The effect of water salinity on growth and survival of Rutilus frisii kutum fingerlings

This research was carried out over a period of 60 days in the summer and autumn of 2005 in the Caspian Sea Aquaculture Research Station (Inland Water Aquaculture Research Center). Fingerlings of Rutilus frisii kutum weighting one gram were transferred to fiberglass 100 liter tanks each stocked with 35 fish. The fish were divided into five groups and treated with five treatments and three replicates including, fresh water, 4ppt, 6ppt, 8ppt, and 10ppt salinity by completely randomized design. We found that different salinities did not affect the mortality rate of the fish. Comparison of food conversion ratio (FCR), special growth rate (SGR) and weight gain (WG) between control and other treatments revealed a significant difference (P less than or equal to 0.05). We also found that the 4ppt treatment differed meaningfully with 8ppt and 10ppt treatments in terms of FCR, SGR and WG (P less than or equal to 0.05) and the same was true between 6ppt and 8ppt and 10ppt treatments for the FCR, SGR and WG. The results showed that the maximum and minimum weight gain were related to 10ppt treatment (mean 58.9 plus or minus 2.71) and control (mean 39.1 plus or minus 4.73) respectively. The minimum special growth rate (0.549 plus or minus 0.057) was referred to the control treatment and the maximum (0.772 plus or minus 0.028) was seen in 10ppt salinity .The minimum average FCR (3.93 plus or minus 0.122) was seen in 10ppt salinity and the maximum (5.6 plus or minus 0.601) was observed in the control treatment. According to the results, it is suggested that the optimal salinity for fingerlings with mean weight 1gr is 8ppt and 10ppt

Population of sand goby (Neogobious fluviatilis pallasi) in southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea using morphological characteristics

Caspian sand goby, Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi belongs to Gobiidae family. Because of their abundance in Caspian Sea, they have important role in the sea food chain in this area. This study was conducted from October 2005 to September 2006 in southwest coasts of the Caspian Sea in Guilan province. Samples were collected monthly from four stations (Astara, Anzali, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar coasts) from coastal areas to waters l5 meters deep using bottom trawl. Result of differential function analyses on corrected morphometric statistic showed three functions 51.3%, 28.4% and 20.3%, respectively, and sum of differentiative function percentage was 80% which proved difference among groups. The functions showed that samples in Astara station were completely different from other regions while they were similar to Anzali station only in some sampling points. Chamkhaleh and Astara stations were the same but Chaboksar station was a separated group. Analysis of differential functions for studied characteristics included on average 86.3% of the population with most of it belonging to Astara station (93.3%) and Anzali (90%). The minimum amount belonged to Chamkhaleh with 79.3%. The results showed that Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi probably has three different populations in Astara, Anzali, Chamkhaleh and Chaboksar populations

HAX1 Augments Cell Proliferation, Migration, Adhesion, and Invasion Induced by Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a cell surface receptor which has a multifunctional task in the process of tumorigenesis including cell proliferation, adhesion, migration, and invasion. Many of the biological functions of uPAR necessitate interactions with other proteins. We have shown previously that uPAR interacts with HAX1 protein (HS-1-associated protein X-1). In the current study, to gain insight into the possible role of HAX1 overexpression in regulation of uPAR signal transduction pathway, several function assays were used. We found that, upon stimulation of uPAR, HAX1 colocalizes with uPAR suggesting a physiological role for HAX1 in the regulation of uPAR signal transduction. HAX1 overexpression augments cell proliferation and migration in uPAR-stimulated cells. Moreover, HAX1 over-expression augmented uPAR-induced cell adhesion to vitronectin as well as cellular invasion. Our results suggest that HAX1 over-expression may underlay a novel mechanism to regulate uPAR-induced functions in cancer cells

Utility of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitors in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: From Concept to Application

Despite recent advances in the management of ovarian cancer, it remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a pivotal role in the progression of ovarian cancer leading to the eventual development of malignant ascites. On this basis, agents rendering VEGF ineffective by neutralizing VEGF (bevacizumab), blocking its receptors (aflibercept), or interfering with the postreceptor signaling pathways (sunitinib) provide us with the rational treatment options. These agents are generally used in combination with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we discuss the basis of and the logic behind the use of these agents in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, as well as their evaluation in different preclinical and clinical studies

Qualitative assessment of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum Kamensky 1901) stocks in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea (1991-2011)

The main objective of the present study was qualitative assessment of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum Kamensky 1901) stocks by using indicators of overfishing, condition factor and relative weight in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea during a long period (1991- 2011). Three fisheries indicators in catch were: 1) percentage of mature fish, with 100% as target; 2) percent of specimens with optimum length, with 100% as target; and 3) percentage of mega-spawners, with 0% as target, and if no upper size limit exists, 30-40% as representative of reasonable stock structure. Over this period, the condition factor and relative weight had a decreasing trend. The range of length with optimum yield was between 40 and 48 cm. The mega-spawner measured as fish a size larger than 48 cm. According to these three indicators, the percentage of mature (fork length>40cm), optimum size and mega-spawners were 62.0, 40.9 and 12.5% in 1991-92 which decreased less than 50, 38.2 and 8%, in the years 1992-2011, respectively. The length structure is a matter of concern. Therefore, for reservation and rebuilt of kutum in the Caspian Sea, the target was to let all (100%) fish spawn at least once, using bigger mesh size in cod end (e.g. 35mm, during whole fishing season). The aim was also to implement a fishing strategy that result no (0%) mega-spawners being caught, and the main catch focus on optimum length

Survey on stocks of Caspian Sea mullets (Liza aurata; Liza saliens ) in Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea

This study was conducted to determine growth parameters, catch and fishing effort trends, stock assessment of Caspian Sea mullets in the Iranian coastal waters of Caspian Sea in the fishing season of 2013-2014. For gathering of data on biometry and catch statistics, 5 mobile working group in the regions of Anzali, Kiashahr, Noshahr, Babolsar and Torkmen were involved from the start to the end of fishing season.Gathered data Were entered to the computer. For data analysis, common methods were undertaken for estimation of growth parameters, mortality rates, biomass and Maximum Sustainable yield (MSY) as well. According to the result, the number of beach seines cooperatives was 124 and fishing efforts were 44688 beach seining haul. The catch per unit of effort CPUE) was calculated 53 kg/haul during this fishing season. The total catches of Caspian Sea mullets (including illegal fishing estimated as 2373 mt. Growth parameters of golden gray mullet (Liza aurata) were estimated as K=0.16/yr, L_∞=57.4 cm, t_0=-0.45/yr. Based on catch-at-age data, in the fishing season of 2013-2014, the total biomass, from the biomass-based cohort analysis were estimated 12473.3. mt. Based on these results, the fishing mortality rate in fishing season of 2013-2014 were 0.575/yr. In this survey, the Maximum sustainable yield were estimated as 2558.6 mt respectively. Generally from three Northern Province’s cooperatives 3406 samples collected. Results of biometry of golden gray mullet (Liza auratus) showed that the mean length and weight and age of this species were 32.3±6.1 cm and 383.5±74.823.4 g and 1.2±5.6 y respectively and leaping gray mullet (Liza saliens) showed that the mean length and weight and age of this species were 24.8±3.3 cm and 119±25.5 g and 2.5±0.6 y respectively. The biometric results showed that, 97.5% of the samples belonged to golden gray mullet and population of leaping gray mullet was sever declined. Also, the fishing of the mullet was increased over the last year by 10.3 % from 2151 tons to 2373 tons per year during 1391-92 and 1392-93, respectively

Anti-MUC1 Monoclonal Antibody (C595) and Docetaxel Markedly Reduce Tumor Burden and Ascites, and Prolong Survival in an in vivo Ovarian Cancer Model

MUC1 is associated with cellular transformation and tumorigenicity and is considered as an important tumor-associated antigen (TAA) for cancer therapy. We previously reported that anti-MUC1 monoclonal antibody C595 (MAb C595) plus docetaxel (DTX) increased efficacy of DTX alone and caused cultured human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells to undergo apoptosis. To further study the mechanisms of this combination-mediated apoptosis, we investigated the effectiveness of this combination therapy in vivo in an intraperitoneal (i.p.) EOC mouse model. OVCAR-3 cells were implanted intraperitoneally in female athymic nude mice and allowed to grow tumor and ascites. Mice were then treated with single MAb C595, DTX, combination test (MAb C595 and DTX), combination control (negative MAb IgG3 and DTX) or vehicle control i.p for 3 weeks. Treated mice were killed 4 weeks post-treatment. Ascites volume, tumor weight, CA125 levels from ascites and survival of animals were assessed. The expression of MUC1, CD31, Ki-67, TUNEL and apoptotic proteins in tumor xenografts was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. MAb C595 alone inhibited i.p. tumor growth and ascites production in a dose-dependent manner but did not obviously prevent tumor development. However, combination test significantly reduced ascites volume, tumor growth and metastases, CA125 levels in ascites and improved survival of treated mice compared with single agent-treated mice, combination control or vehicle control-treated mice (P<0.05). The data was in a good agreement with that from cultured cells in vitro. The mechanisms behind the observed effects could be through targeting MUC1 antigens, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, and induction of apoptosis. Our results suggest that this combination approach can effectively reduce tumor burden and ascites, prolong survival of animals through induction of tumor apoptosis and necrosis, and may provide a potential therapy for advanced metastatic EOC