Effects of starvation and re-feeding on some hematological and plasma biochemical parameters of juvenile Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1897

The effect of starvation and re-feeding was investigated on growth, hematology and biochemical parameters in juvenile Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus). Three hundred and seventy five fish (108±0.63 g) were divided into five feeding groups. The control group (C) was fed to satiation three times a day during the experiment. The four groups were starved for 1 (W1), 2 (W2), 3 (W3), and 4 (W4) weeks respectively, and then fed to satiation during a 4 week re-feeding period. The results indicated that some parameters including final weight, specific growth rate ,body weight increase, plasma enzymes (ALT, Alanine aminotransferase, AST, Aspartat aminotransferase and ALP, Alkaline phosphatise, hematological parameters [Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)]were significantly affected by feeding regimes. The plasma cortisol, hematocrit, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes were not affected by starvation and subsequent re-feeding. These findings showed that short term starvations had no significant negative effects on growth performance, most biochemical and hematological parameters in Persian sturgeon could recover when re-feeding resumed

Population genetic structure of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) between South Caspian Sea and Sefidrud River using DNA sequencing method

The goal of this study was to analyse the population genetic structure of the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) between South Caspian Sea and Sefidrud River with mtDNA control region (Dloop gene) and DNA sequencing method during 2010 – 2012 sturgeon stock assessment project. Fish speciemns were collected by bottom trawl net. Extraction of DNA, PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out. Diversity index, the gamma distribution shape parameter for the rate heterogeneity among sites and nucleotide sequence, Fst index, exact test, the historical demographic pattern using neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis (D test of Tajima and Fs test of Fu) were analysed. Thirteen haplotypes were obtained, average (±SD) for haplotype diversity was 0.961 ± 0.101, nucleotide diversity was 0.038 ± 0.015, the gamma distribution shape parameter was 0.19, Fst index revealed little genetic structure between populations and the significant Fst value was seen by 10000 permutation only between Sefidrud River and Other Areas (P≤ 0.05) and was confirmed by exact test of population differentiation. Mismatch distribution for Acipenser persicus appeared to be unimodal, which closely matched the expected distributions under the sudden expansion model and supported by the low Harpending’s Raggedness index (0.061). Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs statistics were -0.84 and - 0.220, respectively, and was not significant. The results of this study showed that the population of Acipenser persicus in Sefidrud River were genetically differentiated from South Caspian Sea and three other areas represented a single panmictic populations. Therefore, fisheries managements of this valuable species should be directed towards conservation of gene pools and increasing different populations

Identification of genetic marker for differentiation of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) from Russian sturgeon (A. gueldeustadtti)

The Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) is more abundant sturgeon species in the South Caspian Sea and consist the highest proportion of Iranian Caviar, meat as well as bringing maximum foreign currency income, however from systematic point of view and differentiation of this species from Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstadttii) a serious challenging issues remain, where some Russian scientist are believe that the Persian sturgeon is not as an valid species and consider it as a subspecies of Russian sturgeon. This research conducted with the objective of identification and introducing a molecular marker based on specific DNA for differentiation of two species of Persian sturgeon and Russian sturgeon via a proved molecular marker method. For this purposes 8 different molecular approaches such: Microsatellite, AFLP, RAPD, sequencing of Cytb, 16sDNA, ND5, Growth Hormone gene and finally Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) were investigated. Based on applied methodology, between 5 to 16 caudal fin tissues were sampled for each species from different region of the Caspian Sea, Sefiedrud River, Ural and Volga rivers. Following DNA extraction, its quality and quantity were determined and the PCR experiment has been conducted using 5-110 primers according to various methods and type of gene. The PCR products were electrophoresed on Polyacrilamid or agarose gels and followed by silver and Ethidium Bromide staining. In RAPD method, polymorphic DNA band was cut on the gel followed by purification and then the segments were cloned in vector in Top10 strain of E.coli, and then sequenced. Meanwhile for Growth Hormone gene in Persian and Russian sturgeon the MEGA 4, Gene runner software were used to design the appropriate primers for PCR amplification. The PCR products were cloned in PTZ57R/T vector and transformed in Top10 E.coli strain and sequenced finally. For all other genes, similar methods were applied for PCR amplification and its products were sequenced and statistical analysis as well as phylogenetical tree was performed. In Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) method, after genomic library construction, in total 14.4 billion nucleotides were sequenced and similarity/ differentiation analysis of two species were investigated using specific bioinformatic software. Results indicated that Microsatellite and AFLP methods showed high level of genetic variation both within and between species. The Cytb gene, when 4 sample sequences from each species were compared two species were differentiated, however when analysis repeated over 15 samples, the sequence comparison couldn't differentiate two above mentioned species. Full sequence comparison of 16sDNA and mtDNA-ND5 gene showed variation in some nucleotide in both species of Persian and Russian sturgeon but no significant. Results of sequences obtained from cloned segment with RAPD method and also specific primer design based on produced sequences could succeed to discover a variable DNA band that able to differentiate two species from each other. Results of the present study also showed that the growth hormone gene (GH) of Persian and Russian sturgeon consists of 645 nucleotide that translate to 214 Amino Acids. The sequence comparison indicated that the gene coding growth hormone in Persian and Russian sturgeon had the highest similarity with GH of Mammals (71%), Anguilaformes (63%) and less similarity with bony fish (37%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Persian and Russian sturgeon in compare to other organism are ancient species and this gene is originated from a common ancestor. At present study the most appropriate results obtained from Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) method by sequencing 14.4 billion nucleotide from genome of two species of Persian and Russian sturgeon from North and the South Caspian Sea could prove that the Persian sturgeon is a valid and independent specie. This excellent results is the biggest scientific achievement for differentiation of two highly commercial important sturgeon species in the Caspian Sea in last two decades

Relationship between optical coherence tomography sector peripapillary angioflow-density and Octopus visual field cluster mean defect values

PURPOSE: To compare the relationship of Octopus perimeter cluster mean-defect (cluster MD) values with the spatially corresponding optical coherence tomography (OCT) sector peripapillary angioflow vessel-density (PAFD) and sector retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) values. METHODS: High quality PAFD and RNFLT images acquired on the same day with the Angiovue/RTVue-XR Avanti OCT (Optovue Inc., Fremont, USA) on 1 eye of 27 stable early-to-moderate glaucoma, 22 medically controlled ocular hypertensive and 13 healthy participants were analyzed. Octopus G2 normal visual field test was made within 3 months from the imaging. RESULTS: Total peripapillary PAFD and RNFLT showed similar strong positive correlation with global mean sensitivity (r-values: 0.6710 and 0.6088, P<0.0001), and similar (P = 0.9614) strong negative correlation (r-values: -0.4462 and -0.4412, P</=0.004) with global MD. Both inferotemporal and superotemporal sector PAFD were significantly (</=0.039) lower in glaucoma than in the other groups. No significant difference between the corresponding inferotemporal and superotemporal parameters was seen. The coefficient of determination (R2) calculated for the relationship between inferotemporal sector PAFD and superotemporal cluster MD (0.5141, P<0.0001) was significantly greater than that between inferotemporal sector RNFLT and superotemporal cluster MD (0.2546, P = 0.0001). The R2 values calculated for the relationships between superotemporal sector PAFD and RNFLT, and inferotemporal cluster MD were similar (0.3747 and 0.4037, respectively, P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In the current population the relationship between inferotemporal sector PAFD and superotemporal cluster MD was strong. It was stronger than that between inferotemporal sector RNFLT and superotemporal cluster MD. Further investigations are necessary to clarify if our results are valid for other populations and can be usefully applied for glaucoma research

HRS white paper on clinical utilization of digital health technology.

This collaborative statement from the Digital Health Committee of the Heart Rhythm Society provides everyday clinical scenarios in which wearables may be utilized by patients for cardiovascular health and arrhythmia management. We describe herein the spectrum of wearables that are commercially available for patients, and their benefits, shortcomings and areas for technological improvement. Although wearables for rhythm diagnosis and management have not been examined in large randomized clinical trials, undoubtedly the usage of wearables has quickly escalated in clinical practice. This document is the first of a planned series in which we will update information on wearables as they are revised and released to consumers

Study on genetic structure of Caspian Sea sturgeons in the stock assessment of sturgeon in Iranian coastline of the south Caspian Sea

The population genetic structure of the Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) in the 2, 3, 4 fisheries regions and Sefidrud River was investigated based on the DNA sequencing method during 2010–2013 sturgeon stock assessment in the south Caspian Sea . DNA samples were extracted using ammonium acetate, the quantity of DNA was measured at 260 and 280 nm using spectrophotometry by Nanodrop (ND 1000 model), and the quality was checked by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Two sets of mitochondrial gene (D-loop and cytochrom b) after synthesis were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree was constructed for all haplotypes according to Kimura 2-parameter model using Mega Version 4.0.1, number of haplotypes, haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity and their corresponding variances, genetic divergence overall and between paired populations (Fst) by 10,000 permutations and exact test, the gamma distribution shape parameter for the rate heterogeneity among sites and nucleotide sequence, the historical demographic pattern of A.persicus using neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analysis (D test of Tajima and Fs test of Fu), also the concordance of the observed with the expected distribution under the sudden population model using the Harpending, s raggedness index (Hri) were analysed. All calculations were conducted using ARLEQUIN version 3.11 and DnaSP 4.0. The aligned mtDNA sequences of D-loop and cytochrom b genes were consisted of 500 and 700 base pairs (bp) respectively. 13 and 4 haplotypes were defined, the average haplotype diversity were 0.961 and 0.419, average nucleotide diversity were 0.038 and 0.002, The gamma distribution shape parameter were 0.19 and 0.20 indicating moderate mutation rate heterogeneity among sites in A.persicus. The lowest value of Fst for D-loop gene was calculated between Sefidrud and four fisheries region (-0.002) and the Fst values observed for cytochrom b gene was 0.04 with Nm=5.37 and not statistically significant. The exact test of population differentiation (non-differentiation exact P values) showed significant differences between Sefidrud and other areas (P ≤0.05) for D-loop gene and for cytochrom b gene was nonsignificant (P ≥0.05). The mismatch analysis produced a unimodal distribution of pairwise differences for both genes which was consistent with the sudden population expansion model. Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs statistics were significantly negative (D= -0.84 and - 0.99, P>0.01; Fs=-0.220 and -0.079, >0.01). ARLEQUIN calculated the value of t as 13.65 and the time since population expansion was estimated to be approximately 1501 years before present based on the mutation rates for the control region and this value for cytochrom b gene t= 0.98 which population expansion time was 7.84 years before present. The results of this study based on D-loop gene showed that population of A.persicus in the Sefidrud River is differ from other studied areas. Therefore fisheries managements of this unique and valuable stock for restocking and conservation of gene pools is strongly recommended

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Enhancement of the thermoelectric power factor in monolayer PbBiI: staggered exchange field effect

The unique features of the monolayer PbBiI originate from the gapped and gapless states protected by the time-reversal symmetry. These states appear with the angular momenta J = {1/2, 3/2}. The engineering of thermoelectric performance in monolayer PbBiI is highly desirable due to the forbidden backscattering mechanism of electrons. Herein, a known physical staggered exchange field is implemented to calculate the Onsager transport coefficients within the Kubo-Greenwood framework. This, in turn, enhances the power factor (PF) through highly dispersive and degenerate energy bands resulting from the staggered exchange field. We report exceptional 133%, 53%, and 22% enhancements of PF at temperatures 480 K, 460 K, and 440 K, respectively, when we turn on the exchange field to act on J = 3/2, J = 1/2, and both Js. The predicted PFs propose a new research line to achieve the highest thermoelectric efficiency in low-dimensional materials