Epidemiological survey and geographical distribution of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan province, 2006-2013

Background: Leishmaniasis is a widespread problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries. Since understanding epidemiologic and geographical distribution of the diseases is necessary for prevention and control of Leishmaniasis. This study was conducted for epidemiological survey of cutaneous Leishmaniasis in North Khorasan Province, using GIS during the years 2006-2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data of the Leishmaniasis patients between the years 2006 and 2013 collected from the different districts ofN. Khorasan Province. The gathered data was analyzed by using Spps16 statistical software and chi-square test. Results:Data concerning 2831 patients with CL were collected.The maximum outbreak of the disease occurred in 2011 and theminimum occurrence was reported to be in2008. The mean age of the study population was22/80 ± 18/08 and the maximum cases of infection were observed in age group of 16-30 years. 58/6 percent of the patients were male and 53/5 percent of them lived in the villages. The maximum infection of the disease was observed in Esfarayen with 1095 people (38/7 percent). There was a significant relationship between the gender and age of the patients and cutaneous Leishmaniasis (

High Load Diminution by Regulating Timers in SIP Servers

To start voice, image, instant messaging, and generally multimedia communication, session communication must begin between two participants. SIP (session initiation protocol) that is an application layer control induces management and terminates this kind of sessions. As far as the independence of SIP from transport layer protocols is concerned, SIP messages can be transferred on a variety of transport layer protocols including TCP or UDP. Mechanism of Retransmission that is embedded in SIP could compensate for the missing packet loss, in case of need. This mechanism is applied when SIP messages are transmitted on an unreliable transmission layer protocol like UDP. Also, while facing SIP proxy with overload, it could cause excessive filling of proxy queue, postpone increase of other contacts, and add to the amount of the proxy overload. In the present work, while using UDP as transport layer protocol, invite retransmission timer (T1) was appropriately regulated and SIP functionality was improved. Therefore, by proposing an adaptive timer of invite message retransmission, attempts were made to improve the time of session initiation and consequently improve the performance. Performance of the proposed SIP was implemented and evaluated by SIPP software in a real network environment and its accuracy and performance were demonstrated

Chemopreventive effect of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruit extract on hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer is one of the most prevalent and deadliest cancers, which has been increasing greatly worldwide. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a well-known environmental toxin and potent hepatocarcinogenic dialkylnitrosoamine present in air, water, and in a number of foodstuffs. In the present study, we evaluated preventive effect of aqueous extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruit (ACO) against DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Methods and Results: The model of hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator that after two weeks followed by daily oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. Quince-treated rats were pretreated with ACO intragastrically at three different doses two weeks prior to DEN injection. The marked reduction of serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in ACO supplemented animals as compared with HCC rats at the end of the experiment. Moreover, the quince extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity by elevating glutathione (GSH) contents as well as preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues of DEN-treated rats. The relative weight of liver was also reduced in quince-treaded rats as a prognostic marker in HCC. Conclusions: Our results clearly demonstrated that quince has a chemopreventive effect against HCC in rats and can be proposed as a promising candidate for the prevention of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. &nbsp

Prevention of liver cancer by standardized extract of Melissa officinalis L. in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma: Its potential role as a chemopreventive agent

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Melissa officinalis L. (M. officinalis L.), known as lemon balm is a medicinal plant, which has a wide range of pharmacological properties. This study was aimed to assess the chemopreventive effect of aqueous extract of M. officinalis (AMO) against diethyl nitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Methods and Results: The model of hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator and after two weeks was followed by daily oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. Lemon balm-treated rats were pretreated with AMO intragastrically at three different doses two weeks prior to DEN injection. At the end of the experiment, the marked reduction of serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in AMO complemented rats compared to DEN-treated animals. Furthermore, the extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity by elevating GSH concentration and preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues of HCC rats. The relative weight of liver was also reduced in lemon balm-treated rats as a prognostic marker in HCC. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that M. officinalis has a chemopreventive effect against HCC in rats and can be suggested as a potential agent for the prevention of primary liver cancer. &nbsp

Cancer chemoprevention by oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifoli L.) fruit extract in a model of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent and fatal human cancer with poor diagnosis that accounts for over half a million deaths each year worldwide. Elaeagnus angustifolia L. known as oleaster has a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive effect of aqueous extract of E. angustifolia fruit (AEA) against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC in rats. HCC was induced in rats by a single injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator. After two weeks, rats were orally administered 2-acetylaminofluorene or 2-AAF (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. Oleaster-treated rats were orally pretreated with the increasing doses of AEA two weeks prior to DEN injection that continued until the end of the experiment. In the current study, a significant decrease in serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) was observed in AEA-treated rats when compared to HCC rats. Furthermore, the oleaster extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity by elevating reduced glutathione (GSH) contents as well as preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues of DEN-treated rats. The relative weight of liver, a prognostic marker of HCC, was also reduced in oleaster-treated rats. To conclude, our results clearly demonstrated that oleaster fruit possesses a significant chemopreventive effect against primary liver cancer induced by DEN in rats. It can be suggested that the preventive activity of oleaster against hepatocarcinogenesis may be mediated through the antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and antimutagenic effects of the fruit

Antioxidant and chemopreventive effects of Asperugo procumbens in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cancer is the fifth most common malignancy, with 0.25–1 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and chemopreventive effects of aqueous extract of Asperugo procumbens L. (AAP) against diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Methods and Results: The model of hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator that after two weeks followed by daily oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. AAP-treated rats were pretreated with the extract intragastrically at three different doses two weeks prior to DEN injection. At the end of the experiment, the marked reduction of serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in AAP complemented rats as compared to DEN-treated animals. Besides, the extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity that evident by increasing GSH concentration along with lipid peroxidation prevention in the liver tissues of HCC animals. In addition, A. procumbens showed in vitro free radical scavenging activity that determined by 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl (DPPH) antioxidant assay. The relative weight of liver was also reduced in AAP-treaded rats as a prognostic marker in HCC. Conclusions: Our results obviously confirmed that A. procumbens possesses a chemopreventive effect against primary liver cancer induced by DEN in rats as well as  in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities

The Effects of Synbiotic Supplementation on Metabolic Status in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract Data on the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic control and lipid profiles in women with PCOS. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done at the Naghavi Hospital affiliated to Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran, between April 2017 and June 2017. Sixty women with PCOS were randomized to intake synbiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus strain T16 (IBRC-M10785), Lactobacillus casei strain T2 (IBRC-M10783), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain T1 (IBRC-M10771) (2 × 109 CFU/g each) plus 800 mg inulin (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after the 12-week intervention to determine related variables. Compared with the placebo, synbiotic supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum insulin concentrations (− 2.8 ± 4.1 vs. + 1.8 ± 6.4 μIU/mL, P = 0.002) and homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (− 0.7 ± 1.0 vs. + 0.4 ± 1.5, P = 0.002), and a significant elevation in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.01 ± 0.01 vs. − 0.01 ± 0.03, P < 0.001). In addition, significant decreases in serum triglycerides (− 16.2 ± 31.4 vs. + 5.8 ± 23.1 mg/dL, P = 0.003), VLDL-cholesterol concentrations (− 3.3 ± 6.3 vs. + 1.1 ± 4.6 mg/dL, P = 0.003), and AIP (− 0.05 ± 0.08 vs. − 0.003 ± 0.10 mg/dL, P = 0.03) were seen following the supplementation of synbiotic compared with the placebo. Overall, we found that synbiotic supplementation to women with PCOS for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin resistance, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol concentrations, and AIP, but did not influence other lipid profiles. Keywords Synbiotic supplementation Probiotic bacteria Polycystic ovary syndrome Glycemic control Lipid profile

Investigation on feasibility polyculture of Litopenaeus vannamei with Mugil cephalus in earthen shrimp ponds

This study was conducted in order to optimizing of the biological condition and enhancing of the harvest efficiency for cultured shrimps of Guater site. Experimental design was consisted of three treatments and each treatment with three replications (totally 9 ponds with 600 m^2 area for each pond). After preparing and watering of ponds, the ponds was stocked with shrimp post larves in a density of 0.007±0.001 g (or 20 numbers per m^2) per m^2. After 35 days, the fingerlings of gray mullet were released to shrimp ponds in densities of 0/100 m^2 (T1/), 2/100 m^2 (T2) and 4/100 m^2 (T3). During experiment, the physicochemical parameters of water (temperature, O_2, pH, water transparency and salinity) were measured daily for two times (morning and afternoon). Also, the nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and silicate concentrations and BOD5 as well as chlorophyll (a), phytoplanktons and zooplanktons were measured every 15 days one time. To determine the organic values of the bottom sediment of the ponds, monthly sampling was conducted. Health status of shrimps was investigated monthly too. Growth rate, mean weight, survival value, Food conversion ratios (FCR) and total shrimp harvest (Kg) were measured after 107 days rearing in ponds. ANOVA analysis showed significant differences between treatments. The highest (212 Kg, 3533 Kg; weight mean was18.4 g for each shrimp) and lowest (187 Kg, 3116 Kg; weight mean was16.23 g for each shrimp) of harvested shrimps were yielded in T3 and T1 respectively. There was not significant differences between treatments in terms of survival rate (P>0.05). After 107 days rearing, the highest (1.27 0.2) and lowest (1.2 0.1) of FCR were observed in T_3 and T_1 respectively. Although, there were no significant differences between T_2 and T_3 in ammonia, O_2, Total organic material, pH and BOD5, but, T_2 and T_3 had significant differences with T_1 in these parameters. In this study, 27 genus of phytoplanktons belonged to Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae), blue-green algal (Cyanophyceae) and dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae) were identified. Diatoms with 20 genus had more abundance than dinoflagellates (6 genus) and blue-green algal (1 genus). Also, 7 orders of zooplanktons including copepod, mollusks, nauplius of crustacean and rhizopoda were identified. Health investigation of T1 (without shrimp) showed more pathogenic pollution (parasites and bacteria) than in treatments with shrimp. In this regard, among bacteria, the Vibrio genus (V.Alginoliticus and V.Fluvialis) had more abundance and among parasites zoothamnium sp and Epistylis sp were identified which more abundance was for zoothamnium sp. In conclusion, our results concluded that mixed culturing of white shrimp and grey mullet in optimum densities is possible and is caused more production of shrimp

Study on the possibility of producing low-fat spread using gelatin extracted from cultured carp wastes

By-products consist of more than half of the total weight of fish. Most part of these wastes made from connective tissue proteins that provide good potential to produce gelatin. Nowadays, consumers are more health conscious and have responded to the call for a diet that contains low calorie and low fat. This work involved the characterization of a low-fat spread made of fish gelatin as gelling agent, emulsifier and fat replacer. Six treatments with Fish gelatin (FG) to pectin ratio 1:1 and 2:1, with pectin concentration of 1, 2 and 3%, were produced and evaluated for quality changes and storage-life at refrigerated storage. The results showed that prepared emulsions were physically stable and no phase separation observed during 8 wks. The pH of treatments was 4.5 to 4.9. The moisture content of treatments varied from 68.9% for T1 (FG/pectin ratio 1:1) to 65.4% for T6 (FG/pectin ratio 6:3). The Max. lipid of samples was measured 28.4%. Max. and min. protein of samples were 3.8% for T6 and 1.6% for T2 (FG/pectin ratio 2:1), respectively. No significant differences (p≥0.05) were observed between ash content of all treatments and control (commercial margarin). The acidity of treatments increased during storage and were significantly different from production day (p≤0.05). Peroxide value (PV) of treatments increased significantly at refrigerated storage. No significant differences were observed between PV of treatments during different wks of sampling. The results of texture profile analysis showed that firmness, compressibility and adhesiveness properties were significantly increase with higher substitution of FG with pectin. Color, Aroma, Taste and texture properties of prepared samples were found to significantly lower than control, according to sensory evaluation. Significant increases were observed in mold/yeast and psychrophilic count of treatments during storage. The macroscopic growth of molds was observed on all samples in 8th wks. No coliform growth was observed in all treatments at any time. Results suggest that low-fat spread properties were significantly influenced by different ratios of fish gelatin and pectin incorporated. It seems that these results can provide new opportunities to develop market with introducing novel products to response consumer demands. Some quality defects observed in this study can be improved by using suitable machinery at industrial scale