Two heterostigmatic mite species (Acari: Dolichocybidae, Podapolipidae) associated with Scarabaeus pius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Iran

During a study on insect-associated heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Prostigmata) in southern Isfahan Province, Central Iran, two colonies of mites were found on Scarabaeus pius (Illiger, 1803) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Pavania lanceolata sp. n. Bahramian et Hajiqanbar (Dolichocybidae) that is easily discernible by some modified foliate setae on tarsi I–III; and Tarsopolipus massai Husband, 1989 (Podapolipidae) for which Scarabaeus pius is a new host recor

The effect of homozygous deletion of the BBOX1 and Fibin genes on carnitine level and acyl carnitine profile.

BACKGROUND: Carnitine is a key molecule in energy metabolism that helps transport activated fatty acids into the mitochondria. Its homeostasis is achieved through oral intake, renal reabsorption and de novo biosynthesis. Unlike dietary intake and renal reabsorption, the importance of de novo biosynthesis pathway in carnitine homeostasis remains unclear, due to lack of animal models and description of a single patient defective in this pathway. CASE PRESENTATION: We identified by array comparative genomic hybridization a 42 months-old girl homozygote for a 221 Kb interstitial deletions at 11p14.2, that overlaps the genes encoding Fibin and butyrobetaine-gamma 2-oxoglutarate dioxygenase 1 (BBOX1), an enzyme essential for the biosynthesis of carnitine de novo. She presented microcephaly, speech delay, growth retardation and minor facial anomalies. The levels of almost all evaluated metabolites were normal. Her serum level of free carnitine was at the lower limit of the reference range, while her acylcarnitine to free carnitine ratio was normal. CONCLUSIONS: We present an individual with a completely defective carnitine de novo biosynthesis. This condition results in mildly decreased free carnitine level, but not in clinical manifestations characteristic of carnitine deficiency disorders, suggesting that dietary carnitine intake and renal reabsorption are sufficient to carnitine homeostasis. Our results also demonstrate that haploinsufficiency of BBOX1 and/or Fibin is not associated with Primrose syndrome as previously suggested

The effect of Setarud (IMOD�) on angiogenesis in transplanted human ovarian tissue to nude mice

Background: One of the promising methods in fertility preservation among women with cancer is cryopreservation of ovarian cortex but there are many drawbacks such as apoptosis and considerable reduction of follicular density in the transplanted ovary. One solution to reduce ischemic damage is enhancing angiogenesis after transplantation of ovarian cortex tissue. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Setarud, on angiogenesis in transplanted human ovarian tissue. Materials and Methods: In this case control study, twenty four nude mice were implanted subcutaneously, with human ovarian tissues, from four women. The mice were randomly divided into two groups (n=12): the experimental group was treated with Setarud, while control group received only vehicle. Each group was divided into three subgroups (n=4) based on the graft recovery days post transplantation (PT). The transplanted fragments were removed on days 2, 7, and 30 PT and the expression of Angiopoietin-1, Angiopoietin-2, and Vascular endothelial growth factor at both gene and protein levels and vascular density were studied in the grafted ovarian tissues. Results: On the 2nd and 7th day PT, the level of Angiopoietin-1 gene expression in case group was significantly lower than that in control group, while the opposite results were obtained for Angiopoietin-2 and Vascular endothelial growth factor. These results were also confirmed at the protein level. The density of vessels in Setarud group elevated significantly on day 7 PT compared to pre-treatment state. Conclusion: Our results showed that administration of Setarud may stimulates angiogenesis in transplanted human ovarian tissues, although further researches are needed before a clear judgment is made. � 2015, Research and Clinical Center for Infertitlity. All rights reserved

Report of Psyllaephagus stenopsyllae (Hym.: Encyrtidae) from Iran

The Asiatic citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hom.: Psyllidae), is one of the most important pests on citrus in tropical and subtropical Asia. It was detected in Iran during the recent years and distributed in some parts of Hormozgan and Sistan-Baluchestan provinces. During the survey carried out to determine natural enemies of this psyllid, a nymphal parasitoid wasp was identified as Psyllaephagus stenopsyllae (Tachikawa). This is the first report of P. stenopsyllae in Iran. This species has previously been reported from Taiwan, China and Japan as a parasitoid of Stenopsylla nigricornis Kuwayama and Trioza zyzygii Li & Yong (Hom.: Psyllidae)

Study of the subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in southern Iran

A survey was conducted to study the fauna of the subfamily Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in southern Iranian provinces of Fars and Hormozgan. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps, light traps and sweep nets from a variety different habitats between 2011 and 2013. A total of twelve species of three genera (Enicospilus Stephens; Ophion Fabricius and Eremotylus Forster) were identified, of which the five species Enicospilus flavocephalus (Kirby), E. merdarius (Holmgren), E. monostigmata (Vollenhoven), E. ramidulus (L.) and Eremotylus sibiricus Szépligeti are newly recorded from Iran. This work raise the number of ophionines of Iran to 26 species and four genera. A key to the Iranian genera and species of Ophioninae is provided

An investigation on alfalfa aphids and their parasitoids in different parts of Iran, with a key to the parasitoids (Hemiptera: Aphididae; Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

In the current study some information is presented about the distribution and associations between alfalfa aphids and their parasitoids in different regions in 11 provinces of Iran, as well as an identification key to the parasitoids. The main aphids were Therioaphis trifolii maculata (Buckton) and Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) followed by Aphis craccivora Koch and Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji. The distribution pattern of these aphids showed a discrepancy in different regions. Therioaphis trifolii maculata was almost distributed in all studied areas, but A. craccivora mostly distributed in lower regions including the deserts of the east and central parts of Iran. Acyrthosiphon pisum and A. kondoi were mainly occurred in higher altitude regions.Trioxys complanatus Quilis and Praon exsoletum (Nees) were found to be specific parasitoids of T. trifolii maculata, and collected, with a few exceptions, in all studied regions. The species of Acyrthosiphon were mainly attacked by Aphidius ervi Haliday followed by A. smithi Sharma & Subba Rao and A. eadyi Starý, Gonzalez & Hall. Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the common parasitoid of A. craccivora, but Ephedrus persicae Froggatt locally found to show host specificity on this aphid. Praon volucre (Haliday) was occasionally found to attack A. pisum and A. craccivora, but the other parasitoids including Aphidius colemani Viereck, Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady and Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) were only reared from A. craccivora. Considering the occurrence of alfalfa aphids together with their parasitoids in almost all studied areas, it seems that more attention should be paid to the parasitoids of alfalfa aphids, especially the specific ones, along with other control methods in an integrated pest management programme

Study of the tribe Phaeogenini (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) in northern Iran, with two new genera and four new species records for the fauna of Iran

This survey was conducted as a taxonomic work on the species of the tribe Phaeogenini (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae)in North central Iran during March to November 2010 and 2011. Nine species belonging to six genera were identified, of which two genrea (i.e. Oronotus Wesmael, 1845 and Stenodontus Berthoumieu, 1897) and four species, Dicaelotus erythrostoma Wesmael, 1845, Dicaelotus pudibundus (Wesmael, 1845), Oronotus binotatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Stenodontus marginellus (Gravenhorst, 1829) are newly recorded from Iran. This work raises the number of Phaeogenini of Iran to 27 species and 13 genera. An updated list of the species in tribe Phaeogenini and detailed morphological characters of newly recorded species are also provided

Serum hyaluronic acid and laminin as potential tumor markers for upper gastrointestinal cancers

Background: Early diagnosis of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer is important because many cases are diagnosed in advanced stages and have poor prognosis. Several studies have reported increased serum levels of hyaluronic acid and laminin in various cancers and the correlation of the levels with poor prognosis. However, little data on the use of serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels for early detection of esophageal and gastric cancers are available. Methods: We assessed serum hyaluronic acid and laminin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 gastric cardia cancer, 23 gastric noncardia cancer and 20 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma incident cases and 25 controls in the Golestan Province, northern Iran, a high risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers. Results: Mean serum hyaluronic acid and laminin concentrations in cancer cases were higher than in controls in crude analyses. Significant correlations were observed between hyaluronic acid levels and gastric noncardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.390; P = 0.01) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Beta-coefficient = 0.332; P = 0.05) and between laminin levels and gastric cardia cancer (Beta-coefficient = 0.454; P = 0.003) in multivariate models. For esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cardia cancer, and gastric noncardia cancer, area under ROC curve (AUC) of hyaluronic acid was 0.708, 0.694, and 0.770, and of laminin was 0.706, 0.828, and 0.671. Conclusions: Our study suggests that hyaluronic acid and laminin may be used to identify potentially high-risk groups of upper gastrointestinal cancers for further diagnostic work-ups, particularly in high incidence areas. Nevertheless, further studies with larger sample size and tumor staging information are warranted to clarify the clinical significance of hyaluronic acid and laminin in those cancers. © 2011 European Federation of Internal Medicine