold water extract of the Holothuria sp, one type Persian Gulf’s sea cucumber was evaluated for its antiviral effects against KOS strain of Herpes Simplex Virus tyoe 1 (HSV-1) in cell culture. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were calculated for anti-adsorption activity and intracellular antiviral activity of the crude extract separately. RESULTS: The extract exhibited antiviral activity not only against the virus adsorption to the cells, but also on virus intracellular replication.The CC50 for sea cucumber extract was 32.57 mg/ml. The IC50 values for the inhibition of the virus adsorption to the cells and virus intracellular replication were 120.2 and 189.9 μg/ml respectively. Selectivity index (SI) value for anti-adsorption activity was 189 while that value for the extract’s intracellular antiviral activity was 172. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that Holothuria sp, water extract has remarkable antiviral effect against HSV-1 in cell culture and it is crucial to investigate the mechanism(s) of action of extract. Moreover, identification of the effective compound(s) within the extract would be necessary for future studies towards developing the new natural antiviral agent against HSV-1

Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Revealing Sexual Function in Iranian Women with Breast Cancer

Most studies on the treatment of sexual problems in women with breast cancer have been conducted based on a quantitative approach. Adding a post-intervention qualitative study can help to clarify the impact of the therapy on sexual function. The present mixed-method study was performed to determine the impact of mindfulness based stress reduction on sexual function in women with breast cancer. This study consisted of two quantitative and qualitative phases. The quantitative phase was a randomized clinical trial, where 52 subjects were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups that completed female sexual function index (FSFI) in pretest, posttest (after the intervention), and follow-up (1 month after the intervention) stages. Intervention was an eight-session group mindfulness-based stress reduction. After analyzing data from 46 subjects, qualitative data were collected using the conventional content analysis method. At the follow-up stage, statistically significant improvements were noted in the intervention group for the sexual desire (P = 0.021) and arousal (P = 0.021), but decreases were observed in orgasm scores (P = 0.042). In the control group, overall FSFI score decreased at follow-up compared to those of the pretest and posttest (P < 0.001. (There were no differences between the two groups in the three stages. Two main categories of qualitative analysis, i.e. “mindfulness, an attempt for love continuation” and “Sexual Responsiveness scope”, confirmed the results of quantitative phase. Based on the results, mindfulness intervention can impact the aspects of sexual performance that rely on women, which are mostly of psychological origin and may not affect all aspects

Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Solid Particles Motion in a Three Dimensional Flow using Smoothed Profile Method

Three-dimensional particulate flow has been simulated using Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Solid-fluid interaction was modeled based on Smoothed Profile Method (SPM) (Jafari et. al, Lattice-Boltzmann method combined with smoothed-profile method for particulate suspensions, Phys. Rev. E, 2011). In this paper a GPU code based on three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method and smoothed profile method has been prepared due to the ability of SPM-LBM to perform locally and in parallel mode. Results obtained for sedimentation of one and two spherical particles as well as their behavior in shear flow showed excellent correspondence with previous published works. Computations for a large number of particles sedimentation showed that combination of LBM and SPM on a GPU platform can be considered as an efficient and promising computational frame work in particulate flow simulations

Study on brood stock management of Litopenaeus vannamei using imported post larvae

In order to domesticate Litopenaeus vannamei as a solution to single species shrimp aquaculture of Penaeus indicus and to reduce risk of shrimp culture in emergency cases, this study was carried out. Initially the postlarvae reared from imported L. vannamei were cultured. After culture season the adult shrimps were transported to greenhouse ponds for wintering. It is then relocated to hatchery saloon. After eye stalk ablation and maturation the female brood stocks were introduced to matured male for copulation at ponds. During the study period, male and female shrimp’s attained full maturation at end – April by temperature over 25ºC, the copulation process was started significantly. Finally of the 12 instances of copulation, one instance resulted nauplii production. The best maturation was observed at 28 ֯C ±1 and salinity30 to 33PPT and pH of 8 to 8.3 Fresh sea worms and squid showed the highest effect on fecundity in brood stocks. Besides, the spring season was obtained to be the best period for brood stock production in Bushehr province

Visualisation of urban airborne laser scanning data with occlusion images

Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) was introduced to provide rapid, high resolution scans of landforms for computational processing. More recently, ALS has been adapted for scanning urban areas. The greater complexity of urban scenes necessitates the development of novel methods to exploit urban ALS to best advantage. This paper presents occlusion images: a novel technique that exploits the geometric complexity of the urban environment to improve visualisation of small details for better feature recognition. The algorithm is based on an inversion of traditional occlusion techniques

Potential drugs used in the antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) architecture for cancer therapy

Cytotoxic small-molecule drugs have a major influence on the fate of antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). An ideal cytotoxic agent should be highly potent, remain stable while linked to ADCs, kill the targeted tumor cell upon internalization and release from the ADCs, and maintain its activity in multidrug-resistant tumor cells. Lessons learned from successful and failed experiences in ADC development resulted in remarkable progress in the discovery and development of novel highly potent small molecules. A better understanding of such small-molecule drugs is important for development of effective ADCs. The present review discusses requirements making a payload appropriate for antitumor ADCs and focuses on the main characteristics of commonly-used cytotoxic payloads that showed acceptable results in clinical trials. In addition, the present study represents emerging trends and recent advances of payloads used in ADCs currently under clinical trials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Path analysis of the relationship between optimism, humor, affectivity, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples

Marital satisfaction is an important factor for establishing a family relationship, feeling satisfied, and living happily together. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between optimism, humor, positive and negative affect, and marital satisfaction among infertile couples. The sample comprised 80 infertile Iranian couples (n = 160) who visited infertility clinics. Participants completed a series of Persian versions of psychometric scales related to optimism (Attributional Style Questionnaire), humor (Humor Styles Questionnaire), marital satisfaction (Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire), positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule). The obtained result of Smart PLS statistical analysis confirmed the significant positive correlation between optimism and humor with marital satisfaction and high PA and low NA. Moreover, the findings also provided an adequate fit of the model. The findings demonstrated that infertile couples high in optimism and humor have higher levels of marital satisfaction and high PA and low PA. Based on the study’s findings, interventions for facilitating optimism and humor among infertile couples are discussed

Lack of effect of adenosine on the function of rodent osteoblasts and osteoclasts in vitro

Extracellular ATP, signalling through P2 receptors, exerts well-documented effects on bone cells, inhibiting mineral deposition by osteoblasts and stimulating the formation and resorptive activity of osteoclasts. The aims of this study were to determine the potential osteotropic effects of adenosine, the hydrolysis product of ATP, on primary bone cells in vitro. We determined the effect of exogenous adenosine on (1) the growth, alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) activity and bone-forming ability of osteoblasts derived from the calvariae of neonatal rats and mice and the marrow of juvenile rats and (2) the formation and resorptive activity of osteoclasts from juvenile mouse marrow. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed marked differences in the expression of P1 receptors in osteoblasts from different sources. Whilst mRNA for the A1 and A2B receptors was expressed by all primary osteoblasts, A2A receptor expression was limited to rat bone marrow and mouse calvarial osteoblasts and the A3 receptor to rat bone marrow osteoblasts. We found that adenosine had no detectable effects on cell growth, TNAP activity or bone formation by rodent osteoblasts in vitro. The analogue 2-chloroadenosine, which is hydrolysed more slowly than adenosine, had no effects on rat or mouse calvarial osteoblasts but increased TNAP activity and bone formation by rat bone marrow osteoblasts by 30–50 % at a concentration of 1 μM. Osteoclasts were found to express the A2A, A2B and A3 receptors; however, neither adenosine (≤100 μM) nor 2-chloroadenosine (≤10 μM) had any effect on the formation or resorptive activity of mouse osteoclasts in vitro. These results suggest that adenosine, unlike ATP, is not a major signalling molecule in the bone

Study on health and Immunity index of vaccinated Litopenaeus vannamei against white spot virus disease

In this study, the inhibitory effect of Radio-Vaccine against white spot disease on white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was studied. This vaccine was prepared by Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. 14,000 L. vannamei postlarvae were used in treatments after adaptation. Eight treatments, four positive and two negative controls were considered in triplicate. Initially, three meals a day for a month in the hours of 8, 16 and 24 were feeding. Three times in day at 8, 16 and 24 clock were feeding in first mount. Waste food and fecal remaining in the tanks were removed. In the second and third months of treatment, feeding frequency increased to three and four times in day which is at 6, 18 and 24 were given concentrate feed and Artemia nauplii at 12 clocks. Vaccination was carried out by immersion. Vaccination was performed in two doses with an interval of 10 to 14 days. For biometric testing and evaluation of immune cells throughout the experiment, three samples were taken randomly from the tanks. To assess the health status of shrimp, indices of Total Hemocyte Count and Total Plasma Protein was determined. Phagocytic activity of hemocytes was evaluated to assess immune setuation of shrimps. The results of this study showed that the shrimp immune system, as in many reports, the effect of recombinant vaccines and passive safety in memory as "Alternative adaptive immune responses" after experimental infection of white spot virus (WSSV) in wild and farmed shrimp is confirmed, will respond to vaccination against white spot disease