Simultaneous Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate in Milk Samples by Ion Chromatography Method and Estimation of Dietary Intake

The presence of nitrate and nitrite in foods may be considered hazardous after ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract due to their reaction with naturally occurred secondary amines to form potentially carcinogenic nitrosamines. Due to this fact, a new method was developed in this study for the simultaneous determination of nitrite and nitrate in milk samples using by ion chromatography. Proposed mobile phase composed of sodium hydrogen carbonate and sodium carbonate (1.0 and 3.2 mmol/L) with a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min. The average recoveries for nitrate and nitrite were higher than 86 and 88, respectively. The limit of detection for nitrate and nitrite were 0.24 and 0.09 mg/L, respectively. The results of 102 real milk samples showed nitrate was found in all of the samples (100) with a mean of 34 ± 11 mg/L, while nitrite was found in none of the samples. The mean intake of nitrate in all age groups was lower than World Health Organization guideline. The present assessment concludes that the maximum contaminant level was equal to 82.8 mg/L nitrate. This method was fast, sensitive and accurate and is capable of being an alternative method in food control laboratories for investigation of nitrite and nitrate content. This is the first study of the determination and survey of nitrite and nitrate and exposure assessment of the Iranian population to nitrite and nitrate level in milk, which was widely used in infants and adolescents as one of the basic food components. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Investigation on genetic structure of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) populations of the north (Volga River) and south Caspian Sea (coasts of Iran and Turkmenistan) using microsatellite techniques

A total of 28 specimens of adult Russian sturgeon brood fish from the Volga River (Astrakhan, Russia) and 42 specimens from the south Caspian Sea (coastline of Iran and Turkmenistan) were collected. About 2g of fin tissue was stored in 96% ethyl alcohol and transferred to the genetic laboratory of the International Sturgeon Research Institute. Genomic DNA was extracted using phenol-chloroform method. The quality and quantity of DNA was assessed by Agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted using eight pairs of microsatellite primers and its products were electrophoresed using 6% polyacrylamide gel followed by silver nitrate staining. Allele sizes were measured in all populations, then genetic parameters were calculated using Gen Alex program and the phylogenetic relationship was determined and drawn using TFPGA program. A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 21 alleles were identified per locus and the observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.50-0.96 and the expected heterozygosity was 0.74-0.90 with an average of 0.68. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed at Ls-19, Ls-39 loci, but showed disequilibrium in other loci. FST index between Volga and South Caspian Sea samples was 0.031. The genetic similarity and distance was 0.661 and 0.414, respectively. Results of the present investigation indicate that there are no significant differences between the south Caspian Sea Russian sturgeon specimens

Identification de génotypes-S chez les descendances d’amandiers par les méthodes NEPHGE et PCR

Almond (P. amygdalus Batsch) shows a gametophytic self-incompatibility system controlled by a multiallelic locus, known as the locus S. Self-compatibility has been related to Sf allele presence and this trait has become a priority in the main almond breeding programs and the search for new cultivars is focused on the evaluation of desirable traits in autogamous seedlings. Traditionally, self-compatibility has been assessed in almond by laborious and time consuming methods, such as determination of fruit set in bagged branches or microscopic observation of pollen tube growth after self-pollination in laboratory conditions. Recently, molecular methods have been developed to assess the S-genotype, such as the identification of stylar S-RNases by NEPHGE (non equilibrium pH gradient electro focusing) and the use of conserved and specific PCR primers for the amplification of fragments from the different S alleles. In this research we applied these molecular methods for the S-genotype assessment in two almond breeding progenies, from the crosses of the self-compatible elite selection 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) of the CITA, as female parent, with two self-incompatible cultivars, 'Desmayo Largueta' (S1S25) and 'Marcona' (S11S12), as male parents. Although no discrepancies were found between the two methods, PCR was more suitable than NEPHGE for S-genotype assessment. PCR is easier to optimize, cheaper, more precise and reliable. It is also possible to assess the genotype sooner than with NEPHGE, as flowers are not required for the determination, allowing an earlier elimination of the seedlings. In the 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) x 'Marcona' (S11S12) progeny, the ratio of genotypes was 42% S11S12 and 58% SfS12, approaching the Mendelian laws of transmission in spite of the slightly higher proportion of self-compatible seedlings. In the other family, 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) x 'Desmayo Largueta' (S1S25), four S-genotypes are possible, but the ratios obtained were 21% S1S11, 53% S1Sf, 0% S11S25, and 26% SfS25. These results showed that pollen carrying the S25 allele had only a 26% fertilization success as compared to 73 of pollen carrying the S1 allele. The absence of S11S25 seedlings may imply the expression of a homozygous lethal trait in these zygotes and the distortion of the Mendelian ratiosL’amandier (P. amygdalus Batsch) montre un système d’auto-incompatibilité gamétophytique contrôlé par un locus multiallélique, connu comme locus S. L’auto-compatibilité a été reliée à la présence de l’allèle Sf et cette caractéristique est devenue une priorité pour les principaux programmes d’amélioration de l’amandier, et ainsi la recherche de nouveaux cultivars se focalise sur l’évaluation des caractères désirables pour les plants autogames. Traditionnellement, l’auto-compatibilité a été évaluée chez les amandiers par des méthodes laborieuses et prenant beaucoup de temps, telles que la détermination de la nouaison pour les branches ensachées ou l’observation microscopique de la croissance des tubes de pollen après auto-pollinisation en conditions de laboratoire. Récemment, des méthodes moléculaires ont été développées pour évaluer le génotype-S, telles que l’identification de S-RNases stylaires par NEPHGE (non equilibrium pH gradient electro-focusing) et l’utilisation d’amorces PCR conservées et spécifiques pour l’amplification de fragments provenant de différents allèles-S. Pour cette recherche nous avons appliqué ces méthodes moléculaires pour l’évaluation du génotype-S chez les descendances améliorées de deux amandiers, à partir des croisements d’une sélection d’élite auto-compatible 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) du CITA, comme parent femelle, avec deux cultivars auto-incompatibles, 'Desmayo Largueta' (S1S25) et 'Marcona' (S11S12), comme parents mâles. Bien que l’on n’ait pas trouvé de divergences entre les deux méthodes, la PCR était plus adéquate que NEPHGE pour l’évaluation du génotype-S. La PCR est plus facile à optimiser, moins onéreuse, plus précise et fiable. Il est également possible d’évaluer le génotype plus tôt qu’avec NEPHGE, étant donné qu’il n’est pas nécessaire d’obtenir des fleurs pour la détermination, permettant ainsi une élimination précoce des plants. Dans la descendance de 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) 'Marcona' (S11S12), le quotient des génotypes était de 42% S11S12 et de 58% SfS12, se rapprochant des lois mendéliennes de transmission malgré la proportion légèrement plus élevée de plants auto-compatibles. Pour l’autre famille, 'G-2-25' (S11Sf) 'Desmayo Largueta' (S1S25), quatre génotypes-S sont possibles, mais les quotients obtenus étaient de 21% S1S11, 53% S1Sf, 0% S11S25, et 26% SfS25. Ces résultats montrent que le pollen portant l’allèle S25 avait une réussite de fertilisation d’uniquement 26% comparée à 73 pour le pollen portant l'allèle S1. L’absence de plants S11S25 pourrait faire penser à l’expression d’un caractère létal homozygote chez ces zygotes et à la distortion des quotients mendélien

Effects of organophosphate, diazinon on some haematological and biochemical changes in Rutilus frisii kutum (Kamensky, 1901) male brood stocks

The acute toxicity and effects of diazinon on some haematological parameters of kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum, Kamensky, 1901) weighing 613.33 ± 157.06 g were studied under static water quality conditions at 15 °C ± 2 ºC. These experiments were carried out based on the standard TRC, 1984 method over 4 days, and controlled for the effective water physicochemical factors having pH ranges of 7-8.2, total hardness 300 mgl^-1 (CaCO3), dissolved oxygen 7 mgl^-1. The results showed that the 96h LC50 value of diazinon was 0.4 mgl^-1 and that the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) value of this toxin was 0.04 mgl^-1. The second stage of experiments consisted of four treatments: LC0: 0 as blank, treatment A with a concentration of LC1: 0.107 mgl^-1, treatment B with a concentration of LC5: 0.157 mgl^-1, treatment C with a concentration of MAC value: 0.04 mgl^-1. Male brood stocks of R. frisii were treated with these concentrations for 45 days. The results showed that long-term exposure to diazinon causes a decrease in the erythrocyte count (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocyte count (WBC), lymphocyte, testosterone, iron (Fe), sodium (Na), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cholinesterase (CHeS) (P0.05). The results showed that long-term exposure to low concentrations of diazinon causes changes in some haematological and biochemical parameters of R. frisii male brood stocks

Effect of chitosan diet on intestinal histology, body composition and salinity and thermal stresses resistance in Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum, Kamenskii 1901) fingerlings

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the chitosan diet on the intestinal histology, body composition and resistance towards salinity and thermal stresses in Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) fingerlings. This research, using a completely random design, consisted of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 g levels of chitosan per kg for each commercial diet of the Caspian kutum in three repetitions. The Kutum fingerlings, with an average weight of 1.76 ± 0.15 g, were fed with the experimental diets for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, tissue sections were prepared by cutting 5mm-thick samples from the intestines of the fish. To evaluate the resistance to salinity and thermal stresses, the fingerlings were exposed to a salinity stress of 11 ppt and 13 ppt and temperatures of 30 °C and 34 °C, after which the survival rate was calculated. Microscopic observations showed that the intestinal villi height in the fish fed with the diet containing 1 g kg-1 of chitosan significantly increased to 319.93 µm compared to the control group (P0.05). Fish survival rate after 11 ppt and 13 ppt salinity stress showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05), but the survival rate of the fish fed with the diet containing 1g kg1 of chitosan after experiencing the 34 °C thermal stress significantly increased to 70% (P<0.05). The results suggest that a chitosan level of 1g kg-1 in the diet can not only affect the survival rate and resistance of kutum fingerlings against thermal stress, but can also affect the height of the intestinal villi

Comprehension of complex sentences in the Persian-speaking patients with aphasia

Introduction: To study sentence comprehension in Persian-speaking Patients with Aphasia considering the factors of complexity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the performance of 6 non-fluent aphasic patients were tested and their performance was compared to 15 matched control group. Comprehension of semantically reversible sentences was assessed using a binary sentence-picture matching task. The stimuli were as follows: clefts; subject clefts and object clefts, also relative clauses; subject relatives and object relatives. All of them were types of movement-derived structures and also simple declarative sentences as the control task. Results: The best performance of aphasic patients were seen in the comprehension of subject clefts, although prior to this result we assumed that simple declarative sentences (in which there is no structural factor of complexity) can be understood easily. They showed the highest difficulty in the comprehension of object relatives. Furthermore, the performance of patients in the comprehension of relative clauses was significantly weaker than understanding the clefts. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study suggest that the sentence comprehension deficits of aphasic patients, in contrast to the specific deficit models, may not be related to linguistic disabilities. Moreover, the problems in the comprehension of non-canonical sentences may be related to failure in the allocation of attention. Finally, our results support the claims that neural characterization of the cognitive resources (e.g. working memory) is disrupted in sentence comprehension deficits. © 2019 Iran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Cochlear synaptopathy following noise exposure in Guinea pigs: Its electrophysiological and histological assessments

Exposure to high level of noise, may cause the permanent cochlear synaptic degeneration. In present study, a model of noise induced cochlear synaptopathy was established and the electrophysiological and histological metrics for its assessment was designed. 6 Guinea pigs were subjected to a synaptopathic noise (octave band of 4 kHz at 104 dB SPL, for 2-h). The amplitude growth curve of Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) wave-I and wave-III latency shift in presence of noise were calculated. These indexes were considered in pre-exposure, 1 day post exposure (1DPE), 1 week post exposure (1WPE) and 1 month post exposure (1MPE) to noise. Finally, the samples were histologically analyzed. ABR wave-I amplitude was different between pre and 1DPE (p-value � 0.05). However, at 1WPE, it was recovered at low intensities but at 70 dB SPL and above, the differences persisted even till 1MPE. In masked ABR, the latency shift of wave-III was different between pre and 3 post exposure assessments (p-value � 0.05). Electro-microscopic analysis confirmed the synaptic degeneration, as the ribbons were larger than normal, hollow inside, and spherical and irregular in shape, also, the post synaptic density was abnormally thick and missed its flat orientation. These data revealed that noise at level below that can produce permanent hearing loss, can incur synaptic injury. So, noise is considered to be more damaging than previously thought. Accordingly, designing tools for clinical assessment of synaptopathy is beneficial in comprehensive auditory evaluation of those with history of noise exposure and also in hearing protection planning. © 2020 Tech Science Press. All rights reserved

Holographic description of Kerr-Bolt-AdS-dS Spacetimes

We show that there exists a holographic 2D CFT description of a Kerr-Bolt-AdS-dS spacetime. We first consider the wave equation of a massless scalar field propagating in extremal Kerr-Bolt-AdS-dS spacetimes and find in the "near region", the wave equation in extremal limit could be written in terms of the $SL(2,R)$ quadratic Casimir. This suggests that there exist dual CFT descriptions of these black holes. In the probe limit, we compute the scattering amplitudes of the scalar off the extremal black holes and find perfect agreement with the CFT prediction. Furthermore we study the holographic description of the generic four dimensional non-extremal Kerr-Bolt-AdS-dS black holes. We find that if focusing on the near-horizon region, for the massless scalar scattering in the low-frequency limit, the radial equation could still be rewritten as the $SL(2,R)$ quadratic Casimir, suggesting the existence of dual 2D description. We read the temperatures of the dual CFT from the conformal coordinates and obtain the central charges by studying the near-horizon geometry of near-extremal black holes. We recover the macroscopic entropy from the microscopic counting. We also show that for the superradiant scattering, the retarded Green's functions and the corresponding absorption cross sections are in perfect match with CFT prediction.Comment: 17 pages, typos corrected, references adde

Effects of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�) on diabetic foot ulcers healing: A multicenter clinical trial

Some diabetic foot ulcers, which are notoriously difficult to cure, are one of the most common health problems in diabetic patients .There are several surgical and medical options which already have been introduced for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, so some patient will require amputation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous Semelil (ANGIPARS�), a naive herbal extract to accelerate healing of diabetic foot ulcers. A multi-centric randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate intravenous Semelil for healing of diabetic foot ulcers. Sixteen diabetic patients were treated with intravenous Semelil, and nine other patients were treated with placebo as control group. Both groups were otherwise treated by wound debridement and irrigation with normal saline solution, systemic antibiotic therapy and daily wound dressing. Before and after intervention, the foot ulcer surface area was measured, by digital photography, mapping and planimetry. After 4 weeks, the mean foot ulcer surface area decreased from 479.93±379.75 mm2 to 198.93±143.75 mm2 in the intervention group (p = 0.000) and from 766.22±960.50 mm2 to 689.11±846.74 mm2 in the control group (p = 0.076). Average wound closure in the treatment group was significantly greater than placebo group (64 vs. 25, p= 0.015). This herbal extract by intravenous rout in combination with conventional therapy is more effective than conventional therapy by itself probably without side effect. However, further studies are required in the future to confirm these results in larger population