Integrating computationally assembled mouse transcript sequences with the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) database

Databases of experimentally generated and computationally derived transcript sequences are valuable resources for genome analysis and annotation. The utility of such databases is enhanced when the sequences they contain are integrated with such biological information as genomic location, gene function, gene expression and phenotypic variation. We present the analysis and results of a semi-automated process of connecting transcript assemblies with highly curated biological information for mouse genes that is available through the Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) database

Sleep Paralysis from the Viewpoint of Persian Medicine

Sleep paralysis, described as Kabus in Persian medicine (PM), is a state during sleep in which a person senses heaviness on the chest without the ability to speak or move. This study aims to review sleep paralysis from the viewpoint of Persian medicine. Five original reference books on PM were reviewed and data about the definition, etiology, and clinical features of sleep paralysis were extracted. Two main etiologies have been mentioned: evaporation of vapor to the brain and brain dystemperament due to cold reaching the brain; both of which cause weakness and dysfunction of the brain. PM recommends low-cost and available remedies for sleep paralysis such as dietary modification, oral and topical herbal medications, and manual interventions like “Fasd” (phlebotomy). Recent studies have shown the neuroprotective effect of these herbal drugs which can improve cognition and memory. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the recommended remedies for sleep paralysis

Modulation of Antibody-Mediated Immune Response by Probiotics in Chickens

Probiotic bacteria, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, have been shown to enhance antibody responses in mammals. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a probiotic product containing the above bacteria in addition to Streptococcus faecalis on the induction of the chicken antibody response to various antigens, both systemically and in the gut. The birds received probiotics via oral gavage and subsequently were immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to evaluate antibody responses in serum or with tetanus toxoid (TT) to measure the mucosal antibody response in gut contents. Control groups received phosphate-buffered saline. Overall, BSA and SRBC induced a detectable antibody response as early as week 1 postimmunization (p.i.), which lasted until week 3 p.i. Probiotic-treated birds had significantly (P ≤ 0.001) more serum antibody (predominantly immunoglobulin M [IgM]) to SRBC than the birds that were not treated with probiotics. However, treatment with probiotics did not enhance the serum IgM and IgG antibody responses to BSA. Immunization with TT resulted in the presence of specific IgA and IgG antibody responses in the gut. Again, treatment with probiotics did not change the level or duration of the antibody response in the gut. In conclusion, probiotics enhance the systemic antibody response to some antigens in chickens, but it remains to be seen whether probiotics have an effect on the generation of the mucosal antibody response