Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla on passive avoidance memory and pain induced by global cerebral ischemia in Wistar rat

زمینه و هدف : ایسکمی مغزی و خونرسانی مجدد علت اصلی ناتوانی جدی و طولانی مدت در جهان است. هدف از مطالعه حاضر بررسی اثر عصاره هیدروالکلی بابونه بر اختلالات حافظه و درد ناشی از ایسکمی بود. روش بررسی: گل‌های خشک بابونه (Matricaria chamomilla) از عطاری تهیه شده و توسط الکل 70 درصد عصاره گیری شد. حیوانات به صورت تصادفی به 6 گروه 7 تایی تقسیم شدند. گروه کنترل فقط نرمال سالین دریافت کردند، گروه ایسکمی تحت ایسکمی قرار گرفته و نرمال سالین دریافت کردند، گروه شاهد(sham): تحت جراحی قرار گرفتند بدون اینکه شریان‌های کاروتید آن‌ها بسته شود. گروه‌های درمانی با عصاره تحت ایسکمی قرار گرفته و عصاره بابونه را به صورت داخل صفاقی در دوز 50، 100 و 200 میلی‌گرم بر کیلوگرم وزن بدن دریافت کردند. تست رفتاری توسط شاتل باکس و تست ضد درد توسط تست تیل فیلیک انجام شد. یافته ها : عصاره بابونه در غلظت‌های 50، 100 و 200 میلی‌گرم بر کیلوگرم حافظه احترازی غیرفعال موش‌های صحرایی تحت ایسکمی را به طور معنی‌دار افزایش داد. علاوه بر این عصاره بابونه زمان تأخیر ظهور رفلکس دردناک دم را در تست تیل فلیک به طور معنی‌داری افزایش داد و غلظت 50 میلی‌گرم بر کیلوگرم عصاره اثر بیشتری نسبت به غلظت‌های بالاتر آن نشان داد. بحث و نتیجه گیری: نتایج مطالعه حاضر حاکی از اثرات حفاظتی عصاره بابونه در برابر اختلال حافظه احترازی و درد ایجاد شده در اثر ایسکمی بود که احتمالا به دلیل اثرات آنتی‌اکسیدانی و ضدالتهابی عصاره گیاه می‌باش

First-order phase transition from hypernuclear matter to deconfined quark matter obeying new constraints from compact star observations

We reconsider the problem of the hyperon puzzle and its suggested solution by quark deconfinement within the two-phase approach to hybrid compact stars with recently obtained hadronic and quark matter equations of state. For the hadronic phase we employ the hypernuclear equation of state from the lowest order constrained variational method and the quark matter phase is described by a sufficiently stiff equation of state based on a color superconducting nonlocal Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model with constant (model nlNJLA) and with density-dependent (model nlNJLB) parameters. We study the model dependence of the phase transition obtained by a Maxwell construction. Our study confirms that also with the present set of equations of state quark deconfinement presents a viable solution of the hyperon puzzle even for the new constraint on the lower limit of the maximum mass from PSR J0740+6620. In this work we provide with model nlNJLB for the first time a hybrid star EoS with an intermediate hypernuclear matter phase between the nuclear and color superconducting quark matter phases, for which the maximum mass of the compact star reaches $2.2~M_\odot$, in accordance with most recent constraints. In model nlNJLA such a phase cannot be realised because the phase transition onset is at low densities, before the hyperon threshold density is passed. We discuss possible consequences of the hybrid equation of state for the deconfinement phase transition in symmetric matter as it will be probed in future heavy-ion collisions at FAIR, NICA and corresponding energy scan programs at the CERN and RHIC facilities.Comment: 37 pages, 13 figures, 1 table, references added, text and figures revised, version accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Controlling surface statistical properties using bias voltage: Atomic force microscopy and stochastic analysis

The effect of bias voltages on the statistical properties of rough surfaces has been studied using atomic force microscopy technique and its stochastic analysis. We have characterized the complexity of the height fluctuation of a rough surface by the stochastic parameters such as roughness exponent, level crossing, and drift and diffusion coefficients as a function of the applied bias voltage. It is shown that these statistical as well as microstructural parameters can also explain the macroscopic property of a surface. Furthermore, the tip convolution effect on the stochastic parameters has been examined.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures

Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cells with spermatogonia-like morphology with chemical intervention-dependent increased gene expression of LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1)

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) originate from gonocytes that differentiate from primordial germ cells (PGCs). In the developing mouse testis, expression of the gene LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1) marks the most undifferentiated SSCs, which has not yet been reported for spermatogonia-like cells generated in vitro. Previously, it was shown that a chemical intervention in male mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells in serum culture, including Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor Ex-527, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor RG-108 and electrophilic redox cycling compound tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), was associated with molecular markers of PGC to gonocyte differentiation. Here, we report the in vitro differentiation of male mouse ES cells, cultured under dual chemical inhibition of GSK3β and MEK (2i) with leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) (2iL) and serum, into cells with spermatogonia-like morphology (CSMs) and population-averaged expression of spermatogonia-specific genes by removal of 2iL and a specific schedule of twice daily partial medium replacement. Combination of this new protocol with the previously reported chemical intervention increased population-averaged gene expression of Lhx1 in the resulting CSMs. Furthermore, we detected single CSMs with strong nuclear LHX1/5 protein signal only in the chemical intervention group. We propose that further investigation of CSMs may provide new insights into male germline development

Cross-continental comparison of national food consumption survey methods—A narrative review

Food consumption surveys are performed in many countries. Comparison of results from those surveys across nations is difficult because of differences in methodological approaches. While consensus about the preferred methodology associated with national food consumption surveys is increasing, no inventory of methodological aspects across continents is available. The aims of the present review are (1) to develop a framework of key methodological elements related to national food consumption surveys, (2) to create an inventory of these properties of surveys performed in the continents North- America, South-America, Asia and Australasia, and (3) to discuss and compare these methodological properties cross-continentally. A literature search was performed using a fixed set of search terms in different databases. The inventory was completed with all accessible information from all retrieved publications and corresponding authors were requested to provide additional information where missing. Surveys from ten individual countries, originating from four continents are listed in the inventory. The results are presented according to six major aspects of food consumption surveys. The most common dietary intake assessment method used in food consumption surveys worldwide is the 24-HDR (24 h dietary recall), occasionally administered repeatedly, mostly using interview software. Only three countries have incorporated their national food consumption surveys into continuous national health and nutrition examination surveys

Valence band excitations in V_2O_5

We present a joint theoretical and experimental investigation of the electronic and optical properties of vanadium pentoxide. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission was employed to measure the momentum-dependent loss function. This in turn was used to derive the optical conductivity, which is compared to the results of band structure calculations. A good qualitative and quantitative agreement between the theoretical and the experimental optical conductivity was observed. The experimentally observed anisotropy of the optical properties of V_2O_5 could be understood in the light of an analysis of the theoretical data involving the decomposition of the calculated optical conductivity into contributions from transitions into selected energy regions of the conduction band. In addition, based upon a tight binding fit to the band structure, values are given for the effective V3d_xy-O2p hopping terms and are compared to the corresponding values for alpha'-NaV_2O_5.Comment: 6 pages (revtex),6 figures (jpg

Repeated Social Defeat Stress Induces an Inflammatory Gut Milieu by Altering the Mucosal Barrier Integrity and Gut Microbiota Homeostasis

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events in an individual’s life. Patients with PTSD are also at a higher risk for comorbidities. However, it is not well understood how PTSD affects human health and/or promotes the risk for comorbidities. Nevertheless, patients with PTSD harbor a proinflammatory milieu and dysbiotic gut microbiota. Gut barrier integrity helps to maintain normal gut homeostasis and its dysregulation promotes gut dysbiosis and inflammation. Methods We used a mouse model of repeated social defeat stress (RSDS), a preclinical model of PTSD. Behavioral studies, metagenomics analysis of the microbiome, gut permeability assay (on mouse colon, using an Ussing chamber), immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Polarized intestinal epithelial cells and 3-dimensional crypt cultures were used for mechanistic analysis. Results The RSDS mice harbor a heightened proinflammatory gut environment and microbiota dysbiosis. The RSDS mice further showed significant dysregulation of gut barrier functions, including transepithelial electrical resistance, mucin homeostasis, and antimicrobial responses. RSDS mice also showed a specific increase in intestinal expression of claudin-2, a tight junction protein, and epinephrine, a stress-induced neurotransmitter. Treating intestinal epithelial cells or 3-dimensional cultured crypts with norepinephrine or intestinal luminal contents (fecal contents) upregulated claudin-2 expression and inhibited transepithelial electrical resistance. Conclusions Traumatic stress induces dysregulation of gut barrier functions, which may underlie the observed gut microbiota changes and proinflammatory gut milieu, all of which may have an interdependent effect on the health and increased risk of comorbidities in patients with PTSD