Assessment of Microbiological Contamination of Branded and Street Vended Ice-Cream: A Comparative Study in Tangail Municipality, Bangladesh

Ice cream is a popular dessert consumed by people of all ages, and its consumption can pose a risk of exposure to various microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Assessment of the microbiological contamination status of branded and street-vended ice cream is crucial to ensure the public health safety. To identify potential sources of contamination, evaluate the effectiveness of the hygiene practices different microbiological and physicochemical analysis was done. Microbial analysis revealed that total viable bacteria in branded ice-cream ranged from 4.8×103 to 1.10×105 cfu/ml and in street vended ice-cream ranged from 7.5×104 to 1.6×108 cfu/ml. Total coliform bacteria present upto 9.20×103 cfu/ml in branded ice-cream and 5.3×103 to 9.6×106 cfu/ml observed in street vended ice-cream. In case of specific pathogen most of the samples contaminated with E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were found to be present in branded samples up to 104 cfu/ml and 106 cfu/ml on street samples. The pH of both type of ice-cream showed acidic to neutral condition. The range of Total soluble solids in several branded ice-creams were 26 to 29% and the value of TSS obtained in street vended ice-creams were ranging from 5 to 10%. These results indicated that, the microbial quality in all street ice-creams exceeded the BSTI standard and exhibited the lower quality than the industrially produced branded ice-creams due to comparatively faulty manufacturing process and poor hygiene practice

Niche matters : The comparison between bone marrow stem cells and endometrial stem cells and stromal fibroblasts reveal distinct migration and cytokine profiles in response to inflammatory stimulus

Objective Intrinsic inflammatory characteristics play a pivotal role in stem cell recruitment and homing through migration where the subsequent change in niche has been shown to alter these characteristics. The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs) have been demonstrated to migrate to the endometrium contributing to the stem cell reservoir and regeneration of endometrial tissue. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare the inflammation-driven migration and cytokine secretion profile of human bmMSCs to endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) and endometrial fibroblasts (eSFs). Materials and methods The bmMSCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirates through culturing, whereas eMSCs and eSFs were FACS-isolated. All cell types were tested for their surface marker, proliferation profiles and migration properties towards serum and inflammatory attractants. The cytokine/chemokine secretion profile of 35 targets was analysed in each cell type at basal level along with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced state. Results Both stem cell types, bmMSCs and eMSCs, presented with similar stem cell surface marker profiles as well as possessed high proliferation and migration potential compared to eSFs. In multiplex assays, the secretion of 16 cytokine targets was detected and LPS stimulation expanded the cytokine secretion pattern by triggering the secretion of several targets. The bmMSCs exhibited higher cytokine secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A, stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF)-1 alpha, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), IL-6, interferon-gamma inducible protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1 alpha and RANTES compared to eMSCs and/or eSFs after stimulation with LPS. The basal IL-8 secretion was higher in both endometrial cell types compared to bmMSCs. Conclusion Our results highlight that similar to bmMSCs, the eMSCs possess high migration activity while the differentiation process towards stromal fibroblasts seemed to result in loss of stem cell surface markers, minimal migration activity and a subtler cytokine profile likely contributing to normal endometrial functionPeer reviewe

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome present with altered endometrial expression of stanniocalcin-1

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a pro-survival factor that protects tissues against stressors, such as hypoxia and inflammation. STC-1 is co-expressed with the endometrial receptivity markers, and recently endometrial STC-1 was reported to be dysregulated in endometriosis, a condition linked with endometrial progesterone resistance and inflammation. These features are also common in the endometrium in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women. Given that women with PCOS present with subfertility, pregnancy complications, and increased risk for endometrial cancer, we investigated endometrial STC-1 expression in affected women. Endometrial biopsy samples were obtained from women with PCOS and controls, including samples from overweight/obese women with PCOS before and after a 3-month lifestyle intervention. A total of 98 PCOS and 85 control samples were used in immunohistochemistry, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, or in vitro cell culture. STC-1 expression was analyzed at different cycle phases and in endometrial stromal cells (eSCs) after steroid hormone exposure. The eSCs were also challenged with 8-bromo-cAMP and hypoxia for STC-1 expression. The findings indicate that STC-1 expression is not steroid hormone mediated although secretory-phase STC-1 expression was blunted in PCOS. Lower expression seems to be related to attenuated STC-1 response to stressors in PCOS eSCs, shown as downregulation of protein kinase A activity. The 3-month lifestyle intervention did not restore STC-1 expression in PCOS endometrium. More studies are warranted to further elucidate the mechanisms behind the altered endometrial STC-1 expression and rescue mechanism in the PCOS endometrium. Summary sentence Endometrial expression of STC-1 in the secretory phase is blunted in women with PCOS, suggesting impaired protection against stress.Peer reviewe

Low Expression of Stanniocalcin 1 (STC-1) Protein Is Associated With Poor Clinicopathologic Features of Endometrial Cancer

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a glycoprotein hormone involved in diverse biological processes, including regulation of calcium phosphate homeostasis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress responses, and cancer development. The role of STC-1 in endometrial cancer (EC) is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the protein expression pattern of STC-1 in a tissue microarray (TMA) cohort of hysterectomy specimens from 832 patients with EC. We then evaluated the prognostic value of STC-1 expression regarding the clinicopathologic features and patients survival over a period of 140 months. Our results revealed that in EC tissue samples, STC-1 is mainly localized in the endometrial epithelium, although some expression was also observed in the stroma. Decreased STC-1 expression was associated with factors relating to a worse prognosis, such as grade 3 endometrioid tumors (p = 0.030), deep myometrial invasion (p = 0.003), lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.050), and large tumor size (p = 0.001). Moreover, STC-1 expression was decreased in tumors obtained from obese women (p = 0.014) and in women with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2; p = 0.001). Interestingly, the data also showed an association between DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and weak STC-1 expression, specifically in the endometrial epithelium (p = 0.048). No association was observed between STC-1 expression and disease-specific survival. As STC-1 expression was particularly low in cases with obesity and DMT2 in the TMA cohort, we also evaluated the correlation between metformin use and STC-1 expression in an additional EC cohort that only included women with DMT2 (n = 111). The analysis showed no difference in STC-1 expression in either the epithelium or the stroma in women undergoing metformin therapy compared to metformin non-users. Overall, our data may suggest a favorable role for STC-1 in EC behavior; however, further studies are required to elucidate the detailed mechanism and possible applications to cancer treatment.</p

The endometrium in disease:studies on endometrial stem cells, polycystic ovary syndrome, and stanniocalcin-1

Abstract The human endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus, has a unique regenerative capacity to secure an optimal environment for embryo implantation. Any alterations in endometrial cell signaling may lead to suboptimal endometrial milieu and function, evident in gynecological disorders such as irregular menstruation, endometriosis, endometrial cancer (EC), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Indeed, a main target for the study, the PCOS endometrium, displays several endometrial aberrations involving disrupted steroid hormone regulation, metabolic dysfunction, and inflammation. Accordingly, endometrial cell populations, including endometrial stromal cells (eSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs), were investigated for their properties related to endometrial regeneration. These populations were compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bmMSCs), previously suggested to be involved in endometrial regeneration. Next, the steroid hormone-induced transcriptome profile of eSCs from women with PCOS (eSCPCOS) was assessed. Finally, the expression of stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), a pro-survival factor, was explored in women with PCOS or EC. The studies revealed high proliferation and migration potential for bmMSCs and eMSCs, supporting their role in endometrial renewal. Moreover, a subtler cytokine profile in the endometrial cells compared to bmMSCs indicated immune tolerance, possibly facilitating embryo implantation. The transcriptome data of eSCPCOS indicated impaired function, as an altered expression of genes involved in progesterone action, metabolism, mitochondrial function, and inflammation was noted. Importantly, this alteration was present even without androgen exposure, although androgen exposure promoted the differences even further compared to a non-PCOS control (eSCCtrl). Hypoxia-induced STC-1 response in eSCPCOS was also tested, and blunted STC-1 expression was noted, indicating a diseased endometrium. Finally, the protective role of STC-1 was reinforced by the finding that high STC-1 expression is associated with favorable clinicopathological features in EC cases. The findings emphasize the favorable properties of bmMSCs and eMSCs for endometrial renewal. Moreover, eSCPCOS present with an altered gene expression profile and hypoxia-induced STC-1 expression that may contribute to a diseased endometrium in PCOS. Finally, high STC-1 expression is associated with a more beneficial EC profile.Tiivistelmä Kohdun limakalvo, endometrium, omaa ainutlaatuisen uudistumiskyvyn ja sen päätehtävä on tarjota alkiolle optimaalinen kiinnittymisympäristö. Kohdun säätelytekijöiden häiriintyminen voi johtaa poikkeavaan limakalvon toimintaan, joka on havaittu useiden gynekologisten tilojen kuten epäsäännöllisten kuukautisten, enodmetrioosin, kohdunrungon syövän (EC) ja monirakkulaisen munasarjaoireyhtymän (PCOS) yhteydessä. Tämän tutkimuksen yhtenä kohteena oli PCOS-naisten endometrium, jonka steroidihormonisäätelyssä, aineenvaihdunnassa ja tulehdustilassa on jo aiemmin havaittu poikkeavuuksia. Aiemmat tutkimukset huomioiden, väitöskirjan tarkoituksena oli tutkia endometriumin solupopulaatioita — stroomasoluja (eSC) ja mesenkymaalisia kantasoluja (eMSC) — ja erityisesti niiden endometriumin uusiutumiskykyyn liittyviä ominaisuuksia. Vertasimme em. soluja luuytimen mesenkymaalisiin kantasoluihin (bmMSC), joiden on myös ehdotettu osallistuvan endometriumin uusiutumiseen. Tutkimuksissa kiinnitimme erityistä huomiota solujen tulehdusprofiiliin, sillä tulehdustekijöiden on ajateltu olevan keskeisiä endometriumin uusiutumisessa. Tutkimme myös steroidihormonien vaikutusta geenien ilmentymiseen PCOS-naisten eSC-soluissa (eSCPCOS) verraten tuloksia soluihin, joilla ei ole todettu oireyhtymää. Selvitimme myös, miten solujen selviytymistä tukeva tekijä, stanniokalsiini-1 (STC-1), ilmenee eSCPCOS-soluissa sekä kohtusyöpäkudoksessa. Tutkimuksemme osoittivat bmMSC- ja eMSC-solujen omaavan lisääntyneen kasvu- ja liikkumispotentiaalin, mikä tukee näiden merkitystä endometriumin uusiutumisessa. Kohdun limakalvon solujen hillitympi tulehdusprofiili bmMSC-soluihin verrattuna viittaa suurempaan immunotoleranssiin, mikä edistänee alkion kiinnittymistä. Geenien ilmentymisprofiili osoitti, että eSCPCOS-solujen steroidihormonivaste on poikkeava, sillä havaitsimme keltarauhashormonivaikutukseen, aineenvaihduntaan, mitokondrioiden toimintaan ja tulehdukseen liittyviä muutoksia. Olennaista on, että muutokset havaittiin myös ilman miessukuhormonialtistusta, vaikkakin altistus vahvisti eroja entisestään. Testasimme myös hypoksiassa indusoituvan STC-1:n ilmentymistä ja havaitsimme sen olevan heikentynyt eSCPCOS-soluissa, viitaten PCOS-solujen poikkeavaan toimintaan. STC-1:n suojaavaa vaikutusta tuki myös havainto, jonka mukaan STC-1:n suurempi ilmentyminen on yhteydessä kohtusyövän suotuisampaan kliiniseen kuvaan. Tulokset korostavat bmMSC- ja eMSC-solujen merkitystä endometriumin uusiutumisessa. Geenien ilmenemisprofiili vaikuttaa olevan poikkeava eSCPCOS-soluissa, erityisesti STC-1:n ilmentymistä ajatellen. Korkea STC-1-ilmentyminen liittynee paremman ennusteen profiiliin kohtusyövässä

Determinants of foreign direct investment in Iran: assessing the standard factors

This paper examines the determinants of foreign direct investment(FDI) of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on those of Malaysia that have been successful in attracting FDI since the early 1980s. The model adopted was based on a previous study on FDI determinants in Malaysia. Results of multiple regression analysis to determine whether FDI determinants in Iran are of the same significance as they are for Malaysia showed that none of the determinants under the study (economic growth, growth of export, exchange rate and balance of payment), except for government expenditure, is significant in affecting the flow of FDI in the case of Iran. On the basis of these results, the conclusion is drawn that these typical determinants fail to reflect the case of Iran. The study argues that one needs to look at Iran from a different perspective of FDI as the country is an outlier in the global economy owing to international sanctions

Low Expression of Stanniocalcin 1 (STC-1) Protein Is Associated With Poor Clinicopathologic Features of Endometrial Cancer

Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Khatun, Urpilainen, Ahtikoski, Arffman, Pasanen, Puistola, Tapanainen, Andersson, Butzow, Loukovaara and Piltonen.Stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) is a glycoprotein hormone involved in diverse biological processes, including regulation of calcium phosphate homeostasis, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress responses, and cancer development. The role of STC-1 in endometrial cancer (EC) is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the protein expression pattern of STC-1 in a tissue microarray (TMA) cohort of hysterectomy specimens from 832 patients with EC. We then evaluated the prognostic value of STC-1 expression regarding the clinicopathologic features and patients survival over a period of 140 months. Our results revealed that in EC tissue samples, STC-1 is mainly localized in the endometrial epithelium, although some expression was also observed in the stroma. Decreased STC-1 expression was associated with factors relating to a worse prognosis, such as grade 3 endometrioid tumors (p = 0.030), deep myometrial invasion (p = 0.003), lymphovascular space invasion (p = 0.050), and large tumor size (p = 0.001). Moreover, STC-1 expression was decreased in tumors obtained from obese women (p = 0.014) and in women with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2; p = 0.001). Interestingly, the data also showed an association between DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency and weak STC-1 expression, specifically in the endometrial epithelium (p = 0.048). No association was observed between STC-1 expression and disease-specific survival. As STC-1 expression was particularly low in cases with obesity and DMT2 in the TMA cohort, we also evaluated the correlation between metformin use and STC-1 expression in an additional EC cohort that only included women with DMT2 (n = 111). The analysis showed no difference in STC-1 expression in either the epithelium or the stroma in women undergoing metformin therapy compared to metformin non-users. Overall, our data may suggest a favorable role for STC-1 in EC behavior; however, further studies are required to elucidate the detailed mechanism and possible applications to cancer treatment.Peer reviewe

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Possible Approach for Exploring the Pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent endocrine condition among women with pleiotropic sequelae possessing reproductive, metabolic, and psychological characteristics. Although the exact origin of PCOS is elusive, it is known to be a complex multigenic disorder with a genetic, epigenetic, and environmental background. However, the pathogenesis of PCOS, and the role of genetic variants in increasing the risk of the condition, are still unknown due to the lack of an appropriate study model. Since the debut of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, the ability of reprogrammed somatic cells to self-renew and their potential for multidirectional differentiation have made them excellent tools to study different disease mechanisms. Recently, researchers have succeeded in establishing human in vitro PCOS disease models utilizing iPSC lines from heterogeneous PCOS patient groups (iPSCPCOS). The current review sets out to summarize, for the first time, our current knowledge of the implications and challenges of iPSC technology in comprehending PCOS pathogenesis and tissue-specific disease mechanisms. Additionally, we suggest that the analysis of polygenic risk prediction based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) could, theoretically, be utilized when creating iPSC lines as an additional research tool to identify women who are genetically susceptible to PCOS. Taken together, iPSCPCOS may provide a new paradigm for the exploration of PCOS tissue-specific disease mechanisms.Peer reviewe