Myocardial deletion of Smad4 using a novel α skeletal muscle actin Cre recombinase transgenic mouse causes misalignment of the cardiac outflow tract

SMAD4 acts as the converging point for TGFβ and BMP signaling in heart development. Here, we investigated the role of SMAD4 in heart development using a novel α skeletal muscle actin Cre recombinase (MuCre) transgenic mouse strain. Lineage tracing using MuCre/ROSA26^LacZ reporter mice indicated strong Cre-recombinase expression in developing and adult heart and skeletal muscles. In heart development, significant MuCre expression was noted at E11.5 in the atrial, ventricular, outflow tract and atrioventricular canal myocardium, but not in the endocardial cushions. MuCre-driven conditional deletion of Smad4 in mice caused double outlet right ventricle (DORV), ventricular septal defect (VSD), impaired trabeculation and thinning of ventricular myocardium, and mid-gestational embryonic lethality. In conclusion, MuCre mice effectively delete genes in both heart and skeletal muscles, thus enabling the discovery that myocardial Smad4 deletion causes misalignment of the outflow tract and DORV.     

Catch composition of drift gillnets in a multi-species fishery with an emphasis on kingfish (Scomberomorus commerson) in Northern Persian Gulf

Gillnets are the primary fishing gear used in tropical multi-species fisheries along the Iranian southern coastal waters. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the catch composition and performance of fishing gear for the possible negative effects on the stocks. Catch data and length frequency distribution (just for Kingfish, S. commerson) were examined for three kinds of drift gillnets: 1) small-meshed nets, 2) medium-meshed nets, and 3) nets with a single mesh size of 165 mm. This study was conducted in the northern part of the Persian Gulf from 2014 to 2015. Overall, 60 species of 32 families from four fish groups (i.e., Pelagic, Demersal, Benthopelagic, and Reef-associated) were recorded. Each net-type was used to target more than one species, with most species being considered as bycatch. Commercial fish species were caught the most, accounting for around 83% of the total catches. S. commerson is targeted by all kinds of nets, with medium-meshed nets being most efficient. The majority of S. commerson caught by the nets were immature. Overall, the total ban of gillnets with small mesh sizes is recommended to protect young S. commerson and prevent the possible risk of growth overfishing. Studies on gillnet selectivity are needed to set minimum mesh regulations for S. commerson and other commercial species if the potential impacts of gillnet are known.     

Improvements of GC and HPLC analyses in solvent (acetone-butanol-ethanol) fermentation byClostridium saccharobutylicum using a mixture of starch and glycerol as carbon source

A study on the feasibility of using improved computer-controlled HPLC and GC systems was carried out to shorten the time needed for measuring levels of the substrates (glucose, maltose, and glycerol) and products (acetone, butanol ethanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid) produced byClostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864 during direct fermentation of sago starch to solvent. The use of HPLC system with a single injection to analyse the composition of culture broth (substrates and products) during solvent fermentation was achieved by raising the column temperature to 80°C. Although good separation of the components in the mixture was achieved, a slight overlap was observed in the peaks for butyric acid and acetone. The shape of the peak obtained and the analysis time of 26.66 min were satisfactory at a fixed flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. An improved GC system was developed, that was able to measure the products of solvent fermentation (acetone, butanol, ethanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid) within 19.28 min. Excellent resolution for each peak was achieved by adjusting the oven temperature to 65°C.     

Effect of neurogenic acupoint cupping on high sensitive C-reactive protein and pain perception in female chronic pelvic pain: A randomized controlled trial

Objectives:To determine the effect of neurogenic acupoint dry cupping therapy on high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, pain perception & intensity, and life impact of pelvic pain in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), with regard to the biological and neurophysiological impacts of dry cupping on acupoint.Methods:Thirty women with CPP were randomly divided into two equal groups; the study group received dry cupping on neurogenic acupoints plus lifestyle modifications for 8 weeks (n=15), while the control group received only lifestyle modifications for 8 weeks (n=15). Women were assessed pre- and post-rehabilitation program with the hs-CRP blood test, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), and the pelvic pain impact questionnaire (PPIQ).Results:Comparing both groups post-treatment revealed that there were significant reductions in levels of hs-CRP, and scores of SF-MPQ & PPIQ (p<0.05) in the study group compared with the control group. Also, there were significant positive correlations between hs-CRP and both SF-MPQ “Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Present Pain Intensity (PPI) index & Pain Rating Index (PRI)” and PPIQ (p<0.05).Conclusion:Neurogenic acupoint cupping therapy had significantly improving effects on the degree of inflammation, pain perception & intensity, and life impact of pelvic pain in women with CPP.     

Yield performance of 14 novel inter- and intra-species Miscanthus hybrids across Europe

Miscanthus, a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass from Asia is a leading candidate for the supply of sustainable biomass needed to grow the bioeconomy. European Miscanthus breeding programmes have recently produced a new range of seeded hybrids with the objective of increasing scalability to large acreages limited by current clonal propagation. For the EU-GRACE project, new replicated field trials were established in seven locations across Europe in 2018 with eight intraspecific M. sinensis hybrids (sin × sin) and six M. sacchariflorus × M. sinensis (sac × sin) from Dutch and UK breeding programmes, respectively, with clonal Miscanthus × giganteus. The planting density of the sin × sin was double that of sac × sin (30,000 & 15,000 plants ha⁻¹), creating commercially relevant upscaling comparisons between systems. Over the first 3 years, the establishment depended on location and hybrid. The mature sin × sin hybrids formed tight tufts of shoots up to 2.5 m tall which flower and senesce earlier than the taller sac × sin hybrids. Following the third growing season, the highest yields were recorded in Northern Italy at a low altitude (average 13.7 (max 21) Mg DM ha⁻¹) and the lowest yielding was on the industrially damaged marginal land site in Northern France (average 7.0 (max 10) Mg DM ha⁻¹). Moisture contents at spring harvest were lowest in Croatia (21.7%) and highest in Wales, UK (41.6%). Overall, lower moisture contents at harvest, which are highly desirable for transport, storage and for most end-use applications, were found in sin × sin hybrids than sac × sin (30% and 40%, respectively). Yield depended on climate interactions with the hybrid and their associated planting systems. The sin × sin hybrids appeared better adapted to northern Europe and sac × sin hybrids to southern Europe. Longer-term yield observations over crop lifespans will be needed to explore the biological (yield persistence) and economic costs and benefits of the different hybrid systems.     

Seroprevalence of human T lymphtropic virus (HTLV) among tissue donors in Iranian tissue bank

Iranian Tissue Bank prepares a wide range of human tissue homografts such as; heart valve, bone, skin, amniotic membrane and other tissues for different clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HTLV in tissue donors. About 1,548 tissue donors were studied during a 5-years period by ELISA assays. HTLV_1,2—antibodies were tested for all of donors with other tests upon American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) standards. About 25 (1.61%) out of 1,548 tissue donors were HTLV positive that 17 donors were male and 8 were female (female/male ratio was approximately 47%). Regarding to the prevalence of HTLV among tissue donors and importance of cell and tissue safety and quality assurance, we recommend that all blood, cell and tissue banks should be involved both routine serological methods and other complementary tests such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosis of HTLV.     

First report of computational protein–ligand docking to evaluate susceptibility to HIV integrase inhibitors in HIV-infected Iranian patients

BackgroundIran has recently included integrase (INT) inhibitors (INTIs) in the first‐line treatment regimen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, there is no bioinformatics data to elaborate the impact of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) and naturally occurring polymorphisms (NOPs) on INTIs treatment outcome in Iranian patients.MethodIn this cross-sectional survey, 850 HIV-1-infected patients enrolled; of them, 78 samples had successful sequencing results for INT gene. Several analyses were performed including docking screening, genotypic resistance, secondary/tertiary structures, post-translational modification (PTM), immune epitopes, etc.ResultThe average docking energy (E value) of different samples with elvitegravir (EVG) and raltegravir (RAL) was more than other INTIs. Phylogenetic tree analysis and Stanford HIV Subtyping program revealed HIV-1 CRF35-AD was the predominant subtype (94.9%) in our cases; in any event, online subtyping tools confirmed A1 as the most frequent subtype. For the first time, CRF-01B and BF were identified as new subtypes in Iran. Decreased CD4 count was associated with several factors: poor or unstable adherence, naïve treatment, and drug user status.ConclusionAs the first bioinformatic report on HIV-integrase from Iran, this study indicates that EVG and RAL are the optimal INTIs in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Iranian patients. Some conserved motifs and specific amino acids in INT-protein binding sites have characterized that mutation(s) in them may disrupt INT-drugs interaction and cause a significant loss in susceptibility to INTIs. Good adherence, treatment of naïve patients, and monitoring injection drug users are fundamental factors to control HIV infection in Iran effectively.