Some observation on the length frequency distribution and gonad development of longtail tuna in Iranian waters

Sampling of longtail tuna (Thunnus longgol) was conducted during each delivery of tuna catch to the tuna. Canning factory in Bandar Abbas, length frequency data was collected on a monthly basis. All individuals in the samples were examined for sex identification. The maturity stages for females were determined according to a 5 point scale. For the purpose the gonad index based on the weight of the fish was applied, most longtail tuna captured off the almost coast Iran principally from the Gulf of Oman arc considerably larger ranging from 75 to 80 cm fork length. Fish below 55 cm length were not represented in the samples. This results provide no modal progression for the monthly length frequency. Thy possible sources creating bias in the length distribution data such as migratory nature of longtail tuna and gear selectivity has been discussed. The study on the maturity magus reveals that the spawning season for longtail tuna captured in Iran from the sea of Oman extends from August through October. The possible multiple spawning season for this species has also been discussed

Percutaneous device closure for secundum-type atrial septal defect: Short and intermediate-term results

BACKGROUND: Device closure of an isolated secundum type atrial septal defect (ASD) has been used as an alternative method for open surgical closure with comparable success and lower morbidity. In this study we evaluated the procedural success and mid-term follow-up results of percutaneous closure of secundum ASD with an Amplatzer�Septal Occluder(ASO) device or a Figula ASD occluder device. METHODS: From June 2001 to January 2009, 74 consecutive patients were scheduled for percutaneous device closure in two centers in Tehran, Iran. All patients had a stretched defect diameter of 30mm or less. After using a sizing balloon to measure the stop-flow diameter, device implantation was performed under the guidance of a trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE).The size was generally 1 - 2 mm larger than the stretched diameter. Patients were followed for an average of 11 ±4 months. RESULTS: The median stretched diameter of the defect was 20.7±4.8 mm (range: 8 - 30 mm).A total of 73 devices were used in this study. Device closure was successful in 72 (97.2) out of 74 patients. Repositioning of the device was required in one patient. Major complications(including significant residual shunt and device embolization) occurred in 3 (4) patients.There was no procedure-related mortality in our patients. Mild-to-moderate residual shunt was detectable in 10 (13.7) patients immediately following the procedure and in 5 (6.7) patients 24 hours after the procedure. None had residual flow across the device at the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Device closure of ASD has a safety profile comparable to open surgical repair and can effectively close the defect with excellent procedural and mid-term results

Survey on health and disease status of ornamental fishes in Golestan, Mazanderan and Khorasan Razavi provinces

The project of survey on health status of ornamental fishes in Mazenderan , Golestan and Khorasan Razavi carried out with association of 5 , 2 and 6 centers in orderly. The main aims of this survey were identification and distribution local infectious of epizootic diseases, identification positive and negative points, offers management applicable guidelines to prevent of diseases.The results of survey showed that important virologically agent identified was Lymphocystis virus in Angel fish. Also, main bacteriologically agents were Aeromonas spp, Pseudomonas spp and vibrio. As well as, from the fungal agents that were identified can mentioned to Aspergilus flavus, Mucor, Penicilium and Alternaria. The important parasitic agents also were Trichodina, Ichthyophytrius, tetrahymena, Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus and capillaria. In the health management part of this survey positive points include non-application of antibiotic and cooperative of hatchery directors with executive organizations to sampling examination periodically. The negative points were non familiarity and training about fish disease, were not technical director, prepairing feeds without familiarity with principals of diets, non-quarantine units before fishes entrance to production cycles, non existens good food storage rooms, non existens foot bath in entrance gate to the hatchery systems and ets

Phase I Clinical Trial of Systemically Administered TUSC2(FUS1)-Nanoparticles Mediating Functional Gene Transfer in Humans

Background: Tumor suppressor gene TUSC2/FUS1 (TUSC2) is frequently inactivated early in lung cancer development. TUSC2 mediates apoptosis in cancer cells but not normal cells by upregulation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. No drug strategies currently exist targeting loss-of–function genetic abnormalities. We report the first in-human systemic gene therapy clinical trial of tumor suppressor gene TUSC2. Methods: Patients with recurrent and/or metastatic lung cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were treated with escalating doses of intravenous N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTAP):cholesterol nanoparticles encapsulating a TUSC2 expression plasmid (DOTAP:chol-TUSC2) every 3 weeks. Results: Thirty-one patients were treated at 6 dose levels (range 0.01 to 0.09 milligrams per kilogram). The MTD was determined to be 0.06 mg/kg. Five patients achieved stable disease (2.6–10.8 months, including 2 minor responses). One patient had a metabolic response on positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. RT-PCR analysis detected TUSC2 plasmid expression in 7 of 8 post-treatment tumor specimens but not in pretreatment specimens and peripheral blood lymphocyte controls. Proximity ligation assay, performed on paired biopsies from 3 patients, demonstrated low background TUSC2 protein staining in pretreatment tissues compared with intense (10–25 fold increase) TUSC2 protein staining in posttreatment tissues. RT-PCR gene expression profiling analysis of apoptotic pathway genes in two patients with high posttreatmen

A cross-sectional study of self-reported chemical-related sensitivity is associated with gene variants of drug-metabolizing enzymes

BACKGROUND: N-acetyltransferases (NAT) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) are involved in the metabolism of several ubiquitous chemical substances leading to the activation and detoxification of carcinogenic heterocyclic and aromatic amines. Since polymorphisms within these genes are described to influence the metabolism of ubiquitous chemicals, we conducted the present study to determine if individuals with self-reported chemical-related sensitivity differed from controls without self-reported chemical-related sensitivity with regard to the distribution of genotype frequencies of NAT2, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms. METHODS: Out of 800 subjects who answered a questionnaire of ten items with regard to their severity of chemical sensitivity 521 unrelated individuals agreed to participate in the study. Subsequently, genetic variants of the NAT2, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes were analyzed. RESULTS: The results show significant differences between individuals with and without self-reported chemical-related sensitivity with regard to the distribution of NAT2, GSTM1, and GSTT1 gene variants. Cases with self-reported chemical-related sensitivity were significantly more frequently NAT2 slow acetylators (controlled OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.27–2.59, P = 0.001). GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were significantly more often homozygously deleted in those individuals reporting sensitivity to chemicals compared to controls (GSTM1: controlled OR 2.08, 95% CI = 1.46–2.96, P = 0.0001; GSTT1: controlled OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.65–4.75, P = 0.0001). Effects for GSTP1 gene variants were observed in conjunction with GSTM1, GSTT1 and NAT2 gene. CONCLUSION: The results from our study population show that individuals being slow acetylators and/or harbouring a homozygous GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 deletion reported chemical-related hypersensitivity more frequently

A colanic acid operon deletion mutation enhances induction of early antibody responses by live attenuated salmonella vaccine strains

Colanic acid (CA) is a common exopolysaccharide produced by many genera in the Enterobacteriaceae. It is critical for biofilm formation on HEp-2 cells and on chicken intestinal tissue by Salmonella. In this study, we generated different CA synthesis gene mutants and evaluated the immune responses induced by these mutants. One of these mutations, Δ(wza-wcaM)8, which deleted the whole operon for CA synthesis, was introduced into two Salmonella vaccine strains attenuated by auxotrophic traits or by the regulated delayed attenuation strategy (RDAS). The mice immunized with the auxotrophic Salmonella vaccine strain with the deletion mutation Δ(wza-wcaM)8 developed higher vaginal IgA titers against the heterologous protective antigen and higher levels of antigen-specific IgA secretion cells in lungs. In Salmonella vaccine strains with RDAS, the strain with the Δ(wza-wcaM)8 mutation resulted in higher levels of protective antigen production during in vitro growth. Mice immunized with this strain developed higher serum IgG and mucosal IgA antibody responses at 2 weeks. This strain also resulted in better gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses than the strain without this deletion at doses of 10(8) and 10(9) CFU. Thus, the mutation Δ(wza-wcaM)8 will be included in various recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccine (RASV) strains with RDAS derived from Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi to induce protective immunity against bacterial pathogens

Association between ECG changes in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction with and without collateral coronary vessels

Background- Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of morbidity and cardiovascular mortality. The presence of collateral coronary vessels is believed to be a good prognostic factor. Accordingly, this study was performed to compare electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in MI patients with and without collaterals. Methods and Materials- This study was performed as a cross-sectional study among 200 patients admitted for MI in a training hospital in 2011 and 2012. The study population was divided into two categories: patients with collateral coronary vessels and those without them. ECG findings were compared between the two groups. Results- Among the ECG findings, only the QRS pattern in V1 was associated with the presence of collateral vessels. Abnormal QRS axis, pathological Q wave, persistent ST increase/decrease, QRS notch, PR interval, and QRS duration were not related to the presence of collateral vessels (p value > 0.05). Conclusions- According to our results, it may be concluded that ECG changes are not related to the presence of collateral coronary vessels in angiographic assessment. It is recommended that further studies be carried out with evaluation of ECG and after one-month catheterization results of patients to obtain more definite results

Optimization of copper recovery from copper converted slag. Part I: Pyrometallurgical aspects

In this study, roasting and leaching of copper converter slag was carried out and the effects of their significant parameters were investigated. Minitab programing was put to use in design and analysis of these experiments. In roasting experiments the results show that roasting temperature has the greatest influence on solubility of Copper, while roasting time and grain size are in second and third place. Roasting slag with 237μ average grain size in 600 ° C with duration of 90 minutes was the best case of roasting. It resulted in 75.3% Copper recovery after leaching. Then in second stage, for obtaining optimum leaching parameters, all samples were prepared under previously mentioned roasting parameters and then went through leaching as its parameters were being manipulated. Best case was achieved when leached in boiling 150 gr/L acid, with L/S=10 and leaching time of 45 minutes which leads to Copper recovery of 92.2%