The possible impact of sortilin in reducing HBsAg expression in chronic hepatitis B

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem. Chronically infected people are at risk for progressive hepatic fibrosis and consequent cirrhosis. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level in serum is a complementary marker for intrahepatic HBV DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA). Sortilin-1 (SORT1) has been reported to be involved in the post-Golgi vesicle trafficking of Apo lipoproteins degradation pathways. This study was designed to evaluate the hepatic and serum expression of HBsAg and its association with hepatic SORT1 gene expression in patients with chronic HBV. Thirty chronic hepatitis B patients with histological examination results were enrolled in this study. Liver biopsies were analyzed for hepatic HBsAg and SORT1 gene expression by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Twenty seven out of 30 (90%) liver biopsies had positive staining for HBsAg and showed a significant inverse association with hepatic SORT1 fold change gene expression (β=-0.5, P=0.042). There was significant association between HBV DNA levels and HBsAg expression in hepatocyte or serum titer of HBsAg (r=0.39, P=0.029; r=0.39, P=0.032 respectively). Serum ALT was also correlated with hepatic activity index (HAI) score (β=0.6, P=0.001). Inverse association between hepatic SORT1 gene expression and hepatic HBsAg expression indicates the possible role of sortilin in HBsAg particle formation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Brain-computer interface analysis using continuous wavelet transform and adaptive neuro-fuzzy classifier.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of imaginary left and right hand movements, an application of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). We propose here to use an Adaptive Neuron-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) as the classification algorithm. ANFIS has an advantage over many classification algorithms in that it provides a set of parameters and linguistic rules that can be useful in interpreting the relationship between extracted features. The continuous wavelet transform will be used to extract highly representative features from selected scales. The performance of ANFIS will be compared with the well-known support vector machine classifier

Reproduction and feeding biology of Sind Sardinella (Sardinella sindensis) from coastal waters of Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf

Sardinella sindensis is one of the dominant small pelagic fishes of Persian Gulf, especially in Qeshm Island's coastal waters. Investigation on some of the biological parameters of Sind Sardinella was carried out from April 2005 to March 2006. Sind Sardinella is economically the most important small pelagic fish species mainly caught by double boat purse seine in this area. Reproductive studies showed that peak maturity season occurred in May. The female to male ratio was calculated at 1:1.08 and chi-square analysis showed the difference in ratio was not statistically significant (P>0.05). LM_(50) is attained at a total length of 112 mm. The average absolute and relative fecundity were estimated to be 23396 (± 5337) and 739 (±117), respectively. This fish is planktonivore, and we found the diet of the species consisted of a broad spectrum of food types, but Crustaceans were dominant, comprising 44% of the food. The other major food groups and their share were Dinophyceae 17%, Bacillariophyceae 15%, Cyanophyceae 13%, fish eggs, larvae, scale 7% and finally Euglenahyceae, Chlorophyta, and others 4%. Analysis of monthly variation in the stomach fullness indicated that feeding intensity fluctuated throughout the year, with a high level during March and April. Vacuity index indicated this species is a semi-voracious fish

Population dynamic parameters of Thunnus tonggol (Bleeker, 1851) in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Length frequency data of the longtail tuna, Thunnus tonggol collected from October 2006 to September 2007 were analyzed for evaluation of the stock parameters. T. tonggol is mainly caught by gillnet method. Yearly tuna and tuna-like catches in Iran are of the order of 174,234 mt, close to 46% of which are longtail tuna. The VBG parameters for longtail tuna were: L∞ =133.72cm K=0.35 year^−1.The length-weight relationship was estimated as: W=0.00002 L^2.83. The instantaneous rates of total mortality (Z) was estimated by using the Powell-Wetherall plot as 1.82 year^−1. The instantaneous rate of natural mortality was obtained by Pauly equation (M=0.44 year^−1) and the instantaneous rate of fishing mortality (F) estimated from Z-M=1.38 year^−1

Population dynamics of Sind Sardine, Sardinella sindensis, in coastal waters of Qeshm Island

Sardinella sindensis is economically the most important small pelagic fish species in the coastal area of Qeshm Island. Population dynamics of Sind sardinella from Qeshm Island coastal waters, during April 2005 to March 2006 were studied. The asymptotic length (Lx) and growth coefficient (K) were estimated at 178mm and 1.11yr ^(-1), respectively. The minimum and maximum T.L was recorded at 42 and 172mm respectively. The value of t0 was calculated at -0.17, and Tmax was estimated at 2.7 year. The Von Bertalanffy growth equation was obtained at L_(t) = 178^(1-exp(-1.1 l(t-(-0.17))) for this species. Total mortality (Z) rate was estimated to be 3.48yr ^(-1) (r ^(2) = 0.88) on length-converted catch curve method. The rates of natural mortality (M) based on Pauly's empirical equation, fishing mortality (F) and exploitation ratio were estimated at 1.13yr ^(-1), 2.35yr ^(-1) and 0.67, respectively. Four cohorts were distinguished annually based on Bhattacharya's method with mean length of 56, 89, 107 and 141mm. Maximum recruitment was in September at 18.62 percent. The length-weight relationship was determined as W= 0.000005 L ^(3.1399)

Spatial and temporal variations of phytoplankton population in coastal waters of Hormozgan province (Qeshm and Leangeh)

The relationship between diversity or density of phytoplankton and other marine fisheries sector is of great importance. The study of Spatial and temporal variability of distribution of phytoplankton communities in the coastal waters of the Northern Persian Gulf (QESHM, LENGEH) were studied during 2008. In this study, five groups (47 genera) of phytoplankton include, Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Crysophyceae and Euglenophyceae were identified. The result showed that Diatoms group (79.6 %) and Rhizosolenia genus (45.5 %), contributed more towards the percentage composition of different groups and genera of phytoplankton at the during Study. The annual changes in relative abundance and Margalef, Shannon, pielu and Simpson indices were estimated, 0.58-2.56, 0.08-0.97, 0.23-2.6, 0.09-0.93 respectively. Multivariate analysis of variance showed that during the study, density and biological indicators of phytoplankton were significant between seasons (p<0.05). The spatial cluster analysis based on similarity coefficients obtained two clusters in the areas studied. According to the results obtained can be concluded that both the area of ecological conditions in ranks are instead moderate. Also, phytoplankton of diversity and richness is good

Reproduction and feeding of Buccaneer anchovy (Encrasicholina punctifer) from coastal waters of Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf

Encrasicholina punctifer is one of the dominant small pelagic and economically most important fishes of the Persian Gulf, especially in Qeshm Island's coastal waters. Specimens of the fish were collected monthly from the fishing area in the coastal waters of Qeshm Island by random sampling method. Investigation on biological parameters of E. punctifer continued from April 2005 to March 2006. E. punctifer is mainly caught by double-boat purse seine in this area. Reproductive studies showed that maturity season of the fish occur in August. The sex ratio fulfill the theoretical 1:1 (P>0.05). L sub(M50) was attained at a total length of 84 mm. The absolute fecundity was estimated at 1217 plus or minus 331. We showed that the species is planktonivore, its diet consisted of a board spectrum of food types, but crustaceans dominated the food with copepods and their eggs, naplius and semi digested copepods constituting 54% of the diet. The next major food groups found in the diet of the fish were Cyanophyceae 21%, Bacillariophyceae 11%, fish egg and scale 6%, Dinophyceae 4%, with Euglenahyceae, Chiorophyta, Dinoflagellates and others items consisting only 4% of the diet. Analysis of monthly variation in the stomach fullness indicated that feeding intensity fluctuated throughout the year, with the highest value in winter. Vacuity Index indicated this species was of semi-voracious appetite fishes

Investigating the impact of feedback update interval on the efficacy of restorative brain–computer interfaces

Restorative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been proposed to enhance stroke rehabilitation. Restorative BCIs are able to close the sensorimotor loop by rewarding motor imagery (MI) with sensory feedback. Despite the promising results from early studies, reaching clinically significant outcomes in a timely fashion is yet to be achieved. This lack of efficacy may be due to suboptimal feedback provision. To the best of our knowledge, the optimal feedback update interval (FUI) during MI remains unexplored. There is evidence that sensory feedback disinhibits the motor cortex. Thus, in this study, we explore how shorter than usual FUIs affect behavioural and neurophysiological measures following BCI training for stroke patients using a single-case proof-of-principle study design. The action research arm test was used as the primary behavioural measure and showed a clinically significant increase (36%) over the course of training. The neurophysiological measures including motor evoked potentials and maximum voluntary contraction showed distinctive changes in early and late phases of BCI training. Thus, this preliminary study may pave the way for running larger studies to further investigate the effect of FUI magnitude on the efficacy of restorative BCIs. It may also elucidate the role of early and late phases of motor learning along the course of BCI training

The Comparison of vaginal cream of mixing yogurt, honey and clotrimazole on symptoms of vaginal candidiasis

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is known as one of the most common fungal infection among women of reproductive age and considered as an important public health problem. In recent years, due to resistance to common antifungal medication, the use of traditional medicine of anti-fungal and herbal treatment increased. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effects of vaginal cream, mixture of yogurt and honey and comparing it with clotrimazole vaginal cream on symptoms of Vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients. METHODS: In this randomized, triple blind clinical trial of 70 non-pregnant women infected with Candidal vulvovaginitis were placed in two groups of Vaginal cream mixed of yogurt and honey recipients (N=35) and clotrimazole vaginal cream (N=35). Both groups were treated for 7 days. At the beginning of study, Clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms were registered 7 and 14 days after treatment by questionnaire, observation form and secretions culture results. Data by chi-square test, t test, McNemar tests were analyzed by SPSS version 21. Significance level of 0.05 was considered. RESULTS: The result of present study reveals the significant differences in symptom improvement of ' yogurt and honey, than clotrimazole group (P0.05) CONCLUSION: This study indicated that he therapeutic effects of vaginal cream, yogurt and honey is not only similar with clotrimazole vaginal cream but more effective in relieving some symptoms of vaginal candidiasis. Therefore, the use of this product can be suggested as an herbal remedy for candida infection treatment