Effects of varying levels of n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on plasma fatty acid composition and prostanoid synthesis in pregnant rats

This study investigated the effects of varying dietary levels of n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on plasma fatty acid composition and prostanoid synthesis in pregnant rats. Four groups consisting of seven rats pergroup of non pregnant rats were fed diets with either a very low n-6:n-3 ratio of 50% soybean oil (SBO): 50% cod liver oil (CLO) 1:1 group , a low ratio of 84% SBO: 16% CLO 6:1 group, a high ratio of 96% SBO: 4% CLO 30:1 group and control group was given only rat chow diet. Blood samples were taken at day 15 post mating and the plasma was analyzed for fatty acid profile, specifically the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio and prostaglandins F2α and E2. The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in plasma of group 1:1 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the other groups, while the n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio was significantly lower. The total n-6 PUFA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 30:1 as compared to the control and 1:1 groups. The total PGF2α and PGE2 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in group 30:1 rats fed a diet high in n-6 or n-6:n-3 fatty acids. The diet higher in n-6 fatty acids appear to increase arachidonic acid( AA) and prostaglandins synthesis in plasma of rats. PGE2 productions in plasma were significantly lower in rats fed diets with a lower dietary ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids than in those fed diets with a higher dietary ratio. Regression analysis revealed a significant positivecorrelation between PGF2α and PGE2 and the ratio of n-6:n-3, and significant positive correlation between different ratio n-6:n-3 on fatty acid plasma compstion and PGF2α and PGE2 concentration on plasma. These results demonstrated that the dietary ratio of n-6:n-3 modulates PGF2α and PGE2 production. The n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio significantly affected plasma fatty acids profile and prostaglandin synthesis in pregnant rat.Keywords: n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio, plasma fatty acids, prostanoid synthesis, pregnant ra

Reproductive variables and Correlation between Irrational Parenthood Cognition and Destructive Behaviors of Marital Relationship in Infertile Women

Background: Reproductive variables may play an important role on the correlation between irrational parenthood cognition (IPC) and destructive behaviors of infertile couple. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between IPC and destructive behaviors by reproductive variables in primary infertile women. Methods: The study was descriptive-analytic. 183 cases of primary infertile women living in Zanjan-Iran and attended to the Infertility Clinic in Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital were investigated from 2015 to the end of 2016. The instrument included a three-part questionnaire of individual and reproductive information, IPC, and the destructive behaviors of marital relationship based on Glaser's choice theory. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and Pearson correlation test (P<0.05). Results: There was a significant direct correlation between IPC and destructive behaviors of marital relationship in infertile women (r=0.47, p<0.001). Based on reproductive variables, the highest correlation was observed in the subgroups of less than 10 years elapsed from the diagnosis of infertility, less than 10 years from the onset of infertility treatment, and the expectation of pregnancy under 10 years, a history of twice unsuccessful in vitro fertilization, a tendency to pregnancy due to the pressure of the others and the cause of the unknown infertility (P<0.05). Correlation between IPC and all components of destructive behaviors was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Identifying infertile women with high IPC and destructive behaviors is important to educate regarding life skills and provide counseling services

Hookah smoking is strongly associated with diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and obesity: a population-based study

Objectives The adverse effects of cigarette smoking have been widely studied before, whilst the effects of hookah smoking has received less attention, although it is a common habit in the Middle East. Here we have investigated the effects of cigarette and hookah smoking on biochemical characteristics in a representative population sample derived from the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) cohort study, from Northeastern Iran. Study design A total of 9840 subjects from the MASHAD population study were allocated to five groups; non-smokers (6742), ex-smokers (976), cigarette smokers (864), hookah smokers (1067), concomitant cigarette and hookah smokers (41). Methods Baseline characteristics were recorded in a questionnaire. Biochemical characteristics were measured by routine methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results After adjustment for age and sex; the presence of CVD, obesity, metabolic syndrome, DM and dyslipidemia were significantly (p < 0.001) related to smoking status. After multivariate analysis, HDL (p < 0.001), WBC (p < 0.001), MCV (p < 0.05), PLT (p < 0.01) and RDW (p < 0.001), and the presence of CVD (p < 0.01), obesity (p < 0.001), metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05) and DM (p < 0.01) remained significant between cigarette smokers and non-smokers. Between hookah smokers and non-smokers; uric acid (p < 0.001), PLT (p < 0.05) and RDW (p < 0.05), and the presence of obesity (p < 0.01), metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.01) and dyslipidemia (p < 0.01) remained significant after logistic regression. Conclusion There was a positive association between hookah smoking and metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia which was not established in cigarette smoking

APOBEC3G-Induced Hypermutation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Is Typically a Discrete “All or Nothing” Phenomenon

The rapid evolution of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) allows studies of ongoing host–pathogen interactions. One key selective host factor is APOBEC3G (hA3G) that can cause extensive and inactivating Guanosine-to-Adenosine (G-to-A) mutation on HIV plus-strand DNA (termed hypermutation). HIV can inhibit this innate anti-viral defense through binding of the viral protein Vif to hA3G, but binding efficiency varies and hypermutation frequencies fluctuate in patients. A pivotal question is whether hA3G-induced G-to-A mutation is always lethal to the virus or if it may occur at sub-lethal frequencies that could increase viral diversification. We show in vitro that limiting-levels of hA3G-activity (i.e. when only a single hA3G-unit is likely to act on HIV) produce hypermutation frequencies similar to those in patients and demonstrate in silico that potentially non-lethal G-to-A mutation rates are ∼10-fold lower than the lowest observed hypermutation levels in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that even a single incorporated hA3G-unit is likely to cause extensive and inactivating levels of HIV hypermutation and that hypermutation therefore is typically a discrete “all or nothing” phenomenon. Thus, therapeutic measures that inhibit the interaction between Vif and hA3G will likely not increase virus diversification but expand the fraction of hypermutated proviruses within the infected host

Cancer recurrence times from a branching process model

As cancer advances, cells often spread from the primary tumor to other parts of the body and form metastases. This is the main cause of cancer related mortality. Here we investigate a conceptually simple model of metastasis formation where metastatic lesions are initiated at a rate which depends on the size of the primary tumor. The evolution of each metastasis is described as an independent branching process. We assume that the primary tumor is resected at a given size and study the earliest time at which any metastasis reaches a minimal detectable size. The parameters of our model are estimated independently for breast, colorectal, headneck, lung and prostate cancers. We use these estimates to compare predictions from our model with values reported in clinical literature. For some cancer types, we find a remarkably wide range of resection sizes such that metastases are very likely to be present, but none of them are detectable. Our model predicts that only very early resections can prevent recurrence, and that small delays in the time of surgery can significantly increase the recurrence probability.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, 4 table

Mapping geographical inequalities in oral rehydration therapy coverage in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-17

Background Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a form of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhoea that has the potential to drastically reduce child mortality; yet, according to UNICEF estimates, less than half of children younger than 5 years with diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) received ORS in 2016. A variety of recommended home fluids (RHF) exist as alternative forms of ORT; however, it is unclear whether RHF prevent child mortality. Previous studies have shown considerable variation between countries in ORS and RHF use, but subnational variation is unknown. This study aims to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of relative and absolute coverage of ORS, RHF, and ORT (use of either ORS or RHF) in LMICs. Methods We used a Bayesian geostatistical model including 15 spatial covariates and data from 385 household surveys across 94 LMICs to estimate annual proportions of children younger than 5 years of age with diarrhoea who received ORS or RHF (or both) on continuous continent-wide surfaces in 2000-17, and aggregated results to policy-relevant administrative units. Additionally, we analysed geographical inequality in coverage across administrative units and estimated the number of diarrhoeal deaths averted by increased coverage over the study period. Uncertainty in the mean coverage estimates was calculated by taking 250 draws from the posterior joint distribution of the model and creating uncertainty intervals (UIs) with the 2 center dot 5th and 97 center dot 5th percentiles of those 250 draws. Findings While ORS use among children with diarrhoea increased in some countries from 2000 to 2017, coverage remained below 50% in the majority (62 center dot 6%; 12 417 of 19 823) of second administrative-level units and an estimated 6 519 000 children (95% UI 5 254 000-7 733 000) with diarrhoea were not treated with any form of ORT in 2017. Increases in ORS use corresponded with declines in RHF in many locations, resulting in relatively constant overall ORT coverage from 2000 to 2017. Although ORS was uniformly distributed subnationally in some countries, within-country geographical inequalities persisted in others; 11 countries had at least a 50% difference in one of their units compared with the country mean. Increases in ORS use over time were correlated with declines in RHF use and in diarrhoeal mortality in many locations, and an estimated 52 230 diarrhoeal deaths (36 910-68 860) were averted by scaling up of ORS coverage between 2000 and 2017. Finally, we identified key subnational areas in Colombia, Nigeria, and Sudan as examples of where diarrhoeal mortality remains higher than average, while ORS coverage remains lower than average. Interpretation To our knowledge, this study is the first to produce and map subnational estimates of ORS, RHF, and ORT coverage and attributable child diarrhoeal deaths across LMICs from 2000 to 2017, allowing for tracking progress over time. Our novel results, combined with detailed subnational estimates of diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality, can support subnational needs assessments aimed at furthering policy makers' understanding of within-country disparities. Over 50 years after the discovery that led to this simple, cheap, and life-saving therapy, large gains in reducing mortality could still be made by reducing geographical inequalities in ORS coverage. Copyright (c) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe