Occurrence and intensity of parasites in Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio from Anzali wetland, southwest Caspian Sea

The aim of this study was to detect the occurrence of parasites in Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio as the most important alien fish in Anzali international wetland. This undesirable fish was introduced accidentally to Iran with Chinese carp fries which imported to the country during the last decades and then acceded to Anzali wetland. Today this fish has significant stocks in Anzali wetland but there have been limited studies about the parasites of this fish in Anzali wetland. During this study a total of 90 Prussian carp were collected by electrofishing and gillnets from April through July 2012. After recording biometric characteristics, common necropsy and parasitology methods were used. A total of 2715 individuals out of 11 parasite species were recovered. Parasitofauna consisted of: two protozoans, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Trichodina sp.; one nematode, Raphidascaris acus; one trematode, Diplostomum spathaceum; six monogeneans, Dactylogyrus formosus, Dactylogyrus dulkeiti, Dactylogyrus baueri, Dactylogyrus arquatus, Dactylogyrus inexpectatus and Gyrodactylus kobayashii; and one crustacean, copepodid stage of Lernaea cyprinacea. The monogeneans had the highest prevalence values (88.89%). The occurrence of D. inexpectatus in C. gibelio is reported for the first time in Iran

Effects of water temperature and migration time on some fecundity indices and fertilization rate of female Kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum,migratory to Shiroud River in the southwest Caspian Sea

Kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum, is an commercially important fish in the Caspian Sea. The fish enters the rivers leading to the Caspian Sea for spawning. One of these rivers is Shiroud River. In the artificial propagation process of Kutum, different factors are involved in quality and quantity of female broods eggs and also in the best temperature and migration time for spawning. The influence of temperature and migration time on some fecundity indices and fertilization rate of female kutum in Shiroud River was studied in the spawning season. In this study, 90 individual females were studied from February to May 2007. Averages of total length, weight and age were 43.26 cm, 832.08 g, and 4.41 respectively. Results showed that maximum egg diameter (1.86 mm), number of eggs per each gram of body weight (309.12), relative fecundity (56.21) and fertilization rate (95.82 %) were obtained from 5 to 20 April (15.95°C). Maximum ovary weight (201.00 g) and absolute fecundity of eggs (49987.18) were obtained from 6 to 20 March (17.74°C). Relationship between temperature and migration time and fecundity indices was linear and weak

Injectable hydrogel scaffold incorporating microspheres containing cobalt-doped bioactive glass for bone healing

Injectable in situ-forming scaffolds that induce both angiogenesis and osteogenesis have been proven to be promising for bone healing applications. Here, we report the synthesis of an injectable hydrogel containing cobalt-doped bioactive glass (BG)-loaded microspheres. Silk fibroin (SF)/gelatin microspheres containing BG particles were fabricated through microfluidics. The microspheres were mixed in an injectable alginate solution, which formed an in situ hydrogel by adding CaCl 2. The hydrogel was evaluated for its physicochemical properties, in vitro interactions with osteoblast-like and endothelial cells, and bone healing potential in a rat model of calvarial defect. The microspheres were well-dispersed in the hydrogel and formed pores of >100 μm. The hydrogel displayed shear-thinning behavior and modulated the cobalt release so that the optimal cobalt concentration for angiogenic stimulation, cell proliferation, and deposition of mineralized matrix was only achieved by the scaffold that contained BG doped with 5% wt/wt cobalt (A-S-G5Co). In the scaffold containing higher cobalt content, a reduced biomimetic mineralization on the surface was observed. The gene expression study indicated an upregulation of the osteogenic genes of COL1A1, ALPL, OCN, and RUNX2 and angiogenic genes of HIF1A and VEGF at different time points in the cells cultured with the A-S-G5Co. Finally, the in vivo study demonstrated that A-S-G5Co significantly promoted both angiogenesis and osteogenesis and improved bone healing after 12 weeks of follow-up. These results show that incorporation of SF/gelatin microspheres containing cobalt-doped BG in an injectable in situ-forming scaffold can effectively enhance its bone healing potential through promotion of angiogenesis and osteogenesis

The N-P-K soil nutrient balance of portuguese cropland in the 1950s: the transition from organic to chemical fertilization

Agricultural nutrient balances have been receiving increasing attention in both historical and nutrient management research. The main objectives of this study were to further develop balance methodologies and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the functioning and nutrient cycling of 1950s agroecosystems in Portugal. Additionally, the main implications for the history of agriculture in Portugal were discussed from the standpoint of soil fertility. We used a mass balance approach that comprises virtually all nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) inputs and outputs from cropland topsoil for average conditions in the period 1951–56. We found a consistent deficit in N, both for nationwide (−2.1 kg.ha−1.yr−1) and arable crops (−1.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1) estimates, that was rectified in the turn to the 1960 decade. P and K were, in contrast, accumulating in the soil (4.2–4.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1 and 1.0–3.0 kg.ha−1.yr−1, respectively). We observed that the 1950s is the very moment of inflection from an agriculture fertilized predominantly through reused N in biomass (livestock excretions plus marine, plant and human waste sources) to one where chemical fertilizers prevailed. It is suggested that N deficiency played an important role in this transitioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A cost-of-illness analysis of β-Thalassaemia major in children in Sri Lanka - experience from a tertiary level teaching hospital

Background Sri Lanka has a high prevalence of β-thalassaemia major. Clinical management is complex and long-term and includes regular blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy. The economic burden of β-thalassaemia for the Sri Lankan healthcare system and households is currently unknown. Methods A prevalence-based, cost-of-illness study was conducted on the Thalassaemia Unit, Department of Paediatrics, Kandy Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka. Data were collected from clinical records, consultations with the head of the blood bank and a consultant paediatrician directly involved with the care of patients, alongside structured interviews with families to gather data on the personal costs incurred such as those for travel. Results Thirty-four children aged 2–17 years with transfusion dependent thalassaemia major and their parent/guardian were included in the study. The total average cost per patient year to the hospital was $US 2601 of which$US 2092 were direct costs and $US 509 were overhead costs. Mean household expenditure was$US 206 per year with food and transport per transfusion ($US 7.57 and$US 4.26 respectively) being the highest cost items. Nine (26.5%) families experienced catastrophic levels of healthcare expenditure (> 10% of income) in the care of their affected child. The poorest households were the most likely to experience such levels of expenditure. Conclusions β-thalassaemia major poses a significant economic burden on health services and the families of affected children in Sri Lanka. Greater support is needed for the high proportion of families that suffer catastrophic out-of-pocket costs