The monotypic nemacheilid loach genus Ilamnemacheilus was erected based on morphological features of a single individual described as Ilamnemacheilus longipinnis Coad and Nalbant, 2005 from the ...Tigris River tributary in Iran. It was later transferred to the genus Oxynoemacheilus based on molecular and morphological studies without a description. Here, we re-describe O. longipinnis based on additional specimens collected from near the type locality. It is distinguished from the other oxynoemacheilid loaches of the Tigris River by having a suborbital groove in males, the number of the dorsal-fin rays, the colouration pattern of the body, and the shape of the upper lip and the caudal fin.
BACKGROUND Aryl-carbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is best known for its ability to mediate the effects of environmental toxins such as ...2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. AhR is expressed in several tumor cells and regulates the expression of genes in the signal transduction pathways. In this study, we examined the soluble levels of AhR in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS 123 samples, including 59 (48%) samples of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on histological evidence and 64 (52%) healthy control samples, were evaluated to determine plasma levels of AhR by Enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS The median of AhR among patients was 0.280 ng/mL, which differed considerably from 0.07 ng/mL in the control group (
< 0.001). Significant differences of the AhR were observed between the plasma samples of the patients compared with the healthy group, with respect to male sex (
< 0.001), age groups (
= 0.001), diabetic status (
< 0.001), body mass index (BMI) categories (
= 0.035), and constantly smokers (
< 0.001). We also observed significant differences between the level of AhR expression between men and women (
= 0.01) and ever to never smokers (
= 0.009) in the case group. In addition, the age of 65 and a BMI of 25 or less were significant factors in plasma AhR levels (1.61 95%CI 1.08-2.38 and 1.84 95%CI 1.22-2.77, respectively). CONCLUSION The results of this study can add diagnostic information to pancreatic cancer involving AhR and the potential efficacy of this receptor in therapeutic strategies.
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► Stable magnetite-based ferrofluids were synthesized via co-precipitation method. ► Hydrodynamic size was evaluated via PCS technique. ► Effect of concentration was studied on ...hydrodynamic size. ► Stable ferrofluids were used as MRI contrast agents.
In this work, ferrofluids containing dextran coated magnetite nanoparticles have been synthesized via co-precipitation method. FT-IR results verified presence of dextran molecules on the particles surface. TEM results showed that mean particle size is 7.23nm, while mean hydrodynamic size determined via PCS technique varies between 39.8 and 125.8nm depending on the ferrofluid concentration. The maximum hydrodynamic size was obtained in mid concentrations. To the best of our knowledge, effect of concentration on mean hydrodynamic size has not been systematically studied before. VSM results confirmed the superparamagnetic behavior of the synthesized nanoparticles with saturation magnetization of 57.82emu/g. The stable ferrofluids were intravenously injected into mice and used as MRI contrast agent. Results showed that these ferrofluids can be considered as potential MRI contrast agents especially for imaging lymphatic system.
STUDY QUESTION Could selected pluripotency-enhancing small molecules (SMs) lead to efficient derivation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) from cleavage embryos-derived single blastomeres (SBs)? ...SUMMARY ANSWER Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase beta (GSK3 beta ) and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) signaling can enhance the derivation of hESCs from cleavage embryo-derived SBs. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Parameters involved in sustaining the pluripotency of biopsied blastomeres for generating hESCs without causing injury to a viable embryo have remained obscure. This research seeks to improve the culture conditions for increasing the efficiency of deriving hESCs from SBs from cleavage-stage embryos by using SMs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION In order to identify SMs which may enhance hESC generation from SBs, 11 pluripotency-enhancing SMs were screened and CHIR99021 (CH), a GSK3 beta inhibitor, was selected. To optimize culture condition in hESC generation from SMs, we used ROCK inhibitor Y27632 (Y) and basic fibroblast growth factor in combination with CH or its alternative, Kenpaullone, in different time courses over 12 days. We also assessed a critical time point for CH + Y treatment of cleavage embryos from 4- to 8-cell embryo. In total, 224 embryos and 1607 SBs were used in the study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Blastomeres of fair and poor-quality from 6- to 8-cell stage human embryos were mechanically dispersed and individually seeded into a 96-well plate that was precoated with mitotically inactivated feeder cells. Derivation of hESC line from each SB was carried out in hESC defined medium supplemented with SMs. Randomly selected hESC lines were evaluated by immunostaining for pluripotency markers, karyotype analysis and differentiation potential into the three embryonic germ layer derivatives. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found that 3 mu M CH was the only SM that was capable of directing SBs from fair and poor-quality 6-8-cell embryos into hESC lines. The application of hESC-conditioned medium had no additive effect on hESC establishment from SBs. Also, we indicated that CH combined with Y improved hESC generation efficiency by up to 31%. By using of Kenpaullone as an alternative to CH, we confirmed the involvement of GSK3 inhibition in hESC derivation from SBs. Interestingly, by treatment of 4-cell embryos, these SMs could enhance the derivation efficiency of SB-derived hESC lines up to 73% and the maximum number of hESC lines from SBs of one embryo was achieved in this state. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The low quality of the embryos used in this study most likely had an effect on hESC generation. Furthermore, although we attempted to minimize any differences in inter-embryo quality, we cannot exclude the possibility that small differences in starting quality between embryos may have contributed to the differences observed, other than the addition of SMs. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This approach would allow the establishment of autogeneic or allogeneic matched cells from embryos fertilized in vitro without destroying them. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was financially supported by the National Elite Foundation and the Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Studies of the taxonomy and present-day distribution of landlocked populations of the killifish Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae) provide a key to understanding their zoogeographic history, and ...shape conservation strategies and habitat management. Here we report for the first time on the sympatric occurrence of the rare Mesopotamian tooth-carp A. mesopotamicus with a member of the widely distributed common tooth-carp (A. dispar group). Both were found in the Shadegan Wetland of the Mesopotamian drainage system (Southwestern Iran). External characters of individuals, otolith morphology and molecular data based on the cytochrome b gene confirm species identification. The otolith morphology of A. mesopotamicus, hitherto unknown, is strikingly similar to previously described otoliths of A. cf. pluristriatus from the Khonj stream (Southern Iran), which apparently reflects a close relationship between these recently diverged species. Several of the specimens recovered from the Shadegan Wetland showed intermediate characters in pigmentation, otolith morphology and some morphometric values. These specimens are interpreted as putative hybrids, which is additionally supported by a multivariate analysis of the morphometric data. Previous reports suggest that natural hybridization between species of Aphanius results largely from range overlap and range extension. A virtual distribution map derived from climatic modelling studies based on DIVA-GIS (7.5.0) indicates that sympatry of the A. dispar group and A. mesopotamicus is primarily determined by levels of precipitation during the warmest quarter, and is likely to occur only in Southwestern Iran.
In this paper we investigate the joint power and channel allocation problem in two-tier OFDMA femtocell networks using a multiobjective approach with focus on energy efficiency. Three main objectives ...are considered in our problem formulations namely, energy efficiency, spectral efficiency, and power consumption. To solve the muliobjective problems, we have utilized a non- dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and an algorithm have been proposed to perform the resource allocation procedures. In this investigation, to preserve the quality service of users, we have applied a minimum data rate threshold for all users. Furthermore, we impose an interference threshold limit on each subchannel to protect the macrocell user quality of service. Finally, the simulation results figure out that we can achieve 30% better energy efficiency by trading the throughput by about 20%.
: Despite all improvements in sanitation and exposure to antibiotics over time,
(HP) prevalence remains high, affecting the lives of about half of the world population, which can gradually lead to ...serious upper gastrointestinal disorders. Understanding HP's epidemiologic patterns help us to better manage the burden of this infection and to plan more effectively regarding potential screening or eradication strategies. We, therefore, aimed to report the crude and age- and sex-standardized prevalence rate of HP infection, its trend, and possible associated factors among asymptomatic healthy individuals in Rafsanjan city, a low-incidence area of gastric cancer (GC) in the southeast of Iran, from July 2018 to December 2021.
: This population-based cross-sectional descriptive study included 2,046 male and female subjects between 3 to 72 years who were in good health condition. Study participants were randomly selected from the Health Houses and each underwent a questionnaire-based interview and provided blood and feces samples. The presence of HP infection was detected by serum IgG antibodies and stool antigen test.
: The overall and age- and sex-standardized prevalence rates of HP infection were 50.9% and 43%, respectively. The prevalence rate has notably decreased in all age groups compared with 2007. Also, it was significantly higher among men (
=0.033) and increased with advancing age (
<0.001). A higher population density living in a specific room area (
=0.012) increased the likelihood of HP infection.
: To conclude, the prevalence of HP infection is decreasing over time in Rafsanjan city, which may be due to improvements in living standards in this area. A healthy lifestyle and adherence to hygienic principles, especially during childhood, may be required for a reduction in the prevalence of HP infection.
Beneficial effects of glucosamine in spatial learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine has been evaluated in rats by using Morris water maze.
Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into ...control, scopolamine and scopolamine plus glucosamine groups. All injections were given in 5 consecutive days and 30min after each injection, the rats were tested in the Morris water maze test. Escape latency and path length to reach the hidden platform were subjected to analysis of variance ANOVA.
The rats treated with scopolamine showed increased escape latency and path length to reach the hidden platform compared to control group (P<0.001). Both escape latency and traveled path length to reach the hidden platform in glucosamine treated animals (1 and 2g/kg) were significantly lower (P<0.05 to P<0.001) than in the scopolamine group.
The results of this study showed that the glucosamine can inhibit scopolamine-induced impairments of spatial learning and memory in rats. Glucosamine might offer a promise in either the prevention or the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Objective:To determine the effect of different cervical dilators on cervical dilation and reproductive performance of fat-tailed ewes.Methods: In experiment 1140 ewes were divided into seven groups ...with seven different treatments as following: 10 mL normal saline (control group), 100 IU oxytocin (OT group), 100 μg estradiol and 100 IU oxytocin (E2+OT group), 5 mL relaxin (R group), 2 mL sensiblex (SEN group), 200 μg misoprostol (MIS group) or 200 μg dinoprostone (DIN group). In experiment 2, artificial insemination was applied for evaluation of reproductive performance in experimental groups.Results: In experiment 1, the highest cervical dilation was observed in OT (90%) and E2+OT (100%) groups (P<0.05), while no significant differences was found among DIN, MIS, SEN and R groups (80%, 75%, 70% and 65%, respectively). In addition, the lowest cervical dilation was observed in control group. Experiment 2 found no significant differences among control, OT and E2+OT groups. The highest pregnancy rate, parturition rate and lambing rate were observed in OT groups (60%, 60% and 70%, respectively) and E2+OT groups (65%, 60% and 70%, respectively) compared to SEN, R, MIS and DIN groups (P<0.05).Conclusions:Oxytocin treatment alone or with estradiol could be used as a suitable dilator for improving reproductive efficiency during artificial insemination in fat-tailed ewes.
This study uses mtDNA sequence data (cytochrome b) to explore the phylogenetic relationships between the tooth-carp Aphanius pluristriatus (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in the Zarjan spring and two ...newly discovered Aphanius populations from the Khonj and Jahrom localities. All study sites are situated in the exorheic Mond River drainage of the Persian Gulf Basin in southwestern Iran. Maximum-likelihood and Bayesian-likelihood analyses reveal that A. pluristriatus and the two new populations represent a monophyletic clade, which is closely related to A. sophiae from the endorheic Kor River basin in the High Zagros and to A. mesopotamicus from the exorheic Tigris River system in southwestern Iran. However, comparative morphological analyses using morphometric and meristic characters indicate that the Khonj population differs slightly from the other two populations in the Mond River drainage, and the mtDNA data corroborate this conclusion. The Khonj population is therefore denominated as Aphanius cf. pluristriatus . These findings clearly indicate that A. pluristriatus has a wider distribution in the Mond River drainage than previously thought, and that intraspecific differentiation is present. The close phylogenetic relationships among A. pluristriatus, A. mesopotamicus and A. sophiae , their previously inferred recent ages of divergence, and the patterns of affinity among further freshwater fish species in the Persian Gulf, Tigris and Kor River drainage basins all suggest that these now isolated river systems were interconnected during the Last Glacial Maximum of the Late Pleistocene (21,000-18,000 y. BP) and remained so until the sea-level rise of the Early Holocene (11,000 y. BP).
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