Growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood metabolites of broiler chickens fed diets formulated on total or digestible amino acids basis with bovine bile salts powder and soybean oil

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood metabolites of broiler chickens fed diets formulated on total or digestible amino acids (TAA or DAA) basis with bovine bile salts powder (BBSP) and different levels of soybean oil (SO). A total of two hundred and forty 1-day old chicks were randomly allocated to eight treatments with three replicates of 10 birds. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with 2×2×2 factorial arrangement, including two levels of BBSP, two levels of SO and two methods of amino acids balance (TAA or DAA) in diets. The results showed that main effects of BBSP, SO and feed formulation procedures (TAA or DAA) had no effects on all growth performance parameters (P > 0.05). Carcass traits, except for thigh weight, were not influenced by all dietary treatments (P > 0.05). The birds fed diets with BBSP had a greater thigh weight than the other group. The results of blood biochemical metabolites indicated that serum triglyceride was affected by amino acid formulation method (P 0.05). The results indicated that liver enzymes activities including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were not influenced by dietary BBSP and SO (P > 0.05). However, AST activity was affected by amino acids formulation procedure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of bile salts (BBSP), different inclusion rate of SO and amino acids balance method (DAA or TAA) in broiler diets had no negative effects on all growth performance and carcass traits

Stabilization of arbitrary switched nonlinear fractional order dynamical systems : application to Francis Hydro-Turbine Governing System

This paper is a theoretical and practical study on the stabilization of fractional order Lipschitz nonlinear systems under arbitrary switching. The investigated system is a generalization of both switched and fractional order dynamical systems. Firstly, a switched frequency distributed model is introduced as an equivalent for the system. Subsequently, a sufficient condition is obtained for the stabilizability of the system based on the Lyapunov approach. Finally, the results are extended to synthesis mode-dependent state feedback controller for the system. All the results are expressed in terms of coupled linear matrix inequalities, which are solvable by optimization tools and directly reducible to the conditions of the integer order nonlinear switching systems as well as the conventional non-switched nonlinear fractional order systems. The proposed method has various practical implications. As an example, it is utilized to control Francis hydro-turbine governing system. This system is represented as a switching structure and supposed to supply a load suffering abrupt changes driven by an arbitrary switching mechanism. The simulation results support the usefulness of the method

Factors associated with control of type 2 diabetes mellitus in North Iran

Backround. Diabetes is an important public health problem, one of four priority noncommunicable diseases targeted for action by world leaders. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors affecting diabetes control in patients with type 2 diabetes in the rural areas of northern Iran. Methods. This study was conducted following a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study design based on the data of 308 patients with type 2 diabetes in the rural areas of Golestan province. The samples were selected through two-stage stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire (completed by the interviewer) and by measuring the blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid profile of patients and also using data from patients’ records. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics and SPSS version 19. Results. The mean age of patients was 57 ± 15 years and 220 patients (71%) were female. Fifty-five percent of patients had a family history of diabetes and 69% had comorbidity. The mean vegetable intake in patients was 3 days a week with 1.5 servings per day and only 20% had exercise at least three times a week. The proportion of patients with adequately controlled glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c), blood pressure (BP), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were 27, 91, 31, 41 and 55.5%, respectively. There was also a significant relationship between the controlled blood glucose with increasing age, absence of comorbidity, the number of nutrition counseling, and lowering blood triglycerides. Conclusion. The results of this study showed poor blood glucose control in the studied geography. Therefore, considering these data, it seems necessary to review the national plan for the prevention and control of diabetes

The differential DNA hypermethylation patterns of 2 microRNA-137 and microRNA-342 locus in early 3 colorectal lesions and tumours

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, representing 13% of all cancers. The role of epigenetics in cancer diagnosis and prognosis is well established. MicroRNAs in particular influence numerous cancer associated processes including apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, cell-cycle controls, migration/invasion and metabolism. MiRNAs-137 and 342 are exon- and intron-embedded, respectively, acting as tumour-suppressive microRNA via hypermethylation events. Levels of miRNAs 137 and 342 have been investigated here as potential prognostic markers for colorectal cancer patients. The methylation status of miRNA-137 and miRNA-342 was evaluated using methylation-specific (MSP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on freshly frozen tissue derived from 51 polyps, 8 tumours and 14 normal colon mucosa specimens. Methylation status of miRNA-137 and miRNA-342 was significantly higher in tumour lesions compared to normal adjacent mucosa. Surprisingly, the methylation frequency of miR-342 (76.3%) among colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to miR-137 (18.6%). Furthermore, normal tissues, adjacent to the lesions (N-Cs), displayed no observable methylation for miRNA-137, whereas 27.2% of these N-Cs showed miRNA-342 hypermethylation. MiRNA-137 hypermethylation was significantly higher in male patients and miR-342 hypermethylation correlated with patient age. Methylation status of miRNA-137 and miRNA-342 has both diagnostic and prognostic value in CRC prediction and prevention

Quality of diabetes care and its consequences in Northern Iran

Background. Diabetes is an important public health problem. This study aimed to investigate the quality of care in patients with diabetes type 2 and its consequences in rural areas at Golestan province, North of Iran, in comparison to standards of the Ministry of Health and Education of Iran and the American Diabetes Association.   Methods. This was a cross-sectional study based on data from 308 patients with diabetes type 2 in rural areas at Golestan province, which was conducted through a two-stage classified sampling method and random selection. Data of this research was gathered through a questionnaire (fulfilled by the interviewer), assessment blood sugar, and information obtained from patients’ files. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and SPSS version19.   Results. The mean age of patients was 57 years and 88 patients (29%) were male. Only 35% of patients were visited seasonally by a family physician. In addition, only 24% of patients were visited at least once a year by an ophthalmologist, and 31% of patients underwent a glycated hemoglobin test at least twice a year. Influenza and hepatitis vaccines were given to 1.6% and 9.4% of patients, respectively. 85% of patients were evaluated once a year for lipid profile and 61% for creatine and albumin. Only 31% of patients received nutrition counseling at least once a year. Controlled glycated hemoglobin (HBA1c) was 27% and most patients were in the range of overweight and obesity (&gt; 75%).   Conclusion. The findings of this study showed that the quality of diabetes care and its consequences in patients is not desirable and is far from the standards provided by the Iran’s Ministry of Health and the American Diabetes Association and requires revision in the current program of diabetes control

Evaluation of LncRNA uc.173 and Occludin in Iranian Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Compared with Healthy Individuals

Background & Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by the chronic gastrointestinal inflammation. The two common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) that are distinguished by their location and depth of involvement in the diffuse inflammation of the colonic mucosa and affects the rectum (proctitis). A novel class of LncRNAs transcribed from ultra-conserved regions (UCRs) is a recently identified ultra-conserved region (T-UCR) transcript that is involved in the cellular function in a variety of pathways. However, the regulation of LncRNA uc.173 in IBD remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to examine the expression of LncRNA uc.173 and Occludin genes in an Iranian population with inflammatory bowel disease. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was performed on 33 inflammatory bowel disease patients including 13 Crohn's disease, 20 ulcerative colitis and 20 healthy controls. The mRNA levels of LncRNA uc.173 and Occludin genes were assessed using the quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction. The B2M was used as an internal control. The 2 -ΔΔCq method was used to determine the expression fold changes. Results: Statistically, the level of the LncRNA uc.173 gene expression between the UC and normal tissues increased significantly(P=0.0024). Also, the expression analysis revealed no significant difference between the samples of CD patients compared to the controls (P>0.05). In order to further evaluate the role of LncRNA uc.173 in IBD, the associations between the transcript levels of the LncRNA uc.173 and Occludin mRNA demonstrated significant difference in the CD tissue (R=0.59; P=0.002). In our study, the mRNA expression of Occludin gene did not show any changes in the IBD patients compared to the healthy controls. Conclusion: The increased expression of LncRNA uc.173 in the tissues of UC patients may be considered as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker. Also, there was no correlation found between Occludin and LncRNA uc.173 expressions in the IBD patients' tissues

miR-142-3p is a tumor suppressor that inhibits estrogen receptor expression in ER-positive breast cancer

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are involved in the development of many types of malignant tumors, in particular, breast cancer. Among others, ERs affect cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The microRNA (miRNA) miR-142-3p has been shown to inhibit carcinogenesis by regulating various cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, cell migration, apoptosis, and invasion. It does so via targeting molecules involved in a range of signaling pathways. We surgically collected 20 ER-positive breast cancer samples, each with matched adjacent normal breast tissue, and measured the expression of miR-142-3p via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics methods, luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis were used to assess whether miR-142-3p could target ESR1, which encodes the estrogen receptor, in ER-positive breast cancer cells and patient samples. We also restored miRNA expression and performed cell viability, cytotoxicity, and colony formation assays. Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR were used to study the expression of apoptosis and stemness markers. We found that miR-142-3p is downregulated in ER-positive breast cancers. Restoration of miR-142-3p expression in ER-positive breast cancer cells reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway and decreased both colony formation and the expression of stem cell markers. Bioinformatic analysis predicted miR-142-3p could bind to 3'-untranslated region ESR1 messenger RNA (mRNA). Consistently, we demonstrated that miR-142-3p reduced luciferase activity in ER-positive breast cancer cells, and decreased ESR1 expression in both mRNA and protein levels. The results revealed miR-142-3p and ESR1 expression correlated negatively in ER-positive breast cancer samples. The results suggest miR-142-3p acts as a tumor suppressor via multiple mechanisms. Thus, restoration of miR-142-3p expression, for example, via miRNA replacement therapy, may represent an effective strategy for the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer patients

Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen-4 in Colorectal Cancer: Another Therapeutic Side of Capecitabine

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint that can be expressed in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. This immune checkpoint can attenuate anti-tumoral immune responses and facilitate tumor growth and metastasis. Although capecitabine is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for treating CRC, its effect on the tumoral CTLA-4 expression remains unclear. In the current research, we applied the GSE110224 and GSE25070 datasets to characterize CTLA-4 expression in CRC patients. Then, we analyzed CTLA-4 expression in CRC samples, HT-29, HCT-166, and SW480 cell lines using real-time PCR. Our bioinformatic results have highlighted the overexpression of CTLA-4 in the CRC tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumoral tissues. Our in vitro studies have indicated that SW480 cells can substantially overexpress CTLA-4 compared to HT-29 and HCT 116 cells. In addition, capecitabine can remarkably downregulate the expression of CTLA-4 in SW480 cells. Collectively, capecitabine can inhibit the expression of CTLA-4 in CRC cells and might bridge the immunotherapy approaches with chemotherapy