Role of orexin-1 receptors in the dorsal hippocampus (CA1 region) in expression and extinction of the morphine-induced conditioned place preference in the rats

Abstract Orexinergic system is involved in reward processing and drug addiction. Objectives here, we investigated the effect of intra-hippocampal CA1 administration of orexin-1 receptor (OX1r) antagonist on the expression, and extinction of morphine-induced place preference in rats. Conditioned place preference (CPP) was induced by subcutaneous injection of morphine (5 mg/kg) during a 3-day conditioning phase. Two experimental plots were designed; SB334867 as a selective OX1r antagonist was dissolved in 12% DMSO, prepared in solutions with different concentrations (3, 30, and 300 nM), and microinjected into the CA1 and some neighboring regions (0.5 μl/side), bilaterally. CPP score and locomotor activity were recorded during the CPP test. Results demonstrated that intra-CA1 administration of the OX1r antagonist attenuates the expression of morphine-induced CPP. Furthermore, higher concentrations of SB334867 facilitated the extinction period of morphine-induced CPP and reduced its latency. Nevertheless, solely administration of DMSO did not have any influence on the CPP scores and locomotion in both phases. Our findings suggest that OX1rs in the CA1 region of the hippocampus are involved in the expression of morphine CPP. Moreover, blockade of OX1rs could facilitate extinction and may extinguish the ability of drug-related cues. It seems that the antagonist might be considered as a propitious therapeutic agent in suppressing drug-seeking behaviors. Keywords Reward Orexin-1 receptor Dorsal hippocampus (CA1) Extinction Morphine Conditioned place preference Ra

Daphnia pulex through physical and chemical factors

Regarding the key role and importance of Daphnia in aquaculture, particularly for survival and adaptation of fishes in larval stages, a comprehensive study on hatching rate of Daphnia ephippial eggs was implemented to obtain an optimum technique. The effects of abiotic factors was investigated on the hatching response of Daphnia pulex diapausing eggs collected from live food ponds in Cultivation and Breeding Centre of Gorgan. After isolation, the eggs were kept in dry and wet conditions at 4°C for 2 months in darkness. Following the preincubation period, the eggs in each group were subdivided into 2 parts and treated with 1% NaOCl and distilled water. The effect of temperature levels (15 C, 20 C, 25 C) and photoperiod levels (12L: 12D, 24L: 0D) were identified on the hatching of eggs in AdaM medium during 15 days. Results indicated that the exposure of wet-kept eggs to 12-hour photoperiod and 25 C without soaking in 1% NaOCl, caused the maximum rate and speed of hatching

Drought stress mitigation using supplemental irrigation in rainfed chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties in Kermanshah, Iran

An experiment was carried out in 2007 to investigate the effects of different irrigation regimes, and chickpea cultivars on chickpea production in the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Iran. The experimental design was split-plot with three replications. Supplemental irrigation at three levels, that is, control treatment (without irrigation) (I0), one time irrigation at 50% flowering stage (I1) and one time irrigation at pod-filling stage(I2), was allocated to main plots and the varieties ILC-482 (V1), Hashem (V2) and Arman (V3) were allotted to sub plots. A significant difference was observed between irrigation treatments in terms of grain yield, plantheight, number of axillary branches, distance to the first pod from soil surface, number of grain per plant, number of pod per plant, biological yield, harvest index and 100-grain weight. Such differences were also observed between testing varieties in terms of all traits rather than 100-grain weight. Grain yield was significantly higher for Arman than that of Hashem which was significantly higher than that of ILC-482. Of course, there was no significant difference between Hashem and ILC-482 in terms of grain yield. Arman had the highest values of the number of grain per plant and the highest pod per plant pertained to Arman and Hashem, respectively. High rate of grain yield in irrigation treatment at podfillingstage was associated with yield components, especially with the number of pod per plant and 100-grain weight. Grain yield was positively correlated with number of pod per plant (r = 0.654**), number of grain per plant (r = 0.902**) and 100-grain weight (r = 0.707**). This research showed that podfilling is the most sensitive stage to drought stress, and under water limitation conditions, we can considerably increase grain yield at this stage by one time irrigation, especially for Arman cultivar

Antioxidant properties of sodium acetate, sodium citrate and sodium lactate on lipid oxidation in rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) sticks during refrigerated storage (4˚C)

This study was carried out to investigate the rate of lipid oxidation in fresh rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) and in the sticks treated by (2.5% w/v) sodium acetate (NaA), sodium citrate (NaC) and sodium lactate (NaL). The pH value, free fatty acid (FFA), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and sensory evaluation (odor, flavor and color) were determined on 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days of storage. The results showed that TBA and FFA in control were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P<0.05). Sticks immersed in NaA indicated a significant difference in formation of free fatty acids in comparison with other sodium salt-treated samples on 9 and 12 days after storage. Sticks dipped in NaL had a maximum level of pH at the end of the storage, whereas samples treated by NaA achieved significantly the lowest value of pH, 9 days after storage. Organoleptic assessments of the samples expressed more acceptability of sticks immersed in sodium salt solutions than the control after 3 days of storage. These indicated that sodium salts, particularly sodium acetate, have antioxidant properties

Orexin 1 receptors in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex regulate cost and benefit decision-making

Abstract Orexin neurons are discretely localized within the lateral hypothalamus and have widespread projections into all areas of the brain. In addition, several lines of evidence specify that orexins may also participate in the regulation of a variety of affective and cognitive processes. The Orexin-1 receptor (OX1r) is distributed extensively throughout the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Delay-based decision- making is mediated largely by the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) while effort- based decision-making is controlled by the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC). Hence, in the present study, a series of experiments were conducted to clarify the role of OX1r in the mPFC (ACC and/or OFC) in cost and benefit decision-making. The rats were trained in a delay and/or effort-based form of cost-benefit T-maze decision-making task. Two goal arms were different in the amount of accessible reward and cost. Before surgery, all animals were selecting the high reward arm and pay the cost on almost every trial. During the test days, the rats received local injections of either DMSO 20% /0.5 μl, as a vehicle, or SB334867 (3, 30 and 300 nM/0.5 μl), as a selective OX1r antagonist, within the ACC and/or OFC. The results of this study showed that the bilateral microinjection of SB334867 into ACC and/or OFC changed the preference to a low reward arm with no cost, indicating the role of OX1 receptors in cost and benefit decision- making. From these results, it can be implied that OX1 receptors in the mPFC play a crucial role for allowing the animal to evaluate and pay the cost to acquire greater rewards. Keywords Delay-based decision-making Effort-based decision-making Orexin Orbitofrontal cortex Anterior cingulate cortex Ra

The effects of different concentrations of probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisia on growth performance and survival rate of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), fry and resistance against salinity

In the present study, a yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisia var. elipsoidous, acting as probiotic, was administered to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum, 1792) fry during a period of 21 days and the effects of the yeast on improvement of growth and resistance against environmental stress were evaluated with respect to fish fed on yeast free feed (control group). The control treatment consisted of a standard commercial diet, and the treatments consisted of the control diet supplemented with 0, 1, 5 and 10% yeast (w/w). The results demonstrate the beneficial effects of probiotics on the characteristics of rainbow trout, as the Specific Growth Ratio (SGR), body weight gain (%BWG) and protein conversion ratio (PER) in 5% yeast-fed fish were significantly (P&lt;0.05) enhanced by probiotic administration. On the contrary, no effect on the fry growth performance, mortality, condition factor (CF), food conversion ratio (FCR) and histological assessment was shown. A significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in lipid content of the carcass was detected in diets with probiotic compareD to 0% and the control treatments. Ash and protein contents of the carcass increased and decreased with an increase in yeast amount, respectively. Challenge with different levels of salinity (10 and 15 ppt) after 24 h revealed 100% survival in treatments containing yeast as probiotic, and difference with control group was significant (p&lt;0.05) indicating that S. cerevisia could enhance the resistance against salinity stress. Addition of yeast in concentration of 5% to the diet is recommended during the early period of rainbow trout fry farming to achieve the best results on growth performance and feed efficiency.Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisia var. elipsoidous, Oncorhynchus mykiss, probiotic, survival and growth rate, carcass qualityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(10), pp. 1160-1168, 5 March, 201

Participatory women’s groups and counseling through home visits to improve child growth in rural eastern India: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

Background: Childhood stunting (low height-for-age) is a marker of chronic undernutrition and predicts children’s subsequent physical and cognitive development. An estimated 52 million children in India are stunted. There is a broad consensus on determinants of child undernutrition and interventions to address it, but a lack of operational research testing strategies to increase the coverage of these interventions in high burden areas. Our study aims to assess the impact, costeffectiveness, and scalability of a community intervention involving a government-proposed community-based worker to improve growth in children under two

Economic evaluation of participatory learning and action with women's groups facilitated by Accredited Social Health Activists to improve birth outcomes in rural eastern India

BACKGROUND: Neonatal mortality remains unacceptably high in many low and middle-income countries, including India. A community mobilisation intervention using participatory learning and action with women’s groups facilitated by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) was conducted to improve maternal and newborn health. The intervention was evaluated through a cluster-randomised controlled trial conducted in Jharkhand and Odisha, eastern India. This aims to assess the cost-effectiveness this intervention. METHODS: Costs were estimated from the provider’s perspective and calculated separately for the women’s group intervention and for activities to strengthen Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHNSC) conducted in all trial areas. Costs were estimated at 2017 prices and converted to US dollar (USD). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated with respect to a do-nothing alternative and compared with the WHO thresholds for cost-effective interventions. ICERs were calculated for cases of neonatal mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. RESULTS: The incremental cost of the intervention was USD 83 per averted DALY (USD 99 inclusive of VHSNC strengthening costs), and the incremental cost per newborn death averted was USD 2545 (USD 3046 inclusive of VHSNC strengthening costs). The intervention was highly cost-effective according to WHO threshold, as the cost per life year saved or DALY averted was less than India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The robustness of the findings to assumptions was tested using a series of one-way sensitivity analyses. The sensitivity analysis does not change the conclusion that the intervention is highly cost-effective. CONCLUSION: Participatory learning and action with women’s groups facilitated by ASHAs was highly cost-effective to reduce neonatal mortality in rural settings with low literacy levels and high neonatal mortality rates. This approach could effectively complement facility-based care in India and can be scaled up in comparable high mortality settings

The "ComPAS Trial" combined treatment model for acute malnutrition: study protocol for the economic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Acute malnutrition is currently divided into severe (SAM) and moderate (MAM) based on level of wasting. SAM and MAM currently have separate treatment protocols and products, managed by separate international agencies. For SAM, the dose of treatment is allocated by the child's weight. A combined and simplified protocol for SAM and MAM, with a standardised dose of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), is being trialled for non-inferior recovery rates and may be more cost-effective than the current standard protocols for treating SAM and MAM. METHOD: This is the protocol for the economic evaluation of the ComPAS trial, a cluster-randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial that compares a novel combined protocol for treating uncomplicated acute malnutrition compared to the current standard protocol in South Sudan and Kenya. We will calculate the total economic costs of both protocols from a societal perspective, using accounting data, interviews and survey questionnaires. The incremental cost of implementing the combined protocol will be estimated, and all costs and outcomes will be presented as a cost-consequence analysis. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio will be calculated for primary and secondary outcome, if statistically significant. DISCUSSION: We hypothesise that implementing the combined protocol will be cost-effective due to streamlined logistics at clinic level, reduced length of treatment, especially for MAM, and reduced dosages of RUTF. The findings of this economic evaluation will be important for policymakers, especially given the hypothesised non-inferiority of the main health outcomes. The publication of this protocol aims to improve rigour of conduct and transparency of data collection and analysis. It is also intended to promote inclusion of economic evaluation in other nutrition intervention studies, especially for MAM, and improve comparability with other studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 30393230 , date: 16/03/2017

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Costs of Patients With a Diagnosis of Or Suspected of Coronavirus Disease in Iran

Objectives: To understand the social and individual effects of the disease and make decisions on the allocation of health resources, it is necessary to understand the economic burden of coronavirus disease (COVID-19); however, there are limited data in this field. This study aimed to estimate diagnostic and therapeutic costs of patients with a diagnosis of or suspected of COVID-19 disease admitted to hospitals in northeast Iran. Methods: This descriptive and analytical research was conducted as a retrospective study using the data collected from 2980 patients admitted to 30 hospitals from February to April 2020 in Iran. For data collection, an appropriate data capture tool was designed to record detailed resource use. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the association between the treatment costs and sociodemographic, disease severity, and underlying diseases. Data were analyzed using Excel 2017 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) and SPSS version 21 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: The inpatient costs per patient were Int$416, of which 74% were paid by social health insurance systems, 19% by the government, and 7% by the patients. The largest cost components were hoteling (37%) and medicine (36%). The 4 subscales of age, sex, underlying disease, and severity predicted 48.6% of the cost variance. Conclusion: Understanding the economic consequences of diseases can help policymakers to make plans to reduce out-of-pocket payments and make plans for funding. Since COVID-19 is a newly emerging disease and there is no definitive cure for the disease, the discovery of an effective medicine may alter medical costs and reduce the hospital length of stay, therefore significantly reducing treatment costs