Effect of Thalidomide on Cox-2 expression in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Introduction: Lung fibrosis is a progressive, fatal disease that is characterized by increasing fibroblasts proliferation and extracellular matrix precipitation. Studies have shown that cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) could play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. In the current study, the effect of thalidomide on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was qualitatively studied in a laboratory animal model.Methods: Thirty-two adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following four groups: Group one received 2 mg bleomycin, group two received bleomycin in addition to 4 mg of thalidomide; group three received 4 mg of thalidomide, and Group 4 received 0.1 mg of 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) via intraperitoneal (IP) administration. Finally, the expression of Cox 2 protein and the percentage of contact points of alveolar spaces and pulmonary connective tissue were determined. Results: Our results showed that in the Bleo + Thal group compared to the Bleo group, the percentage of contact points of pulmonary connective tissue decreased significantly (P<0.001), while the percentage of contact points among the alveolar spaces increased significantly (P = 0.01). Also, immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated the number of Cox-2 - cells in the volume unit in the Bleo + Thal group decreased significantly in comparison with the group that received only Bleo (P = 0.012). Conclusion: In conclusion, these results suggest thalidomide could alleviate the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and decreases the expression of Cox 2 protein

Radon transfer from water to milk

Radon, as naturally occurring radioactive gas, is responsible for 50% of the total background radiations in human. Radon gas is able to enter to human body through eating and drinking. So, measurement of received radiation in the human body is essential. In this study, the presence of radon in milk and its dose was examined. This experiment was conducted using 12 Rayeni goats which have been categorized in a completely randomized design by 4 treatments and 3 replication (Treatment A = Radon-containing water + zero antioxidant, Treatment B = Radoncontaining water + antioxidant, Treatment C = healthy water + antioxidant, Treatment D = healthy water+ zero antioxidant). The experiment was prolonged for 60 days. During the experiment the goats were milked every day. The samples were transferred to laboratory to determine the milk compounds and properties, as well as to measure its radon level. Presence of radon in milk was detected using Rad7 device. The averaged radon concentration in milk samples (for treatments A and B) receiving radon was about 126 Bq m-3. There was no significant difference between protein. But there was a significant difference between the percentages of fat, lactose, total antioxidant capacity and the number of somatic cells. Radon did not change pH and Malondialdehyde contents of the treatments. We also determined annual received radon dose per person from drinking milk. It was different among age groups. Newborns were at higher risk of internal radon exposure from contaminated milk. Radon can enter the livestock milk. According to our findings, with, this radon amount in milk was not higher than the allowable level in valid resources for human health

Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Level on Clinical Parameters in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Background: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary autosomal recessive genetic disorder that can affect many organs including the lungs and the digestive system. We aimed to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 level on clinical parameters in cystic fibrosis patients. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 40 patients (13 females and 19 males) with cystic fibrosis who were admitted in Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran- Iran, in 2017. A researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among them, and then the height, weight and arm circumference of the patients were measured and also their serum Q10 levels were evaluated. Then, the pulmonary function was evaluated using a 6-minute respiration test and a spirometry test. Finally, their total scores were calculated based on Shwachman score. Results: The age range of participants was from 6 to 27 years old. Anthropometric indices such as weight (p=0.02, r=-0.408), age (p=0.016, r=-0.422), height (p=0.002, r=-0.520), birth weight (p=0.0113, R=-0.286), and height at birth (p=0.037, r=-0.37) had a significant negative relationship with coenzyme Q10. There was relationship between anthropometric indices and spirometry tests, including the association of FEV1 (act) with weight (p=0.00), and arm circumference (p=0.00) which were determined. Conclusion: According to the results, there was no direct relationship between muscle mass and Q10. Besides, the mean age of Q10 was greater than that of in age group of 9-16 years old, which can be considered for nutrition or childhood reserves for coenzyme Q10 production, which is decreased due to increasing age and lack of intake or loss of body power for the production of coenzyme Q10

Sedimentary and geochemical characteristics of coastal deposits in Hormoz Island in the south of Iran

Abstract Hormuz Island at the entrance of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea is a symbol of Iranian diapirism and the Hormuz series. In considering the location of the island and the development plans for Hormuz Island, it is important to know the composition and characteristics of the island's coastal sediments. This study was conducted to study the sedimentary, mineralogical, and geochemical properties of the coastal sediments of this island. For this purpose, In this study, 20 thin sections were made from gravelly rock samples as well as 27 surface sediment samples from nine stations has been collected. Routine sedimentologic tests have been done on these samples including quantitative mineralogy by XRD, separation, and identification of heavy minerals using bromoform solution and magnetic property, heavy metals and primary oxides were analyzed by XRF and petrographic study using a polarizing microscope. The results indicate that the sediments are sandy to gravel in terms of grain size. The average amount of calcium carbonate is 32 to 62 percent. The mineralogy of sediments shows that suite of calcite, quartz, feldspar, plagioclase, dolomite, aragonite, clay minerals (Kaolinite and Illite) and heavy minerals (magnetite, hematite, oligiste, epidote, pyroxene, pyrite, goethite, limonite, apatite, barite,) are other components of superficial sediments. The study of thin sections under the polarizing microscope shows that most gravels on the coast have an igneous origin (rhyolitic and trachytic). The findings of this study indicate that the main source of these sediments is the alteration and erosion of the Hormoz Serie (the Late Precambrian–Cambrian) in the center of the island under wet, humid conditions. Keywords: Hormoz Island, Sedimentology, Mineralogy, Geochemistry.   Introduction Studying the sediments of coasts and seabed, examining their constituent elements and minerals are among the important goals in marine geology (Prins et al. 2000). It should be mentioned that beaches provide many advantages in service, construction, environment, and welfare activities. Understanding the composition and physical and chemical properties of coastal sediments will help to formulate coastal development plans. Geologically, the Hormuz Island is located at the entrance of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea between 56˚30ʹ 80˝ and 56˚ 25ʹ 10˝ east longitude, 27 ˚ 02ʹ 07˝and 27˚ 06ʹ 25ʹ north latitude. Hormoz Island lies at the southeastern end of the Zagros sedimentary-structural zone (Aghanabati 2006). In this study, we tried to identify the sedimentology, mineralogy, and geochemistry of coastal sediments of Hormoz Island to identify the origin of these sediments.   Materials & Methods To investigate the sedimentological, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of the coastal deposits of Hormoz Island and to achieve the objectives of this study, surface sampling (point-random sampling) was performed. For sedimentological, geochemical, and mineralogical analysis, 27 surface sediment samples were collected (three samples per station for sedimentology, heavy metals, and heavy mineral studies) from 10 to 40 cm depth using a cylindrical container made of polycarbonate in Autumn 2012. Also, 20 samples were taken at stations that had gravel and some outcrops close to the shore for providing thin sections and studying lithology. The depth of water in the sampling was unaffected. Field sampling was performed at the distance between land and water in the tidal zone. For this purpose, two samples from the outcrop and rubble of the existing rocks have been taken from each station to prepare thin sections for mineralogical and provenance studies. It should be noted that the station number four was boulders beach and the ochre of mine adjacent to this station has been taken for measuring heavy metals and bulk mineralogy. The most important experiments on sediments include grading, calcimeter, mineralogy, XRD analysis to identify clay minerals (Tucker 1989), and separation of heavy minerals using bromoform solution (Arzani 1997; Khodabakhsh and Sahrarou 2013). Classification of the type of sediments is done based on Folk triangular classification (Folk 1974). Analysis of major and minor elements with XRF method and the preparation of thin sections of gravels have been done in three laboratories including Geological Survey, Hormozgan University and Kansaran Binalod, Tehran. To determine the size of the sedimentary particles, sediments larger than 63 microns were screened by sieve, and sediments smaller than 63 microns were analyzed using a hydrometer. The amount of calcium carbonate (calcite) and dolomite in sediments was analyzed by autocalcimeter. Identification and study of heavy minerals in coastal sediments of Hormoz Island using bromoform solution (CHBR3 separate heavy from light minerals and with the employing magnetic properties by VSM vibration sampling method with magnetometer Magnetism has been done). Physical properties were identified at the University of Hormozgan Laboratory (the study of minerals with Binocular microscope) and the Geological Survey of Iran (separation of heavy minerals by bromoform). To increase the accuracy of the detection of silicate minerals, six thin sections of medium sand size were prepared and studied by light microscopy.   Discussion of Results & Conclusions Based on the results obtained from particle size analysis (granulometric analysis) and using the Folk triangular classification (Folk 1974), Hormoz Island sediments are often sand, sandy gravel, gravel, and gravelly sands. The sediments of this island have mesiokurtic to leptokurtic kurtosis, indicating the influence of waves and tidal performance. Sediments have low sphericity and they are angular. The skewness results in the sediments indicate that the particle size of the coastal sediments of Hormoz Island is in the range of medium-grained sand and deposited in a relatively high energy environment.  Besides, the skew of sediments is negative. These sediments are mainly composed of carbonate, quartz, dolomite, halite, feldspar, and mica, respectively. The results of the experiments show that the amount of calcite in the studied samples varies from 32% to 62%. The results of XRD show the presence of calcite, quartz, hematite, plagioclase, clay minerals (illite and kaolinite) and halite in all sediments of the coastal island of Hormuz. The results show that halite is the most prominent evaporite mineral in these sediments. Due to the solubility of this mineral, it seems that a considerable part of samples was formed by secondary sea-level fluctuations. The abundance of evaporites in the Hormoz series can also be considered as a source of the evaporite minerals. Light minerals of the samples include carbonate, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, aragonite, and halite. Examination of heavy minerals indicates the presence of magnetite, hematite, olivine, pyroxene, apatite, martite, fluorite, limonite, goethite, barite, and zircon. The study of thin sections under the polarizing microscope showed that most of the gravel in the shore are rhyolitic and trachytic in composition, so these igneous rocks could be the source of sediment on the coast of Hormuz. Correlation coefficient analysis and cluster analysis showed that except for chromium and calcium oxide, other heavy metals and their major oxides originate from erosion of the exposed rock units on the island. The placement of calcium oxide in a separate branch over other oxides indicates a different origin for this element and its biological origin. Comparison of the abundance of minerals such as heavy minerals and evaporite minerals in Hormoz Island sediments with the exposed rocks of this island indicates that weathering and erosion of these exposed rock units under warm-humid climatic conditions can be the source of these elements in coastal sediments. The findings of this research can undoubtedly help to formulate and implement coastal and economic development on the island of Hormuz

Acidifier supplementation in low-fish meal diets improved growth performance and health indices in Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juveniles

A feeding trial was done for 60 days to examine the influence of supplementing low-fish meal (FM) diet with a mixture of acidifiers on the performance of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) juveniles (initial weight: 54.2 ± 0.5 g, mean ± standard deviation). Dietary FM was replaced (35% and 70%) with a mixture of alternative protein sources, including soybean meal, corn gluten, wheat gluten, and poultry meal then supplemented with two levels (0.5% and 1.0%) of an acidifier mixture (butyric acid, sodium diformate and fulvic acid, 1:1:1 ratio). In this regard, seven isonitrogenous (45%) and isolipidic (15%) diets were formulated including: FM70 (FM-based diet, control), FMR35 (35% FM replacement), FMR35+0.5% (35% FM replacement + 0.5% acidifier mixture), FMR35+1.0% (35% FM replacement + 1.0% acidifier mixture), FMR70 (70% FM replacement), FMR70+0.5% (70% FM replacement + 0.5% acidifier mixture), and FMR35+1.0% (70% FM replacement + 1.0% acidifier mixture). Fish were stocked into twenty-one 2000-L rectangular concrete tanks (53 fish/tank) that were filled with running seawater in a flow-through system (26.5 ± 1.5 °C and 46.0 ± 0.2 ppt). Fish were fed with the diets twice every day up to visual satiation. Before the beginning (day 0), middle (day 30), and after finishing the feeding trial (day 60), fish were individually weighed, and samples were collected from their blood and gut for evaluating hematological, antioxidant and digestive enzymes, respectively. After finishing the feeding trial, fish fed FMR70 had lower weight gain (89.1% lower than FM70) than other groups (P = 0.001) that associated with the lowest feed intake in this group. The trypsin, protease, and α-amylase activities were decreased by increasing FM replacement level, but it enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.05). Serum catalase activity increased by the interactive effects of dietary FM replacement and acidifier level (P = 0.029). The blood hemoglobin, mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin, lysozyme activity, serum protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, and triglycerides increased by including a 0.5% acidifier mixture in the low FM content diets (P < 0.05). In addition, serum calcium content increased with increasing acidifier mixture level in the diet (P = 0.006). In summary, the inclusion of 0.5% acidifier mixture in a low FM-diet not only improved growth performance and feed utilization but also promoted humoral immunocompetance and hematological indices in L. calcarifer juveniles

Depositional environments and sequence stratigraphy of the Bahram Formation (middle–late Devonian) in north of Kerman, south-central Iran

This study is focused on sedimentary environments, facies distribution, and sequence stratigraphy. The facies and sequence stratigraphic analyses of the Bahram Formation (middle–late Devonian) in south-central Iran are based on two measured stratigraphic sections in the southern Tabas block. The Bahram Formation overlies red sandstones Padeha Formation in sections Hutk and Sardar and is overlain by Carboniferous carbonate deposits of Hutk Formation paraconformably, with a thickness of 354 and 386 m respectively. Mixed siliciclastic and carbonate sediments are present in this succession. The field observations and laboratory studies were used to identify 14 micro/petrofacies, which can be grouped into 5 depositional environments: shore, tidal flat, lagoon, shoal and shallow open marine. A mixed carbonate-detrital shallow shelf is suggested for the depositional environment of the Bahram Formation which deepens to the east (Sardar section) and thins in southern locations (Hutk section). Three 3rd-order cyclic siliciclastic and carbonate sequences in the Bahram Formation and one sequence shared with the overlying joint with Hutk Formation are identified, on the basis of shallowing upward patterns in the micro/pertofacies