Effects of iron concentration on the growth of green alga, Ankistrodesmus falcatus

Possible effects of various iron concentrations on the growth of green algae, Ankistrodesmus falcatus, were studied at Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center, in Bandar Anzali, Guilan Province. The algae was grown under laboratory conditions with a water temperature of 25±2°C and light intensity of 3500±350lux for 96 hours at 6 concentra­ tions of Fe in triplicates, using standard Zander culture medium (Z-8±N) as control. The amount of Fe absorption was measured using spectrophotometry at 750nm, and the number of algal cells at the beginning and final stages were counted, using Toma slide. Maximum growth of Ankistrodesmus falcatus was observed at Fe concentrations of 0.0005 g/l, when the concentration of the element in the control group (Z-8:tN) was O.00019g/l.It was shown that Fe concentrations higher or lower than O.0005g/l had negative effects on the algal growth

Renal hydatid cyst or a simple cyst? Report of a rare case

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection mainly caused by Echinococcus granulosus and is endemic in many parts of the world. Although hydatid disease can be found anywhere in the human body, the liver and lungs are the most commonly involved organs. Urinary tract involvement has been seen in about 2 - 4 of the cases; however, the isolated renal cyst is extremely rare. Here, we report a 5-year-old boy with an isolated huge renal hydatid cyst with no scolices or hooklets in aspirated fluid mimicking a simple renal cyst. The clinicians and radiologists should consider hydatid disease in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions found in any part of the body especially in endemic countries since earlier diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment. © 2018, Author(s)

Investigation on propagation of Sparidentex hasta (sobaity) in spawning tanks and rearing of larvae up to fingerling

In order to achieve biotechnic normative of Sobaity Sparidentex hasta propagation and its fries rearing, 96 brood stocks were caught by using hook from Bandar Imam and Mahshahr creeks. For natural spawning, at first stage some selected broodstocks (sex ratio 2:1 & 1:1 male to female) were directly introduced to spawning tanks. In this method eggs were absorbed and spawning was not occured. For artificial spawning (natural spawning with hormone injection): At second stage for males, in one step, 40 g kg-1 and 200 Iu kg-1 body weight and for females, in two steps, 75 g kg-1 and 500 Iu kg-1 LRHa & HCG hormones were injected. After introducing broodstocks to 40- tone oval tanks, spawning occurred only in female and also some injected broodstocks were spawned artificially and all obtained larvae died after four days. At third stage 6 g kg-1 and 1000 Iu kg-1 body weight of PG and HCG hormones were injected to broodstock respectively. HCG hormone injected in two steps (1/2 dose each stop in 24 hours duration). Metoclopramide was used at the first step and PG hormone injected with second step of HCG coincidentally. In this method spawning, fertilization and fry production occurred. The results indicated that sobaity, with hormone injection is able to spawn at 12-19 c (which is available in Khouzestan in March). The time of hatching was 42-50 hours, absorption of larvae Yolk sac 96-120 hours. The size of one- day- larvae was 1.4- 1.7mm and 65-day- fry was 24mm

Reduction of some atherogenic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver by Vitamin D and calcium co-supplementation: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial

The role of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a potential independent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor has recently gained considerable attention because CVD is the common cause of death in NAFLD patients. We aimed to estimate the effects of vitamin D supplementation alone or in combination with calcium on atherogenic indices, liver function tests, and grade of disease in patients with NAFLD. One-hundred twenty NAFLD patients were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial as follows: D (1000 IU vitamin D), CaD (500 mg as calcium carbonate plus 1000 IU vitamin D) or P (placebo), once daily with meals over 12 weeks. Adjusted for all the baseline measures, reduction in serum ALT, AST, LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C were significantly higher in the CaD compared with the P group (p < 0.001, p = 0.03, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Also, mean difference of serum ALT, LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C were significantly higher in the CaD than D group (p < 0.001, p = 0.006, p < 0.001 and p = 0.03, respectively). Serum non-HDL-C was marginally decreased in the CaD compared with the D group (p = 0.06). With considering the BMI changes as covariate, reduction in the grade of fatty liver was significantly higher in the CaD and D groups than the P (p < 0.001). The present study suggests that supplemental calcium combined with vitamin D, but not vitamin D alone, may reduce serum atherogenic indices, liver function tests, and grade of disease in patients with NAFLD. © 2019, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. All rights reserved

Feasibility on cage culture of the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

The present study was carried out to evaluate the possibility of rearing the orange-spotted grouper (E. coioides) juvenile to marketable size in buoyant cages in Khuzestan province coast waters. Juvenile fishes for the study prepared from Bandar-e-Imam Marine Fish Station and reared them in 5-ton fiber glass tank for one year period using common pellet feed and trash fish to reach 50 g mean weight. Young fishes were stocked in 6 rectangular cages (3×3×3 m) to assess their growth performance with two test feeds i.e. pellet feed and trash fish (3 cages for each treatment) with the density of 30 fish /m^3 (810 fish/cage) for 143 days rearing period (started on July). Better growth with significant difference (p0.05). Results also showed that the FCR for the trash fish was acceptable, and hence it is recommended to consider the trash fish price and its labour cost befor using it as the main diet in cage culture activity

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden

Quantum Dots: A Review from Concept to Clinic

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor materials that have gained great interest due to their unique characteristics like optical properties. They are extensively being used in different areas, including solar cells, light-emitting diodes, laser technology, as well as biological and biomedical applications. In this review, comprehensive information about different aspects of QDs is provided, including their types and classifications, synthesis approaches, in vitro and in vivo toxicity, biological applications, and potentials in clinical applications. With a focus on the biological aspects, the respective in vitro and in vivo studies are collected and presented. Various surface modifications on QDs are discussed as directly influencing their properties like toxicity and optical abilities. Given the promising results, these materials are clinically used for targeted molecular therapy and imaging. However, there are a large number of questions that should be addressed before the wide application of QDs in a clinical setting. Regarding the existing barriers to QDs, suggestions are given and discussed to present an appropriate route for the clinical use of these materials. © 2020 Wiley-VCH Gmb

Tehran environmental and neurodevelopmental disorders (TEND) cohort study: Phase I, feasibility assessment

Purpose: To advance knowledge about childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and study their environmental determinants, we conducted a study in Tehran, Iran to assess the feasibility of prospective birth cohort study. Methods: We evaluated participation of pregnant women, feasibility of sampling biological material, and health care services availability in Tehran in four steps: (1) first trimester of pregnancy; (2) third trimester of pregnancy; (3) at delivery; and (4) two to three months after delivery. We collected related data through questionnaires, also various biological samples were obtained from mothers (blood, urine, milk and nails�hands and feet) and newborns (umbilical cord blood, meconium, and urine samples) from February 2016 to October 2017. Results: overall 838 eligible pregnant women were approached. The participation rate was 206(25) in our study and about 185(90) of subjects were recruited in hospitals. Out of 206 participants in the first trimester, blood, urine, hand nail, and foot nail samples were collected from 206(100),193(93), 205(99), and 205(99), respectively. These values dropped to 65(54), 83(69), 84(70), and 84(70) for the remaining participants 120(58) in the third trimester, respectively. Also, we gathered milk samples from 125(60) of mothers at two to three months after delivery. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that hospitals were better places for recruitment of subjects in a birth cohort in Tehran. We further concluded that birth cohort study recruitment can be improved by choosing appropriate gestational ages. Obtaining the newborn�s urine, meconium, and umbilical cord blood were challenging procedures and require good collaboration between hospital staff and researchers. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG