Microfluidics as efficient technology for the isolation and characterization of stem cells.

The recent years have been passed with significant progressions in the utilization of microfluidic technologies for cellular investigations. The aim of microfluidics is to mimic small-scale body environment with features like optical transparency. Microfluidics can screen and monitor different cell types during culture and study cell function in response to stimuli in a fully controlled environment. No matter how the microfluidic environment is similar to in vivo environment, it is not possible to fully investigate stem cells behavior in response to stimuli during cell proliferation and differentiation. Researchers have used stem cells in different fields from fundamental researches to clinical applications. Many cells in the body possess particular functions, but stem cells do not have a specific task and can turn into almost any type of cells. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells with the ability of changing into specific cells that can be essential for the body. Researchers and physicians are interested in stem cells to use them in testing the function of the body's systems and solving their complications. This review discusses the recent advances in utilizing microfluidic techniques for the analysis of stem cells, and mentions the advantages and disadvantages of using microfluidic technology for stem cell research

A study on the abundance and species diversity of cynipid wasps (Hym.: Cynipidae) in West Azerbaijan province, Iran

The induced galls by oak gall wasps were collected from various oak forests of Iranian province of West Azerbaijan in the regions of Ghabre-Hossein, Mir-Abad, Vavan, Shalmash, Rabat and Dar-Ghabr during from April to November 2009. The optimum number of samples was found to be 40 oak trees. In each tree, as a sampling unit, all of the existing galls were counted. The species richness of oak gall wasps in the West Azerbaijan province was measured and the parameters such as Simpsonâs, Shannonâs H', and Sorensen similarity indexes were calculated. In this study, 35 species of oak gall wasps on the oak tree species of Quercus infectoria, Q. brantii and Q. libani were identified. Most galls were observed on Q. infectoria. All of the collected oak gall wasp species belonged to the genera Andricus Hartig, Cynips L., Neuroterus Hartig, Biorhiza Westwood, Pseudoneuroterus Kinsey, Chilaspis Mayr and Aphelonyx Mayre. The genus Andricus included 23 species of oak gall wasps. The highest Simpson and Shannon indexes were recorded for the spring galls of Mir-Abad and for the fall galls of Ghabre-Hossein and Dar-Ghabr regions. The Sorensen similarity index reached its peak for the spring galls (sexual generation of oak gall wasps) of Ghabre-Hossein and Mir-Abad and for the fall galls (asexual generation of oak gall wasps) of Ghabre-Hossein and Dar-Ghabr. The distribution of oak species and subspecies, and geographical and climatic aspects are believed to be among the key factors for the species diversity of oak gall wasps

Serum overexpression of miR-301a and miR-23a in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of membrane-bound vesicles with complex cargoes including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. EVs have received significant attention due to their specific features including stability under harsh conditions and involvement in cell-to-cell communication. Circulating EVs and the molecules associated with them are important in the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs that have a role in regulating gene expression. Current literature shows that circulating miRNAs can be used as noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of cancers. The present study was set to investigate the potential role of serum exosomal miRNA expression levels in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and evaluate their correlation with clinicopathologic features. METHODS: Exosome-enriched fractions were isolated from the serum of 25 CRC patients and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using a polymer-based precipitation method. During the pilot phase, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was carried out on 12 CRC patients and eight healthy participants to evaluate the expression difference of 11 candidate miRNAs between CRC patients and tumor free subjects. Finally, the results were validated in a separate group, which was similar in size to the pilot group. The clinicopathologic data were also collected and the relationship between aberrant miRNA expression and clinicopathological parameters were investigated. RESULTS: There were high expressions of exosomal miR-23a and miR-301a in serum samples of CRC patients compared to normal controls in training and validation phases; these differences were not significantly correlated with clinicopathologic features. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that miR-301a and miR-23a were able to discriminate CRC patients from normal subjects. CONCLUSION: The findings provide evidence on the roles of miR-301a and miR-23a in CRC development and their potential roles as noninvasive biomarkers for early detection of CRC

A novel compound heterozygote mutation in the ARSB gene in a patient with Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome and its Insilico evaluation

Background: Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI)) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulted from a deficiency in N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfatase (Arylsulfatase B, ASB). The enzyme deficiency leads to accumulation of Dermatan sulfate (DS) in connective tissue which causes phenotypes related to MPS VI. Over 145 disease-causing mutations in the ARSB gene have been identified and reported in the Human Gene Mutation Database (http://www.hgmd.cf.ac.uk/ac/index.php April 2018). This study aimed to characterize molecular and clinical features of a MPS VI patient who was the result of a consanguineous marriage and perform Insilico analysis of the mutated protein. Methods: In this study, we scanned the ARSB gene of an Afghan patient lived in Iran and previously confirmed as MPS VI by clinical examinations and enzymatic assay. We performed DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing on the entire coding region and exon-intron junctions. The structure of mutated enzyme was evaluated by Insilico analysis. Results: Two missense mutations were found in exon six (c.1178A > G (p.H393R) c.1210C > G (p.P404A) which predicted to be disease causing. Conclusion: These findings implicate the compound heterozygote mutation in ARSB gene and could be important for prenatal diagnosis. This is the first study and the first compound heterozygote that we report in this region of Asia. © 201

Antimicrobial effectiveness of furazolidone against metronidazole-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori

The occurrence of strains resistant to metronidazole is causing failure of the 4-drug regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study compared the in vitro efficacy of furazolidone with metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline in 70 H. pylori isolates from dyspeptic patients. Of the isolates, 33% were resistant to metronidazole but all were susceptible to furazolidone. Furazolidone could be considered as an appropriate substitute for metronidazole for H. pylori infections

Serum concentration of Selenium in healthy individuals living in Tehran

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Assessment of Helicobacter pylori Viability by Flow Cytometry

Background: Flow cytometry is a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for determination of bacterial viability. Here we assayed the capability of flow cytometry to detect Helicobacter pylori viable cells in both forms of spiral and coccoid. Methods: Viable bacteria stained with Rhodamin 123 and fluoresced with laser beam of 488nm. The rate of Rh123 absorption was determined in both forms of bacteria. Results: In positive control that consisted of live bacteria, the rate of rh123 absorption was at highest, but negative control that consisted of dead bacteria, the rate of Rh 123 absorption was at lowest absorption. This method showed that non-culturable coccoid forms of H. pylori, which could resist environmental stresses, were alive and might be responsible for bacterial transmission and failure in disease treatment. Conclusion: Due to simplicity, reliability, and sensitivity of flow cytometry, this method is preferred to other expensive and no reliable methods such as autoradiography, PCR and Electron microscopy used for assessment viability

Advances of microfluidic technology in reproductive biology.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) reports about 70 million couples suffer from infertility all over the world. A lot of research groups are working on this issue and have made therapeutic approaches by integrating biology, medicine, genetics, chemistry, psychology, mechanic, and many other branches of science. However, these methods have their own pros and cons. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) has appeared to solve infertility problems. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) are the most common and conventional technologies in this regard. There are at least two characteristics of microfluidics, mechanical and biochemical, which can be influential in the field of mammalian gamete and preimplantation embryo biology. These microfluidic characteristics can assist in basic biological studies on sperm, oocyte and preimplantation embryo structure, function and environment. Using microfluidics in sorting sperm, conducting different steps of oocyte selection and preparation, and transferring embryo by passing sub-microliter fluid through microchannels results in low cost and short time. The size and shape of microchannels and the volume of used fluid differs from non-human cells to human cells. The most progressions have been seen in animal models. Results suggest that microfluidic systems will lead to improved efficiencies in assisted reproduction