The reaggregation of normal granulosa-cumulus cells and mouse oocytes with polycystic ovarian syndrome in vitro: An experimental study

Background: The dialogue between oocytes and their surrounding cells plays a major role in the progress of oocyte meiosis and their developmental potential. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of co-culture of normal granulosacumulus cells (GCCs) with oocytes from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) mice. Materials and Methods: Normal GCCs were collected from 10 virgin adult Naval Medical Research Institute female mice (30-35 gr, 7-8 wk old), and were cultured in an alpha-minimum essential medium supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum for 24-48 hr (1×106 cells/well). Then, germinal-vesicle oocytes from PCOS mice were cultured in the presence of cultured normal GCCs (experimental group) and without GCCs (control group). The maturation rate and quality of the PCOS oocytes were examined by evaluating TFAM and Cx43 gene expression (real-time PCR) and the connection among PCOS oocytes and normal GCCs after 24 hr of culture. Results: The co-culture of normal GCCs and PCOS oocytes in the experimental group led to the formation of a complex called a PCOS oocyte-normal GCCs complex. The maturation rate of these complexes was significantly increased compared to that of the control group (p ≤ 0.001). A significant difference was also found in the expression of Cx43 (p ≤ 0.001) and TFAM (p < 0.05) genes in the experimental group compared with the control group. The connection between PCOS oocytes and normal GCCs was observed in the scanning electron microscope images. Conclusion: Co-culture with normal GCCs improves the capacity of PCOS oocytes to enter meiosis, which may result in the promotion of assisted reproduction techniques. Key words: PCOS, Co-culture, Granulosa-cumulus cells, IVM, Cx43

Ceratonia siliqua L improved cryodamage of asthenozoospermic specimens: An experimental study

Background: Sperm freezing is an important procedure in assisted reproductive technology. Freezing results in physical and chemical changes in the sperm. Ceratonia siliqua L (C.siliqua) is a tree that has antioxidant properties. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of different concentrations of C.siliqua in a freezing medium on semen parameters, and some biochemical parameters in asthenozoospermic specimens. Materials and Methods: Forty asthenozoospermic specimens (semen specimens with motility < 32%) were obtained from men aged between 20-40 yr according to the World Health Organization criteria. Each sample was divided into 6 groups: I) fresh, II) control, III) 5, IV) 10, V) 20, and VI) 30 μg/ml C.siliqua extract were added to a freezing medium respectively. Then sperm parameters, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species, and sperm DNA assay were evaluated using related protocols after thawing. Results: Data analysis shows that sperm parameter, and total antioxidant capacity level increased at a concentration of 20 μg/ml of C. siliqua extract compared to the other concentrations of C.siliqua extract after cryopreservation and thawing (p < 0.001). Also, the sperm DNA fragmentation assay, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced by adding 20 μg/ml of C. siliqua extract to the sperm freezing medium compared to the other treated groups after cryopreservation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: C.siliqua extract significantly improved sperm parameters after cryopreservation and thawing in asthenozoospermic specimens, and the greatest impact was observed at the 20 μg/ml C.siliqua L extract concentration (p < 0.001). Key words: Asthenozoospermia, Ceratonia, Cryopreservation, Fertility preservation, Infertility, Male

Investigating the Effects of Combined Physical-cognitive Exercises on Executive Functions: A Home-based Exercise Approach

Purpose: Improving brain functions through physical exercises has been the focus of research in recent years. Accordingly, it is important to examine the kind of physical exercises and brain functions that are affected. This study aims to examine the effect of integrated physical cognitive exercises at home on the executive functions of adults. Methods: This was a field trial study, in which 28 people were examined in 2 groups. People in the experimental group participated in combined cognitive and physical exercises for 16 sessions, while the control group did their daily routines. Inhibition components were evaluated by the go/no-go test and working memory through the N-back test at the beginning and end of the training period. The data were analyzed via factorial analysis of variance through the SPSS software, version 19. Results: The findings indicated that the experimental condition, compared to the control condition, caused a significant improvement in the correct inhibition (P=0.002) and total correct response (P=0.047) components in the go/no-go test, along with the commission errors in the N-back test (P=0.003). Conclusion: The results showed that the combined physical and cognitive exercise had a positive effect on the core executive functions (attentional inhibition and working memory) and could prevent the performance decrement caused by quarantine and the reduction of daily activities that people were facing

Correlation between morphological and biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells and hepatocytes derived from rat mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Hepatocyte dysfunction with the possibility of eventual organ failure is created from most liver diseases. Images of cell morphology can be obtained nondestructively using a conventional inverted microscope. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate several morphological parameters of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs-derived hepatocytes, in vitro, and their correlation with biological activities. Our results show that MSCs are clonogenic and self-renewal and these cells showed apoptotic property. There were significant difference in confluence rate and doubling time rate among serial passages (P<0.01). When MSCs were cultured with fibroblast growth factor – 4 (FGF-4) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), approximately 80-90% of cells became small, round and epithelioid on day 21 that was increasingly similar to hepatocytes in appearance. Compared with the control, levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (ALB) and urea increased significantly from day 12, 16 and 20, respectively and were higher on day 24 (P < 0.01). The AFP, ALB and urea production level of the large polygonal cells was markedly higher than that of cells with other morphologies. In conclusion, morphological parameters such as polygonal index, cell adhesion area, morphologic changes, proliferation and double nucleoli rate might be use as an indication of differentiation of bone marrow-MSCs into hepatocytes and their functions.Key words: Hepatocyte, stem cell, morphological parameter, polygonal index

Histologic effects of demineralized bone matrix on regeneration of alveolar socket in diabetic rats

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this in vivo study was to determine the effect of demineralized bone matrix (DBM) on alveolar bone repair in type I diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on 40 adult (8 weeks-old) albino rats with an average weight of 200-250 grams. The animals were divided into four groups (n=10) as follows: group 1 nondiabetic rats, group 2, 3 and 4 were diabetic rats; group 4 rats took one unit of insulin daily.  Diabetes was induced by Alloxan Monohydrate through the tail veins of the rats in groups 2-4. Only group 4 received insulin NPH 1 unit daily. After 10 days, the upper right incisors of all samples were extracted and the socket was filled with DBM in groups 3 and 4. The animals were sacrificed at the end of week 1 and 2. The specimens were prepared and stained with H&E. RESULTS: Histological results of group 4 displayed osteoblastic activity and bone formation with collagen fibers at the end of the first week and thick bone trabeculae formation in vicinity of DBM at the end of second week. In group 3, DBM showed some osteoinductivity at the end of the first week, but in some regions DBM particles were degraded by osteoclastic activity. Bone trabeculae formed with a dispersed and separate pattern at the end of second week. In group 2 hematoma and inflammation were dominant histological features at the end of first and second weeks; poor bone formation was detected in these two groups (2 and 3). In group 1, the results were as expected. CONCLUSION: It seems demineralized bone matrix simulate osteoblastic activity

Isolation and Identification of Lactic Acid Bacteria from a Traditional Fermented Fish Sauce (Mahyaveh) in Fars Province, Iran

Background: Mahyaveh is a fermented fish sauce in southern parts of Iran. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly dominant microorganisms in fermented fish products. These bacteria develop organoleptic characteristics of fermented foods and play a significant role in promoting their quality and safety. The present study aimed to identify LAB isolated from Mahyaveh using 16SrDNA gene sequences. Methods: Mahyaveh samples were collected from different regions of Fars province, southern Iran. Then, LAB colonies were isolated using specific media and identified by microscopic observations and biochemical tests. Afterwards, DNA was extracted, PCR was done by general primers of 16S rDNA, and the bacteria were recognized. Results: The 16S rDNA sequence of all isolates was related to Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium type strains. Conclusion: L. plantarum and E. faecium were shown to be prevalent LAB strains that could be used as starters in Mahyaveh fermentation in southern Iran

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions-was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing-and in some countries reversal-of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories.Peer reviewe

IFI27 transcription is an early predictor for COVID-19 outcomes, a multi-cohort observational study

PurposeRobust biomarkers that predict disease outcomes amongst COVID-19 patients are necessary for both patient triage and resource prioritisation. Numerous candidate biomarkers have been proposed for COVID-19. However, at present, there is no consensus on the best diagnostic approach to predict outcomes in infected patients. Moreover, it is not clear whether such tools would apply to other potentially pandemic pathogens and therefore of use as stockpile for future pandemic preparedness.MethodsWe conducted a multi-cohort observational study to investigate the biology and the prognostic role of interferon alpha-inducible protein 27 (IFI27) in COVID-19 patients.ResultsWe show that IFI27 is expressed in the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients and elevated IFI27 expression in the lower respiratory tract is associated with the presence of a high viral load. We further demonstrate that the systemic host response, as measured by blood IFI27 expression, is associated with COVID-19 infection. For clinical outcome prediction (e.g., respiratory failure), IFI27 expression displays a high sensitivity (0.95) and specificity (0.83), outperforming other known predictors of COVID-19 outcomes. Furthermore, IFI27 is upregulated in the blood of infected patients in response to other respiratory viruses. For example, in the pandemic H1N1/09 influenza virus infection, IFI27-like genes were highly upregulated in the blood samples of severely infected patients.ConclusionThese data suggest that prognostic biomarkers targeting the family of IFI27 genes could potentially supplement conventional diagnostic tools in future virus pandemics, independent of whether such pandemics are caused by a coronavirus, an influenza virus or another as yet-to-be discovered respiratory virus

Adult Onset Still's Disease With Different Antibodies: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. There is not currently any specific serological markers for AOSD , and  diagnosis still relying on the exclusion of other likely diagnoses. Yamaguchi’s criteria are used as a diagnostic criterion which contains negative serologic markers for other collagen vascular diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Here we report a 28-year-old woman with arthralgia, fever, rash, leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, abnormal liver function and negative rheumatoid factor and ANA but  seropositive for anti-CCP, anti-dsDNA, and C-ANCA. It seems that despite AOSD is considered as a seronegativedisorder; it should be remembered in patients with compatible findings who are seropositive