Short communication: Occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in a platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus): A case report

According to prior reports, similar to mammals, fish are frequently affected by neoplastic proliferations. These neoplasms are classified according to the mammalian tumor classification System (Rahmati-Holasoo et al., 2010). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin neoplasm in which cells in the epithelial layer of the skin develop into a malignant tumor. SCC has been reported in both fresh and marine water fish (Mawdesley-Thomas and Bucke, 1967). Squamous cell carcinoma has been reported in a number of species, for example, Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. (Roberts, 1972); oscar, Astronotus ocellatus (Rahmati-Holasoo et al., 2010); rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Hanjavanit and Mulcahy, 2004); gudgeon, Gobio gobio (Mawdesley-Thomas and Bucke, 1967); gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus Goode (Fournie et al., 1987); and the hybrid sunfish (Fitzgerald et al., 1991). In spite of the fact that reports have been previously published on SCC in various species of fish, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first report on SCC in platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus) in the world

The Role of the Primary Sensory Cortices in Early Language Processing.

The results of this magnetoencephalography study challenge two long-standing assumptions regarding the brain mechanisms of language processing: First, that linguistic processing proper follows sensory feature processing effected by bilateral activation of the primary sensory cortices that lasts about 100 msec from stimulus onset. Second, that subsequent linguistic processing is effected by left hemisphere networks outside the primary sensory areas, including Broca's and Wernicke's association cortices. Here we present evidence that linguistic analysis begins almost synchronously with sensory, prelinguistic verbal input analysis and that the primary cortices are also engaged in these linguistic analyses and become, consequently, part of the left hemisphere language network during language tasks. These findings call for extensive revision of our conception of linguistic processing in the brain

Compensatory growth assessment by plasma IGF-I hormone measurement and growth performance in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study aimed to show the difference in compensatory growth (CG) with different starvation and feeding periods replications, depending on the IGF-I hormone level in the blood. There were 4 treatments in 3 replications. Other indexes like food coefficient ratio (FCR), specific growth rate (SGR) and daily food intake were also examined during the experiment. Fish were fed twice a day ad libitum as follows during the 65 days. Treatment A (TA): control treatment, continues feeding. Treatment B (TB): 4 weeks of starvation and 5 weeks of re-feeding. Treatment C (TC): 3 weeks of starvation and 5 weeks of re-feeding. Treatment D (TD): 2 weeks of starvation and 5 weeks of re-feeding. Each tank contained 23fishes in each unit with an initial mean weight (SD) of 47.19 ± 0.42 (g). Blood was sampled in IGF-I hormone concentration at the beginning of the experiment, at the end of the starvation period and every 12 days in re-feeding periods. There was no significant difference between the treatments in FCR (P > 0.05). TB and TC had significant difference (P < 0.01) in comparison with other treatments in SGR, but no significant difference was observed among them (P > 0.05). IGF-I concentrations came down in comparison with control treatment at the end of the starvation period (Day 29) (P < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed among the treatments at the end of the re-feeding period (P > 0.05). According to the results, TB and TC showed more indexes of CG in comparison with TA and TD. Still IGF-I cannot show the quality of CG alone and other growth relating physiological elements in different feeding diets and regimes will be evaluated in future studies

Evaluation of mRNA expression levels of cyp51a and mdr1, candidate genes for voriconazole resistance in Aspergillus flavus

Background: Voriconazole Resistance (VRC-R) in Aspergillus flavus isolates impacts the management of aspergillosis, since azoles are the first choice for prophylaxis and therapy. However, to the best of our knowledge, the mechanisms underlying voriconazole resistance are poorly understood. Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate mRNA expression levels of cyp51A and mdr1 genes in voriconazole resistant A. flavus by a Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Materials and Methods: Five A. flavus isolates with resistance to VRC were examined by a RT-PCR approach. Results: Four out of five isolates revealed cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA overexpression. Interestingly, the isolate, which was negative for cyp51A and mdr1 mRNA expression showed a high voriconazole Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Furthermore, a computational-based analysis predicted that voriconazole resistance could be mediated through cooperation with a network protein interaction. Conclusions: Our experimental and in silico findings may provide new insight in the complex molecular pathways of drug resistance and also could assist design an efficient therapeutic strategy for aspergillosis treatment. © 2015 Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences

Incidence of Linguatula serrata nymphs and pathological lesions of mesenteric lymph nodes in cattle from Urmia, Iran

This study was aimed to determine the infection rates of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) with Lin-guatula serrata nymphs and their pathological lesions. From November 2012 to June 2013, the MLNs of 104 cattle were randomly sampled in Urmia slaughterhouse, northwestern Iran. They were examined macroscopically and histopathologically. The infected and non-infected lymph nodes were processed for histopathology. They were examined under light microscope and observations were recorded. The results indicated that out of 104 sampled cattle, 63 (60.57%) were infected. Macro-scopic examination revealed that the infected lymph nodes were swollen and dark, with rubbery con-sistency, some with subcapsular haemorrhages on cutting. The mean number of counted lymph node follicles in the nodes from healthy cattle at random microscopic levels was 18±2.8 (range 15–23), compared to 48.9±3.7 (range 44–57) in the infected nodes. Because L. serrata is a zoonotic parasite, preventive measures should be adopted to break the parasite’s cycle and minimise the risk of infection in both humans and other animals

The effect of magnesium on bioactivity, rheology and biology behaviors of injectable bioactive glass-gelatin-3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane nanocomposite-paste for small bone defects repair

Injectable bioactive glass-based pastes represent promising biomaterials to fill small bone defects thus improving and speed up the self-healing process. Accordingly, injectable nanocomposite pastes based on bioactive glass-gelatin-3-glycidyloxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) were here synthesized via two different glasses 64SiO2. 27CaO. 4MgO. 5P2O5 (mol.%) and 64SiO2.31CaO. 5P2O5 (mol.%). In particular, the effects of MgO on bioactivity, rheology, injectability, disintegration resistance, compressive strength and cellular behaviors were investigated. The results showed that the disintegration resistance and compressive strength of the composite were improved by the replacement of MgO; thus, leading to an increase in the amount of storage modulus (G′) from 26800 to 43400 Pa, equal to an increase in the viscosity of the paste from 136 × 103 to 219 × 103 Pa s. Since the release rate of ions became more controllable, the formation of calcite was decreased after immersion of the Mg bearing samples in the SBF solution. Specimens’ cytocompatibility was firstly verified towards human osteoblasts by metabolic assay as well as visually confirmed by the fluorescent live/dead staining; finally, the ability of human fibroblasts to penetrate within the pores of 3D composites was verified by a migration assay simulating the devices repopulation upon injection in the injured site

Pattern of wave height changes around of pontoon's floating breakwater

The main goal of using floating breakwaters is to provide a sheltered area of calm water in a coastal zone. In the present research, for analyzing the hydrodynamic modeling of pontoon floating breakwaters, the AQWA module of ANSYS was selected. The main parameters that have been considered in this research are the patterns of significant wave height, wave period, and draft and the width of floating pontoons. Wave transmission coefficient can be obtained from water surface changes in any point of the leeward. Results of the numerical modeling demonstrate that a pontoon floating breakwater with a relative width of greater than 0.4 has an appropriate performance. Also, it has been found that the transmission coefficient of pontoon floating breakwaters will be in the range of 0.35 to 0.60 if the relative wave period changes in the range of 1.5 to 4