C. elegans ten-1 is synthetic lethal with mutations in cytoskeleton regulators, and enhances many axon guidance defective mutants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Teneurins are transmembrane proteins that assist morphogenetic processes in many organisms. <it>ten-1 </it>is the <it>C. elegans </it>teneurin homolog with two transcripts, <it>ten-1a </it>and <it>ten-1b</it>, that respectively encode a long (TEN-1L) and short (TEN-1S) form of the protein. We previously isolated a <it>C. elegans </it>mutant where one pharyngeal neuron was frequently misplaced, and now show that it corresponds to a novel allele of <it>ten-1</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The novel <it>ten-1(et5) </it>allele is a hypomorph since its post-embryonic phenotype is weaker than the null alleles <it>ten-1(ok641) </it>and <it>ten-1(tm651)</it>. <it>ten-1 </it>mutants have defects in all pharyngeal neurons that we examined, and in vivo reporters show that only the long form of the <it>ten-1 </it>gene is expressed in the pharynx, specifically in six marginal cells and the M2 neurons. Defects in the pharyngeal M2 neurons were enhanced when the <it>ten-1(ok641) </it>mutation was combined with mutations in the following genes: <it>mig-14</it>, <it>unc-5, unc-51, unc-52 </it>and <it>unc-129</it>. None of the body neurons examined show any defects in the <it>ten-1(ok641) </it>mutant, but genetic interaction studies reveal that <it>ten-1(ok641) </it>is synthetic lethal with <it>sax-3, unc-34 </it>and <it>unc-73</it>, and examination of the hypodermal cells in embryos of the <it>ten-1(ok641) </it>mutant point to a role of <it>ten-1 </it>during hypodermal cell morphogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results are consistent with <it>ten-1 </it>normally providing a function complementary to the cytoskeletal remodeling processes that occur in migrating cells or cells undergoing morphogenesis. It is possible that <it>ten-1 </it>influences the composition/distribution of extracellular matrix.</p

A social work study on detecting organizational and job related factors creating stress: A case study of hydro power employees

The study investigates different factors influencing people to have more stress in a hydropower unit located in city of Esfahan, Iran. Since there were only 81 people working for customer service section of this company and the proposed study tries to focus only on this part of the firm we have decided to distribute questionnaires among all of them. The questionnaire consists of two parts, in the first part, we gather all private information such as age, gender, education, job experience, etc. through seven important questions. In the second part of the survey, there are 66 questions, which include all the important factors influencing employees' stress. Cronbach alpha is calculated as 0.946, which is well above the minimum acceptable level. The results of our ANOVA tests shows that among different factors, difficulty of working condition as well as work pressure are two most important factors increasing stress among employees. The other findings indicate that there is not a significant difference on work stress among different groups of employees in terms of their job title, educational level, employment type and gender (P>0.05). The other finding indicates that there is a meaningful difference between different groups of people with various ages, marital status and job experience (P>0.05)

Gross hematuria as the presentation of an inguinoscrotal hernia: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Several complications have been reported with inguinal hernias. Although hematuria and flank pain, either as the presentation or as a complication of inguinal hernia, are infrequent, this condition may lead to the development of obstructive uropathy, which can have diverse manifestations.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 71-year-old Iranian man with Persian ethnicity presented with new onset episodes of gross hematuria and left-sided flank pain. A physical examination revealed a large and non-tender inguinal hernia on his left side. An initial workup included an abdominal ultrasound, an intravenous pyelogram and cystoscopy, which showed left hydronephrosis and a bulging on the left-side of his bladder wall. On further evaluation, computed tomography confirmed that his sigmoid colon was the source of the pressure effect on his bladder, resulting in hydroureteronephrosis and hematuria. No tumoral lesion was evident. Herniorrhaphy led to the resolution of his signs and symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our case illustrates a rare presentation of inguinal hernia responsible for gross hematuria and unilateral hydronephrosis. Urologic signs and symptoms can be caused by the content of inguinal hernias. They can also present as complications of inguinal hernias.</p

Molecular genetic analysis of mab-9 regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A comparative study for diagnosis of Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is a retrovirus that causes bovine enzootic leukemia (EBL). The routine method for the diagnosis of the infection is antibody screening tests. Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and ELISA are widely used for detection of the antibody against BLV. Amplification and detection of the proviral DNA by PCR is a powerful method for direct detection of the infection. However there are some limitations for routine use of this method in laboratory diagnosis of the disease and it requires further investigations. The objective of this study was to compare the results of a PCR assay with a commercial ELISA in detection of the bovine leukemia provirus and antibodies to this agent, in blood samples of dairy cows. The ELISA was assumed as reference test and the relative sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay was calculated by testing samples from 173 cows in suburb of Tabriz. Blood sample were taken and taken sera and DNA contents were harvested. Sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay in caparison to commercial ELISA were 100% and 98.6% respectively. The frequency of the presence of the targeted part of gag gene in PCR was 13.3% and the frequency of the seropositive reaction by commercial ELISA was 12.1%. The results showed that it is possible to use PCR as a laboratory diagnostic method for identification of the disease

The comparative effect of selenium nanoparticles and sodium selenite supplementation in transitional period on serum thyroxin level of neonatal lambs

The objective of the present study was to study the comparative effect of administering selenium nanoparticles and sodium selenite in pregnant ewes on the blood serum levels of thyroxin in newly born lambs. For this purpose, twenty, four-month pregnant ewes within the same age were used. During the 21 days leading up to birth, supplementation of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) with dosages of 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg B.W. were respectively fed to treatment groups 1 and 2. And supplementation with sodium selenite with dosage of 0.1 mg/kg B.W. was fed to treatment group 3. At the same time the control group was fed distilled water in equal volume. The ewes were monitored under accurate laboratory and clinical examination until the time of delivery. Neonatal lamb serum thyroxin level was measured at the day zero (birth day) and also at the 7th day. The results indicated that serum thyroxin level of neonatal lambs of treated groups 1 and 3, decreased significantly at 7 days' age in comparison to the birth day (p values less than 0.006 and 0.001, respectively). Results also showed that serum thyroxin level of group 2 offspring lambs on the day 0 was significantly less than that in group 1 (p=0.003). It was concluded that the physiological function of selenium nanoparticles was dose dependent, and the 0.05 mg/kg B.W. dosage of Se NPs induced similar effects like 0.1 mg/Kg B.W. of sodium selenite, which resulted in increasing serum level of thyroxin at the day of birth.  Conflict of interest: None declared

Impacts of fresh lime juice and peel on atherosclerosis progression in an animal model

BACKGROUND: The main protective role of antioxidants in the progression of atherosclerosis has been shown in some studies. Therefore, this project evaluated the effects of Citrus aurantifolia (Christm) juice and peel on antioxidant activity and atherosclerosis progression in rabbits receiving a hypercholesterolemic diet. METHODS: Forty white New Zealand male rabbits were randomly allocated to four groups. All groups were on hypercholesterolemic diet for two months. While the first group was considered as the hypercholesterolemic control, groups 2 and 3 (intervention groups) received 5 ml/day lime juice and 1 g/day dried lime peel powder, respectively. Group 4 was fed a normal diet (normal control). Before and after the study, weight was measured and a fasting blood specimen was taken from the rabbits. Serum lipids analyses and antioxidant activity evaluations were then performed. The rabbits&rsquo; aorta and coronary arteries were separated and the presence of fatty streaks was studied. RESULTS: Comparing to the hypercholesterolemic control group (-25.2 &plusmn; 7.0), only the plasma total antioxidant capacity change was significantly more in rabbits supplemented with lime juice (16.3 &plusmn; 14.7) and peel (8.6 &plusmn; 7.1) (P = 0.008). The presence of fatty streaks in coronary arteries and aorta of the intervention groups [juice (0.2 &plusmn; 0.01); peel (0.0 &plusmn; 0.00)] was significantly decreased compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group (1.2 &plusmn; 0.4) (P &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, Citrus aurantifolia peel and juice increase plasma antioxidant capacity in rabbits, and can thus prevent or decelerate the process of atherogenesis. However, lime peel is more effective than lime juice. &nbsp; Keywords: Animal, Atherosclerosis, Atherogenic Diet, Fatty Streak, Intervention, Lime &nbsp;&nbsp; Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA <!--[endif] --