Follicular development and the expression of BAX and vascular endothelial growth factor in transplanted ovaries in uni- and bilateral ovariectomized mice: An experimental study

Background: Several conflicting results have been reported on the survival and function of transplanted ovaries. Objective: Evaluation of the follicular development and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) in ovaries transplanted into uni- and bilaterally ovariectomized mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 female NMRI mice (21-days-old, 12-15 gr) were ovariectomized uni- and bilaterally (n = 20/ group), while the 8-wk-old mice were considered as intact control group (n = 6). 5 weeks after transplantation at the proestrus stage, the morphology of recovered transplanted ovaries and the proportion of follicles were studied at different developmental stages. The apoptosis cell death by pro-apoptotic protein BAX and the expression of VEGF were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Results: In the bilaterally ovariectomized mice, among the 455 counted normal follicles, a lower rate of primordial and primary follicles and a higher rate of preantral and antral follicles were observed (p = 0.002). However, the percentages of preantral and antral follicles, and the corpus luteum were significantly lower in the intact control group (among the 508 counted normal follicles in this group) compared to other transplanted groups (p = 0.002). The number of BAX-positive cells in all groups was not significantly different. The VEGF expression was prominent in vessels of the corpus luteum, and also in the theca layer of large follicles of studied groups. Conclusion: Early discharge of ovarian reserve was prominent in the bilaterally ovariectomized group but the incidence of apoptotic cells and VEGF expression as angiogenic factor did not differ in both ovariectomized mice. Thus, unilaterally ovariectomy has less side effects on the ovarian reserve compared to bilateral ovariectomy. Key words: Autotransplantation, BAX protein, Vascular endothelial growth factor, Ovariectomy, Mice

Modeling of Excavation Damaged Zone through the strain localization approach in Boom clay

peer reviewe

The Effect of Vitrification on Mouse Oocyte Apoptosis by Cryotop Method

Background: Oocyte cryopreservation is one of the most important topics in the field of assisted reproductive technology to preserve women fertility, but relationship between cryopreservation and apoptosis is still a matter of debate. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of vitrification on apoptosis in mouse oocytes by Cryotop method. Method: A total of 200 germinal vesicle (GV) and 200 metaphase II (MII) oocytes were obtained from ovaries and fallopian tubes of NMRI mice, respectively and divided into control and experimental groups. Oocytes in experimental group were vitrified by Cryotop using vitrification medium and were kept in liquid nitrogen for one month. The survival rate of oocytes was evaluated after 2 hour incubation time. Then, the oocyte apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL technique and compared with those in control group. The data was compared statistically using SPSS software and chi-square test. Results: The survival rates of vitrified GV (93%) and MII oocytes (88%) showed a significant decrease compared with the control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in survival rate of both vitrified oocyte groups. The incidence of apoptosis in vitrified and control GV oocytes showed no significant difference (13% vs. 7%), but the rate of apoptosis in vitrified MII oocytes increased significantly not only in comparison with MII control group (25% vs. 5%) but also with vitrified GV oocytes (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that vitrification increases apoptosis in mouse MII oocytes and apoptosis may play a role in MII oocyte injury after vitrification

The Merger Rate of Primordial Black Hole-Neutron Star Binaries in Ellipsoidal-Collapse Dark Matter Halo Models

Primordial black holes (PBHs), as a potential macroscopic candidate for dark matter, can encounter other compact objects in dark matter halos because of their random distribution. Besides, the detection of gravitational waves (GWs) related to the stellar-mass black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) mergers raises the possibility that the BHs involved in such events may have a primordial origin. In this work, we calculate the merger rate of PBH-NS binaries within the framework of ellipsoidal-collapse dark matter halo models and compare it with the corresponding results derived from spherical-collapse dark matter halo models. Our results exhibit that ellipsoidal-collapse dark matter halo models can potentially amplify the merger rate of PBH-NS binaries in such a way that it is very close to the range estimated by the LIGO-Virgo observations. While spherical-collapse dark matter halo models cannot justify PBH-NS merger events as consistent results with the latest GW data reported by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration. In addition, we calculate the merger rate of PBH-NS binaries as a function of PBH mass and fraction within the context of ellipsoidal-collapse dark matter halo models. The results indicate that PBH-NS merger events with the mass of $(M_{PBH}\le 5 M_{\odot}, M_{NS}\simeq 1.4 M_{\odot})$ will be consistent with the LIGO-Virgo observations if $f_{PBH}\simeq 1$. We also show that to have at least on $(M_{PBH}\simeq 5 M_{\odot}, M_{NS}\simeq 1.4 M_{\odot})$ event in the comoving volume $1 Gpc^{3}$ annually, ellipsoidal-collapse dark matter halo models constrain the abundance of PBHs as $f_{PBH} \geq 0.1$.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, references adde

Comparison of mouse ovarian follicular development and gene expression in the presence of ovarian tissue extract and sodium selenite: An experimental study

Background: Ovarian tissue extract (OTE) and sodium selenite (SS) enhance the growth and maturation of preantral follicles in a dose-dependent manner. Objective: The present study was designed to bring more information regarding the mechanism of OTE and SS on the mRNA expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR) and the proliferation cell nuclear antigens (PCNA) of in vitro matured isolated follicles. Materials and Methods: The tissue extract was prepared from adult ovaries. The preantral follicles (n = 266) were isolated from 12-16-day-old mice and cultured in the control, experimental I (10 ng/ml SS), and experimental II (OTE) groups for 12 days. The follicular diameter, survival, and maturation rates, also, the production of 17-β-estradiol and progesterone, and the follicular expression of PCNA and FSH receptor genes were analyzed. Results: The survival rate of follicles in the SS-treated group (84.58%) was significantly higher than that OTE (75.63%; p = 0.023) and control (69.38%; p = 0.032) groups. The mean diameter of culture follicles in experimental group I (403.8 μm) and experimental group II (383.97 μm) increased significantly in comparison with the control group (342.05 μm; p = 0.032). The developmental rate of follicles, percentages of antrum formation, released metaphase II oocytes (p = 0.027; p = 0.019 respectively), production of hormones and the expression of 2 studied genes were significantly increased in both experimental groups in compare with control group (p = 0.021; p = 0.023 respectively). Conclusion: The OTE and SS have a positive effect on development of mouse preantral follicles via over-expression of FSHR and PCNA genes. Key words: Follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, Ovary, Sodium selenite, Proliferation cell nuclear antigen, Mouse

Bladder Cancer Detection Using Electrical Impedance Technique (Tabriz Mark 1)

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignant neoplasm in men and the eighth in women. Bladder pathology is usually investigated visually by cystoscopy. In this technique, biopsies are obtained from the suspected area and then, after needed procedure, the diagnostic information can be taken. This is a relatively difficult procedure and is associated with discomfort for the patient and morbidity. Therefore, the electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a minimally invasive screening technique, can be used to separate malignant areas from nonmalignant areas in the urinary bladder. The feasibility of adapting this technique to screen for bladder cancer and abnormalities during cystoscopy has been explored and compared with histopathological evaluation of urinary bladder lesions. Ex vivo studies were carried out in this study by using a total of 30 measured points from malignant and 100 measured points from non-malignant areas of patients bladders in terms of their biopsy reports matching to the electrical impedance measurements. In all measurements, the impedivity of malignant area of bladder tissue was significantly higher than the impedivity of non-malignant area this tissue (P < 0.005)

Reverse Triage to Increase the Hospital Surge Capacity in Disaster Response

Introduction: Successful and effective management of large-scale disasters and epidemics requires pre-established systematic plans to minimize the damage and control the situation. With an increasing number of people in need of urgent medical care, hospitals must improve their response capacity, being at the forefront of responding to disasters and incidents. One way to develop the hospital capacity in disaster response is by reverse triage (RT). Objective: The current study was conducted to investigate the role of RT to create additional hospital surge capacity in one of the major referral academic hospitals of Isfahan, Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 at Al-Zahra Subspecialty Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The ten most common diseases leading to hospitalization in each ward of the hospital in 2014 were reviewed and, based on the prevalence, sorted and listed. Academic instructions for making a decision and possibility of early discharge was written and approved by an expert panel. On a day that was not set previously, the pre-selected in-charge person of each department was asked to run the RT following the instructions, and the number and percentage of those who were eligible for discharge via RT were determined. Results: The total BOR in Al-Zahra Hospital in 2014 was about 80%, so it was estimated that almost 140 out of 700 beds are vacant. The results showed that by using RT, 108 (20%) hospitalized cases could be discharged, and considering the bed occupancy rate of about 80% and 140 vacant beds, a total of 248 beds could be provided following RT. Conclusion: Running RT in 41 wards and units of Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital, on average, added 108 beds to the hospital capacity. This increment is not the same in all wards, as the role of intensive care units in RT for surge capacity is insignificant

Antibacterial activity of endemic Satureja Khuzistanica Jamzad essential oil against oral pathogens

INTRODUCTION: To assess the antibacterial effects of an Iranian endemic essential oil, Satureja Khuzistanica Jamzad (SKJ) when used as an intracanal antiseptic and interappointment medicament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial activity and minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of SKJ essential oil with and without calcium hydroxide (CH) against eleven aerobic, microaerophilic and anaerobic bacteria were assessed. The evaluation was carried out by agar dilution and well diffusion methods. The results were measured and recorded by an independent observer. Data were analyzed statistically using student t-test. RESULTS: The MIC for eight species was recorded in 0.31 mg/mL of essential oil. Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a MIC value of 1.25 mg/mL appeared to be the most resistant bacterium; while only 0.16 mg/mL of essential oil was sufficient to inhibit the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zone of the antiseptic oil (at 0.31 mg/mL) with E. faecalis in the well diffusion method was 13 mm; this was comparable with 12.5 mm inhibition zone value of the tetracycline disc (30 µg). No synergistic effect was found in combination of essential oil and CH powder. CONCLUSION: SKJ essential oil with the concentration of 0.31 mg/mL is effective against most of oral pathogens including E. faecalis

Levels of Simulacra: Brian Moore’s The Great Victorian Collection

The rise of the second phase of capitalism after World War II is contemporaneous with the increase in information production and the ubiquity of mass media. The incessant play of signs and images in the groundless cyberspace fuels the erosion of referentiality and reality in our mediagoverned era. The consequent absence of reality, as Baudrillard argues, is masked through the simulation of natural reality and generation of cultural hyperreality. The present paper aims at examining various levels of hyperreality in Brian Moore’ s novel, The Great Victorian Collection (1975), in the light of Jean Baudrillard’s comments. The mutation of the real into hyperreal and its subsequent reproduction in this novel threatens the authenticity of the notions of art and history. A central concern here is to show how the protagonist of the novel becomes the creation of his own creation by surrendering his subjectivity and agency to the hyperreality of films and photos.Key words: Jean Baudrillard; Brian Moore; The Great Victorian Collection; Hyperrelity; Reproduction; Mass media; Originalit