Angiogenic activity of mitochondria; beyond the sole bioenergetic organelle

Angiogenesis is a complex process that involves the expansion of the pre-existing vascular plexus to enhance oxygen and nutrient delivery and is stimulated by various factors, including hypoxia. Since the process of angiogenesis requires a lot of energy, mitochondria play an important role in regulating and promoting this phenomenon. Besides their roles as an oxidative metabolism base, mitochondria are potential bioenergetics organelles to maintain cellular homeostasis via sensing alteration in oxygen levels. Under hypoxic conditions, mitochondria can regulate angiogenesis through different factors. It has been indicated that unidirectional and bidirectional exchange of mitochondria or their related byproducts between the cells is orchestrated via different intercellular mechanisms such as tunneling nanotubes, extracellular vesicles, and gap junctions to maintain the cell homeostasis. Even though, the transfer of mitochondria is one possible mechanism by which cells can promote and regulate the process of angiogenesis under reperfusion/ischemia injury. Despite the existence of a close relationship between mitochondrial donation and angiogenic response in different cell types, the precise molecular mechanisms associated with this phenomenon remain unclear. Here, we aimed to highlight the possible role of mitochondria concerning angiogenesis, especially the role of mitochondrial transport and the possible relation of this transfer with autophagy, the housekeeping phenomenon of cells, and angiogenesis.     

Differences in proliferation rate between CADASIL and control vascular smooth muscle cells are related to increased TGFβ expression

Cerebral autosomal‐dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a familial fatal progressive degenerative disorder. One of the pathological hallmarks of CADASIL is a dramatic reduction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in cerebral arteries. Using VSMCs from the vasculature of the human umbilical cord, placenta and cerebrum of CADASIL patients, we found that CADASIL VSMCs had a lower proliferation rate compared to control VSMCs. Exposure of control VSMCs and endothelial cells (ECs) to media derived from CADASIL VSMCs lowered the proliferation rate of all cells examined. By quantitative RT‐PCR analysis, we observed increased Transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) gene expression in CADASIL VSMCs. Adding TGFβ‐neutralizing antibody restored the proliferation rate of CADASIL VSMCs. We assessed proliferation differences in the presence or absence of TGFβ‐neutralizing antibody in ECs co‐cultured with VSMCs. ECs co‐cultured with CADASIL VSMCs exhibited a lower proliferation rate than those co‐cultured with control VSMCs, and neutralization of TGFβ normalized the proliferation rate of ECs co‐cultured with CADASIL VSMCs. We suggest that increased TGFβ expression in CADASIL VSMCs is involved in the reduced VSMC proliferation in CADASIL and may play a role in situ in altered proliferation of neighbouring cells in the vasculature.     

Characterization of fungi causing lesion blight on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaver dubium</Emphasis> in Iran

Papaver dubium (common name, blindeyes, Papaveraceae) is widespread throughout Europe and America and is an important weed in western Iran. Since 2009, a blight disease has occurred in several areas in Hamedan Province, Iran, causing significant damage to plants of P. dubium. Small, yellow–brown lesions appeared on lower leaves and eventually expanded to the whole plant, resulting in necrosis and complete wilting. This study was conducted to identify the causal agent(s) of the blight disease on blindeyes plants. On the basis of cultural and microscopic characters, as well as representative DNA sequence data of the 5.8S rRNA (ITS), partial LSU rRNA partial β-tubulin (TUB2), and partial G3PD genes, 82 isolates were identified as follows: Ascochyta pisi M. A. Libert. (42), Neodidymelliopsis longicolla L.W. Hou, Crous & L. Cai. (28), and Allophoma zantedeschiae (Dippen.) Q. Chen & L. Cai (12). Pathogenicity tests in the greenhouse showed that all the isolates of A. pisi and Neod. longicolla caused typical spots on inoculated blindeyes plants, and the fungi were successfully re-isolated from the symptomatic tissues. Based on the high isolation frequency for A. pisi, and the severity of symptoms induced by this species in pathogenicity tests, this fungus was indicated as the major pathogen causing the blight disease on blindeyes. It has potential as a biocontrol agent against P. dubium. To the best of our knowledge, Al. zantedeschiae and Neod. longicolla observed in this study are new taxa for the mycobiota of Iran.     

Association of T/A polymorphism in miR-1302 binding site in CGA gene with male infertility in Isfahan population

Infertility occurs in 10–15% of couples worldwide and close to half of it is caused by male factors. One of the genes that can affect male infertility is CGA. Polymorphisms in CGA gene may affect gene expression, therefore affecting male infertility by disrupting the regulation of this gene. One of the polymorphisms is the substitution of T with A in the miR-1302 binding site in the 3′ untranslated region of the CGA gene. In this study, we explored this polymorphism in Isfahan population. In this case-control study, by the use of Tetra primer-ARMS–PCR technique, rs6631 has been investigated in 224 infertile men and 196 controls. Infertile men were recruited from Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center. Analysis of genotype and allele frequencies indicated that the differences between case and control populations were significant for rs6631 because P?=?0.00 which is above the threshold. We found a significant relationship between this polymorphism and male infertility. This study which performed for the first time in Iran suggests that polymorphism in CGA gene can affect male infertility. Also, this polymorphism has high heterozygosity, so it can be used for further studies in different populations.     

Genetically modified crops and small-scale farmers: main opportunities and challenges

Although some important features of genetically modified (GM) crops such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, and drought tolerance might seem to be beneficial for small-scale farmers, the adoption of GM technology by smallholders is still slight. Identifying pros and cons of using this technology is important to understand the impacts of GM crops on these farmers. This article reviews the main opportunities and challenges of GM crops for small-scale farmers in developing countries. The most significant advantages of GM crops include being independent to farm size, environment protection, improvement of occupational health issues, and the potential of bio-fortified crops to reduce malnutrition. Challenges faced by small-scale farmers for adoption of GM crops comprise availability and accessibility of GM crop seeds, seed dissemination and price, and the lack of adequate information. In addition, R&D and production costs in using GM crops make it difficult for these farmers to adopt the use of these crops. Moreover, intellectual property right regulations may deprive resource poor farmers from the advantages of GM technology. Finally, concerns on socio-economic and environment safety issues are also addressed in this paper.     

Intervention based on BASNEF model increases exclusive breastfeeding in preterm infants in Iran: a randomized controlled trial

Background

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of a consultation model, Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors (BASNEF), and the counselling steps using GATHER-Greet clients, Ask clients about themselves, Tell clients about their choices, Help clients choose, Explain what to do, and Return for follow-up-on the continuation rates of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers of premature infants.

Methods

This is a randomized controlled clinical trial carried out on 124 mothers with premature infants hospitalized in Fatemieh Hospital, city of Hamadan, in 2014. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control groups. The initial demographic questionnaire carried out in both groups included three questions about the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding, BASNEF, a checklist related to the lactation performance documented by mothers and the weight gain of their infants. Five breastfeeding consultation sessions based on the BASNEF model and counselling steps using GATHER, were held for the mothers in the intervention group for five consecutive days. Then follow-up weight gain and the questionnaire completion were performed in both groups at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months after the intervention.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences between both groups in the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, lactation performance and infant weight at baseline. The intervention group had significantly higher rates of exclusive breastfeeding, 72.6% versus the control group of 16.1%, at the end of the 4 month follow-up. Also the intervention group had significantly higher mean scores of lactation performance (8.62?±?2.08 vs 6.40?±?1.84 in the control group) and infant weight (5694.80?±?779.43 vs 4760.17?±?859.12 in the control group) at the end of the 4 month follow-up.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding consultation of mothers based on the BASNEF model and using GATHER counselling steps increased the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, lactation performance and weight gain of premature infants. Therefore, breastfeeding counselling sessions are recommended for all mothers of premature infants.

Trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials number IRCT2014111013405N6 and date registered, January 5, 2015.