Report of Erythraeus (Erythraeus) adanaensis (Acari: Prostigmata: Erythraeidae) from Iran

Based on a study on the Parasitengona mite fauna of East Azarbaijan province (Iran) accomplished in 2007 and 2008, several specimens were collected. Among them, Erythraeus (Erythraeus) adanaensis Saboori & Cobanoglu, 2010 is getting reported for the first time from Iran

Identification and Pathway Analysis of microRNAs with No Previous Involvement in Breast Cancer

microRNA expression signatures can differentiate normal and breast cancer tissues and can define specific clinico-pathological phenotypes in breast tumors. In order to further evaluate the microRNA expression profile in breast cancer, we analyzed the expression of 667 microRNAs in 29 tumors and 21 adjacent normal tissues using TaqMan Low-density arrays. 130 miRNAs showed significant differential expression (adjusted P value = 0.05, Fold Change = 2) in breast tumors compared to the normal adjacent tissue. Importantly, the role of 43 of these microRNAs has not been previously reported in breast cancer, including several evolutionary conserved microRNA*, showing similar expression rates to that of their corresponding leading strand. The expression of 14 microRNAs was replicated in an independent set of 55 tumors. Bioinformatic analysis of mRNA targets of the altered miRNAs, identified oncogenes like ERBB2, YY1, several MAP kinases, and known tumor-suppressors like FOXA1 and SMAD4. Pathway analysis identified that some biological process which are important in breast carcinogenesis are affected by the altered microRNA expression, including signaling through MAP kinases and TP53 pathways, as well as biological processes like cell death and communication, focal adhesion and ERBB2-ERBB3 signaling. Our data identified the altered expression of several microRNAs whose aberrant expression might have an important impact on cancer-related cellular pathways and whose role in breast cancer has not been previously described

NAViGaTing the Micronome – Using Multiple MicroRNA Prediction Databases to Identify Signalling Pathway-Associated MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs are a class of small RNAs known to regulate gene expression at the transcript level, the protein level, or both. Since microRNA binding is sequence-based but possibly structure-specific, work in this area has resulted in multiple databases storing predicted microRNA:target relationships computed using diverse algorithms. We integrate prediction databases, compare predictions to in vitro data, and use cross-database predictions to model the microRNA:transcript interactome--referred to as the micronome--to study microRNA involvement in well-known signalling pathways as well as associations with disease. We make this data freely available with a flexible user interface as our microRNA Data Integration Portal--mirDIP (http://ophid.utoronto.ca/mirDIP).mirDIP integrates prediction databases to elucidate accurate microRNA:target relationships. Using NAViGaTOR to produce interaction networks implicating microRNAs in literature-based, KEGG-based and Reactome-based pathways, we find these signalling pathway networks have significantly more microRNA involvement compared to chance (p<0.05), suggesting microRNAs co-target many genes in a given pathway. Further examination of the micronome shows two distinct classes of microRNAs; universe microRNAs, which are involved in many signalling pathways; and intra-pathway microRNAs, which target multiple genes within one signalling pathway. We find universe microRNAs to have more targets (p<0.0001), to be more studied (p<0.0002), and to have higher degree in the KEGG cancer pathway (p<0.0001), compared to intra-pathway microRNAs.Our pathway-based analysis of mirDIP data suggests microRNAs are involved in intra-pathway signalling. We identify two distinct classes of microRNAs, suggesting a hierarchical organization of microRNAs co-targeting genes both within and between pathways, and implying differential involvement of universe and intra-pathway microRNAs at the disease level

Seroepidemiology of toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women and risk factors of the disease in Golestan Province, Iran

Background and purpose: Toxoplasmosis is a common zoonotic disease that is of particular importance in women before and during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women and its risk factors in Golestan province, north of Iran. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 440 blood samples of pregnant women before delivery (2014-2015). Blood serum samples were isolated to determine IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and examined by ELISA test. Data analysis was done in SPSS V20 using Chi-square test. Results: Among the samples, 155 (35.2) were IgG and 25 (5.7) were IgM positive and 9 (2) cases were positive for both antibodies. A significant correlation was observed between T. gondii infections with abortion and ethnicity (P0.05). Conclusion: In this study serological test showed that about 57 of pregnant women had no anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in Golestan province. This means that these people are more prone to acute infection with Toxoplasma. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness, especially in at-risk groups. © 2017, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Refractory bipolar patient treated with oral methadone: Does methadone act as mood stabilizer?

Methadone is routinely used in the context of a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programme (MMTP). There are some reports of methadone�s effects in improving the condition of patients with affective disorders. The present paper reports the case of a refractory bipolar patient who was responsive to methadone syrup. The patient had previously received routine treatment for bipolar disorder without any obvious improvement in his symptoms. After methadone administration he made dramatic improvements, and was able to return to normal life. In this report we give a description of the patient and review the studies in the literature that are pertinent to this case. © 2018, Pacini Editore S.p.A. All rights reserved