Effects of different levels of dietary glucosamine on some growth performance, serum immune and biochemical indices of Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of different dietary levels of glucosamine on growth performance, serum biochemical and immune indices of Siberian sturgeon. Fish (9.3 ± 0.4 g initial weight) in 12 fiberglass tanks with a density of 15 fish/tank were randomly distributed and fed with different levels of glucosamine including: 0 (control), 250, 750 and 1500 mg per kg of diet (C0, T250, T750 and T1500, respectively) for 56 days. Based on the results, the highest final weight (63.1 ± 1.6 g), weight gain (54.14 ± 1.82 g), body weight increase (558.28 ± 23.23%), and specific growth rate (3.36 ± 0.08%/day) were observed in T1500 compared to the other treatments (p 0.05). The results of the serum immune indices exhibited that the highest levels of IgM (38.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL), C3 (5.20 ± 0.17 mg/dL) and C4 (20.72 ± 1.0 mg/dL) were observed in T1500 compared to other experimental treatments (p < 0.05). On the other hand, by increasing glucosamine concentration, the activity of hepatic enzymes including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase was decreased and the lowest levels were observed in T1500 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, glucosamine, especially at the level of 1500 mg/kg of diet, displayed positive effects on the growth and immune indices of juvenile Siberian sturgeon

Characterization of CD4+and CD8+T Cell Subsets and Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4) in MS Patients Treated with Fingolimod (FTY-720): A Follow-up Study

Fingolimod is a novel immunomodulatory drug used in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) which reversibly inhibits egress of lymphocytes from lymph nodes. In this longitudinal study, the frequency of Interferon- gamma (IFN-gamma)+, IL4+, IL17+ and IL10+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets were measured in Fingolimod treated patients before and after 12 months'(12M) therapy using flow cytometry and compared to those of naive, Betaferon treated MS patients and healthy individuals. Additionally, the level of transcription factor IRF4 and IL-6, IL-23, TGF-beta 1 cytokines, required for differentiation of IL-17+ T cells, were assessed by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. In Fingolimod treated MS patients, we observed a significant decrease in the percentage of IFN-gamma+/IL17+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. In contrast, Fingolimod increased IL10+ CD4+ T cells. We also showed that IFN-gamma+IL17+ co-producing CD8+ T cells were reduced in patients under fingolimod therapy. furthermore, Fingolimod could reduce the expression level of IRF4 in patients while IL6 was increased in the supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our data showed that Fingolimod treatment alters CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets and reduces expression of IRF-4, which affects the proportion of pathogenic memory T cells in peripheral blood

Dietary effects of lemon Citrus limon peel essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles on hematological indices and antioxidant defense system of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary levels of lemon essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles on hematological indices and antioxidant status of rainbow trout fry. Accordingly, the fish (4.74 ± 0.14 g in weight) were distributed in 12 fiberglass tanks with 20 fish per tank and were fed with different levels of lemon essential oil loaded in chitosan nanoparticles including control group with no additive (C0%), 0.5% (T0.5%), 0.75% (T0.75%) and 1% (T1%) for 8 weeks in triplicates. The results showed that the highest number of RBC was in T0.75% compared to T0.5% and C0% (p<0.05). The maximum hemoglobin value was observed in T1% and T0.75% compared to the other experimental groups (p<0.05). In addition, in terms of the blood indices, MCH index showed a significant increase in T1% and T0.75% compared to the other treatments. The maximum WBC and lymphocytes were observed in T1% compared to the other experimental groups (p<0.05). Serum antioxidant enzymes showed the highest catalase activity and glutathione peroxidase in T1% compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, superoxide dismutase activity elevated significantly only in T1% compared to C0% (p<0.05). However, the oral administration of 0.75% and 1% of lemon peel essential encapsulated with nanochitosan resulted in a significant elevation in the serum malondialdehyde compared to T0.5% and C0% (p<0.05). Overall, the results of this study showed that the addition of lemon essential oil encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles, especially at 1%, can enhance the hematological indices and antioxidant defense system of rainbow trout

Study of cultured rainbow trout contamination with Streptococcus iniae and Lactococcus garvieae in some fish markets of Tehran and Karaj(orginal reserch article)

Streptococcosis is one of the economically important diseases in the aquaculture industry particularly in rainbow trout aquaculture causing remarkable annual losses. Streptococcosis is known as a zoonotic disease causing morbidity and mortality in some consumers. In this study the status of farmed rainbow trout contamination with Streptococcus iniae and Lactococcus garvieae was assessed. For this reason, during summer months, 64 apparently diseased trout were sampled from fish markets of Tehran and Karaj. Gram staining was performed on grown colonies and then gram-positive cocci were further characterized using biochemical and PCR assays. The obtained results showed that 56.23% (36 samples) of the samples were infected with the both bacterial pathogens. The prevalence of S. iniae and L. garvieae were 32.8 % (21 samples) and 23.43% (15 samples), respectively. The highest and lowest prevalence rate of S. iniae was observed in the samples of Karaj (15.62%) and Kahrizak (0%) markets, respectively. In the case of L. garvieae, the highest and lowest rates were obtained in Karaj/Kahrizak (7.81%) and Meidan-Nabi (1.56%) markets, respectively. The results revealed that in some markets, the prevalence of streptococcosis and lactococcusis in cultured rainbow were relatively high. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further trials

Frequency of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) in Phenotypically Type2 Diabetic Patients in Qom

Background: Latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA) is a slowly progressive form of diabetes managed with diet and oral hypoglycemic agents before becoming insulin requiring. Islet autoantibodies are used for differential diagnosis between LADA and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aims of this study were to investigate the frequency of LADA using islet autontibodies in population with T2DM and characterize clinical and biochemical characteristics of them. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 86 T2DM patients aged between 28-67 years were tested for the presence of autoantibodies by ELISA technique. The Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody, Islet Cell Antibody and Insulinoma Antigen2 Antibody were evaluated for diagnosis of LADA patients. Results: Of 86 T2DM, 35 (40.70%) were antibody positive and 51 (59.30%) persons were negative for any antibody. A significant difference was found between groups in age at study, insulin therapy, C- peptide levels and family history of autoimmune diseases. On the other hand, no significant difference was found between the two groups in other risk factors. Conclusions: Among our T2DM subjects, the number of LADA patients were not high. Also, multiple autoantibodies were more frequent than single autoantibodies in LADA patient

Assessment of dietary chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) fruit extract on growth performance, hemato-biochemical parameters, and mRNA levels of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

In this study, the effect of oral administration of chaste tree fruit (CTF) extract was evaluated on growth performance, hematological indices, serum biochemical parameters, and the expression of growth and appetite-related genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus). The fry (N = 300; 2.40 ± 0.12 g) were randomly dispersed into 12 aquaria and fed with different levels of CTF extract (0 (control), 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) for 56 days. At the end of the trial, the highest body weight gain and the lowest feed conversion ratio were observed in the fish fed with 1.5% CTF extract (P  0.05). The levels of aspartate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were decreased by increasing the supplementation levels of CTF extract and the lowest values were obtained in 1.5% CTF extract diet (P < 0.05). The expression of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1, and ghrelin genes was significantly up-regulated in the fish fed with 1.5% CTF extract compared to other treatments (P < 0.05). Overall, the enrichment of goldfish diet with 1.5% CTF extract could interfere positively in the growth-related traits and hematological parameters

Comparing the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold and Mantoux test in detecting latent tuberculosis infection among Iranian health care workers

Objectives: The risk of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients with tuberculosis to health care workers (HCWs) has been well documented but little is known about the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in Iranian HCWs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of LTBI among HCWs by using IFNgamma-release assay and compare the results with those of tuberculin skin test (TST). Methods: Two hundred HCWs were evaluated with both TST and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube test (QFT-GIT). The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS v.16 Software. Results: The participants were 73 males and 127 females with the mean age of 34.36±8.26 years. TST was positive in 105 cases (52.5%) and the QFT results were positive in 17 cases (8.5%). There was poor agreement between the two tests (53%, к = 0.115). Induration diameter of TST ≥ 10 mm and working duration ≥ 10 years were independent predictors for positive QFT (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Due to the fact that BCG vaccination has been administered routinely to all HCWs in Iran, specifi c tests should be introduced for high risk groups. QFT thus seems to be more effective for LTBI diagnosis than TST among HCWs with BCG immunization history

Dietary green-synthesized curcumin-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles promote growth performance, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant status, immunity, and carcass quality in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study evaluated the effect of dietary curcumin-assisted green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (CUR-ZnONPs) on growth performance, haemato-biochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, immune response, carcass composition, and bioaccumulation of Zn in Nile tilapia. The fish (‎16.20 ± 1.02 g‎) were fed with diets enriched with 0 (CZP1), 5 (CZP2), 7.5 (CZP3), and 10 (CZP4) mg/kg CUR-ZnONPs for 56 days and then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. The highest growth performance (final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate) and the lowest feed conversion ratio were recorded in CZP4 (P  0.05). The mortality rate of the fish infected with A. hydrophila was significantly lower in the group that received CZP4 compared to the other experimental groups (P < 0.05). The principal component analysis demonstrated that the fish fed with CUR-ZnONPs have significantly higher growth performance, immune responses, and antioxidant status than the fish fed with the control diet. Overall, it is suggested to use dietary CUR-ZnONPs, especially at 10 mg/kg, as a beneficial feed supplement to improve growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune parameters in Nile tilapia

Comparison of Epstein Barr Virus Antibodies And Tcell Cytokines Production in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Individuals

Background:Multiple sclerosis(MS) is the most common autoimmune disease of central nervous system with destruction of myelin sheath mediated by auto reactive CD4+ T Lymphocytes. Because of the possible role of Epstein-Barr virus in etiology of MS and T cells immune response, the aim of this study was to evaluate anti-Epstein Barr virus antibodies as a marker of reactivity and production of TH1 and TH2 cytokines in MS patients and healthy individuals.   Methods: Blood samples were taken from 68 MS patients at different stages of diseases and 20 apparently healthy individuals and plasma levels of anti- EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and viral capsid antigen (VCA) antibodies determined and concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-12 and IL-4 in culture supernatants of PHA-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by ELISA.   Results: The mean levels of anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p=0.04, p=0.001 respectively). Concentrations of IFN- [1] , IL-4 & IL-12 were also significantly higher in MS patients than healthy individuals (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.002, respectively). Significant correlation was found between anti EBNA-1 and VCAantibodies and IL-12 production (p =0.02, r=0.27& p=0.04, r=0.25, respectively); whereas no significant correlation was found between these antibodies and production of IFN- [1] or IL-4.   Conclusions: Due to elevated level of anti-EBV antibodies and T cell Cytokines in MS patients Rather than healthy individuals, Epstein Barr virus may play role in etiology of MS disease through activation of T cells immune response