Chemicals released by male sea cucumber mediate aggregation and spawning behaviours

The importance of chemical communication in reproduction has been demonstrated in many marine broadcast spawners. However, little is known about the use of chemical communication by echinoderms, the nature of the compounds involved and their mechanism(s) of action. Here, the hypothesis that the sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis uses chemical communication for aggregation and spawning was tested. Water conditioned by males, but not females, attracted both males and females; gonad homogenates and coelomic fluid had no effect on attraction. Male spawning water, but not female spawning water, stimulated males and females to release their gametes; the spermatozoa alone did not induce spawning. H. arguinensis male spawning water also induced spawning in the phylogenetically related H. mammata. This indicates that males release pheromones together with their gametes that induce spawning in conspecifics and possibly sympatric species. Finally, the male pheromone seems to be a mixture with at least one labile compound (biological activity is lost after four hours at ambient temperature) possibly including phosphatidylcholines. The identification of pheromones in sea cucumbers offers a new ecological perspective and may have practical applications for their aquaculture.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [UID/Multi/04326/2013, SFRH/BD/90761/2012]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A survey on health status of coldwater rearing and hatcheries fish farms in Iran (Mazandarn, Gilan, Ardebil, West Azerbaiejan, East Azerbaiejan and Kordestan provinces)

The national research plan with title of "Study on health status of Iran Coldwater hatchery and rearing farms" was done in order to identification and tracking of main causative agents of recent mortality in Iran Coldwater hatchery and rearing farms and recognize of infected zones and design of landscape distribution of Epizootic Coldwater fish diseases in the country. This plan was conducted parallel and in same time in some polar provinces of Coldwater fish production such as Mazandaran, Gilan, Ardebil, West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan in three years from 2006-2008. In this regard, about 23,21 and 20 farms in Mazandaran province, 30 farms in West and East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces and 19 farms in Gilan and Ardebil were selected as randomly and tracking were done yearly from 2006-2008. This research was conducted according to regular planning consists of farms visit that was done according to statistical plan and completion of Questionnaires and sampling. The findings in Mazandaran province revealed that fish infections background and infectious diseases were increased in period of 2006-2008. In fact, 56% of all fish farms in 2006, 71% in 2007 and 85% in 2008 were recorded as infected farms. In other side, average weight of fish final products was more 500gr in consume market. So, regarding to long period of fish culture in mentioned fish occurrence of more morbidity could be expected. The streptococcus infections were most important fish bacterial diseases that have more incidence and pathogenicity in collected questionnaires. Also it revealed more occurrences in summer season in above 15oC temperature in affected fish farms. Also, Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM) and Saprolegniasis were reported as second and third degree in examined farms. Meanwhile, findings of control, prevention and treatment of our survey revealed that using of antibiotics and detergent materials were increased in mentioned province. Indeed, 34.7% of all fish farms in 2006, 71.4% in 2007 and 75% in 2008 have applied treatment operation and using of detergent materials in affected farms. In other side, frequent using of Erythromycin antibiotic was reported several times in 2008 so fish farmer faced to Bacterial resistance and should be using from Florfenicol as alternative antibacterial. Also, in feed sampling from all fish farms about 3 fish farms in 2006 and 5 fish farms in 2008 were faced with food poisoning that originated from high TVN and peroxidase in fish food consumed. These farms revealed mass mortality that stopped after change feeding regime. In conclusion absence of fish health management could be considered as main agent of mentioned mortality in Mazandaran province. The findings of our survey in West and East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan revealed that absence of sufficient experiences in fish farmers and their neglect from water quality concepts, farm cleanness, using of suitable detergent materials for fish ponds and instruments and disability in continuous monitoring of physic-chemical factors of consumed water could be considered as most important problems. So, fish morbidity and mortality, growth decrement and low production rate were expected. Unfortunately, despite the occurrence of infectious and non- infectious diseases in examined fish farms, there were no documents and information about diseases history, clinical signs in dead fish, feeding regime, fish mortality (rate of daily mortality, age and weight of moribund fish), treatment operation, drugs usage, growth rate, physico-chemical factors and fish density. So planning for control and prevention of mentioned diseases were unsuccessful in affected fish farms. Also, occurrence of some epizootic fish viral diseases such as VHS, IPN and IHN were observed frequently with mass mortality about 40100% in some examined fish farms that produced some tragic economic lost in the mentioned provinces. Similarly, some bacterial, fungal and parasitic diseases were observed repeatedly in some inspected farms such as Flavobacterium, streptococcus infections. Also, some unknown causative agents in parasitic diseases were observed several times such as Dactylogyrus, Gyrodactylus, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Trichodina, Chilodonella, Diplostomum and fungal diseases such as Saprolegniasis. In conclusion it seems that absence of fish health management, inadequate rate of hygienic technical services, absence of quarantine programs for transfer of new eyed-eggs, juvenile and live broodstocks packages without health certificates from authorized organizations, uncontrolled entry of foreign eyed-eggs (France, Denmark, Australia and Armenia) and neglect in using of suitable detergent materials for fish ponds, instruments, consumed water and infected eggs, not screening of broodstocks in hatcheries could be considered as most important causative agents in occurrence of infectious diseases and main problems in affected farms in mentioned provinces. Similarly, our findings in Gilan and Ardebil provinces revealed that their problems were similar to other provinces. In fact, neglect in establish of necessary Infrastructures in fish farms and dereliction in health management concepts could be considered as main reasons of occurrence of fish infectious and non-infectious diseases in studied fish farms in mentioned provinces. In fact, often fish farms visited hadn't suitable structures without control and prevention approach. There were not observed detergent using, quarantine programs and prevention methods. Entrance of unknown persons, birds and wild animals were ordinary in mentioned farms. Unfortunately level of farmer’s knowledge was low and no training courses and extension programs were planned by authorized organizations. Meanwhile, food storages were unsuitable and food packages were stored in inappropriate situation so poisoning conditions were increased in examined farms. In conclusion it could be finalized that Coldwater fish farms in Gilan and Ardebil provinces situated in insufficient position and correction of current situation are needed urgently. In final elicitation, it would be mentioned that lack of basic infrastructures could be introduced as most important reasonfor spread of diseases, mortality and related economic losses in studied provinces. Therefore, attention to environmental affairs and access to Sustainable Development are recommended. Also consideration of biosecurity regulations and health management concepts would be important requirements for modification and reformation of Coldwater fish farms in examined provinces towards A Better Tomorrow

The removal effect of hydrogenated shortening on serum levels of Triglycerids, total Cholesterol and HDL-Cholesterol in normal subjects

Abstract: In Iran, the hydrogenated vegetable oil have a high content of trans fatty acids and high per capita consumption. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of substitution of hydrogenated oil by sunflower liquid oil on plasma levels of LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides in normal subjects. Thirty six healthy inmates participated in this research. They were consuming hydrogenated oil before the study, and were maintained on sunflower diet for one month. Then they were switched to hydrogenated oil regimen for the next two months. Blood samples were collected for measuring the levels of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerids at the beginning and 15 days intervals during the study. The results showed that omission of hydrogenated oil from the diet significantly increases the serum HDL-cholesterol (P<0.001) level and reswitching from sunflower oil to shortening regimen reverts such beneficial effects. No significant difference was observed for the other measured parameters between the two lipid regimens. Keywords: Trans fatty acids, Cholesterol, Shortening, Oi

Comparison of Adipose tissue fatty acids in CAD and non-CAD patients

Abstract: Since long term dietary fatty acids intake is reflected in the fatty acids composition of adipose tissue, this study was aimed to compare the adipose tissue fatty acids profile of angiography documented CAD (test) and Non-CAD (control) patients. The first group were 25 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery in open heart surgery section of Shahid Beheshti hospital of Kermanshah University of medical sciences. The second group were 23 persons who were matched for age and BMI and had aoritic valve replacement (AVR) surgery in the same hospital. Small segment of adipose tissue from Atrioventricular groove was separated during surgery and stored at -40C until analysis. Simultaneous analysis of fatty acids were carried-out by HPLC technique. The results of this study showed that the contents of saturated fatty acids in CAD group were higher, and the unsaturated fatty acids with the exception of linoleic acid were lower than control group. Percentage of stearic acid, Oleic acid and linoleic acid in test group were 4.8, 20.7 and 6.7 and in control group were 3.8, 27.8 and 9.0 respectively (P<0.05). Increment of saturated fatty acids along with decrement of unsaturated fatty acids in adipose tissue of CAD patients may have potentiated the atherosclerotic process. No significant difference was seen between other fatty acids in two groups. These findings may be explained by differences in nutritional habits and or endogenous metabolism of fatty acids between two groups. Keywords: Fatty acid, Coronary artery disease, Adipose tissu

Change in fatty acids composition of milk products during the traditional Ghee-making process

Abstract: Seasonal variation of fatty acids composition of milk and various milk products have been subjected to many investigations. However, most of the researches are concerned with a single product and apparently there is no information about the extent and the factors which contribute to changes in fatty acids composition of lipids in the process of ghee-making by the traditional methods. Thus comparative evaluation of quality and quantity of fatty acids in milk and its products which is used in ghee-making by traditional methods was the subject of this study. Samples of milk, yoghourt, butter, and ghee prepared from the same milk were collected from different rural regions of Kermanshah province. The total lipid of each sample was extracted and subjected to fatty acid analysis by HPLC. The results were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Starting from milk and ending with Ghee, a statically meaningful changes of fatty acid composition in each sample were observed. The obvious changes include; a relative increase of short chain fatty acids (C4 to C12) and a decrease in long chain saturated fatty acids (C14, C16, C18). Compared to commercial butter, the cholesterol level was lower in ghee. In conclusion the traditional method of ghee making seems to be beneficial to nutritional values of butter ghee. Therefore some aspect of the process may be applied for improvement of the commercial methods of butter processing. Keywords: Fatty acid, Butter, Ghe

Familial Aggrigation of Fmr and Bechet, S Diseases in Their Mother

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary condition which is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and abdominal pain. On the other hand, Behcet`s disease (BD) is an immune mediated condition typified by recurrent oral aphthous lesions, inflammatory eye disease and multiple organ involvement. Association of these two conditions is rare. We present a pair of twins with FMF and BD in their mother

MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ULTRAFINE-GRAINED COPPER TUBE PRODUCED BY SEVERE PLASTIC DEFORMATION

In this paper, cyclic flaring and sinking (CFS) as a new severe plastic deformation (SPD) method was employed to produce the ultrafine grain (UFG) copper tubes. The extra friction has eliminated in the CFS method that provided the possibility for production of longer UFG tubes compared to the other SPD methods. This process was done periodically to apply more strain and consequently finer grain size and better mechanical properties. The CFS was performed successfully on pure copper tubes up to eleven cycles. Mechanical properties of the initial and processed tubes were extracted from tensile tests in the different cycles. The remarkable increase in strength and decrease in ductility take placed in the CFS-ed tubes. The material flow behavior during CFS processing was analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), and a model was presented for grain refinement mechanism of pure copper based on multiplication and migration of dislocations (MMD). This mechanism caused that the initial grains converts to elongated dislocation cells (subgrains) and then to equiaxed ultrafine grains in the higher cycles. The CFS method refined the microstructure to fine grains with the mean grain size of 1200nm from initial coarse grain size of 40&micro;

Mechanistic in vitro evaluation of Prosopis farcta roots as an antidiabetic folk medicinal plant

Background and objectives: Prosopis farcta has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for treating diabetes mellitus.The aim of this study was investigating the antidiabetic mechanisms of infusion extract of P. farcta and discovering the active extract for the first time. Methods: Six different extracts of P. farcta were prepared using five different solvents [ethanol, n-hexane, acetone, ethanol: water (1:1 v/v), and water]. Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assays were performed on mouse pancreatic β-cells (β-TC3) using the MTT method. The effects of P. farcta on glucose metabolism (in HepG-2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) were evaluated. The protective effects of various P. farcta extracts on cytotoxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and streptozotocin-induced apoptosis in β-TC3 cells were investigated. Results: P. farcta did not affect the viability of β-TC3 and HepG-2 cells up to 0.5 mg/ml. Infusion (INF) was the only extract which could protect cells against STZ. The proliferation results showed P. farcta extract did not increase proliferation in β-TC3 cell line compare to control. Conclusion: Only INF attenuated the death and apoptosis induced by STZ in β-TC3 cells. It could exert a significant glucose-lowering effect