Histopathological effects of mercuric chloride on kidney and intestine of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus fry

To study the effects of mercuric chloride on kidney and intestine tissue of Persian Sturgeon, Acipenser persicus fry, fish exposed freshwater contain 15 ppb of mercuric chloride and control group were kept in non polluted freshwater for 48 hours. Histological studies of the processed tissues showed marked histological alterations than the control group that exposed only to freshwater. The pathologic lesions of the kidney included severely epithelial cell necrosis, lesion of epithelial cells from the basement membrane in the proximal and distal tubules. Proximal tubule also showed inflammation and incorporation of brush borders. Decrease of lymphoid and hematopoietic tissue observed. Pathologic lesions of intestine tissue were showed the epithelial necrosis, shrinkages of secretory follicule, lesion of epithelial microvilli in intestine. Results showed that low concentration of mercuric chloride can pose undesirable alternation in Persian Sturgeon fry, an economic and endangered species of the Caspian Sea

Immunolocalization of Na+ K+-ATPase enzyme and gill chloride cells in fries of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus

Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus is a valuable species in the Caspian Sea ecosystem. For gill chloride cells localization, fish specimens 2-3 g were adapted to experimental conditions for 7 days. Gill histology was observed through light microscopy using Hematoxylin Fushin staining. Immunolocalization of gill Na^+, K^+ -ATPase was observed through fluorescent microscopy using mouse monoclonal antibody (IgG5) rinsed against Na+, K+ -ATPase. Chloride cells dimensions was observed using Image Tools software. Gill chloride cells that have high density of Na+ K+ -ATPase, were found on gill arch, gill septum, filament and lamellae. No chloride cells were observed on spiracular or opercular gills epithelium. Chloride cells were spherical to egg-shaped and showed immune-fluorescent activity on their baso-lateral sides. Results showed that in each square millimeter of gill epithelia, 289 chloride cells existed and the maximum number of these cells was found on filament, lamellae, base of the lamellae and on the inter-lamellar space. We also found that the number of these cells is significantly different in all branchial states. Persian sturgeon fry weighing 2-3 g have gill chloride cells where Na+ K+ -ATPase gene and their activity occurred. Because of their cellular transporters (like Na^+, K^+ -ATPase), these cells were the main sites of the ionic and osmotic regulation between the fish and the environment

Improved Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Hepatocyte-like Cells using FGF4 and IGF-1 in 3D Culture

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UCMSCs) are considered as an excellent candidate for cell therapy to treat end-stage liver disease. Fibroblast Growth Factor-4 (FGF4), Hepatocyte Growth Factor, and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 are some of the critical cytokines involved in liver development and regeneration. To evaluate the differentiation potency of cells into hepatocyte-like cells we used these cytokines. UCMSCs were isolated from Wharton's jelly of fullterm infants. The cells were characterized as MSCs by flow-cytometry and their multilineage differentiation capacity. Then, UCMSCs were cultured in 3D collagen scaffold and hepatogenic media with or without FGF4 for 21 days and the data were compared to control. The expression of liver specific genes was evaluated by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. These cells expressed MSC markers and could differentiate into adipocytes and osteocytes. A non–significant higher level of liver specific genes, such as cytokeratin-18 and 19, alpha-fetoprotein and albumin, and also a significant higher level of CYP2B6 expressed by UCMSCs in hepatogenic medium containing FGF4 compared with control. In some specimens, cytokeratin-19-positive cells surrounded a luminal space within collagen scaffolds. Liver-specific marker expression was increased by pre-exposing the cells to FGF4 before treating with IGF-1 and HGF in 3D collagen scaffold. Abbreviations: UCMSCs: Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells; FGF4: Fibroblast Growth Factor 4; HGF: Hepatocyte Growth Factor; IGF-1: Insulin-like Growth Factor-1; MSCs: Mesenchymal Stem Cells; ICG: Indocyanine green; PAS: periodic acid Schiff; CK-18: cytokeratin-18; CK-19: Cytokeratin-19; AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; G6P: glucose 6 phosphatase; PEPCK: phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase; TAT: tyrosine amino transferase; FBS: Fetal Bovine Serum; OSM: oncostatin M; RT-PCR: Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction; PBS: Phosphate-Buffered Saline; Hep- Par1: Hepatocyte paraffin 1; DAB: Diaminobenzidine; CYP2B6: Cytochrome P450 2B6

Histopathological effects and toxicity of atrazine herbicide in Caspian kutum, Rutilus frisii kutum, fry

This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of atrazine herbicide on the fry of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum, Kamensky, 1901). First the 96-h LC50 of the fry were exposed to atrazine at the concentration of 24.95 ppm was determined. Then the toxicity of this herbicide on Caspian kutum fry exposed to the concentration of 12.47ppm (1/2 LC50), for four days was measured and compared with a control group. Comparison of the length, weight and condition factor showed no significant differences between atrazine exposed and control group. The concentration of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- in the whole body of fry in control and atrazine exposure groups were as the following order: Ca2+>K+>Na+>Cl->Mg2+ and Ca2+>Na+>K+>Mg2+>Cl-, respectively. Results showed that the concentration of all these ions were higher in atrazine exposure group than control group, except for Cl-, and the only significant differences was found in Na+ concentration. Major histopathological effects of atrazine on the gills were hyperplasia and thickening of the filaments, separation of the pavement cells of the lamellae epithelium from the pillar cells and swelling of the epithelial cells. Results of the present study showed that atrazine could affect the ion composition of the body, and caused major damages in gill epithelium even at sublethal concentration and acute exposure, but had no effects on the growth parameters

Predictors for the severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in patients with underlying liver disease: a retrospective analytical study in Iran

Risk factors for clinical outcomes of COVID-19 pneumonia have not yet been well established in patients with underlying liver diseases. Our study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 infection among patients with underlying liver diseases and determine the risk factors for severe COVID-19 among them. In a retrospective analytical study, 1002 patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia were divided into two groups: patients with and without underlying liver diseases. The admission period was from 5 March to 14 May 2020. The prevalence of underlying conditions, Demographic data, clinical parameters, laboratory data, and participants' outcomes were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to estimate the predictive factors. Eighty-one (8) of patients had underlying liver diseases. The frequencies of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting were significantly higher among patients with liver diseases (48 vs. 25 and 46.1 vs. 30 respectively, both P < 0.05). Moreover, ALT and AST were significantly higher among patients with liver diseases (54.5 ± 45.6 vs. 37.1 ± 28.4, P = 0.013 and 41.4 ± 27.2 vs. 29.2 ± 24.3, P = 0.028, respectively). Additionally, the mortality rate was significantly high in patients with liver disease (12.4 vs. 7, P = 0.018). We also observed that the parameters such as neutrophil to leukocyte ratio Odds Ratio Adjusted (ORAdj) 1.81, 95% CI 1.21�3.11, P = 0.011 and blood group A (ORAdj 1.59, 95% CI 1.15�2.11, P = 0.001) were associated with progression of symptoms of COVID-19. The presence of underlying liver diseases should be considered one of the poor prognostic factors for worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. © 2021, The Author(s)

On biases in precise point positioning with multi-constellation and multi-frequency GNSS data

© 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd. Various types of biases in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data preclude integer ambiguity fixing and degrade solution accuracy when not being corrected during precise point positioning (PPP). In this contribution, these biases are first reviewed, including satellite and receiver hardware biases, differential code biases, differential phase biases, initial fractional phase biases, inter-system receiver time biases, and system time scale offset. PPP models that take account of these biases are presented for two cases using ionosphere-free observations. The first case is when using primary signals that are used to generate precise orbits and clock corrections. The second case applies when using additional signals to the primary ones. In both cases, measurements from single and multiple constellations are addressed. It is suggested that the satellite-related code biases be handled as calibrated quantities that are obtained from multi-GNSS experiment products and the fractional phase cycle biases obtained from a network to allow for integer ambiguity fixing. Some receiver-related biases are removed using between-satellite single differencing, whereas other receiver biases such as inter-system biases are lumped with differential code and phase biases and need to be estimated. The testing results show that the treatment of biases significantly improves solution convergence in the float ambiguity PPP mode, and leads to ambiguity-fixed PPP within a few minutes with a small improvement in solution precision

Epidermal neural crest stem cell transplantation as a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke

Introduction: Cell-based therapy is considered as promising strategy to cure stroke. However, employing appropriate type of stem cell to fulfill many therapeutic needs of cerebral ischemia is still challenging. In this regard, the current study was designed to elucidate therapeutic potential of epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs) compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in rat model of ischemic stroke. Methods: Ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 45 minutes. Immediately after reperfusion, EPI-NCSCs or BM-MSCs were transplanted via intra-arterial or intravenous route. A test for neurological function was performed before ischemia and 1, 3, and 7 days after MCAO. Also, infarct volume ratio and relative expression of 15 selected target genes were evaluated 7 days after transplantation. Results: EPI-NCSCs transplantation (both intra-arterial and intravenous) and BM-MSCs transplantation (only intra-arterial) tended to result in a better functional outcome, compared to the MCAO group; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The infarct volume ratio significantly decreased in NCSC-intra-arterial, NCSC-intravenous and MSC-intra-arterial groups compared to the control. EPI-NCSCs interventions led to higher expression levels of Bdnf, nestin, Sox10, doublecortin, β-III tubulin, Gfap, and interleukin-6, whereas neurotrophin-3 and interleukin-10 were decreased. On the other hand, BM-MSCs therapy resulted in upregulation of Gdnf, β-III tubulin, and Gfap and down-regulation of neurotrophin-3, interleukin-1, and interleukin-10. Conclusion: These findings highlight the therapeutic effects of EPI-NCSCs transplantation, probably through simultaneous induction of neuronal and glial formation, as well as Bdnf over-expression in a rat model of ischemic strok