Microsporum fulvum, an Ignored Pathogenic Dermatophyte: A New Clinical Isolation from Iran

Misidentifying with Microsporum gypseum has for a long time been accounted for less prevalence of the geophilic species, Microsporum fulvum in human dermatophytosis. We describe a new case of infection with the species in an Iranian young man. Direct examination of skin scrapings revealed a tinea corporis, and morphological study of the recovered isolate from the culture resulted in the identification of M. gypseum. However, PCR amplification of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region and subsequent ITS-RFLP and sequencing were indicative of M. fulvum as the true causative agent. To recognize M. fulvum in human infections and to validate the morphologically distinguished isolates of M. gypseum, the genetic-based identification is strongly recommended.     

CTNNBIP1 downregulation is associated with tumor grade and viral infections in gastric adenocarcinoma

Gastric cancer is a life-threatening disease; resulting from interaction among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Aberrant dysregulation and methylation changes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling downstream elements are a prevalent phenomenon encountered in gastric tumorigenesis. Also, viral infections play a role in gastric cancer development. CTNNBIP1 (β-catenin interacting protein 1) gene is an antagonist of Wnt signaling which binds to the β-catenin molecules. The CTNNBIP1 function as tumor suppressor gene or oncogene in different types of cancer is controversial. Moreover, its function and regulatory mechanisms in gastric cancer progression is unknown. In the present study, we examined CTNNBIP1 gene expression, the methylation status of the regulatory region of the gene, and their association with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Helicobacter pylori infections in human gastric adenocarcinoma tissues in comparison with their adjacent nontumoral tissues. Our data revealed a significant downregulation of CTNNBIP1 in gastric tumors. Female patients showed lower level of CTNNBIP1 than males (p < 0.05). Also, decreased expression of CTNNBIP1 was markedly associated with well-differentiated tumor grades (p < 0.05). No methylation change was observed between tumoral and nontumoral tissues. Additionally, CTNNBIP1 down regulation was significantly associated with CMV infection (p < 0.05). In the absence of EBV infection, lower expression of CTNNBIP1 was observed. There was no association between H. pylori infection and CTNNBIP1 expression. Our findings revealed the tumor suppressor role for CTNNBIP1 in gastric adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, EBV and CMV infections modulate CTNNBIP1 expression.     

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Trophic Levels of Wetland Plants and Waterfowl Birds

Present study investigates relationships between total and bioaccessibility of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, NI, Pb, V, and Zn) concentrations in sediment and their bioaccumulation in species in Shadegan wetland in southwest of Iran. Bioavailability factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated in plants and trophic transfer factor (TTF) was determined in bird species. For this purpose, sampling of sediments, aquatic plants including Phragmites australis, Typha australis, Scripus maritimus and two bird species encircling Porphyrio porphyrio and globally threatened Marmaronetta angustirostris were carried out during winter 2009. Result of chemical analysis show that bioaccessibility concentrations of Mn (8.31 mg/kg), V (1.33 mg/kg), and Pb (1.03 mg/kg) are higher than other metals. The uptake trend of trace elements in plant decreases as root > stem > leaf. Accumulation levels of trace elements in different tissues of P. porphyrio and M. angustirostris are almost identical and considerable. Accumulation and toxicity of Cd in birds is more than plants. In addition, BAF of V, Pb, and Cr indicates high accumulation by plants and great pollution rate in the area of study. In S. maritimus TF for Mn, Cu, Pb, and V are high whereas in T. australis, Cu and Pb posses the highest TF. Also Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn have higher TF from stem to leaf than root to stem in P. australis. Finally, TTFs were compared in various bird species.     

Hemato-Immunological Responses and Disease Resistance in Siberian Sturgeon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acipenser baerii</Emphasis> Fed on a Supplemented Diet of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis>

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary Lactobacillus plantarum on hemato-immunological parameters and resistance against Streptococcus iniae infection in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii. Fish (14.6 ± 2.3 g) were fed three experimental diets prepared by supplementing a basal diet with L. plantarum at different concentrations [1 × 10⁷, 1 × 10⁸ and 1 × 10⁹ colony-forming units (cfu) g^?1] and a control (non-supplemented basal) diet for 8 weeks. Innate immune responses (immunoglobulin (Ig), alternative complement activity (ACH50) and lysozyme activity) were significantly higher in fish fed the 1 × 10⁸ and 1 × 10⁹ cfu g^?1 L. plantarum diet compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, fish fed on various levels of L. plantarum significantly showed higher red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) and monocyte compared to those of the control group (P < 0.05). At the end of the feeding experiment, some fish were challenged with S. iniae to quantify the level of disease resistance. The mortality after S. iniae challenge was decreased in fish fed a probiotic. These results indicated that dietary supplementation of L. plantarum improved immune response and disease resistance of Siberian sturgeon juvenile.     

Effect of Probiotic Soy Milk on Serum Levels of Adiponectin,Inflammatory Mediators,Lipid Profile,and Fasting Blood Glucose Among Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Probiotic therapies are going to be an effective alternative therapeutic strategy in the treatment and management of diabetes. The mechanism behind the essential effects of probiotic therapies in diabetic patients was not fully understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic soy milk containing Lactobacillus planetarum A7 on inflammation, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and serum adiponectin among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Forty patients with type 2 diabetes, at the age of 35–68 years old, were assigned to two groups in this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. The patients in the intervention group consumed 200 ml/day of probiotic soy milk containing L. planetarum A7 and those in control group consumed 200 ml/day of pure soy milk for 8 weeks. Serum TNF-α, C reactive protein, adiponectin, lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose were determined before and after intervention. In intervention group, serum adiponectin in pre- and post-treatment did not show any significant changes (2.52 ± 0.74 vs 2.84 ± 0.61, P = 0.658), as well as changes in serum TNF-α and C reactive protein (172.44 ± 5.7 vs 172.83 ± 7.6, P = 0.278, 4.2 ± 1.4 vs 4.5 ± 1.9, P = 0.765, respectively). Low-density cholesterol and high-density cholesterol changed significantly (P = 0.023, P = 0.017, respectively), but fasting blood glucose did not show any significant changes. The results of this study showed that consumption of probiotic soy milk and soy milk has no effect on serum adiponectin and inflammation, but it can change lipid profile among type 2 diabetic patients.     

Exploring the thermal stability and activity of α-chymotrypsin in the presence of spermine

Polyamines such as spermine can have interaction with protein. The aim of the present study was to investigate how spermine could influence the structure, thermal stability, and the activity of α-chymotrypsin. Kinetics, thermodynamics, molecular dynamics (MD), and docking simulations studies were conducted to investigate the effect of spermine on the activity and structure of α-Chymotrypsin (α-Chy) in 50 mM Tris–HCl buffer, with the pH 8, using different spectroscopic techniques as well as molecular docking and MD simulations. The stability and activity of α-Chy were increased in the presence of spermine. The results of the kinetic study showed that the activity of spermine was increased. Enzyme activation was accompanied by changes on the α-Chy conformation. Fluorescence intensity changes showed dynamic quenching during spermine binding. The fluorescence quenching of the α-Chy suggested the more polar location of Trp residues. Near-UV and Far-UV circular dichroism studies also demonstrated the transfer of Trp, Phe, and Tyr residues to a more flexible environment. The increase in the absorption of α-Chy in the presence of spermine was as a result of the formation of spermine–α-Chy complex. Molecular docking results revealed the presence of one binding site with a negative value for the Gibbs free energy of the binding of spermine to α-Chy. Docking study also revealed that van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds played a major role in stabilizing the complex.