Solvent effect on 14N NMR shielding of glycine, serine, leucine, and threonine: comparison between chemical shifts and energy versus dielectric constant

The polarizable continuum model (PCM) is employed to describe the system in the condensed phase. The performance of DFT and PCM in describing high order nonlinear mixed electric and magnetic effects in condensed phase are described. In this paper we consider the effect of 10 solvents with a wide range of dielectric constants on 4 amino acids. NMR shielding values (ppm), isotropic and anisotropic effects, energy interaction between solute and solvent, and the effect of hydrogen bond on shielding are described. Direct and indirect solvent effects on shielding are also calculated. The observed solvent-induced shielding variation is more strongly related to the intensity of the solvent reaction field rather than on the change of molecular geometry induced by the solvent. KEY WORDS: Solvent effect, 14N NMR shielding, Solvent-induced shielding, Polarizable continuum model, Amino acids   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2007, 21(1), 111-116

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practice of Urban and rural households toward iron deficiency anemia in three provinces of Iran

Background: Lack of nutritional knowledge is one of the most important reasons of nutritional problems and consequently improper practice, which can lead to several complications. This study has been designed in order to compare knowledge, attitude and practices of the urban and rural households regarding iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in Boushehr, Golestan and Sistan & Balouchestan provinces in 2004. Methods: The sampling method at household's level in each province was the single-stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The necessary data were gathered with a structured questionnaire and via the interviews between the questioners and the eligible people in each household. Comparison of frequency of variables between urban and rural areas were tested by chi square test. Results: A total of 2306 households were selected as overall sample size. In urban areas, people recognized iron food sources better than rural areas. Knowledge level of respondents about vulnerable group for IDA and the favorite attitude of households toward IDA were better in urban areas of Sistan & Blouchestan and Golestan provinces. In Sistan & Balouchestan and Golestan, rural households who drank tea immediately before or after meal was more than urban ones. The majority of pregnant and lactating mothers (except for rural areas of Bushehr) did not take iron supplement regularly. Less than 60 percent of children used iron drop regularly. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of households toward IDA were not acceptable. One of the best ways of improving nutritional practice is nutritional education with focus on applying available food resources

Does Glycine Betaine and Salicylic Acid Ameliorate the Negative Effect of Drought on Wheat by Regulating Osmotic Adjustment through Solutes Accumulation?

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effect of foliar application of glycine betaine (10mM), grain presoaking in salicylic acid (0.05 M) and their interaction on drought tolerance of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (sensitive, Sakha 94 and resistant, Sakha 93). Osmotic pressure, some osmolytes concentration and grain yield were determined. Water stress caused an increase in osmotic pressure, proline, total soluble nitrogen, total soluble sugars, organic acids, ions (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2 and Cl-) content as well as Na+/K+ ratio in cell sap flag leaves of both wheat cultivars. The resistant variety had higher values of osmotic pressure, proline, organic acids and ions content than the sensitive one. On the other hand, water stress induced marked decrease (P<0.05) in grain yield. The applied chemicals mitigated the effect of water stress on the used wheat cultivars. The effect was more pronounced with glycine betaine + salicylic acid treatment. The applied chemicals increased the osmotic pressure, the osmolytes concentrations as well as the grain yield. Furthermore, the osmotic pressure of flag leaf sap appeared to depend on proline, TSN, TSS, organic acids and the ions content. The economic yield (grain yield) was positively correlated with proline, keto-acids and osmotic pressure but negatively correlated with TSN, TSS and citric acid

Construction of an Array of Photonic Crystal Films for Visual Differentiation of Water/Ethanol Mixtures

A photonic crystal film (PCF) which consists of a porous layered structure with a highly ordered periodic arrangement of nanopores has been used to differentiate between various mixtures of water and ethanol (EtOH). The refractive index difference between the wall (silica) of the empty nanopore and air which occupies it results in the structural color of the PCF. This color disappears when the nanopores are infiltrated by a liquid with a similar refractive index to silica (or silicon dioxide). The disappearance of the structural color provides a means to construct a colorimetric sensor to differentiate between various water/EtOH mixtures based on their wettability of the nanopores in the PCF. In this study, an array of silica-based PCFs was synthesized on a silicon substrate with a precise control of nanopore properties using the co-assembly/sedimentation method. Using this method, we benefitted from having different PCFs on a single substrate. Chemical coatings, neck angles, and film thicknesses on each PCF were the three factors used to adjust the wettability of the pores. Nanopore wetting by water/EtOH mixtures was studied in a systematic manner based on the three factors, and the findings were used to develop a sensor for visual differentiation of various water/EtOH mixtures. The final developed sensor consisting of an array of six PCFs was able to differentiate between seven different water/EtOH mixtures: W10, W20, W30, W40, W50, W60, and W70, in which W10 means 10% of water in EtOH

A Comparison between Recombinant Activated Factor VII (Aryoseven) and Novoseven in Patients with Congenital Factor VII Deficiency

In order to establish the efficacy and biosimilar nature of AryoSeven to NovoSeven in the treatment of congenital factor VII (FVII) deficiency, patients received either agent at 30 1/4g/kg, intravenously per week for 4 weeks, in a randomized fashion. The primary aim was to compare FVII:coagulation activity (FVII:C), 20 minutes after recombinant activated FVII (rFVIIa) injection, in the 2 groups. A secondary measure was self-reported bleeding. The median interquartile baseline range of the plasma level of activated FVII (FVIIa) activity in the 2 groups was 1.6 (1.1-14.0) IU/dL and 5.0 (1.1-25.5) IU/dL. All patients achieved levels of FVIIa (FVII:C) >30 IU/dL, 20 minutes after the injection of rFVIIa. Bleeding was similar between the 2 groups, with a comparable decrease in severity and frequency compared to the last month prior to treatment. AryoSeven is similar to NovoSeven in increasing postinjection FVIIa activity as well as in clinical safety and efficacy. © The Author(s) 2014

Polymorphism of Pro12Ala in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 2 gene in Iranian diabetic and obese subjects

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 2 (PPAR2) is a nuclear receptor that regulates adipocyte differentiation, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the Pro12Ala single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the PPAR2 gene and type II diabetes (T2DM) and obesity in an Iranian population. Methods: The genomic DNA of the 312 subjects included four groups: (1) nonobese with type II diabetes, (2) obese without type II diabetes, (3) obese with type II diabetes, and (4) nondiabetic nonobese controls. The Pro12Ala polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: Frequencies of the Ala allele in obese subjects were significantly different from those control subjects (odds ratio [OR], 2.358; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.101-5.05) (P = 0.025). In contrast, no significant association was detected between the Pro12Ala polymorphism and type II diabetes (OR, 0.652; 95% CI, 0.261-1.628). In all subjects, the Ala carriers had a higher body mass index (BMI) compared with the common allele. Conclusions: Our results showed that the Pro12Ala polymorphism in the PPAR2 gene is associated with obesity in Iranian subjects and the presence of the Ala allele could predict higher BMI. © 2009 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

Glycine betaine and salicylic acid induced modification in productivity of two different cultivars of wheat grown under water stress

A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effect of foliar application of glycine betaine (10mM), grain presoaking in salicylic acid (0.05 M) and their interaction on drought tolerance of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (sensitive, Sakha 94 and resistant, Sakha 93). Water stress decreased wheat yield components (spike length, number of spikelets / main spike, 100 kernel weight, grain number / spike, grain yield / spike, grain yield / plant, straw yield / plant, crop yield / plant, harvest, mobilization and crop indices) and the biochemical aspects of grains(grain biomass, carbohydrates, total protein, total phosphorus, ions content and amino acids) in both wheat cultivars. The applied chemicals appeared to alleviate the negative effects of water stress on wheat productivity (particularly the sensitive one) and the biochemical aspects of yielded grains. The effect was more pronounced with GB+SA treatment. This improvement would result from the repairing effect of the provided chemicals on growth and metabolism of wheat plants grown under water deficit condition. In response to the applied water stress and the used chemicals, the grain yield of the sensitive and resistant wheat cultivars was strongly correlated with all the estimated yield components (shoot length, spike length, plant height, main spike weight, number of spikelets per main spike, 100 kernel weight, grain number per spike, grain weight per plant, straw weight per plant, crop yield per plant, harvest, mobilization and crop indices)

Reference values for lipid profile in Iranian children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-V study

Background: We aimed to develop the age- A nd sex-specific reference values for lipid profile of Iranian pediatric population. Methods: Fasting lipid profiles of 3843 participants, aged 7 to 18 years, were extracted from a surveillance survey on Iranian children and adolescents living in 30 provinces across the country. Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 12.3(3.1) years, and 52.3 of them were boys. Significant differences were observed between genders comparing the levels of triglyceride (TG) (P = 0.04), total cholesterol (TC) (P = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.01), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) (P = 0.03). In both genders, TG levels increased with age in the 75th and higher percentiles. Among boys, TC showed a decreasing trend at all percentiles and all age groups. In girls, TC levels increased with age at all percentiles except for the 75th and 90th percentiles. Among boys, the levels of LDL-C and HDL-C decreased with age in all percentiles. However, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations increased up to the 50th percentile in girls and then decreased with age. The non-HDL-C level decreased in the 50th and higher percentiles among boys and in the 90th and 95th percentiles among girls. The TG/HDL-C ratio increased with age at all percentiles in boys. In girls, TG/HDL-C ratio increased with age in the 50th and higher percentiles. Conclusions: Based on the observed differences, it seems necessary to determine age- A nd sex-specific cut-off values for lipid parameters of children and adolescents in different populations. © 2020 The Author(s)