Effect of Harvesting Time on Content and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae)

Stachys L. one of the biggest genus of the Lamiaceae family comprises about 200-300 species.  In this research, aerial parts essential oil composition and content of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae)at different stages (vegetative, full flowering and initial fruiting stages) is reported. The oils obtained by water distillation method (Clevenger apparatus) and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The results showed that the essential oils of S. lavandulifolia were affected by plant growth stages. The chemical composition varied in three harvesting times. It was found that the maximum obtained essential oil was in the flowering stage. Totally, 31 constituents with the range of 0.10 – 34.11% in the vegetative, 27 constituents with the range of 0.06 – 36.35% in the flowering stage and 27 compounds with the range of 0.06 – 37.2% in the initial fruiting stages were identified. The highest compounds were related to the vegetative stage (34 compounds) that representing 63.74% of oil.  In this study, the highest amount of essential oil constituents in the vegetative stage belonged to germacren D (34.11%), n-decane (3.84%) and caryophyllene oxide (2.62%), in the flowering stage, germacren D (36.87%), borneol (4.3%), cis-thujone (4.24%), bicyclogermacrene (4.16%) & n-decane (3.88%) and in the stage of initial fruiting, germacren D (37.2%), borneol (4.76%), b-caryophyllene (4.20%), cis-thujone (4.16%) & bicyclogermacrene (3.99%)

Comparison of Serum Zinc Levels between Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Individuals

Background and objectives: Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. Zinc is a neuroactive element released in synapses during neuronal activity and is required for proper functioning of the nervous system, particularly the brain. Serum and tissue concentrations of zinc may reflect various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Evidence suggests a link between zinc level and development of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to compare serum zinc levels between patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 55 patients (37 men and 18 women) with schizophrenia who were hospitalized in 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan (Iran) and 55 healthy individuals. The case subjects were selected based on convenience sampling method using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), while the control subjects were enrolled based on the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). The groups were matched in terms of age and gender. Serum concentration of zinc was measured using a commercial colorimetric assay kit (5-Br-PAPS method). Results: Serum zinc concentration did not differ significantly between the patients and the controls (P=0.93). In schizophrenic patients, there was a significant, negative correlation between age and serum zinc concentration (r=-0.298, P=0.027). In both patients and controls, serum zinc level was significantly higher in men than in women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results, it is recommended to pay more attention to the diet of patients with schizophrenia

Investigating the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy on the difficulty of emotional regulation in breast cancer patients

Background: Research has shown that emotional regulation difficulties and nervous pressure can worsen and delay breast cancer in patients. Based on studies, treatment based on acceptance and commitment can be effective in managing this disorder. However, there is a lack of research on the use of this treatment for emotional regulation disorders within the studied population. Aims: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the Efficacy of psychological education of imago therapy and treatment based on acceptance and commitment on dyadic perspective-taking of couples applying for divorce. Methods: Methods: This study utilized a semi-experimental design that included a pre-test, post-test, control group, and a 3-month follow-up period. All women between the ages of 30 and 50, who were diagnosed with breast cancer and visited the breast cancer clinic at Motahari Hospital in Shiraz during the first four months of 2022 were considered as the statistical population. Using the available sampling method, 50 individuals were selected and divided into two equal groups: the test and control groups, each with 25 individuals. The experimental group underwent eight weekly 90-minute group sessions of acceptance and commitment therapy based on Hayes and Strossahl's (2010) program for emotional regulation. The control group received no intervention. Data was collected using Gertz and Romer's (2004) emotional regulation questionnaire and was analyzed using the statistical analysis of variance with repeated measurements in SPSS software, version 24. Results: The results show a significant difference in emotional regulation difficulty between the experimental and control groups due to the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment treatment is effective in treating breast cancer and improving women's quality of life. Educational programs focused on this approach help women manage their emotions

Postpartum Depression in Women with Normal Delivery and Cesarean Section Referring to Sayad Shirazi Hospital of Gorgan , Iran

Background and objectives: During the postpartum period, mothers may experience physical and emotional changes. Postpartum Depression (PPD) may affect 10-15% of all women after delivery. In some studies, the type of delivery has been considered as a risk factor for postpartum depression. The present study was designed to investigate and compare the frequency of postpartum depression in women with normal and cesarean delivery. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 300 women referring to the Sayad Shirazi Hospital. First the Women who had Beck depression inventory score>12 were excluded and then the participants were divided into two equal groups of normal (150) and cesarean (150) delivery. Two weeks after delivery, Beck depression inventory was filled out and data analysis was performed by SPSS software V.16 using, chi-square and Mann-Whitney test. Results: Results showed that 13% of all participants 12.7% of the cases in normal and 13.3% in cesarean groups had postpartum depression. The severity of depression was higher in women with cesarean delivery compared to normal delivery and this difference was significant (mean rank 172.29 vs. 128.71, p<0.0001). There was no significant difference in the level of depression between two groups according to their age, job, parity, baby’s sex, marital satisfaction and wanted/unwanted pregnancy. Conclusion: The prevalence of postpartum depression was higher in women with caesarian delivery compared to women with normal deliver

Multiple-target tracking in human and machine vision.

Humans are able to track multiple objects at any given time in their daily activities-for example, we can drive a car while monitoring obstacles, pedestrians, and other vehicles. Several past studies have examined how humans track targets simultaneously and what underlying behavioral and neural mechanisms they use. At the same time, computer-vision researchers have proposed different algorithms to track multiple targets automatically. These algorithms are useful for video surveillance, team-sport analysis, video analysis, video summarization, and human-computer interaction. Although there are several efficient biologically inspired algorithms in artificial intelligence, the human multiple-target tracking (MTT) ability is rarely imitated in computer-vision algorithms. In this paper, we review MTT studies in neuroscience and biologically inspired MTT methods in computer vision and discuss the ways in which they can be seen as complementary

Histopathological study on neuroapoptotic alterations induced by etomidate in rat hippocampus

This paper considers the perceptions and responses of selected stakeholders to a very low probability but high consequence climatic ‘surprise’—a scenario of rapid collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet, producing a global rise in sea-level of 5 m over 100 years. It uses a case study of the Thames Estuary, UK, including London. Through a process of dialogue involving one-to-one interviews and a 1-day policy exercise, we addressed influences on decision-making when information is uncertain and our ability to plan, prepare for and implement effective ways of coping with this extreme scenario. The interviews and policy exercise explored plausible responses to the scenario and identified weaknesses in flood management approaches to dealing with such an occurrence. The analysis shows that an extreme scenario could be highly challenging, even for an area with well-developed institutions. Participants favoured two options (a) reconfiguring London around the rising water, and (b) building a new downstream barrier which would allow London to continue as today. The lack of consensus suggests the potential for policy paralysis in response to what is a highly uncertain phenomena—this could lead to a forced, unplanned response as the rapid change overwhelmed the existing defence capability. Hence, low probability, high consequence climatic events may challenge our existing institutions. Adaptive management is presented as an approach which could address this challenge

Regulation of the VHL/HIF-1 Pathway by DJ-1

DJ-1 (PARK7) is a gene linked to autosomal recessive Parkinson disease (PD). We showed previously that DJ-1 loss sensitizes neurons in models of PD and stroke. However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this protective role are not completely clear. Here, we identify Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) protein as a critical DJ-1-interacting protein. We provide evidence that DJ-1 negatively regulates VHL ubiquitination activity of the α-subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α) by inhibiting HIF-VHL interaction. Consistent with this observation, DJ-1 deficiency leads to lowered HIF-1α levels in models of both hypoxia and oxidative stress, two stresses known to stabilize HIF-1α. We also demonstrate that HIF-1α accumulation rescues DJ-1-deficient neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced toxicity. Interestingly, lymphoblast cells extracted from DJ-1-related PD patients show impaired HIF-1α stabilization when compared with normal individuals, indicating that the DJ-1-VHL link may also be relevant to a human context. Together, our findings delineate a model by which DJ-1 mediates neuronal survival by regulation of the VHL-HIF-1α pathway

PFTK1 kinase regulates axogenesis during development via RhoA activation

Abstract Background PFTK1/Eip63E is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) family and plays an important role in normal cell cycle progression. Eip63E expresses primarily in postnatal and adult nervous system in Drosophila melanogaster but its role in CNS development remains unknown. We sought to understand the function of Eip63E in the CNS by studying the fly ventral nerve cord during development. Results Our results demonstrate that Eip63E regulates axogenesis in neurons and its deficiency leads to neuronal defects. Functional interaction studies performed using the same system identify an interaction between Eip63E and the small GTPase Rho1. Furthermore, deficiency of Eip63E homolog in mice, PFTK1, in a newly generated PFTK1 knockout mice results in increased axonal outgrowth confirming that the developmental defects observed in the fly model are due to defects in axogenesis. Importantly, RhoA phosphorylation and activity are affected by PFTK1 in primary neuronal cultures. We report that GDP-bound inactive RhoA is a substrate of PFTK1 and PFTK1 phosphorylation is required for RhoA activity. Conclusions In conclusion, our work establishes an unreported neuronal role of PFTK1 in axon development mediated by phosphorylation and activation of GDP-bound RhoA. The results presented add to our understanding of the role of Cdks in the maintenance of RhoA-mediated axon growth and its impact on CNS development and axonal regeneration