Effects of embryo induction media and pretreatments in isolated microspore culture of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Falat)

Isolated microspores of many plants can be induced in vitro to switch their developmental process from the gametophytic to a sporophytic pathway under appropriate conditions and produce haploid plants. This research reports the effects of cold pretreatment with or without either mannitol orchemical + heat and also the effects of 5 embryo induction media (NPB-99, C17, W14, CHB-2 and P2) on embryo production, percentage of total and green plant regeneration in isolated microspore culture of an Iranian spring bread wheat, cultivar ‘Falat’. The results showed that combination of 21 days cold (4°C) with mannitol (0.3 M) produced the highest number of embryos/spike while the combination of cold with chemical + heat produced the lowest number. In the case of total and green plant regeneration, "7 days cold + mannitol" was more superior than other pretreatments. NPB-99, W14 and C17 media produced the highest number of embryos/spike, while CHB-2 medium appeared to be a better medium for green plant regeneration

Sex Differences in the Effect of Inflammation on Subjective Social Status: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Endotoxin in Healthy Young Adults.

It has been established that inflammation leads to a variety of changes in social experience, but one area of social experience that has been overlooked is subjective social status. Furthermore, given sex differences in the relationship between inflammation and social status, males may be more sensitive to inflammation-induced changes in social status. However, no previous studies in humans have examined this possibility. In the present study, healthy young participants (n = 115) were randomly assigned to receive either endotoxin, an experimental inflammatory challenge, or placebo. Participants reported their subjective social status at baseline (prior to injection), and approximately 2 h later (time of peak inflammatory response for the endotoxin group). Results, using ANCOVA analyses, indicated that males exposed to endotoxin, but not females, reported lower levels of subjective social status at the peak of inflammatory response (vs. placebo). These results suggest that males may be more sensitive to the effects of inflammation in certain social domains, such as perceived social status. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01671150

The long term effects of occupational electromagnetic fields exposure on peripheral blood indexes in workers of aluminum processing factory of Arak

زمینه و هدف: نظریه بیماری زا بودن میدان های الکترومغناطیسی بر روی ساکنان و کارکنان مجاور این میدان ها بخصوص کارسینوژن بودن آنها مورد مطالعات زیادی قرار گرفته است. ولی نتایج آنها قطعیت نیافته و هنوز مناقشات زیادی در این مورد وجود دارد. این تحقیق به منظور بررسی اثر میدان های الکترومغناطیسی با شدت بالا بر شاخص های خون محیطی افرادی که بطور طولانی مدت (حداقل سه سال) در مجاورت این میدان ها بوده اند طراحی و اجرا گردید. روش بررسی: در یک مطالعه آینده نگر کارگرانی که در کارگاه الکترولیز کارخانه آلومینیوم اراک کار می کنند مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. ابتدا با کمک گروه بهداشت صنعتی از قسمت های مختلف کارگاه الکترولیز گوس متری به عمل آمد و سپس دویست نفر از کارگران شاغل در کارگاه انتخاب و دویست نفر نیز از افرادی که در سایر قسمت ها شاغل بوده و در معرض میدان مغناطیسی نبودند با رعایت معیارهای ورود انتخاب شدند و هر دو گروه از نظر شرح حال، معاینه بالینی بررسی و پرسشنامه برای آنها تکمیل شد. سپس در دو نوبت به فاصله یکسال برای هر دو گروه CBC و شمارش پلاکت انجام شد. نهایتاً داده ها با استفاده از آمار توصیفی و تحلیلی (t مستقل) و نرم افزار SPSS تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: افراد دو گروه از نظر میانگین سنی و جنسی تفاوتی نداشتند. میانگین شاخص های خونی گروه مواجهه یافته در دو سال متوالی در رده گلبول های سفید، نوتروفیل ها، گلبول های قرمز، هموگلوبین، هماتوکریت و MCV بیشتر از گروه مواجهه نیافته بود (05/0

In Sickness and in Health: The Co-Regulation of Inflammation and Social Behavior

Although it has commonly been assumed that the immune system and the processes that govern social behavior are separate, non-communicating entities, research over the past several decades suggests otherwise. Considerable evidence now shows that inflammatory processes and social behavior are actually powerful regulators of one another. This review first summarizes evidence that inflammatory processes regulate social behavior, leading to characteristic changes that may help an individual navigate the social environment during times of sickness. Specifically, this review shows that inflammation: (1) increases threat-related neural sensitivity to negative social experiences (eg, rejection, negative social feedback), presumably to enhance sensitivity to threats to well-being or safety in order to avoid them and (2) enhances reward-related neural sensitivity to positive social experiences (eg, viewing close others and receiving positive social feedback), presumably to increase approach-related motivation towards others who might provide support and care during sickness. Next, this review summarizes evidence showing that social behavior also regulates aspects of inflammatory activity, preparing the body for situations in which wounding and infection may be more likely (social isolation). Here, we review research showing: (1) that exposure to social stressors increases proinflammatory activity, (2) that individuals who are more socially isolated (ie, lonely) show increased proinflammatory activity, and (3) that individuals who are more socially isolated show increased proinflammatory activity in response to an inflammatory challenge or social stressor. The implications of the co-regulation of inflammation and social behavior are discussed

The role of a new electromagnetic shielding in reducing the microwave radiation for the X-band frequencies

Background and aims: X-band microwave with 8-12.5 frequency range has various applications such as air control traffic, navy communication etc. Uncontrolled exposure with microwave can lead to adverse effect on workers. Application of the shielding is superior control for prevention of microwave exposure. The aim of this study is production a new electromagnetic shielding for exposure control of X-band frequency by nano nickel oxide and epoxy resin. Methods: Nanocomposites prepared by epoxy resin and nano nickel oxide (7 wt) with 2, 4 and 6 mm thicknesses. Nanoparticles characterized by XRD and FESEM. Shielding effectiveness measured with vector network analyzer. Results: The Average of shielding effectiveness for three thicknesses were 2.68, 5.09 and 5.35 dB respectively that were equivalent to 45.98, 69.01 and 70.87 attenuation percentage. Maximum attenuation (8.96 dB or 87.29 attenuation percentage) obtained by the nanocomposite with 6mm thickness at 8.51 GHz frequency. The Average of shielding effectiveness increased with increasing the thickness. Conclusion: these nanocomposites could be used as appropriate shielding for exposure control of X-band frequency in workplace.Both Epoxy and nanocomposite with 6mm thicknesses are useful in specific frequency such as 8.52 and 8.51 GHz. However, According to economical and technical issues, nanocomposite with 4mm thickness is appropriate shield in this study. In according to required attenuation and economical benefit, attenuation matrix can be used for selecting the appropriate electromagnetic shield

Caring burden and quality of life of family caregivers in patients undergoing hemodialysis: A descriptive-analytic study

Background: Caring role, especially in chronic diseases, has a negative impact on the health of family caregivers and can affect their quality of life.Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the care burden and quality of life in family caregivers of hemodialysis patients and their relationship with some characteristics of caregivers and patients.Methods: This study was conducted as a descriptive-analytic study in Isfahan from January to February 2017.Sampling was done using census.The number of participants was 254.The data gathering tools consisted of a three-part questionnaire including demographic characteristics, the Zarit questionnaire for caring burden, and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient test, Spearman�s coefficient, ANOVA, and univariate general linear regression.A significant level of 5 was considered.Results: The mean scores of the quality of life and caring burden were 30.4±9.9 and 44.8±6.2, respectively in caregivers.The age of the patient under care (P<0.01), cost of medications (P=0.08), and hours of care in 24 hours (P<0.01) had a significant relationship with care givers� quality of life.Also, univariate general linear regression revealed that care burden had a significant relationship with the quality of life (P=0.03).Conclusion: Family caregivers who experienced more caring burden had a low quality of life.The researchers suggest that supportive and educational programs should be designed and implemented for this group of patients and their caregivers. © 2019, Shriaz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Confronting chemobrain: an in-depth look at survivors’ reports of impact on work, social networks, and health care response

Mild cognitive impairment following chemotherapy is one of the most commonly reported post treatment symptoms by breast cancer survivors. This deterioration in cognitive function, commonly referred to as “chemobrain” or “chemofog,” was largely unacknowledged by the medical community until recent years. Although chemobrain has now become the subject of more vigorous exploration, little is known about this specific phenomenon’s psychosocial impact on breast cancer survivors. This research documents in-depth the effects that cognitive impairment has on women’s personal and professional lives, and our data suggest that greater attention needs to be focused on this arena of survivorship. The results are based on an in-depth qualitative study of 74 white and African American breast cancer survivors in California who experience post-treatment side effects. The data reported herein were obtained through the use of focus groups and in-depth interviews. Our data indicate that cognitive impairment can be problematic for survivors, with many asserting that it is their most troublesome post treatment symptom. Survivors report diminished quality of life and daily functioning as a result of chemobrain. Respondents detail a range of coping strategies that they are forced to employ in order to manage their social and professional lives. Chemobrain significantly impairs a proportion of cancer survivors, at great cost to them economically, emotionally, and interpersonally. This suggests that more research needs to be conducted on the psychosocial ramifications of post treatment symptoms in order to inform the efforts of the medical and mental health communities as well as the support networks of survivors. A better and broader understanding of the effects of cognitive impairment both in the medical community and among lay people could pave the way for improved social and psychological services for this population

The role of the ventral striatum in inflammatory-induced approach toward support figures

Although considerable research has shown that inflammation leads to social withdrawal more generally, it is also possible that inflammation leads to social approach when it comes to close others. Whereas it may be adaptive to withdraw from strangers when sick, it may be beneficial to seek out close others for assistance, protection, or care when sick. However, this possibility has never been explored in humans nor have the neural substrates of these behavioral changes. Based on the role of the ventral striatum (VS) in responding to: (1) the anticipation of and motivation to approach rewarding outcomes and (2) viewing social support figures, the VS may also be involved in sickness-induced approach toward support figures. Thus, the goal of the present study was to examine whether inflammation leads to a greater desire to approach support figures and greater VS activity to viewing support figures. To examine this, 63 participants received either placebo or low-dose endotoxin, which safely triggers an inflammatory response. Participants reported how much they desired to be around a self-identified support figure, and viewed pictures of that support figure while undergoing an fMRI scan to assess reward-related neural activity. In line with hypotheses, endotoxin (vs. placebo) led participants to report a greater desire to be around their support figure. In addition, endotoxin (vs. placebo) led to greater VS activity to images of support figures (vs. strangers) and greater increases in inflammation (IL-6 levels) were associated with greater increases in VS activity. Together, these results reveal a possible neural mechanism important for sickness-induced social approach and highlight the need for a more nuanced view of changes in social behavior during sickness

Potential use of doubled haploid lines for the screening of resistance to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis) in hexaploid wheat

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