Length–weight relationships for 37 freshwater fish species of Iran

Length–weight parameters were estimated for 37 freshwater fish species of Iran belonging to seven families. Significant length–weight relationships with high correlation coefficients were found for all species.     

Particulate matter and bacteria characteristics of the Middle East Dust (MED) storms over Ahvaz,Iran

The Middle East Dust storms have greatly affected the south and west parts of Iran during the last decade. The main purpose of this study was to examine and compare culturable airborne bacteria concentration in particulate matter (PM) during normal, semi-dust, and dust event days in different places and seasons in Ahvaz from November 2011 to May 2012. Sampling was performed every 6 days and on dust event days at different sampling stations. The overall mean concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM₁ for the entire study period were 598.92, 114.8, and 34.5 μg/m³, respectively. The PM concentrations during the dust event days were much higher than normal and semi-dust event days. The highest mean PM concentrations were observed in March 2011. The low PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratios indicate that these PM are mostly originating from natural sources such as dust storms. The overall mean concentration of total bacteria during the study period was 620.6 CFU/m³. The greatest bacterial concentrations were observed during dust event days and at areas with high traffic and more human activities compared with normal days and greener areas. The percentage of gram-positive bacteria was significantly higher than that during the study period (89 vs 11 %). During this study, 26 genera of culturable bacteria were identified from all the sampling stations. The most dominant genera in all sampling stations were Streptomyces, Bacillus, Kocuria, Corynebacterium, and Paenibacillus. The results also showed that there were positive correlations between PM and bacterial concentrations during the study period (p < 0.05).     

Exposure of insect midgut cells to Sambucus nigra L. agglutinins I and II causes cell death via caspase-dependent apoptosis

Sambucus nigra agglutinins I and II, further referred to as SNA-I and SNA-II, are two ricin-related lectins from elderberry. SNA-I is a chimeric lectin composed of an A-chain with enzymatic activity and a B-chain with carbohydrate-binding activity, and therefore belongs to the group of type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins. In contrast, SNA-II consists only of carbohydrate-binding B-chains. The physiological effect of SNA-I was tested on different insect cell lines (midgut, ovary, fat body, embryo). In sensitive midgut CF-203 cells, SNA-I induced cell death with typical characteristics such as cell shrinkage, plasma membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation. The effect was dose-dependent with 50% death of 4-day-exposed cells at 3 nM. SNA-I exposure induced caspase-3 like activities, suggesting that SNA-I can induce the apoptotic pathway. Interestingly, the hololectin SNA-II also induced apoptosis in CF-203 cells at similar doses with the same physiological events. SNA-I and SNA-II both induced caspase-dependent apoptosis at low concentrations (nM order), leading to typical symptoms of cell death in sensitive cells. This effect seems independent from the catalytic activity of the A-chain, but depends on the carbohydrate-binding B-chain.     

Mutation in NSUN2, which encodes an RNA methyltransferase, causes autosomal-recessive intellectual disability

Causes of autosomal-recessive intellectual disability (ID) have, until very recently, been under researched because of the high degree of genetic heterogeneity. However, now that genome-wide approaches can be applied to single multiplex consanguineous families, the identification of genes harboring disease-causing mutations by autozygosity mapping is expanding rapidly. Here, we have mapped a disease locus in a consanguineous Pakistani family affected by ID and distal myopathy. We genotyped family members on genome-wide SNP microarrays and used the data to determine a single 2.5 Mb homozygosity-by-descent (HBD) locus in region 5p15.32-p15.31; we identified the missense change c.2035G>A (p.Gly679Arg) at a conserved residue within NSUN2. This gene encodes a methyltransferase that catalyzes formation of 5-methylcytosine at C34 of tRNA-leu(CAA) and plays a role in spindle assembly during mitosis as well as chromosome segregation. In mouse brains, we show that NSUN2 localizes to the nucleolus of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. The effects of the mutation were confirmed by the transfection of wild-type and mutant constructs into cells and subsequent immunohistochemistry. We show that mutation to arginine at this residue causes NSUN2 to fail to localize within the nucleolus. The ID combined with a unique profile of comorbid features presented here makes this an important genetic discovery, and the involvement of NSUN2 highlights the role of RNA methyltransferase in human neurocognitive development.     

Co-composting of oil-based drilling cuttings by bagasse

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - The feasibility of using a locally abundant bulking material (sugarcane bagasse) in Khuzestan province, Iran, to remove petroleum hydrocarbons from oil-based...     

Intrahippocampal Injections of Ghrelin and Aerobic Physical Exercise: Effects on Learning and Passive Avoidance Memory in Rats

Neurophysiology - Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptors, plays a considerable role in important neurological effects related to food intake and energy...     

Cellular uptake and apoptotic properties of gemini curcumin in gastric cancer cells

Molecular Biology Reports - Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound, which has demonstrated to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects in vitro &amp; in vivo....     

A Clinical Tool for Reducing Central Nervous System Depression among Neonates Exposed to Codeine through Breast Milk

Background

Neonates are commonly exposed to maternal codeine through breast milk. Central Nervous System (CNS) depression has been reported in up to 24% of nurslings following codeine exposure. In 2009, we developed guidelines to improve the safety of codeine use during breastfeeding based on previously established pharmacogenetic and clinical risk factors. The primary objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of these guidelines in ensuring neonatal safety.

Methods and Findings

Women taking codeine for pain following caesarean section were given safety guidelines, including advice to use the lowest codeine dose for no longer than four days and to switch to a non-opioid when possible. Mothers provided a saliva sample for analysis of genes involved in opioid disposition, metabolism and response. A total of 238 consenting women participated. Neonatal sedation was reported in 2.1% (5/238) of breastfeeding women taking codeine according to our safety guidelines. This rate was eight fold lower than that reported in previous prospective studies. Women reporting sedated infants were taking codeine for a significantly longer period of time (4.80±2.59 days vs. 2.52±1.58 days, p = 0.0018). While following the codeine safety guidelines, mothers were less likely to supplement with formula, reported lower rates of sedation in themselves and breastfed more frequently throughout the day when compared to previously reported rates. Genotyping analysis of cytochrome p450 2D6 (CYP2D6), uridine-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7, p-glycoprotein (ABCB1), the mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) and catechol-o-demethyltransferase (COMT) did not predict codeine response in breastfeeding mother/infant pairs when following the safety guidelines.

Conclusions

The only cases of CNS depression occurred when the length of codeine use exceeded the guideline recommendations. Neonatal safety of codeine can be improved using evidence-based guidelines, even in those deemed by genetics to be at high risk for toxicity.     

Co-culture with neurotrophic factor secreting cells induced from adipose-derived stem cells: Promotes neurogenic differentiation

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) can be equally proper in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, ADSCs have practical benefits. In this study, we attempted to induce the secretion of neurotrophic factors (NTF) in human ADSCs. We then evaluated the effects of co-culture with NTF secreting cells in neural differentiation of human ADSCs. Isolated human ADSCs were induced to neurotrophic factors secreting cells. To evaluate the in vitro effects of NTF-secreting ADSCs on neurogenic differentiation of ADSCs, we used neurogenic induction medium (control group), the combination of neurogenic medium and conditioned medium, or co-cultured NTF-secreting ADSCs which were encapsulated in alginate beads (co-culture) for 7 days. ELISA showed increased (by about 5 times) release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in NTF-secreting ADSCs compared to human ADSCs. Real time RT-PCR analysis revealed that NTF-secreting ADSCs highly expressed NGF and BDNF. In addition, co-culture with NTF-secreting ADSCs could also promote neuronal differentiation relative to gliogenesis. Overall, NTF-secreting ADSCs secrete a range of growth factors whose levels in culture could promote neuronal differentiation and could support the survival and regeneration in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Fungicidal effect of ultraviolet-C radiations in prevention of mycoflora of castor bean seeds

The effect of ultra violet (UV-C) radiation on germination and fungal flora of castor bean seeds was estimated with different doses stored up to 80?days interval. Results revealed that 20 and 40?min radiated castor bean seeds showed complete reduction in most of the fungi while germination of castor bean seeds were enhanced when UV-C radiations applied for 20?min. Increasing the radiation doses and storage period has been shown decrement in Aspergillus species colonisation.