Invazija parazitima roda Eimeria (Coccidia: Eimeriidae) u ovaca različitih dobnih skupina u gradu Sanandaj u Iranu.

The prevalence of ovine Eimeria parasitism was monitored in 240 sheep in the western part of Iran, in the period from 2003-2004. The overall prevalence of coccidiosis in sheep was found to be 19.2%. The identified species included three pathogenic species, i.e. E. ahsata (10%), E. ovinoidalis (31%) and E. ovina (10%) and three non-pathogenic species, i.e. E. faurei (29%), E. parva (10%) and E. intricata (10%). Of 240 sheep, single infection was not observed and all 19.2% of infected sheep had mixed infections with at least three species. Consistency and intensity had a significant correlation with age. The sex and age of the sheep had a significant effect on prevalence, as well. The results of this study showed that Eimeria infection was prevalent in sheep in the western part of Iran.Promatrana je prevalencija invazije parazitima roda Eimeria u 240 ovaca u zapadnom dijelu Irana u razdoblju od 2003. do 2004. Prevalencija kokcidioze iznosila je 19,2%. Ustanovljene su tri patogene vrste, E. ahsata (10%), E. ovinoidalis (31%) and E. ovina (10%), i tri nepatogene vrste E. faurei (29%), E. Parva (10%) and E. intricata (10%). U svih 19,2% pozitivnih ovaca ustanovljena je mješovita invazija s najmanje tri vrste. Učestalost i jačina invazije bila je u korelaciji s dobi ovaca. Spol je također imao značajan učinak na prevalenciju. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je invazija vrstama roda Eimeria česta u ovaca u zapadnom dijelu Irana

Curcumin improved liposomal mitomycin-induced cell toxicity in bladder cancer cell

Objective (s): This study aimed at investigation of preparation and stability study of Mitomycin and Mitomycin loaded nanoliposems and efficacy of the combination of Mitomycin -loaded nanoliposomes and Curcumin versus Mitomycin in suppressing HTB-9 and L929 cell lines, in vitro.Materials and Methods: An HPLC method was validated based on Q2 (R1) International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guideline for determination of Mitomycin in pharmaceutical samples. Soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) or hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) mixed with cholesterol at 2:1 molar ratio respectively in two different groups to prepare Mitomycin nanoliposomes. Cell toxicity of free Mitomycin, Mitomycin loaded liposomes and curcumin was measured using MTT assay in bladder cancer cell line for treatment group and Fibroblast-like cell as control group. Also, propidium iodide staining was done to determine the level of DNA fragmentation.Results: The validated HPLC method showed stability based on the ICH guideline (n=3 and RS

Cadmium chloride treatment of rats significantly impairs membrane integrity of mesenchymal stem cells via electrolyte imbalance and lipid peroxidation, a possible explanation of Cd related osteoporosis

Objective(s): Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in bone health. Cadmium causes osteoporosis, but the exact mechanisms of its effect on MSCs are not known. Materials and Methods: Rats were treated with cadmium chloride (40 mg/l) in drinking water for six weeks, and then the biochemical and morphological studies on MSCs were carried out as a cellular backup for osteoblasts. Viability and proliferation properties of the cells were evaluated using MTT assay, trypan blue, population doubling number, and colony forming assay. Morphology of the cells and biochemical parameters including activity of metabolic (ALP, AST, and ALT) and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POX) as well as the MDA level (as an indication of lipid peroxidation) were investigated. In addition, intracellular calcium, potassium, and sodium content were estimated. Data was analyzed statistically and P Results: The results showed a significant reduction in viability and proliferation ability of extracted cells when compared to the controls. In addition, it was revealed that the cadmium treatment of rats caused a significant reduction in nuclear diameter and cytoplasm area. Also, there was significant increase in (ALT) and (AST) activity and intracellular calcium and potassium content but no change was observed with sodium content and ALP activity. The results showed [a] significant reduction in the antioxidant enzyme activity and increases in the MDA level. Conclusion: Based on the present study, reduction of viability and proliferation ability of MSCs might be a causative factor of osteoporosis in industrial areas

Effects of Mesolites from Moghueieh Region and their Particles Size on Performance, Blood Biochemical Parameters and Nutrient Digestibility in Broiler Chickens

In this study the effects of mesolites from Moghueieh region and their particles size on performance, blood biochemical parameters and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens were evaluated. The experiment was conducted on a completely randomized design with three treatments: without mesolite (control) and with fine particle mesolite (passed of 1 mm sieve and stay in 0.225 mm sieve) or large particle mesolite (passed of 3.36 mm sieve and stay in 1.68 mm sieve). Mesolite added in amount of 2% in diet from 7 day of age. Results indicated that chickens fed large particle mesolite showed reduced performance and fine particle mesolite had no effect on broilers performance. When compared with the controls, body weight gains were significantly lower for birds fed diets containing large particle mesolite. Birds fed large particle mesolite showed higher feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment (42 day of age), control group had higher serum TG. Concentration of serum HDL in chickens fed large particle mesolite was higher than control group. Level of serum alkaline phosphatase, glucose, albumin, thyroxin, cholesterol, LDL and uric acid and digestibility of dry matter and protein were not affected by treatments

Thermodynamic Relations at the Coupling Boundary in Adaptive Resolution Simulations for Open Systems

The adaptive resolution simulation (AdResS) technique couples regions with different molecular resolutions and allows the exchange of molecules between different regions in an adaptive fashion. The latest development of the technique allows to abruptly couple the atomistically resolved region with a region of non‐interacting point‐like particles. The abrupt set‐up is derived having in mind the idea of the atomistically resolved region as an open system embedded in a large reservoir at a given macroscopic state. In this work, starting from the idea of open systems, the authors derive thermodynamic relations for AdResS which justify conceptually and numerically the claim of AdResS as a technique for simulating open systems. In particular, the relation between the chemical potential of the AdResS set‐up and that of its reference fully atomistic simulation is derived. The implication of this result is that the grand potential of AdResS can be explicitly written and thus, from a statistical mechanics point of view, the atomistically resolved region of AdResS can be identified with a well‐defined open system

Health transformation plan: Goals achievement in Nemazee hospital

Introduction: The main purpose of this study was to assess fulfillment of goals about “Health Transformation Plan (HTP) of Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education” from the perspective of managers, which is as one of the most important management challenges in the Health System Reform Plan. These goals included six packages determined by the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education, the fulfillment of each of which one was evaluated separately as sub-goals in the current study. Finally, the rank of each package in comparison to other packages was determined and presented, using means rank test (Friedman test). Method: This study was conducted using a questionnaire in which comments of the senior and middle managers of Nemazee hospital were collected as the research data. Due to the fact that about one year has passed since the beginning of implementation of HTP and since there were no documented methods or questionnaires, the researcher designed a self-made questionnaire. The basis of designing the questionnaire was the set of guidelines developed for Health System Reform Plan. These guidelines include goals that a hospital should achieve during implementation of Health System Reform Plan. After sharing these goals with senior and middle managers of Nemazee hospital (as the place of research), they were converted to a questionnaire including 20 questions. The questionnaire included the goals that must be achieved in Nemazee hospital of Shiraz during the implementation of the plan. After designing the questionnaire, a preliminary test was taken to assess the reliability. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.88) showed a high rate of reliability in the above questionnaire. After the final data collection, the questionnaire was tested in a sample of 100 senior and middle managers; the results showed that about six packages were specified by the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education. The majority of respondents (about 57%) believed that the HTP has greatly achieved its goals, and about 43% of them believed that the success of this plan was average. Conclusion: In ranking among the six main packages which was considered as sub-goals of this plan, the results showed that the studied packages were ranked respectively as follows: Package number 1, Package number 2, Package number 6, Package number 3, Package number 5 and Package number 4

Anti Diabetic Effect of Curcuma Longa Extract via Non-insulin Dependent Cellular Pathway AMPK

Introduction: Blood glucose is high in diabetic patients. It is taken from blood by two separate pathways: Insulin-dependent pathway of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) and insulin-independent pathway AMPK (AMP-Activated protein kinase). The first pathway is impaired in type 2 diabetic patients, but the second pathway is active. On the other hand, curcuma longa extract containing a high percentage curcumin has Anti-diabetic effects, but its exact mechanism is not clear. Therefore, this study intends to investigate the effect of curcumin on the activation of the critical pathway AMPK in C2C12 cells. Methods: C2C12 cells, after growth and differentiation to muscle myoblast, were exposed to 40 µM concentrations of curcumin (test group) and 0.1%DMSO (control) for one hour. Then cells were collected, lysed and p-AMPK and p-ACC proteins were identified by Western blotting technique. Data were normalized with the β-Actin internal control and each band was calculated as arbitrary number compared with the control. Significant results were determined by using SPSS statistical software and student t-test. Results: Phosphorylation of enzymes, that indicates their activation, significantly increased for p-AMPK (23±1.6) and for p-ACC (31.7±2) in presence of curcumin Compared to the control (3±0.5; 1.7±0.4) (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrated that anti-diabetic effects of curcumin could be done through the activation of AMPK / ACC

Prevalence and Risk Factors of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Its Role in the Prognosis of Critically Ill Patients: New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Critically Ill Patients

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent dysrhythmia in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to assess the prevalence, clinical outcomes, and risk factors of new-onset AF in patients admitted to ICU, concerning mortality and length of stay.Methods: This cohort study consisted of patients above 18 years old admitted to the ICU of Firoozabadi hospital in 2019_2020. New-onset AF diagnosis was confirmed by ECG electrographic changes watched by cardiologists in 24 hours for each patient. Patients were divided into two groups: without new-onset AF [171 patients, 54.4% men, age: 65.09 (18–97) years] and with new-onset AF [23 patients, 52.2% men, age: 79 (55–95) years]. Clinical and laboratory features, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to- lymphocyte ratio (PLR), were compared between the groups.Results: Among 194 patients, 118 (61%) were survivors, and 76 (39%) were non-survivors. Twenty-three patients (11.9%) developed new-onset AF. The AF group was significantly older than those in the no AF group (AF vs. no AF: 79 ± 11.5 years vs. 65 ± 20 years, P = 0.02). ICU survivors had a significantly shorter ICU stay than non-survivors (6 ± 0.5 days versus 13.6 ± 1.9 days, P &lt; 0.001). Also, patients with new-onset AF had longer ICU stay (AF vs. no AF: 15.5 ± 10.9 days vs. 7.8 ± 10.6 days, P = 0.02). Patients who developed new-onset AF in the ICU had not greater in-hospital mortality (AF vs. no AF: 16.4% vs. 9.6%, P &gt; 0.05). The NLR of AF and no AF subjects were 16.7 ± 12.6 and 11.6. ± 14.9, respectively (P = 0.008). There was no significant difference between the PLR of the AF group (284.6 ± 211.8) and no AF group (264.8 ± 204.8) (P = 0.7).Conclusions: Atrial fibrillation may not be independently associated with hospital mortality. NLR is a predictor of new-onset AF in critically ill patients

Fibroblast and T cells conditioned media induce maturation dendritic cell and promote T helper immune response

Dendritic cells (DCs) induce pathogen-specific T cell responses. We comprehensively studied the effects of addition of maturation stimulus, fibroblasts (fibroblast conditioned medium), PHA activated T cells (T cell conditioned medium), and mixture of fibroblast & PHA activated T cells (FCM-TCCM) conditioned media on maturation of DCs. Monocytes were cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 for five days. Maturation factors included MCM and TNF-α as control group. FCM and TCCM, or FCM-TCCM supernatant were considered as the treatment group. Tumor antigens were added at day five. Matured DCs were harvested at day seven. Phenotypic and functional analyses were carried out using anti (CD14, CD80, CD86, CD83 and HLA-DR) monoclonal antibodies. Phagocytic activity, mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and cytokine production were also evaluated. At the end of culturing period, significantly fully matured DCs with large amount cytoplasm and copious dendritic projections were found in the presence of MCM, TNF-α with or without FCM, TCCM, FCM as well as TCCM. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that expression of CD14 decreased in particular in treated DCs, at the 5th day and expression of CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR was higher when FCM, TCCM, FCM plus TCCM were added to maturation factor. This study demonstrated that DCs matured with these methods had optimum function in comparison with either factor alone