Serological detection of Cucumber mosaic virus on some important host crops in the north region of Iran

Plant virus diseases cause major losses in agricultural and horticultural products, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. The first step to manage these diseases is detecting, identifying and determining the pathogen characteristics. Cucumber mosaic disease is one of the most prevalent and damaging plant diseases in the world which is caused by Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Each year, this virus causes yield decreasing and substantial economic damages in its host plants worldwide including the north of Iran. In order to study and identify CMV, 935 leaf samples were collected based on typical symptoms from 10 crops (tomato, pea, tobacco, soybean, watermelon, broad bean, squash, cucumber, eggplant and lettuce) in different regions of Golestan and Mazandaran provinces (north of Iran) during 2009–2010. Suspicious samples were analysed by DAS-ELISA and polyclonal antibodies. The results showed that 275 samples (29.4%) were infected by CMV. Between these hosts, the highest and the lowest CMV infection was associated to watermelon (62.44%) and lettuce (0%), respectively. Among sampling locations, Behshahr (100%) and Minoodasht (3.47%) showed the maximum and minimum infection, respectively.     

Temporal expression profile of CXC chemokines in serum of patients with spinal cord injury

Chemokines, a subclass of cytokine superfamily have both pro-inflammatory and migratory role and serve as chemoattractant of immune cells during the inflammatory responses ensuing spinal cord injury (SCI). The chemokines, especially CXCL-1, CXCL-9, CXCL-10 and CXCL-12 contribute significant part in the inflammatory secondary damage of SCI. Inhibiting chemokine’s activity and thereby the secondary damage cascades has been suggested as a chemokine-targeted therapeutic approach to SCI. To optimize the inhibition of secondary injury through targeted chemokine therapy, accurate knowledge about the temporal profile of these cytokines following SCI is required. Hence, the present study was planned to determine the serum levels of CXCL-1, CXCL-9, CXCL-10 and CXCL-12 at 3–6 h, 7 and 28 days and 3 m after SCI in male and female SCI patients (n = 78) and compare with age- and sex-matched patients with non-spinal cord injuries (NSCI, n = 70) and healthy volunteers (n = 100). ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis was used to determine the differences between the groups. The data from the present study show that the serum level of CXCL-1, CXCL-9 and CXCL-10 peaked on day 7 post-SCI and then declined to the control level. In contrast, significantly elevated level of CXCL-12 persisted for 28 days post SCI. In addition, post-SCI expression of CXCL-12 was found to be sex-dependent. Male SCI patients expressed significantly higher CXCL-12 when compared to control and SCI female. We did not observe any change in chemokines level of NSCI. Further, the age of the patients did not influence chemokines expression after SCI. These observations along with SCI-induced CSF-chemokine level should contribute to the identification of selective and temporal chemokine targeted therapy after SCI.     

Functional Polymorphisms of FAS and FASL Gene and Risk of Breast Cancer – Pilot Study of 134 Cases

Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system is one of the key apoptotic signaling entities in the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. De-regulation of this pathway, i.e. by mutations may prevent the immune system from the removal of newly-formed tumor cells, and thus lead to tumor formation. The present study investigated the association between −1377 G/A (rs2234767) and −670 A/G (rs1800682) polymorphisms in Fas as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms INV2nt −124 A/G (rs5030772) and −844 C/T (rs763110) in FasL in a sample of Iranian patients with breast cancer. This case-control study was done on 134 breast cancer patients and 152 normal women. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. The polymorphisms were determined by using tetra-ARMS-PCR method. There was no significant difference in the genotype distribution of FAS rs2234767 polymorphism between cases and controls. FAS rs1800682, FASL rs5030772, and FASL rs763110 genotypes showed significant associations with an increasing risk of breast cancer (odds ratio OR = 3.18, P = 0.019; OR = 5.08, P = 0.012; OR = 2.40, P = 0.024, respectively). In conclusion, FAS rs2234767 was not associated with breast cancer risk. Though, FAS rs1800682, FASL rs5030772, and FASL rs763110 polymorphisms were associated with the risk of breast cancer in the examined population.     

Overexpression of a Rice Monosaccharide Transporter Gene (OsMST6) Confers Enhanced Tolerance to Drought and Salinity Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Monosaccharide transporter (MSTs) is a large family of integral membrane proteins that plays a crucial role in cell-to-cell and long-distance distribution of...     

An argument for the use of multiple segment stents in curved arteries

Stenting of curved arteries is generally perceived to be more challenging than straight vessels. Conceptually implanting multiple shorter stents rather than a single longer stent into such a curved artery represents a promising concept, but little is known about the impact of such an approach. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of using a multiple segment stent rather than a single long stent to dilate a curved artery using the finite element method. A double segment stent (DSS) and a single segment stent (SSS) were modeled. The stents were compared when expanded into a model of a curved artery. The model predicts that the DSS provides higher flexibility, more conformity, and lower recoil in comparison to the SSS. The volume of arterial tissue experiencing high levels of stress due to stent implantation is also reduced for the DSS. It is suggested that a multiple segment stenting system is a potential solution to the problem of higher rates of in-stent restenosis in curved arteries and mechanically challenging environments.     

Biological activity of some plant essential oils against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Varroa destructor</Emphasis> (Acari: Varroidae), an ectoparasitic mite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

This experiment was conducted to evaluate acaricidal activity of the essential oils of Thymus kotschyanus, Ferula assa-foetida and Eucalyptus camaldulensis against Varroa destructor under laboratory conditions. Moreover, fumigant toxicity of these oils was tested on Apis mellifera. After preliminary dose-setting experiments, mites and honey bees were exposed to different concentrations of the oil, with 10 h exposure time. Essential oil of T. kotschyanus appeared the most potent fumigant for V. destructor (LC₅₀ = 1.07, 95% confidence limit (CL) = 0.87–1.26 μl/l air), followed by E. camaldulensis (LC₅₀ = 1.74, 95% CL = 0.96–2.50 μl/l air). The lowest acaricidal activity (LC₅₀ = 2.46, 95% CL = 2.10–2.86 μl/l air) was attributed to essential oil of F. assa-foetida. Surprisingly, among the three oils tested, essential oil of T. kotschyanus had the lowest insecticidal activity against A. mellifera (LC₅₀ = 5.08, 95% CL = 4.54–5.06 μl/l air). These findings proved that essential oil of T. kotschyanus has potential of practical value for use as alternative acaricide in the management of varroa in apiaries.     

Introduction of hematoxylin as an electroactive label for DNA biosensors and its employment in detection of target DNA sequence and single-base mismatch in human papilloma virus corresponding to oligonucleotide

For the detection of DNA hybridization, a new electrochemical biosensor was developed on the basis of the interaction of hematoxylin with 20-mer deoxyoligonucleotides (from human papilloma virus, HPV). The study was performed based on the interaction of hematoxylin with an alkanethiol DNA probe self-assembled gold electrode (ss-DNA/AuE) and its hybridization form (ds-DNA/AuE). The optimum conditions were found for the immobilization of HPV probe on the gold electrode (AuE) surface and its hybridization with the target DNA. Electrochemical detection of the self-assembled DNA and the hybridization process were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) over the potential range where the accumulated hematoxylin at the modified electrode was electroactive. Observing a remarkable difference between the voltammetric signals of the hematoxylin obtained from different hybridization samples (non-complementary, mismatch and complementary DNAs), we confirmed the potential of the developed biosensor in detecting and discriminating the target complementary DNA from non-complementary and mismatch oligonucleotides. Under optimum conditions, the electrochemical signal had a linear relationship with the concentration of the target DNA ranging from 12.5 nM to 350.0 nM, and the detection limit was 3.8 nM.     

A packed bed membrane reactor for production of biodiesel using activated carbon supported catalyst

In this study, a novel continuous reactor has been developed to produce high quality methyl esters (biodiesel) from palm oil. A microporous TiO₂/Al₂O₃ membrane was packed with potassium hydroxide catalyst supported on palm shell activated carbon. The central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to investigate the effects of reaction temperature, catalyst amount and cross flow circulation velocity on the production of biodiesel in the packed bed membrane reactor. The highest conversion of palm oil to biodiesel in the reactor was obtained at 70 °C employing 157.04 g catalyst per unit volume of the reactor and 0.21 cm/s cross flow circulation velocity. The physical and chemical properties of the produced biodiesel were determined and compared with the standard specifications. High quality palm oil biodiesel was produced by combination of heterogeneous alkali transesterification and separation processes in the packed bed membrane reactor.     

Plasma agouti-related protein (AGRP), growth hormone, insulin responses to a single circuit-resistance exercise in male college students

The ability of acute exercise to stimulate appetite and food intake depends on intensity, duration, and agouti-related protein (AGRP) levels. Fasting, as well as any negative energy balance, has been reported to increase AGRP expression in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus and other extra-hypothalamic tissues in human and rats. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the response of plasma AGRP, GH and insulin to a single circuit-resistance exercise. Twenty volunteer male college students completed a single bout of circuit-resistance training (10 exercises at 35% of 1RM). Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 30 min following the exercise protocol. Plasma AGRP and GH levels showed a significant increase immediately after exercise and returned to pre exercise values during the recovery period. The data indicate that exercise protocol was able to increase plasma AGRP and GH levels. A higher plasma AGRP level might result in an acute exercise-induced hyperphagia and help to fuel post-exercise restoration processes.     

A defect in the ionotropic glutamate receptor 6 gene (GRIK2) is associated with autosomal recessive mental retardation

Nonsyndromic mental retardation is one of the most important unresolved problems in genetic health care. Autosomal forms are far more common than X-linked forms, but, in contrast to the latter, they are still largely unexplored. Here, we report a complex mutation in the ionotropic glutamate receptor 6 gene (GRIK2, also called “GLUR6”) that cosegregates with moderate-to-severe nonsyndromic autosomal recessive mental retardation in a large, consanguineous Iranian family. The predicted gene product lacks the first ligand-binding domain, the adjacent transmembrane domain, and the putative pore loop, suggesting a complete loss of function of the GLU_K6 protein, which is supported by electrophysiological data. This finding provides the first proof that GLU_K6 is indispensable for higher brain functions in humans, and future studies of this and other ionotropic kainate receptors will shed more light on the pathophysiology of mental retardation.