Intracerebroventricular Injection of NMDA Receptor Antagonist Affects l-Arginine Induced Food Intake in Neonatal Layer Chicks

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Nowadays inquiry of possible interplay between different neurotransmitters in brain function is one of the major fields of interest for...     

Intracerebroventricular Injection of the Glutamatergic Receptors Antagonist Affects N/OFQ-Induced Hyperphagia in Neonatal Broilers: Role of NMDA and AMPA Receptors

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - This study was designed to determine possible interaction of the central nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and glutamatergic system on...     

Mutagenicity of the mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol on somatic and germ cells of mice

Genotoxicity of diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) was studied on laboratory mice after intraperitoneal injection with single and repeated doses. DAS was administrated at three different dose levels (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/kg body weight). The study was conducted on both somatic and germ cells additional to the sperm morphology analysis. DAS treatment resulted in a significant reduction (P<0.01) in mitotic activity at all levels of doses tested, confirming that DAS is a potent protein and DNA synthesis inhibitor. At somatic cells (bone marrow) both structural and numerical chromosome abnormalities were observed. Single dose treatment showed significant abnormalities only with high dose treatment. In contrast, at repeated dose similar abnormalities were also observed with some significance but no systematic relation between the administrated dose and abnormalities ratio could be settled. In germ cells (testicles), structural and numerical abnormalities were also observed. In general, the frequencies of scored abnormalities at germ cells were lower than that the somatic cells. Sperm count test revealed a decrease in the number of released sperm after toxin treatment. Abnormalities of sperm shape (head and tail) were observed, confirming the positive correlation between cytogenetic damage and sperm abnormality. The results also proved that DAS is a very toxic mycotoxin, in addition to inducing chromosomal abnormalities, it causes a severe inhibition of DNA synthesis which subsequently affects the cell cycle and cell division. A good system for good harvesting practice and good food technology can lower the risk for the consumers.     

Gendered perceptions on infant feeding in Eastern Uganda: continued need for exclusive breastfeeding support

Background

In resource-poor settings, HIV positive mothers are recommended to choose between 'Exclusive breastfeeding' (EBF) or 'Exclusive replacement feeding' (ERF). Acceptability, Feasibility, Affordability, Sustainability and Safety (AFASS) has been the World Health Organization (WHO)'s a priori criteria for ERF the last ten years. 'AFASS' has become a mere acronym among many workers in the field of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, PMTCT. Thereby, non-breastfeeding has been suggested irrespective of social norms. EBF for the first half of infancy is associated with huge health benefits for children in areas where infant mortality is high. But, even if EBF has been recommended for a decade, few mothers are practicing it. We set out to understand fathers' and mothers' infant feeding perceptions and the degree to which EBF and ERF were 'AFASS.'

Methods

Eight focus groups with 81 informants provided information for inductive content analysis. Four groups were held by men among men and four groups by women among women in Mbale District, Eastern Uganda.

Results

Two study questions emerged: How are the different feeding options understood and accepted? And, what are men's and women's responsibilities related to infant feeding? A mother's commitment to breastfeed and the husband's commitment to provide for the family came out strongly. Not breastfeeding a newborn was seen as dangerous and as unacceptable, except in cases of maternal illness. Men argued that not breastfeeding could entail sanctions by kin or in court. But, in general, both men and women regarded EBF as 'not enough' or even 'harmful.' Among men, not giving supplements to breast milk was associated with poverty and men's failure as providers. Women emphasised lack of time, exhaustion, poverty and hunger as factors for limited breast milk production. Although women had attended antenatal teaching they expressed a need to know more. Most men felt left out from health education.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding was the expected way to feed the baby, but even with existing knowledge among mothers, EBF was generally perceived as impossible. ERF was overall negatively sanctioned. Greater culture-sensitivity in programs promoting safer infant feeding in general and in HIV-contexts in particular is urgently needed, and male involvement is imperative.

Trial Registration

The study was part of formative studies for the ongoing study PROMISE EBF registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00397150).     

Application of multiplex PCR with histopathologic features for detection of familial breast cancer in formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded histological specimens

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among females in the world. In Iran, age and family history are the major risk factors for the development of this disease. Mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with a greatly increased risk for familial breast cancer. The frequency of BRCA mutations was identified in familial breast cancers (FBCs) and nonfamilial breast cancers (NFBCs) by molecular genetics, and morphological and immunohistochemical methods. Thirty-four formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tissue tumors were analyzed from 16 patients with FBCs and 18 patients with NFBCs. Three 5382insC mutations were detected by multiplex PCR in 16 FBCs. The immunohistochemical method was used to detect estrogen receptors (ER), progesterona receptors (PR), and TP53. Comparison of ER, PR, and TP53 exhibited a high difference (P < 0.0001) in FBCs and NFBCs. Our results demonstrated that 5382insC mutation, ER, PR, TP53, mitotic activity, polymorphism, necrosis and tubules can serve as the major risk factors for FBC. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Effect of diethyl maleate on the toxicity of essential oil from Citrus reticulata fruit peels to Tribolium castaneum Herbst under laboratory conditions

Certain compounds of plants, essential oils, with insecticidal properties have been considered as alternatives to chemical pesticides for pest control in recent years. In this study, the synergistic effect of diethyl maleate (DEM) on the toxicity of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae) peel essential oil against a stored-product insect pest, i.e. red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Tenebrionidae) adults was studied. DEM [one part], combined with acetone [two parts], was applied on T. castaneum adults. Five concentrations of essential oil from C. reticulata were tested. Three replicates and 30 adult insects/replicate/each concentration were used. LC₅₀ values after 24 and 48?h of exposure were 33.8 and 28.2?μl/l air, respectively. Combination of the essential oil from C. reticulata with the synergist DEM after 24 and 48?h of exposure decreased the corresponding LC₅₀ values to 18.1 and 12.2?μl/l air, respectively. These results revealed that DEM can considerably improve the potency of essential oil from C. reticulata and maybe applied successfully in the stored-product pest control programmes.     

Genetic characterization of Iranian safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorious L.) is valued as a source of high quality vegetable oil. 20 ISSR primers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 18 accessions of safflower collected from different geographical regions of Iran. The ISSR primers combinations revealed 57.6 % polymorphism, among 338 genetic loci amplified from the accessions. The sum of effective number of alleles and observed number of alleles were 29.76 and 36.77, respectively. To understand genetic relationships among these cultivars, Jacquards’ similarity coefficient and UPGMA clustering algorithm were applied to the ISSR marker data set. ISSR markers grouped accessions into two main clusters and four sub clusters. Also, the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) supported the cluster analysis results. The results showed these genotypes have high genetic diversity, and can be used for alternative safflower breeding program.