Evaluation of dietary supplements of Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria and Agaricus bisporus mushroom powder on skin mucus immune indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to silver nano-particles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplements of Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria and Agaricus bisporus mushroom powder separate and combined (combined supplement) on the skin mucosal immune indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in exposure to silver nano-particles. For this purpose, 180 fish with mean weight 29.6±0.4 g were fed in four treatments: bacteria (1 g/kg of diet), mushroom powder (10 g/kg of diet), combined bacteria and mushroom powder (1 and 10 g/kg of bacteria and mushroom) supplements and control (nutritionally non-supplemented) treatments and each treatment with 3 replicate (15 fish per replicate) for 60 days. After the end of the feeding period, the fish were exposed to sub-acute concentration of nano-silver (1 mg/l) for 14 days. Sampling of skin mucosa was performed to evaluate the immune-related parameters on days 1, 7 and 14 (5 sampling per replicate). Results showed that activity of lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase enzymes, soluble protein and total immunoglobulin in diets containing dietary supplements had a significant difference in nano exposed groups with control treatments (p<0.05) and had the highest amount on day 14. Also, although the control treatment had a 14-days incremental trend, it had the lowest levels than dietary supplement treatments. Combined food supplements, bacteria and mushroom powder showed the highest effects on mucosal immune parameters in exposure to nano-silver respectively

Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Persian Version of Voice Disability Coping Questionnaire (P-VDCQ): Introducing a New Instrument

Objectives: Coping is one of the important concepts in psychology, which is pertinent to how persons with illness manage the stress of that condition. Voice Disability Coping Questionnaire (VDCQ) is an assessment tool for quantifying coping strategies in those with voice disability. The purpose of the present study was to investigate reliability and validity of the Persian version of VDCQ (P-VDCQ). Method: Translation procedure was performed according to the World Health Organization guidelines, and then 138 persons (88 persons with voice disorders and 50 controls) completed the questionnaire. Psychometric properties of the P-VDCQ were investigated. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean value of patients with dysphonia and that of the control group. The results of test-result reliability indicated that there is a high correlation between repeated administration of the questionnaire (intraclass correlation coefficient = 89.7). Also, a high Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.94) revealed a good internal consistency. Participants' scores in this instrument had a moderate correlation with their scores on Voice Activity Participation Profile�Persian version (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The P-VDCQ is a reliable and a valid instrument that can be used to investigate coping strategies of patients with dysphonia in clinical settings and for research purposes. © 2018 The Voice Foundatio