Detection of HSV-1 DNA in the Semen of Infertile Men and Evaluation of its Correlation with Semen Parameters in Iran

Background and Aims: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are of major concern to clinicians and researchers in the field of reproductive medicine. Many STI pathogens cause incurable and often fatal diseases, and have been transmitted through insemination procedures. The role of herpes simplex virus in male infertility has been investigated using the sensitive methods. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HSV-1DNA in the semen of an asymptomatic male group with infertility problems and its association with altered semen parameters. Methods: A total of 70 semen samples from infertile men were collected in the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility Yazd, Iran. Semen analysis and diagnostic Real Time PCR using specific primers and probe for gpB gene of HSV-1, was performed for detection of HSV-1 DNA in the specimen. Results: Semen analysis showed two groups of infertile men, including male factor group and unexplained group. HSV-1 DNA was detected in 16 (22.86%) of the70 semen samples. All HSV-1positive samples had abnormal semen parameters (male factor group). Conclusion: Using a powerful molecular method, we detected a high prevalence of HSV-1 DNA in the semen of asymptomatic infertile patients. Although HSV-1 infection was not associated with motility and morphology defects of the sperms, it was related with decreased sperm count in the semen fluid

Efficient inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus replication using novel modified microRNA-30a targeting 3'-untranslated region transcripts

RNA interference (RNAi)-based gene therapy is currently considered to be a combinatorial anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) therapy. Although arti­ficial polycistronic microRNAs (miRs) can reduce HIV-1 escape mutant variants, this approach may increase the risk of side effects. The present study aimed to optimize the efficiency of anti-HIV RNAi gene therapy in order to reduce the cell toxicity induced by multi-short hairpin RNA expression. An artificial miR-30a-3'-untranslated region (miR-3'-UTR) obtained from a single RNA polymerase II was used to simultaneously target all viral transcripts. The results of the present study demonstrated that HIV-1 replication was signifi­cantly inhibited in the cells with the miR-3'-UTR construct, suggesting that miR-3'-UTR may serve as a promising tool for RNAi-based gene therapy in the treatment of HIV-1. © 2016, Spandidos Publications. All Rights Reserved

The percentage determination of Rutilus frisii kutum (200, 500 and 1000 mg) resistance to salinity, turbidity and decrease of oxygen by usage of the river water at the releasing meantime

The survey effect of salinity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen performed on Rutilus frisii Kutum juveniles with aim, which was determined about survival rate and histological changes in gill and kidney tissues. Juveniles provided from the Rajai's fish propagation center and then examined in Caspian Sea Ecology Research Center laboratory. The juveniles were investigated on three weight group (200-75%) had shown in 400-<600mg weight group with dissolve oxygen: 3.8±0.15SE mg/l. In addition, the lowest survival rates under turbidity stress (95.83%) had shown that in weight group less than 400 mg with turbidity 15600 FTU. Therefore, survival of juveniles was high. However, gill tissue of juveniles under turbidity and salinity stress became short (necrosis) and thick (edema and hyperplasia) in the end of experiments. The juveniles gill tissues were not changes in the river clear freshwater. Therefore, the factors of gill tissue deformation were salinity and suspended particles in the water. However, the structures of kidney in the different groups of juveniles were similar. Nevertheless, juveniles glomerular diameter increased with increasing weight (p<0.05, Duncan test). Furthermore, there was a increasing the internal cavity of the proximal and distal tubules and decreasing of glomeruli in diameter in the transfer of juveniles from freshwater to brackish water. Although the survival rate of juveniles is acceptable in this study, but there was abnormal changes in the structure of them gills. It appears that this change will cause a disruption in trend of juvenile's growth

Peptone production from marine and culture wastes by commercial enzymes for bacterial culture media

Thirty to 40% of total fish catch is converted to waste. Using different methods of hydrolysis of the protein can be recovered of fish waste and increase the amount of protein efficiency. In this study, the four enzymes Alcalase, protamex, pepsin and trypsin were used for hydrolysis of four fish species including common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and the Big head (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis). The effects of pH, temperature and hydrolysis time on the rate of hydrolysis were studied on soluble proteins and degree of hydrolysis (phase I). In the second step, proximate factors of peptone been evaluated and eventually replace commercial peptone media MRS (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus delberuki, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus thermophilus) and TSB (Listeria monocytogenes, two species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas, Streptococcus faecium) and the optical density of bacteria at different times were compared with control samples. Results showed that the highest degree of hydrolysis and soluble proteins were referred to alcalase and protamex, pepsin and trypsin respectively. The highest value of hydrolysis, in all treatments, was attributed to grass carp and silver carp, common carp and big head respectively. The best pH and temperature for alcalase, protamex, pepsin and trypsin 8.5and 55, 7.5 and 55, 3.5, 37, 7 and 37 respectively. Best time to achieve the highest degree of hydrolysis and soluble protein was 90 minutes. Qualitative analysis showed that the highest and lowest amounts of protein and fat in the treatment of alcalase (about 70 % protein and less than 0.5 % fat) and protamex, pepsin and trypsin was then. The results of bacteria culture showed that the highest percentage growth of lactic acid bacteria was referred to Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus casei had the lowest rate of growth. In other bacteria, Pseudomonas and Bacillus species were the highest percentage of growth and Listeria monocytogenes and Streptococcus faecium respectively. In all treatments, alcalase had the best results and the peptone prepared from fish waste grass carp had the best condition for growth of used bacteria. It seems that the initial substrate , the parameters used such as temperature, pH, and enzyme hydrolysis time , have a significant effect on the quality of peptone and protein content in the final product is determined value of protein for culture of bacteria

Effect of intermittent normal saline bolus during hemodialysis on adequacy of dialysis

Background and purpose: Using practical and non-invasive methods to improve the adequacy of dialysis (i.e. Kt/V) can increase the quality of life and decrease the mortality and morbidity rate in patients under hemodialysis. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of intermittent normal saline bolus on adequacy of dialysis. Materials and methods: In this randomized controlled cross-over clinical trial, 51 patients were chosen based on inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned into two groups. Before the intervention, the Kt/V and Urea Reduction Ratio (URR) of the last session of dialysis (baseline) were measured in all patients. The control group were dialyzed conventionally (heparinized dialysis), but the intervention group received 100 ml normal saline bolus every hour, within three times. In three subsequent sessions, as a washout period, all patients received conventional hemodialysis. Then the patients were swapped and all steps were repeated. Results: Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in age, sex, duration of dialysis, type of vascular access, adequacy of dialysis, and Urea Reduction Ratio (P>0.05). Compared with baseline, the Kt/V and URR mean values increased by 16 and 8 in intervention group, respectively (P<0.01) but these values decreased in control group. In addition, findings revealed significant differences in Kt/V and URR mean values between the two groups after using normal saline bolus intermittently (P< 0.01). Conclusion: Using intermittent normal saline bolus during hemodialysis improves adequacy of dialysis. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Comparing soil aggregate stability at different grazing intensities (case study: Bardasiab rangeland, Fereidounshahr)

Soil quality, aggregate stability and erosion sensibility are affected by different range management practices. This research aimed to evaluate the relationships between soil organic carbon, mean weight diameter (MWD) and aggregate size distribution in the surface soil layer (0- 20 cm) of various range sites with different grazing intensities (non, slightly and heavily grazed) in Bardasiab rangeland, Feridounshahr, Isfahan province. Stratified random sampling method was used to collect soil samples along the established transects. Some physical and chemical properties of soil samples such as texture, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), MWD and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) were measured in the soil laboratory. Simple linear regression and One-way ANOVA followed by the Fisher’s LSD test were used to analyze the data. Results of regression analysis showed that MWD and OC of the soil samples were significantly correlated ( α =1%, R 2 = 61.3 %). The soil MWD values of range sites with various grazing intensities were significantly different ( α =5%). Organic carbon was increased and SAR was decreased in the sites located inside exclosures, which lead to higher soil MWD. Aggregate size distribution among various sites were significantly different ( α =5%) only for the aggregate smaller than 0.25 mm. Soil aggregates sizes between non-grazed and heavily grazed sites were also significantly different only for the size ranges of 4- 8 mm ) α =5%, ( and less than 0.25 mm ) α=1% (. In addition, macro aggregates increased and micro aggregates decreased in range sites with no or slight grazing intensity, respectively as these sites experienced low trampling and increased litter and organic carbons. Soil aggregate stability can therefore be used as an appropriate indicator for monitoring the impact of different management practices on rangeland soil quality and health