Evaluation of dietary supplements of Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria and Agaricus bisporus mushroom powder on skin mucus immune indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to silver nano-particles

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplements of Pediococcus acidilactici bacteria and Agaricus bisporus mushroom powder separate and combined (combined supplement) on the skin mucosal immune indices of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in exposure to silver nano-particles. For this purpose, 180 fish with mean weight 29.6±0.4 g were fed in four treatments: bacteria (1 g/kg of diet), mushroom powder (10 g/kg of diet), combined bacteria and mushroom powder (1 and 10 g/kg of bacteria and mushroom) supplements and control (nutritionally non-supplemented) treatments and each treatment with 3 replicate (15 fish per replicate) for 60 days. After the end of the feeding period, the fish were exposed to sub-acute concentration of nano-silver (1 mg/l) for 14 days. Sampling of skin mucosa was performed to evaluate the immune-related parameters on days 1, 7 and 14 (5 sampling per replicate). Results showed that activity of lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase enzymes, soluble protein and total immunoglobulin in diets containing dietary supplements had a significant difference in nano exposed groups with control treatments (p<0.05) and had the highest amount on day 14. Also, although the control treatment had a 14-days incremental trend, it had the lowest levels than dietary supplement treatments. Combined food supplements, bacteria and mushroom powder showed the highest effects on mucosal immune parameters in exposure to nano-silver respectively

Fourth lumbar vertebral parameters in predicting the gender, height and age in Iranian population

Introduction: Lumbar vertebral dimensions can be considered as a criterion to diagnose unidentified individuals with severe burning or corpses. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender, age, and height using the parameters of fourth lumbar vertebral (L4). Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 106 volunteers. Lumbar diameters of L4 were measured in the two sagittal and horizontal sections by three-dimensional CT scan with reconstruction and volume rendering. The measured parameters were Upper end plate depts (EPD); Upper end plate widths (EPW); Anterior height of vertebral body (VBH); Foramen diameter (depts.) (FDS); Foramen diameter (widths) (FDC); Pedicle height (PH); Pedicle widths (PW); Articular process height (APH); Maximum distance between (ADM); Transverse process distance (TDM); Spinal process height (SPH); Spinal process lengths (SPL); and Vertebral lengths (VL). These parameters were compared. The relationship of each parameter was evaluated with age, height and gender. Results: Totally, the mean parameters of L4 was higher in men compared to women, but this difference was not significant in FDS, APHI, and SPL. In the study of the correlation of diameters with age, only EPD and SPL parameters were significant, but in the linear regression model to predict age, only the FDS index showed a significant relationship. All parameters except APHS, APHI, SPL, and VL showed a significant and positive correlation with height. But in the linear regression model to predict height, only a significant relationship was reported for EPD. Conclusion: It was shown that the parameters of the fourth lumbar vertebra can be helpful to determine the age, height, and gender. © 2021 The Author