Evaluation of Carbon sequestration in pure and mixed plantations of Cupressus arizonica

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of tree mixture on Carbon sequestration in cupressus arizonica plantations. Emission of carbon dioxide via human activities is known as the main cause of global warming. Therefore, in this study, soil carbon sequestration in mixed and pure stands was measured in order to compare the effect of tree mixture on the amount of carbon stored in the top mineral soil layer. The study site was Khargosh Valley Forest Park, located in Tehran province. This study included 4 different type of stands, the pure Cupressus arizonica, the pure Pinus eldarica, the mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica and the mixed Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods. Sampling method was done with a Systematic random network with dimensions 75 × 75 m. Samples parts were Square with dimensions of 20 x 20 m. At each plot center, forest floor was sampled from the first 10 cm of soil. To analyze the data one way analyses of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS v.20 was used to assess the Soil parameters. Tukey’s tests were used to test significant effects (p ≤ 0.05). Our results showed that the mean Carbon sequestration in the mixed plantations of Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods trees soils was greater than the other stands which in the standing mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica was lower than the pure stands. Our results Recommended for establishment ofconifer plantation, used mixed culture of Conifers with broadleaf Instead of pure cultures conifers.Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Cupressus arizonica, Iran, mixed, Plantations, pur

On the role of corticosterone in behavioral disorders, microbiota composition alteration and neuroimmune response in adult male mice subjected to maternal separation stress

Experiencing psychosocial adversities in early life such as maternal separation (MS) increases the risk of psychiatric disorders. Immune-inflammatory responses have imperative roles in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. MS relatively changes the composition of intestinal microbiota leading to an overactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and subsequently increases the corticosterone level. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of corticosterone in behavioral changes and microbiota modifications in a mouse model of MS afflicted neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus. For this purpose, 180 min of MS stress was applied to mice at postnatal day (PND) 2-14 followed by behavioral tests including forced swimming test (FST), splash test, open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM) at PND 50-52. For evaluating the role of corticosterone, mice were subjected to adrenalectomy. Using real-time RT-PCR, the expression of inflammatory genes was determined in the hippocampus and colon tissues. We found that MS provoked depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors in adult male mice. In addition, MS was able to active a neuroimmune response in the hippocampus, motivate inflammation and histopathologic changes in the colon tissue and modify the composition of gut microbiota as well. Interestingly, our findings showed that adrenalectomy (decline in the corticosterone level), could modulate the above-mentioned negative effects of MS. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that overactivation of HPA axis and the subsequent increased level of corticosterone could act, possibly, as the deleterious effects of MS on behavior, microbiota composition changes and activation of neuroimmune respons

Prevalence of alloimmunization in major beta thalassemia in northern Iran (2010)

Background and Objective: Repeated blood transfusion is the major treatment for patients with major thalassemia. However due to antigen encounters, it may initiate body reactions, including alloantibodies against red blood cell antigens. This study was done to determine the Prevalence of alloimmunization in major beta thalassemia patients in northern Iran. Method: This descriptive - analytic study was carried out on 218 thalassemic patients (100 males and 118 females) with average age of 22.5±7 years in northern Iran during 2010. Each sample was tested for the presence of Alloantibodies including C, Cw, Lea, E, Lua, Leb, K, Jkb, N, P1, D, Jka, M, S, Xga, e, Fya, s, c, Fyb, k, Kpa, Jsb, Lub and Coa. Results: Eighty eight cases (40.4% 95% CI: 33.9-46.9) were positive for the presence of alloantibodies. Alloantibodies against C, Cw, Lea red blood cell surface antigens were the most prevalent (40%). No significant correlation was found between emergence of alloantibody with the age of initial, frequency and duration of blood transfusion. Conclusion: Alloimmunization is a common observation in thalassemic patients and should be prevented by transfusing compatible blood

Molecular evaluation of hemoglobin D mutations in Mazandaran province, Iran

Background and Objective: Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent genetic disorders worldwide, and occur as a result of mutations in the gene involved in synthesizing hemoglobin chains. By now more than 1000 defects in hemoglobin chains are discovered. Hemoglobin D (Hb D) is one of these disorders, identified by a single nucleotide mutation on codon 121 of beta globin chain. This study was carried out to evaluate Hb D mutations through molecular methods in Mazandaran province of Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive laboratory study was done on 70 patients with an electrophoresis band in hemoglobin-S zone in Mazandaran province of Iran during 2010-11. Capillary zone electrophoresis was done to find out Hb D in 51 patients. Subsequently, PCR-RFLP was performed to evaluate the samples at molecular level. Results: Molecular investigation revealed all cases are carriers of hemoglobin D-Punjab. Two patients were shown to be homozygote carriers of the abnormal gene. Conclusion: This study showed all Hb D affected patients were carriers of Hb D Punjab

Nano-curcumin’s suppression of breast cancer cells (MCF7) through the inhibition of cyclinD1 expression

Sare Hosseini,1 Jamshidkhan Chamani,2 Mohammad Reza Hadipanah,3 Negar Ebadpour,4 Amir Sajjad Hojjati,4 Mohammad Hasan Mohammadzadeh,2 Hamid Reza Rahimi5,6 1Cancer Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran; 3Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; 4Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; 5Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; 6Department of Modern Sciences and Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer worldwide. The high expenses associated with chemotherapy as well as its side effects make the management of breast cancer a daunting challenge. The most common overexpressed gene in breast cancer is cyclinD1, which induces cell proliferation. Recent investigations into cancer treatment have revealed that curcumin demonstrates potential anti-cancer properties through different pathways. However, the oral bioavailability of curcumin is negligible due to its high hydrophobic structure. Nanotechnology has been employed to overcome this barrier. Nano-formulated curcumin (SinaCurcumin®) has been shown to provide a significantly higher bioavailability for oral consumption. However, the efficacy of this nano-formulated drug in breast cancer has not yet been determined. In relation to the breast cancer cell line, the present study compared nano-curcumin’s anti-cancer properties with those of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil (CAF). Methods: After treating MCF7 with nano-curcumin and CAF, the present work assessed cell viability via an MTT assay. The effects of these drugs on cyclinD1 expression were measured by real-time PCR. SPSS 16.0 was used to perform ANOVA and multiple range tests. Results: Nano-curcumin and the CAF regimen both lowered the viability of MCF7. Nano-curcumin decreased cell proliferation by 83.6%, which was more than that achieved by cyclophosphamide (63.31%), adriamycin (70.75%), and 5-fluorouracil (75.04%). In addition, curcumin was able to significantly reduce the expression of cyclinD1, whereas CAF did not alter cyclinD1 expression. Conclusion: Nano-curcumin has a relatively high cytotoxic effect on MCF7 breast cancer cells, suppressing the expression of cyclinD1, a critical gene in the development and metastasis of breast cancer. The current study demonstrated that nano-curcumin can be an effective drug in the CAF regimen for the treatment of breast cancer. However, further in vivo research is needed for determining its efficacy and safety in clinical applications. Keywords: nano-curcumin, cyclinD1, MCF7, patient survival, viabilit

HCN channels are a novel therapeutic target for cognitive dysfunction in Neurofibromatosis type 1

Cognitive impairments are a major clinical feature of the common neurogenetic disease neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Previous studies have demonstrated that increased neuronal inhibition underlies the learning deficits in NF1, however, the molecular mechanism underlying this cell-type specificity has remained unknown. Here, we identify an interneuron-specific attenuation of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) current as the cause for increased inhibition in Nf1 mutants. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that HCN1 is a novel NF1-interacting protein for which loss of NF1 results in a concomitant increase of interneuron excitability. Furthermore, the HCN channel agonist lamotrigine rescued the electrophysiological and cognitive deficits in two independent Nf1 mouse models, thereby establishing the importance of HCN channel dysfunction in NF1. Together, our results provide detailed mechanistic insights into the pathophysiology of NF1-associated cognitive defects, and identify a novel target for clinical drug development

Schlank, a member of the ceramide synthase family controls growth and body fat in Drosophila

Ceramide synthases are highly conserved transmembrane proteins involved in the biosynthesis of sphingolipids, which are essential structural components of eukaryotic membranes and can act as second messengers regulating tissue homeostasis. However, the role of these enzymes in development is poorly understood due to the lack of animal models. We identified schlank as a new Drosophila member of the ceramide synthase family. We demonstrate that schlank is involved in the de novo synthesis of a broad range of ceramides, the key metabolites of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Unexpectedly, schlank mutants also show reduction of storage fat, which is deposited as triacylglyerols in the fat body. We found that schlank can positively regulate fatty acid synthesis by promoting the expression of sterol-responsive element-binding protein (SREBP) and SREBP-target genes. It further prevents lipolysis by downregulating the expression of triacylglycerol lipase. Our results identify schlank as a new regulator of the balance between lipogenesis and lipolysis in Drosophila. Furthermore, our studies of schlank and the mammalian Lass2 family member suggest a novel role for ceramide synthases in regulating body fat metabolism