Transcriptome analysis of mRNA and miRNA in skeletal muscle indicates an important network for differential Residual Feed Intake in pigs

Feed efficiency (FE) can be measured by feed conversion ratio (FCR) or residual feed intake (RFI). In this study, we measured the FE related phenotypes of 236 castrated purebred Yorkshire boars, and selected 10 extreme individuals with high and low RFI for transcriptome analysis. We used RNA-seq analyses to determine the differential expression of genes and miRNAs in skeletal muscle. There were 99 differentially expressed genes identified (q ≤ 0.05). The down-regulated genes were mainly involved in mitochondrial energy metabolism, including FABP3, RCAN, PPARGC1 (PGC-1A), HK2 and PRKAG2. The up-regulated genes were mainly involved in skeletal muscle differentiation and proliferation, including IGF2, PDE7A, CEBPD, PIK3R1 and MYH6. Moreover, 15 differentially expressed miRNAs (|log2FC| ≥ 1, total reads count ≥ 20, p ≤ 0.05) were identified. Among them, miR-136, miR-30e-5p, miR-1, miR-208b, miR-199a, miR-101 and miR-29c were up-regulated, while miR-215, miR-365-5p, miR-486, miR-1271, miR-145, miR-99b, miR-191 and miR-10b were down-regulated in low RFI pigs. We conclude that decreasing mitochondrial energy metabolism, possibly through AMPK - PGC-1A pathways, and increasing muscle growth, through IGF-1/2 and TGF-β signaling pathways, are potential strategies for the improvement of FE in pigs (and possibly other livestock). This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms that determine RFI and FE in pigs

Translation and psychometric assessment of the Persian version of the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) scale for the assessment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

No tools are available to assess or measure the experience of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) for Persian/Farsi speakers. The purpose of this study is to translate the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) scale for use with Persian-speaking cancer patients. A sample of 94 cancer patients were recruited from a cancer research centre in Mashhad-Iran. A standard two phase process of scale translation and validation was conducted. In phase I, standard 'forward-backward' translation procedure was used to translate the original version of the INVR questionnaire into Persian. The translated questionnaire was reviewed and revised and a Persian version of the scale was produced. In the second phase, a multiphase instrumentation study describing the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the translated version was conducted. The inter-item correlation measured by Cronbach's alpha was 0.88. Test/re-test reliability was measured by the weighted kappa and was between 0.63 and 0.79, indicating 'substantial agreement' and stability between the initial and subsequent administrations for each item. These results demonstrate that the Persian version of the INVR is acceptable for use among Iranian cancer patients. Researchers could use this study as a model for future translation and application of psychometric instrumentation

Translation and psychometric assessment of the Persian version of the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) scale for the assessment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

No tools are available to assess or measure the experience of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) for Persian/Farsi speakers. The purpose of this study is to translate the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting and Retching (INVR) scale for use with Persian-speaking cancer patients. A sample of 94 cancer patients were recruited from a cancer research centre in Mashhad-Iran. A standard two phase process of scale translation and validation was conducted. In phase I, standard 'forward-backward' translation procedure was used to translate the original version of the INVR questionnaire into Persian. The translated questionnaire was reviewed and revised and a Persian version of the scale was produced. In the second phase, a multiphase instrumentation study describing the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the translated version was conducted. The inter-item correlation measured by Cronbach's alpha was 0.88. Test/re-test reliability was measured by the weighted kappa and was between 0.63 and 0.79, indicating 'substantial agreement' and stability between the initial and subsequent administrations for each item. These results demonstrate that the Persian version of the INVR is acceptable for use among Iranian cancer patients. Researchers could use this study as a model for future translation and application of psychometric instrumentation

The Epidemiology of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents in Mazandaran Province

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: New information on the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents is essential for planning and management of health system. Despite the significance of recognizing the health status of children and adolescents, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in Iran has not been systematically investigated. This study, which is part of the National Survey of Iranian Children and Adolescents (IRCAP), examines the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, 1051 children and adolescents residing in Mazandaran, aged 6 – 18 years, were selected by multistage cluster random sampling. In addition to demographic data, the Persian version of K-SADS-PL (Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children--Present and Lifetime Version) was used to assess psychiatric disorders based on Axis I of the DSM-IV. FINDINGS: The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders is 18% (20.42 – 15.78), mood disorders is 2% (3.15 – 1.38), psychotic disorders is 0.1% (0.2 – 55.02), anxiety disorders is 10.4% (12.8 – 36.67), separation anxiety disorder is 4.6% (6.3 – 01.46), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 0.3% (0.8 – 0.1), behavioral disorders is 5.1% (6.3 – 65.96), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is 2.9% (4.16 – 2.09), conduct disorder is 2.0% (0.0 – 8.1), neurodevelopmental disorders is 2.1% (3.1 – 15.38) and mental retardation is 0.8% (1.4 – 49.0). 42.9% of the cases with depressive disorders also have anxiety disorders. 17.4% of anxiety disorders are associated with behavioral disorders. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, psychiatric disorders are considerably common among children and adolescents in Mazandaran. Anxiety disorders are the most common and psychotic disorders are the least common group of psychiatric disorders. Separation anxiety disorder is the most common and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the least common anxiety disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common and conduct disorder the least common behavioral disorder. Among psychiatric disorders, the highest comorbidity is between depression and anxiety disorders

3D Bioprinting of Oxygenated Cell‐Laden Gelatin Methacryloyl Constructs

Cell survival during the early stages of transplantation and before new blood vessels formation is a major challenge in translational applications of 3D bioprinted tissues. Supplementing oxygen (O-2) to transplanted cells via an O(2)generating source such as calcium peroxide (CPO) is an attractive approach to ensure cell viability. Calcium peroxide also produces calcium hydroxide that reduces the viscosity of bioinks, which is a limiting factor for bioprinting. Therefore, adapting this solution into 3D bioprinting is of significant importance. In this study, a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bioink that is optimized in terms of pH and viscosity is developed. The improved rheological properties lead to the production of a robust bioink suitable for 3D bioprinting and controlled O(2)release. In addition, O(2)release, bioprinting conditions, and mechanical performance of hydrogels having different CPO concentrations are characterized. As a proof of concept study, fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes are bioprinted using CPO containing GelMA bioink. Viability and metabolic activity of printed cells are checked after 7 days of culture under hypoxic condition. The results show that the addition of CPO improves the metabolic activity and viability of cells in bioprinted constructs under hypoxic condition

3D Bioprinting of Oxygenated Cell-Laden Gelatin Methacryloyl Constructs

Cell survival during the early stages of transplantation and before new blood vessels formation is a major challenge in translational applications of 3D bioprinted tissues. Supplementing oxygen (O-2) to transplanted cells via an O(2)generating source such as calcium peroxide (CPO) is an attractive approach to ensure cell viability. Calcium peroxide also produces calcium hydroxide that reduces the viscosity of bioinks, which is a limiting factor for bioprinting. Therefore, adapting this solution into 3D bioprinting is of significant importance. In this study, a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) bioink that is optimized in terms of pH and viscosity is developed. The improved rheological properties lead to the production of a robust bioink suitable for 3D bioprinting and controlled O(2)release. In addition, O(2)release, bioprinting conditions, and mechanical performance of hydrogels having different CPO concentrations are characterized. As a proof of concept study, fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes are bioprinted using CPO containing GelMA bioink. Viability and metabolic activity of printed cells are checked after 7 days of culture under hypoxic condition. The results show that the addition of CPO improves the metabolic activity and viability of cells in bioprinted constructs under hypoxic condition