miRNA-29a reverses P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance and inhibits proliferation via up-regulation of PTEN in colon cancer cells

Colon cancer is a serious malignant type of cancer in the world. Acquisition of multi-drug resistance (MDR) during chemotherapy is still a controversial challenge during cancer treatment. Accordingly, detection of safe and impressive MDR-reversing targets such as microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) can play critical role in cancer treatment. Here, the functional effects of miR-29a in chemo-resistant colon cancer cells is scrutinized. The effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on cell proliferation after miR-29a transfection has been evaluated using MTT assay in HT29 and HT29/DOX cells. Rhodamine123 (Rh123) assay is used to identify the activity of common drug efflux through membrane transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp). P-gp and PTEN mRNA/protein expression levels were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Flow cytometry was employed to the investigation of apoptosis. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni's and Sidak's tests were used to compare the data from different groups. Thus, it was shown that miRNA-29a overexpression considerably inhibited the HT29/DOX viability. miR-29a significantly down-regulated P-gp expression and activity in HT29/DOX cells and declined drug resistance through elevation of intracellular DOX. Furthermore, upon miRNA-29a transfection, PTEN expression could be restored in resistant cells. These results have indicated that miR-29a target PTEN ultimately P-gp, which is downstream of PTEN, inhibit drug resistance, proliferation, and apoptosis through PI3K/Akt pathway. As a result, miR-29a overexpression is led to enhance the sensitivity of HT29/DOX cells to DOX-treatment by targeting P-gp. MiR-29a might proffer a novel promising candidate for colon cancer therapeutics during chemotherapy. © 202

The study of nutrition and feeding position of shrimp, cultured in IRAN

The culture of Iranian Shrimps began in Bushehr in 1372. Early the green or the pink tiger shrimp (Penaeus semisulcatus) which were found in most habitats of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea were considered in breeding and reproduction, but due to reproduction difficulties, it was rather replaced by the Monodun imported species, then the production of the white shrimp Metapenaeus affinis and Then P.merguensis in some southern areas of the country such as Hormozgan has began in small scale,but none of these species couldn't meet the economical needs of the consumer society and they were not indelible and dominant enough in the shrimp aquaculture industry of the country until breeding of Indian White Shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus) has began in large scale in the provinces of Khuzestan and Bushehr, which are seen as the heart of shrimps reproduction and breeding, and in Hormozgan and Sistan. the incidence of white spot viral syndrome (White Spot Syndrom Virus) led to the import of the western white leg shrimp from the USA (P.vannameii) by the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO) in 1383, at the present all southern and northern breeding farms of the country (fundamental measures has been carried out in line of shrimp reproduction in Gorgan province in 1386) has put the breeding of this shrimp species as the single breeding species at top of their agenda. The subject of feeding the breeding shrimps is widespread and regarding to the non-proprietary species there are still some species which contain high protein than the other species in studying the different shrimp species requirements. In Iran due to the scarce factories producing the shrimp's food, the alimentary compound of the breeding shrimps during industrializing years of this type of breeding even after the non-aboriginal western white leg shrimp species being inclusive was stable and through different biological processes including: Naplies which feeds from its yalk and by entry into zoa stage start eating only small-sized phytoplankton. And by entry into the stage between zoa and mysis it feeds from phyto and zooplankton simultaneously and entering the post-larva stage it stars sarcophagi. and after 15 post-larva stage entering the growth and transition stage to earthen ponds feeding by concentrated industrial foods in large and small packages depending on young and adult mouth and due to feeding requirements of every stage the alimentary compound is nearly as follows: Digestible protein, energy, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals will start and the final product will be released in market Or they will be used in the later years of laying eggs and feeding for brood stock. In feeding section the details of every stage and their food's nutritional needs at each stage and will be fully described

Possibility study on using an Iranian cottonseed meal variety instead of soybean meal in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet

This study was set up to investigate the nutritional value and the optimum inclusion level of one Iranian cottonseed meal i.e. var. Pak, (CSMP) as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) feed. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) for these varieties were calculated in experiment 1 by using an indigestible marker (chromic oxide). Six formulated feeds consisting different substitution levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%) of SBM with CSMP, CSMS, and CSMA, respectively, were fed to a total of 540 rainbow trout with initial mean body weight of 50 ± 5 g. Fish were randomly stocked into eighteen 100 L. fiberglass tanks with 30 fish per tank and 3 tanks per diet and fed to satiation 3 times a day for 8 weeks. At the end of each separate experiment, 3 fish from each replicate for each dietary treatment were sacrificed to measure the whole fish body proximate compositions and liver gossypol content. After an 8 week feeding trail, the average weight gain, FCR, SGR, PER, DWG, PWG and CF of fish fed with different diets were measured separately. For all treatments, the survival percentage was more than 98%. Results showed that 100% and 80% CSMP showed in better growth in each experiment and 100% CSMP wasthe best in weight gain (104.3 g), FCR (1.5) and SGR (1.25%)

Investigation of breeding and culture in Iranian cichlid (Iranocichla hormuzensis) as endemic and ornamental species

Iranian Cichlid is an invaluable ornamental species which is domesticated in Iran and called Iranocichla hormuzensis scientifically, is living in the Hormoz zone, Shahou River (between Bandar Abbas and Haji Abad). The first phase of the research project started in September of 2012 and lasted about 18 months, focused on adapting the wild cichlids to cope with the aquarium environment. Therefore, about 63 male and female of Iranian cichlids collected from the natural habitat, Shahou River, then moved to the nearest city, Bandar Abbas to and released in aquariums which were filled by water of River where they were living. After few days they moved to “innovative aquaculture technologies research station” and reared in 100 liter glass tanks to monitor their behaviors. By initial days, the Cichlids seemed to be stressed out significantly, they were flashing, hitting them to the aquarium, trying to jump out and get discolored due to strange environment. By days, the stressful treats decreased and the experiments coped with the new environment. At the next step, schools of 5-7 fish organized to pear up. The mortality rate collected daily and accidental biometry recorded fortnightly. The rearing temperature adjusted and was stable at 37˚C. Finally, the Cichlids were completely adopted and prepared for mating and breeding

Comparison of neutral anolyte solution and malachite green efficiency on fungal contamination control of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) eggs in incubation stage

One of the important problems in Rainbow trout production industry is egg fungal infection especially saprolegniasis which is the most important mortality factor in Rainbow trout hatcheries. Controlling saprolegniasis in hatcheries was done using green malachite in the past years, which is a very effective fungicide. Nowadays, due to the prohibition of using green malachite, effort is done to replace it with other materials as an effective fungicide. Some of the most important materials which have been examined are formalin, sodium chloride and hydrogen peroxide etc. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of neutral anolyte on the mortality percent of rainbow trout eggs and produced larvae in point of view of growth indices and survival until yolk sac absorption and larvae active feeding in incubation phase comparing with green malachite to be able to introduce a suitable alternative. This study was carried out in a complete randomly plan with 7 treatments and 3 replications (21 troughs in general), in 20*35*70 cm (length*width*depth) Californian troughs containing an incubator. Treatments included anolyte solutions constant bathing with 0.5 and 0.25 ppm concentrations and periodic anolyte treatments with 2 ppm concentrations (every 2 days), positive control infected with fungus without any disinfectant and negative control without any infection or disinfectant. 300 grams of newly propagated green eggs of rainbow trout which were provided from one of the fish hatcheries in Haraz Road and acclimated with the trough’s water temperature, were distributed in one layer at the bottom of the trough basket. All treatments, except negative control, were infected with saprolegnia, taken from infected eggs of rainbow trout which were previously provided from one of the fish hatcheries of 2000 Road in Tonekabon. The treatments took one month to complete. The studied variables included hatching percent, percent of eyed eggs, abnormality percent and percent of unfertilized eggs, from which percent of eyed eggs was calculated and recorded in the middle and the rest of the variables at the end of the test. In this study Paired-sample T-student test, Levene’s test, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s test was used. For examining egg abnormality, hatching, fungus infection and eyed eggs, first the percent of the variables were specified and then for comparing the rate of abnormality in one of the anolyte treatments (which had the least abnormality) and green malachite, Mann-Whitney test was carried out. This comparison was done to analyze the rate of hatching, fungus infections, eyed eggs, resulting from the materials used in different treatments, using one-way ANOVA Bonferroni’s tests. Results showed that in lower anolyte concentrations (0.5 and 0.25 ppm), the number of fungal colonies of hatchery water and the percent of egg fungus infection were significantly higher than higher concentrations of anolyte (100 ppm and 30 ppm) and green malachite. In other words with concentration increase, the fungicidal effect has also increased. In evaluating the percent of eyed eggs, statistical results showed that eyed eggs percent in 0.25 ppm treatment and green malachite treatment were significantly higher than the other three anolyte treatments. This result can explain egg hatching in 0.25 ppm concentrations and not seeing hatching in the (other) remaining three doses. Between the treatments of 0.25 ppm and green malachite, the group of 0.25 ppm anolyte can be a better disinfectant for rainbow trout eggs compared to green malachite, for fish farmers, due to the high percent of eyed eggs and the low total count of fungus. The results of this study showed that the amount of abnormality in 0.25 ppm treatment has been higher compared to the green malachite group. Because this study was the first research on using anolyte as a fungicide in rainbow trout hatcheries, therefore for more specific study of the concentrations, the timing of usage and the factors affecting these two, more vast and general research is needed

Gene Transfer to Chicks Using Lentiviral Vectors Administered via the Embryonic Chorioallantoic Membrane

The lack of affordable techniques for gene transfer in birds has inhibited the advancement of molecular studies in avian species. Here we demonstrate a new approach for introducing genes into chicken somatic tissues by administration of a lentiviral vector, derived from the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), into the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of chick embryos on embryonic day 11. The FIV-derived vectors carried yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) or recombinant alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) genes, driven by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Transgene expression, detected in chicks 2 days after hatch by quantitative real-time PCR, was mostly observed in the liver and spleen. Lower expression levels were also detected in the brain, kidney, heart and breast muscle. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analyses confirmed transgene expression in chick tissues at the protein level, demonstrating a transduction efficiency of ∼0.46% of liver cells. Integration of the viral vector into the chicken genome was demonstrated using genomic repetitive (CR1)-PCR amplification. Viability and stability of the transduced cells was confirmed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunostaining with anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (anti-PCNA), and detection of transgene expression 51 days post transduction. Our approach led to only 9% drop in hatching efficiency compared to non-injected embryos, and all of the hatched chicks expressed the transgenes. We suggest that the transduction efficiency of FIV vectors combined with the accessibility of the CAM vasculature as a delivery route comprise a new powerful and practical approach for gene delivery into somatic tissues of chickens. Most relevant is the efficient transduction of the liver, which specializes in the production and secretion of proteins, thereby providing an optimal target for prolonged study of secreted hormones and peptides

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Persian medicine

Background and purpose: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is caused by infection with Leishmania parasites. Standard treatment of CL includes pentavalent antimonials that are currently used in severe cases due to prolonged systemic therapy, high toxicity, complications, low efficacy, and resistance against the drug. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new drugs or combination therapy for treatment of CL. The aim of this study was to review CL and its treatments in Persian medicine. Materials and methods: In this review study, relevant information was collected using 15 text books of Persian medicine. Balkh sore, Balkhieh, and Baghdad sore were used as search keywords. Notetaking was done and data was classified, compared, and finally a conclusion was drawn. Results: Epidemiology, etiology, clinical findings, and treatment of CL from viewpoints of Persian medicine were extracted. Conclusion: Traditional Persian medicine and its efficient treatment methods should be further assessed in clinical trials. By this, new treatments with lower complications and costs could be proposed alongside current treatments for CL. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Investigating the Mechanical Properties and Degradability of Bioplastics Made from Wheat Straw Cellulose and Date Palm Fiber

During the past two decades, the use of bioplastics as an alternative to regular plastics has received much attention in many different industries. The mechanical and degradable properties of bioplastic are important for their utilization. In this research cellulose of wheat straw and glycerol were mixed by different weight ratios and then reinforced by using date palm fibers. To prepare the bioplastic plates, the materials were poured in molds and pressed by means of a hydraulic press and simultaneously heating of the molds. The experiments were performed based on a 3×3 factorial design with three levels: 50%, 60% and 70% of wheat cellulose and three types of reinforcement methods, namely: no-reinforcement, network reinforcement and parallel string reinforcement. The effect of the two factors on tensile strength, tensile strain, bending strength, modulus of elasticity and modulus of bending were investigated. The results indicated that the two factors and their interactions had significant effects on the mentioned properties of bioplastics (at α=0.05 level) . The comparison of the means of the tests showed that the network reinforcement type with 50% cellulose had the highest tensile and bending strengths with 1992.02 and 28.71 MPa, respectively. The maximum modulus of elasticity and modulus bending were 40.4 and 2.3 MPa, respectively for parallel string arrangement and 70% of cellulose. The degradability tests of bioplastic using a fistulated sheep indicated that with increasing the percentage of cellulose, the degradability rate deceased. The maximum degradability rate, after 48 h holding in the sheep rumen, was 74% that belonged to bioplastics with 50% cellulose. The degradability data were well fitted to a mathematical model (R2=0.97)