Association Between PGC-1Alpha Gene Polymorphisms and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: A Case-Control Study of an Iranian Population

Objective: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1 alpha) gene could play a role in the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to explore the possible associations among polymorphisms Gly482Ser, Thr394Thr and Thr528Thr of the PGC-1 alpha gene and the risk of type 2 diabetes in Kurdish-Iranians. Methods: DNA specimens from all 173 type 2 diabetes subjects and 173 normoglycemic subjects were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Genotypic and allelic frequencies were analyzed in each group. Serum lipids, fasting glucose, fasting serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and glycated hemoglobin levels were determined using the conventional methods. The data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The GA genotype of Gly482Ser was associated with a significant susceptibility for type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 5.23, p<0.000). Furthermore, the GA genotype of Thr528Thr had a higher risk for type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 2.37, p<0.002). Normoglycemic persons carrying the GA+AA genotypes of Gly482Ser variation had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison with persons having GG genotype. In comparison with GG genotype carriers, normoglycemic subjects carrying the GA+AA genotypes of Thr394Thr variation had significantly higher fasting blood sugar, fasting serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Normoglycemic subjects with the GA+AA genotypes of Thr528Thr variation had significantly higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with subjects having the GG genotype. Type 2 diabetes subjects carrying the GA+AA genotypes of this polymorphism had significantly higher waist-hip ratio in comparison with the GG genotype carriers. We also found that haplotype 394-GG/482-GA/528-GG of PGC-1 alpha was significantly associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Our findings revealed significant associations between PGC-1alpha Gly482Ser and Thr528Thr polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes in Kurdish-Iranians. (C) 2015 Canadian Diabetes Associatio

Lingulodinium machaerophorum expansion over the last centuries in the Caspian Sea reflects global warming

This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.We analysed dinoflagellate cyst assemblages in four short sediment cores, two of them dated by radionuclides, taken in the south basin of the Caspian Sea. The interpretation of the four sequences is supported by a collection of 27 lagoonal or marine surface sediment samples. A sharp increase in the biomass of the dinocyst occurs after 1967, especially owing to Lingulodinium machaerophorum. Considering nine other cores covering parts or the whole of Holocene, this species started to develop in the Caspian Sea only during the last three millennia. By analysing instrumental data and collating existing reconstructions of sea level changes over the last few millennia, we show that the main forcing of the increase of L. machaerophorum percentages and of the recent dinocyst abundance is global climate change, especially sea surface temperature increase. Sea level fluctuations likely have a minor impact. We argue that the Caspian Sea has entered the Anthropocene

Comparison of the effects of acupressure and touch on the headache caused by spinal anesthesia after cesarean section

Introduction: Post-Dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the common complications of spinal anesthesia, especially after cesarean section. It is better to treat this headache by non-pharmaceutical methods. One of the non-pharmaceutical pain control methods is the use of acupressure. But so far, its impact on headache after spinal anesthesia has not been studied. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of acupressure and touch on headache caused by spinal anesthesia after cesarean section. Methods: This randomized clinical trial with control group was conducted on 90 patients who underwent cesarean section by spinal anesthesia in Semnan Amir AlMomenin (A) Hospital in 2015. These patients were randomly divided into acupressure, touch and control groups. Pain severity was measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Then, changes of pain severity pre and post intervention was measured and recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests, Kruskal-Wallis test, ANOVA and paired t-test. P0.05). After the intervention, there was a statistically significant decrease in mean pain score in acupressure and touch groups in comparison with control group (P<0.001). Also, after intervention, there was a statistically significant decrease in mean of headache scores in the acupressure group compared with touch group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Comparing with touch, acupressure was more effective for headache-relieving after spinal anesthesia in women undergoing cesarean section. Therefore, it is suggested that acupressure along with other conventional treatments be used to control and treat such headaches. © 2016, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All Rights Reserved

On a New Three-Step Class of Methods and Its Acceleration for Nonlinear Equations

A class of derivative-free methods without memory for approximating a simple zero of a nonlinear equation is presented. The proposed class uses four function evaluations per iteration with convergence order eight. Therefore, it is an optimal three-step scheme without memory based on Kung-Traub conjecture. Moreover, the proposed class has an accelerator parameter with the property that it can increase the convergence rate from eight to twelve without any new functional evaluations. Thus, we construct a with memory method that increases considerably efficiency index from 81/4≈1.681 to 121/4≈1.861. Illustrations are also included to support the underlying theory

Effect of the sexual education program on the knowledge and attitude of preschoolers� mothers

Introduction: Sexual instinct needs education and training similar to other aspects of the human life. Education can promote changes in knowledge and attitudes of parents, especially mothers. Education has a main role in teaching healthy sexual behaviours among pre-school age children. Aim: To investigate the effect of the sexual education program on the knowledge and attitude of preschoolers� mothers. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was consucted in two healthcare centers in an urban area of Iran. Study subjects were preschoolers� mothers, which were selected using a multistage method. For each control and experiment groups, 39 individuals each were selected. The experiment group participated in four educational sessions in four weeks, one session per week. A self-administered questionnaire was developed for data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Statistically significant differences in the mean score of knowledge and attitude between the groups immediately and eight weeks after the education program were reported (p < 0.001). The mean score of knowledge was increased from 27.23 to 34.2 immediately and to 37.44 eight weeks after the education program. The mean score of attitude in the experiment group significantly was increased from 48.54 to 59.15 immediately and to 64.49 eight weeks after the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The sexual education program influenced the knowledge and attitude of preschoolers� mothers. Therefore, mothers should be empowered regarding children�s sexual education. © 2018, Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. All rights reserved

Survey of Farmers Market Managers in California: Food Safety Perspectives

We conducted a survey to characterize certified California farmers markets (FMs) regarding location, seasonality, size, product, product labeling, advertising methods, postharvest practices, regulations governing vendors, training offered, and training interests. Data obtained from the survey highlight the need for improvement regarding food safety and can serve as a basis for development of collaborative education by Extension educators, regulatory agencies, and FMs. Extension professionals can play a proactive role in such training opportunities, focusing outreach efforts for training according to applicable findings and including online training venues to maximize reach to stakeholders

Effect of the exercise programme on the quality of life of prostate cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial

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Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues

Aging, often considered a result of random cellular damage, can be accurately estimated using DNA methylation profiles, the foundation of pan-tissue epigenetic clocks. Here, we demonstrate the development of universal pan-mammalian clocks, using 11,754 methylation arrays from our Mammalian Methylation Consortium, which encompass 59 tissue types across 185 mammalian species. These predictive models estimate mammalian tissue age with high accuracy (r > 0.96). Age deviations correlate with human mortality risk, mouse somatotropic axis mutations and caloric restriction. We identified specific cytosines with methylation levels that change with age across numerous species. These sites, highly enriched in polycomb repressive complex 2-binding locations, are near genes implicated in mammalian development, cancer, obesity and longevity. Our findings offer new evidence suggesting that aging is evolutionarily conserved and intertwined with developmental processes across all mammals

A lexicographical dynamic flow model for relief operations

Emergency management is a highly relevant area of interest in operations research. Currently the area is undergoing widespread development. Furthermore, recent disasters have highlighted the importance of disaster management, in order to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable people and save lives. In this context, the problem of designing plans for the distribution of humanitarian aid according to the preferences of the decision maker is crucial. In this paper, a lexicographical dynamic flow model to solve this problem is presented, extending a previously introduced static flow model. The new model is validated in a realistic case study and a computational study is performed to compare both models, showing how they can be coordinated to improve their overall performance

DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats

This work was supported by a Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group grant to S.H., the University of Maryland, College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences to G.S.W., an Irish Research Council Consolidator Laureate Award to E.C.T., a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/T021985/1) to S.C.V. and a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada to P.A.F. S.C.V. and P.D. were supported by a Max Planck Research Group awarded to S.C.V. by the Max Planck Gesellschaft, and S.C.V. and E.Z.L. were supported by a Human Frontiers Science Program Grant (RGP0058/2016) awarded to S.C.V. L.J.G. was supported by an NSERC PGS-D scholarship.Exceptionally long-lived species, including many bats, rarely show overt signs of aging, making it difficult to determine why species differ in lifespan. Here, we use DNA methylation (DNAm) profiles from 712 known-age bats, representing 26 species, to identify epigenetic changes associated with age and longevity. We demonstrate that DNAm accurately predicts chronological age. Across species, longevity is negatively associated with the rate of DNAm change at age-associated sites. Furthermore, analysis of several bat genomes reveals that hypermethylated age- and longevity-associated sites are disproportionately located in promoter regions of key transcription factors (TF) and enriched for histone and chromatin features associated with transcriptional regulation. Predicted TF binding site motifs and enrichment analyses indicate that age-related methylation change is influenced by developmental processes, while longevity-related DNAm change is associated with innate immunity or tumorigenesis genes, suggesting that bat longevity results from augmented immune response and cancer suppression.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe