Involvement of the nucleus accumbensshell presynaptic NMDA receptors on anxiolytic-like behaviors induced by NMDA in adult male Wistar rat

     Glutamatergic system stimulationthe nucleus accumbens shell, may affect anxiety-related behaviors, aversive learning and memory. Glutamate receptors are differentially distributed in pre- and postsynaptic sites contributing to neuronal communications.The present study aimed to examine the possible involvement of the NAc shell presynaptic NMDA receptors on NMDA induced responses, using the elevated-plus maze (EPM) task in maleWistar rats. Bilateral guide cannulae were implanted to allow microinjection of glutamatergic agonist (NMDA) or ca+2 channel blocker (SKF96365 hydrochloride) agents. Pretest intra-NAc shell infusion of NMDA induced anxiolytic-like behaviors and impaired the EPM-associated memory upon test and retest, respectively. In addition our findings showed that, the intra-NAc shell infusion of Ca+2 channel blocker at applied doses, does not alter the anxiety-like response and aversive memory upon test and retest, respectively. Furthermore, infusing the subthreshold dose SKF prior to the injection of effective doses of NMDA, reduced the anxiolytic-like response and improved the aversive memory impairment which had already been induced by intra-NAc shell NMDA injection. Our study showed that,inhibition of the neurotransmitter exocytosis from pre-synaptic neuron via Ca+2 channel blockade bySKF96365 decreases affected induced by NMDA in the NAc shell region, indicating the involvement of the pre-synaptic NMDA receptors in NMDA induced responses.Therefore, NMDA's ability to increase anxiolytic-like behaviors and the aversive memory impairment may be the result of an action on pre-synaptic glutamatergic receptors which in turn decrease the glutamate effect at synaptic terminal level

Antibacterial, antioxidant and optical properties of edible starch-chitosan composite film containing Thymus kotschyanus essential oil

Thyme Essential oils (EO) with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and perfume industry. It is also used for flavoring and preservation of several foods. Nowadays, packaging research is receiving a considerable attention due to the development of eco-friendly materials made from natural polymers such as starch and chitosan. In this study Thymus kotschyanus EO concentrations ranging from 0 to 2.0%, incorporated in starch-chitosan composite (S-CH) film were used. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties significantly increased with the incorporation of EO (p < 0.05). Incorporating EO, increased total color differences (DE), yellowness index (YI) and whiteness index (WI) which were significantly higher than control and its transparency was reduced. Our results pointed out that the incorporation of Thymus kotschyanus EO as a natural antibacterial agent has potential for using the developed film as an active packaging

Normal Values of Nerve Conduction Studies in Children Aged 7 Days to 14 Years Referred to Electrodiagnosis Clinic of Iranian Children’s Medical Center

Background: The normal values of nerve conduction studies (NCS) are different in children compared to adults. Moreover, racial and geographical factors can affect these values. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the normal NCS values in children of different ages. Methods: The present cross-sectional study included children referred to the Electrodiagnosis Clinic of the Children’s Medical Center in Iran, who had normal NCS results based on the references and had no exclusion criteria. The patients were divided into 8 age groups (7 days to one month, 1 - 3 months, 3 - 6 months, 6 - 12 months, 1 - 2 years, 2 - 4 years, 4 - 6 years, and 6 - 14 years), and the NCS was performed using a Nihon Kohden electromyogram. The NCS values in the normal range were included in the analysis. Results: The normal ranges of amplitude and conduction velocity of 4 motor nerves (median, ulnar, deep peroneal, and tibial) and 2 sensory nerves (median and medial plantar), as well as the F-wave latency values of 2 nerves (ulnar and tibial), were established as the reference values for the pediatric patients. Conclusions: The NCS parameters of Iranian children were slightly different from the normal references reported by studies in other countries. Moreover, the SNAP and CMAP amplitudes and motor conduction velocity of these children usually reached the normal values of the adult population earlie

Pulmonary Delivery of Proteins Using Nanocomposite Microcarriers.

In this study, Taguchi design was used to determine optimal parameters for the preparation of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) using a biodegradable polymer poly(glycerol adipate-co-ω-pentadecalactone) (PGA-co-PDL). NPs were prepared, using BSA as a model protein, by the double emulsion evaporation process followed by spray-drying from leucine to form nanocomposite microparticles (NCMPs). The effect of various parameters on NP size and BSA loading were investigated and dendritic cell (DC) uptake and toxicity. NCMPs were examined for their morphology, yield, aerosolisation, in vitro release behaviour and BSA structure. NP size was mainly affected by the polymer mass used and a small particle size ≤500 nm was achieved. High BSA (43.67 ± 2.3 μg/mg) loading was influenced by BSA concentration. The spray-drying process produced NCMPs (50% yield) with a porous corrugated surface, aerodynamic diameter 1.46 ± 141 μm, fine particle dose 45.0 ± 4.7 μg and fine particle fraction 78.57 ± 0.1%, and a cumulative BSA release of 38.77 ± 3.0% after 48 h. The primary and secondary structures were maintained as shown by sodium dodecyl sulphate poly (acrylamide) gel electrophoresis and circular dichroism. Effective uptake of NPs was seen in DCs with >85% cell viability at 5 mg/mL concentration after 4 h. These results indicate the optimal process parameters for the preparation of protein-loaded PGA-co-PDL NCMPs suitable for inhalation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015 : A modelling study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier LtdBackground The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, which can become a reality with the recent launch of direct acting antiviral therapies. Reliable disease burden estimates are required for national strategies. This analysis estimates the global prevalence of viraemic HCV at the end of 2015, an update of—and expansion on—the 2014 analysis, which reported 80 million (95% CI 64–103) viraemic infections in 2013. Methods We developed country-level disease burden models following a systematic review of HCV prevalence (number of studies, n=6754) and genotype (n=11 342) studies published after 2013. A Delphi process was used to gain country expert consensus and validate inputs. Published estimates alone were used for countries where expert panel meetings could not be scheduled. Global prevalence was estimated using regional averages for countries without data. Findings Models were built for 100 countries, 59 of which were approved by country experts, with the remaining 41 estimated using published data alone. The remaining countries had insufficient data to create a model. The global prevalence of viraemic HCV is estimated to be 1·0% (95% uncertainty interval 0·8–1·1) in 2015, corresponding to 71·1 million (62·5–79·4) viraemic infections. Genotypes 1 and 3 were the most common cause of infections (44% and 25%, respectively). Interpretation The global estimate of viraemic infections is lower than previous estimates, largely due to more recent (lower) prevalence estimates in Africa. Additionally, increased mortality due to liver-related causes and an ageing population may have contributed to a reduction in infections. Funding John C Martin Foundation.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Dental Fear of Children and Its Relationship with Caries Experience: Dental Fear and Dental Caries

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess dental fear and its relationship with demographic information and dental caries experience in 6 to 12-year-old children residing in Urmia city in 2020. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 185 children referred to the Pediatrics Department of Alborz Dental Clinic were included. The Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS) was used to evaluate dental fear experience of children. Demographic characteristics including sex, gender, parents’ educational level and birth order were also recorded. Intraoral examination was performed by a pedodontist, and dental caries experience was recorded based on the DMFT index. The data were analyzed by the Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS version 16.0. Results Of 185 children, 83 were boys and 102 were girls; 136 participants had no dental fear while 49 had dental fear. The prevalence of dental fear was 26.48%. There were significant correlations between children's age (P=0.006) and birth order (P= 0.007) with their dental fear. But there was no significant correlation between gender or father’s educational level with dental fear experience (P=0.812), or dmft/DMFT index (P=0.128). Also, dental injection (71%) and drilling (49%) followed by the noise of drilling (45%) caused the highest mean fear among children. Conclusion The findings of the present study suggest that dental fear experience is probably not correlated with caries experience in 6 to 12-year-old children

Histamine determination in Koopeh cheese in West-Azerbaijan province by HPLC

Histamine as a primary heterocyclic amine has an important role in human physiology particularly in nervous system as a chemical mediator and neurotransmitter that was found in many foods such as cheese, milk, meat, fish, beer, wine and vegetables. Increasing of histamine concentration in foods is often related to low quality of raw materials, contamination, improper food processing or storage. Therefore, the amount of histamine content is used as a good indicator of hygienic quality in foods and the degree of freshness or spoilage of foods. Histamine can cause symptoms in sensitive consumers such as: redness of face, sweating, palpitations, headache, oral burning and bright red rashes. Cheese provides an ideal environment for the production of proteolytic releases of free amino acids and biogenic amines such as histamine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of histamine in Koopeh cheese as one of the most popular types of traditional cheeses made from raw sheep milk or sometimes cow milk in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. Experiments conducted by HPLC method on 70 samples of traditional Koopeh cheese revealed that the least amount of histamine was 2.43 ppm and the highest value was estimated at 1102.24 ppm. The average amount of histamine in cheese samples was 304.23 ± 150.89 ppm. Histamine production in cheese and other foods is based on the presence and growth of decarboxylase-positive microorganisms. Therefore, providing guidelines that reduce the population of these types of microorganisms will be effective on decreasing the amount of biogenic amines and histamine in particular

Antibacterial combined effects of nisin and onion essential oil under different concentration of NaCl and pH against Listeria monocytogenes in vitro

In the present study, the anti-listeria activity of onion (Allium cepa L.) essential oil (EO), nisin as well as their combination at various pH values (4.8, 5.8 and 6.8) and different NaCl concentrations (0, 0.5, 2.5 and 4.5%) was investigated against Listeria monocytogenes by microtiter plates at 30°C. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were assessed for the nisin, onion EO as well as their combination. Subsequently, fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) was evaluated under different pH and NaCl concentrations. Both nisin and EQ showed significant antimicrobial effects against L.monocytogenes. Moreover, the nisin and onion EO exhibited MICs of 12.5 IU mL-1 and 125 μg mL-1, respectively. FICs of the nisin and onion EO alone and in combined form, along with various combinations of pH and NaCl concentration, showed clearly anti-listeria effect as synergistic, additional or indifference. Regardless of NaCl concentrations, the anti-listeria activity of both agents was strongly influenced by pH. Moreover, regardless of pH value, the growth of the bacterium was also affected by increasing of NaCl concentrations. It was concluded that, pH value of 4.8 and NaCl concentration of 4.5% had significant anti-listeria effect. In addition, it was found that, the effect of NaCl concentrations for each of the combination forms of treatments at various pH was different.Therefore, there are necessity to design and apply a comprehensive predictive model

Biogenic amines determination in some traditional cheeses in West Azerbaijan province of Iran

Biogenic amines (BA) are nitrogenous compounds that possess biological activity. The source of production is the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids. This compounds are found in various types of cheese. The aim of this work was to evaluate the BA content of some traditional cheeses in West Azerbaijan province Iran. For this purpose, 70 samples of Koopeh, 10 samples of Lighvan and 5 samples of Red Salmas cheeses were obtained from local supermarkets of different cities of West Azerbaijan province. After preparation of samples, biogenic amines content was evaluated by modified HPLC method. The presence of histamine, cadaverine, putrescine and tyramine in tested cheeses were observed. Total amount of biogenic amines was highest in Red Salmas cheese with 1426.91 ppm. It followed by Lighvan cheese and Koopeh cheese with 1008.98 and 517.71 ppm, respectively. Putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine were detected in Koopeh cheese at levels up to 156.09, 282.34, 70.80, 8.48 ppm respectively. These amines were detected also in Lighvan cheese at levels up to 277.53, 342.74, 37.58, 351.12 ppm and in Red Salmas cheese samples at levels up to 438.03, 701.05, 105.21, 182.62 ppm, respectively. Large amounts of biogenic amines can indicate non hygienic conditions and contamination of used milk for cheese production

Antibacterial, antioxidant and optical properties of edible starch-chitosan composite film containing Thymus kotschyanus essential oil

Thyme Essential oils (EO) with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties are widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and perfume industry. It is also used for flavoring and preservation of several foods. Nowadays, packaging research is receiving a considerable attention due to the development of eco-friendly materials made from natural polymers such as starch and chitosan. In this study Thymus kotschyanus EO concentrations ranging from 0 to 2.0%, incorporated in starch-chitosan composite (S-CH) film were used. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties significantly increased with the incorporation of EO (p < 0.05). Incorporating EO, increased total color differences (DE), yellowness index (YI) and whiteness index (WI) which were significantly higher than control and its transparency was reduced. Our results pointed out that the incorporation of Thymus kotschyanus EO as a natural antibacterial agent has potential for using the developed film as an active packaging