Benthic invertebrates in the shrimp ponds in Tiab area

In order to study the quantity and quality evaluation of benthic invertebrates in shrimp ponds belonging to Persian Prawn Co., in Tiab area (Hormozgan province), sampling of sediments were carried out every other 14 days, from August 18 to October 27, 1998, during the period of shrimp culture. Sediments were sampled from three different point of 9 ponds by grab (Van Veen 0.02 m^2) for identification macrofauna, meiofauna, grain size and measurement of total organic matter. Macrofauna benthic were few and were found only in three ponds. Three groups of meiofauna including: Nematoda, Naplius and copepoda were distinguished. Their abundance was increased during main shrimp culturing period and was decreased at the end of it. Silt was the main part of soil in most ponds

Oil characteristics and fatty acid profile of seeds from three varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars in Bushehr-Iran

Studies were conducted on properties of seed oils extracted from three date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) varieties Shahabi, Shekar and Kabkab, grown in Bushehr-Iran. The primary objective of this study was to extract seed-oil from the three native date varieties and then analyzed their fatty acids (FAs). Also the chemical parameters of PV, AV, p-anisidin, and Totox values of oils, as indicators of the quality and safety, and oxidative status of edible oils, as well as refractive index as an objective method for evaluation of rancidity were also evaluated. Date seeds are approximately 10% of the fruits weight. Seeds contained about 8.5% fat that can serve as a useful source of fatty acids to replace other vegetable oils. The following mean of values from the three varieties were obtained from samples: peroxide value (1.05), acid value (1.4), p-anisidine value (2.54), Totox (4.64) and refractive index (1.46). Also, flame ionization based detection gas chromatography (GC-FID) revealed that oleic acid was the primary fatty acid in all varieties. It was followed by lauric, myristic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids and trace amounts of the other fatty acids like undecylic, capric, nonanoic (pelargonic) and caprylic acids. Depending on the regional industry, these data suggest that the potential applications of date seed oil for humans and animals are feeding, cosmetic formulations such as in body creams, shaving soap and shampoos, and pharmaceutical products.Keywords: Seed oil (Phoenix dactylifera), fatty acid, gas chromatograph

Isolation and genetic characterization of metallo-β-lactamase and carbapenamase producing strains of Acinetobacter baumannii from patients at Tehran hospitals

International audienceBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Carbapenems are therapeutic choice against infections caused by gram-negative bacilli including strains of Acinetobacter baumannii. Resistance to these antibiotics is mediated by efflux pumps, porins, PBPs and ß-lactamases. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of existence of MBLs, OXAs and GES-1 betalactamase genes among clinical isolates of Acinetobacter collected from Tehran hospitals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and three Acinetobacter isolates were collected from patient at Tehran hospitals. The isolates were identified using biochemical tests. The susceptibility to different antibiotics was evaluated by disk diffusion method and MICs of imipenem were determined using Micro broth dilution method (CLSI). PCR was performed for detection of bla(VIM-2), bla(SPM-1), bla(IMP-2), bla(GES-1), bla(OXA-51), bla(OXA-23) betalactamase genes. Clonal relatedness was estimated by PFGE with the restriction enzyme SmaI. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of 100 isolates of imipenem resistant Acinetobacter spp. collected from Tehran hospitals in 2009 and 2010, 6 isolates produced metallo-beta-lactamases and 94 isolates produced OXA-type carbapenemase. The bla(SPM-1), bla(GES-1), bla(OXA-51), bla(OXA-23) genes were detected by PCR among 6, 2, 94 and 84 isolates of A. baumannii, respectively. The MICs of isolates to imipenem were 8-128 µg/mL. PFGE analysis of 29 bla(OXA-51) and bla(OXA-23)-positive A. baumannii isolates gave 6 different patterns. This is the first report of SPM-1 and GES-1 beta-lactamase producing A. baumannii. Production of the OXA-23, OXA-51, GES-1 and SPM-1 enzyme presents an emerging threat of carbapenem resistance among A. baumannii in Iran

Nanotoxicology and nanoparticle safety in biomedical designs

Nanotechnology has wide applications in many fields, especially in the biological sciences and medicine. Nanomaterials are applied as coating materials or in treatment and diagnosis. Nanoparticles such as titania, zirconia, silver, diamonds, iron oxides, carbon nanotubes, and biodegradable polymers have been studied in diagnosis and treatment. Many of these nanoparticles may have toxic effects on cells. Many factors such as size, inherent properties, and surface chemistry may cause nanoparticle toxicity. There are methods for improving the performance and reducing toxicity of nanoparticles in medical design, such as biocompatible coating materials or biodegradable/biocompatible nanoparticles. Most metal oxide nanoparticles show toxic effects, but no toxic effects have been observed with biocompatible coatings. Biodegradable nanoparticles are also used in the efficient design of medical materials, which will be reviewed in this article

Family history of cancer and risk for esophageal and gastric cancer in Shanxi, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Family history (FH) by different relative types and risk of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers has been only rarely reported; the data on UGI cancer survival are sparse.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>600 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases, 598 gastric cardia adenocarcinoma cases, and 316 gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma cases, and 1514 age-, gender-, and neighborhood-matched controls were asked for FH in first degree relatives and non-blood relatives. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regressions, and hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazard regressions were estimated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Increased ESCC risk was associated with FH of any cancer (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.39–2.12), FH of any UGI cancer (OR = 2.28, 95%CI = 1.77–2.95) and FH of esophageal cancer (OR = 2.84, 95%CI = 2.09–3.86), but not FH of non-UGI cancer. Individuals with two or more affected first-degree relatives had 10-fold increased ESCC risk. FH of gastric cardia cancer was associated with an increased risk of all three cancers. Cancer in non-blood relatives was not associated with risk of any UGI cancer. FH of UGI cancer was associated with a poorer survival rate among younger ESCC cases (HR = 1.82, 95%CI = 1.01–3.29).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data provide strong evidence that shared susceptibility is involved in esophageal carcinogenesis and also suggest a role in prognosis.</p

Intranasal Delivery of E-Selectin Reduces Atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− Mice

Mucosal tolerance to E-selectin prevents stroke and protects against ischemic brain damage in experimental models of stroke studying healthy animals or spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats. A reduction in inflammation and neural damage was associated with immunomodulatory or “tolerogenic” responses to E-selectin. The purpose of the current study on ApoE deficient mice is to assess the capacity of this stroke prevention innovation to influence atherosclerosis, a major underlying cause for ischemic strokes; human E-selectin is being translated as a potential clinical prevention strategy for secondary stroke. Female ApoE−/− mice received intranasal delivery of E-selectin prior to (pre-tolerization) or simultaneously with initiation of a high-fat diet. After 7 weeks on the high-fat diet, lipid lesions in the aorta, serum triglycerides, and total cholesterol were assessed as markers of atherosclerosis development. We also assessed E-selectin-specific antibodies and cytokine responses, in addition to inflammatory responses that included macrophage infiltration of the aorta and altered gene expression profiles of aortic mRNA. Intranasal delivery of E-selectin prior to initiation of high-fat chow decreased atherosclerosis, serum total cholesterol, and expression of the leucocyte chemoattractant CCL21 that is typically upregulated in atherosclerotic lesions of ApoE−/− mice. This response was associated with the induction of E-selectin specific cells producing the immunomodulatory cytokine IL-10 and immunosuppressive antibody isotypes. Intranasal administration of E-selectin generates E-selectin specific immune responses that are immunosuppressive in nature and can ameliorate atherosclerosis, a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. These results provide additional preclinical support for the potential of induction of mucosal tolerance to E-selectin to prevent stroke

Nothing Lasts Forever: Environmental Discourses on the Collapse of Past Societies

The study of the collapse of past societies raises many questions for the theory and practice of archaeology. Interest in collapse extends as well into the natural sciences and environmental and sustainability policy. Despite a range of approaches to collapse, the predominant paradigm is environmental collapse, which I argue obscures recognition of the dynamic role of social processes that lie at the heart of human communities. These environmental discourses, together with confusion over terminology and the concepts of collapse, have created widespread aporia about collapse and resulted in the creation of mixed messages about complex historical and social processes

Consensus guidelines for the use and interpretation of angiogenesis assays

The formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, is a complex process that plays important roles in growth and development, tissue and organ regeneration, as well as numerous pathological conditions. Angiogenesis undergoes multiple discrete steps that can be individually evaluated and quantified by a large number of bioassays. These independent assessments hold advantages but also have limitations. This article describes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro bioassays that are available for the evaluation of angiogenesis and highlights critical aspects that are relevant for their execution and proper interpretation. As such, this collaborative work is the first edition of consensus guidelines on angiogenesis bioassays to serve for current and future reference